Free English Conversation Courses Offered in Mount Pleasant

These are free sessions sponsored by a collective based here in the District. If you know someone who's interested, you can't beat free! Sessions start March 7. From the collective:

Are you an English language learner? Do you wish to practice your English conversation skills?

The English Teacher Collective offers a drop-in class on Saturday evenings. All language levels are welcome. Our conversation topic for the first course will be American culture.

Class is every Saturday from 5-6:30 pm, March 7 to April 25

Join us to meet new friends while practicing your English!

Dos Gringos Cafe is located at 3116 Mount Pleasant Street NW.

Sponsored by The English Teacher Collective
englishteachercollective.com
office@englishteachercollective.com

Friday Fun Post: Parappa the Rappa Drives

This game was at least 10 years ahead of its time.

California Tortilla + Ramones = Pretty Good Lunch

I really have come to love this place over the years. Always popular with my coworkers and probably some of your coworkers, California Tortilla is an extremely popular lunch spot in Penn Quarter on 7th Street. There are others; its a local chain, which I believe is franchised by individual owners at each location. Anyway there are several reasons I have come to rely on "CalTor" (sometimes the shortening of words phenomenon goes too far) for a satisfying lunch.

Well, first they have vegan food. Pretty simple; veggie burritos, soft tacos, decent ships and salsa and some soups. Second, and actually most important, IT'S CHEAP. My usual lunch is $6.35. And third it's close to work and you can be in and out within a few minutes.

The bonus though, is they always have pretty good music on! Usually there's a steady diet of 80s. But yesterday they broke out a Ramones song, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend. Then back to the 80s, but good 80s. There was some R.EM. and the Police and even Phil Collins. I guess they use one of the satellite radio services, but whatever it is, keep it on that channel. Love it.

Edward Kennedy Ellington, Representing the District

Edward Kennedy Ellington made a little news a few weeks ago and I just realized it last night. National news outlets have reported that, for the first time, an African-American was featured on a piece of U.S. coinage meant for widespread circulation. And it's thanks to D.C.'s submission to the State Quarters program.

The "Duke" was born here and called the District home for 20+ years before reaching worldwide acclaim through music. He was among a handful of performers whose legacies still mark large swaths of the city and established a musical heritage here in the District. When the DC was awarded a special State Quarter (actually, we're part of the D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarter Program), I was happy that we went with an actual person and a relatively contemporary figure at that. Some states chose animals, others geographical features, and a couple did choose historically significant Americans. Several states chose, well, themselves. But Duke Ellington embodies much of what DC was about and is about and the choice was a perfect one. Now to get my hands on one of the quarters. And more music like this:

Angelico Pizzeria in Mount Pleasant

Another pizza restaurant is coming to Mt Pleasant. The neighborhood dining scene will soon include Angelico, la Pizzeria. Angelico's has a DC restaurant in Tenleytown and apparently has another planned for H Street NE. The Mt Pleasant Street address is 3205. It was the formerly the home of Philly Steak Grill, which I never actually had a chance to visit.

Angelico will join Radius, Pete's, and Red Rocks in the quest to serve up good pizza to midtown residents. The Angelico's space is pretty small. Don't expect table service (pure speculation however) or alcohol sales. The Tenleytown location sells pizza by the slice, but only until 5:00pm. That menu also includes many non-pizza options. There are calzones, pastas, wraps, sandwiches and desserts. Hopefully the Mount Pleasant location keeps as diverse a menu. And hopefully there's something for the vegans. Couldn't find an opening date, perhaps early spring? May they fare better than the Philly Steak Grill.

Multi Space Meters in Use

We're inching our way towards parking sanity. Something like that, yea. The solar powered multi-space parking meters have hit Mount Pleasant Street and are in operation. They will allow more cars to park on the commercial strip and make feeding the meter and extending your stay less convenient. Hopefully that will lead to increased turnover and give businesses a small boost. Most of the neighborhood is still on two-hour, Zone One parking, however. Very few unzoned streets left at this point.

Photos: A Genuine "3rd Place"

1st place = home

2nd place = workplace

3rd place = another space in which one finds joy or comfort. coffee shop, social club, lounge, community center, etc. where you spend the most time outside of work and home.

LEGO the Best DC Spots

I really loved this LEGO inspired post/project from the New York Times' Christoph Niemann. Even the most abstract LEGO sculpture can mean represent an actaul place, or feeling of a place. I don't have any LEGOs, (yet) but if you want to play around and build your favorite LEGO DC spot, activity or landmark, email me and I will post your photo. Don't forget to tell me what favorite place your LEGO is supposed to represent!

Why National Harbor Will Never Challenge DC for Anything

All that fuss over National Harbor and Gaylord Hotel stealing heaps of business from DC is over. They have been securing some large conventions, but after three visits, count me as unimpressed. Among some other reasons that the project won't live up to the hype:

1. Rat problems. Well, DC has those, too.
2. Water problems. Uh, we definitely have those.
3. Stole the Awakening sculpture. They "purchased" it, I guess.
4. Lured the Children's Museum. Probably a good choice for the Museum.
5. Run ads like this: NO EXCUSE. What, this was the only stock photo for free wifi? Dude is pumped.

Honeymoon's Over: Metro May Cut Service, Raise Fares

After giving Metro a standing ovation for inauguration week service we're hit with a cold reality: they're cutting back on spending like the rest of us. And that's not good. Metro has to spend. It needs to spend more each year than the last to satisfy basic levels of service, getting us to and from work, keeping cars of the roads, drunks out of driver's seats and party goers on the dance floor late into the night. All that may take a hit soon.

Metro is facing a huge deficit and there aren't but so many ways to account for it. Two of the most direct; altering service and raising fares. The good new is they're set to receive at least some of the Fed's stimulus dollars coming to the District and surrounding counties. Still, Metro is tightening its next budget and planning for a shortfall.

There are tons of ideas out there. Metro has already cut staff. They hit us with the largest fare increase ever just over a year ago. And they always seem to leak out ideas about cutting service. The worst recent idea floated (according to me) was cutting Yellow Line service from Mt Vernon Sq to Ft Totten. That would be a killer on the weekends and on late nights. Also, "leaked" or discussed: cutting certain bus lines completely, ending weekend rail service at midnight or weekday service at 10pm, raising fares again on bus and rail, charging peak fares after midnight (they tried that before) and opening later on weekdays and weekends.

My idea: Charge a flat fee for the train. Get rid of the tiered system for fares. I know soooooo many people would hate this, but I see some merit. Say it was $2.00 flat fee for riding Metro rail. Metro would make more money on the shorter rail trips and, but those at the end of the lines would pay less to come downtown. Maybe they would ride more often, not having to pay $4.00+ for a ride downtown. I'm not sure what the math is on this, maybe the flat fare could be instituted in a fashion in which fares would be locked in for at least a few years and Metro would maintain the same source of increased revenue during that time. Just an idea, and it probably won't be adopted. Better that losing Yellow Line service though.

Friday Fun Post: Best Show-Best Opening Song Edition

Polaris' Hey Sandy, for the Adventures of Pete & Pete of course. Alison Fanelli, where are you...?

No Promises, But Voting Rights Bill Off to a Good Start

We're nowhere near attaining statehood. That's another issue entirely. But it's related to the subject matter. Yes, the biennial (happens with each new Congress) push for D.C. Congressional voting privileges has begun anew and we're off to a good start. The Senate committee which oversees the District's goings-on voted to advance a bill which would give the District a voting member in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill would permanently add two voting members to the House, bringing the total to 437. The additional seat would go to the state next in line according to recent population increases; Utah. However, Congressional voting districts will be redrawn and reapportioned after the 2010 Census, so Utah may not hold on to the extra seat for long. D.C. would keep its seat no mater what the outcome of the Census. There are plenty of pros and cons to this bill, but moving it along this early in the Congressional session is a good thing.

Behind the Bar

Is at 11th and Kenyon Streets NW. Very "cozy" place on the weekends. Dancing and bands upstairs when they feel like it. Standing room only downstairs even though there are chairs and tables. Outside patio is nice even during not so hot weather. It's Wonderland.

Finally Falafel in PQ: Urfa Tomato Kabob

Yay! There is falafel in Penn Quarter. Urfa Tomato Kabob opened a week ago and is serving up Turkish food. It replaces one of my all time favorite PQ lunch spots, Café Deli, at 740 6th St NW. Last summer I wrote about the falafel at the D&C Cart over at 8th and H Streets, but those carts disappeared along with the fall weather. Urfa looks to be permanent if they can keep up the business. Not sure what happened to Café Deli.

Visited Urfa last week and I'm most excited about the falafel. The sandwich was huge and just dressed in tahini with tomatoes and lettuce. They call it the Cairo Falafel. The Cairo plus a drink plus fries cost $7.99 after tax. Lunch under $10 = I will be going there often. And they don't skimp on the falafel, there were like six falafel balls in the ginormous pita pocket. That's about it for the vegetarian food though. The other popular items on the menu are doner (like a gyro) and meat kabobs.

The "Tomato" part of the restaurant's name comes from the homemade tomato sauce they use on the kabobs. "Urfa" is short for Şanlıurfa, a city of over a million people in Turkey. Urfa gets an A for effort, and an A for serving good falafel.

It's three blocks from the nearest 42 bus stop, at 740 6th Street NW. And yes, SB I will be there for lunch today, so consider that advanced notice of me being in your hood. ;)

Obamas Surpass Bush in DC Sightings Within Two Weeks

Well, that was fast. Michelle Obama was seen chomping on a burger at Dupont Circle's Five Guys (yes, on the 42 bus line) last Friday. Add that to their charter school reading session, playing basketball at Marie Reed and lunching at Ben's Chili Bowl, and there you go. They've already overtaken former President Bush's (both of them) count of being seen in DC for social activities. A low bar to jump over, but hey, bodes well for the rest of this Presidency.

Crafts & Kisses at Josephine Butler Center

More crafts! The Crafts & Kisses fair will feature 25 artists from greater Washington DC selling wares at the gorgeous Josephine Butler Center on 15th Street. Naturally, its Valentine themed. Available will be a wide array of handmade crafts from belts to books and pottery to purses.

The fair is this Sunday February 8 from 12 noon until 6:00pm. The address is 2437 15th Street NW, across the street from Malcolm X-Meridian Hill Park.

Satellite Images Show Ruin and Reconstruction

These new satellite images from Google Earth the significant change Mount Pleasant and nearby Columbia Heights have been through over the past few years. The first image, of Mount Pleasant, shows the still vacant ruins of 3145 Mount Pleasant Street (1). The apartment building was gutted by fire last March. One wing was left standing, the other remains a hole in the ground. Immediately east of 3145 is Meridian Hill Baptist Church (2). Its roof was destroyed in the same fire. In this image, the roof repairs are nearly complete.

In the Columbia Heights image is the recently finished construction around 14th and Irving Streets. No less than seven major construction projects have been completed in the last five years, including four major residential buildings, the massive DCUSA shopping center (4) and a Giant grocery store. On the western edge of Columbia Heights are the rebuilt, state of the art, Lincoln Middle and Bell Multicultural High Schools (3), part of the DCPS system.

Key:
5. Tivoli Square Theater, Offices and Giant grocery store
6. Park Triangle Apartments
7. Kenyon Square Condos
8. Victory Heights Seniors Housing
9. Highland Park Apartments

Chief Ike's + Mambo Room

Obama, Rumsfeld, Dupont, Columbia Heights

Somehow, not catching the bus is news. Donald Rumsfeld couldn't get on a crowded 42 bus yesterday. It was too full. See what happens when you try to get on at Dupont? Well, it was reported as news. Not sure if it is news, but it was reported as news. Apparently he had the druthers to just walk to his destination. Damn, what a low bar to have to jump over. Talk about expectations.

Closer to Mt Pleasant (actually in Columbia Heights) was a surprise visit to Capital City Public Charter School by President Obama and the First Lady, Michele Obama. Capital City is just a block from Mount Pleasant, at the corner of 15th and Irving Streets NW. Here is a rather unremarkable clip of the Obamas reading to a class. Out of a book. Fascinating.

Planet Buca's? The Return of Planet Hollywood to DC

Planet Hollywood is coming back to DC. No, thankfully the chain isn't reopening its 11th and Pennsylvania restaurant anytime soon. However, the owners, including Sylvester Stallone, Danny DeVito and Martin Sheen are buying the Italian food chain Buca di Beppo. Buca's was a favorite of mine when I first moved here and for years I didn't realize it was a nationwide chain. DC's Buca is at 1825 Connecticut Ave NW, in Dupont, directly in front of a 42 bus stop.

The Planet Hollywood folks are looking to diversify, as if they hadn't realized that the PH brand has been slowly dying off for at least 10 years. I think the Planet Hollywood on Pennsylvania Ave closed in 2001 or 2002. The only change we're likely to see is the introduction of Danny DeVito's alcoholic Limoncello drink. Supposedly, this drink is taking America by storm. Never heard of it. I'd go for a taste if I could meet Danny DeVito though. Good luck to the guys and here's to not fixing a restaurant if it isn't broken.

More on Cafe Green

The new restaurant from the owners of Java Green will be called Cafe Green. Workers are busy preparing the space at 1513 17th Street NW as we speak. Much heavy equipment has been installed and interior design is coming together. The organic wine and beer lists are being determined.

So, Cafe Green is looking more like a reality than just a plan. Owners are hoping for an opening before March 1, but have to be flexible, naturally. This is DC! The restaurant will likely be two floors, with one floor as more of a lounge and the other with sit down seating. Contrary to what I reported before, Cafe Green may be more of a light fare restaurant, akin to Java Green. Perhaps both concepts in the same space? I don't know. I feel like the light fare, no table service model could work well for that location with so much foot traffic and quick customer turnover. On the other hand, alcohol sales almost certainly will result in table service, although its not specifically required in DC. As long as the food is great, which is pretty much guaranteed, I'll be there!

Town Tavern Gets a Real Review

Two weeks ago I kind of railed on the lame door polices for Town Tavern, a new bar in Adams Morgan. Probably a little unfair since I have never entered the place, but I stand by my opinions of the policies.

The Washington City paper picked up on the story and one of the writers followed up on by visiting Town Tavern and doing some actual reporting. I think that particular article ended up in the print edition and here is the online link. Pretty much what I expected and now I can scratch that one off the list. I don't feel so bad about passing judgment without checking the place out first.