The 42

Winter on Mount Pleasant Street

2012-01-31T00:00:00.000-05:00

What Will New car2go Service Look Like?

2012-01-30T00:00:00.013-05:00

car2go's Smart Fortwo car (source Flickr: swirlspice)

Soon, District residents will have an additional choice when it comes to car sharing services in the city. car2go is owned by German car maker Daimler. It is similar to Boston-based Zipcar, but operates drastically different in some important ways. I contacted car2go for an operational start date and learned that there isn't one at this time. Otherwise, here's a quick look at what to expect.

Operation: car2go operates on a membership model like Zipcar. If you want to rent a car, you must be a registered member and have a special keycard and PIN for access. Registration is $35. The big difference is that with car2go, you can make one way trips. That is, you can retrieve a car at one location and leave it at the next; rental over. No need to return to a specific parking space.

For example, I could walk to a car on Mt Pleasant Street, drive to the Uptown in Cleveland Park, catch a move and ride the H4 bus back home. I can theoretically park anywhere (legal) in Cleveland Park and just leave the car there for the next renter. car2go takes care of the parking, cleaning and most importantly, refueling. Of course, you can refuel during your rental using car2go's gas cards located inside the car; much like Zipcar.

You can reserve online ahead of time or just find a car via car2go website and access it for instant use; "on demand" as they call it.

Cost: The cost structure is just as simple as Zipcar's hourly rate. However, car2go charges by the minute; 35 cents per minute plus tax. So, that 11 minutes it might take to drive to and find a parking spot in front of the Uptown would come to $3.85 plus tax. They capped the cost per hour at $12.99 and the cost for 24 consecutive hours at $65.99. Zipcar's rates vary depending on the model of car and time of day, but most of my rentals are in the $8-$10 per hour range. Like Zipcar, car2go also charges more for long trips; any trip over 150 miles triggers a higher per hour rate.

Also, there seems to be no annual fee (just a one time registration fee). That is great. For someone who uses car share less than once per month, I could get into not paying a membership fee every year.

Location: Last year car2go bid on and won many on street parking spaces that previously belonged to Zipcar. So, there will be some dedicated parking spots for the cars. Mount Pleasant has one at 3010 Mt Pleasant St NW (next to Embassy condos). Here are the other car2go dedicated parking spaces (PDF).

The "operation area" is where you are allowed to park a car after your rental period has concluded. This area includes most of the District (map here), with a few restricted areas on federal properties. For example, I could rent a car in Chinatown and drive to National airport to pick up a friend, but I couldn't end my rental there; I'd have to stay on the clock, return to District and park in a legal space, where the rental would end. The "stopover" function will let you park the car, but continue your rental, blocking others from renting it while you are away.

As for metered and zone parking, their website indicates that you can park in any "non- restricted Metered curbside parking space or Residential Parking Permit location in any zone throughout the operating area." That is, you do not have to have a particular zone sticker or pay the meter. Sweet. You can not park in any time restricted spots like rush hour restricted parking zones, or loading zones. Also, no parking on snow emergency routes (like 16th St near Mount Pleasant) or street sweeping streets on the day of sweeping.

Since cars are liable to be left at non-designated spots though, there has to be a way to find the closest car to your location when you need it. car2go has an online car finder map (empty now because the service isn't active) and car finder applications for Android devices and iPhone/iPad devices.

Cars: Here's where Zipcar and car2go really differ. Zipcar has all manor of cars, from Civics to pick-ups to Volvos and BMW's. car2go has the Smart car. That's it. These are the tiny "microcars" you may have seen around town in recent years. They seem to be popular in parking challenged DC. This is the "Fortwo" model. It is small, seats two people and has limited storage in the hatchback. At less than 9 feet in length, you'll find more parking spaces, but boy, is this thing small. I've never driven one, but it looks utilitarian. No moving apartments with this thing though; strictly groceries and small packages.

This service is has enough differences with Zipcar that I can see both surviving. There may even be a number of residents who choose to join both companies as members. As for getting more people into cars and putting more cars on the road; I'm not for that. But, the beauty of these services is that they allow for a car-ownership-free lifestyle with shared access to a vehicle when the need arises. Looking forward to the launch and DC's reaction.

Pitchers and Catchers...

2012-01-27T00:00:00.002-05:00

One of the magical phrases for baseball fans is "pitchers and catchers report." This is the day when the Stephen Strasburgs and Wilson Ramos' of the world report for the first team workout of the year.Typically pitchers and catchers report first due the long term nature of a pitchers' work plan. When that date is within reach, fans move the baseball caps and replica jerseys from the back of the closet to the front. Some of us start looking for season tickets to arrive in the mail or eagerly await single game tickets to go on sale. You assessing at what your team has done over the past few months of the off season and begin getting excited about the upcoming year.

Well, that day is now withing sight. The Nationals will have pitchers and catchers report on February 19 at noon. Actually, most other teams will start on that day, too. Then, baseball every week until November. The first regular season Nationals game will be in Chicago, versus the Cubs on April 5. A week later, the Nationals play the Reds at our home opener on April 12. Looking toward another solid year, hopefully improving as much or more than we did last year. Get excited. Have a great weekend.

Hey, Winter Biker

2012-01-26T00:00:00.001-05:00

So happy to see DC riders biking the city well into the winter... what we've had of it anyway. Here, a Capital Bikeshare station at 5th and F Streets NW, near the National Building Museum. Keep riding DC, keep riding.

Dupont Metro-South Will Close for Most of 2012

2012-01-24T00:00:00.006-05:00

If you use Metro's southern Dupont station entrance on the regular, you'll need to find an alternative routine for most of 2012. The transit agency is closing the entire entrance to remove and replace the three escalators which move passengers from ground level to the mezzanine. The work was originally supposed to last one year, but Metro revised the timeline to 10 months, then 8 and one half months. The northern entrance at 20th and Q will remain open. 20th and Q has escalators as well as an elevator. There is no exact date for the closure, but it is planned to begin sometime in February.

This job is so big, Metro decided to bid the work out to a Swiss company rather than waiting to hire and train the dozens of additional workers required. The price tag is estimated at $12 million. According to Metro, the current escalators were custom built by a British company, which is no longer in the business of producing or maintaining escalators. That made sourcing parts and labor for repair extremely difficult and costly. With the re-installation of new escalators, it's hoped that the monies and labor spent on future maintenance will be kept to a minimum.

As for the 8.5 month estimate, I'm highly dubious. Let's come back to this on January 1, 2013 and see where the project stands. Until then, use the north entrance on 20th Street or walk south to the Farragut North station on Connecticut Ave and L Street NW.

Friday Fun Post: Turtle Power

2012-01-20T00:00:00.008-05:00

You may be under the impression that Vanilla Ice's only contribution to the 90s music scene was Ice Ice Baby. However, that would be incorrect. In addition to that gem he also wrote Ninja Rap: for, yes, the movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. A classic, classic 90s flick. With a classic 90s soundtrack. Enjoy this. Enjoy it. And yo man, let's get outta here. Word to you mother. Have a great weekend!

7th and H NW Changes Underway

2012-01-19T00:00:00.003-05:00

The busy intersection at 7th and H Streets NW has one conspicuous absence. That absence is the complete lack of tenants at the northeast corner. CVS/pharmacy was the last sign of life in the aging building up until its closure in 2007. Developers want to rehab the building, add on to it and fill it with tenants. It looks as if that is happening now. The entire property (801-809 7th St) was purchased in June 2011 for $9.1M, making way for this development.

The top two floors are being marketed as office space, totaling 21,000sf. The bottom two floors and basement level are slated to be filled by British chain YO! Sushi, sandwich-soup-bakery joint Panera and convenience store-pharmacy Walgreens. The retail square footage totals just over 37,000sf. Great looking renderings of the proposed changes here (PDF, from McCaffery Interests & Douglas Development). Good to see some movement at this corner after a few years of limbo and legal/financial wrangling.

Split This Rock: Spring Poetry Festival

2012-01-17T00:00:00.002-05:00

Split This Rock has hosted two poetry festivals right here in DC, once in 2008 and again in 2010. The third festival is just around the corner; it runs March 22-25 and will take place in multiple venues, mostly around U St NW. If you are seriously into poetry, consider looking into Split This Rock. They're offering a bit of a discount if you register before February 22.

From the organizers:

"Join us in Washington, DC for four days and more than 50 events: readings, workshops, panel discussions, youth programs, open mics, and activism! Whether you are a poet looking for community with other seekers of justice, an activist seeking inspiration and renewal, a lover of words wanting great poetry, or all of the above, Split This Rock 2012 is for you!

Split This Rock calls poets to a greater role in public life and fosters a national network of socially engaged poets. This 4-day poetry festival will bring together poets, activists, artists and writers from around the country. To learn more about the festival, click here.

When:

Thursday, March 22, 2012 (8:30am ET) - Sunday, March 25, 2012 (1:00pm ET)

Where:

Historic U Street Corridor, Washington, DC

The poetry festival will include:

Some of the most visionary and powerful voices of our time, including Alice Walker and other featured poets.
Thought-provoking readings, workshops and panel discussions exploring economic inequality, political repression, environmental degradation and more!
Youth programs, open mics and activism.
Convening poets, activists, slam champions, emerging poets, DC-area poets, editors and you!"

City Center Rising

2012-01-13T00:00:00.005-05:00

DC's largest active real estate project lies in the heart of downtown, on the site of the old convention center. (The new convention center is he low slung glass building, second from the left in this photo.) City Center, as planned, will include 330,000 sf of retail space, up to 400 hotel rooms, 1M(!) sf of office space and almost 700 housing units. Not all at once mind you. But, in three phases.

Construction will last years and include the reopening of 10th St NW. Obviously this is a multi-use project and that's great. As far as the architecture, I'm not so sure. I don't expect any daring or even mildly interesting buildings. A shame really. We have a chance to spice up the east end and break away from glass and prefab concrete boxes, but the renderings are headed in that general direction. Plans do call for 30,000 sf of open space, including a park on the New York Ave side and a central east-west pedestrian plaza from 9th to 11th Sts. So, that's good. Very exciting project for downtown DC!

Bluebrain's New Boombox Walk This Weekend

2012-01-12T00:00:00.004-05:00

Our friends Bluebrain are back in the District fresh off of their very successful launch of an iPhone application for New York's Central Park. This time, they've secured one of DC's best indoor spaces for a third and final boombox walk. U.S. Botanical Garden sits at the foot of Capitol Hill, just west of the Capitol Building. One of my favorite places in DC! It's criminally under-appreciated, in my opinion. Well, this is the site of the the walk for this Saturday January 14. It's free, of course.

This is how it works: Several tracks composed by Bluebrain are distributed to you (and everyone else who shows up) and loaded onto your boombox -- via CD, cassette or mp3. Then, after starting the tracks in sync, the group will traverse the walkways of the Botanical Garden creating a symphony of music along the way. Very, very cool! Please RSVP (bluebrainmusic@gmail.com) if you'd like to be a part of this! Here are the details from Bluebrain:

"Bluebrain & The US Botanic Garden present

Final Boombox Walk

January 14th at 3 PM Sharp

Free Event

US Botanical Garden -- 100 Maryland Ave SW Washington DC

Original music composed by Bluebrain

RSVP and tell us your preferred format (cassette, CD or MP3)

Bring a portable cassette, CD or iPod enabled music device to the indoor conservatory courtyard of the Botanic Garden (located next to the Capitol building on the National Mall). PLEASE RSVP BY EMAIL (bluebrainmusic@gmail.com) & TELL US WHAT KIND OF DEVICE YOU WILL HAVE (this way, we can create enough cassettes, CD's or email you an MP3).

Thank you to all those who've come to one or both boombox walks -- or any other Bluebrain events since we started this three years ago. Let's make this the biggest sounding one yet.

For more information:

http://www.facebook.com/events/138113212959302/

www.bluebra.in

http://www.usbg.gov/"

Capitol View

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

Friday Fun Post: My Own Worst Enemy

2012-01-06T00:00:00.002-05:00

There's a Facebook thread going around this week which asks you to post the video for the #1 Billboard song from the year of you birth. Hmmmm, no. Most of us were born before You Tube existed. And some of us were even born before bands made videos of their songs. Yep, we're old! So, instead of doing that, I'm posting another video from the 90s, since I'm pretty much mentally stuck there. And won't leave. Ever. I am a child.

Under Re-Construction: National Cathedral

2012-01-05T00:00:00.003-05:00

Amazing to me that Washington National Cathedral was "just" completed in 1990. The first stone was laid in 1907. Plans for such an institution, a "church intended for national purposes," had existed since 1792. The original intended space is now occupied by the National Portrait Gallery. The current location (Wisconsin and Massachusetts Aves NW) makes the Cathedral one of the the District's most recognized buildings; you can see it atop Mount Alban from so many parts of Washington and even Virginia (especially as you approach via 395). At 700 feet above sea level, the tops of the two towers are the highest spots in the District. The Cathedral is also the 6th largest in the world. It's a place for all worshipers, but everything inside is Christian related and it is an Episcopal Church.

I visited over the holiday break to see the earthquake damage up close. It is extensive, but the interior was largely untouched. I was happy to see the amazing stained glass windows intact -- there are over 200. There is even an exhibit about the earthquake's impact on the first floor. There's so much to see here, I highly recommend a trip. And make sure you get up to the 7th floor of the towers for unparalleled views of the District, Maryland and Virginia. You can even see the Blue Ridge Mountains! They ask for a small donation, but it's worth the hour+ you'll spend exploring. There's not really a Metro station nearby (Tenleytown at 1.5 miles), but the 30s buses, the 96 bus and the X3 bus drop off adjacent to the Cathedral. If you're up for it, the mostly uphill walk from Woodley Park Metro is beautiful.

Stop Comparing DC to New York

2012-01-03T00:00:00.006-05:00

Best mailbox graffiti: DC or NYC?!

This is a request main in vain, I know. Before I was born, this debate was going on. After I die, this debate will go on. I get it. It won't die. But that doesn't mean I can't wish that it would.

Everyone: stop trying to compare DC to New York. It's useless. Just stop. These are two great American cities. Capitals of politics, culture, finance, protest, fashion, food, history, architecture and the urban life in general. But they are fundamentally different from each other in soooooooo many ways. Comparing the two cities "apples to apples" is futile. That being said, here are my two cents:

Food: DC and New York are plagued --not unlike other affluent areas-- with overpriced, underachieving restaurants. On the other hand, each city has standout, time tested, critically acclaimed spots that are worth the hype. I am not a major foodie. I appreciate simple, affordable menus in unpretentious settings. Richmond and Baltimore get it. DC is trying. New York does, at times. And don't get me started on molecular gastronomy. The food debate is a wash. If you can find restaurants you like in New York, the next person will find just as many here in DC. Good food really is in the eye --or taste buds-- of the beholder. This debate will never be settled.

Fashion: Really? Fashion. Ann Taylor Loft vs. Designer With One Name. You decide. Face it; each is equally untenable. While there are apparently no firm rules for what passes for good fashion in New York, we're fatally crippled, wallowing in mediocrity here in DC. Hell, I could wear a over-sized paper bag over my torso in New York and get ushered to the front of the line at the best night clubs. Here, I'd be condemned on the street as a mentally ill and probably reported to the police if I tried to get into a club. We're stuck inside of a middle of the road rut and can't find our way out to save our lives. New Yorkers are supposedly fashion trend setters, but no one stops long enough to decide whether those trends are truly innovative or plain ridiculous. But to each his or her own. Some of us need to step out of the box, others need to go running back into it. Do what works for you.

24/7: A major knock on DC is that we aren't a "24 hour city." In Manhattan you can get veggie lo mein, a pizza or your dry cleaning delivered to your door at 4:00AM. And yes, you can take the subway home at any hour, provided you live near a station. (But, try getting from LES to Kew Gardens Hills after a night out. Not happening). In DC, well, most of us can't do those things. We do have a number of 24 hour eateries and I think more will open in due time. Honestly though, is this a big problem? In DC's entertainment districts, you can eat until the wee hours and take the train home to the suburbs until 3:00AM on the weekends. Take a cab otherwise. Whenever I hear this complaint, it's from the mouth of some insufferable NYC ex-pat who relocated to DC for work/school/spouse/whatever. Please, just move back. Problem solved.

Nightlife: Another category like "food." Every individual has a different, equally valid take. I've never set foot inside DC's Love or Tattoo Bar, but if that's your thing, go bananas. On the flip side, I've also never partied at NYC's Webster Hall or Beauty Bar, but I'm sure they are fine establishments. Both cities get first class DJ's and there's a club scene for every stripe in either location. For me this is a toss up. There are literally more venues to choose from in New York, but in all fairness they have 7.5 million additional people to entertain than do clubs in the District.

Alas, I have a solution for all the complainers and everyone else that favors one of these cities over the other: Amtrak. You can get advance tickets over the internet or even at the last second from a teller as the train is pulling away. An early morning Acela Express train will transport you to and from Union Station and Penn Station at 2 hours, 45 minutes. Done. If you have some extra time or are on a budget, another solution: There are at least, I don't know, 7 or 8 legitimate discount bus services that travel daily to and from Manhattan and downtown DC. Tickets are often cheaper than a signature dish at Ben's Chili Bowl or Gray's Papaya. Make it happen. Just don't try to convince me which hot dog was better afterward.

HomeSaver Program to Offer Free Clinics in January

2011-12-22T00:00:00.003-05:00

There is, obviously, never a good time to lose one's job or home. But in this economy, in this city, getting back on your feet after a foreclosure seems unbearably daunting. However, there are programs like HomeSaver which can help mitigate some of the angst over getting laid off and possibly falling behind. This program is affiliated with the government of the District of Columbia. They are offering free clinics for those who want to know more about avoiding foreclosure. From the organizers:

"The District of Columbia government, through the HomeSaver Program, now offers forgivable loans to homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgages because of unemployment. If you own a home in DC, are receiving or have received unemployment benefits at any time during the last 6 months, and are behind on your mortgage because you were laid off, you may be eligible for a loan to help bring your mortgage current. Call (202) 667-7006 or attend a FREE foreclosure clinic to find out more about this program and other realistic options for avoiding foreclosure.

When:
Wednesday, January 4—12:00 P.M.
Wednesday, January 11—12:00 P.M.
Wednesday, January 18—12:00 P.M.
Wednesday, January 25—6:00 P.M.

Where:
Housing Counseling Services
2410 17th Street NW
Suite #100"

Happy Holidaze

2011-12-19T00:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Eid, Christmas, Diwawli, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus or whatever you celebrate. And happy winter and New Year's, too. Cheers for the days getting a bit longer on the march to next summer. Yes, I'm trying to think positive. Light posting until the new year. (P.S. Please pass along cool NYE events. I'm still looking for something cool to do: @the42busdc.)

Ottomania Returns to Zeba Bar

2011-12-16T08:00:00.004-05:00

Ottomanina --Balkan themed dance party-- is returning to Zeba Bar on Saturday night, this time with a Bhangra twist. Take advantage of our great late fall fairly mild weather and get out to this party! Have a great weekend!

From the organizers:

OTTOMANIA:

A Transglobal Balkanic danceparty eruption.

Special Balkan meets Bhangra edition.

Balkan Brass//Gypsy Punk//Bhangra Funk//TurboFolk//TurboRagga//Bolly Surf// Balkan Dub & Club//Urban Desi//TamilTablaRock Ottomania::

++A bouncy mezze of underground dance music from & influenced by Balkan countries from Bosnia to Greece and don't forget Turkey.

This time with a stop through the Punjab

Brought to you by DJs:

BEATrix

Inda Nile/ dj trash

vANNIEty Kills

and special guest

dj meat hook

Saturday December 17th

Zeba Bar (Babushka's fave new neighborhood spot)

2 charming levels- 3 bars--Gorgeous Balkan back patio--delicious dancefloor

3423 14th Street NW (Newton and 14th St) //Columbia Heights metro

10pm-3am // +Super Free+

Holiday Market in Penn Quarter Though Dec 23

2011-12-15T00:00:00.006-05:00

If you've walked F Street NW in front of the National Portrait Gallery lately, you've probably smelled the sweetness of the Churros! booth, welcoming you to the the Downtown Holiday Market. This is the seventh year of the event, partially produced by the Downtown BID. The market features a rotating cadre of artisans and craftpersons, offering everything from food to fedoras. Well, hats anyway. I didn't actually see any fedoras. But there were lots of hats.

The market is outside, on F Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets. The last day is December 23, the final Friday before Christmas. The hours are 12:00PM-8:00PM daily. I've been walking over during the lunch hour to check out the varied musical acts. Musicians (Americana, jazz, blues, folk) typically play daily at noon, then again at 5:00PM. A rotating vendor schedule keeps it fresh week by week. For more information on which vendors are selling and musicians playing at this very moment, see the market website.

FYI -- the Capital Bikeshare station usually located at the northwest corner of 7th and F has been temporarily moved to the southeast corner of 8th and F to accommodate the market and will return at it end.

Mount Pleasant, Night Scene

2011-12-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Trees Will Return to Adams Morgan's 18th Street

2011-12-12T00:00:00.003-05:00

Among the causalities of the massive streetscape project in Adams Morgan are trees. The busy thoroughfare of 18th St NW between Florida and Columbia has lost many of the trees which lined it before the project. The good news: they will be replaced! Along with new bike racks, bike sharrows, bulb outs, ADA compliant ramps, more crosswalks, parallel parking and a lot more; Adams Morgan will get new shading trees on its expanded sidewalks.

Above: a recent photo I took near Ventnor Sports. Below: same strip before the tree removal. The entire project, which is quite ambitious --and needed-- will take 15 months, wrapping up late-summer of 2012. Good work DDOT!

Google Street View

Friday Fun Post: A Brit Shuffle

2011-12-09T00:00:00.002-05:00

I love this! A little danceable hit from England's Bombay Bicycle Club. From this year's A Different Kind of Fix, here's "Shuffle." Have a great weekend.

Nail Spa Gets Choice Spot in Adams Morgan

2011-12-07T00:00:00.003-05:00

Nails, nails, nails

Enchanted Nail and Spa has erected permanent signage at 2324 18th St NW in Adams Morgan. This space was most recently Maggie Moo's, which closed well over a year ago. Earlier this year, signage inside the windows here advertised for a UPS Store franchise location, but that's apparently not happening. Lots of visibility at this corner, 18th and Belmont. Sweet Themez bakery is next door and Wok and Roll is just across Belmont.

As the name indicates, Enchanted looks to offer nail and light spa services. Posted signs announcing its arrival indicate that they will offer mani & pedi, something called a shellac gel polish, a bunch of other services using the word "gel" in the description, full body waxing, hot stone foot massage, facials and more. Best of luck Enchanted Nail and Spa.

Cheap Art Sale + Amani Open House This Weekend

2011-12-05T00:00:00.003-05:00

The Cheap Art Sale returns to Mount Pleasant for 2011, this Saturday December 10, 1:00PM-5:00PM. The location is La Casa, 3166 Mount Pleasant St NW. Cheap means everything is under $50 and once again, there is a great list of local artists and a great cause behind this benefit. At least half of all artist proceeds will go to the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL). Cheap Art Sale raised nearly $1,000 for Neighbors Consejo two years ago, so shopping at this event does make a difference. From the organizers:

"On Saturday, December 10th, the fourth annual Cheap Art Sale will host artists from across the city who will show and sell original works of art, and donate half or more of all the proceeds to the nonprofit Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL). All art will be priced at $50 or less. The Cheap Art Sale is an opportunity for shoppers to purchase unique holiday gifts and one-of-a-kind items.

Participating artists include Tom Legro, Mike Ferguson, Alexandra Silverthorne, Pat Padua, Arelle Rodriguez, Sha Grogan-Brown, Phyllis Dillinger,Tory Pedonti, Anthem Press, and Sera Baghdadi and others. Grassroots Gourmet will also be selling their delicious progressive baked goods. Artwork sold will include paintings, jewelry, screen printed goods, lots of photography and more.

SMYAL is the only Washington, DC metro area service organization solely dedicated to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Founded in 1984, SMYAL's mission is to promote and support self-confident, healthy, productive lives for LGBTQ youth ages 13-21 as they journey from adolescence into adulthood.

To find out more about SMYAL, check out their website at: http://www.smyal.org/index.php"

* * *

Also this weekend, an open house event for Amani Ya Juu, the small storefront in La Casa which is actually a retail space for a work-training project for women, centered in Nairobi, Kenya. The open house is Friday evening and all day Saturday. Stop by to learn more about Amani and shop; they're offering discounts on both days. From Amani: (and please stop by this space, they do amazing work)

"Amani ya Juu (Swahili for “higher peace”), the holistic sewing and training program for marginalized women in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, & Liberia, will be holding their Holiday Open House, on Friday, December 9 from 4:00 to 8:00 and Saturday, December 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Amani’s high-quality handbags, home & kitchen décor, jewelry, and children’s items are made out of local African materials by a diverse community of women working together in peace. The sale of products enables each woman to gain valuable skills and earn a consistent income. Their Holiday Open House will feature one-day specials, festive treats, and authentic East African chai. During the event, buy 3 full-priced ornaments and get one ornament for free. Tablecloths and place mats will be 20% off and large bags will be 15% off.

To learn more about Amani Ya Juu, check out their website at: www.amanidc.org"

Friday Fun Post: Drums

2011-12-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

A nice dance-tastic tune to start your weekend. The Drums with "I Felt Stupid" off of, ironically, the Summertime! EP. Have a great weekend.

Africa is Not a Country Presents: Nettle, at Marrakech Lounge

2011-12-01T00:00:00.003-05:00

Our friends over at Africa is Not a Country are hosting their second happy hour this Friday. In addition to resident CH-Mt P DJs Mothershiester and Bent, they've invited special guest Nettle.

It's this Friday evening at new Adams Morgan spot Marrakech Lounge. From the organizers:

The 2nd Happy Hour installment of Africa is Not a Country features a special performance by Nettle. This long distance, inter-continental project blends electronic beats, North African folksongs and percussion with avant garde noise.

We'll be celebrating the release of group's new record -- El Resplandor: The Shining in Dubai. "For this album, Nettle imagined a remake of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining set in a luxury hotel in Dubai, U.A.E. El Resplandor: The Shining In Dubai is their soundtrack for that nonexistent film."

"Nettle's work foregrounds issues of friction, translation, and displacement as necessary counter-narratives to the standard paradigms of 'cross-cultural exchange' and metaphors of mixing or hybridity."

DJ sets by DC's own bent and mothershiester through the night will feature Rock, Ska, and Punk anthems from Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. Jazz arrangements from Madagascar and Ghana. Soukous jams and Chaabi gems. Plus a glut of Kenyan Pop tracks.

FREE!
Time: Nettle plays at 9pm!
Copies of El Resplandor: The Shining in Dubai will be for sale

Drink specials: $3 beers, $5 wine & rail drinks, delicious $5 appetizers
Plus: hooka/sheesha for enjoyment on the veranda
At: this brand new North African spot – Marrakech Lounge.

Africa is Not a Country is an anti-colonial musical journey, using the dancefloor/barstool to deconstruct the idea of “African music” as we rock out from Jo-burg to Cairo, from Dakar to Nairobi, with a quick lap around the islands.

Handmade Holly Mart + Gift of Fab, Saturday in Mount Pleasant

2011-11-29T00:00:00.006-05:00

Handmade Holly Mart; one of two local, indie shopping events this Saturday.

Saturday is shaping up to be a busy day in Mount Pleasant! And that's a good thing.

* * *

Saturday is the first of a two-day tree sale at Bancroft Elementary School. That's from 10AM-4PM Saturday & Sunday or until the trees sell out.

* * *

Past Tense Studios is once again hosting the Gift of Fab, right in the studio space. Saturday 2:30PM-6:30PM. Gift of Fab has grown into a nice little tradition of three years young this year. Past Tense --at 3253 Mount Pleasant St NW-- will play host to other small, independent, local businesses offering both services and retail products. Think of this as an alternative to last week's "Black Friday" ridiculousness. If you're like me, the holidays mean more gift buying for...... myself. Aaaaand of course close friends and family. Past Tense will have its own booth at the event; and here are the other vendors (via Past Tense website, thanks!):

bLuGrn design: Jewelry created using elements of sky, earth and water. Sterling and 14kGF jewelry pieced into unique and fun vignettes.

EngeryThreads: Quality handmade yoga accessories, using organic materials and local talent. Currently producing a Deluxe Yoga Mat Backpack and a special Third Eye Pillow. Will have the new hand dyed collection in time for the holidays.

Mirasa: Makes contemporary, handmade and eco-friendly toys. Looking through the eyes of a curious child, Mirasa products are built on the dual theory that tactile stimulation is crucial for infant development and that child-directed pretend play helps develop children’s early cognitive development.

Mt. Pleasant Massage: Enjoy a chair massage at the holiday sale or purchase gift certificates for table massage, chair massage, pregnancy/post-partum massage, infant massage training classes, and more.

Simple Girl Designs: Offers handmade, unique jewelry by local designer Nadine Naskoviak. Girly and sassy, made with quality gemstones and vintage trinkets to make truly one of a kind designs.

Skincando: Handcrafted organic skincare with products made for everyone with an active to luxe lifestyle. The new Miracle Cream (think organic La Mer) is the must-have hydrating face cream of the season.

Yinibini Baby: Handmade clothing and accessories for little ones. Handmade out of 100% cotton and cotton blended fabrics, some pieces are reversible, offering babies stylish flexibility

* * *

In addition to Gift of Fab, Nana boutique is hosting its first Handmade Holly Mart, Saturday from 11:30AM-7:00PM. Nana opened earlier this year at 3068 Mt Pleasant St NW. This Saturday they're hosting a small group of DC crafters, designers, musicians and artists. Some are veterans of the wildly successful Mount Pleasant Temporium, which was hosted in the Nana storefront, before the retail operation had actually opened.

There will be a total of 10 vendors, selling a variety of art (wearable and not), screen print pieces, jewelry, handmade plush (they better have squirrels!) and more. I don't have the full list of vendors at this time, but if the Temporium was any any indication, you'll want to swing through this mart. We do know that music will be provided by the Felt Tips (awesome name!) and Nana is being nice enough to offer refreshments, too. Pretty awesome event.

There you go. Two awesome events organized by owners of businesses right here in Mount Pleasant. They're not just asking you to support their respective stores, but they're acting as a vehicle for other creative small businesses and individuals to get their great ideas, products and services out there. If you have to shop at this time of year, do some of it at one of these events. I will. And yes, I'm mostly shopping for other people, but am really liking the idea of being able to get a good massage in the neighborhood. I really need one! Ok, see you there.

Payless Closing, Cupcakery Opens in Adams Morgan

2011-11-28T01:00:00.007-05:00

Payless ShoeSource is closing its Adams Morgan store at 1777 Columbia Road NW. This national chain sells shoes, accessories and some clothing. Payless operates several other stores in the District, including a smaller location just blocks away at DCUSA on 14th Street. Employees of the Adams Morgan location gave no reason for closure. However, they indicated that the store would close only after the current inventory was depleted. Yesterday afternoon the clearance included 20-40% off of all products in an "all-sales-final" sale.

The closing store still has a bare-bones Facebook page, but no longer appears on the locator tool of the main Payless website. I wonder if the new store is making more $$$ per square foot while drawing customers from the Adams Morgan store. No word on what could replace the large space, but it joins nearby empty but high visibility storefronts at 1760 Columbia (Pizza Hut) and 1805 Columbia (Blockbuster).

So, a national chain closes, but a local small business opens! Sweet Themez Cake and Cupcake opened earlier this November at 2318 18th Street NW. This was the original location of Crooked Beat Records (since moved to 2116 18th St NW).

Sweet Themez keeps it pretty simple: they offer custom wedding & event cakes, cupcakes and cake pops. That's pretty much it. The small retail space consists of sales counter and a wall display of the day's available cupcakes. I imagine most of their business will consist of special orders and wedding cakes. I didn't count, but they offered about 15(?) cupcakes which are always available--two were vegan. In addition they offer another 4 or 5 rotating flavors. I had the plain vanilla vegan cupcake with chocolate frosting. Lots of frosting and on par with other plain vanilla cupcakes offered around town. Great to have a new non-restaurant/bar business opening on 18th Street. Good luck!

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

2011-11-25T00:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Holidays! For me, this was actually a quick November. As in it is flying by. It'll be 2012 in no time. Here's A Long December by another 90s favorite, Counting Crows. Have a great weekend! Don't buy anything (lame)!

Arlington National Cemetery

2011-11-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

Mt Pleasant Tree Sale is December 3-4

2011-11-21T00:00:00.007-05:00

Yes, this photo was my tree topper last year.

The annual Bancroft Annual Holiday Tree Sale is happening the weekend of December 3-4. As always, the tree sale benefits the Bancroft Elementary PTA. I'm not sure which type of tree I purchased last year, but this year there will be Fraser Fir, Balsam, Douglas, White Pine, and Scotch Pine. I was much more concerned with the tree topper last year. I chose to put up a photograph of Boo the dog. Best tree topper ever.

Threes and select accessories will be on sale 10:00AM-4:00PM Saturday and Sunday or until the trees sell out (a real possibility... come early!). Last year there was also limited "delivery" service, but I'm not sure if that's happening his year. It consisted of a few kids and adults who wheeled the tree to your door on a red wagon for a small fee. Nice add-on.

Bancroft Elementary is located at the corner of 1755 Newton St NW in Mount Pleasant. The sale happens on the playground, accessible via 18th Street. If you're getting a tree this year, do it here!

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

2011-11-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

OK, so technically this is a song from 1988, but it has a definitively 90s sound. I was listening to Q94 before school one day and taped it. On the bus ride in, I played it over and over and over in my HUGE Sony Walkman portable cassette player. It was HUGE, and yellow. The buttons were rubber and knobby and the thing was HUGE. Not even really sure how I carried it around. It was... yeah, much bigger than an ipod. But cutting edge at the time, let's be honest. Anyway I loved this song in middle school and I love it now. It's "Cult of Personality" by New York's Living Colour. Have a great weekend.

Occupy Kabaret Street: Puppet Underground

2011-11-17T01:00:00.004-05:00

Photo courtesy of Puppet Underground

Our friends at Puppet Underground are back in action this Saturday to support of the Occupy movement in general and Occupy K Street in specific. From the organizers!:

"WHO: Bread and Puppet Theater is coming with their newest show... about the Occupy movement! One of the oldest activist street theater troupes in the country, Bread and Puppet can make you laugh, make you cry, and make you want to occupy!

The Occupy Wall Street Puppetry Guild lends us the fabulous puppeteer and musician Jo Robin, who will bring a paper circus of economic proportions!

Puppet Underground will present a new show about a local organizing struggle to make housing a human right. The show will take us from a look into the past through to the present and into the possibilities of the future!

The Shadow Senators will be performing a song and cranky show!

Quique Aviles brings us a performance from his one-man show "Los Treinta"!

Zein Elamine will share his poetry about DC!

WHAT: Historical characters and roving musicians will lead you from Occupy K Street to other locations downtown with significant grassroots organizing history where you will see puppet shows and musical acts that will start your heart a-pumpin'! Join us to celebrate social justice movements in an exciting cabaret that will send you running to your nearest General Assembly! Wear comfortable shoes, be prepared to walk, and we invite you to stay after the show for OccuPie eating at our Occupy After-Party!

Suggested sliding scale donation of $5-15.

WHEN: Saturday, November 19th. Show starts at 12:30PM. Tours of Occupy K Street at 12:00PM.

WHERE: Meet at the statue in McPherson Square (15th and K St NW)"

Photos: 14th and Irving

2011-11-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

District History: A Photo Challenge!

2011-11-14T00:00:00.002-05:00

From our friends at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. comes a cool DC-based photo challenge. If you recognize these District locations and can answer the queries, you know more than I! Seriously, if you know what's up with these photos, leave your response in the comments section below. The first to answer correctly gets a sweet prize.

The Historical Society of Washington, DC. is an educational, research and archive organization with a vast collection dating to the 1700s. HSW is located downtown at Mt. Vernon Square; in the old Carnegie Library, 801 K St NW.

From, the organizers:

"DC History Nerds! A Challenge.

Do you think you know a lot about DC? Do you recognize any of these places? Each of these archival photographs are from the Historical Society of Washington D.C.'s huge collection. The first commenter to correctly identify all three photos wins a cupcake from Sticky Fingers Bakery.

Sweet manse, yeah? Formerly occupied by a 3-time failed presidential candidate. Where in NW was this house located? The lot is currently home to an apartment building with a great view.

Who is this big guy? And do all children bother him? Name where he lives and his moniker.

Look familiar? No, it’s not from OccupyDC. This isn’t the first time DC has seen a tent city—where was this encampment built, and when?

* * *

Your cupcake’s on the line so start the guessing! Any questions can be sent to hswphotos@gmail.com.

All images courtesy of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C."

UPDATE: Answers listed below in the comments section.

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

2011-11-11T00:00:00.002-05:00

Yay! Pavement was one of the many stellar bands on the great, great Matador label. Here's the wordy and quirky "Stereo" from 1997's Brighten the Corners. Have a great weekend!

Park Regent

2011-11-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

Everlasting Life Cafe: All Vegan, All Day

2011-11-07T00:00:00.004-05:00

Within the District there are four all-vegan restaurants, that I know of: Elizabeth's Gone Raw, Cafe Green, Soul Veg, and Everlasting Life Cafe. I try to support each of these establishments when I can. All are either bikeable from Mount Pleasant or a one-bus trip.

I have to give a huge shout out to Everlasting Life. The restaurant at 2928 Georgia Ave NW was remodeled in the last year and can now seat about 40 people. There is a stage in the front of the space facing Georgia Ave for performances and a new sleek juice bar, too. The original space did feature food service, but also housed a health food and retail store. In the remodeled space, the focus is definitely on the food.

So many choices on the menu. And they're all vegan. I'm not a raw foods person, but they have, maybe, a dozen raw dishes, mostly in salad form. I recently had the "fried chick'n" sandwich (definitely not raw!). OMG. It was so, so good. Basically a breaded tofu fillet, fried crispy with L&T and sauce. I will be back for this sandwich again and again. In addition to the sandwiches they serve various, rotating main dishes and sides from the hot bar. Among my friends the macaroni & cheese and bbq tofu are the favorites. If you're vegetarian, vegan, or otherwise, give this place a look. A true pleaser!

Friday Fun Post: Louise Attaque

2011-11-04T00:00:00.021-04:00

Obscure 90s French art rock bands are not really my forte. But, this band in particular was bought to my attention via mix tape from a long, long time ago. I heard this song, Léa, and fell in love with Louise Attaque. Too bad it doesn't actually have a video to go along with the song. But the song is just... so good. Even though I don't speak a word of French. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

Photos: 5th Street, Chinatown

2011-11-03T00:00:00.001-04:00

St Mary Mother of God, 727 5th St NW

Downtown Detail

2011-11-02T00:00:00.002-04:00

Owners of the Woodward & Lothrop building have recently begun detailing the exterior ironwork of the former department building. Encompassing an entire city block, the old flagship "Woodies" store is located in NW DC bound by 10th, 11th, F and G Sts.

The spaces inside the building have been redeveloped over the last 10 years, including ground floor retail of clothing stores Forever 21, H&M, Zara and tourist destination Madame Tussauds wax museum. Most recently, these patterned ironwork pillars (wrapped around the lower floors) were painted a uniform forest green color. The new paint job adds another layer to an already gorgeous building. This is a neat and I like it!

Seasons Change

2011-10-31T00:00:00.001-04:00

Rock Creek Park, from Ellington Bridge

Holy cow. We got a bit of winter this weekend and I had to officially retire the little summer wear I had left and break out the puffy jackets. I wasn't quite ready for it, though. I never am.

Seasonal changes are fantastic in this part of the country and Washington is no different. Street-side café seating, plentiful restaurant patios and lively night life make strolling around the District's neighborhoods a treat in fall weather. From Mount Pleasant, we can stroll east though Columbia Heights, across the park to Cleveland Park or south to Adams Morgan and U Street. Even getting dressed to go out is easier. As in: I'm not that fashionable, but having to wear layers makes everyone look cool. We're firmly in layer weather now.

Leaves are changing color, the shady side of the street is getting downright cold and if you have a heater or radiator, it might be getting its first workout in a few months. This is a great time to be in DC. Coffee everyday, all day. And apple cider is my favorite! (Brandied apple cider for those of you who prefer adult beverages.) Farmer's markets are still around, but not for long. And if you work a 9 to 5, your after work sunlight hours are getting shorter by the day. So, enjoy the Washington fall and get in a few long distance strolls before the winter weather sets in. Peace.

Friday Fun Post: Through Being Cool Edition

2011-10-28T01:00:00.001-04:00

On my never ending list of favorite bands from the 90s is New Jersey's Saves the Day. They were young and energetic, played great shows, had both catchy hooks and lyrics and embodied the best of pop punk at the time. I still love them! This is off the 1999 album Through Being Cool. It's Shoulder to the Wheel. Have a great weekend!

Photos: Haydee's

2011-10-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Halloween Party on Lamont Street is Oct 31

2011-10-25T00:00:00.002-04:00

DC's best Halloween block party is happening again this year, in Mount Pleasant. Lamont Street NW between 17th and 18th will play host to hundreds of candy seeking kids (and sometimes their parents). Yes, this is the event at which our house gave away over 2,000 pieces of candy in 2007.

In a minor change, I'll be collecting candy this year, not giving it out. So, bring some for me. Also, look out for music, marshmallow roasting and of course, the costume contests. No word on the zombie walk, but ever since I started reading World War Z, I can do without this year. Huge thanks to the organizers who filed the paperwork, planned the events and made this happen; it's a great tradition!

The details:

Who: You, your friends, Mt Pleasant residents, other invited costumed revelers.

What: Lamont Street Halloween Block Party

When: Monday October 31, 2011; 6:30-9:00PM

Where: Lamont St NW b/t 17th and 18th in Mount Pleasant, DC

Phillips Collection

2011-10-24T00:00:00.006-04:00

Phillips Collection

Every week the city manages to surprise me in a good way. A new underground gallery, vibing dance spot or vegan food option. And then there are the "re-surprises;" awesome places I know of and have enjoyed, but that slipped off the radar for some reason. Phillips Collection fell into that category yesterday. I've been many times, have had friends work there and of course the place has been around for 90 years; well well before my time in DC.

Yesterday I was reminded to check out Degas’s Dancers at the Barre: Point and Counterpoint. Degas! Right off of the 42 bus! Awesome. Phillips, of course, has other works by modern masters, including Edgar Degas. This exhibit is special and a treat. As the title hints at, the exhibition is centered around the artist's years-long development of a well known painting, Dancing at the Barre. It's a special exhibition and nice compliment to the permanent collection of mostly modern work. Dancers is open until January 8, 2012.

Phillips Collection is located in a beautiful space at 21st and Q Sts NW. Much of the museum is in the former home (c. 1897) of Duncan Phillips, founder. It's about 1 block from the Dupont Circle Metro station as well as the closest 42 bus stop. Closed on Mondays and some holidays. (Hours and other info) Admission is by donation except for weekends, when it's $10 or $12 including any special exhibition like Dancers. Catch this show before it is over. Well worth the time and minimal admission.

Enclosed courtyard

Friday Fun Post: Ottomania!

2011-10-21T00:00:00.002-04:00

Zeba Bar. Have you been? This is a newer bar, in Columbia Heights; blocks away from Mount Pleasant. It has three levels, multiple bars and a patio (but you better get on that soon, it's getting cold!). Zeba is at the corner of 14th and Newton NW. I'm told by trusted sources that it has a chill vibe, good happy hours and good Mediterranean food (yum!).

A crew of stellar DJs (India Nile, Beatrix, vANNIEty Kills) from Mount P + nearby are hosting a party there this weekend. This Saturday, Ottomania! hits Zeba. Think Gypsy punk, Balkan beats and other music from Bosina to Greece to Turkey. Totally danceable and starts right around party o'clock, 10PM, and goes until closing. Hint: bar special for Saturday is Lagunitas + Jameson = $6. What, really? To good to be true, yea? No, it's real.

I'll swing by at some point, so maybe see you there. Zeba is located at 3423 14th St NW, a few blocks from Columbia Heights Metro station or 42 bus. Directly in front of the 52/54 bus stop. FREE.

Slow Down, Pretty Please

2011-10-20T00:00:00.002-04:00

This is a neighborhood PSA: Slow down, please.

One of the first posts on this blog was, in fact, about speeding cars in Mount Pleasant. In my little world, this is still a problem! We can debate all day about whether DC, VA or MD produces the most horrendous driving But, one offense that drivers from all three are guilty of is speeding through Mount Pleasant.

With virtually no enforcement, no bulb outs and only scattered speed humps I feel like speeding is not really checked in Mount Pleasant. There is usually sufficient traffic on Mount Pleasant Street itself to limit speeding, but the four way stops and pedestrian crossings are fair game for more aggressive drivers, apparently. There's really no straight-shot east/west route in and out of the neighborhood. So, people are always scheming to make a quick left onto Park Road, or cut through on Kilbourne, or beat the light on Irving, or whip around the turn at Monroe Street; the list goes on.

There are many school kids, elderly, dog walkers, walking commuters, bikers and everyone in between trying to enjoy ourselves and get around. Let us do that in peace and safety. Slow down, please.

Chinatown

2011-10-19T00:00:00.003-04:00

Irish Whiskey Coming to Dupont

2011-10-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Am I a fan of Irish whiskey? Yes. Not a connoisseur, but a fan. But then only sometimes. It's an acquired taste. And depending on when you drink it over the course of an evening, it can put you to sleep or set you on a course of who-knows-what's-next. OK, really, I only know one Irish whiskey and it's very common. Probably available in every bar in DC. Starts with a J, ends with an N.

Maybe this place will teach me about the good (better) varieties.

Irish Whiskey Public House is slated to open this fall in Dupont at 1207 19th St NW. The newly painted bright green building is across the street from Mai Thai & the old Sam & Harry's. No menu that I have found, but lunch and dinner appear to be a part of the mix. This will be a restaurant and bar, not a tavern. No details on an exact opening date, but I'll pass it along as soon as I know.

If you have tips about other openings or questions/comments email the42bus@gmail.com or connect via Twitter @The42BusDC.

Water Taxi on the Potomac

2011-10-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

ShopHouse is Veg Friendly, Very Good

2011-10-11T00:00:00.012-04:00

All the hype over ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen kept me away until recently. But I'm glad I finally visited! Two words that are near and dear to my heart: vegan, affordable. And perhaps another: fast. ShopHouse is all three.

Dupont is a long, long way from Bangkok, and faithfully replicating Asian dishes for hurried, cost conscious Washingtonians might be near impossible. But, I'm less concerned with whether or not ShopHouse dishes have an authentic taste as much as I was with whether they have a GOOD taste.

They pretty much delivered. The elongated space on Connecticut Ave opens at 11AM each day and closes at 10PM. Yes, it was founded by the same folks who operate Chipotle, the fast causal Mexican restaurant that seems to be in every NW neighborhood at this point (ShopHouse has just one location in DC).

The serving station is similar to Chipotle. You choose the base, protein, main vegetable, other toppings and sauce in a conveyor-belt type of assembly. Get your drink, pay and take your food to the seating area. Choose banh mi sandwich or a bowl (rice or noodle). The menu is simple --I love that-- and veg/vegan friendly! Organic tofu was just great. The Chinese broccoli was fresh and the flavors really came out alongside the brown rice, pickled veggies and tamarind vinaigrette (hot-hot-hot) that were also in the bowl.

My meal of rice bowl, plus drink was under $10, a lunch WIN-WIN. I will be back to ShopHouse hitting up another combination of veg friendly lunch soon. I'm be curious to see if another store opens in DC or elsewhere and if the concept is proven a success via expansion or produces this one small store in Dupont.

ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen is located at 1516 Connecticut Ave NW, near BGR Burger and Sweetgreen.

New Mount Pleasant Cleaner is Georgetown Valet

2011-10-07T00:00:00.003-04:00

Yay, dry cleaners. Just what we needed....?

Now we know that the cleaners soon opening at 3247 Mount Pleasant St NW is local chain Georgetown Valet. The original owner of the chain had been looking to expand as of two years ago and the brand has finally reached our part of NW. Not that we were lacking. I don't do much dry cleaning at all, but have been loyal to Lamont Street Cleaners. And just a block away from Lamont is Mount Pleasant Cleaners. There you go; three dry cleaners in three blocks. Once open, looks like the hours at Georgetown Valet will be 7:30AM-7:00PM (M-F) and 8:00AM-6:00PM Saturday. Closed on Sundays. Welcome to the neighborhood Georgetown Valet.

APA Film Festival Starts Today

2011-10-06T00:00:00.005-04:00

The 12th annual DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival starts today. There are multiple venues (all downtown) and the films run until Saturday October 15th. Tonight's opener looks HOT. Saigon Electric is set in the Vietnamese mega-city and looks to be more than just a coming of age flick. It presents a more intimate and exciting look at being a youth in the class-stratified underground dance scene of present day Vietnam. The trailer roped me in! Looks like a pleaser.

There are over 50 total films being show at 4 venues: Goethe-Institut, E Street Cinema, U.S. Navy Memorial and Freer Gallery of Art. A mix of full length and short. Here's the full schedule. Enjoy!

Park Road NW

2011-10-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

2012 Cherry Blossom Festival: Bigger & Better

2011-10-03T00:00:00.002-04:00

Cherry Blossom Family Day Festival 2008

This cold snap may have you thinking about impending winter weather, but I'm going to ask you to go even a little further into the future. Next spring, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will mark the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Japanese cherry trees to Washington, DC. And next year's celebration will be anything but normal.

Organizers have lengthened the festival to a full 5 weeks: March 20-April 27. That's up from two weeks. First Lady Michelle Obama has been recruited as the honorary chair. The Postal Service will release a 100th Anniversary stamp to mark the occasion. And the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial will be framed with in-bloom cherry trees for the first time since its completion. There are other changes as well.

The opening ceremony will be moved to a large venue; the Walter Washington Convention Center (March 25th). And the associated Family Day will still be at the National Building Museum, but expanded to two days (March 24-25). The vaunted Cherry Blossom Parade will occur later, on April 14. That's the same day as my favorite Cherry Blossom event, Sakura Matsuri! That's the Japanese street festival. Food, dance performances, lots of great outfits and costumes; more. Check the early details for the full list of events here.

Even as the temps drop on the march to winter, keep in mind this 5 weeks of spring fun marking a friendship between Japan and the United States.

Those Crafty Bastards! Tomorrow, in Adams Morgan

2011-09-30T00:00:00.008-04:00

For the 8th year, Washington City Paper will host Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair. It's tomorrow 10AM-5PM at Marie Reed in Adams Morgan -- 18th St and Wyoming Ave NW . This fair/festival seems to grow every year, but has a few tried and true elements that bring me back each year.

With nearly 200 vendors, there is a lot to see this year! Yes, there will be t-shirts, shoulder bags and screen-printed greeting cards with birds on them. Probably pillows, too. But so much more! (Full disclosure: I bought a cool black t-shirt with birds on it at Adams Morgan Day. So, there). New this year: Young & Crafty; aged 9-18 and selling wares along side the big kids. That's awesome! Oh yeah, this is a juried fair, so quality is no issue here. Part of that quality is wrapped up innovation. Is it art? Functional? Both? Who cares! It's awesome, get it!

Yes, the success of the fair lies with the infinitely creative folks who mostly hand make the items you'll see for sale. I've gotten to know a few of them over the years and while this is the BIG event of the year for them, many work day in and out to make a living selling on eBay, Etsy, indie stores in DC and smaller fairs or trunk shows. See all the vendors here.

Of course the other big draw is the bboy/bgirl battle! Forget Jersey's Best Dancers, these kids are the East Coast's best dancers. They battle it out individually and in teams for hours (1PM-5PM) to a live DJ and hilarious MC. The old lower basketball court doubles as the "arena." Once you get a good spot on the fence or down close, don't move! No kidding; Crafty Bastards may draw 30,000 people or more this year.

Crafty Bastards is FREE. It happens rain or shine.

Enjoy the day, enjoy the weekend!

BBoy/BGirl battle, 2008

Brown Street NW

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

Men of DC: Stop Harassing Women

2011-09-27T01:00:00.020-04:00

Men of DC: get it together. Street harassment is really out of control here. It happens everyday all day and every night all night. Women endure catcalls, unwanted touching, name calling, assault and worse as a matter of fact. Come on, we're better than that!

I witness street harassment A LOT. Not just in Mount Pleasant or Columbia Heights; all over DC, in all neighborhoods. Harassment truly knows no race, age, class or scene bounds. I've seen women in mini-dresses harrased on U Street at midnight by guys in cars and women in baggy sweatpants harrased on the way to class at 8 in the morning by other students. Harassment is more about power than circumstance. Not that circumstance is meaningless, but some men will harass women (and girls) at any opportunity because they think they're entitled. Everyone's definition is different, but in my opinion flirting and "complementing" are DOA excuses. Harassment is not flirting.

I've been trying something new, speaking up when I see it. Once, on a bus, it got a little iffy + too close for comfort. But since I've been cursed out before by people I actually care about, it's no big deal getting the same treatment from some rando dude on the 54 bus. Of course this can get tricky because the offenders can get really defensive or loud & aggressive, but really, they have to be called out by other guys for this to work. Here are some strategies for bystanders I probably should have looked up before hand. I like those ideas, but part of me thinks they need to be told why you are intervening, if indeed that's the track you decide to walk on.

Often the harassment I see is not on the street; it happens in the club: on the dance floor. Club harassment is arguably worse. You see it all the time in almost every club; over-aggressive dudes taking one too many liberties on the dance floor. It can get pretty gross.

Dancing "up on" a woman you don't know from behind (or the front for that matter) is wrong. Some people like to grind (royalty paid to eric nies) at the club, but it should be a mutually agreed upon consensual grind. No, in this case it is not better to have to beg for forgiveness. Ask permission. Before.

Also, news flash: many people like to go to dance clubs to dance with themselves. Not you or me.

Even though no physical contact is involved, leering can be another issue. No one likes to be stared at. And less than no one likes to be sized up by drunk guy at close range. People do go clubbing to see and be seen. But not club-stalked. There is a difference. Along the same lines, if you're trying to talk to a woman, maybe dance with her, just ask. If she says no, PEACE OUT. As in move on dot org. Leave her alone.

What I saw a lot of last weekend --which mostly inspired this post-- was unnecessary touching. Crowded dance floor, you're trying to get across to the bar, and yeah, you have to clear a path for yourself. Squeezing past flailing, dancing bodies isn't easy. But there is absolutely no need to caress anyone's backside on the way to the bathroom, especially a perfect stranger. It's just gross. And it's assault. Bouncers are often not around or lacking in enthusiasm to regulate these activities. (Some clubs do a better job at this than others.)

Look, duding out every now and then is fine. A good bro down can be therapeutic. Go watch the game, ice some other bros, play fantasy football, pre-order the new Call of Duty; whatever. But bros being bros on the dance floor is lame if it involves trying to grind on every other woman in sight because you erroneously think they like it. They don't like it, I don't like it, nobody likes it.

This week Stop Street Harassment is asking people to log instances of street harassment, if you see or experience it. And Holla Back DC and it's contributors have been logging harassment daily for over two years. Be a part of the solution guys. This one is on us.

Photo: Green Room

2011-09-26T01:00:00.001-04:00

Fiesta DC is Sunday, in Mount Pleasant!

2011-09-23T00:00:00.002-04:00

Fiesta DC is Mount Pleasant's party of the year! Over 40,000 people will fill the streets (or really just Mt P Street) of our neighborhood. Think food, parades, dancing, performances and more food. This is the 40th year of the celebratory street fest.

Fiesta DC's main purpose is to promote and celebrate Latino culture in the District. The street festival is held this weekend for a reason: It's part of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15).

This year there will be 5 --count 'em, 5!-- music stages. The Parade of Nations is the most unique traditional and it's back with over 30 groups from Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean. The Parade features mostly dancing groups, but also some theatrical performances and lots of colorful cultural regalia. The Science Fair will return as will the Children's Area and Arts & Crafts area.

The festival generally runs up and down Mount P Street from Harvard St to Park Rd. If you don't live in Mount Pleasant, you can take the S buses, 42 bus or Metro's Green Line to Columbia Heights; a two-three block walk. The 42 will terminate at Harvard St on Sunday, as Mount Pleasant St NW will be closed.

Fiesta DC begins at 11:00AM and ends at 7:00PM. Of course, it is FREE. If you want to see the Parade of Nations (usually happens about 3:00PM), get there early and grab a spot on the front lines of Mount Pleasant Street.

SEE. YOU. THERE. Have a great weekend. Lot's of fun stuff happening!

Car Free Day!

2011-09-21T00:00:00.001-04:00

You could try the bus...

I feel like this could be a big deal in other cities and towns with fewer transit options, or at least a lower percentage of people who utilize transit. So many of us in DC already participate in a car free day daily. Most of the 5+ million of us in the greater DC area do not take transit to work. But, more than half of District workers travel to their jobs without getting into a car. So, yes, the other half of you try Car Free Day, if possible. It is tomorrow, September 22. The rest of you, keep up the good work and see you on the train/bikelane/bus/carpool/sidewalk today.

or a bike (your own or a shared bike)...

or Metro....

or walk!

DC VegFest is Saturday

2011-09-20T00:00:00.005-04:00

Vegan Treats....mmmmmmm

The 2011 edition of DC VegFest is looking pretty awesome at 4 days out. This year's big name speaker will be vegan cookbook author Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Seeing Isa would be enough for me. She had me at Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, an instant classic title for vegans who like tasty treats. Isa has many, many fans, so I have to imagine that the crowds will be a bit fuller this year. Also speaking will be NBC4's Wendy Rieger and one of the more eloquent speakers on the plight of animals, Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States.

The speakers are awesome this year, yes. But the highlight of this festival is always THE FOOD. My faves from Pennsylvania Vegan Treats will be there; so will DC's Sticky Fingers (also a festival sponsor). Other highlights for me are Burrito Bandits, Everlasting Life and Arlington's Bakeshop. Of course all food is vegan.

Check out DC VegFest's website for more info. But really, no need to investigate, this will be awseome!

DC VegFest happens this Saturday September 24, 11:00AM-6:00PM. Location is the same as last year: GWU campus; on H St NW b/t 20th and 21st Sts.

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

2011-09-16T00:00:00.002-04:00

About, oh, 10 or 11 years ago I drove from Richmond, VA to Binghamton, NY to visit some wonderful people I'd met a few months before. I stayed over a week, taking trips to Ithaca, Syracuse and seeing Vestal Johnson City and enjoying New York state to the fullest. This was before I had an mp3 player --or probably even heard on one-- so I relied on tapes (yeah, cassettes) and CDs to keep me occupied and happy on the drive. One of the CD's I'd recently got a hold of was Things Fall Apart by The Roots. I'm pretty sure I just listened to that on repeat the entire ride. Coming and going. It was and is a landmark album; for me personally. From that very same album, here's "You Got Me" by The Roots, with and assist from the amazing Erykah Badu. Have a great weekend.

Metro's Gallery Place Platform is a Mess

2011-09-14T00:00:00.005-04:00

Red line platform at Gallery Pl-Chinatown Station

We're all used to being crowded on Metro, especially in September. Congress is back, high school is back, DC's nine major colleges & universities are back, vacations are over: EVERYONE'S back at once. We get it. We deal with it. That's life. What I don't like to deal with, though, is what's going on at Gallery Place station during rush hour.

I don't know the ins and outs of every station. I haven't even been to every station (see Metro-Ventrue's awesome project). But I can't imagine that any platform gets as crowded and dangerously gridlocked as the Gallery Place red line platform to Shady Grove during rush hour.

Like all other platforms, it's as long as an 8 car Metro train. However, most trains aren't made of 8 cars, they're made of 6. And trains pull to the front of the platform when stopping, by rule. Seems like a good rule. However, at this station, most people departing this train are heading in the direction opposite of the train heading. They are either leaving the station onto 7th Street NW or transferring to the green and yellow lines on the platform below. These people --the majority of passengers departing the train-- are headed directly into the path of commuters transferring from green and yellow lines to the red line.

This is to be expected at a transfer station. But, at Gallery Place, the brackish area where the red line and green/yellow line commuters meet happens to be a 90 degree corner with little latitude for maneuvering around oncoming foot traffic.

This situation is made more complicated since rush hour riders headed toward Shady Grove are often running and pushing to reach the last car of a 6 car train before the doors close; just as riders headed toward green/yellow trains are running and pushing in the opposite direction. There is only so much space for these commuters. Not enough space.

It all ends in gridlock. Usually commuters form three columns of moving people. On the inner most column, near the wall, are riders moving west, towards the front of the red line train. In the middle column, people leaving the red line train headed east towards green/yellow trains. And on the outside, next to the granite edge, another column moving west towards the six car red line train. The columns are slow and often seem to not move at all. Passengers are slowed exiting trains and the columns block others from entering trains. There are common sense and etiquette rules, but even those aren't always followed.

A hobbit lay here... er, I mean a bench. It's gone now.

The gridlock leads to frustrated commuters, who sometimes yell, push or get claustrophobic (me) when you can't see anything besides other people ahead, not moving. At times it can feel awfully dangerous. Gridlock only lasts for so long before more aggressive commuters (who just want to get home) start pushing their way through or tip-toeing on the granite edge, bumping you along the way.

As for the fixes, occasionally I see Metro personnel directing riders near the 90 degree corner. And the arrival of an 8 car train does help relieve some of the crowding towards that end.

Weeks ago, Metro removed some benches against the wall. That freed up some space for walkers. But, having Metro personnel directing passengers is the best way. We'll often stand around, or some of us just might not know where to go. Put an authority figure who shouts clear and constant directions to us; that almost always works. Let's get on that before an accident happens or temperatures rise above silent cursing of fellow in front of you. Especially if you're silently cursing at me.

Adams Morgan Day 2011: Photos

2011-09-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday may have been the earliest I've attended Adams Morgan Day. The 32nd occasion of this neighborhood street festival officially started at 12:00 noon, and I was there pretty much right on time. Part of me wanted to beat any bad weather, but also beat the crowds. Luckily the weather held out and it did get quite busy towards the end of my visit. Yes, there was karaoke, smokey grilled foods, quirky art, and clothing booths.

Next year, I'd love to see additional outdoor seating for restaurants (ala H St Festival), but many restaurants had food and drink specials and appeared busy. Some had booths near or just outside their restarants for grab and-go-food. Definitely made my annual Jyoti stop for veggie samosas and bhajia. Not much in the way of cool free stuff this year, but the relaxed mood and decent music (the two bands I was able to see) made for an enjoyable day. Here are just a few photos from the 2011 dams Morgan Day festival.

Restaurants and bars with patios were popular yesterday.

Crowds were light early on.

Kids area was dusty in some places, muddy in others, but who can resist moonbounce?

Smoke from grills filled the air.

Arts on Belmont was great this year. I got a cool t-shirt and some print pieces.

Everything under the (deep fried) sky.

Awesome record and vintage clothing shop opened yesterday; under Pharmacy Bar

Friday Fun Post: Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

2011-09-09T01:00:00.001-04:00

The Wedding Present! This English band has been around since the 80s, but I became a big fan in the 90s because of this song. Here's a melody to take you mind off the rainy monotony of the last few days. It's Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah off of 1994's Watusi. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Strasburg Returns

2011-09-07T00:00:00.001-04:00

Stephen Strasburg enters the game

Adams Morgan Day: First of the Fall Festivals

2011-09-06T01:00:00.005-04:00

Adams Morgan Day 2010

Here's to hoping the summer's wild weather doesn't extend into DC's fall street festival season. The first one is a blockbuster. The 32nd annual Adams Morgan Day will take place this Sunday, September 11. The hours are 12:00 noon until 7:00 PM

The mother of all DC neighborhood street fests, Adams Morgan Day is probably too big for its own good. It's always too hot, the people watching has gone considerably downhill --as in boring-- and the street food is predictable. However, it is still the place to be and I, for one, love this day and I haven't missed one in years. (Last year's fest got off to a terrible start when a DC MPD officer shot and killed a dog on 18th Street NW. None of that this time, please. POSI vibes in 2011.)

Naturally, AM Day takes place along 18th St NW; from Columbia Rd to Florida Avenue. Belmont St NW will once again serve as the home to Arts on Belmont, where original artists (photos, clothing paintings, jewelry, etc.) will exhibit and sell wares. Arts on Belmont actually opens two hours early, at 10:00 AM for those of you who want to see art during a quieter time away from the sweaty masses.

The upper grounds at Marie Reed will host the Green/Sustainable Living and Health Pavilions as well as a dance stage. On the lower grounds, the Kids Area returns with family friendly activities and games away from the maddening crowds on 18th.

I'm bad with numbers, but I'm guessing well over 50,000 attend this thing yearly. The music (three stages, including a jazz stage at Kalorama Park), street food (mostly fried nonsense, but some gems, if you look) and hanging out with friends on a pedestrian-rules 18th Street make for a fun day and I'll be there eating handheld Indian food and high-fiving friends up and down the strip.

Here are the other fall Street festivals I'm excited about: (I'll post details of each as the days approach)

H Street NE Festival: September 17

H Street County Club and other H St restaurants have outdoor seating on this day.

Fiesta DC: September 25

Fiesta DC still going strong in Mount Pleasant.

Crafty Bastards: October 1

The b-boy/b-girl dance off in the pit of Marie Reed is always a main attraction.

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

2011-09-02T00:00:00.001-04:00

Were the Breeders the best of the alt-90s bands? Probably. Pod and Last Splash were part of my personal 90's sountrack and the songs are still that damned good. Timeless like all good music. Kim & Kelley Deal killing it in one of the underrated tracks off Last Splash, Divine Hammer. Happy Friday.

Le Pain, Downtown

2011-09-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

975 F Street NW, location of DC's newest Le Pain Quoidien

The last time I had dinner at Le Pain Quotidien was a few months ago. If I remember correctly, I had a stacked polenta and vegetable dish in a tomato-based sauce. I loved the dish, the communal table, open layout of Le Pain, and the plethora of vegan options on the menu. I've only been to the Dupont location of the chain, which originated in Brussels more than 20 years ago. There are four other stores in the District and others in suburban Maryland and Virginia.

The downtown location will be in a 2,800 square foot, first floor space at 975 F Street NW. There will be seating for 75.

Over the past few years the 900 block of F St between Metro Center and Penn Quarter has also seen the opening of Cowgirl Creamery, Amorini Panini, District of Pi (yesterday!), Co Co Sala and more. Food, food, food. And lots of it. And downtown isn't done. More stores and restaurants are on the way.

I don't know when this Le Pain is opening, but count me in for breakfast and lunch when it does. Vegan food downtown, always a good thing. I'll pass on any more news as I hear it via @The42BusDC.

Andrew Jackson on a Horse

2011-08-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

Uno Express, Baja Fresh Express, Canyons Burger to Judiciary Square

2011-08-30T00:00:00.022-04:00

Baja Fresh Express, Uno Express and Canyons Burger Company are taking up residence in the District's One Judiciary Square building; address 441 4th St NW. The cafeteria-like space, which will house the three restaurants, is on the northwest corner of the building and looks as if it will remain open to the general public after reopening. There is currently a Firehook bakery at the other end of One Judiciary Square.

These are not stand alone stores. In this location, they're adopting the "quick serve" format. Quick serve locations typically have an abbreviated menu and smaller, franchised stores in settings such as food courts, malls and airports.

Baja Fresh Express and Canyons are part of the same company. The former specializes in a Cali-Mex, with pretty good burritos and tacos (including a salsa bar); and the latter in burgers, naturally. Canyons does have a veggie black bean burger on the menu. I hope the salsa bar and veggie burger stay on in this quick serve format. Uno Express is a modified version of the Chicago pizzeria.

I'm guessing if you work in Judiciary Square, you lunch on 7th St, Indiana Ave or at Union Station. In the end, more choices for a part of town with many federal and District workers, but limited lunch options.

One Judiciary Square

Corner Bakery Coming to Chinatown

2011-08-29T00:00:00.008-04:00

Corner spot for Corner Bakery

Corner Bakery Cafe is well into the build out of a new restarant in DC's Chinatown neighborhood. It is at the corner of 6th and H Sts NW, one block from Metro's Gallery Pl-Chinatown station. The office building at 777 6th Street NW has retail spaces wrapped the first floor; over 10,000 square of it. Corner Bakery inhabits a corner of the building kitty-corner to Wah Luck House.

Corner Bakery serves breakfast and lunch foods including salads, sandwiches, soups, chili, pastas as well as coffee drinks and --naturally-- baked goods and sweets. The Chinatown location will be DC's 6th and the 14th in the Washington metro area.

Count me as always excited for affordable additions to the lunch scene in Penn Quarter-Chinatown. Although I was never that big on Corner Bakery (never really convenient to where I've lived or worked), I'm certainly willing to give this place a try. Looks like they'll have at least a couple of serviceable options for the vegans, nothing spectacular. Any recommendations? Are you exited about this addition to the PQ-Chinatown lunch scene? Let me know @The42BusDC.

Friday Fun Post: Welcome to DC

2011-08-26T00:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday! To all the college kids (and anyone else new to the District), WELCOME. You'll love this town. Try not to act like an idiot and we'll make sure you see why we're one of the hottest cities in the U.S. right now: in music, art, fashion (maybe a stretch), food, fake natural disasters and of course partying. Now, time for a Friday tradition: Dancing on your desk. Just trust me and just do it. No, get up there now! For serial. This is "Welcome to DC" from DC's go-go giant Mambo Sauce. Have a great weekend. And stay dry!

Alberto's Out, Smoothie King In

2011-08-25T00:00:00.005-04:00

Lots of Adams Morgan moves recently.

Alberto's was on of those half-reputable pizza places that was probably lumped in with the jumbo slice purveyors by passers-by, or at least by me. I don't know when exactly Alberto's closed, but they are indeed closed as of this week.

The storefront, at 2438 18th St NW, will be filled by Smoothie King, now in its fourth NW neighborhood. Gallery Place and Dupont each has a store, as does the food court of the Reagan Building (1300 Pennsylvania Ave). Smoothie King was founded in the 1960s and now relies on a franchising model to expand to new markets. They're actively looking to expand in DC as well as the states of Maryland and Virginia.

Good to have add variety on the strip. With pizza, falafel, schawarma, empanadas and more, there are plenty of choices for hand held, cheap foods in a neighborhood mostly known for bars and restaurants. Add smoothies to that list. I imagine they'll do just fine.

Martin Luther King Jr Memorial: Photos

2011-08-23T00:00:00.048-04:00

Yesterday, the National Park Service opened the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial one day ahead of schedule. The memorial is quite unique; it is the first major memorial on the National Mall to honor an African-American, one of the few that feature a non-President and at 30 feet, it's the tallest statuette on the Mall.

The layout is simple; two long, curving inscription walls, an "entrance way" made of two large mountain-like stones and the carved stone statue of King. Outside the footprint and landscaping of the memorial is the rangers' station and bookstore. From what I understand the memorial will be open to the public until 10pm each day until Thursday. It will close all day Friday and Saturday and reopen for the ticketed dedication on Sunday morning. After the festivities it will be open 24 hours/day like other monuments on the mall.

As far as DC residents getting a first look, well, that opportunity seems to have passed. The only mention I've heard since the announcement is that Mayor Gray is inviting DC residents down to the memorial today, August 23 from 8am-10pm. So, pretty much the same opportunity afforded everyone else, at this point. According to the city, the Mayor and other city leaders will be at the memorial to welcome visitors. At what time, I don't know. Sorry about that. Also, the MLK Jr DC Public Library is actively programming around the unveiling and a schedule can be found here.

FYI, getting there: I took the Metro to Smithsonian station and walked along Independence Ave to the memorial. I've seen all sorts of recommendations, from Farragut to Foggy Bottom to Arlington Cemetery stations. The Independence Ave walk is not suited for people in wheelchairs or large groups, but otherwise seems to be the fastest walking route from a Metro station.

Here are a few photos from yesterday:

Chipotle's ShopHouse Hiring, Soon to Open in Dupont?

2011-08-22T00:00:00.004-04:00

Still under wraps, but now hiring.

The Chipotle owned, Asian themed restaurant ShopHouse is now hiring for its first-in-the-nation DC location. To me, that says the opening date can't be too, too far off in the future. Chipotle already operates over 1,000 fast casual Mexican food restaurants, including locations all over the DC area. Their ShopHouse brand will be inspired by the cuisine of Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. I'm intrigued.

The Dupont location is the first floor of what used to be the Riggs Bank building, adjacent to the Dupont Metro station. PNC Bank inhabited the building after buying Riggs and went about re-leasing the Connecticut Avenue storefronts to other retail businesses. ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen will be located at 1516 Connecticut Ave NW, joining AT&T, Sweetgreen, and BGR. By the way, ShopHouse is hiring for line cooks, prep cooks, and of course, servers.

Instant Noodles Opens in Adams Morgan

2011-08-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

This news is more than a month old, but I was reminded on my walk last night that Adams Morgan may have lost a pizza place, but gained a new noodles restaurant. Instant Noodles had its grand opening on July 4 at 2408 18th Street NW. Remember, this used the be Spy Lounge. It's adjacent to Sutra/Savour; formerly Felix.

Instant Noodles has a mix of Thai and Vietnamese dishes including banh mi sandwiches, pho and pad thai style noodles. Haven't been there, but look forward to trying this place out. They have several vegetarian selections that look as if they can be made vegan; we'll see.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Pizza Hut Closes in Adams Morgan

2011-08-18T00:00:00.005-04:00

Closed?

Adams Morgan is down one pizza joint. The Pizza Hut at 1769 Columbia Rd appears shuttered, at least for the time being. A quick check of the Pizza Hut website reveals that the location is no longer available in the store locator search. Sorry Adams Morgan, no more Hut pizza or hot wings for the time being. Le sigh... Just kidding. I imagine it won't be missed. I rarely witnessed customers patronizing this place. However, if you do yearn for the Hut 'za, fliers over the covered windows direct customers to a nearby location on Georgia Avenue NW.

Rest assured you'll be able to get much better pies without traveling too far from 1769 Columbia. Of course in Mount Pleasant we have Radius Pizza and Angelico. In Columbia Heights, Pete's Apizza and Red Rocks. In Adams Morgan multiple jumbo slice locations (too many to list here), Astor Mediterranean, Pi Pizzeria and a few others barely clinging to the ladder rung just above jumbo slice operators. Basically, you're still covered for pizza in the neighborhood. If I get an update on this space, you'll be the first to know!

Julius Caesar is This Year's Shakespeare Free for All

2011-08-17T00:00:00.002-04:00

Harman Hall in DC's Penn Quarter

Shakespeare Theatre Company continues a tradition this week with its Free for All series. Each summer the company offers a production free of charge. That's right, no cost to you. Of course demand has always outstripped supply, so there are various ways to get in on the free theater, including a lottery.

Julius Caesar is, yes, about the conspiracy to assassinate the Roman leader and the trappings of power at the highest levels, among other themes. We weren't tasked to read it in high school, but this probably would have trumped the others, if only because it's based in the truth of a rather sensational and sordid story.

The free shows are at various times, starting this Thursday August 18 until September 4. You can get free tickets by standing on line before the show, entering an online lottery, or through give-aways from STC. Visit this page on STC's website for all the details. Shows will take place at Sidney Harman Hall at 610 F Street NW. Good luck and enjoy!

August in the City

2011-08-16T00:30:00.006-04:00

7th and H unusually slow at lunch hour

Is it just me or did half of DC pack it in for the rest of August? I know that Congress and the bevy of interns are done at this point; to return in September and next summer, respectively. But what about everyone else? My favorite watering holes were conspicuously empty last weekend, the Metro has been a breeze (for me anyway) the last few mornings and there just doesn't seem to be a lot going on. I guess I should enjoy it. Soon enough, new college students will decend upon DC (the Target in Columbia Heights, specifically), high school students will be back on the morning bus routes and Congress will be back, doing, well, I'm sure not much more than they've done the rest of this epic failure of a Congressional term. Until then, I'm enjoying the spot of good weather whenever it comes our way, rooftop lounging at my friends' places and thinking about DC street festival season, which is right around the corner.

Friday Fun Post: Red and Hot

2011-08-12T00:00:00.002-04:00

At 15, I dreamt about getting caught with a copy of the Mother's Milk cd, tossing it up in a teacher's face --proclaiming my First Amendment rights-- and promptly being assigned detention for having indecent materials on my person. Alas, I went to a pretty liberal high school and no one really cared that Anthony Kiedis and a well placed rose were preventing what would later be known as a wardrobe malfunction, from appearing on this cd artwork.

And that was that. A middle school friend of mine (shout out to Dave W) turned me on the the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the 1-2 punch of Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik made me a fan for life. There are so many good songs on BSSM. Power of Equality, Breaking the Girl, Naked in the Rain; the whole damned album. But, I'm feeling this one today. It's Suck My Kiss by the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

District Residents May Get First Look at King Memorial

2011-08-11T00:00:00.003-04:00

Site map from: mlkmemorial.org

News broke yesterday that District residents will get a chance to tour the new Martin Luther King Jr memorial before most of the rest of the country does. The opening festivities and dedication are on August 28. But, the anticipated public opening of the grounds is August 22. Details are yet to be released, but some D.C. residents will supposedly get (through lottery?) a guided tour of the newest major memorial on the National Mall on the 23rd. That is fantastic news.

The King Memorial is located in quite the spot; directly in the line of sight between John Russell Pope's Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Henry Bacon's iconic Lincoln Memorial. (Also adjacent to F.D.R.'s expansive memorial) King's will be the first major memorial on the Mall to honor an African-American as well as a non-President. I'll update this post when and if I am made aware of the procedures for obtaining a D.C. resident tour.

Intercity Buses Moving to Union Station

2011-08-09T00:00:00.002-04:00

Union Station

The old Greyhound bus station site was just sold to a developer who plans to build offices and continue the steady reconstruction of the "NoMa" neighborhood in NE DC.

Good timing. Greyhound buses, along with several other carriers, will soon be based at Union Station --a big win for commuters. Megabus, Bolt Bus and Washington Deluxe will join Greyhound at DC's beaux-arts transit center. Finally! To me this was a no-brainer and I'm glad to see the idea come to fruition. Union Station, opened in 1907, is also hub for Amtrak, MARC, VRE, Metrorail, Metrobus and Circulator. Onsite and nearby are bikeshare, bike rental and car rental facilities. Just missing a port and an airstrip...

The move to base intercity buses at Union Station means that travelers will no longer have to make a connecting trip (often by foot) from the aging Greyhound station at 1005 1st St NE to Union Station. And the popular Megabus and Bolt Bus discount carriers will be able to host riders under the cover and relative safety of the Union Station garage. No more exposure the weather and other elements on the streets of DC. Great move by everyone involved. A win for NoMa, a win for Union Station, a win for the bus companies, and a win for commuters.

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

2011-08-05T00:00:00.001-04:00

Before the terrible rap-metal trend of the early 2000s, there were a few true collaborations between real deal rap groups and real deal metal bands. This is one of the best political rap bands of the 80s and 90s --Public Enemy-- and Anthrax, a really good metal band also from the 80s and 90s. This collabo produced an extremely popular song that made the rounds on MTV and elsewhere for years. So, TURN IT UP. This is "Bring the Noise," from 1991.

Third Dry Cleaner for Mount Pleasant Street

2011-08-02T00:00:00.004-04:00

So says the vinyl banner hanging at 3247 Mount Pleasant Street NW. This building was most recently the office for DC city officials overseeing the 2009-2011 streetscape improvements on Park Road and 14th Street in Columbia Heights. At opening, dry cleaning establishments on Mount Pleasant Street will number three. Mount Pleasant Cleaners (3125) and Lamont St Cleaners (3173) have offered drop off dry cleaning and tailoring services for years.

National Building Museum Exhibit Features Mount Pleasant

2011-08-01T00:00:00.007-04:00

Mt P investigators congratulated at exhibition opening

Last Friday I attended the opening reception for Investigating Where We Live, an exhibition at the National Building Museum. Investigating Where We Live is a yearly summer program at the museum for middle and high school students. The students pick three DC neighborhoods and investigate with digital cameras and microphones in tow. Then they curate an exhibition in order to showcase their work. Much of the exhibit is photography, but it really is multi-media with written work, videos of interviews, QR codes, and audio players throughout the exhibit.

The team investigating Mount Pleasant pretty much nailed it. The photos are great! They have a flickr page with photos from all the neighborhoods, too (including Bloomingdale and H Street NE). I was interviewed by the group on a site visit and gave a brief history of Mount Pleasant and talked about why I love living here (including having access to the 42 bus!). The students subtitled the Mount Pleasant part of the exhibit "Mount Pleasant: D.C.'s Small Diverse Town." Sounds about right to me. The H Street NE and Bloomingdale teams did a tremendous job as well.

The Investigating Where We Live exhibition is open through May 28, 2012. The National Building Museum is located in Judiciary Square at 401 F Street NW. $8 admission.

Keeping Tabs: More Bikes!

2011-07-29T00:00:00.002-04:00

Giant grocery CaBi station

Big Red Bikes: Obtaining a Capital Bikeshare bike in Mount Pleasant may become easier, and soon. DDOT and Capital Bikeshare have decided where they'll be expanding the system this fall. There are 32 new stations scattered around the city. Mount Pleasant isn't getting a new station. However, we will benefit from one expanded station in the neighborhood and several nearby. The station at Lamont Park is slated for expansion; as are the stations at 16th and Harvard NW and at Giant grocery in Columbia Heights (Park Rd & Holmead Pl NW). Great news!

Old Church, New Condos?: DC Mud updated us recently on the plight of Meridian Hill Baptist Church. It was heavily damaged in 2008 in the 3145 Mt Pleasant St fire. The church is located at 3146 16th Street NW, directly behind the aprtment building which caught fire (and destroyed).

Apparently, the structure will not become a church after renovation; it will become housing. Specifically, condos. According to DC Mud, 55-60 condos are slated to fill the structure which is nearly 100 years old, but has been vacant since the fire. The church's insurance and cash on hand weren't enough to fully rebuild over the years. Pretty sad. No word if any former 3145 residents will be able to secure housing in the Meridian Hill Church project. That would be just fantastic. More updates as they come. Have a great weekend folks. Be safe.

Meridian Hill Baptist Church hours after March 2008 fire.

Lost Angeles

2011-07-25T01:00:00.001-04:00

One occurrence that did not come to pass while I was in LA last week was me getting lost. Another was was me driving a car. Nor was I late to dinner dates or denied a visit to any destination because of inaccessibility.

Later this week: how LA transit surprised me, delivered me to spots all over the county (and beyond) and how it stacks up to DC's Metro.

LA Metro bus arriving in Theater District

Photo Week: 16th and Columbia NW

2011-07-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

Photo Week: Yards Park and DOT

2011-07-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Photo Week: Archives Snapshot

2011-07-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Photo Week: In the 9th

2011-07-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Photo Week: Kalorama Road NW

2011-07-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

Photo Week: Bus Stop, Route 42

2011-07-18T00:00:00.003-04:00

Photo Week: Judiciary Square

2011-07-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Friday Fun Post: California Love

2011-07-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

In honor of a much needed vacation, here's a sweet desintation: California, by Phantom Planet. All next week is photo week, enjoy.

National Portrait Gallery

2011-07-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Wow. Yards Park: Photos

2011-07-11T01:00:00.005-04:00

This won't be one of DC's best kept secrets forever. Yards Park is a gem in Southeast DC. It is a few blocks from Nationals Park and about a 5 minutes' walk from the Navy Yard Metro station. Yards Park gives any DC park a run for its money including two of my favorites Meridian Hill and Georgetown Waterfront. The rest of the neighborhood development, also named "The Yards," is slowly taking shape, but the park stands mostly alone for now for public attractions in near SE.

Here are a few photos that don't really do the park --developed through a public/private partnership-- much justice at all. The landscaping, seating, views and amenities help create several distinct "neighborhoods" including a wading pool & waterfall, terraced lawn, forested lounge area, shaded Anacostia River overlook, and boardwalk. It is also part of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail (PDF). This place is ready and waiting for the crowds, retail and special events. Really amazing. Get down there before summer is over and before the rest of the metro area catches on to this great addition to DC's public spaces.

Photos: Clownzzz

2011-07-08T00:00:00.001-04:00

Children's Hospital is a satirical comedy show on the Cartoon Network. I've never seen it. But, I did see this: a creepy clown ad for the show in Adams Morgan. Next to Amsterdam Falafelshop.

Clowns are creepy. Always have been. They are not nice, or fun, or entertaining. Just creepy. I mean, did you see "IT?" Yeah, enough said. I'm scared. Don't look at this photo or you'll be scared, too. Have a safe weekend and try to avoid looking at this photo. Or worse, the real thing. Scary.