Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Bus Stop at North Capitol and Florida Avenue NW

If you have ever used this bus stop, walked by it, or even driven by, you know that its a troublesome place.

Its a small triangular park and the bus stop serves 6 bus lines. There are a few trees and some plants. A few years ago someone put very nice steel frames around the tree boxes. 1.5 inch tube steel. They instantly became seating since there is and was only one bench serving this large bus stop. I used the "seating" often. There someone installed spikes atop the planter boxes to impede sitting down. I argued against this on the eckington message board but was brushed off. A few months later the entire planter box was covered with large plastic containers that straddled the spikes. there was seating again. i dont use these, but many people do and they leave them there. all the time. What seemed like a simple solution was crippled with a complete lack of foresight. foresight that would have been obvious to those that utilize the stop and actually take the bus.

Now this year, there seems to be a call on the eckington listserve to reinstall benches, but with perhaps bars that stop people from laying down. old school bus/ train terminal benches. i remember these as a kid. i'm not sure why they disappeared for so long.

There is also talk of moving the bus stop altogether.where? i dont know. i can only pressume that the 80/p6 stop would be moved south of florida and the X/90 buses would move.... uh... either in front of KFC or Soul Day Spa. If we want to follow neighborhood revitalization practices we WOULD NOT move the stop to be plaed in front of existing business, but move them away from store fronts. Remember the old pay less on 8th se that had a bus stop? when it became a starbucks with outdoor seating, the barracks row lobby got the stop booted.

anyway, seems idiotic to me, at least as a bus taker. I imagine if i wasn't a bus user i'd want all these "eyesores" removed citywide. damn busriders.


Now, were the city to actually enforce anti public drunkeness/ littering laws, that bus stop would probably be pretty nice. till then, the problem wont go away by inconveniencing bus riders since the troublemakers don't really take the bus. they just sit there. all day. nearly everyday. With their community liquor bottle.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Natalie Hopkinson, writer and bloomingdale resident

Bloomingdale resident Natalie Hopkinson has co-authored a book titled "Deconstructing Tyrone: A New Look at Black Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation" -- about "examining Black masculinity from a variety of perspectives, looking not for consensus but for insight."
Read an interview with Natalie and her co-author at

And read about the book


Congratualtions on getting the book out! and good luck with it!


Before either of us had moved to Bloomingdale, Natalie interview me about an exhibit i had. Read it here

war in our neighborhoods article/ my ramblings about dealing with crime and the tactics of my two neighbors.

here is a washington post article about dealing with crime in our neighborhoods.

The problem of conflict resolution surrounds us. One commenter on this blog recommended shipping troubled kids off to other neighborhoods, but the problem is actually embedded in our society, everywhere.

We stick to our own, however we define that. If our people get looked at the wrong way, we fight back. If our country gets dealt, we deal something harder.

It’s the same code for "civilized" America as it is in the street. It’s a problem I find deeply disturbing. We are very quick to look and to judge. We are quick to retaliate. As a society we support retribution.


I have two elderly neighbors that I deeply respect and admire. Both have lived in the neighborhood their whole life, both have live on my street for 30 years+. Both are among the friendliest people I have ever met. Both face down the thugs they encounter but in two different ways. Despite their similar experiences in location both deal with street crime and thugs very differently.

One, a former working class man with kids, and a bevy of grandkids who seems to know everyone on a strong basis. He grew up a trouble maker, not a fighter so much as a mischief maker. His experiences as a kid make me think of my experiences as a troublemaking street kid. He knows the thugs well, by name. He knows what they are up to. He knows a lot about them. When they cross his line of decency he asks them to stop. If they don’t listen, he calls the cops, and tells them so. His dealings are tolerant, frank, and clear. He comes across as just an average guy, but with an amazing capacity for tolerance and forgiveness. In his life he's needed to utilize that a lot.

The other is a woman whom for her age is a miracle. It’s crazy how strong and active she is. I pray I’m that healthy in my senior ages. She is a former professional and extremely crime intolerant. EXTREMELY. She expects and demands ZERO crime on our street. She too, knows the thugs, but won’t use their names because she feels they don’t deserve it till they shape up. She threatens THEM. She too, has had death threats made against her, but her bravery is unsurpassed. She laughs at them. Her approach to crime is to call 911; them call the police office, and then leave a message with the mayor’s office. Then call to check up on the action. She is a die-hard. She is a very classy put together woman that emanates the expectation that you will act your very best in front of her.


I feel fortunate to have these neighbors and feel that they have done tons to deal with crime on my street, in their own very different ways. Its seems to me that both of these tactics are necessary to deal with our street culture of lack of respect. I wish that this micro tactic could be brought to a city-wide level, but I don’t know how to do it.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

little know facts about bloomingdale

passing this on since i thought it looked fun:


The Neighborhood of Bloomingdale: A Hidden Jewel in the Middle of the City
NE DC Historical Society Sunday, August 13, 2006 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
at Crispus Attucks Park (Use the alley entrance at 1st & U Streets, NW.) Washington, DC 20001
1. Why is the Neighborhood Called Bloomingdale?
2. What was Bloomingdale like at the start of the 20th century?
3. The Past, Present, and Future History of the People and Places of Bloomingdale to include: Gage-Eckington Elementary School, Crispus Attucks Park, and McMillan Reservoir
4. Little known facts about Bloomingdale

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Chain Reaction



Chain Reaction

Visit the new location:
1416 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday
11am-6pm

Phone:
(202) 265 0179

the kids are not alright

here is a story about fighting that broke out at a teen concert near the florida avenue market.

anybody have solutions?

Friday, August 04, 2006

artists on north capitol?

maybe, just maybe some artists may be setting up space on north cap.

not me though.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

the heat

the last few days my AC was "broken". i can mostly take the heat. but humidity? i cant deal with that. my wife and i didn't sleep too well. She took it worse than i did.
We bought a couple fans this weekend as we didnt get an AC guy out till today. the cats werent happy.

See, what happened was one day last week i saw water all around the AC unit in the basement. I shopped vac-ed it up, but wasnt really sure where it was coming from. Has the hot water heater bit it? is this from the rain from last weekend? I wasnt entirely sure. I supposed also that the drain from the ac unit was leaking. Still i kept the AC on. that night, there was more water and there was water INSIDE the AC. damn, not good. That prompted me to turn it off completely.

Turns out that the drain pipe was clogged. Now its fixed and my house is cooling down from todays interanal temperature of 95. tonight would have been too brutal for my northern states homeostasis. my wife would have just killed me.

i'm glad it was still under warranty.

This summer we've been keeping the AC set to 81. 79 when we're feeling luxurious. its crazy that we can really really tell the difference.

What do you keep yours set to?


and bless those people who dont have AC at all. this weather, combined with this polution, combined with all the concrete is just too brutal. even the breeze is hot.
even a cold shower is not cold..


beer in the fridge, beer mugs in the freezer.

what would you like to happen at the old sand filtration site?

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

Special Community Meeting

THE MCMILLAN PROJECT

Special Guest

The National Capital Revitalization Corporation

Where: All Nations Baptist Church
2001 North Capital St, NE
When: Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Time: 6 pm to 8 pm


Here is the meeting agenda:

Agenda

Called to Order 6:00PM

Opening Remarks: Commissioners

Special Guest: NCRC

Community Concerns

Adjournment: 8:00 PM

Friday, July 28, 2006

eleanor holmes norton

via dcist here is Steven Colberts interview with our representative.

click play on the youtube window.

the old sand filtration plant

everytime i pass by this place after the weeds have been cut i think that i wish this was a public park. considering the state of public areas in bloomingdale this may not be wise, but its such a fascinating looking place and its got a great view.

but, it is in motion to be developed in some way. here is some recent info:

For Immediate Release
July 27,2006

The National Capital Revitalization Corporation Releases Anticipated Public Solicitation for a Land Development Partner for McMillan Development

Washington, DC— 120 days after Mayor Williams announced the transfer of the 25-acre McMillan Sand Filtration site to The National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC), the development corporation in keeping with its promise, released a public solicitation online today.

The solicitation, which is available at www.ncrcdc.com, details NCRC’s search for an accomplished land development team with whom it will partner to conduct predevelopment and land-use planning and analysis for the land development phase of the project.

“We’re looking to partner with the best of the best,” says NCRC President and CEO Anthony C. Freeman. “McMillan is a historically significant site that will require the complex marriage of art and science to deliver a world-class development.”

NCRC’s overall development strategy will mirror development objectives that arose from previous community workshops and charrettes held by the DC Office of Planning. Open, green space, mixed income housing, commercial and retail developments are all intended options. The corporation has met with and shared details of the development process with the communities surrounding the site, and will continue to engage residents throughout the development process.

As master planner, NCRC will be able to move McMillan to market more quickly. Another benefit of this model is Local, Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (LSDBEs) will have more opportunities to participate in the project. This solicitation includes a mandate for LSDBE equity participation and procurement opportunities, a policy which will be maintained throughout all phases of the project. We also anticipate there being associated capacity building initiatives for local and small businesses.

NCRC is looking to transform McMillan into a mixed-use, medium density community within a community that respects the character of bordering neighborhoods—while embracing the site’s historical integrity as much as possible. The establishment of an equity partnership with Morgan Stanley substantiates NCRC’s ability to take on sizeable projects such as McMillan through public/private ventures.

"This site is one of the District's premier development opportunities. I'm excited that NCRC is moving forward on this project, which will create a variety of neighborhood amenities for all District residents," says Mayor Anthony Willilams. "I look forward to the day when the McMillan Sand Filtration site becomes an active and vibrant part of the city's landscape."

The National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC) is a publicly chartered corporation charged with spurring the revitalization of underserved and emerging neighborhoods in the District of Columbia. This is accomplished through large scale strategic business and real estate development partnerships that build communities, enhance job creation, provide neighborhood amenities, and generate capacity for small businesses. The RLA Revitalization Corporation (RLARC) is a subsidiary of NCRC charged with the management and development of a portfolio of more than 80 parcels of real property located in the District of Columbia. Together with its affiliate, NCRC has attracted $1 billion in private-sector investments to District neighborhoods with another $1Billion in the pipeline.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Friday, July 21, 2006

Crispus Attucks Work & Play Day in the Park!!!

Crispus Attucks Work & Play Day in the Park!!!
FREE LUNCH!!!

Saturday, July 22, 2006
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
CRISPUS ATTUCKS COMMUNITY PARK
Enter via Alley at U Street/V Street/North Capitol/First Streets NW

Please join us in the Park for our July “Work & Play Day”. This month we are continuing with the Park Beautification Plan.

Here are some of the items we hope to complete:
Installing the Doggie Comfort Station for our Furry Friends
Meet Neighbors
Finish Removing the Chain-link Fence on the East End
Create Community
Begin Installation of 6 x 6 timbers on the East End of the Park
Get a Great Work Out
Trim and Remove Brush around concrete pad and South End
Picnic with New Friends
Dig/Expose Water Line for Water Meter
For additional information contact Austin Neal, Phone 202.281.8019/Email Austin_Neal@comcast.net

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Emery Shelter update

from the eckington listserve from eartha issac




I am happy to report that effective July 1, 2006, the Emery Shelter was downsized to a 100 bed working men’s program. Currently, 97 men live in the facility, including:

33 residents who are enrolled in the Therapeutic Rehabilitation Program (TRP);

52 men who are in the work program: and

12 individuals who are either physically or mentally disabled or elderly.

As you are aware the Eckington Civic Association (ECA) made addressing problems and safety risks associated with the inappropriate co-location of the Emery Emergency Shelter with Emery Elementary School, and adjacent to a youth recreation center, a priority of our 2004/2005 workplan. You may recall that ECA initially became concerned about the Emery Shelter when residents reported that the MPD website listed the 1700 block of Lincoln Road NE as the residence of 3 convicted sex offenders, including a child molester.

After visiting the shelter and being informed that the management could not confirm whether any sex offenders were living in the shelter, and after being unconvinced that there was an acceptable screening process to prevent sex offenders from residing next to a school and youth recreation center, ECA launched an education/lobbying/negotiation strategy that has resulted in the relocation of emergency shelter services from the Emery facility.

Now after two years of focused, persistent work on this issue, ECA and our supporters (Bates Area Civic Association, PSA 501, and North Capitol Main Streets, Inc.) have brought about changes that area residents have asked for for almost 18 years.

Although, ultimately, ECA believes that as a matter of social policy, the Emery location is an inappropriate site for delivering homeless services, we were willing to work with government and other stakeholders on an interim plan.

This is a win-win for the community, for working homeless men, and for the government, which needs to demonstrate the ability to assist homeless men achieve greater independence.

To everyone who did some "lifting" on this project......my heartfelt thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

issues from the bloomingdale community newsletter

two topics from the newsletter than i find interesting.

1. why does petworth have more going on business-wise than bloomingdale?

2.Is the neighborhood heading backwards?

Saturday, July 08, 2006

the reason for my absence

i was away for the past three weeks, and i have photographic proof

in the past i had compared an area of beirut to bloomingdale in its transitional state of gentrification


that neighborhood has skyrocketed and is now the place to be. unlike our beloved bloomingdale. bars. shops. restaurants. the tiny street of gemayzeh is jam packed. quite astonishing. things seems to change much faster in beirut. well physical change, anyway. and oh yeah, luxury condos are going up in this quaint low rise historic area. plus its safe.

coming back to bloomingdale, i see that we still dont have a restaurant. no bars. no public places for families. i see the drug dealers. i see litterers and trash. i read about the recent murder and other muggings. i see men sleeping on the streets. i hear people yelling at the top of there lungs. i see guys sitting on the curb all day long. i see others on their stoop drinking all day long. i read that a candidates car got torched. a female neighbor just got assaulted by three kids on bikes in front of my house.


at least my neighbors are still great.

Friday, July 07, 2006

rain.

I've been away for the past few weeks, though i had heard of the flooding and the rain.
I didnt get flooded but my house smells pretty damp. I also had a leak that cause damage to part of my ceiling.



And most sadly, I have come home to the news that Maurice Darnaby was murdered inside of his A&L market. My prayers to his family.

Friday, June 16, 2006

a funny thing happened on the way to St. Martins affordable housing.

Seems the building that's sitting on the land that St. Martins wants to turn into a large low-income development is now pending historical designation.

Odd huh?

Strikes me as a bit shady that this has just come up. Not that we dont have wonderfully historic and worthy of saving buildings here, but you gotta wonder how this slid in.

or maybe you know.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

tile in an old home

Firehouse @ New York and M

you know that cool firehouse on new york? About a year ago i saw a for lease sign and called about it. it was 12,000 a month or something crazy. I thought it'd make a good shop for my business, but thats too expensive.

Seems its been rented to a capoeira studio. heres the website.
I wonder if the rent dropped.

site tour of mcmillan?????? Bloomingdale Civic Association Meeting.

I cant make this meeting but if anyone goes PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know if there is a mcmillan tour. i would love to go on that!

DC FEDERATION OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
BLOOMINGDALE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
Post Office Box 1438
Washington DC 20013


19 June 2006 St. George’s Church
2nd and U Sts, NW
Monthly Meeting Agenda

Called to Order 7:00PM

Invocation

Public Safety Report: PSA501 Officer 7:10PM

Community Concerns 7:15PM


Determination of a Quorum

Review and Approval of Minutes 7:45PM

Correspondence Report


Financial Report


Unfinished Business
Report from Bylaws Committee
Report from the Campaign Committee
BIO and Letter of Interest for Vacancy Positions
Bloomingdale Welcome Signs Fundraisers (July)

New Business
Guest from NCRC (Vision, Community Meetings & Site Tour Info on McMillan)
Bloomingdale’s DCRA Issues


Announcements 8:55PM
Tuesday, 20 June, 5C ANC Meeting (Catholic University Campus/7PM-9PM)
Wednesday, 21 June, The COVE—Adrian Fenty TBD/6:30PM-8PM)
Wednesday, 21 June, PSA 501 Meeting (All Nations Baptist Church/7PM-8PM)
Thursday, 22 June, 5D Citizens’ Advisory Council Meeting (5th District HQ/7PM-9PM)
PSA 501 Officers: Lt. Dean Welch and Lt. Ronald Wright – 202-698-0268
Fiscal Year 2006 dues are $10 Per Person

Adjournment 9:00PM

President
Dianne Barnes
dianne_brns@yahoo.com
387-2497

Vice President &
Parliamentarian
Deloris McCarter
delorismccarter@aol.com
462-2307

2nd Vice President
Vacancy

Recording Secretary
Robert Brannum
rbrannum@robertbrannum.com
256-8452

Correspondence Secretary
Karen Cotton
cottonkr@aol.com
986-8466

Treasurer
Bertha Holliday
bholliday@apa.org
336-6029

Sergeant of Arms
Vacancy

Delegate to DC Federation
Vacancy

Immediate Past President
Cleopatra Jones
commishcjones@prodigy,net
635-2850

Standing Committee
Amenities
Community Relations
Education
Finance
Historic Preservation
Housing
Membership
Neighborhood Clean-up
Public Safety
Recreation
Transportation
Youth Programs

Next Meeting Date
17 July 2006

Monday, June 12, 2006

PSA: Our Stories, Our Voices, Our City

The Humanities Council of Washington, DC invites you, your neighbors, associates and every DC enthusiast you know to join us Tuesday, June 20 for the Humanities Council of Washington, DC's community dialogue "Our Stories, Our Voices, Our City" at the Charles Sumner School. Presenters are listed in the announcement below. A separate announcement has been attached for you to post. Register today - Admission is FREE and includes dinner. Call 202-387-8391, ext. 30 or email dchistoryproject@wdchumanities.org



For immediate release



June 12, 2006



Contact: Michon Boston

dcnhistoryproject@wdchumanities.org

202-265-0068

202-387-8391 – Humanities Council of Washington , DC

http://www.wdchumanities.org



WHAT: Our Stories, Our Voices, Our City

The D.C. Community Heritage Project



A community dialogue on collecting and preserving D.C. community heritage and history presented by the Humanities Council of Washington, DC



WHEN: Tuesday, June 20, 2006

5:30 – 9 p.m.



WHERE: Charles Sumner School

1201 Seventeenth Street, NW

Washington , DC



Light meal provided.

Admission Free. Reservations required.

Call 202-387-8391, ext. 30, or email dcnhistoryproject@wdchumanities.org .



How can we help local residents to collect, inform, and preserve the heritage, history and culture of DC's communities? Evening includes panel sessions with local community cultural and historical preservationists.



Presenters:

Clarence Davis and William Branch, Office of Public Records/DC Archvies
Eileen Torres , DC Salsa Network
Parisa Norouzi and Ingrid Drake, Empower DC ( Ivy City )
Elizabeth Davis , John Philip Sousa Middle School (Making the Case to Save Sousa)


Co-sponsors: NEH "We the People" program, District of Columbia Office of Planning Historic Preservation Office, National Trust for Historic Preservation through the Dorothea de Schweinitz Preservation Fund for Washington, DC , and the Project on Civic Reflection.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

a post about St. Martins affordable housing thing.

I was linked to from here

Check it out.

heres the intro

neighborhood sensitivity (one might say anxiety) around affordable housing is just as common in urban neighborhoods, as in this good Washington DC example



kinda odd article, really.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

two things tonight in bloomingdale

1.Come hear from the developers,
ask your questions and find out more!

COMMUNITY
INFORMATION
MEETING

On the redevelopment of
Old Engine Company 12

Thursday, June 8th
7:00-8:00 pm
Harry Thomas Recreation Center
1743 Lincoln Road, NE



Hosted by the ANC 5C
with presentations from the DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and NC Firehouse, LLC


For more information contact Susan Cheng in the DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development at (202) 727-6880.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



2. Open House "Block Party" Throughout LeDroit Park, Bloomingdale and Eckington

5-8 pm

Agents from several different companies are working together to all hold Open over 30 houses that are currently listed for sale in the neighborhood. All of the properties that will be Open appear on the last two pages of the current Washington City Paper.

Monday, June 05, 2006

30 open houses.

This thursday there will be over 30 open houses in the hood.
So, from 5-8 pm you can go see many of the houses listed for sale in LeDroit Park/ Bloomingdale/ Eckington.

You can see the listings of them on the back two pages of the city paper. If anyone has a city paper and cares to type them out, i'll post em.


Every open house i've gone to in the neighborhood i have met a bunch of neighbors. Seems we all want inspiration for our renovation jobs, and to see the subtle diffences in our old houses.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

liquor stores in the hood


Seems that there are petitions going around to block the alcohol licence renewals for at least three area liquor stores, Big Ben included.

here's a thread over at InShaw


There is also some discussion on the Truxton Circle Website.

I don't know if its the right thing to do or not, but i do know that there would still be plenty of choices for alcohol purchasing in the hood if these stopped selling.



Apologies to Big Bear




****UPDATE****

heres more info

Application No. 60771: Moon, Inc., t/a Moon Liquors, 322 Florida Avenue, N.W.; Petition Date: 6/5/2006; Hearing Date: 6/21/2006; at 941 North Capitol Street, N.E., 7th floor Hearing Room 7200, 10:00 a.m.; 5C01.

Application No. 60657: Carnival, Inc., t/a Sunset Liquors, 1627 First Street, N.W.; Petition Date: 6/5/2006; Hearing Date: 6/21/2006; at 941 North Capitol Street, N.E., 7th floor Hearing Room 7200, 10:00 a.m.; 5C01.

Application No. 70552: C&B Incorporated, t/a Walter Johnson’s Liquor Store, 1542 North Capitol Street, N.W.; Petition Date: 6/5/2006; Hearing Date: 6/21/2006; at 941 North Capitol Street, N.E., 7th floor Hearing Room 7200, 10:00 a.m.; 5C01.

not bloomingdale, but brooklyn

here is a blog that i like. Its all about buildings in Brooklyn.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

what do you think about a coffee shop at first and florida

Go HERE and tell them what you think.

chain reaction moving to north capitol

i had heard about this a LONG TIME ago and am glad its finally happening!


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chain Reaction is a program of the Shaw EcoVillage, its mission is to train youth about the role the bicycle plays in sustainable communities.

Chain Reaction Community Bike Shop Opens June 1st

Good News bikers…Chain Reaction Community Bike Shop (previously located
at 6th and R Sts., NW) will be opening at our new location - 1416 N Capitol St., NW (between O & P Sts.) - on June 1st, 2006. We will feature the following limited hours for the first few weeks while we work out all the kinks: Thursday & Friday 11am—6pm, Saturday 11am—5pm. Come by, buy a helmet, get your bike tuned up, or just say “hi”! Please see our website www.shawecovillage.org for further information, or give us a call at 202-265-0179

Sarah Otto
Outreach and Development Director,
Shaw EcoVillage
1416 N. Capitol St., Washington, DC 20002
202-265-1561 (phone)
202-265-0210 (fax)
www.shawecovillage.org

Thursday, May 25, 2006

the worst kind of job interview.

this is pretty bad.
I cant quite fathom the type of question/answer scenario that would lead to a stabbing.

i saw this on the eckington blog, who saw it on the brookland blog, cuz we all only read one anothers blogs.

Monday, May 22, 2006

floorplan... with a picture!


i saw this floor place in a for sale listing. does this seem like an original second story plan, or adapted? i've never been in a rowhouse that had this floor, so am a bit intrigued.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

BIG BIG yard sale in the secret park.

while sadly, i can't make it this year due to other exciting plans (see bottom of page) i have gone to this before and it's pretty fun. Plus all the neighbors are there.


Crispus Attucks Development Corporation announces its 3rd Annual

HUGE
COMMUNITY
YARD SALE


Saturday, May 20th
8:00 am to 2:00 pm
in Crispus Attucks Park
Alley entrance at 1st & U Streets, NW

Crispus Attucks Park, in the heart of DC's Bloomingdale neighborhood, is a private community courtyard park bounded by the unit blocks of U & V and the 2000 blocks of North Capitol & 1st Streets NW

STOP BY THE SNACK STAND!!!
RAFFLE!!! -- $1 could win you an IPOD!!!

Want to sell at the Yard Sale? Spaces may still be available!
Call Barbara at (202) 483-2121 or email barbarafogle@hotmail.com

http://www.crispusattuckspark.org




Perhaps afterwards you could come to my open studio
click here

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Big Bear cafe

So, i went to this
at the Big Bear.

It was a pretty hoppin scene. lots of people showed up. i saw a ton of neighbors i knew and more that i didn't.

The big bear is almost completely gutted. there were displays by corcoran students. some good ideas, but its doubtful that any are the real thing, as it was just a class exercise.

The second floor will (sadly) become an apartment. Could make a great lounge area, screening room, bar. but seems that the owners may need to generate some income from the place. go figure.


So, everyone that i knew and talked to their seemed pretty excited by the potential, and the reality of some decent place to hang out in the hood.


The onwer has asked for some input, so please visit his site and let him know what you think!

Friday, May 12, 2006

crazy hot action in bloomingdale tonight!

here's an email from the owner of the big bear market, soon to be the big bear cafe.

THE BIG BEAR CAFE ON A RAINY FRIDAY EVENING!!!

To all who may not know, or for those who still have not decided--

The Big Bear will be open tonight as a one-night gallery of design ideas.
Students from the Corcoran School of Art have prepared design presentations for the new space at 1700 1st Street, NW, and whether we open as a new coffeshop/cafe, jazz club, laundrymat nightclub, or disco ice cream parlor - we want your input for what the place will be.

Come for a tour, a drink, or simply an evening excursion - the building will be open to everyone and we want to hear what you think.

7pm to 11pm. Come and escape the rain.






From the website:



The Corcoran Design Presentations… 12 graduate design students from the Corcoran School of Art have been working this semester on the new design for the Big Bear Cafe, and they will be presenting their final presentations at the Big Bear in the form of a Gallery Opening on Friday, May 12th, between 7pm and 11pm.

The 1st floor will have presentations of 7 different designs. They will show the ideas the students have developed over the past few months as well as videos of research they have done on Bloomingdale architecture, history, and local culture. On the 2nd floor there will be videos and images of neighborhood people, neighborhood artifacts, and whatever else we can put together.

So come to the Big Bear and have a glass of wine, or an evening coffee.
Come and get down with the old folks and the new folks, and see a bit of our developing designs. Come and tell us what you want the place to be, and get involved in a little public display of private expression.

We would love to have you.
bigbearcafe-dc.com


Saturday, May 06, 2006

yes ANOTHER gallery in Bloomingdale.

quite the scene here.



The Jackson Gallery (118 Bryant St, NW in DC, near Howard University) opens "Works on Paper" tonight with an opening reception from 1-5PM.

Works by E. J. Montgomery, Samella Lewis, Elizabeth Catlett, Leon Hicks, Valerie Fair, Varnette Honeywood, Margo Humphrey, Clarissa Sligh, Victor Ekpuk, Betty Blayton, Shirley Woodson, Gilda Snowden, Eglon Daley, Renee Stout, Floyd Coleman and Jocelyn Rainey.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Evangeline J. Montgomery Scholarship Fund.

For more info call my good friend Caesar Jackson at 202.285.1754

Friday, May 05, 2006

nw corner of first and s. & the roses of bloomingdale

have you seen all the roses out in bloomingdale lately? damn.the unit block of randolph place, close to first has some GIGANTIC roses. as does that beautiful corner house on the NW corner of first and S.

and yes.. i've only started paying attention to the gardens in th ehood because i've been working on mine.

Monday, May 01, 2006

bloomingdale now appearing

on Dcist. They listed this blog, and now 90% of my hits come from dcist.

there are new listings for a few other neighborhood blogs i read:

Stop,blog and roll

frozen tropics ( back on dcist after a spell on not being listed there, for some odd reason)
gallery place living
petworth news

kittens to good home

I'm forwarding a message from cat rescue specialist and Eckington resident Marty King:


Forget TomKats!

Mom-cats and kittens rescued from a dismal future on the mean streets of DC are looking for good loving homes. Kittens are nine weeks old. Some with tails, some without.

call Marty at:
202.529.8899


psssst. Marty is also an awesome neon artist!

Sunday, April 30, 2006

to me, this is fun


where in dc?

Why the Post is whack for local stuff

here is an article about the beltway, in the Distict Extra!

1. the beltway isn't in the district.
2. most residents of the district don't really think much on the beltway.


personally, i find the beltway an example of the DIFFERENCE between living in the city and living in the suburbs. Here in DC, most areas are full of sidewalks, and very accesible to public transportation. The suburbs tend to be mainly oriented by personal car ownership. The Beltway is an icon of this. It doesnt tie us together, it further separates us.

another reason why the post is whack for local stuff:

of the three articels listed as main articles for the district extra, one is about the district.


also, on the metro sections DC page, there is a large emphasis on crime, and looking up crime. This is not even present on the main pages for the surrounding counties Metro page.

that sucks.

Friday, April 28, 2006

destruction near the dc farmers market

i snapped this while driving toward the wholesale district.

theres some talk of it here

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Eckington's Urban Loft Village????

what was meant to be a retail strip renovation is now going to be swanky lofts in the eastern edge of eckington

here's the website

Thursday, April 20, 2006

homeless shelter on 14th.

here is a washington post article about the homeless shelter at 14th and r.




when i had first heard of the possibility of this sale, i had assumed the shelter was being pushed out .. so to speak.. but it seems that it was already considered inefficient.



I wonder if the Emery Shelter could cash in on its land and move, so that it is not directly connected to a grade school. Here is an InShaw post on that

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

photos of north cap








here are some pictures of north capitol.








I noticed guys fixing up the place on the sw corner of North Cap and R street. There was work going happening in the BIG lot at new york and north cap, but i cant imagine we can expect anything yet.








Click em to enlarge

i saw a comment about the new york avenue metro

i saw this blog posting linked from dc blogs and thought i'd pass it on.

the writer works near the new york avenue metro and wrote about walking from the metro to work.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

i was a teenage ax murderer.



actually it was today... years and years from my teens. and i didnt use and ax, but a cordless recipro saw. still i murdered a tree in my front yard today.

i have chopped down a few trees in my life. mostly ones that were fairly dead and would fall soon. this one was fairly healthy, but it stood in the way of my vision for my front yard. i morbidly joked with my wife that i felt like i was clubbing a seal to death. but my bloodlust took hold of me as i imagined a nice seating area and some other plants that i dont know the name of.

So good bye tree. while i feel guilty for destroying your beautiful greeness, you won't be missed. not at all. already my living room is brighter!

Thursday, April 13, 2006

north capitol dividers

Looks like they are finishing up the new fence along north capitol. the city has installed very metal gates dividing the lanes that go under new york and rhode island avenue.

i'll go take a picture this afteroon.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

harris teeter

here is the hillrag article about harris teeter on h street.



sounds like a far far better design than the brentwood giant.

bloomingdale resident Marshall Keys

website
Bloomingdale resident Marshall Keys has a weekly gig on Wednesdays at the P Stret Bistro. Its across from whole foods on P NW.



Check him out.

Monday, April 10, 2006

a homeless shelter near a school???? say it aint so

here is an article in the post concerning the building of a homeless shelter near a school.



In the District we dont mind having convicted sex offenders and drug users in a homeless shetler that is attached to a school, but in montgomery county?

also
But some area residents say the building is too close to Silver Spring International Middle School and Sligo Creek Elementary School. And they question the wisdom of placing recovering substance abusers in a building next to a grocery store that sells beer and wine.

here in dc, we wouldn't even think about putting a homeless shelter too far from liquor stores. what would they do for fun?



If fact we prefer to place recovering drug abusers right into the heart of neighborhoods with open air drug markets. we like to put poor kids into areas where they get to mix with convicted sex offenders and drug users. we like to build places for the homeless in neighborhoods with no jobs and easy access to drugs, prostitution and alcohol.


what we like to do is pray on the good hearts of the poor and build social services in their neighborhoods so their kids are surrounded by reality.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

my yard



my yard was decent, passable, mildly acceptable when i first moved into my house.
Then WASA fixed the lead pipes. The crew dug up my yard and flip the topsoil to the botton of the 5 foot deep hole and the clay/layers of brick/ broken glass became the new top. then they spread hay.

i had gigantic, almost radioactive weeds growing out of this potent hay. after that my attempt to tame my yard never evoloved passed the "just dug up look". sometimes it dint look even that good.

last weekend my wife and i began to remedy that. we dug up some more bricks and clay and broken glass and replaced it with some great rich dung/soil/composty stuff.

We began planting and did some more planting today. now, finally we have a mildly acceptable front yard again.

NOMA....

Update on NoMa Plan– Discussions are heating-up regarding the redevelopment plans being drafted by the District’s Office of Planning for the North Capitol St. commercial corridor extending north from Union Station to beyond Florida Avenue. Bobbie Krengel, Citizen Member of the ANC’s Zoning Committee continues to draw attention to the enormity of the plan and its potential impact on adjacent low rise and row house residential neighborhoods. Receiving the strongest and most focused attention by the ANC to date, approval was received to support a resolution drafted by Krengel and members of the zoning committee which urges the Office of Zoning to incorporate four key considerations before finalizing their initial Draft Plan which is due to be released in April. If adopted, the plan would include a step down model based on a ratio of the height and density of new construction in proximity to existing buildings and homes; the elimination of all C-M zoning which allows commercial and manufacturing uses to encourage instead new residential construction; delayed approval of all Planned Unit Development (PUD) projects to ensure that these projects are evaluated for consistency with the NoMa plan; and issuing a moratorium on all demolition within NoMa boundaries to ensure that developers do not destroy existing row homes to facilitate larger development prior to the release of the final NoMa Plan. Two recent examples of demolition included the 14 row houses built prior to 1908 on 2nd St., NE to make way for the new Dreyfuss Project, and the several row homes recently demolished to accommodate Ronald Cohen’s mega development planned for 3rd. St., NE. The ANC is suggesting that the Office of Planning consider implementing this resolution as a zoning overlay similar to the existing plan that regulates redevelopment of the H Street NE commercial corridor. The third and final community meeting before the release of OP’s initial NoMa Draft Plan will take place on March 16.

here is the link

Thursday, April 06, 2006

another article about eckington

a post article about the conflict in eckington. more here

I did read that St Martins conceded to a mixed income approach, but that info is shakey, as they keep refering to a mixed income "neighborhood" rather than a mixed income "development". more here


that and this article about the "racial tension" on h street make me think the Washington Post is going the way of the Washington City Paper. And for the Record, Clifton Humphries, owner of the H Street Martini Lounge was serioulsy misquoted and misrepresented in the article. It seems to be the opinion of a few H street area denizens that Paul Schwartzman, that "journalist" approached the article with the agenda of division.
read the comments here

Can we get local news without sensationalism anywhere?

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

groundbreaking rehearsal

apparently the large construction equipment i saw playing around in the lot next to the giant in brentwood last week were preparing for a groundbreaking today.

54,000 square feet of retail is to be added between giant and the rhode island avenue metro.

The new retailers include: AJ Wright, Downtown Locker Room, Rainbow Women Clothing, Footlocker, Anna's Linens, America's Best Optical, Radio Shack and Citi-bank.


There will be a press conference/photo op with Vincent Orange, but you could have guessed that.


While i'm not sure if i will be hitting up on any of these stores i do hope the citi-bank diffuses the ridiculous overcrowding at bank of america. while im thinking about, why did they not put a drive through teller window instead of a drive up atm???? you almost always have to get out of your car and walk to the OTHER ATM to get deposit envelopes anyway.


one more thing, why no bookstore up at the brentwood shopping center. or a gym? or a office supply store, or........

bates, shaw, truxton....... a hood with many names

the bates area civic association has an updated website.


it looks like they are the same area encompassed by Truxton Cirlce.
and of course, Shaw East.

Monday, April 03, 2006

smoking ban



the smoking ban is set to start tomorrow. here's a wash post story.

the full ban starts jan 1st of next year.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Vacant property on your block?

here is a pdf to let DC know about it.

Carter Woodson

I just learned
Carter Woodson graduated from my alma mater back in 1903.

Since my college is and was very small that is quite fascinating to me. Especially since for years i have seen his portrait on the boarded up building at 9th and rhode island.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

want to change DC?

Do you live or work in the District of Columbia? If so, tell us about the District's biggest problems and how you think they should be solved. To get you thinking, we're putting real prize money on the table. The best idea will receive $5,000, the second-best $2,500, and the third-best $1,000--all sponsored by the June and John Hechinger Family Trusts and donors to the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. Who will pick the best ideas? You will! You will have the chance to vote online to select the three best ideas from 20 finalists. And the three winners will get to present their ideas to the Mayoral candidates at a forum in June. We will compile your great ideas and present them to the public, government officials, and candidates running in the District's 2006 elections. This is your chance to have city leaders listen to how you think the city should be run, and to infuse the elections this year with the issues that matter most to you. Make sure your voice is heard!

go HERE!

Friday, March 31, 2006

a

a

things i've noticed around the hood in the last few days.

1. i saw a horsebacked cop on 6th and m-ish on wednesday.
2. as i'm typing this, im listening to NPR and Vincent Orange was on calling for 400 new officers.
3. the new fence posts on north capitol
4. The dc famrers market was busy as all get out.
5. the warehouse on the corner of florida and 4th is getting an additional floor added to it.
6. the warehouse on the other end of the same block is being gutted.
7. the strip of buildings on the western edge of the warehouse district is all fenced off as if work is being done on them
8. There were bulldozers and other types of large construction working in the lot next to Giant.

new wall for north capitol

has anyone noticed that the fence along the section of north capitol that goes under Rhode Island avenue is being replaced. the concrete block median is being replaced with granite and (i think) coblestone.

there are black steel posts up right now. i dont know what the wall material will be.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

what? "windows" had a website?

I got an email from a guy in LeDroit Park that contained this link

and this one too.
check them out.


so,windows has a website!

thanks for the information Rod!

National Capital Revitalization Corp.


Mayor Tony Williams is expected to announce Wednesday the city is expediting the transfer of the 25-acre site to the National Capital Revitalization Corp.

so says this article in the Washington Business Journal.

they may in fact be refering to the old sand filtration plant rather than the reservoir.


Hopefully this means something may happen with the site, but who knows.

fascinating conversation about cars, gentrification and racism...

this thread of conversation on the IN SHAW site blows my mind.

like this comment for instance:
.....large black churches each within one block of each other. When gentrifiers came along to whitewash this historically black neighborhood (filled with black churches), did it not occur to you that on Sundays people would be attending these churches.

You're right. No one should double park and block your car, but its hard to
sympathize with you because you assumed the risk.






its bizarre to me because i dont even believe in "Race" ( black race, white race, etc..)and this poster wants to make it a racial issue.
i only believe in ethnicities... but the difference in that is lost on many.....and i went off on a tangent anyway....


Most importantly, i believe in following the laws as a means of fostering community and civility.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Auto Mobile.. and the shape of cities....


i'm reading this very interesting book. Auto Mobile by Ruth Brandon.

here's an excerpt:
Traditionally , American houses had been built with covered verandahs facing on to the street- the piazzas and stoops within which the action of so many 19th century novels take place. in the early days of motoring the garage ( if any) was a hut in the backyard. But cars soon became too important to be relegated to the hut. The garage moved forward and increased in size, while the front porch disappeared- an enactment in brick and mortar on the automobile's revolutionary effect on social life The proch had been part of a pedestrian lifestyle of casual callers and passers=by, but the car made all of that irrelevant. Less walking meant fewer passers by, while many of the activities ( such as courting) that had traditionally taken place on the porch could now be conducted in the privacy of the car.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Crispus Attucks Park- the secret park

Dear Friends of Crispus Attucks Park,

This Saturday morning please join for a TEAR DOWN THE FENCE PARTY in Crispus Attucks Park from 8:00am until (????stay as long as you like)!!! As many of you have seen, we have been working to make the park a more friendly, accessible urban oasis. A big obstacle to that effort has been the rusty chain link fence ringing the park.

Continuing the efforts we began last summer (and last weekend), the Crispus Attucks Development Corporation, along with many community volunteers like you will be tearing down the rest of the chain link fence and replacing the fence with a barrier of 6x6s needed to reduce erosion and keep vehicles from entering the park. If you have any interest in making the park a better place for all members of our community, join us Saturday morning for a community workday.

Two teams of people will be working:

Chain Link Removal Team: Will haul away sections of the chain link fencing to the DC dump at Fort Totten. We have two vehicles lined up and could use a third. (This is perhaps the least physically demanding of the
tasks?..) Once the last of the chain link has been taken to the dump this team will rejoin the people installing 6x6s. (Point of Contact: Jon Jensen)

6x6 Timber Installation Team: This team will finish the installation of the last timber 6x6s at the west end of the park. 90% of the digging (the not so fun part) at the west end of the park is done. (Point of Contact: Mark Rauschenberger)

Bring yourself and any sledge hammers, shovels, picks, and bolt cutters that you have. If you don't have tools that's okay, we can provide.

Finally this is a great chance for newer members of the community to come together and meet some of the folks who have been here for quite a while. We look forward to seeing you for a couple hours Saturday morning.

As an incentive, PIZZA and a limited amount of COLD BEER (and other beverages) will be provided at lunchtime. No beer for those driving back and forth to the DC Dump, until they're finished the job? :) (Point of Contact: John Corea)

If you're interested, e-mail or call John at 202-550-2631 or jacorea@gmail.com so we can get a sense of how many people are coming. We'll be out there even if it's chilly, even if we have to swap the cold beer for hot chocolate.

Thanks,
John

John Corea, President
Crispus Attucks Development Corporation
202-550-2631
jacorea@gmail.com
www.crispusattuckspark.org

Millennium Arts Salon Reminder: Art Events for your Calendar

--Howard University Presents its Symposium on the Black Arts Movement on Thursday and Friday, March 23 and 24, 2006 at the Blackburn Center. This most important conference includes panels on: "Women Writers on the Black Arts Movement"; "Revolutionary Nationalism": "The Global Influence of the Black Arts Movement"; The Honorable Rex Nettleford's Lecture on "The Black Arts Movement and the Diaspora"; "Black Publications of the 60s and 70s"; and others. The registration fee for the conference covering the two days is $15.00. Pre-registration at the conference is through Dr. Dana Williams at d_williams@howard.edu.

--Howard University is also presenting a conference on Black British Aesthetics the weekend of April 7, 8, and 9, 2006. For more information, contact Howard's Department of English, at 202.806.6730.

--Millennium Arts Salon in keeping with its 2005-2006 theme "Showing Up and Showing Out--Music Theater, Dance, Poetry" and in co-sponsorship with the Driskell Center ( www.driskellcenter.edu) and the Clarice Smith Center (claricesmithcenter.umd.edu) announce the Concert Version of a New Musical: KLUB KA - - A Blues Legend. This play by James V. Hatch et al, will be performed with the African Continuum Theater on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at 5:30 PM at the Lab Theater at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at U Md, College Park. A reception and post-show discussion with the authors James Hatch and Suzanne Noguere, and composer Christa Victoria will follow. Drawings by Camille Billops which illustrate the story, will be on view.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

schools at risk of being closed

here is an article about schools that have low enrollments and might be first of the list of school closures.

Elementary Schools Van Ness, Shadd, Wheatley, Ross, Draper, Peabody, Hearst, Hyde, Benning, Adams, Cook, Montgomery, Maury, Smothers, Terrell, West, Stoddert, Mann, Drew, Slowe, Emery, Brent, Tyler, Shaed, Brookland, Cleveland, Meyer, River Terrace, Bowen, McGogney, Stevens, Payne, Clark, LaSalle, Powell, Ludlow-Taylor, Gage-Eckington, Ferebee-Hope, Bunker Hill, Houston, Noyes, Burroughs, Park View, Cooke, Raymond, Key, Thomson, Davis, Garrison, Kenilworth, Green, Burrville, Plummer, Leckie, Moten and Hendley.

· Middle and Junior High Schools Terrell, Brown, Backus, Eliot, Sousa, Garnet-Patterson and Lincoln.

· High Schools Moore, School Without Walls, Ellington, Banneker and Spingarn.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

shooting at buses.. more on that...

here is another article about the bus that got shot the other day.

heres my first post on that.

passing on the catania info....


In Shaw posted about her catania bakery run this morning.


seems they are open to the public from 6:30 - noon. on saturdays.

(you still have an hour to make it today!)


maybe the big bear could carry some of their products!

Thursday, March 16, 2006

more trouble at sursum corda

here is a washington post article about it

seems the city has plans for the entire redevelopment of northwest one. sursom corda is the last holdout, and the city is threatening eminent domain.

heres something from dc.gov about it

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

shooting at busses

i saw the cops, and the bus, and the tv cameras this morning.

here's the story about what happened at first and florida nw.

thankfully, no one was hurt.

baseball stadium design.


heres the article

no, not bloomingdale, but this is big for the city.

Monday, March 13, 2006

mess in Eckington.

St Martins church is hoping to build a large low income housing project on T street NE. Its become quite the issue in Eckington, just across the street from Bloomingdale. i've mentioned it a few times.here
here
here
here

and here
I don't pretend to know the full details, but i have been reading the Eckington Listserv and i have received a bunch of flyers from st martins.

The war between the two sides has been going on for a few months now. Now it seems that all who oppose the project, and have expressed such opposition on the Ward 5 listserve, have been banned from that listserv.

St Martins claims to have community support, but their support seems to only exist in the Ward 5 listserve, and in the st martins congregation, which many neighbors claim is mostly non residents of the community. St Martins has been engaging in very questionable tactics. Their use ( and ANC rep Cleopatra Jones') of the phrase "workforce housing" is one of their shady spins on the project. The is no such designation, and no possible means of its insurance. It is a lie that is meant to paint the project in a more positive hue.

I'd post a picture of the project, but my requests for an image from st martins have been repeatedly ignored. Perhaps i would be less skeptical of this project if St Martins was more forthcoming and open. they have not been treating this community fairly and will not receive the proper support until they do.

as have been my questions regarding the project to vincent orange and cleopatra jones.
theres a big breakdown in community happeing over here.its very sad

Sunday, March 12, 2006

a bakery and a bar in bloomingdale

the DC North has two blurbs that include bloomingdale
check it out here

one mention os of hellers bakery thatsmoving into the green ember.
the other is about the firehouse on north capitol.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

changes in bulk trash removal.....

Bulk Trash Now Collected Only From the Front of Residential Properties

(Washington, DC) Sometimes residents need to dispose of appliances,
furniture, mattresses and other items that are just too big to fit into
regular trash trucks. The Department of Public Works (DPW) collects these
bulky items - by appointment - from households that also receive DPW trash
collection service. In the past, bulk trash could be set out at the same
point of collection used for the resident's regular trash, alley or curb
side. Beginning this week, however, residents requesting bulk trash
collection are being directed to put out bulk items only at curb side in
front of their property.

The change is, in part, a response to complaints that the large trucks used to pick up bulk items are too big or too ungainly to fit through alleys and can sometimes damage residents' property. To arrange for a bulk collection appointment, call the Citywide Call Center at (202) 727-1000. After taking your information, the Call Center Service Representative will give you a collection date and a confirmation number. Up to seven items may be collected at a time.

Customers with more than seven items will be given subsequent appointments dates. Bulk items should be set out in front of your residence at the curb line no earlier than the day before your service date. Single-family homes and buildings with three (or fewer) apartments are eligible for bulk collection services. Be aware that renovation materials, plate glass and other construction debris cannot be collected. DPW does not remove bulk trash from commercial establishments, including multi-unit apartment buildings
(more than three units).
changes in bulk trash

Friday, March 10, 2006

affordable housing and wards......

DHCD Funded Projects 1999 – 2004
(from the DC Department of Housing and Community Development Housing
Affordability chart)

Units created
Citywide 9,657
Ward 8 (Anacostia, Congress Heights) 4,520
Ward 7 (Capitol View, Benning Heights) 2,266
Ward 1 (Crestwood, Mount Pleasant) 1,231
Ward 5 (Eckington, Brookland) 1,145
Ward 4 (Manor Park, Barnaby Woods) 139
Ward 2 (Georgetown, Dupont Circle) 136
Ward 6 (Capitol Hill) 97
Ward 3 (Wesley Heights, Tenleytown) 0





Seems a little bit unbalanced for such a great city such as ours.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

art in bloomingdale

New art space

87Florida is a new art venue located at 1st and Florida NW, and their grand opening reception is Saturday, March 11 from 5-7 pm.

DC artist Ceci Cole Mcinturff recently purchased the building and it houses her studios upstairs and on the mainfloor she has an exhibition space. There she will host a series of fine art exhibitions, musical events, digital mixed media events, as well as some "Art in Community" events.

The initial exhibition, titled "Little Differences," features the work of Melissa Glasser and runs through March 20, 2006. The reception is Saturday, March 11 from 5-7 pm. There are also viewing hours Fridays 4:30-7:00pm, Saturdays 1-6:00pm, Sundays 1-5pm and Mon-Thurs by appt.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

listed september 2004, under contract may 2005, still hasn't closed.

thats seems a bit crazy, no? there is no construction going on.. its just stting there.

27 RANDOLPH PL NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001
ML#: DC5052483 LP: $355,000
Status: CONTRACT DOMM/DOMP: 49/49
Adv Sub: ECKINGTON
Ownership: Fee Simple Total Tax: $1,841
Contract Date: 18-May-2005 Close Date: 27-Mar-2006

List Date: 25-Sep-2004 Update Date: 13-Feb-2006
Company: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

police in bloomingdale.

I've been noticing a lot more police activity in the neighborhood lately.
anyone else?

Also... that house that caught on fire last week was finally boarded up this weekend.

Friday, March 03, 2006

dc water taxi

dc water taxi

seems like this could blossom into a great service.

Big Bear Cafe!

please check out the website for the future Big Bear Cafe.


The Big Bear Market was the former bodega on 1st at R street NW.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

The future of the DC Farmers Market

Across from Galluadet, two blocks from the new york avenue metro, along the revitalizing strips of florida avenue and new york avenue the DC Farmers Market and the wholesale shops are in whats becoming PRIME real estate.

There had been talk of revitalizing the area keeping the main focus as a market. I once saw the plans.. but cant find them on line anywhere... It seemed like a larger version of eastern market. It was in keeping with the market as already existing, but fixed up.


The owner of a large chunk has a different idea. Read the post article here

governor of dc

i like the idea.
read it here

Is the neighborhood grocer back?

Is the neighborhood grocer back?

lecture at the national press club. here's the flyer in pdf form

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

lots orf work happening along north capitol

I walked down to union station this morning and noticed a lot of work going on just north of new york avenue.

Lots of renovation projects.
also, the former junk store on the nw side of north capitol is being gutted. I had heard rumors that this would be turned into condos, but dont know for sure.
This is the place across the street from the "flea market"

a good map of dc.


click to enlarge.