The line is long at the free taco truck Sunday, Aug. 23 at the first community street festival at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Glebe Road. One blue ticket gets you a choice of al pastor, veggie or chicken taco bowl from the Roaming Coyote Howlin’ Good Food Tex Mex taco truck. Josie Lewis sits on the curb with her quesadilla while her mom has tried the veggie taco bowl. Gregory Hooker, the Music Director, sits at a table in the shade with his demolished al pastor taco bowl in front of him.
A red ticket would get you a choice of a free popsicle in a choice of many special flavors like mango-tangerine, strawberry, blueberry-lime or salted caramel. One small customer is insisting she wants a “regular” bar without the “flakes” on the outside of the salted caramel bar.
The street is barricaded to make room for the moon bounce and the picnic tables. Chalk markings on the street declare “The Lord is Good,” and chalked boxes on the street nearby allow for hopscotch players.
The Rev. Meg Ingalls, interim rector at St. Mary’s, says a lot of those attending today are parishioners who have come after the usual Sunday morning service but “we put signs up near the church and are hoping to attract people from the neighborhood.” Ingalls stands chatting with her husband, Brad Ingalls, a retired Episcopal rector, and their granddaughter.
Prosper Daziorlor is standing by holding his taco order number and shares that he is the facilities manager for the church. He says he used to attend a different Episcopal Church in D.C. but he likes it so much better here. He explains he definitely loves the Christian attitude at St. Mary’s. “There’s so much to love here. People are so open minded and would go 1,000 miles for you.”
Cynda Tipple, a long-time parishioner, agrees. “There are so many reasons to like it here. It feels like home. It is possible to grow in so many ways.”
Steve Cory adds, “and the sermons. All of the pastors.”
And of course there’s the free taco truck and popsicle stand …
