How Does Your Garden Grow?
Thanks
to nearly 50 community members who braved the rain to participate in this
year’s Bloomingdale Beautification Day, the neighborhood is blossoming. The
annual event, sponsored by the Bloomingdale Civic Association (BCA) and
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 5E, helps turn neighbors into friends.
“We are in a neighborhood that’s still changing and evolving,” said Teri Janine
Quinn, ANC 5E06 commissioner and president of the BCA. “This is the kind of
event where you’ll get people together from different backgrounds, working
toward a common goal and sharing experiences. It’s a way to build a sense of
community.”
With
Bloomingdale resident Chris Rodousakis organizing the event, the volunteers
beautified neighborhood tree boxes by planting rose bushes, junipers,
andliriope, a grass-like ground cover.
“It
provides an opportunity for all residents – newcomers and long-term residents,
elders and youth, homeowners and business owners – to meet each other and
collaboratively engage in an activity that visibly benefits the community,”
shared Bertha Holliday, ANC 5E07 commissioner and second vice president of the
BCA. Remarked Quinn, “It’s a great time to mix a little bit of work with a lot
of fun.”
The
event, which Bloomingdale has had for more than 25 years, was capped off with a
party at Bacio’s Pizzeria. “The pizza and wine provided to us by Bacio's
Pizzeria were the perfect addition to a sunny afternoon, when two dozen of us
took a break from digging, planting, and building tree boxes to enjoy each
other's company,” said Horacio Sierra, BCA’s recording secretary. He added, “It
was a great opportunity for neighbors from the north and south side of
Bloomingdale to meet one another and reflect on how far the neighborhood has
come since the turn of the century.”
Looking
ahead, the BCA will have a Town Hall Forum on Saturday, May 21, that will
feature multimedia interactive presentations, neighborhood discussions, and
vetting of the public space improvements proposed by BCA's Bloomingdale Village
Square Project.
Contact
the Bloomingdale Civic Association at www.bloomingdalecivicassociation.org or
email ReachBloomingdaleCA@gmail.com.
ANXO
Cidery & Pintxos Bar is coming to Bloomingdale this spring and is throwing
pre-opening events all over town. This long-awaited venture will pair Basque
cuisine with traditional cider making to revitalize the Midatlantic’s historic
libation.
Cider
has been popular since colonial times when early settlers drank it as
nourishment and as a safer alternative to water. The ANXO team is capitalizing
on this tradition by using heirloom apple varieties local to this region to
make some of its own cider, but will offer a variety from around the world. In
addition to more than 20 ciders on draft, ANXO will have 20 draft lines
dedicated to beer and cocktails as well as a selection of wines from the Basque
country and surrounding areas.
To
pair with the ciders, ANXO will offer pintxos, which are small bites made to be
eaten with cider. The menu will include heartier dishes, as well, that are
typical to a Basque cider house, a tradition that executive chef Alex Vallcorba
knows well. “I'm from Spain, and I grew up with this food,” Vallcorba said. “I
love the simplicity of the plating – three or four ingredients in one dish that
speaks for itself … I want people to have an experience. Even if you haven't
been to Basque country or Spain, you should feel like these flavors are true to
that experience.”
For
10 days in May, ANXO is taking over Petworth’s Crane & Turtle so diners can
get a taste of what’s coming to Bloomingdale, including dishes such as stuffed
squid on a bed of ink sauce with sherry-vinegar caramelized onions, and cod
fritters with vizcaína sauce. ANXO will also be at Colony Club on May 22.
“The
restaurant is family,” Vallcorba said. “It's about bringing people together.
Yes, the cider and food are important. But I want people to come to ANXO … and
give them that experience, so that they want to come back. They're in a
restaurant, but they're also in our home.” The team behind ANXO includes chef
Vallcorba, general manager Sam Fitz, managing partner Rachel Fitz, beverage
director Tim Prendergast, and bar manager Cooper Sheehan.
Visit
ANXO Cidery & Pintxos at 300 Florida Ave. NW or at www.anxodc.com.
Old
Engine 12 has been a beacon on North Capitol for more than 100 years. With a
diverse menu of delicious dishes and entertaining events, this
firehouse-turned-restaurant is continuing its tradition of serving the
community.
Designed
by architect Snowden Ashford and constructed in 1895, the building was the home
of Engine Company 12 for nearly a century. Owned by Historic Restaurants Inc.,
the firehouse underwent two years and millions of dollars’ worth of renovations
but retains the original exposed brick, floors, ceilings, and pine stairways.
“Our hope was (and is) to somewhat enshrine the building, which is rich in
history and memorable experiences for generations of DC firefighters and the
Bloomingdale community,” explained Jessey Drewsen, director of events at Old
Engine 12.
Black-and-white
photos of the building as a firehouse line the brick walls, a pair of fireman’s
boots sit perched in a window, and the original brass fireman’s pole is still
in place. The three-story building includes an event space and bar on the
second floor where the restaurant hosts private functions, Tuesday trivia
nights, and various bands, including neighborhood favorite Granny & the
Boys.
Executive
chef Peter Prime has created a menu that will please any palate. Standouts
include the spring chicken and cornbread jalapeno waffles with smoked cheddar
and kampot pepper, brisket served with a brown butter mash, smoked cheddar
mac’n’cheese, and open oven pizzas. Drinks feature the signature Old Engine 12,
with Redemption Rye, St. Germain, and lemon, and, as an homage to the history
of the building, the Hydrant #12, which has mint, cucumber, simple syrup, lime,
lemonade, and Langley’s Gin.
Old
Engine 12 is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch and offers permanent
discounts to DC firefighters. Looking ahead, the restaurant will host a patio
party and menu tasting, a brunch expo for the Bloomingdale Civic Association,
and on May 21 a Firefly Music Festival Preview Party that will include a silent
disco, games, prizes, ticket giveaways, and food and beverage tastings.
Visit
Old Engine 12 Restaurant at 1626 North Capitol St. NW, at www.oldengine12restaurant.com,
or call 202-299-9128.
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