Local Bakery Will Compete in "Cupcake Wars"

Not  doughnuts

So, I'll bet $10US that there will be a gourmet doughnut shop in DC by, say, March 1, 2012. I know it. We had our falafel thing, then froyo, then cupcakes. And sort of had a hot dog thing, too. Doughnuts are next, mark my words.

However, before that happens, remember that we are still on cupcakes. And local bakery Sticky Fingers has baked its way onto one of the Food Network's competition based cooking shows, Cupcake Wars. 

The Columbia Heights business just underwent a mini makeover with a new interior paint job, new logo, name and website. Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats is the new name that reflects its diverse menu of cupcakes and iced cinnamon buns, but also coffee, sandwiches, brunch food and even, yes, hot dogs. And the best part, it's all vegan! The little vegan bakery originally opened in Adams Morgan, but really blossomed after expanding the menu and moving to a larger store at 1370 Park Rd NW.

New name, new logo

The Cupcake Wars episode airs next Tuesday March 8, at 9:00pm. They're having a viewing party for the show at Breadsoda in Glover Park -- 2233 Wisconsin Ave NW. That starts at 8:00pm and in a cool twist, they'll be serving cupcake and cocktail pairings to commemorate the event. Pretty cool.

I'm a big Sticky Fingers fan, so I'll be watching and rooting for the home team. Good luck!

Radio CPR Music Showcase Tonight!

Happy Friday! Join Radio CPR and a bunch of other rad folks tonight at La Casa for a music showcase. This is part of the slate of events organized by the Mount Pleasant Temporium.

This time around the location is not the Temporium, but La Casa -- a few doors down at 3166 Mt Pleasant St NW. Live music and the renowned CPR DJs. 7pm. And only $3. More event listings at The42BusDC.

Puppet Underground: Flying Donkey Cabaret

The Flying Donkey Cabaret. A mouthful of words, and a familiar group is behind the performance. DC's Puppet Underground has previously performed in Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights; and they are back with a new show. 

This show is tonight! It's being held across the street from Mount Pleasant at the Trinity AME Zion Church (Oak and 16th Sts NW). 8:00pm. There is a sliding scale donation, $5-$15.

Puppet Underground can describe the show much better than I can summarize it so here you go:

"An Evening of Impossible Cardboard & Brass Entertainments brought to you by an illustrious band of traveling puppeteers; a roadshow of puppets, music & genuine good old times featuring lifesize dancing donkeys, a junky trombone, drum & fiddle ensemble & lo fi picture shows of all sorts!

Come see some of our favoritest puppeteers from around the country! We have:

The Dolly Wagglers from Portland, Maine, bringing a freshlowbrow crudeness to the world of puppetry, with cardboard operettas, crankyshows (low-tech scrolling pictures) and cantastorias painted on the dirty sheets of America.

And Federica Collina originally from Italy but now from every armpit of America she can find. Traveling and touring for the last 4 years, she has worked with every activist puppet theater this side of the Mississippi. She must have learned something by now. 

And Jason Hicks from Brooklyn who is a puppeteer with a horn. Or so we're told.

Plus a gargantuan itinerant Cheap Art exhibit and store! 

We'll see you there! 

If you'd like to contact us about this event, email Janelle -- janellevyn at gmail dot com"

"Radical" Speed Dating Night

How's that OkCupid membership working out for you? No? Not surprised. Match.com? Ha. eHarmony? Don't get me started. 

Dating in DC is tough. Heck, it can be freaking brutal. But it does happen, sometimes for better -- and others for worse. And  DC ladies, I it seems to be a bit more challenging for you than for the guys. That's regardless of if you're dating men, women or both. And for everyone dating absolutely no one, biggest props to you. The phrase "I'm the one that I want" shouldn't belong exclusively to Margaret Cho. It's an ethos.

But, for those of you braving the maddening crowds, Adams Morgan bar Asylum --2471 18th St NW-- is hosting Rush Dating for the Rad, a take on speed dating. It's tonight and on a few Wednesdays to come. 

A DJ will spinning tunes, the bar will have specials, and organizers are handing out prizes. It all starts at 8:00pm. I'm really curious to see how this goes. If you go, let me know, eh? Good luck!

Temporium Debut a Blast

Friday night proved to be one of the best nights I've ever had in the neighborhood. The local feel good event of the year was made possible by a serendipitous finding of  fall-like temperatures, a last minute DCRA C of O and a who's who of Mount Pleasant friends and family.

The Temporium looks and feels like a real, permanent, retail store. The vendors each have their respective sections, but the flow and layout says permanent and professional. A lot of hard work went into this; that much is clear. Of course, Nana will make a more permanent go of it in this same space (3068 Mt P St NW) after the Temporium closes on March 13. Hats off to Nana for hosting the Temporium. We are all grateful!

During the grand opening on Friday (7-9pm) residents filled the sidewalk in front of the store because it was SO packed inside. One could barely get inside, let alone focus enough to shop, but we did. At points, the line formed at the register and continued to the back of the store next to DJs from Radio CPR and the cakes, cookies and sodas. Ward One city council member Jim Graham spoke as well as a handful of others including staff from Office of Planning and the owner of Nana.

So many friends were present, including many I hadn't seen in a while. Good to see you all. Just a wonderful gathering. I met a few new folks as well. Always good to do that every now and again, too. Ercilia's Restaurant next door seemed to get a spillover boost, as did Haydee's. (Also, word on the street is that the voluntary agreement with Haydee's is no more. Great news if that's true and I'll report more on that as I find out more info.)

Art, ceramics, lamps, clothing, posters, pillows; you name it, it's probably being sold. Even on yesterday's rainy late afternoon, there were 8-10 people shopping in the store when I walked by. All prospective businesses, Mount Pleasant will support you! Come on in. Our neighborhood would welcome you. But for now, we are happy to support the local artists and other vendors at the Temporium. This will be a fun month!

Jim Graham gives a speech

I was stuck standing in this spot for a while

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux, Let's Get Rich Edition

File under: Where are they now...?!! These guys were great! Happy weekend folks.

Baseball Returns Next Month

The sweetest phrase a baseball fan can hear during the dismal winter months is "pitchers and catchers report." Well that's happening this week and means only one thing: Major League Baseball's season starts in about 45 days. The Washington Nationals officially start spring training next week and the first regular season game is an afternoon matinée vs. the Atlanta Braves on March 31, in DC. 

This year marks the seventh since the team formerly knows as the Expos relocated to DC from Montreal, Quebec. They have yet to post a winning record in DC, but have made major team adjustments over the last two years and look to provide at least some entertainment for the interested and invested. If nothing else, going to the ballpark makes a great alternative to a) staying home on a beautiful spring night or b) being inside a bar/theater/where ever else on a beautiful spring night. Winter, be gone.. and bring on the baseball.

Mount Pleasant Temporium Opening Friday

Window installation in progress.

Finally! The Mount Pleasant Temporium will open this Friday and has a full line up of events ready to go. The temporary arts and performance space at 3068 Mt Pleasant St NW has been a work in progress the last few weeks with a flurry of activity this past weekend.

All of the events are open to the public and FREE, even performances. A diverse group of vendors has been curated and they will sell wares during retail hours for the duration of the Temporium. You can see the full list here. The opening reception is this Friday at 7pm and the first special event performance is SpeakeasyDC's storytelling session this Saturday at 7pm. More events here.

Here's a note about the theme of the Temporium form the organizers"

"The theme of the Mt. Pleasant Temporium is storytelling, which is woven throughout the retail aspect of the shop to give visitors a truly engaging experience with the products for sale and the stories behind the artists who made them. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the theme by leaving their own handwritten stories in the Temporium’s storefront window installation...

During the 24-day run of the project, several Mt. Pleasant businesses will feature their own stories in storefront displays and offer specials to Temporium customers."

The dates of the Temporium are this Friday, February 18 through Sunday, March 13. It will be open every day during this period.

Retail hours are 2-7pm on weekdays and 11am-6pm on weekend days. Performances will generally happen outside that frame -- like Friday's opening reception from 7-9pm.

Get excited! See you Friday.

For more news, announcements and general merriment, follow The 42 Bus.

Crafts & Kisses Returns; at La Casa Tomorrow

Two years ago, the Josephine Bulter Center in Columbia Heights was home to Crafts & Kisses arts, fair. Unfortunately there was not a fair last year. This year the fair returns --to Mount Pleasant's very own La Casa community center.

Crafts & Kisses will feature 25 craft makers who will offer a wide variety of one-of-a-kind, handmade items. And it's all Valentine themed! We're talking apparel, Valentine cards, handmade books, pottery, clothing accessories, jewelery, and more. Radio CRP will be providing sweet tunes to shop to.

If it's anything like the 2009 event, it'll be well worth the trip, trust me. Crafts & Kisses is tomorrow, Saturday Feb 12. It's at La Casa, 3166 Mount Pleasant St NW. 12pm-6pm.

Escalator

Reasons to Be Car Free in DC: MPD's All Seeing Eyes

More radar cameras, less speeding?

First, we thought they didn't work. Now, we think they do. Red light and speeding cameras are here to stay, for better or for worse. 

And now, not only are District leaders expanding the number of cameras, but adding more ticketable offenses. A year from now --when the new deployment is set to be complete-- Metro Police Department cameras will be able to record infractions such as blocking the box at intersections as well as failure to yield to pedestrians. 

I like the idea of increased enforcement of aggressive drivers in regards to pedestrians, but I'm not sure I like the idea of having cameras everywhere to catch every driver who is a few miles above the speed limit or who tried their best, but gets caught in the intersection at a light. There are some terrible drivers in the DC region, no doubt. But, at some point the enforcement is what it is. Put the cameras in the trouble spots and keep attacking the problem from other angles; like traffic calming measures, better lighting and markings at intersections and installing bulb outs for pedestrians. 

Here is a current list of red light camera locations in the District. And here's the current list of photo radar (speeding) camera locations in the District. Drive safely, and slow down!

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux, Krossed Out Edition

Someone, please do a  Where are They Now? feature on these guys. No, the backward clothes thing never caught on, and their main rivals, Another Bad Creation soon went away; but Kris Kross' Jump remains one of the most memorable party anthems of the 1990s. Kris Kross pretty much peaked with that song, but did release a handful of other succesful singels like I Missed the Bus, Warm it Up and Alright. But 1992's Jump is what they'll always be remembered for, for better or worse. Happy Friday!

Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau

In 1780 the French commander Rochambeau was 55 and on the verge of retirement when he entered the fray of the American Revolutionary War, on the side of the colonies. After spending nearly a year aiding the Continental Army in the northeast, Rochambeau's troops joined those of General George Washington's in the war's decisive battle at Yorktown, Virginia. After returning to France he served during the early years of the French Revolution and finally retired in 1792.

This statue is in Lafayette Park, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, southwestern corner. It's a replica of a statue originally cast in France. The French commissioned this replica Rochambeau piece in order to help solidify relations after tensions arose between the two countries during the Spanish American War. It was dedicated in 1902.