Robert Brannum hired on a contract with the DC Office of Veterans Affairs

Washington Post's Mike DeBonis mentions Bloomingdale resident Robert Brannum in his Thursday, 07/28/2011 column:

Posted at 10:12 AM ET, 07/28/2011
DeMorning DeBonis: July 28, 2011
By Mike DeBonis
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/post/demorning-debonis-july-28-2011/2011/07/28/gIQAmGOteI_blog.html

WELCOME TO THE ADMINISTRATION — Robert Vinson Brannum, news-conference-attending, military-medal-wearing, Post-editorial-hating Ward 5 activist, has been hired on a $37,000 contract with the Office of Veterans Affairs, Suderman reports (http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2011/07/27/megaphone-wielding-vince-gray-admirer-to-help-d-c-remember-911-for-37000/): ``[Gray community affairs chief Steve Glaude] says Brannum wasn`t rewarded with a city job because of his `media activities` nor solely because of Brannum`s support of the mayor`s campaign. Brannum was hired, Glaude says, because he`s been an avid advocate for veteran`s affairs ... and has the skills necessary to help the Office of Veteran`s Affairs prepare for the Sept. 11th commemoration.`` Glaude adds that ``if you know anything about Robert, he can be quite animated in his request for employment.``

(The image above is the logo of the DC Office of Veterans Affairs.)

Open Houses in and around Bloomingdale for 07/31/2011

July can be a sluggish month for real estate in DC, with people in and out of town, but for some reason, the heat and July vacations don't seem to be hampering activity. For those currently on the hunt for a home, see your B'dale open house options here. The same info can be seen in a map format. To see specific details about each listing, scroll over the push pins on the map.

procedural protest of the Engine Company 12 ABRA application

See this 07/29/2011 message from ANC 5C03 Commissioner Hugh Youngblood:

Procedural Protest of the Engine Company 12 ABRA Application

Dear Members of the Community,

The Engine Company 12 team has indicated their preference to negotiate a Voluntary Agreement with the surrounding community regarding their ABRA application under the leadership of the ABRA mediator. As such, I`ll be working with Commissioners Pinkney and Thomas and any interested members of the community to develop and submit a protest petition to ABRA in order to formally initiate the structured mediation process.

If you`d like to join the working group on the subject, please contact either me, your SMD Commissioner (if you live outside the borders of SMD 5C03), or your local Civic Association leaders.

If you`d like to show your support for the Engine Company 12 ABRA application as filed, please let me know and contact Mr. Steven May to determine how the team could best use your help.

For more information, please visit the Engine Company 12 website (http://enginecompany12.com/).

Hugh Youngblood
ANC, SMD 5C03
anc5c03@gmail.com

Yoga District Information.

Jasmine posted this in the comments, but I didn't want it to get lost there.

hi guys! jasmine from yoga district here. we'll move back to yoga district 1st st once the minimarket fixes the bug problem. but if there's enough community support for it, we can keep both the old and new yoga district bloomingdale locations, making one hot yoga and the other normal. what do you guys think?

btw the new bloomingdale location might have sweet rooftop yoga possibilities (when it's not 100+ degrees out).

love and peace

leather sleeper sofa and matching recliner for sale

See this message. Note that only the image of the sleeper sofa is presented here.

Would it be possible to place a blog post about my furniture that I'm trying to sell? I've added the description and pics below...
Thanks!

Leather sleeper sofa and matching recliner for sale!

Both of these pieces are two years old and are from Jennifer Convertibles. They are in excellent condition and very comfortable. $850.

Please contact Lindsey for more info! Enotsnil@gmail.com

Want to Help Build a New Playground?

A neighbor email this to me and asked me to post it:

Sign Up to Help Build a New Playground at 45 P Street NW

I am a local parent who is excited about the new playground that will be built at the Associates for Renewal in Education (ARE) facility at 45 P Street NW. The playground will be open to the public when school is not in session so it will be a great benefit for kids in the neighborhood. I talked with the project manager from Kaboom which is sponsoring the playground to get some more details.

Volunteers are needed to help build the playground on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 8:30 am-2:30 pm. You can sign up to volunteer and to receive updates from Kaboom at http://projects.kaboom.org/projects/5201-washington-capitals No building experience is required, and gloves, dust masks and sunscreen will be provided for volunteers. There will be supervision for youth with some activities, but I don’t know the age range for the kids who will be supervised.

ARE has served the DC area for more than 30 years, and the organization provides child care and pre-kindergarten classes at 45 P Street NW. You can read more about ARE HERE I hope our community gets behind this project and rolls up our sleeves to help! Another playground would be a great addition to the neighborhood.

Best,

Brendan L. Smith

the Saturday, 8-6-2011 NCMS Art + Music Walk needs volunteers to help make it a great day

See this message from Truxton Circle resident and North Capitol Main Street Executive Director, Lonna Hooks:

** ART WALK **
Needs YOU!

Art Walk is quickly approaching and we need volunteers to help make it a great day for all!

J o i n U s

Wednesday
August 3, 2011
7:00pm

NCMS Office
1703 North Capitol St, NE
Washington, DC 20001

We have several details to finalize and a sign-up sheet will be available. There are still several slots open for you to lend a hand.

If you can help to make this year's Art Walk a great success we hope to see you at the meeting.

Please RSVP HERE or email Lonna Hooks at lhooks@ncmsinc.org if you plan on attending.

Contact Information
North Capitol Main Street
1703 North Capitol St, NE
Washington, DC 20001
202-670-1703
www.ncmsinc.org

DC MUD profiles 2429 1st St NW - on the market for $724,999

Hey! The DC MUD blog has profiled a Bloomingdale residential property for sale -- 2429 1st Street NW, located on the southeast corner of 1st & Channing St NW. Across the both the McMillan Reservoir and the McMillan Sand Filtration site.

http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2011/07/your-next-place_27.html

Yoga District relocates from 1st St NW to 3rd & Florida Ave NW

See this news:

http://www.yogadistrict.com/the-studios/yoga-district-bloomingdale /

Investigating Where We Live (including Bloomingdale!) Opening Reception - Friday, 07-29-2011

Dear Bloomingdale residents:

Thank you again for your time, contribution, and support of our teens involved in Investigating Where We Live.

Andrew and I hope you will join us and feel free to forward email and attached invite to others.
For those who are not digitally connected, would you please help us spread the news and/or suggest avenues to do so?

Investigating Where We Live
Opening Reception
Friday, July 29 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm
@ National Building Museum

Investigating Where We Live is a four-week summer program in which local middle and high school students use photography, interviews, and sketching to explore, document, and interpret
Washington D.C. neighborhoods.

The 2011 exhibition features student's stories about Bloomingdale, H Street, and Mount Pleasant through photography, writing, art, and other creative expression.

Come see students’ fresh perspectives on these vibrant and historic neighborhoods!

The Friday opening reception to the exhibit is FREE. After that, there will be an admission charge for exhibits of $8 adults, $5 youth.
If you're unable to join us Friday, the exhibition is on view to the public from July 30, 2011 through May 28, 2012.

Check out the IWWL blog here:
http://nbmoutreach.tumblr.com/archive

More info on IWWL here:
http://www.nbm.org/families-kids/teens-young-adults/iwwl-program.html

My best,
Bessie Lee
National Building Museum 401 F St. NW Washington, DC 20001 www.nbm.org Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

WCP Housing Complex picks up on Snorre Wik's wordless McMillan YouTube video

Recall Bloomingdale resident Snorre Wik's wordless video on the McMillan Sand Filtration site? http://www.youtube.com/vidiot9000#p/a/u/0/WeOwqFyh5-8 .

Looks like this YouTube video got noticed by Lydia DePillis of the Washington City Paper Housing Complex column.

Here you go:

Persistent Grumbling at McMillan Produces Pretty Video
Posted by Lydia DePillis on Jul. 25, 2011 at 8:19 am
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/07/25/persistent-grumbling-at-mcmillan-produces-pretty-video

In the last few days, a wordless little ditty on the historic elements of the McMillan Sand Filtration Plant site hit the internet. Made by Bloomingdale resident Snorre Wik, it`s part of an attempt by local leaders to press for as much historic preservation and park space on the McMillan site on North Capitol Street as possible.

Even after an extensive community engagement process last winter (http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2010/12/16/the-great-reset-mcmillan-has-bedeviled-developers-for-decades-can-the-latest-try-be-the-last/ ), some local advisory neighborhood commissioners thought those elements—along with stormwater and traffic mitigation—were inadequate. They declined to quickly give the draft concept their initial stamp of approval, which would have given the private development team strength going through the zoning and historic reviews.

In June, the city announced (http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/print-edition/2011/06/10/dc-changes-course-at-mcmillan-will.html ) that it would be taking over those processes, which will include traffic and stormwater management studies. After a community meeting on the subject, commissioner Hugh Youngblood laid out his take on a local blog (http://bloomingdaleneighborhood.blogspot.com/2011/06/hugh-youngbloods-thoughts-from-thursday.html ).

``I received the clear message that the community is ready to deploy its skills and dedication into an effort equivalent to the Manhattan Project with the mission of taking the power back and developing a plan for the historic McMillan by by the people and for the people,`` Youngblood wrote.

Youngblood`s group is talking with an Australian landscape architect and planning a survey of residents to come up with a few points of agreement. ``Things that are the major drivers of external impacts need to be addressed first rather than last,`` he told me a few weeks ago. ``I do think we need to start over in terms of transportation and stormwater, and in terms of a park.``

This project has ``started over`` so many times that even the closest observers can lose track.

(McMillan silo image courtesy of Suzanne Des Marais.)

Open Houses in and around Bloomingdale for 07/24/2011

Personally, I'd rather be at the pool today, but if you are willing to brave the heat, there are a bunch of open houses scheduled for today. The same information can be seen in a map format. To see information for individual listings, scroll over the push pins on the map.

short film on the landmarked McMillan Sand Filtration site

See this message from Bloomingdale resident Snorre Wik:

We made a short film starring The McMillan Reservoir:

http://www.youtube.com/vidiot9000#p/a/u/0/WeOwqFyh5-8 .

The film is titled "McMillan Park."

(McMillan silo image courtesy of Suzanne Des Marais.)

closure of Florida Avenue Park on 08/01/2011 as the 1st step towards renovations

From: Geovani A Bonilla[SMTP:GBONILLA @ HOSPICEMAN AGEMENT.COM]
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2011 5:37:53 PM
Subject: Florida Avenue and First Street Park to Close for Demolition on Monday, August 1st.

Dear Commissioners, Community Leaders and Friends of the Florida Avenue Park,

I received a call from Ms. Jackie Stanley from DPR to notify me of the scheduled closing of the Florida Avenue Park. The park will start the pre-construction, demolition phase on Monday, August 1st (as we had notified the committee, this could have taken place anytime after July 9th when the contract was approved).

Commissioner Thomas, DPR and I will be coordinating a community meeting the week of August 8th to discuss the project and for community input. As leaders of your community, this information is being shared with you to discriminate to your constituents. We will be putting out flyers and notices of the meeting once we set the exact date and time.

Regards,

Geovani A. Bonilla
Bates Area Civic Association, President
Washington, DC 20001
Email: gbonilla@hospicemanagement.com

DC's worst pop-up of all time, 26 P St NE, recently sold for $699,000

I spied this neighborhood property sale:

P Street NE, 26-First Savings Mortgage Corp. to Doustan II Corp., $699,000.

Recall that Mari of the InShaw blog reported this piece of crap:

http://www.inshaw.com/blog/2009/02/26-p-st-ne-tall-piece-of-crap-for-sale.html

and who could forget the Prince of Petworth's label of "The Worst Pop-Up of All Time?

http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/01/worst-pop-up-of-all-time/

(Image courtesy of Prince of Petworth.)

mystery "Bloomingdale" playground location identified: unit block of P St NW

A post over at the Bates Area Civic Assiciation (BACA) blog provides the answer to the question of the location of the mystery "Bloomingdale" playground as reported in the Washington Examiner (http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/2011/07/teaming-build-super-playground):

The location?

The unit block of P Street NW.

See the BACA blog post: http://batesareacivicassociation.org/2011/07/21/new-are-playground/

And see this video press release: http://washingtoncapitals.tumblr.com/post/7859290415/john-carlson-elliot-segal-from-dc101-and-kaboom .

So while this new playground isn't actually in Bloomingdale, it is nearby in Truxton Circle/Bates area. Another park in the community!

Ecumenical Council's Annual Fellowship Festival this Saturday, 07-23-2011

See this message & event announcement from ANC 5C04 Commissioner John Salatti:

As part of several efforts to connect our neighborhood and our churches, this year's Ecumenical Council Festival will take place right in the heart of Bloomingdale in the parking lot behind Windows Cafe. The event is a big neighborhood block party. So come out and have some fun!

I look forward to seeing you there,
John

John T. Salatti
Commissioner, ANC 5C04
Vice President, Bloomingdale Civic Association
John.Salatti@gmail.com
"Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale"


The North Capitol Street and Rhode Island Avenue Ecumenical Council
in Partnership with
The Bloomingdale Community

is hosting its Annual Fellowship Festival

Saturday, July 23, 2011
11:00 am to 4:00 pm

on the Parking lot of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church
located at 1st Street and Thomas St. NW

There will be food, fun, friendship and festivities

All are welcome and there is no charge.
Rain or Shine

There will be activities for all ages and prizes galore

Examiner: unnamed Bloomingdale playground to be built; who can identify this mystery park ?

See this brief article from the Tuesday, July 19, 2011 Washington Examiner newspaper on page 4. Note that this article does not appear at the Washington Examiner website.

And note that the name of the location in Bloomingdale is not explicitly mentioned.

Heart of the City

Teaming up to build a super playground

Children from the Bloomingdale neighborhood in Northwest Washington will get the playground of their dreams, thanks to the Washington Capitals, Capitals defenseman Mike Green, DC 101 DJ Elliot Segal and KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit dedicated to saving play.

Children will draw their dream playgrounds and designers will incorporate elements from their pictures into a final design of the playground, to be built September 15, 2011. It will provide a safe place for more than 600 children to play.

-- Betsy Woodruff

missing supercans

See this message:

I live on the 100 block of T Street NW(west of RI). My supercan is missing, and it looks like others in the alley are as well. Can you ask your loyal readers if anyone else's cans have gone missing and if anyone has any theories?

mark your calendars for the Saturday, 8-6-2011 NCMS Art + Music Walk

See this message Lonna Hooks, Executive Director, North Capitol Main Street:

Want to view the nicely formatted version of this message? Then click here: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=tp9zhzcab&v=001TTzY1hjm9Fjyoymnkq1-IOa5lozIREEUrf7-S7MUbr7t-VKpEMHfLIUFYN10ZlTb2Wzo8VA3BWRPrpLV-NR1E4eBACG1GYR7ndFphmi6IiuCOZNDKftk_heqby0iE7Y29I4ZorLzxiLJ7j_dG9QEPw%3D%3D

NCMS 2011 Art + Music Walk

for the hipster, the chic, the buppie, the yuppie, the old and the young, the kids and the puppy :)

Mark your calendar . . .

Yard Art Installations - by the Pinkline Project
Music
Artist Vendors
Performers (local artists)
Merchant promotions
Stuff for the kiddies
Food

Saturday, August 6, 2011

First Street NW -- between P and V Streets NW

12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.

and then there's the grand finale at Rustic Tavern starting at 4:00

Stay tuned for more details. . .