walking tour of NoMa Sunday, September 21

NoMa BID, Cultural Tourism DC Host

Walking Tour of NoMa, Sunday, September 21

“From the Beatles to XM Radio: The Evolution of NoMa” is the subject of Cultural Tourism DC’s free neighborhood walking tour of the NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) neighborhood of Washington, D.C. on Sunday, September 21 from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Led by Dana Chieco and Merrit Drucker of the NoMa Business Improvement District, the tour will meet at 131 M Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. just across M Street from the New York Avenue Metro station.

NoMa, the up-and-coming neighborhood just north of Union Station, is home to landmarks such as the Washington Coliseum (now called Uline Arena), site of the Beatles first U.S. concert in 1967. The New York Avenue Metro station opened in 2004, igniting the pace of development in NoMa. With lead anchors like XM Radio; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and NPR, a new mixed-use neighborhood is taking shape. Other tour highlights include a former coal yard, the historic C&P Telephone Company warehouse (future home of NPR), St. Aloysius Church and Gonzaga High School, the former Woodies warehouse, and remnants of the old Swampoodle neighborhood including the Emily Beale estate and Tiber Creek. Participants also will receive learn about current and planned redevelopment.

About the NoMa BID: NoMa is an emerging mixed-use neighborhood north of the U.S. Capitol and Union Station in Washington, D.C. Private developers have invested over $1 billion in 2007–2008 alone, with plans to develop more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space in the 35-block area covered by the NoMa BID over the next 10 years. For more information about the BID, including an interactive development map, see the BID Web site at www.nomabid.org.

About WalkingTown DC: Cultural Tourism DC presents WalkingTown, DC Fall Edition (Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21), a weekend of free neighborhood walking tours (and a few bike tours) across the city. Follow professional guides and community leaders as they share historic anecdotes, point out architectural gems, and discuss current issues. Discover both established and emerging Washington neighborhoods from Capitol Riverfront; H Street, NE; and Anacostia, in addition to better known spots like Georgetown, Capitol Hill, and Embassy Row. For a full calendar of events, visit www.culturaltourismdc.org.