Gift of Fab Sale This Weekend

photo courtesy of Past Tense

One great thing about spending the holidays in DC is that there is an abundance of altera-shopping opportunities. I visited this event last year and plan on stopping by this weekend, too. 

Gift of Fab is hosted by Past Tense Toga Studio at Park Rd and Mount Pleasant St NW. It's this Saturday December 4, from 2:00-6:00pm. A list of vendors/artisans, as of today: 

Mirasa: Eco-friendly, handmade toys for kids

Skincando: Skin care line; local to DC

Ella Sport: Athletic wear

Simply Girl Designs: Jewelery

Calamarie: Jewelery

+ a few more

Gift of Fab is free and the location is Past Tense Studios, located at 3253 Mount Pleasant Street NW, at Park Road. 

More alterna-holiday shopping options coming later this week. If you have one I don't know about, email me at the42bus at gmail dot com or message me on Twitter @The42BusDC.

Bancroft Tree Sale Returns December 4 + 5

The Bancroft Elementary School Holiday Tree Sale returns for 2010. The sale is organized by the Bancroft PTA and all proceeds will benefit the school directly. Bancroft is part of DCPS and is Mount Pleasant's only non charter public school. 

The sale will take place at the school, 1755 Newton Street NW, from 10am-4pm this Saturday and Sunday, December 4th and 5th. In addition to the actual tree, you'll be able to pick up other accessories like tree stands, wreaths and roping. New (to me) this year: delivery! A range wasn't specified, but for $5, you'll get tree delivery to your front door or building lobby. 

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

The UK strikes again! 1996 style. Loved this song. Underrated group and album!

DC Could Host World Cup 2022 Games

RFK Stadium

In less than two weeks, we will know if the United States has submitted a successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. FIFA will decide the hosts the 2018 tournament at that time as well, but he U.S. is only bidding for 2022.

There is even a watch party for the selection announcement at the Newseum. That's Dec 2, 2010 at 9:00am. And its free.

If the U.S. is selected, Washington, DC will be one of 18 cities slated to host matches. (Included on that list are fellow NE cities Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore.) As the nation's capital we're angling to host --at least-- the first and last games of the World Cup.

I would love for the WC tourney to come to DC, but I know that the venue would likely be FedEx Field, located in suburban Maryland. RFK Stadium --adjacent to the Anacostia River in DC-- is a storied venue with a solid soccer history, but seats nearly 45,000 less than FedEx Field. And it is a quarter century older. It shows. U.S. officials didn't even include RFK on an  FIFA visit related to our bid earlier this year. 

I'll be happy if we get the Cup again, where ever the games are played. Honestly, I'll be gladly take the Blue Line out to Prince George's County and walk that mile to the stadium, if I could get a ticket. Or even take MARC to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. As much as I love watching the Cup on TV, I'd go bananas at a live event! 

As for the viewing party this December, I don't know. I tend to jinx these type of events. It's all fun and games until they announce that the other guy one. So,we'll see. We'll see. Fingers crossed!

Thanks to the Farmers

Thanks to the farmers who traveled to DC weekly this year for the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market. The market ran from May 1 until last Saturday, November 20. I was sad, as I am every year! Picked up about a week's worth of apples, half gallon of cider, a rosemary loaf of bread and head of broccoli. I wanted to buy a lot more, but I guess buying food in excess and then not using it is frowned upon in this establishment. First week of May 2010, hurry please! Farmers, until then, peace!

Cheap Art Sale Returns to Mount Pleasant

The Cheap Art Sale is back! It will be held at La Casa on Saturday December 11, 1:00-5:00pm.

Last year the Cheap Art Sale was envisioned as a way to raise funds for Neighbors Consejo while providing alternative, arty options for holiday shopping. It was a great success. The sale raised over $900 for the social services agency located right here in Mount Pleasant. Last year, cheap meant art under $100.

This year cheap means $50 and under. Artists will include Leslie Andrus, Lely Constantinople, Mike Ferguson, Sha Grogan-Brown, Floyd Knight, Tom LeGro, Gina Matchitt, Les Telusan, Lisa Marie Thalhammer, Frank Turner and more.

The beneficiary is Girls Rock! DC. GR!DC is a week long camp  whose instruction is music-based, but also grounded in helping girls grow skills in community building, self-confidence and interpersonal relationships. A great organization. And if you've been to the showcase, held yearly at the 9:30 club, you know they're pretty good at teaching music, too.

Girls Rock! DC is a volunteer run organization and gets larger by a few students each year, Any additional funds will allow the organizers to produce a bigger and better camp than before, for more girls. Half of the proceeds for each artist of the Cheap Art Sale will be donated to GR!DC. With any luck, they'll do as well as Neighbors Consejo did in 2009.

La Casa is located at 3166 Mount Pleasant St NW. 

Megabus Creates DC Hub, Service to 10 New Cities

Downtown Richmond, VA. Looking north, Over the James.

Yes! I've been waiting for this for quite a while. Megabus has been my travel mode of choice when traveling to New York and Phila. But I've always taken Amtrak to my hometown of Richmond. I love Amtrak, but the primary station in Richmond is not at all close to downtown and the ticket prices can fluctuate wildly depending on time of day. With stops in Alexandria, Woodbridge, Quantico, Frederickburg, Ashland and the west end of Richmond, the trip is comfortable; but can take over 2 hours, about the the same as driving. Add another 30 minutes if you do manage to get one of the rare trains which travel to the downtown Amtrak station.

Enter Megabus. The company known for its double decker blue buses is making Washington DC a hub city for its bus operations. That means they'll be traveling to 10 new cities from DC on a daily basis. The total number of cities now serviced from DC is 13. In addition to current routes to Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York, you can now book Megabus trips to Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Hampton, Harrisburg, Knoxville, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Richmond and Toronto. 

What great news! For a limited time you can book trips to the new cities (for travel after Dec 15) for $1. Megabus offers $1 rates for early bookers in a pricing scheme similar to Boltbus, who prices the first ticket sold on each bus at $1. Otherwise the standard $20 one way fare is still less expensive than any Amtrak ticket to Richmond no matter when you travel.

From what I understand the Megabus will drop off on Main Street in Shockoe Bottom, ironically, near the underused Main Street train station. Can't wait! Already booking tickets for the winter holidays. Good job Megabus, keep it up!

Photos: Kennedy Center and the Mall

Lunch: Pitango Gelato

P Street location

Gelato doesn't technically count as lunch. Right?  

A lot of gelato is dairy based. But, luckily the sorbet kind is usually vegan! And Pitango Gelato serves it up pretty good.

Ever heard of quince? Oh, you have. Well... I had never heard of it until I walked into Pitango last week. It's an apple-like fruit that makes a fine tasting sorbet. It's just one of many vegan sorbet treats sold at Pitango. They make a sick strawberry sorbet that I combine with their chocolate noir to make what can accurately be described as edible felicity. Makes you not care that you haven't really had lunch. My other favorites are concord grape and raspberry. That's all I have to say really. Too bad summer is over. 

If you find yourself in PQ on a warm late-fall day, hit up the Pitango on 7th St NW between D and E.

Have any DC vegan recommendations or places you love? Let me know @The42BusDC.

The Carrotmob: Teaism

Organizers explain Teasim's selection

Early Saturday morning I found myself in Penn Quarter for a change. I was attending DC's first Carrotmob. The general idea is that consumers can reward a business for making socially responsible actions by "mobbing" it, bringing in a lot of new customers at once and promoting continued patronage. We weren't actually a mob though. The event was pretty orderly. The gathering was not impulsive and the owners of the business knew about the event in advance. As a matter of fact they attended and were presented with an award.

The Carrotmob descended on Teasim's Penn Quarter location from 10:00am until about noon. The restaurant was being singled out for extending paid sick days to all employees. Under DC code, tipped restaurant workers are not guaranteed paid sick days like other full time employed individuals. But Teasm's owners Michelle Brown and Linda Neumann offer than benefit to all employees despite not being required to by law. 

DC Carrotmob approached over 30 restaurants with the proposal to extend these benefits and 6 agreed to (Teasim, Busboys and Poets, Freshii, Maoz Vegetarian, SEI, and Sticky Rice). An online vote was held to determine which of the businesses to mob first.

DC Council member Tommy Wells was present and spoke about the history of the related legislation and gave personal thanks to the owners. A cadre of local organizations came together to organize DC Carrotmob including Restaurant Opportunities Center, DC Employment Justice Center, Mom's Rising and a bunch of others.

This was a really cool event. I love the idea of "using the carrot, not stick" approach opposed to utilizing a boycott as punishment for unpopular behavior. Small businesses, especially, are nimble enough to make incremental but significant changes and can reap the benefits of being recognized for good work. DC Carrotmob will continue to support businesses for operating in a sustainable and responsible way and I'll continue to support them. I'll try to give a heads up before the next event happens so you can come along, too.

Smash Records Moving Downstairs

Soon to be home to thousands of records, tapes and CDs

DC institution Smash Records, is making a move. But not too far. Smash is moving downstairs in its current building, 2314 18th Street NW in Adams Morgan. Smash first opened in Georgetown way back in 1984. But, that location closed in 2006 and the store reopened a year later in Adams Morgan. The closing of Salon De Couture created an opportunity for Smash to move to the more visible downstairs space and they went for it (you can still see the salon's logo on the floor in this photo).

The second floor space has been good to Smash which sells classic and new punk and indie records (actually multiple genres), used CDs, even some tapes and DVDs. Plus, they have a well deserved reputation for keeping a stellar clothing collection. Of course there are band t-shirts, but in addition there are vintage and locally designed clothes. And, yes, there are clothes for the dudes. If you ever see me in the Vanderbilt blue utility jacket, yep, I got it from Smash about two years ago. Actually, you could get a whole outfit there; they have a huge selection of shoes and boots + other accessories like sunglasses, armbands, buttons etc.

But, the primary focus is music. The new space was being painted when I stopped by this week. The color scheme is inspired by the cover art for the punk classic Never Mind the Bullocks Here's the Sex Pistols. Pretty cool! The space is approximately the same size as the space upstairs, maybe sliiiiighlty smaller and obviously sans balcony. All of the current product will be moved downstairs an they'll include a dressing room, too. The layout isn't quite finalized at this point. 

Look for the new Smash by December 1 at the latest! Good luck guys!

S PRCSS, America Hearts Play at La Casa Saturday

Another great show at La Casa this weekend.  This is a benefit for Community Powered Radio, Radio CPR-97.5fm. La Casa is located at 3166 Mount Pleasant St NW. The show begins at 7:00pm, this Saturday November 13.

There are three five awesome bands and all the proceeds will go to Radio CPR, a community partner for many years here in Mount Pleasant.

The line up:
S PRCSS
America Hearts
Fell Types


UPDATE: Just added!
Cephalopod
The Eye the Ear the Arm

Louis Rabaut "Rat" Park

You may know this park Rat Park or Pigeon Park. Its official name though, is Rabaut Park. This is federal land and is considered a part of Rock Creek Park. It is named for Louis Rabaut, former Democratic Congress member from the great state of Michigan. He is remembered for, among other things, crafting a federal resolution to insert words "Under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance in 1953. A similar passed a year later. Rabaut "Rat" Park is bound by 16th St, Harvard St, Columbia Rd and Argonne Pl NW.

Unification Church framed by trees in Rabaut Park

Lunch: Devon & Blakely

Devon & Blakely is a cafe located in downtown DC. To me, it is more upscale and the food and service are higher quality than a sandwich shop like Potbelly's or bakery like Firehook. D&B has make-your-own salads, various soups, sandwiches and prepared foods. 

The experience reminds me of a New York deli-cafe: fast moving, high volume and a pricey but very good selection. I like the location near the White House (803 15th St NW), but have also been to the 13th and F NW location. There is a third DC store at 18th and K NW and multiple locations in New York City.

They have vegan food! Obviously you can make the salad vegan by choosing vegan ingredients. There is at least one vegan soup daily, and last week I had the three bean chili. It was very good. Just about right for a mid November lunch. At the time I had to choose between the chili and vegetarian lentil. 

D&B also has a huge selection of a la carte prepared foods including Indian inspired chana masala or roasted cauliflower, which I chose. The items can add up in price and it's probably not cost effective for someone like me to eat there daily, but it was a nice treat. Outside seating was real plus and I need to try to revisit next spring when the weather may make for a more enjoyable experience. Another great vegan lunch spot downtown.

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux, British Edition!

If you can't dance to this, give up! Do it. Dance now. In the office. Do it! Have a great weekend!

Crumbs Bake Shop Opens Downtown Next Week

Crumbs Bake Shop will open the first of two new DC stores next week. This New York based bakery specializes in cupcakes, but offers other items like custom made whole cakes as well. 

The Metro Center location, at 604 11th St NW, is scheduled to open Saturday November 13th. There is another soon-to-be-open location at Union Station, on the ticketing level.

Crumbs doesn't offer anything vegan at this point, but do sell non vegan cupcakes with names like "The Artie Lang" (vanilla cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting filling, vanilla cream cheese frosting dipped in chocolate fondant, edged with chocolate and vanilla sprinkles) or "The Good Guy" (vanilla cake with rainbow sprinkles baked in, filled with vanilla buttercream frosting and topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting covered with rainbow sprinkles and white chocolate drizzle). Wow. Looks like deluxe cupcake trend is here to stay.

Crumbs will join other high profile DC cupcake bakeries like Red Velvet (7th and E NW), Hello (Dupont) and Georgetown Cupcake (33rd and M NW).

Waiting for the 42: 16th and Harvard

16th and Harvard Streets NW

No Turns at 7th and H NW. Period.

Taxi driver being ticket for turning at 7th and H

Drivers downtown can no longer make turns at the corner of 7th and H Streets NW. Not a left turn, not a right turn, no turns. This has been the case since May of this year. That's when the city installed an all-ways pedestrian crossing pattern and other changes to accommodate foot traffic in the busy Gallery Place and Chinatown neighborhood. I had  never personally seen enforcement until last week. 

This photo (left) is from last Thursday when I witnessed DC traffic enforcement ticketing drivers who made turns at the intersection. It was the first sting I had seen over this issue. Just as a casual observer, I have noticed that most offenders are tuning right onto H from 7th northbound, but I'm sure there is a more even distribution.

Part of the problem may be signage. I think the no turn signs are pretty small. And I haven't seen any media or public service stating the change. 

The change was made to streamline both pedestrian and vehicle traffic at the busy intersection. Pedestrians get normal right of way walk signs on each traffic turn, but also get an all-ways walk signal every third light. They can even cross the intersection diagonally, with no vehicle traffic. Having a no turn restriction also clears the intersection and surrounding streets of cars waiting for drivers ahead to turn against oncoming traffic or pedestrians. Sound ideas, but perhaps better signage and more signage are in order. A few sting operations might do the trick, too.

No turn signage at northwest corner

Out and About: Eatonville Adds Vegan Dishes

Eatonville only recently made it onto my restaurant radar. As often as I frequent U Street, I had never been to this sister restaurant of Busboys and Poets. Eatonville is named after the Florida town of the same name; and inspired by it's most famous resident, author Zora Neale Hurston. 

The menu is southern, southern, southern. I'm from the south, but just made my first visit to this establishment last week. What a treat!

Eatonville just recently added a handful of vegan plates. They work, and that's more important to me than throwing on several standard veggies over rice dishes that don't necessarily mesh with the menu. The three I tried were the vegan gumbo, the hoppin' john and the pan fried vegan chicken. Hoppin' john is sort of a southern version of red beans and rice; using black eyed peas instead. All were very well done! The pan fried chicken is made of one of the more popular brands of faux chicken (gardein, I believe) and came with hoppin' john and collards. Really satisfying! Great fall comfort food. Staff was awesome and the space is gorgeous. 

Eatonville looks like it's taking some cue from Busboys by slowly bringing in vegan dishes that complement each other and also the res of the non vegan menu. So, you can eat vegan in a wonderful space and get the same experience that any other diner gets. Keep what works and improve on the rest. Doesn't hurt that the cocktail list of adult beverages is A+, too.  Cool spot, will have to make a repeat trip. Eatonville is located at the corner of 14th and V Sts NW.