&pizza to Columbia Heights, Yamas Open in Adams Morgan,

Yamas Mediterranean Grill opened recently in Adams Morgan. The Greek cuisine focused, fast causal eatery already has a District store at New Hampshire Ave and U St NW. The new location is at 2418 18th St NW, formerly occupied by Shwarma Spot. The Yamas menu features a lot of vegetarian friendly options including falafel, vegetarian burger, and a selection of vegetarian mezze.

ABRA Public Hearing signage is up for the &pizza ("and pizza") location in Columbia Heights. The DC-based quick-serve pizza shop has over a dozen locations in the Metro area. The new shop would have a total occupancy load of 46 in addition to a sidewalk cafe of up to 32 seats. &pizza has great veggie and vegan options including multiple choices for crusts, sauces, Daiya cheese, and plenty of toppings.

The address is listed as 1375 Kenyon St NW on the &pizza website, but you may know the location as the former location of 826 DC. It is located on the first floor of the Park Triangle apartment building and bordered by Pollo Campero and FroZenYo. 

Typically, &pizza opens at 11:00 AM, but closing times vary by location and day. I'd expect this location to have similar hours as the U Street store: 11:00 PM close through Thursday and midnight on weekends. No word yet on opening day.

Snowzilla: Photos

Mount Pleasant Street NW

Snow Service | No service

16th St NW

Lamont Park

Mount Pleasant Library

Columbia Heights Metro station; closed

Columbia Heights Plaza

DCUSA Has Never Been Fully Leased

More than seven years has passed since the opening of the DCUSA shopping center in Columbia Heights and it has never been fully leased. With 540,000 square feet of retail, it's the largest retail development project in the District. It is three stories tall and encompasses about half of a city block. There are 1,000 underground parking spaces.

Technically Lane Bryant was the first store to open at DCUSA, in March 2008, followed the next day by Target. Other big box stores Best Buy, Marshall's, and Bed Bath & Beyond eventually followed along with Washington Sports Club. The larger spaces have always been filled. But developers have had a harder time filling and keeping occupied the mid-sized and smaller storefronts.

Whole Foods was part of the original lease plan, to be located on the southwest corner of the building. That deal eventually fell through. So did another proposal to bring Richmond grocer Ellwood Thomspon's to DCUSA. Those spaces are now partially filled by Petco, DSW and Five Below. Otherwise, there are a handful of smaller spaces that have either never been filled (space between Staples and Children's Place), or have turned over with no current replacement tenant (former Radio Shack space). 

The pedestrian traffic to and from the big box stores + Washington Sports Club seems astronomical. Former retail agents claimed that over 50,000 people walked by the DCUSA site daily. I do wonder why the smaller spaces have seemed more challenging to keep full. My guess is that the rent is probably too high. In 2011, this Washington Post article put the rent range for DCUSA at $40 to $90 / sq ft. That's equivalent to a rent range of $3,333 - $7,500 per month for a 1,000 sq foot store. There is a program in place to offer discounted (~30%) rental rates to small or minority business owners. IHOP operates under this program as a franchised location of the chain restaurant. 

Even with the small business incentive DCUSA has never been more than about 85% occupied. Since the District collects sales taxes from all businesses, and collects revenue from the parking garage, which they own, it's in the city's best interest to have a fully leased building. But, that's up to the developers and leasing agents. The next opening appears to be Chick-fil-A, replacing Lime Fresh. The most recent opening was Zombie Coffee, which replaced the built, but never opened short-lived Tasti D-Lite store, in a tiny 810 sq foot space. I really can't foresee all of the empty spaces being filled anytime soon, and I wonder if I'll be making this same report in 2018, a full 10 years after the first stores opened at DCUSA.

First-floor lease plan circa 2005. Note never-opened McDonald's, Starbucks, SunTrust, Whole Foods, etc.

Out of the Basement: Film Screening and After Party

I've seen each of these DC made, DC inspired short films and they are excellent! Out of the Basement and Into the Lime Light follow two DC boxers as they train and emerge from the local scene in search of success in the greater boxing world. Proceeds from the screening will benefit the programs at the Lime Light Boxing and Fitness, the Columbia Heights gym each boxer trained at. The screening will be at Gala Theater, 3333 14th St NW, tomorrow (Nov 20) at 7:30 PM. $10.

From the organizers:

"Join us for a screening of Out of the Basement and Into the Lime Lite, documentary shorts about two DC fighters from a Lime Lite Boxing and Fitness. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will benefit Lime Lite, a very amazing gym and youth program in the heart of Columbia Heights. Afterwards there will be an after party with Anthology of Booty DJs and food generously donated by the Coupe. 

Into the Lime Lite follows two-time USA Boxing Champion Malik Jackson as he prepares for a tough match in the Belfast Beltway Classic. Out of the Basement follows Greg Newby, as he embarks on a pro-boxing career after a fall from grace. Both train at Lime Lite, a Columbia Heights boxing gym. The films feature music from local musicians including Brendan Canty (Fugazi, Death Fix), The Evens, and Buildings. 

All proceeds will benefit Lime Lite Boxing & Fitness. Lime Lite Boxing & Fitness is dedicated to helping DC's youth mature in a structured environment to keep them safe and physically and mentally fit. 

Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. | Films will screen at 8 p.m. | All ages."

Columbia Heights

Lime Lite Boxing Celebration and Fundraiser

Photo by Lely Constantinople

This event celebrates a great venue, the Lime Lite Boxing and Fitness Center in Columbia Heights. Lime Lite is not just a gym for everyday workouts. They operate as a non-profit 501(c)3 and feature specific leadership and achievement based programming for both youth and adults. Last year a group of filmmakers documented one of participants of the programs, Malik Jackson, in a great short film.

The filmmakers and others are throwing a benefit for Lime Lite tomorrow, Tuesday June 11. They will screen the film at The Coupe - 3415 11th Street NW about 4 blocks from the Columbia Heights Metro station. There will be raffled prizes from local businesses and a Q&A session after the screening. The film is awesome, I'm attending for that aspect alone.

From the organizers: 

"Film Screening + Raffle + Reception

For Lime Lite Boxing and Fitness

Tuesday June 11, 6:30PM-8:30PM.
The Coupe, 3415 11th St NW

Join The Coupe for a special event to celebrate Lime Lite Boxing and Fitness,  a Columbia Heights boxing program that trains champion boxers and provides a safe haven to local youth.

The event features a screening of Into the Lime Lite, a documentary short that follows Lime Lite star and current USA Boxing National Champion Malik Jackson as he prepares for a tough match in the Belfast Beltway Classic. Special features and trailers can be found on the Into the Lime Lite Facebook page.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and Lime Lite coaches and fighters.

Throughout the evening, enjoy drink specials, poster signing with Lime Lite's star fighters, a buffet, a raffle; with great prizes including boxing lessons, gift certificates from Wonderland, Meridian Pint, Room 11 and Kangaroo Boxing Club, and tickets to Thievery Corporation at the 930 Club! 

Here's the Facebook invite.

Join us!"

Mount Pleasant Children's Puppet Hour

The Mount Pleasant Children's Puppet Hour returns this Saturday. The location is Saint Stephen's Church located at 16th and Newton Sts NW. From the organizers:

"It's time for the 5th Mount Pleasant Children's Puppet Hour! We have a great line-up of performers and shows:

Melissa Klein presents "The Paper Bag Princess"
Michael Cotter of Blue Sky Puppets presents "Will Anything Go Right for a Little Bear?"
David Greenfieldboyce presents "Little Cloud" with music by Christian Crowley
Jeanine Padgett and Jim Sheehan present "Vent"
Wit's End Puppets present "Coyote Places the Stars"

And music from Seth Buchsbaum, Alicia Koundakjian and Justin Moyer

4:00 Saturday, February 16th
Saint Stephen's Church, 1525 Newton St NW
Suggested donation $5

Like us on Facebook to hear about upcoming events!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mount-Pleasant-Childrens-Puppet-Hour/326086867452529

For more info, email puppet_hour@yahoo.com"

PS There's a great benefit show (benefiting Fort Reno music series) in the same space later that evening. Good friends Gist and Möbius Strip are playing. Very cool.

Columbia Heights

Petco Will Fill Last Large DCUSA Space

DCUSA : 3100 14th St NW

The dreams of an indie, vegan friendly, organic grocery opening just two blocks from Mount Pleasant are officially dead. They actually had been for some time, but the impending arrival of Petco to the 15,000 square foot space in Columbia Heights' DCUSA development put the nail in the coffin. DCUSA is a very large (890,000 sq feet) retail development at the corner of 14th and Irving Sts NW. It opened in March 2008.

Petco was an original, planned tenant of DCUSA. The pet supply retail store was first slated for space 115, which is now half empty and half filled by The Children's Place clothing store. Petco will now occupy space 125, under the DSW shoe store. Space 125 was originally assigned to Whole Foods, then in October 2008, set aside for Ellwood Thompson's, a Richmond, VA based grocery. However, Ellwoods never did open a store in the District. They eventually opened a very similar store in Rockville, MD, named Dawson's Market.

Petco location at corner of  Hiatt Pl and Irving St NW

Mount Pleasant Children's Puppet Hour

Here's a little something for the little ones. This puppet show is happening just across the street from Mount Pleasant at St. Stephen Church, 1525 Newton St NW. It's this Saturday, August 11 at 4:00PM. Saturday's performance will be fourth iteration of this puppet show. Besides having an awesome sounding line up of performers, this is also a benefit for BloomBars, an arts space on 11th Street in Columbia Heights. Good show, good cause, good location. Win-win-win. From the organizers:

*     *     *

"It's the Mount Pleasant Children's Puppet Hour 4th Edition! If you liked MPCPH numbers 1, 2 and 3, you're going to love number 4!

Saturday, August 11th at 4:00. We'll be at Saint Stephen's church again: 1525 Newton Street NW

This time we'll be in the auditorium space, which is the door on the West side of the building.

Our line-up this time includes some of your old favorite performers, plus two new-comers:

 -Patty "Miss Patty" Reeber, who you may know from the Cleveland Park library, presents the Chinese legend "Yi and The Ten Suns."

-Mount Pleasant's own David Greenfieldboyce presents two shorts, "Sandwich" and "Colors."

-Mount Pleasant's also own Bradley-Callahan players present an original show based on the myth of Pygmalion.

-And traveling all the way from Thurmont, Maryland, the Patchplayers present "Die Kleinepfeifer" (or, "The Whistling Gnome").

Our target demographic is 2-9, though a good time will be had by all!

Suggested donation is $5. The proceeds from this show will be contributed to BloomBars, Columbia Heights' community art and music space, to help pay for the installation of their much-needed new air conditioning.

We could use some volunteers to help get ready for the show and help out at the door. We'll need to set up chairs at 3:00. Let us know if you can help out!

Please forward this to your friends with kids, post it on your neighborhood listserve, talk it up at the playground!

Questions? Want to volunteer? Write to puppet_hour@yahoo.com

- The Mount Pleasant Children's Puppet Hour"

*     *     *

Sounds of Malcolm X Park

If you follow The 42 Bus on Twitter you have probably noticed me talking up Sundays at Malcolm X Park. More often than not on a Sunday evening, I am there. Usually listening to the drum circle, but also walking the grounds, watching ducks in the fountain, eating snacks on a blanket or just hanging out. As I have said before, it is one of the best free activities in the District.

The drum circle jams are organic. That is, each performance is made up of 2-3 dozen separate, individual performances of single drummers. The only structure is the structure formed during each specific jam; it happens on the fly. Jams can last 90 seconds or 15 minutes. Each is unique and by nature, none are repeated. That's the beauty.

If you want to see it live, come to Malcolm X Park (aka Meridian Hill Park) at 16th and Euclid Sts NW on any Sunday, weather permitting. From about 5:00PM until 8:00PM there are drummers making music at the southwest corner of the top level, near the Joan of Arc statue. Here's one I recorded recently.

Columbia Heights

Kenyon Street NW

New Restaurants for Columbia Heights

Three new eateries are planned for Columbia Heights, just blocks from Mount Pleasant. Two are in DC USA and other is part of the Kenyon Square development.

Cava Mezze Grill will open this summer at 3105 14th St NW. This storefront was previously occupied by Radiance Medspa and is between Starbucks and d'vines on the first floor of the Keynon Square condo building. Cava is a local company that serves Greek food "mezze-style" via a pretty simple menu. WITH FALAFEL. Eh, sorry, I'm easily excited. Here's the whole menu. Very vegan friendly. And it appears they'll serve adult beverages, too. Cava Mezze Grill currently has locations in Tysons Corner and Bethesda.

Cava Mezze Grill, 3105 14th St NW

Four years after opening, DC USA (3100 14th St NW) is still not fully leased. But they get closer each year. Tasti D-Lite will open in a space (#105) originally slated for Panda Express (in turn, Panda is in the space meant for SunTrust Bank, which was never built). This is a very narrow storefront on Irving Street next to Panera Bread. Tasti D-Lite serves a product which they describe as "not frozen yogurt" and "not ice cream." Where do we go from here... I don't know. Just check out the website.

Taste D-Lite, 3100 14th St NW #105

Finally, on the 14th Street side of DC USA, Lime Fresh Mexican Grill. This is a Florida based chain trying to expand along the east coast. This location is among up to 200 which will be operated by Ruby Tuesday. Ruby Tuesday does not own Lime Fresh, they are just a very large franchisee. A Ruby Tuesday restaurant is located just two blocks away at 14th and Monroe. Check out Lime's very cheeky menu (PDF). Looks as vegan friendly as any other Mexican restaurant; i.e. just get used to saying "no cheese, please." Lime Fresh will occupy the space #104 at DC USA which was originally planned for, yes, Causal Male.

Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, 3100 14th St NW #104

Latin American Youth Center Comedy Night

The Latin American Youth Center is hosting a benefit comedy night next week and you're invited! The non-profit is located in Columbia Heights and serves youth from all over the capital area. You may be familiar with their educational efforts such as the Art + Media House on 15th Street or SES tutoring program, but LAYC also provides workforce preparation, social services and does advocacy work. They reach over 4,000 people each year. Proceeds from the show will go to LAYC programming.

The comedians are donating their time and comedic efforts and the location is not far from LAYC, at GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW (Tivoli building). The show is next Wednesday March 7 and will be hosted by morning radio show host Pedro Biaggi. Performing will be comedian-musician Adam Dodd, with stand up comedians Pete Bladel, Ayanna Dookie, and Jasiel Ayala. Doors open at 6:00PM and show starts at 7:00PM. Tickets are $20 and check out the LAYC event page to order and for more information. Support this great cause and have a few laughs while you're at it. Have a great weekend!

Coffy Cafe Opening Next Week

The DC coffee scene is about to get another player. Coffy Cafe has been in the works for nearly a year now and I'm happy to see that they will likely open within the next 10 days! A sign recently went up in the front windows indicating an open date of Saturday March 3rd. Welcome to the neighborhood, Coffy! 

Coffy Cafe is located at 3310 14th St NW in Columbia Heights. The unique name is a direct reference to the 1973 Jack Hill film Coffy starring 1970s (and then, 90s!) movie queen Pam Grier.

Not sure if they have a proper website yet, but the shop Facebook page is active and every time I've peeked in the windows of the store this week, they've had a more "open soon" feel. Looking forward to a new quality coffee spot just blocks away from Mount Pleasant! Have a great weekend.

UPDATE: They do have a website. CoffyCafe.com, natürlich.

Inside is still a work in progress, but looking good!

Ottomania Returns to Zeba Bar

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+

Everlasting Life Cafe: All Vegan, All Day

[UPDATE: Everlasting Life has changed ownership and changed its name to Woodlands Vegan Bistro. STILL VEGAN!]

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: Ottomania!

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.

Double Shot: Two New Coffee Shops

Coffy Cafe in Columbia Heights

Soon, Mount Pleasant residents will be able to caffeinate at two new local coffee shops. Right here on our own main street, Flying Fish Coffee & Tea looks very close to opening at 3064 Mount Pleasant Street NW. And just blocks away in Columbia Heights, there is new signage for Coffy Cafe at 3310 14th Street NW.

Flying Fish is an a fairly small space between Mayflower Chinese restaurant and Golden Scissors salon. The storefront was formerly occupied by the Express Business Center, a computer rental, service and business center. I'm really excited about this place and here is a preview of the shop from last week's Washington City Paper. I really enjoy the coffee at Filter and Chinatown Coffee Co, so if FF is similar, quality-wise, that would be fantastic. Looking through the windows of Flying Fish, I already think the place has a Mount Pleasant feel and aesthetically, it looks much like a coffee shop that I would open.

Coffy Cafe just appeared on 14 Street in Columbia Heights within the last few days. The colors scream "70s," (and maybe Dunkin' Donuts?). And sure enough, the signage promises a mod vibe. Very curious! Not much more insight than a color scheme and a slogan, but always good to have another coffee option. Looks like they'll have food, too: crepes and cupcakes are in the byline. The address is 3310 14th Street NW, part of the old Riggs Bank building at 14th and Park. Other retail in the building include PNC Bank, Subway, Speedy Liquors, Columbia Heights Pharmacy and more. The upper floors are occupied by the Samuel Kelsey Apartments.

UPDATE: Coffy Cafe has a Facebook page with more information. Pretty cool.

Flying Fish Coffee & Tea in Mount Pleasant

Local Bakery Will Compete in "Cupcake Wars"

Not  doughnuts

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

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

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

New name, new logo

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

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