Tuesday, May 26, 2009

fire at first anf rhode island

someone on twitter mentioned that there's a fire at first and rhode island.... i assume NW.

the secret park on facebook

psst. its here

what to do with all that rain?

here's a post about rain barrels provided by DC .

the shaw library

i'm more inclined to hit MLK myself so i've not really paid attention to the Watha T. Daniel library. hell, when i first saw it i thought it was a prison substation.

anyway, heres a post about it

Artomatic 2009 003


Artomatic 2009 003
Originally uploaded by hipchickindc
hipchick representin.

THE BLOOMINGDALE COMMUNITY YARD SALE

*sigh*
i've only been able to go to this twice since i moved to bloomingdale. i always have other obligations on the same day. same this year.

i would encourage everyone to go to this! Crispus Attucks park is truly a very special place, and our course, bloomingdale is full of wonderful people.


THE BLOOMINGDALE COMMUNITY YARD SALE
JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY!

Mark your calendars for Bloomingdale's hottest yard sale-
May 30th from 8am -2pm.

Interested in selling your wares?
We are still accepting vendor registrations
please visit www.crispusattuckspark.org for a printable registration form
and drop all payments off at 69 U Street, NW.

We currently have 23 registered sellers for the yardsale.
More are welcome!

PLEASE NOTE STREET CLOSURES:
THE UNIT BLOCK OF U STREET,NW WILL BE CLOSED ON MAY 30TH FROM 8AM TO 8PM

FIRST STREET BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND U STREETS, NW
WILL BE CLOSED FROM 8AM TO APPROXIMATELY 3PM

We hope to see at the yard sale!

Friday, May 22, 2009

fire at 253 V strett NW

i just received an alert.ema.dc.gov text stating that there is a fire at 253 V street NW

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Historic Window Workshop

Come and learn the “how to” and the “must know” on replacing and repairing your historic windows!

DC Preservation League would like to invite you to a Historic Window Workshop, Saturday, May 30th

It’s almost a week away.

Register today!

For more information or to register visit our website at

http://www.dcpreservation.org/pdf/windowworkshop.pdf

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

your chance to see the old filtration site!

Tour of the McMillan Sand Filtration Site
June 3, 2009 at 6 pm
or June 6, 2009 at 10 am
Meet at the west gate entrance to participate in the tour.
RSVP by June 1 to John Basile at jbasile @ eya.com
or 301. 634. 8679.
The tour will last about one hour.

rust

my flickr set of this site is HERE


click here to see a big cool photo of the site

and if you go on the tour, add some photos to the bloomingdale pool here

BACA on twitter

the Bates Area Civic Association is on Twitter

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

more gun fire

many people got to this blog today by searching "shooting at North Capitol and R".
They got an older post of the same title. a post inspired by a crime at the same location, at nearly the same time of day, on just as nice a day.

i've heard very little information about todays shooting, but police were on the scene in mere seconds.
heres a post on nbc

apparently there was a shooting, just a block away, earlier in the morning too.

fox news here
washingtonpost here

Monday, May 18, 2009

Row Houses


Row Houses
Originally uploaded by M.V. Jantzen
I've liked this guys shots on flickr for quite a while. seems he hit up our hood recently.

Event at Big Bear

Thursday May 21 - 8PM



Cheryl's Gone Reading Series



Deborah Ager

Danika Paige Myers

Marisa Plumb

Music by Marbayduk



@ Big Bear Cafe

1st + R NW

Washington, DC

(free!)





Deborah Ager's first book, Midnight Voices, was published by WordTech/Cherry

Grove Collections in 2009. Her poems have appeared in such

publications as Best New Poets 2006, New England Review, The Georgia

Review, Quarterly West, and elsewhere. She's received fellowships from

the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the MacDowell Colony, and the

Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She publishes the journal 32

POEMS and co-directs the Joaquin Miller Cabin Poetry Reading Series in

Washington, DC.



Danika Paige Myers's poetry has appeared in Beloit Poetry Journal,

32 Poems, Practice: New Writing + Art, and others.

She was the recipient of the 2004 Editor’s Prize for Poetry

from Meridian and a finalist for the 2005 Ruth Lilly Student

Fellowship in Poetry. She currently teaches in the First Year Writing

Program at the George Washington University.



Marisa Plumb
is a writer and media artist. Her current projects include a

never-ending novel and "How to Hear a Sentence" -- a computer program that

generates lines of poet
ry based on common ideas between users. Her

works and presentations have been exhibited at several venues in

Chicago, IL and are forthcoming at events in D.C. and Barcelona. She

also does a smattering of web development, and runs a fake company from

a traveling cubicle. Other projects and writing are located at

www.marisaplumb.com.



Born on July 4, 1979, to an American

diplomat and a social worker in Mexico City, Maybarduk has since lived

and worked in Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Cuba and Venezuela, and across

the United States from a last-ditch reform school in rural Maine, to

Berkeley, California, where he attended law school and fronted indie

rock band Last Clear Chance. In 2007, Maybarduk joined the non-profit

advocacy group Essential Action, and now divides his time between music

and work in Washington, D.C. and the Global South, helping countries

improve access to critical medicines. Maybarduk released his second

album "No Hay Pueblo Vencido" ("No Defeated People"), produced by J.

Robbins (Jawbox/Channels), on March 19, 2009. Maybarduk and Robbins

invested months imagining arrangements and calling in established

musicians of the mid-Atlantic indie scene to draw out the character of

each song. "Vencido" compels as pop, as art, and as statement on living

unique possibilities despite oppression.



www.cherylsgone.com

public safety

I dont even live in his ANC but i know that John Salatti is one of the more active and vocal ANC reps. He sent out this message for a "Neighborhood Safety Walk" that you might want to be a part of.

Here's his message:
The Bloomingdale Public Safety Initiative
Invites You to Our Next
Neighborhood Safety Walk
Join with your neighbors and walk the streets of Bloomingdale! A strong, diverse community presence will announce that this neighborhood does not tolerate: crime, drugs, violence, and prostitution! We also encourage a caring community where neighbors look out for neighbors and who appreciate what everyone brings to the community table.


THURSDAY, MAY 21TH, 7:00 p.m.

Meet at the corner of 1st and V Streets, NW
(kids and dogs welcome!)

We can do it!

John T. Salatti
Commissioner, ANC 5C04
(202) 986- 2592

jsalatti @ earthlink.net

"Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale"

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Open Houses in Bloomingdale/LeDroit Park/Eckington 05/17/2009

After you stop by opening day of the Bloomingdale Farmers Market, there are a few Open Houses to check out in the neighborhood. Here's the list.

I hope to see a bunch of you guys tomorrow. I'll be at 140 Bryant St NW from 1-4pm for its debut open house. This artist-owned home is updated with such amenities as central air and a fabulous huge second floor deck. It features an unusual range of historic elements including hand crafted unpainted woodwork, leaded glass, antique chandeliers, and (I love, love, love these...) brass door knobs throughout. Priced to move at$475,000. Here is the virtual tour.

Friday, May 15, 2009

NoMas outdoor movies series.

NoMa BID to Host NoMa Summer Screen

The NoMa (north of Massachusetts Avenue) Business Improvement District (BID) will host a summer-long film series titled "NoMa Summer Screen" June 10 through July 29, 2009, every Wednesday night from 7:00 until 11:00 p.m. The theme of NoMa Summer Screen, which promises to be the city’s premier summer film and cultural event, is "Music in Pictures," films about musicians and bands.

Free and open to the public, the outdoor event will be held on a large grassy lot on L Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets, N.E. in Washington, D.C., just one block from the New York Avenue station on Metro’s Red Line. The site is adjacent to Union Place, a new apartment building being developed by The Cohen Companies that will deliver later this year.

Each film screening will be preceded by live DJs, special guests, barbeque,and surprises. Funk, soul, boogaloo, and other types of music will be provided by local DJ collective Fatback.

"Building on the success of last summer’s James Bond Film Festival, the NoMa BID is offering a fresh new concept in 2009" said Elizabeth Price, President of the NoMa BID. "Filmgoers will be able to enjoy music, food, films, and dancing under the stars, all while seeing first-hand NoMa’s rapid and dramatic transformation." A full film schedule (see below) will be posted shortly at www.nomasummerscreen.com.

June 10th- No Direction Home, A chronicle of Bob Dylan’s strange evolution between 1961 and 1966 - Directed by Martin Scorsese

June 17th- Buena Vista Social Club, Rediscovery of a legendary, members-only club in 1940’s Havana, Cuba, as documented through the music and lives of veteran performers

June 24th- Ray, Extraordinary life story of Ray Charles, a man who fought harder and went farther than anyone thought possible

July 1st- Lady Sings the Blues, Loosely based on her 1956 autobiography, the story of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday, as portrayed by Diana Ross

July 8th- I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Documentary about the making and the conflicts of Wilco’s fourth studio Album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

July 15th- Standing in the Shadows of Motown, History of the Funk Brothers, a group of Detroit musicians who backed up dozens of Motown artists

July 22nd- Scratch, Documentary about hip-hop DJing, the birth of turntablism, the legends and the culture

July 29th- DIG! Story of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, a band with critical acclaim but no commercial success, as told by arch-nemesis and biggest fan, The Dandy Warhols

1000 block of O Street, NW before and now

check out this blog post containing a picture of the 1000 block of o nw in the mid 80's and one taken recently.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Bloomingdale Farmers Market is Back. this sunday!

got this letter from the Bloomingdale Farmers Market.

Dear BFM Fans:

We're back! This Sunday May 17th. 10-2. Rain or Shine or Thunderstorms.

We hope you will be as well, starting at 10 am in front of the Big Bear Cafe, EVEN IF IT RAINS! Even if it Thunderstorms!

Meet the New producers and all your old favorites .:


The short story is that we have more producers than last year! We have pasta and sauces and jams, we have mushrooms and flowers, we have an organic Loudoun County Vegetable grower plus cheese and yogurt and new breads. We will have a few EGGS this week at Painted Hand/Keswick but LOTS more at Truck Patch in a few weeks. Pastured Lamb and beef and goat and pork. Lots of new breads from Panorama, too. THREE VEGGIE Stands. Tons of Asparagus. Lots of salads and greens. Chard. Spring Onions. Plus Lots of plants for you to grow your own herbs and veggies and flowers. First of the STRAWBERRIES and BEETS.

Read on to learn all the delicious details!

NEW PRODUCER: Many of you asked for a producer of pasta, sauces, and jams. I am really thrilled I found you this one!
Chef Stefano Frigerio of Maestro and Mio fame.

Stefano has given up the restaurant gig for now and has become a local producer using local farm ingredients for his stand, The Copper Pot.

Maestro quality pastas at farmers' market prices: artisanal gnocchi, linguine, spaghetti, cavatelli, sausage ravioli, rabbit ravioli, mushroom ravioli, ricotta-spinach ravioli. And his their sauces: last year he canned 500 jars of late- harvest local tomato sauce. He has added roasted shallots and Barolo sauce and smoky farmer bacon and parmesan sauces for his pastas.

Looking for a little excitement in your jam? Stefano loves to make locally sourced jams with attitude. Concord grape with a little grappa, peach and prosecco, vanilla and strawberry, white figs and balsamic, fresh apple jam. Ask him which Keswick cheeses to serve with his jams....




NEW PRODUCER: You also asked for a third Vegetable Stand and let me introduce you to a fascinating new farmer, Jim Dunlap of SnowBear Farm, a Certified Naturally Grown Farm!


SnowBear Farm was started in 2007. I retired from working for the USG in 2005, and following a trek of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in 2006, I decided to fulfill a dream of having my own farm. Both Nancy and I grew up in ranching country in Wyoming. We looked at large farms of up to 540 acres in rural locations around the USD, but ended up deciding to see if our small place here in Virginia could make a go of it.

Our farming interests are oriented towards Organic methods, but we settled on a private farming organization -- the National Organic Program due to the high costs of being in the NOP. The organization we joined, and are certified by, is called the Certified Naturally Grown organization. It is easy to find on the web http://www.naturallygrown.org/ and we are listed under the Virginia farms. The CNG program follows all the same rules as the NOP in terms of no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or use of synthetic fertilizers. CNG also emphasizes sustainable agriculture practices.

We hope to provide something of a model to show other landowners in the far suburbs that it is possible to use their large plots of land productively, rather than just let it sit there as giant lawns or as pet horse facilities. Virginia should be the breadbasket for the Metro area during growing season. Is this possible with our outrageously high property taxes? I'll let you know in another year or two.

SnowBear Farm: This week Snowbear will have Simpson's Black Seeded Lettuce (a mild, green leaf lettuce with crinkly edges and a small sweet Romaine called Jericho. Two kinds of spring Onions, arugula, spinach, chives, scallions, baby chard, mizuna, kale, radishes, mustards. The groundhogs breakfasted on the turnips and beets so they will be a little later in the month. Plus lots of plant starts: herbs, vegetables and flowers.

New Producer: Barbara and Dennis of Greenstone Fields who visited us briefly last Fall have joined us with their delicious mushrooms and lovely flowers.

Reid: This weekend Caitlan is bringing Fuji and Pink Lady apples -- very crunchy and flavorful, she wrote. Apple cider, apple sauce, apple butter, pumpkin butter and lots of PLANTS for your gardens and containers. In fact, she is bringing a whole little garden nursery of bedding herbs and vegetable/flower plants. Reid has an astonishing variety of herbs..... basil, chives, cilantro, dill, french tarragon, lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, winter savory

Garner: Come early to snag the first of his strawberries. Asparagus galore! The first of the beets with their greens Salads: green and red and romaines, spring onions, chard. And a huge variety of herbs, veggie and flowers you can plant yourself in your garden or containers for your deck or kitchen windows. Plus beautiful hanging flowering baskets, planters and containers.

The Garden Centers at BFM:

Whatever you want for your urban garden, all at Reid, Garner, SnowBear and Common Good City Farm


Just a few of the selections: Lettuce gardens, herb gardens, heirloom tomatoes of every shape and kind, red & green sweet pepper plants, red & yellow sweet italian heirloom stuffing peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, watermelons some hot peppers, "Titan" sunflowers with edible heads, marigolds, phlox, lobelia, shasta Daisy, Dahlia, Petunia, Columbines. crookneck squash plants, heirloom zucchini plants, pattypan plants, broccoli plants, and some arugula plants. Herbs this week: 5 kinds of basil, catnip, chives, cilantro, dill, 9 kinds of lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena, 6 kinds of mint oregano, parsley, 8 kinds of rosemary, green & purple sage, summer&winter savory, french tarragon, 10 different thymes for culinary landscaping uses, chocolate mint,


Panorama: Loic keeps coming up with new breads just for us. This week he added 4 new breads: pumpernickel raisin with a touch of molasses, 9 Grain Boule, 9 Grain mini rolls with TOASTED sunflower seeds and a NEW style of baguette that he is very excited about :

This time is the real Outstanding TRADITION PARISIAN BAGUETTE
It is made with the dough of the Rustique with a very long time of proofing (12 hours). The bread is absolutely marvelous

Come early if you want fabulous multigrain rolls with Toasted Sunflower Seeds. I waited too long last week at U Street and they sold out. Lots of other breads as well: plain pumpernickel boule, Rustique, French Country, Croissants, Danish, whole wheat, rye, sourdough breads sliced loaves, baguettes (including French, sun- dried tomato, walnut- raisin) Large olive oil rolls. His breakfast challah..... His breads FREEZE very well for later in the week.

Lots of free samples....

Keswick: NEW: Keswick has been tinkering with their Blue Suede Moo -- it is really silky! By the way, our new pasta chef Stefano says their Ricotta is the real Italian kind --he loves it and uses it in his stuffed ravioli. My favorite yogurt in the world. Cheddar, Wallaby, Lesher, Vermeer, Fetas. I had the Special Reserve Vermeer- aged at least 7 months, it has a nuttier flavor than the younger Vermeer. Bovre, German style Quark and..... pudding.

Painted Hand Farm from Pennsylvania will have humanely raised, grass-fed ROSE veal and goat meat. All cuts: shanks, chops, ground, veal scaloppini (a thin cutlet), breakfast link goat sausage , hot and sweet Italian veal sausage, traditional German-style Bratwurst (veal and pork)
.
Truck Patch: ASPARAGUS- mesclun, lettuce mix, arugula, spinach, radishes, brassica mix, stir fry and braising greens., mint, cilantro, chives, garlic chives, spring onions. I love their chives and garlic chives slivered over asparagus soup. Bryan reminds me that he has asparagus seconds that are perfect for soup.

Brian's pastured pigs root around in shady Maryland groves. Try his thick fresh pork chops for dinner , bone-in and boneless pork loin roast, pork shoulder roast, Boston butt roast, baby back ribs, spare ribs, sausage, hams, bacon. Try their hams if you want to remember what Ham should taste like.

Pastured Beef: Truck Patch has every cut of Black Angus pastured beef.


New Asbury Lamb:

Bill and Joan will have every cut of Spring lamb and will have some sales on Sage and Italian sausage and Whole lamb roasts. Stock up for your Memorial Day barbecues because, as you know, they can only come to market every other week. Special taste treat at their stand: Sample their sausage.

Spring Lamb: whole bone legs, whole boneless legs, half butterfly boneless, kebab cubes, shanks,boneless loin roast, loin chops, racks, rib chops, half boneless shoulder roast, stew cubes, sage and Italian sausage,ground lamb and organ meats

Common Good City Farm (Formerly 7th Street Garden)

They visited us frequently last year -- and they will be joining us permanently this year. You may see them wheeling their produce over to market from their new home at the Gage-Eckington Schoolyard! They will have lots of fresh herbs and plants for your gardens and containers.


See you Sunday, RAIN OR SHINE.


Robin and Ted

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

1426 North Capitol St NW being auctioned off

Description:

Partially renovated 2,271 +/- sf commercial building on North Capitol Street in Washington DC. The property is zoned C-2A which permits a wide variety of commercial uses. Great location between New York Ave & Florida Ave NW.


more info here

neighbors at artomatic?

as an artist i'm always interested in other artists in the neighborhood.
any of you participating at artomatic? comment and leave your website and the floor you'll be on.
leave the name of your hood too.

Monday, May 11, 2009

BLOOMINGDALE COMMUNITY YARD SALE

BLOOMINGDALE COMMUNITY
YARD SALE
Sponsored by the CADC –A not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing and maintaining Crispus Attucks Park for the entire community
crispus attucks park

Saturday May 30th, 8AM -2PM

(Rain date: Sat June 6th)
in CRISPUS ATTUCKS PARK
The private community park between the unit blocks of U and V Streets and the 2000 blocks of North Capitol & 1st streets.
In the heart of DC’s Bloomingdale neighborhood

This year CADC is pleased to announce that the Community Yard sale is being held in conjunction with the:
7th Annual Health and Fitness Fair - 10AM-2PM
A Community Health and Wellness Fair sponsored by Mt Bethel Baptist Church
on 1st St. between Rhode Island Ave. NW and U St. NW

WANT TO SELL? REGISTER NOW
• Dozens of sellers and loads of shoppers on an acre of green park space
• We do all the advertising and bring all the buyers to you!
• Brings your wares* and a table, set up and sell – It’s that easy!

*Sorry, the sale of food is prohibited. CADC relies heavily on revenues from its snack stand to support its ongoing activities. Thank you for your understanding

Registration Fee: $25 if you register before May 16th and $35 afterwards (or the day of the sale). Forms are available on the park’s website www.crispusattuckspark.org or contact Tynesia at 703- 973- 5733 or tynesia27 @ aol.com .

RATHER DONATE MERCHANDISE?
If you won’t be able to sell at the Yard sale, consider donating items to the “CADC Table.” 100% of the proceeds from these sales will go to park maintenance and improvement projects.
Contact Andrea at 202-986-7680 or CADCyardsale @ att.net to donate merchandise.

another gallery in bloomingdale

NOA Gallery & Design Studio
132 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
202- 483- 7328

PRESS RELEASE

NOA GALLERY REOPENING

NOA Gallery & Design Studio (New, Old & Abstract) is owned and operated by Michael Little, artist and designer. Centrally located at 132 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., NOA Gallery is presenting a long awaited reopening on Saturday afternoon, May 16, 2009, between the hours of 12 noon and 4 o'clock p.m. NOA Gallery is located within the Shaw, Bloomingdale, and LeDroit Park boundaries of Washington, D.C. The Gallery will be open from Wednesday to Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday hours from noon to 6 p.m., all other times by appointment (202-483- 7328

Sunday, May 10, 2009

i'm intrigued by this space

empty

its on the market

Personally, i'd love to use it as a studio space, maybe do sculpture workshops or painting workshops out of there. but it'd also make a rockin bar or restaurant space.
junque no more
given the spaces nearby, it seems inevitable that this block will become more active commercially. bloomingdale liquors, the yoga place, maybe baraki, dc minimart, the empty and rather large space directly across the street. could be a lot going on.
bloomingdale center
for lease

still no retail....hellers???

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Open Houses scheduled in Bloomingdale/LeDroit Park/Eckington for Sunday 05/10/2009



There are a few scheduled open houses for Sunday, as seen in the link. Rod Davis with Re/Max Allegiance has asked that I mention that 54 Randolph Pl NW, now fully renovated and officially on the market, will be open from 1:30-3:30pm on Sunday.

My daughter has insisted that I not work on Mother's Day, so no open houses for me. Happy Mother's Day to all of the families who choose to raise their children in Bloomingdale!

alley


Monday, May 04, 2009

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Open Houses and April Sales




Here is information regarding properties in and around the neighborhood that went to settlement in April 2009.

Sunday Open Houses for 5/3/09 can be found here.