Maoz Veg is Open!

Maoz Veg, the European falafel eatery, is open in Dupont. The first U.S. store opened in Phila, PA five years ago.

On a whim I decided to walk on M Street yesterday to check on the progress and my luck!, it was open. The first day. I've been waiting for this day for a long time and they didn't disappoint. The falafel was great and you get a good meal for the money.

Single falafel pita was $4.95; that's five falafel balls crammed into a pita pocket. Perfect salad bar with fixings including beets, cooked cauliflower + broccoli, tomato, cucumber, red cabbage and more. Others on line were ordering one of the four combo meals (combination of falafel pita or salad and drinks plus fries).

Other food choices: salad bowls, Belgian and sweet potato fries, vegan rice pudding, seasonal soups, and three smaller sized pita sandwiches; including a vegan sandwich named the Verde.

There is bench seating inside and 5-6 individual seats outside in a small recessed patio area. I will be going again!

Moaz hours are 11AM-11PM Monday through Thursday, 11AM-3AM Friday + Saturday and 12PM-9PM on Sunday. The address is 1817 M Street NW. Between Farragut and Dupont Metro stations and on the 42 bus route (M Street stop).

Ritmo Latino Now Closed

A surprise to me, if there ever was one. Ritmo Latino is closed. The music, book and DVD store closed yesterday. By late last night all the merchandise was gone and the shelving and fixtures were being removed. If you can't see in the photo, the handwritten sign says "Out of Business." I have no idea why they closed, but the easy answer is probably 'the economy?' Apparently they've closed nearly 20 stores across the U.S. this year. Ritmo Latino was located at 1775 Columbia Rd NW.

I've shopped there on occasion and profiled them a while back with some other music stores (Why the 42 Bus is Music to Your Ears). Columbia Rd has been wrecked with closures over the last year, but three of those storefronts were recently filled with the new CVS space and another with a cellular phone outlet.

Ritmo still maintains a website, but it has little relation to the Columbia Road store. It is a web front for the other remaining Ritmo stores nation wide. So, maybe they'll live on as a web only business. If I find our more, I will report. Sad to lose a storefront along the 42 bus route though, for sure.

Apartment Houses: Embassy

The Embassy Apartments are located in the southern part of Mount Pleasant on Harvard St NW. Across from Rat Park and the Argonne Apartments. Several years ago the tenants fought off a condo conversion, and although I've never been inside, I understand it's as beautiful on the inside as out.

Final Farmer's Market This Saturday

A massive THANK YOU to the Mount Pleasant farmer's market vendors and organizers. For nearly seven months a year they provide fresh food from nearby farms (and kitchens) at great prices. I've been 85% of the weeks this year? Something like that. Loving the collards and chard lately. And apple juice. Also made regular purchases of grapes, fresh baked vegan bread, arugula, cauliflower, beets, huge peaches and red potatoes. All grown at one of a dozen or so farms located within 125 miles of DC.

Along with a few new vendors, new this there was a bike repair station and clinic. Live music was played almost every week and generally Saturday morning was a good chance make that regular appointment to see friends who live in the neighborhood. And those who come here from outside of the neighborhood.

The Dupont Market, which is year round, will have to hold me over until next year. The Mount Pleasant Market runs from the first Saturday in May until the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Till next year.

Thank You Dupont Circle

Thank You Dupont Circle for a wonderful Sunday afternoon. To the painter who practiced her craft, talked up strangers, and sold a few pieces while we watched on. To the fixed gear biker; you looked so lost until we realized you were just waiting for your girlfriend. To the family of the polka dotted two year old who ran around, fell down, cried, got back up and did it all over again. Thanks.

To the older fellow sitting next to me with the ginormous headphones on and corduroy sports coat. To the single dad with the baby wrapped in a snuggie, that was great. I know it wasn't actually a snuggie, but it looked like a snuggie. To the group of bakers and cooks who literally had a potluck right in front of us, thanks. To the couple taking their engagement photos; not sure why you liked having complete strangers in your photos, but you liked like you were in love.

To the chess players who are there every Sunday, thanks. To the Photography 101 student, the Art Foundation 101 student and the "this art class is just my electives requirement" student. To the late summer hold out weather and setting sun. To the guy playing 60s pop on a huge old speaker and record player thank you. To the catty girls in Saturday night going out clothes, we love you. To stroller walkers, dog walkers and power walkers, thanks. To my friends who took it all in, talked about our favorite TV shows, people watched, judged from afar, laughed at ourselves, recalled memories, and lamented the summer's end, thanks.

I love DC. More days like yesterday please.

New Signage at Busy Intersection

Late last week the city placed two new stop signs in the intersection of Lamont and Mount Pleasant Streets NW. The new signs are in the middle of the street and add another layer of safety precaution for drivers, bikers and pedestrians who all share the busy corner.

Mount Pleasant Street carries north-south traffic at all hours, Lamont is the terminal for the 42 bus, and has H buses stop on either side of the intersection. Mount Pleasant Street is so wide at this point, maybe drivers were missing the normal (albeit HUGE) stop signs on located on the sidewalks? At any rate, the new signs are right in the middle of the street, so if there was a problem before, hopefully this goes toward fixing it.

Friday Fun Post: DC's Wale + Lady Gaga

DC's most hyped hip hop artist the last few years has been Wale. I've been a big fan of his mix tapes and now he has a major release out with some national cache. Lady Gaga barely appears on this video for the song "Chillin", but shes at least a household name. Pretty cool seeing all the DC sites; they're what you probably expected. Nothing new there. Below the new video, my favorite Wale song; a remix of Justice's D.A.N.C.E. His new album, a "debut," was just released. Its called Attention Deficit. Wait... what were we talking about....?

Chillin


W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E

SAAM and NPG, G Street

Help! I Need a New New Year's Gig

Dear You,

Help! Save your generation! Or at least save me.... What should I do for New Year's?

I've been obsessed about it lately. I want to do something big this year. Last two years I've spent the critical hour at house parties in Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant. Here's a song summing up what happened at the last one--


--Ok, moving on....

Before that a show at Wonderland. And here's a photo snapshot of that night.

Year before that, a dance party on H Street NE --yes, pause for photo--
















And before that, spent over a campfire in McLean (don't ask). Prior to that, I don't remember. So, I've stayed über local, but low key and not crazy. I believe I was in bed at pretty much normal partying hour each time. And nary a hangover.

Don't get me wrong, I love staying close to home and doing it small time. It's cheaper, and I generally want to remember what I did and savior the memories outside of un-facebookable party photos. And I am a little accident prone.

I've never traveled outside of my home city to celebrate New Year's. Never. But something about this year makes me want to break out of the routine and do something different. If I do stay in DC, which for different reasons is looking more and more likely, I need to decide what to do. Staying home with a glass of wine and the TV is probably the only option I'm ruling out.

What are the epic yearly parties? Any clubs or bars actually throw a great party? (I've heard Peaches O'Dell at the Black Cat is worth it) And ANY chance there is something cool happening right here in good ole' Mount Pleasant? Hmmm, I guess I could make something happen here... but I digress. Back to other O.P.P. (other people's parties).

So... keep on the look out. And pass the good ones my way please. I have a feeling it'll be a last minute decision, but I want to have all the options, good and bad, at my feet.

Thx a million in advance,

Me

ps, i tell you this because as an artist, i think you'll understand

7-11's Private Label and Return of the Black Rooster

***The Black Rooster has a following as strong as any small time pub I can think of. The well known and well worn locally owned bar on L Street closed recently when the owner of the building decided not to renew the lease agreement. But all you BR fans should keep you heads up. The bar is being saved. The Current Papers have the full scoop, but essentially DC council member Jack Evens intervened and worked some personal magic. He's partnering with the federal government, who operates the building, to keep the BR in its place. The Black Rooster website acknowledges as much and should be open again soon. Pretty cool.

***7-11 now has it's own private label wine. Virginians and Marylanders have been able to buy semi-no-name cheap alcohol from 7-11 for years. Now they can buy semi-named cheap alcohol from the 24 hour convenience store; under their new Yosemite Road label. The 7-11 store in Mount Pleasant and other DC stores don't sell alcohol and likely won't anytime soon. H/T to WBJ.