"Gandhi-warming" Commemorates Non-violent Indian Leader

Yesterday was a mild and lovely winter day here in DC. It was also the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's death. The Indian independence leader was shot dead on January 30, 1948. He is widely regarded as a transcendent ambassador of political change through non-violent civil disobedience.

The gandhiwarmer group formed last year in order to recognize his compassionate and tireless work by adorning a statue of Gandhi in Union Square, New York City. In addition to hats and scarves for the statue, volunteers also knitted additional hats, gloves, scarves and more for those in need. The NY event was a success and gandhiwarmer decided to have the celebration again, this time enhancing a different statue, here in DC; near the Embassy of India in Dupont. 

It was a very lovely gathering with quiet music and a heap of extra knitted wares left at the base of the statue. The scarf and hat were removed from the statue by the organizers before everyone left, but the candles, flowers and string of small yarn poms remained. Very classy. Fitting small tribute to a great human being.

Is Wayne Brady Gonna Have to Djokovic? Tennis Love in DC.

Kastles Stadium in Penn Quarter (photo Darren and Brad)

As I watched my current tennis favorite, Spaniard Rafael Nadal, go down in the Australian Open, I was reminded that we have our own mini tennis culture here in DC. From the annual Legg Mason Classic in Rock Creek Park to the World Team Tennis Kastles that call Penn Quarter home, we are a tennis town, to a certain degree.

According to TennisDC.com, there are over 180 tennis courts in the District, 109 in Northwest alone. There are none in Mount Pleasant, though. But, right across the street, at Columbia Heights Education Campus, are two courts. The next closest courts to Mount Pleasant are the two at Marie Reed in Adams Morgan (you can get there on the 42). And then, the Banneker courts near Howard U. The Marie Reed courts are very busy during good weather weekend days. I've never checked out the Banneker courts. East Potomac Park has 23 courts if you're looking to have a better chance of snagging one; you can reserve a court in advance. And Rock Creek Park Tennis Center has 25 courts, 5 of which are heated.

Legg Mason is part of the US Open series and happens this year July 30 to August 7. The final matches are played at the Fitzgerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park, at the previously mentioned tennis center. This is just up 16th from Mount Pleasant near Carter Barron Amphitheater.

The Washington Kastles are the 2009 World Team Tennis champions and count Venus and Serena Williams as team members. The Kastles joined the league in 2008 and play in a temporary court which is constructed yearly at the 11th and H NW parking lot. The 2011 season is July 5-24. I'm very curious as to where the Kastles will play after Center City DC construction is underway. It will consume the massive parking lot for years with a multi phase build out. We'll see. 

Anyway, totally random post for Friday, but I'm thinking warm thoughts at the end of this very cold, wet week. Have a great weekend!

PS. The Djokovic one-liner was coined by SportsCenter anchor Robert Flores, who apparently is either a comic genius, or has great writers.

Vegan Pizza Day is Saturday

Vegan pie at Pizzeria Paradiso

Right up there in relative prestige with Squirrel Appreciation Day (last Monday): Vegan Pizza Day. Except on Vegan Pizza Day you get to eat pizza. You don't eat squirrels on their day. Normal people don't, anyway.

Yes, Saturday January 29 is National Vegan Pizza Day. Pizza. Vegan. Can't go wrong. You just can't.

You may know that I was slightly obsessed with vegan pizza few years ago. Still am, really. I like making my own, but there are several places in DC where you can get a primo tomato pie or go full on with vegan cheese, like Teese or Daiya. I'm a fan of cheese-less vegan pizza. 

My favorites are Pizzeria Paradiso and believe it or not, Astor Mediterranean. Honorable mention to Ella's and I only recently discovered 2 Amys, which was also outstanding. Matter of fact, I owe 2 Amys them another visit.

VegDC has a more complete list of local parlors where you can order the dairy free pizzas this Saturday, or whenever. I'm planning on celebrating Vegan Pizza Day more than once of course. Like tonight. And maybe tomorrow. and I guess, if I have to, Saturday. Like I said, I love the stuff!

Reasons to Be Car Free in DC: Now Accepting Plastic

New credit card reading meters

Booya. Yeah. You can now pay for on street parking with a credit card. Plastic. Sounds like a nice option, but this just confirms that parking in DC has moved beyond quarters, dimes and nickels. The most forward thinking agency in our fair city, DDOT, has  floated quite a few ideas to make street parking faster and more convenient for drivers. Multi-space meters, pay by phone meters and at some point in the future, in car metering will all part of the parking management system. 

Another option is pay by credit card. As of today most streets downtown require $2.00 per hour for parking. That's 7 and 1/2 minuets per quarter. In performance parking zones (near Nationals Park and DCUSA for example) the rates are variable and can go much higher. The mulit space meters readily accept credit cards and if you are using the rare pay by phone meters, your phone number is linked to your credit card per sign up. Having this option does make some sense. Now that tolls can also be paid without coins, having 20 quarters in your glove box just for parking seems unrealistic and unnecessary (that's 2 and 1/2 hours, btw).  

Now individual space meters are getting the credit card makeover. The city argues that it's good for businesses, getting customers in and out, deterring all day parking. But man, who knew. A sign of the times if there ever was one. Pulling out the plastic for curb side parking. And you still have to parallel park that thing yourself.

More Reasons to Be Car Free in DC.

Temporium Adds Events, Opening in February

Ben Claassen (bendependent.com)

The Mount Pleasant Temporium continues to solidify plans, but much is still up in the air at the pop up retail and events space on 3068 Mt Pleasant Street NW.

Some artists have been announced and the list features some familiar local, quality names. Some of the highlights are bookbinder Moira McCauley, Smash co-owner and clothing maker/curator Daisy Lacy, comic genius Ben Claassen, and all around textiles master Kristina Bilonick. Check the entire list here.

As for the opening date, it is still to be decided. The recently set date of this Friday, January 28 seems to have slipped and the Temporium will likely open during the first week of February at the earliest.

However, the organizers continue to schedule events and the datebook is filling rapidly. A selection from the still coming together list:

Make Something Awesome: Hello Craft will lead a Valentine's themed craft making session with outcomes such as stationary sets, heart buttons and heart shaped cupcake toppers. Feb 10, 5-7pm.

Speakeasy DC: Essentially a mini-class, this as of yet named event will be run by Speakeasy DC. They are known for teaching the art of storytelling and generally cultivating the oral tradition. Feb 19, 7-9pm.

Music and Comedy: Two bands and a comedian walk into a bar. Or a temporium, I guess. Alma Tropicalia will play Brazilian music, Cigarette will play "whispercore," and in between writers of The Foly will entertain with stand-up and readings from their lit magazine. No, I don't know what whispercore is. Feb 7-10pm.

I'm From Up Top: This is a an original play. In it, eight people play the role of the main character in order to fully portray the fluid mindset of the the young man as he reflects on the peer and societal pressures put of adolescence. Set in DC and NYC during hip hop's golden age. Feb  24, 7-9pm.

More events to some as they are revealed. This is shaping up to be a pretty cool concept and I hope the organizers do open sooner rather than later. Stay tuned for more and check The42BusDC on Twitter for the most up to date info on the Temporium.

You Are Very DC If....

First of all, this concept is being shamelessly ripped from my hometown alternative newspaper, Style Weekly. They have run a "You Are Very Richmond If..." column once a year for as long as I remember. So, to Style: I recall that old saying and hope you agree; "not suing me is the sincerest form of flattery."

Moving on, yeah, what are our major shared quirks? Bad drivers? Know-it-alls? Snow wimps? What about the good ones... Pretty smart all around? Opinionated? Super fit & healthy? Tolerant?

Whether you are born and raised or a post-college transplant, if these are true about you, you're can safely declare that you are a true Washingtonian. These are ours!

You are very DC if...

...you always stand on the right and walk on the left, even at shopping malls and airports.

...you care 100x more about what our crazy City Council is doing than what our crazy Congress is doing.

...your job doesn't exist outside of DC.

...you've accepted that DC DMV has just one car inspection station for a city with more residents than an entire state.

...you've heard 5 different stories explaining DC's height limit.

...you know that PR at Partners is not in the business of public relations.

...the line outside of Ben's Chili Bowl does not apply to you.

...you don't think twice about throwing down $30 for 8 cupcakes.

...Real Housewives of DC made you wonder how they got to use the letters "D" and "C" in the title.

...your Netflix queue has movies like The Fog of War and State of Play.

...there are dozens of really great exhibits you'll never see because you refuse to endure the National Mall.

...when you hear the word "motorcade" you think "OMG, the traffic!!!" instead of "OMG, the President!!!"

...a protest is a protest is a protest; you'll watch any from the office window.

...you have at least two opinions on other people's opinions.

...you have either an extreme love or an extreme hate for inauguration week, regardless of political party.

...right around September 1st, you start to think the Redskins have a chance to win the Super Bowl.

...right around October 1st, you start to think they'll get it together for next year.

...you love going to Nats games, but only if the Cubs or Red Sox are in town.

...to you, the Capitals are Alex Ovechkin and everyone else.

...you think the Wizards should go back to being the Bullets.

...you consider Jazz in the Garden a BYOB event.

...you've been ice skating at the city's other Dupont.

...you know The Awakening's true home is Hains Point.

...DCA will always be Washington National to you.

...your favorite TV celebs are Jim Vance and Sue Palka.

If you have your own, look for me at The42BusDC and share away! #youAreVeryDCif

Samber Market

Do You Tattoo?

"New" Tattoo Paradise location in Adams Morgan

Ursula reminded me to write up the move of Tattoo Paradise. I had planned to do this last summer, but forgot!

The Adams Morgan shop inhabited a basement space on 18th Street for 6+ years before moving across the street into much larger store front. The new shop is on the first floor at 2444 18th St NW, formerly Kobos African Clothier.

Unfortunately I did not get to experience last weekend's DC Tattoo Convention. However, I did get a great piece of work at Tattoo Paradise recently. It's healing as I write this. I tend to find a decent shop and stick with it and have to give crazy props to Tattoo Paradise. Four of their artists, past and present, have gotten my business and will again. And yes, there are other great shops in the DC area. Props to those artists as well.

Growing up in Richmond VA, (supposedly 3rd most tattooed city in the US) almost all of my friends were tattooed, at least a little. And many were tattooed all over. No big deal. Lots of great shops and artists in that town. And if you lived in the Fan neighborhood or downtown, you could most likely walk to one. When I moved to DC, the scene was much different. Definitely had to search out the kids with tattoos and the kids who gave them. They weren't just, you know, everywhere, as they are in RVA. And some here aren't so excited about tattoos or seeing them on you.

Whether barista or banker, do you feel they are accepted in your workplace (even if the tattoo isn't readily visible)? And let me know of your fave shop in the DC area.

poll by twiigs.com

Book Reading Tonight by Neighborhood Author

Local author Anna El-Eini will read from her book, Breaking Heart tomorrow evening at Past Tense yoga studio here in Mount Pleasant.  Ms. El-Eini has worked side by side with residents, organizing, right here in DC and saw first hand the struggles that helped inform the book. The reading is free. 

Breaking Heart is described as contemporary fiction depicting the trails of a young community organizer facing a monumental challenge to save a neighborhood just minutes form the marble monuments that visitors consider the real DC. As you and I know there is so much more to this city! The book explores political will, public policy, neighborhood power struggles and all the dynamics that sometimes play in your favor, and other times, leave you looking for a little help, please!

The reading will take place after the Happy Hour yoga session (6:30-7:30pm). Actually, it will start closer to 8:00pm. The reading is free and you don't have to attend the Happy Hour yoga session, just show up at Past Tense before 8. Past Tense is located at 3253 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. 

Have a great weekend!

Transit Display on 14th Street NW

DDOT, the District Department of Transportation, has been on a roll the last few years. Of course Bikeshare and Circulator have been huge hits. The agency's transit programs has even spurred Metro to attempt to up its game, to varying degrees of success.

Here's another project from DDOT that I hope gets a widespread roll out at some point. Pictured is a 32 inch flatscreen just inside the windows of Reeves Center at 14th and U Sts NW. The screen shows the live availability status of area Metrobus, Metrorail, Circulator bus, Bikeshare and even Zipcar. DDOT calls it a Multi-Modal Digital Display.

Amazing! I was at the corner recently, late night, and could quickly glance to see if I should wait on a 50s bus, try to hop on a Circulator or head down underground and get onto a train headed home. As of this writing, the Circulator, Zipcar, Bikeshare and Metrorail availability and arrivals are real time. Mertrobus times are based on the hard schedule provided by Metro, but DDOT says within two months they'll list real NextBus-provided estimates for arrival.

DDOT wants to expand the program, but don't count on seeing it in Mount Pleasant or your neighborhood anytime soon. They have plans to deploy just three additional big multi-modal screens at other locations in DC. The city is looking for funds to expand a bus-arrival-only version at bus shelters all over the city. Riders can currently call Metro or use internet enabled smartphones to get real time bus arrival info through NextBus.

100 Shows for Haiti

One year after a catastrophic earthquake near Port au Prince, Haiti, the task off rebuilding and redeveloping a nation continues at a painfully slow pace. Many there are still displaced, homeless, need continuing medical care and generally in dire straits. Groups in the U.S. and around the world continue to try to help.

100 Shows for Haiti is one of those organizations trying to bring the focus back onto Haiti. It is an idea more than an organization. They're helping organize and publicize events all over the U.S. on and around the January 12 anniversary of the Haitian earthquake. These are shows of the musical, theatrical or puppet variety, bake sales, potlucks, film screenings and more. Venues, materials and labor are donated and any money raised will be distributed to aid organizations; two in particular: Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees and One Hundred for Haiti.

In DC, the show will be put on by Positive Force. It happens this weekend January 15 at 7pm. The location is right across the street from Mount Pleasant; St. Stephen's Church, 1525 Newton St NW, at 16th St. Playing are Belfur, Möbius Strip, Archivist and Southern Problems. The show is $8. Proceeds go to the two organizations mentioned above. Good show, great cause. Consider going out.

100 Shows For Haiti, Show Your D.I.Y. Spirit! from Sparrow Media on Vimeo.

Keeping Tabs: DC vs Washington

DC's Big Flea Market and DC Tattoo Expo... held in Northern Virginia?
Yeah, I love regionalism, but there is a limit. The DC Big Flea! Over 1,000 booths! Two huge buildings! In Chantilly? That's like, another world. A good 25 miles from downtown DC. And the DC Tattoo Arts Expo (which I will probably be attending!) is being held in Crystal City. Virginia. At least it is on the Metro. And the land it sits on used to be a part of the District. So, they get a pass this time.

Many events held in VA or MD have regional or national appeal and should be treated as such when they are marketed. I'd rather have organizers of these "capital area" events use the word "Washington" instead of DC. DC denotes like a specific area --the 68 sq miles we call the District. The word "Washington" should be used to denote other places into metro area. Except Chantilly.

Lucky Brand Jeans Closing in Dupont

Dupont has seen more businesses open than close in the last two years on the main part of it's Connecticut Ave strip (in between Metro entrances) the last two years --Panera, AT&T, BGR, Sweetgreen, Hello. But a long time tenant is poised to leave soon. Lucky Brand Jeans at 1739 Connecticut Ave NW will close by month's end. The specialty jeans seller has other DC area stores, but will be missed in this part of town that I consider more of a food lovers mecca than destination for fashionistas. Georgetown still holds that label in my eyes. No word on what business will replace Lucky. 

No Pants Ride? No.

An oddly related event, the No Pants Metro ride, happened yesterday. I was out of town, so I missed it. But there's no way I would have done it if I were here! 30 degrees and in my skivvies? Uh, no. You are brave souls who dared to walk around and ride Metro pantless yesterday: tip o' the hat to you. I won't be joining you anytime soon.

On a More Serious Note,

When Paul Krugman asked "When you heard the terrible news from Arizona, were you completely surprised? Or were you, at some level, expecting something like this atrocity to happen?" I have to answer yes, I was expecting something like this, as he did. 

As a former civics teacher, current political junkie and student of history, I know how hard it is for most folks to sideline their own beliefs for the sake of debate, legislative compromise or any other reason. There's such a wide spectrum of opinion and vision about how our American government should operate. Even if only 10% of the 300,000,000 of us participate in political discourse, that still means 30,000,000 voices out there to reconcile and work together.

We can run as far to the left or right as our hearts desire. That's part of the system. But not to the point that we fall off the map. There are boundaries. And the more we abandon common sense, intellectualism, and due diligence in examining the past, the harder we make in on ourselves. America is an experiment. Who knows if we are succeeding or failing. It's hard to say. I tend the think we are a complicated, messy work in progress. But, generally better off than we've ever been.

Sure, every generation feels at some point that it's times are the best/worst/darkest/promising/whatever. But it's easy to look around today and see a lot of common sense being overlooked, overrun and just plain disregarded as we debate our views and each try to have an impact. Let's be smart and conscientious about our actions and words. Democracy is not "anything goes," it's "anything possible." The trick is constantly having to revise the methods we use to get there, including how we communicate with one another as fellow citizens. Let's resolve to do that as peacefully and safely as we can from now on.

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

Elastica! One of the best bands out of the mostly wretched 1990s. Except for in the UK. They were putting out the hits across the pond. This is "Stutter" from the album Elastica. Have a great weekend!

Pop-Up Retail: The Mount Pleasant "Temporium"

3068 will become Temporium, then Nana

Temporary Emporium. Temporium. And we've got one!

The DC Office of Planning and Mount Pleasant Main Street are partnering to activate an empty retail space by turning it into a temporary marketplace featuring local vendors. The retail space is located at 3068 Mount Pleasant Street NW. The partnership consists of a $15,000 award from the DC Office of Planning to the Mount Pleasant Main Street organization. Specifically, this award originated with DC OP's Temporary Urbanism initiative.

3068 is the future home of Nana boutique and formerly housed  Mount Pleasant Deli. The Deli closed late summer 2009 and the new vintage boutique will open in spring of 2011 after the Temporium closes.

The Temporium will operate on 24 as of yet unspecified days during late January through the end of February. Approximately 20 artists will offer items for sale and the theme is storytelling (the motto: "What's Your Story?"). So, in addition to art sales by local artists, there will be related events like autobiographical and theatrical storytelling sessions and live musical performances. Scheduling has yet to be released, but I will post  announcements as they come in.

Hopefully we can replicate or exceed the success of the District's first Temporium. It was placed on H Street NE during the summer of 2010 and visited by 1,600 people over just four weekends. 

Volunteers are still needed. If you interested or just want more information visit the Mount Pleasant Temporium website here.

Historical Society Needs Help

HSW's iconic home in Mt Vernon Sq

The Historical Society of Washington DC will reopen tomorrow after a two week break. They've had a hard time recently and the 117 year old non profit organization was forced to close temporarily to make it through the end of the year.

They still have ambitious plans, but could use some help from the private sector. As with most museums and societies you can give monetarily, become a member or volunteer. Donated labor is like money for many of these organizations. 

The Historical Society of Washington is located in the Carnegie Library at Mount Vernon Square in NW DC. The building itself is historic, dating from 1902, and it formerly served as the District's main library. 

You may be more familiar with the City Museum of DC, which was also housed at the same site. It was run by the HSW, opening in 2003. Sadly, it closed after only a two year run. However, HSW is still the standard bearer for the telling of the District's story for visitors and residents alike. They deserve to be supported. You can read more about their predicament and ways to help here. Good luck HSW.

What Kind of Bus Rider Are You?

Most riders are great! A select few... not so much.

As much as I love biking around DC and walking around DC, I'm usually on the bus when I need to get somewhere quickly. Yes, often choosing the bus over Metro. Almost all of us who ride regularly are great folks; working class, students, day laborers, party kids, commuters, whomever. We just want to get where we're going safely and on time.

However, we have various ideas about bus etiquette and the unwritten rules of public transit. Here are some of my favorite quirky riders and the tendencies that make me notice them as soon as I pay the fare and start to look for a seat.

The Leg Spreader - Almost always a man. You like to take two seats, but you don't use bags or packages. You use your legs. Spread as wide as possible. Feelin' the breeze. Sweet dude.

The Traveler - You refuse to take a cab to the airport, despite having to utilize all 5 bags of your 5 bag luggage set. You can barely carry (drag) them all, but you know you can save some cash by taking public transit. Even though it will take an extra hour. You take up, at the very least, two seats.

I Only Take Calls on the Bus - You only take cell phone calls on the bus. You are loud and at some point have to drop in a line like "Whaaat!?! Oh my gawwwwd, I was just in Prague."

I Only Take Sensitive Calls on the Bus - Very much like "I Only Take Calls on the Bus," but your conversations are likely to involve a variation on "Oh, thank goodness - yeah, test came back negative. You too?... Want to come over later?"

Driver's Buddy - Most bus drivers really only want to talk to you if they know you or if you are asking a bus related question. You like to engage the driver in some irrelevant topic which they have no interest hearing or talking about. Usually a twisted take on local politics. Or sports.

The Outside Seater - Obvious etiquette dictates that the first person to sit move to the seat closest to the window. But you refuse, standing your ground in the outside seat until the bus is literally full. Then, you may relent and move over the the empty inside seat. But only if glared at, asked to move or climbed over by another rider. Use of bags to cover the empty seat is a common tactic.

Backpacker - I know what your backpack tastes like. It's hit me in the mouth 5 times, even after I pushed you away and you said "Oh, I'm sorry!" Still hitting me. Still. Now, even. Yes.

What's SmarTrip? - You get on waving a paper Metro farecard and complaining that our system is quite inferior to New York City's. You "don't have any cash" and also "don't know what a SmarTrip card is" and the driver waves you on without paying. I suspect you've done this before.

I'm First and I'm Refilling My SmarTrip Card Right Now - Refilling the SmarTrip card on the bus can be harrowing. The process is not intuitive and the machine makes a loud nasty buzzing sound when you mess up. However, you like to get on the bus first and refill your card. With a bunch of one dollar bills. Very slowly while others wait. Next time, be nice and let everyone else get on first.

Aisle Squatter - When the bus starts to fill, and you are standing, you should start moving to the back of the bus. It's just nice. People can't walk around you in the aisle, and the front of the bus is really crowded with standees. The back is literally a ghost town. Just remember that. And it looks bad from the outside.

The Nice Guy or Girl - You are just nice. Giving up your seat to someone who looks like they need it. Pulling the yellow cord for me when I can't reach. Yelling "BACK DOOR" when the doors closed on another rider. And you always thank the driver because they do in fact have a tough job. Just a quality DC person who happens to ride the bus. Luckily there are more of you than the others (I think). I like to think this one is me. I hope it is!

Happy New Year