meeting about Baraki on thursday

Bloomingdale ( for Now ) has the details

a way to support the FLUX proposal

if you wish to support the FLUX team's proposed use of Cook School please let these people know:

Robin Eve Jasper, director of the Office of Property Management at robin-eve.jasper@dc.gov

Harry Thomas HThomas@dccouncil.us,

his director of constituent services Ayawna Chase at achase@dccouncil.us

and the Mayor's contact for community relations in Ward Five: alice.thompson@dc.gov

Call for Bloomingdale Artists!

here is a message from a neighbor:


Call for Bloomingdale Artists!

Artists of all kinds (visual artists, performing artists, musicians, craftspersons, writers, poets, spoken-word artists, and any others I may be forgetting momentarily) are invited to come together to form a steering committee/brainstorming/creative research group to build a local arts-based response to the various issues facing our community. The model and intent for this project springs from the Community-based Arts tradition (also known as Community Cultural Development), which holds that artists have skills that are of particular relevance for helping communities to process and transform the issues that they face through positive, joyful, creative processes.

Melanie St. Ours, a North Capitol St resident and community-based theatre artist who has worked with groups in Manhattan, The Bronx, and in New Delhi, is hoping to bring the work she loves a little closer to home. She's been impressed with the degree of community involvement and action, but believes that an arts-based process has a lot to add to the efforts that are already underway here. She's interested in heading up a performance component of the project, but hopes that as many artists from the community can be involved as possible and that we can have multiple aspects to the project to include many different media.

Right now, the intent is simply to gauge initial interest levels, meet with interested artists, and brainstorm ideas for a plan of action. If you're an artist in the neighborhood and are interested in finding ways to use your work to get to know your community better, serve that community, and collaborate with artists from other disciplines, please be in touch! No commitments are needed at this phase----just curiosity!!!

If you're interested in this project please send an email with your name, email address (and phone number if it's better to reach you by phone), the medium in which you work, and a basic idea of when you might be available for an initial meeting. Please write to: melaniest.ours @ gmail.com . Feel free to include other comments and questions as well, but know that many of those will be answered as we get to know each other and define the scope of the project more specifically. T

Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you!

~Melanie St. Ours / melaniest.ours @ gmail.com

Open Houses in and around Bloomingdale scheduled for this weekend

Click on this link to see Open Houses scheduled in and around Bloomingdale for this weekend.

I'll be holding a new listing open, just one block from the Shaw Metro, on Sunday from 1-4pm. It's 1605 7th St NW #6 (see it on the open house link and there are lots of pics so be sure to click the camera icon). For $325,000. AT Metro, for a renovated 2BR with almost 1000 square feet, tree top and city views, it's an awesome deal! The building is included in the National Register of Historic Places. Development of Radio One HQ, the revitalization of the O St Market, and other amenities being added close to the Convention Center, make it time to get in NOW!

Street Sense’s Third Annual Silent Auction

Movin’ On Up

Street Sense’s Third Annual

Silent Auction & Reception

October 2, 2008, 7pm

Josephine Butler Park Center,

2437 Fifteenth Street, NW

Tickets start at $25 a piece for access to the auction, endless appetizers, beer and wine, and great fun with Street Sense vendors, board and staff.

For more info or to buy tickets, visit http://www.streetsense.org/auction2008.jsp

Eighth Annual National Book Festival

just passing this on:

Library of Congress Adds New Authors to Eighth Annual National Book Festival; Free Podcasts Invite Nationwide Participation in Celebration of Reading

The Library of Congress has added new famed authors to the award-wining lineup for the 2008 National Book Festival. Free downloadable podcasts, available on iTunes and the Library's Web site, as well as other interactive features, bring the magic of the National Book Festival to booklovers nationwide.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) August 13, 2008 -- The Library of Congress has added several new authors to the award-winning lineup for the 2008 National Book Festival, which will be held on the National Mall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 27.

Among the some 70 celebrated authors who will be participating in this year's event are early-childhood experts Ellen Birnbaum and Nancy Schulman, Michael Dobbs -- award-winning foreign correspondent for The Washington Post -- New York Times best-selling author Julie Morgenstern, and veteran journalist Cathy Scott.

There have also been several additions to the popular Poetry pavilion, including Michael Lind, Molly Peacock, Jill Allyn Rosser and the recently announced new Poet Laureate, Kay Ryan.

The introduction of new downloadable author podcasts, which are available free of charge through the Library's Web site or on iTunes, makes it possible for booklovers around the country to participate in the event. Interviews capturing their latest works and inspiration are available with Warren Brown, Joseph Bruchac, Sharon M. Draper, Arthur Frommer and Pauline Frommer, Jan Brett, Jon Scieszka, R.L. Stine and Kay Ryan. More podcasts with festival authors, illustrators and poets will be uploaded in the coming weeks.

Other interactive features include event Webcasts, which will be made available this year and have been archived from previous festivals. The Library also will soon launch an updated version of the Young Readers' Online Toolkit to bring the festival into libraries, schools and homes across the country.

You can find out more about this year's National Book Festival, interactive features, and the full list of participating authors, illustrators and poets by visiting www.loc.gov/bookfest.

Don't forget to download and display the 2008 National Book Festival Poster in your home, school, local library and community (right click image to save to your desktop or print).

Event at 87Florida tonight and Saturday!

Haven't been to 87Florida yet? You have a chance to check it out this weekend.

Here is my post from the Prince of Petworth blog.

the weather report that matters

Umbrella?

a post about houses sales

buildingdc.com writes about LeDroit Park ( defined rather broadly...)

apparently sales have been good.

burger places popping up everywhere these days

ReNewShaw relays word that Fatburger will be opening a place on Florida Avenue. I guess its THIS place.

WPA + Warehouse theatre , but apparently not AOM

some other blogs have written about the FLUX proposal

DCist
and Prince of Petworth
and on DC MUD

A number of people have asked how to help. when meetings are scheduled for FLUX to talk with neighbors, please go to those meetings. I'll post about them here. If you know of a meeting and i've not yet posted, please comment about it.

thanks.

Please support this proposal for an Arts Space along the North Capitol Corridor.

here is a proposal that i fully support for the reutilization of Cook Elementary at 30 P street NW.
(kinda like my hope for Swampoodle Art's, a couple years back)
please provide input, if you have any.


A collaborative arts center located at J.F. Cooke Elementary School

DESCRIPTION
FLUX is a collaborative arts center partnering the visual and performing arts, arts
administration, community arts programming, artist studio space, and a design workshop
under one roof. The mission of the FLUX partners, the Washington Project for the Arts,
The Warehouse Theater & Gallery, and Artomatic, is to create a synergetic hub for the
arts that meets the needs of area artists, designers, performers, residents and arts
administrators by creating a multi-purpose flexible venue which is deeply used to further
the mission of the individual partners and provide unique, exciting and culturally rich
community benefits.

PARTNERS
The Washington Project for the Arts, founded in 1975, has a rich 31-year history as an
artist member organization, with over 1200 members, and a provider of engaging, highprofile,
well-attended arts programming in the DC metropolitan region. The WPA has
implemented and supported programs that include exhibitions, panel discussions,
printed catalogues, a digital artfile, ArtFile Online and a comprehensive artist directory
that benefits local residents.
The Warehouse Theater & Gallery is Washington’s leading alternative art space.
Currently located in three historic buildings on 7th Street NW, the Warehouse presents
independent and experimental theater, music, art, film, dance and happenings
Artomatic began in 1999 when three hundred and fifty artists cleaned, lit, painted and
colonized the Manhattan Laundry building for a 6 week art show. Over 50,000 visitors
attended the most recent Artomatic 2008, held in the NoMa area of downtown
Washington.

OVERVIEW
Given the substantial lack of studio, gallery, performance and arts administration office
space, this facility could potentially fill critical needs in the city’s arts-space continuum.
The property requires little alterations to be repurposed for artist studios, exhibit space,
classrooms, performance and rehearsal space, office space, and the required
administrative, storage and other support space. FLUX will be developed and managed in
a collaborative model with complimentary partners whose use of the space would
provide a dynamic and synergetic presence in the community and create affordable
workspace and venues appropriate to house artist studios, galleries, theatre space, a
community arts workshop space, a design workshop and arts administration offices.
Professional artists require particular physical characteristics – high ceilings, natural
light and ventilation. The lack of an industrial base, compounded by the limited
development envelope, has always made finding affordable studio space a particular
challenge for District artist residents.

IMPACT
Creating FLUX addresses three critical needs facing the artists of the District of
Columbia: 1) viable, affordable work/studio space; 2) effective facility management of a
visual arts center and community facility; and 3) professional yet nurturing arts
environments that encourage innovation and the creative process. FLUX will adapt the
space to provide low-cost studio, exhibit, design, and theatre and support space to
District artists and visual arts organizations, allowing their focus to remain on the
artistic process and community service.

FLUX SPACE USAGE
• Cultural Experiences Monthly open studios will invite area residents to engage
artists, purchase their work, and engage in community arts programming.
Residents will also have the opportunity to attend gallery openings, rotating
exhibitions and artist talks. The gallery and theatre will host events featuring well
known local artists, performances, art workshops, discussion groups and artist
salons.
• Performing Arts A regular program of theatre performances will be planned,
along with music and spoken word events, workshops and special theatrical
events, affording area residents the opportunity to access high quality theatre in
their neighborhood.
• Festivals/Markets The land surrounding the building would be used for weekly
artist’s markets, outdoor sculpture and other outdoor community events.
• Arts Education and Salons The Washington Project for the Arts and Artomatic
will hold regular workshops and classes covering best practices for professional
artists and will also engage outside speakers to lecture to the local arts
community. Regular salons for WPA member and studio artists will take place in
the workshop, along with classes led by artists for area teens interested in careers
in arts and design.
• Arts and Design Administration Office space for Artomatic and a separate
design workshop for resident designers, the fastest growing component of artists
living in DC, provides a hub for individual and area culture groups to work
together in creating and designing websites, print materials, theatre sets,
exhibitions, and other special events, both internally at FLUX, and for outside
clients where there is high demand for design services.
• Community Meetings FLUX will be an accessible space for community residents.
The classrooms, gallery and conference room will be available for ANC and
community meetings, plus other civic associations or neighborhood groups.

CONFIGURATION OF USES
Space allocation of the 43,500 feet would be as follows:
􀂉 1st floor: Box office, Theatre manager, Warehouse office space, Design
Workshop and rehearsal, set storage space, community workshop space,
cafe
􀂉 2nd floor: Artist Studios, and studio manager office space
􀂉 3rd floor: Large gallery in former library, artist studio space, kitchen,
workshop, community space, WPA Office, Artomatic Office space
􀂉 The parking lot and adjacent area could be used for festivals, artist
markets, weekend outdoor events and outdoor sculpture space.
Washington Project for the Arts, The Warehouse Theater & Gallery, and Artomatic
propose to manage and use J.F. Cook Elementary School at 30 P Street, NW as a
collaborative visual, performing arts, design, and arts administration center that serves
multiple constituencies and attracts a broad audience. This use incorporates a variety of
culture and community needs which could create a neighborhood asset and a prominent
regional destination. The reuse of the property as a visual and performing arts center,
arts administration offices, and a design workshop will allow it to provide a haven for
some of our city’s hardest working residents – our artists – and a cultural haven for area
residents and their families.

MORE INFO
Paul Ruppert - pwr@warehousetheater.com
Adam Griffiths – agriffiths@wpadc.org

video about 7th street gardens

7th street gardens

eckington place on DC Cab.

I hadn't watch DC Cab since... well.. the first time it was HBO i think.
I watched it recently and was pleased to see Eckington Place in one shot. All the trains stored in the CSX/ fairfield development lot. Pre XM radio. pretty cool seeing places as a snapshot in time. Especially a time i wasnt around.


i know of the mars attacks house on first street nw



any other neighborhood film locations you know of?

fairfield residential

we posted about fairfield then posted about its death.

but now it seems like its a go.

i'm not quite sure where to find the right info
here?
other stuff here

and thanks to a comment i found this page

i know theres been a lot of discussion on the eckington yahoo group about this too.

washington times mentions bloomingdale

Residents see bar as threat to calm
Fear return of crimes, drugs


At a recent community meeting, Mrs. Holliday expressed the thoughts of many older Bloomingdale residents.

"It's too fragile, this level of peacefulness and calm and cleanliness," she said. "We've had that less than six months and to bring in a major thing like that and the drug dealers are right back."


here is the article


Are you afraid of a tavern?
Do you see it as a threat?

food stuffs.

i added a link to our list of dining options to the sidebar. if you've got more, or have amendments to whats list, shout it out.

Windows Cafe is upping the Game

some kitchen rearranging has happened. heres a sample of some of their new offerings:

1. California mixed greens, shaved organic fiesta fennel, oranges, pinenuts, artichoke and balsamic vinaigrette. $8.95.

2. Pesto Canadian fresh salmon over saffron couscous. $11.95

3. Roasted Portobello, roasted red peppers, chevre, artichoke omelette with potato hash. $8.95.

4. Capalleni Angel Hair pasta with chipotle clam sauce. $8.95.

5. Grilled chicken breast topped with pepperoni, mozarella on a rosemary focaccia. $8.95.

Soups $2.95:

roasted red pepper & tomato
cream of potato

farmers market on sunday

message from the market peoples:


Hi BFM fans!:

What do we have this week:

Gorgeous weather! No excuses not to come to market, right?

The Lost River Trio playing Appalachian roots music. They were a big hit a few weeks ago. (And the kids loved them, too)

Cooking Demo at 7th Street Garden.

Heirloom and hybrid red tomatoes, beans, squash, eggplant, peaches, apples, melons and sweet grapes, salad greens, stir- fry greens, pasture-raised pork and lamb , Fall squash.

Apples Apples Apples: That's right, we will have more than 40 varieties of new and antique apples at the market over the next two months. Not all at once, but as they ripen throughout the Fall, Reid's Orchard brings you a wide range of apple varieties every week.

Check out NanBon's NEW stand! It is fabulous. (Really)

Lamb Shank Sale at New Asbury


RECIPE TIPS : Peppers: Roast them on the grill or in the oven, stick them in a bowl, cover with a plate and let the steam loosen the skins. Then peel away the charred papery outer skin and you've got the makings of a fall feast. Whip fresh goat cheese with slivered basil and spoon that into the peeled peppers. Or do as they do in Italy's Piedmont region, and stuff them with a quick mousse made by puréeing good canned tuna and olive oil and stirring in some capers. Or simply toss them with minced garlic, olive oil and sherry vinegar. (thanks, Russ Parsons)

Or just slice peeled peppers into long strips and drizzle olive oil, add some thinly sliced garlic and plate. They make a beautiful appetizer just like that or served on toasted bread rubbed with garlic. Peeled peppers freeze beautifully. I like to puree garlicky pepper strips. They make a great dip by themselves, a pasta sauce or even a pepper soup. Puree peppers and Keswick feta and olive oil and you have a traditional Yemeni dip. (Tip: When I make a sauce or dip, I add a hot pepper to the puree to offset the sweet pepper )

You can make stuffed peppers. Vegetarian-- stuffed with rice and sauteed onions, and soaked raisins and toasted pine nuts if like a mix of sweet and savoury. Meat eaters should stuff them with browned ground sausage from Truckpath or New Asbury and onions and rice. Then braise them for several hours over low heat in a covered casserole in several cups of water mixed with olive oil and lemon juice from several lemons Add several chopped tomatoes. The liquid will cook down eventually to a syrupy sauce and the peppers will become very tender. Or cook them in a 250 degree oven for several hours. Spoon over that lemony syrup before you serve.

NEW at Nanbon: Pear nut bread, apple bread pudding, zucchini bread, and peach cobbler.

REID: lots of eating and cooking apples, Snow Giant white peaches, Encore yellow peaches, a few nectarines, a few raspberries and blackberries, delicious table grapes, Reid's own salsas and preserves, cider, and lots of pesticide-free heirloom tomatoes. Caitlin planted a lot of unusual varieties of heirlooms this year. Try them!

New Asbury: Lamb on Sale! Now that the weather has cooled a bit, it is time to turn on the oven and bake some long cooking lamb shanks. Bill and Joan are offering a 10% off Shanks special, probably with some samples for your to taste as well.

Truck Patch: Jade, purple and yellow green beans, cucumbers, mixed peppers, mesclun, arugula, baby chard, purslane, red and white potatoes, cantaloups, lots of heirloom tomatoes, and from the pastured pork side of the farm: all fresh loins, spare ribs, roasts, bacon, slab bacon, fresh bacon, sausages. applewurst.

Truck Patch' pastured pork shoulders were the star of the Kriston's Texas -style smoked pig roast last week. Now you can cook one yourself. (Ask Kriston about his spice rub and marinade.)

Garner: Bernard's CORN BOIL was terrific last week and there will be corn for another 2-3 weeks to cook up your own!

Also at Garner: tomatoes, cucumbers, green and wax beans, okra, white and purple and lavender eggplants zucchini, melons, peppers of all colors spilling out of those bright green bushels plus a few FALL favorites: sweet potatoes, acorn, butternut, Japanese, spaghetti and carnival winter squash. ...and RECYCLABLE SHOPPING BAGS. Help us get rid of plastic shopping bags at the market.

Large Potted Mums ! There are lots of buds on these beauties and Bernard tells me that they should last for SIX weeks.

7th Street Garden is back! Tomatoes, herbs, eggplant, peppers, and greens. Erin will be there and she is doing a cooking demo at their stand. Be sure to stop by!

Breadline: I have been toasting up the sourdough loaf all week. It makes the best toast. Yum. But there are lots of baguettes and rolls and whole grain and whole wheat and focaccia and....sweets.

See you Sunday,

Robin, Ted, Ben, Jess
--
Robin Shuster
Markets & More
14& U Farmers Market
Bloomingdale Farmers Market

email: marketsandmore@gmail.com (sign up for our weekly market email!)


The 14&U Farmers Market:
Day: Every Saturday May 10- November 22nd,
Time: 9am - 1pm
Place: On the sidewalk of the Reeves Plaza, at the NW corner of 14th and U Streets NW.



The Bloomingdale Farmers Market:
Date: Every Sunday May 18th- November 23rd,
Time:10am - 2pm
Place: In front of the Big Bear Cafe on First and R Streets NW.


We Welcome WIC and Senior GET FRESH checks at both markets.

pricey condo

check out this kickin renovation job

heres a list of open houses this weekend.