Things are Poppin' in Truxton Circle

Check out some of the very cool things happening just to the south of bloomingdale in Truxton Circle

FABLAB DC
We mentioned FabLabDC before. I'm especially excited about this. I would invite everyone that is interested to contact them to see how you can help make this happen.

Fab Lab



Uncle Chips
I've heard great things about Uncle Chips, but I havent tried them yet. What I do know is that they are NOW OPEN.

Uncle Chip's Cookie, Desserts & Cafe is now open! We are a small

batch bakery specializing in chocolate chip cookies. Ours might even

be the best in the city made with dark chocolate, flax seed and the

perfect combination of chew and crunch. Other items include vegan

granola bars, muffins, specialty sweet breads and white chocolate

dipped shortbread.

Offering breakfast in the AM. Our menu includes bagel sammys,

yogurt parfaits, oatmeal, fresh fruit and Java House coffee.

Everything is fresh and made to order. Please stop by and see us!

Local delivery and on-line ordering also available at

unclechips.com.

1514 North Capitol Street NW

Hours of Operation:

7 AM - 2 PM Monday - Friday

9 AM - 2 PM Saturday

Closed Sunday

ReVive
I had probably the best fish and chips I've ever had at ReVive. Fantastic mac and cheese too. I'm not a huge foodie so you'll have to judge for yourself, but i love the place. Go check this newish carry-out place on Florida NW at North Capitol Street.

SnitchEye
The Bates Civic Association facebook page indicates that a causal wine bar will be opening at 3rd and Florida NW. More talk of it on PrinceofPetworth. I'm sure many of you know that a wine bar will probably be opening up on North Capitol in Bloomingdale this year too, right?


The New Playground
I don't have a picture of it, but the playground equipment going in at First and Florida makes we wish I was a kid. It looks amazing.

Dunbar
I don't know the timeframe, or really the extent of the entire project, but it looks like things are moving forward in the reconstruction of Dunbar High School. The field at least is all dug up and being worked on.

And though actually in Bloomingdale, but right across the street from Truxton, is the new Studio85 store.
Wow. Good luck to all the new businesses!

? new basement-level coffee shop coming to south side of the 200 block of Florida Ave NW ?

A Randolph Place NW resident asks if anyone has info about what appears to be a new neighborhood coffee place:

Might someone know something about the new basement-level coffee shop coming -- located on the south side of the 200 block of Florida Avenue NW?

For about 3 weeks, we have seen a sign that says 'coffee house coming'...and there is a little neon open/close (I think) in the window. Very exciting.

old engine company 12 to become 2020 Martini

The city last month finalized the sale of Old Engine Co. 12 at 1626 N. Capitol St. to Brian Brown, managing partner of NC Firehouse LLC, which is led by his company, NextGen Development. Brown purchased the building for $600,000, the value at which the city assessed it, and plans to put another $2.4 million into renovations.

The three-story, 10,000-square-foot space will become home of 2020 Martini at Engine Co. 12, a restaurant concept by Twyla Garrett of Cleveland-based Garrett Entertainment Corp.





full article here
Washington Business Journal - by Gillian Gaynair Staff Reporter



other highlights include:

-XM radio is in on the deal and will be doing live broadcastings from the location
-Twyla Garrett of Cleveland-based Garrett Entertainment Corp will be the developer
-the will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner
-first floor will serve brick-oven pizzas.
-a small pasta bar and a sushi bar.
-2nd floor will have live music performances
-third floor will have an espresso bar
-a rooftop deck will offer tapas.
-Harry Thomas introduced a bill seeking 10 years of property tax relief for NC Firehouse LLC

here is the website for 2020 Martini in Columbus, Ohio, owned by Twyla Garrett
warning: music starts playing when the page loads.

apparently work has already started on the building.......

here was my first post about the firehouse

the obligatory negativity about the project can be found here.

Olsson's on 7th Street got the boot?

i'm told that Olsson's on 7th street in the landsburg building is closing. Apparenty they are getting kicked out because some business offered to pay twice as much rent.

How about moving to north capitol Olsson's?

timor bodega

See this message from Kim Wee, proprietor of the Timor Bodega, 2nd & Rhode Island Avenue NW.


What's New:

Eco-Friendly Foods--run by a protege of Joel Salatin for those of us who are familiar with The Omnivore's Dilemma--has restocked the store with quite a variety of cuts. Included are pork ham steaks, loin roast, pork belly, beef ribeye steak, london broil and even a big 100-day aged Red Devon Ribeye roast.

There is also ground chicken, lamb and beef and various sausages. The beef and pork are from breeds of heritage, are not available in grocery stores due to limited supply. But you can get them in your own neighborhood alright.

Beer: Samuel Smith's Organic Ale is a must-try for a fruity, almost cidery ale. Plenty of choices for the "hop-heads" though: Double-Daddy IPA, Lagunitas Maximus and Stone IPA among others.

Wine: Organic Pinot Grigio and Cote du Rhone are back, along with a Chardonnay from Bodega Lurton, whose Malbec and Pinot Gris were well-received.

Coffee: We're getting through the last of the syrupy, earthy Balinese coffee this weekend. Up next: a Brazil estate batch.

Weekend Schedule:

Saturday:
Whatsa Bagel Bagels, store open 8:30am-8pm

Sunday:
Atwaters bread, store opens at 9:30am-7pm

Produce from Truck Patch Farms: spring mix, baby spinach etc.

Other organic produce all weekend:
Green beans, celery root, parsnips, rutabagas and mushrooms.

Windows Cafe Wine Tasting

Mr. Abeje advises that there will be a wine-tasting event tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, March 22, 2008, at Windows Cafe -- from 4 pm to 7 pm.

There will be both red and white wines.

Plus cheeses and other snacks.

So stop by and participate!

Readings at Big Bear Cafe

While i will be over in Georgetown for the Glass3 Opening, there is a great event happening right here in Bloomingdale tomorrow night.


Thurs/Tomorrow/February 21st - 8 PM - Big Bear Cafe - Free
Semezdin Mehmedinoviæ was born in Bosnia. As war raged in Bosnia-Hercegovina, he remained active in Sarajevo's resistance movement. Before coming to the United States as a political refugee, he worked as a journalist, columnist, and an editor of the magazine "Phantom of Liberty." He has published several books of poetry in his native Bosnia. Two of his books, "Sarajevo Blues," (1992) and "Nine Alexandrias," (2003), were published by City Lights.

Brian Broduer is a poet and the author of the chapbook "So the Night Cannot Go On Without Us" and winnner of the University of Akron Press' 2007 Akron Poetry Prize for his first collection, "Other Latitudes". Give him enough drinks and find out why friends call him Sugarbear.

We met singer/songwriter Rocky Jones back in September. He's like an iron fist in a velvet glove. Or is it a velvet fist in an iron glove? Rocky Jones is good at what he does.

Ramtin Arablouei is an Iranian-American poet/spoken-word artist, musician, and actor. He played a leading role in the 2004 play Citizen's Patrol at the H Street Playhouse and he currently plays percussion for the DC based band Drop Electric. He'll be wearing the poet/spoken-word artist hat for this.
Hope to See You There,
Joe
BigBearReadings@gmail.com

Timor Bodega

Message from Timor Bodega Proprietor Kim Wee

Thursday 7PM
Just a reminder that there will be a wine tasting 7PM at Timor Bodega. I have already gotten a head-start on trying the organic Pinot Grigio and it is rather enjoyable! Should have a last minute addition to the tasting if it makes it onto the delivery truck tomorrow: Simonsig's Pinotage. Also more new beer arrived today from Stone, Bells and Speak Easy breweries.

Coffee Tasting Saturday 10AM:
Calling all coffeeholics, we have some really exotic stuff here. Most of the coffee we drink here is wet-processed, that is to say it has been fermented in a vat before the fruit is washed away. It does not sound too appetizing, and neither are the aromas involved, but it does result in a "clean" tasting cup. Occasionally, we might chance dry-processed coffee, which means it has been left to ferment on the ground or on a screen. This time, would you believe, Tree-dried coffee! From an Indian Estate, it will be roasted and available by the bag all weekend long. Heavy-bodied with low-acidity, it promises rustic fruit tones. I'm excited about this one, but that's not all.....have Balinese and new Brazilian coffee which I will introduce in the following weekends.

Produce Stand Sunday 10-2
SA sourdough, wheat boules, rosemary loaves, seasonally baked pies all from Atwater's bakery in Baltimore. If only there was a bakery like that in DC, I would have bread of this standard every single day. Also, Lulu avocados, Florida citrus, local salad greens, kale, broccoli, bacon and chops from Truck Patch stocked SEVEN days a week now.

CHERYL'S GONE: A READING SERIES AT BIG BEAR CAFE

CHERYL'S GONE: A READING SERIES AT BIG BEAR CAFE
JANUARY 17, 2008
8:00 PM
CORNER OF FIRST AND R NW WASHINGTON DC
http://www.bigbearcafe-dc.com/

POETRY by CAREN SCOTT
Current NOVA-ite / Ex Floridian and Atlantite. Author of poems dealing with the supernova that is occurring between your lungs and below your sternum. Also, excellent at playing the singing-saw.

POETRY by CATHY EISENHOWER
Poet and author of the collections Language of Dog-Heads and the upcoming Clearing Without Reversal.

PROSE by JEN GIRDISH
Award-nominated essayist and journalist for places like the Washington Post and the Washington City Paper.

MUSIC by SAHBA SIZDAHKHANI
Drummer, soundscape artist and post-revolutionary composer. Visit him online at sahbasizdahkhani.com to listen.

Hope to see you there--

Joe
(BigBearReadings@gmail.com)

luciana cafe

See Kris Hammonds Post about a new restaurant on North Capitol.

coffee for NoMa

Eckington DC Living tells us that a new coffee shop will be opening on the 200 block of Florida Avenue NE.

Pound Coffee.

mom and pop coffee shops vs starbucks

if you've read this blog much you know i like coffee. if you know me, you know i'm obsessed with it.
you may have also gleaned that i'm partial to locally owned spots and independent place with unique character.

i found this Slate article about the effect nearby Starbucks have on indie coffeeshops very interesting.

Today in Bloomingdale- Holiday Art Market-

Local Artists, designers, and craftspeople will be selling their unique creations at the Big Bear Cafe on December 1, from 3- 9 PM.

Vendors Include:
Jesse Walker


Patricia Lee
Moira McCauley
Sean Hennessey
Rania Hassan
Debbie Lee


Kristina Bilonick





A. Drauglis

Bloomingdale Holiday Art Market at the Big Bear Cafe!

Bloomingdale Holiday Art Market at the Big Bear Cafe!
Saturday, December 1, 3-9pm
Arts, crafts, hot cider, fun!



DC artists, designers, and craftspeople will be selling their creations at the Big Bear Cafe on December 1st.
Please come and check it out.



Please Help Us Spread the Word!

big bear, hot off the presses

our own Big Bear Cafe gets some hot press action in the posts food section.

Long, long ago, before Starbucks ruled the world, coffee shops were real community spots with mismatched furniture, friendly faces and drinks that you could order without resorting to such phrases as "half-caf skinny with wings."

Big Bear Cafe, which opened in June in Bloomingdale, is a throwback to the B.S. era.

mark your calendars! Saturday December 1. 3-9 PM at the Big Bear

for bloomingdales first holiday art's market.
DC artists and crafts people and designers.

keep an eye out for more info!

events in bloomingdale

Tonight:
TONIGHT = CHERYL'S GONE

{a reading series at Big Bear Café}
Event Starts @ 8:00 pm

Featuring

Buck Downs
{poet; Mississippi born &, 80s onward, Washington raised; recent books include Ladies Love Outlaws, Let it Rip & Recreational Vehicle}

Ethan Edwards
{singer/songwriter/lady's man}

Jade Foster
{poet; published in "Growin Up Girl: Voice From Marginalized Space; terrible driver}

echothrs/John Jones
{gorgeous noise : www.myspace.com/echothrs }

&, of course, beer & wine swapped for donations

Questions? Readers/performers you'd like to see here? Interested in the possibility of an open-mic at Big Bear? Contact Joe @ BigBearReadings@gmail.com

Friday night:
See this message from North Capitol Main Street President Pat Mitchell:

DID YOU KNOW?

Wine tastings are popular because they override the limitations of sampling wine alone, at home. How many wines can you taste on your own (unless you don't mind throwing away nine-tenths of every bottle)? How many wines are you willing to buy on your own? And how much can you learn by tasting wine in isolation — or with a friend whose expertise is no greater than yours?
At wine tastings, you can learn from your fellow tasters, as well as make new friends who share your interest in wine. Most importantly, you can taste wine in the company of some individuals who are more experienced than you, which is a real boon in training your palate.

NCMS invites you to come out to taste great wines and beers, mingle with neighbors and friends and get to know your neighborhood purveyor of Fine Wines and Spirits, Mr. Singh of Bloomingdale Liquors.
North Capitol Main Streets
First-ever Fall Wine Tasting
Bloomingdale Liquors
1st and Rhode Island Avenue NW
Friday, October 19, 2007
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

still time

banished? productions has announced a production of their "play machine," Balade Mechanique (ver. 1.0)at Big Bear Cafe from Monday October 8th through Sunday October 13th.


It's part of the city-wide Susan Lori Parks' 365 series. The machine will do 7 of the plays.

admission is whatever you'd like to donate.
7-9 PM at the big bear cafe.



I went on tuesday night to see what this was about. its a fun video/ sculpture contraption that you have to fiddle around with to see whats going on. start over at the video screen and select which "play" you want to watch. its a bit Dada, so just roll with it.

tuesday night at big bear.

banished? productions will unveil their so-secret-that-we-only-sent-the-press-release-two-days-ago
BALLADES MECHANIQUES (ver 1.0) story machine at
Big Bear Cafe
(1700 1st St NW - that's 1st & R, near Florida Ave if that helps)
a fabulous place that serves up the fantastic coffee by Counter Culture
OCTOBER 8-14, 2007.
Café hours: M-F, 7a-9p; Sa, 7:30a-6p; Su 9a-5p.
Play a play, or seven, for free. Donations are graciously accepted.


What pray tell is this gadgetry of alleged theatrical association?
Well, best if you came on down to this super-chill cafe and find out for yourself!

We will be having a low-key-post-opening fete at Big Bear Cafe on Tuesday, Oct 9th at 6pm .
The wee rations of champagne's on us, but coffee (and you know you want some!) and such intoxicating beverages as well-made mochas, lattes and mighty leaf teas are available at the cafe! Support us by supporting them too!

Ok, the real answer, if you really need one...

Made entirely of found and salvaged materials, BALLADES MECHANIQUE (ver 1.0) is a Rube Goldberg-inspired machine that fashions an individual sensory experience of the play for the audience member/user. The user selects a story, thus activating the machine and the experience. The plays are primarily performed with the assistance of digital video, which re-imagines the stories with animations and puppets, creating an aural/visual accompanist to Suzan-Lori Parks' rhythmically distinct and intensely succinct writing. Video is also used to instruct the user on how to discover the stories that require the assistance of the viewer, who manipulates hand cranks, buttons, switches and such to dispense the stories. banished? concept is hugely playful and borrows liberally from the Dadaist movement in its interpretation of its seven plays. The aim was to create a way of telling stories – an age-old practice and intrinsic human need – using a method that expressed a complex, multi-layered vision of the human being persevering in an irrevocably technological world.

Hope you can catch it!

Theatre in Bloomingdale.

banished? productions has announced a production of their "play machine," Balade Mechanique (ver. 1.0)at Big Bear Cafe from Monday October 8th through Sunday October 13th.


It's part of the city-wide Susan Lori Parks' 365 series. The machine will do 7 of the plays.

admission is whatever you'd like to donate.
7-9 PM at the big bear cafe.