Adams Morgan Day 2015: Photos

This year's Adams Morgan Day festival was a bit different than those of the past. Absent were the 40,000+ visitors, the smoky streets from food vendors, car-less, closed streets, and the big-time outdoor stages for music. (How it looked to me in 2013).

In place of the mega-festival was a more low-key, but seemingly more authentic celebration of the neighborhood businesses. The sidewalks were packed with pedestrians, but so were many of the businesses and  restaurants. It wasn't too difficult to walk 18th Street or Columbia Rd NW, but there were enough visitors to make the day feel like a success. Artists played music and displayed works inside restaurants, retail spaces, and on the sidewalks. Here are some photos from this year's festival:

The Spread Love band plays near Suntrust Plaza.

The streets were crowded... but so were restaurants.

Lots of sales by local businesses.

No "Arts on Belmont" this year. Just cars.

Artists displayed and sold works on sidewalks up and down 18th St NW.

Batala drums a perfect beat at Suntrust Plaza.

There were several rooftop bands, including at Roofers Union.

There were fewer programs at Marie Reed this year, but there was karaoke and some kids activities.

Lots and lots of folks attended, but thousands fewer than years past.

Modified Adams Morgan Day for September 13

It appears there will be an Adams Morgan Day this year after all. However, it promises to be a bit different that festivals of the past. The details are not quite complete just yet, but the festival's Facebook page offers some clues.The date is set, though: Sunday September 13.

From the organizers: 

"The local businesses and neighbors of Adams Morgan have banded together to revive the longest continuing running neighborhood festival in the nation’s capital. The 2015 Adams Morgan Day celebration will take place on Sunday, September 13, 2015, from 12 noon to 6pm, along 18th Street and Columbia Road in Adams Morgan.

In its 37th year, the event is bringing the focus back to the neighborhood and the people and businesses within it. There will be many changes from years past. While the streets will be open during the day-long activities, each restaurant and business will be able to do their own thing, giving this more of an organic and local feel.

Each resident and business involved in the planning is volunteering their time, energy and in some cases, their own finances. There are currently over 50 establishments who are participating. Activities will include face painting, music, fitness and wellness games, food and drink specials, and much more." 

Back in June, we learned that there was a strong possibility that the long running festival would not be happening this year due to several issues, mostly financial. While it's not clear if some of those specific challenges have been overcome, I'm thrilled that neighborhood business owners have stepped up. This clearly won't be the same Adams Morgan Day we know and love (18th Street closed to cars, tons of street vendors, big music stages, 40,000+ people), but maybe something more akin to Dog Days on 14th & U.

This is great, great news. If you'd like to volunteer, play music, lead a tour, or just help out on the day of the festival they're accepting help here. And if you'd like to help on the financial side, you can do that as well. Glad to see this back on. See y'all there.

Adams Morgan Day 2014: Photos

Another great DC day. Another great Adams Morgan Day. The pre-fall weather cooperated, there was lots of good music, and the crowds were moderate. I got great coffee at the temporary/maybe not temporary Cafe Diem pop-up coffee shop, but passed on most of the lines for street food in lieu of people watching. There was just enough new to keep it interesting and enough familiar to keep you coming back. A few photos:

Beautiful weather! Moderate crowds at midday.

Dance instruction all day at the bottom of the hill.

Our good friends at Meeps had great music and dope fall wear; for dudes + ladies.

Johnny Pistolas stayed busy at the end of its first week of existence. 

Can't go wrong with DC flag merchandise.

Food & drink stands lined 18th St NW.

View from Suntrust Plaza

Batala drummers!

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT block this exit.

Bands played at several venues including just outside of Heaven & Hell.

Even Madam's Organ got into the street food business.

Looks like Federal Restaurant and Z-Kabob are going the way of a new retail development.

Funk Parade Planned for May 3

A growing group of businesses, civic leaders, and local organizations are coming together to organize & support a funk parade and music showcase in early May. The Funk Parade is scheduled to happen on or around U Street NW on Saturday May 3, 2014. The parade is actually one part of three: a street fair, the parade, and musical performances. 

These things of course require a bit of funding, and the organizers are throwing a kickoff party to do just that. This fundraiser/show will be held at Liv on March 13. Good luck to everyone involved. Sounds like a cool idea!

For more information on the Funk Parade visit their neat website.

From the organizers:

FUNK PARADE PLANNED FOR DC’S U STREET NEIGHBORHOOD

Parade, Street Fair and Music Festival to Celebrate Spirit of Funk, DC’s Birthday

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A group of over 70 local businesses, civic leaders and neighborhood organizations today announced plans for the first-ever Funk Parade in the U Street neighborhood on Saturday, May 3, 2014.

The planned event has three parts: a street fair by day, the mighty Funk Parade in the afternoon, and a music festival in the evening.  The events will be rich in music and art, and will honor both the neighborhood and the spirit of funk, “the subatomic particle of love,” which brings people together and makes them feel all right. The date, May 3, is the 211th anniversary of the District’s incorporation.

“Bringing people together in the spirit of music and celebration is part of what makes the U Street neighborhood a crown jewel of the city,” said D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1).  “I'm proud to support this unique event.”

Funk Parade is supported by a broad group of leaders, businesses and community groups, from Councilmember Graham, Ben’s Chili Bowl and the Howard Theater to ANC 1B, U Street Music Hall, the Brixton, Bohemian Caverns, Blind Dog Cafe, Twins Jazz, WJLA Channel 7 and dozens more. For a full list of supporters, click here.

The event is co-sponsored by Listen Local First, an organization which partners with hundreds of local musicians and businesses to create new new avenues for local music exploration.

For more news, including announcements of band lineups, participating artists, sponsors and more, follow Funk Parade on Twitter at @FunkParade or go to http://funkparade.com.

Donate! Volunteer! Get involved!  Email funk@funkparade.com.  

Make it Mount Pleasant: Holiday Edition

The third iteration of the popular Make it Mount Pleasant series is happening this weekend! This neighborhood-organized event is billed as a 'handcraft and vintage market' but really delivers much more, in my opinion.

The location is the same as last summer's event: the parking lot net to McCormick Paints, 3124 Mt Pleasant St NW. The hours are 11 AM - 5 PM, Sunday December 8th. (In addition to the market there will be a mini-holiday fest at Lamont Park, just blocks away. See below.)

The 20 vendors are really stellar this year and speak to the objective of offering visitors something local, high quality, and one of a kind, which is a difficult trifecta to achieve. But, they pulled it off last time, so I'm really excited to be a part of it this weekend. See you there!

From the organizers:

On Sunday, December 8 from 11am to 5pm, Mount Pleasant businesses and neighborhood groups will come together to host an authentic, vibrant holiday shopping and community event; a pop-up vintage and craft market and a uniquely Mount Pleasant neighborhood tradition, a visit from Santa and the Three Kings.

Organized by the Mount Pleasant Business Association (MPBA) and Mount Pleasant Main Street, “Make it Mount Pleasant” brings together some of DC’s favorite local businesses, artists, and performers for a day of special events in one of DC’s most eclectic neighborhoods. 

The pop-up craft market, located in the parking lot of McCormick Paints at Mount Pleasant Street and Kenyon Street, will feature handmade and vintage goods from local crafters such as Handmade Habitat, Yoyo Woo Paper Arts, Rachael Pfeffer Designs, and Cherry Blossom Creative. Details about all vendors are can be found on the neighborhood’s newest web portal: MtPleasantDC.com.

Also on Sunday, Santa and the Three Kings will be at Lamont Park, (Mt Pleasant Street and Lamont Street) at 1PM to meet with children and discuss their behavior and Christmas wishes until 3PM. There will also be fun arts projects including Hanukkah themed puppet show and craft activities.

Festival in Lamont Park + Celebrating Radio CPR

I've been a huge fan of Radio CPR --Community Powered Radio-- since moving to Mount Pleasant over 10 years ago. They play the music (and other shows) I want to hear; in an area where corporate over-the-air radio is untenable and college radio mostly unavailable. Want to hear them? It's 97.5 on the FM radio dial. For a blast from the (recent) past, there's also a CD of local musicians featured on CPR available from Dischord Records.

Radio CPR is celebrating 15 years (!) by hosting a Día de los Muertos festival this Saturday, November 2, at Lamont Park. This is happening post-farmers' market; from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Sounds awesome!

From the organizers:

Join Radio CPR for a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Festival in Lamont Park, Mt. Pleasant. Festivities include music, poetry, performances, beat-making workshop and arts and crafts.

Don't miss the Kick-Off Procession at 3:45 pm lead by Paso Nuevo, GALA Hispanic Theatre's youth group, and a bilingual theater performances & poetry by Quique Aviles and Alina Collins.

Live Music Performances By:
- Anexo Social
- Rumisonko
- Lilo Gonzales
- Luci Murphy
- Franko Jazz

AND Resident Radio CPR DJs
DJ Maestra
DJ Mezkla
DJ Wanako

Celebrate 15 years of Community Powered Radio with Radio CPR and friends, empowering the whole neighborhood to find its creative side. As we move into the future, we remember the past and the spirits of those who have come before us. Put on your dancing shoes and recycle that Halloween costume for a spectacular extravaganza!

Crafty Bastards Returns to Union Market

Photo courtesy of Crafty Bastards

Crafty Bastards is back! This is the 10th iteration of the Washington City Paper backed arts & crafts fair. It's one of the District's best fall events. The fair is still going strong after outgrowing the Marie Reed site on 18th Street in Adams Morgan. It is now a two-day event, happening on Saturday and Sunday September 28-29, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM each day. The site is Union Market; 1309 5th St NE, between Florida and New York Avenues. It costs $5 per day. 

There is usually an eclectic mix of product, from colorful handmade scarves, to quirky jewelry, screen printed posters, whimsical baby onesies, and decoupaged (insert unexpected household item here). The vendors get better every year as the organizers always try to add a few new high quality participants. The crafters are from all over the U.S., with the 2013 crop from places like Chicago, Denver, North Carolina, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon and elsewhere. Still, the locals are in the house with sellers like Mount Pleasant's Nana Clothing representing the District. 

See you there! I'll be there on Sunday, as another great event is happening that Saturday, VegFest DC!!! Cool weekend.

Adams Morgan Day is September 8

AM Day 2012

The 2013 Adams Morgan Day will be on Sunday, September 8. This is the unofficial king of DC neighborhood festivals. OK, so that may be up for debate. But, what's not up for date is that, at 35 years, it is the longest continuously running neighborhood festival. And it regularly drawns 30,000+ visitors. This festival features A LOT of food (in restaurants and on the street), great arts scene (Arts on Belmont), local music on two main stages, and a chance to have a drink at your favorite bar while watching the first week of NFL games.

This year, there are WAY more music acts than I've ever seen! I can't list them all, but some of the highlights are: Allison Carney, Paperhaus, Side FX, Konshens, BOOMscat, Asheru, and Cecily. Here's the entire music schedule.

Adams Morgan Day takes place on 18th Street NW between Columbia Rd and Florida Ave, including Belmont Street. The hours are Noon - 7:00 pm. You can still register to volunteer and vend.

BONUS: Photos from the last few years of Adams Morgan Day: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007.

Tour de Fat is Saturday. Yep. Tour de Fat.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the awesomeness of the party/carnival/revival/circus/parade that is Tour de Fat. There will be bikes. There will be music. There will be beer. And it's free.

Tour de Fat is hitting DC for the second year, happening this Saturday, June 1. Colorado's New Belgium Brewing is throwing this party in a dozen cities and we're the second stop on the 2013 circuit. Bikes have always been a big part of New Belgium, being both the inspiration for the company's founding and the most popular beer, Fat Tire; hence the name, Tour de Fat.

This looks so cool! The location is Yards Park in Southeast DC. This is adjacent to Nationals Park, and a stone's throw from the Navy Yard Metro station. Of course, they'll have a bike valet for those taking two wheel transport. 

The bike parade starts at 11:00 AM, the party continues at 12:00 and everything ends at 5:00 PM. Bands/Acts include: Beats Antique, The Moth (storytelling), DC's own BATALA, the Honeymoon Cabaret, do-it-all Scott Nery, AND MANY OTHERS.

There will be something called the Car for Bike Trade, which sounds awesome. One lucky person who pledges to give up their car, and go totally car free for one year, gets a $2,000+ stipend to purchase a commuter bike and accessories. Applicants must post a two minute video on the Tour de Fat FB page, explaining why they should be picked. Seriously, get on this people!

There will be food and a beer tasting tent, too (for those 21 years of age and older). Otherwise, the parade and festival are open to all ages. It's free, but you need to register before hand to ride in the parade. Several organizations stand to benefit, including Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Black Women Bike. SEE YOU THERE.

Lamont Street Halloween Block Party

It's back. The annual Lamont Street Halloween Party returns for 2012 and yes, yes, yes, this is one of my favorite neighborhood get-togethers of the year. All Hallow's Evening (Wednesday, October 31) is the date and 6:00 PM-9:30 PM is the time.

The location is Lamont Street NW between 17th and 18th Streets. The 1700 block will be closed to vehicular traffic and the surrounding streets are typically very busy with pedestrians, so use caution when driving in the neighborhood that night. 

Very much like last year's event, the 2012 party will feature kid friendly puppetry and the best costume contest this side of the Potomac River. Oh yeah, and trick or treating. Should be a blast, as always. See you there! 

Adams Morgan Day 2012: Photos

Can we say perfect weather? Yesterday could have been one of the best weather days of the DC summer. Despite that, I feel like attendance at the Adams Morgan Day Festival was slightly lower this year? I don't know of any official count; but to me, the crowds felt a bit lighter. No complaint, though. I actually enjoyed having more elbow room and not having to wait in line for Jyoti's veggie samosas. Here are some photos from the event:

My Mount Pleasant

So, I'm sure you've heard by now, though City Paper or Washingtonian or right here:  Make It Mount Pleasant is this Sunday 12PM-6PM. Location: adjacent to McCormick Paints -- 3124 Mount Pleasant St NW.

The vendors are fairly eclectic including designer Daisy Lacy (of Smash!), a t-shirt company called Softcore Laundry (hmmmmm) and Skincando, who I believe was at the last two "Gift of Fab" events at Past Tense. Full list of vendors here. They will set up in the lot adjacent to McCormick Paints at Mount Pleasant and Kenyon Sts NW.

Businesses in the neighborhood are offering specials including Past Tense (raffles for free classes), Tonic (1/2 off drafts, $4 tots) and Nana (sidewalk sale). That Yellow Gym and Ramona's Day Spa will each be holding open houses of sorts.

What would Mount Pleasant be without its music? Not much, not much at all. So, of course there will be music! Bands and DJs will play just two blocks away at Lamont Park here's the set list: 2PM -- Head Roc, 3PM -- Dangerosa, 4PM -- Kickoman and 5PM -- lowercase letters. Check out the bands here.

Speaking of bands. All this talk of Make It Mount Pelasant got me thingking of another DC band, Tuscadero, and their song "Mt. Pleasant." If you've never heard it, here you go. Off of 1994 Teen Beat release The Pink Album, here's "Mt. Pleasant." See you Sunday.

Mark Your Calendar: Make It Mount Pleasant is June 10

Make It Mount Pleasant is shaping up to be one of the events of this summer. We've managed to make Fiesta DC work year after year. And although Mount Pleasant Day faded out in 2005/6, this new event has the potential to be really cool, offering a little something for everyone in Mount Pleasant and visitors, too. Here are the details from the organizers: Great job everyone involved.

*          *          *

"Mark Your Calendars for Make it Mount Pleasant 

Sunday June 10, 12PM-6PM

Handmade Craft and Vintage Market, Sidewalk Sales, Live Music, DJs and more!

On Sunday June 10th from 12pm to 6pm Mount Pleasant will come alive with a Handmade Craft and Vintage Market, sidewalk sales & specials, and local bands and DJs. Organized by the Mount Pleasant Business Association, Make it Mount Pleasant brings together local restaurants, shops, community groups, artists, artisans and musicians for a day of special events. Keep abreast of all that's happening by joining the Make it Mount Pleasant Facebook page.

If you are interested in volunteering the day of at the market or Lamont Park go here. It's going to be a great day and a great way to connect with neighbors!

The pop-up market will be located in the parking lot of McCormick Paints at Mount Pleasant and Kenyon Streets NW. It will feature handmade and vintage goods from local crafters including the whimsical jewelry of Lanyapi Designs, paper cutting from Voyo Woo and fresh looks from Speck Vintage plus many more. Details about all vendors are on the Make it Mount Pleasant Facebook page.

Mount Pleasant businesses are holding sidewalk sales and special events. Nana will be holding its first ever sidewalk sale, showcasing perfect-for-summer styles at 15% off. Past Tense Studio will be celebrating with $10 classes before the event and free yoga consultations, raffles and discounted passes throughout the day. Boveda Tribes will have handcrafted jewelry and textiles from around the world. Flying Fish will be serving extra special homemade pastries. After shopping, escape to Dos Gringos for delicious ice cream treats or Last Exit Speakeasy for artisan cocktails. You can also head over to Haydees Restaurant for margaritas and a mariachi band or watch the concert at Lamont Park while enjoying burritos on Don Juan’s sidewalk café.

The concert at Lamont Park, put together by Radio CPR, features DC’s hip hop favorite Headroc, the lowercase letters and Dangerosa. DJing at the market will be TNT, Rockactivo, Wanako and the Pinstripe Rebel and more.

For more information or to get involved and volunteer email info@Makeitmountpleasant.com!

In addition to McCormick Paints, who is donating space for the event, several local businesses and organizations have signed on as event sponsors bringing diverse sectors of the neighborhood together in support of the event. 

Premier sponsors include Realtors the Mandy and David Team, Historic Mount Pleasant and the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Other sponsors include, Studio Crowley-Hall, Old School Hardware. Nana, Mt. Pleasant Massage Therapy. Haydee's Restaurant, Dos Gringos, Don Juan's Restaurant & Carry-Out, Washington City Paper and Eastern Confederate. Tonic Mt. Pleasant, Past Tense Studio, Mt. Pleasant Care Pharmacy, Lujan Management Realty Trust, JGJ Properties LLC. Heller's Bakery and Clean Currents are also sponsors.

Hope you can make it!"

Fiesta DC is Sunday, in Mount Pleasant!

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!

Adams Morgan Day: First of the Fall Festivals

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.

Video: Crafty B-Girl and B-Boy Battles

Crafty Bastards was a beast. I felt so overwhelmed walking the narrow and slow moving aisles at the craft and art fair. It was hella crowded in each of the four of the main areas, all outside the Marie Reed Learning Center at18th St and Wyoming NW. Everyone making the best of what was possibly the last summer-like weekend of the year. And just before this rather miserable rain we've had the last two days. Lucky.

Slightly less crowded was the recessed area where the break dancing competition happened, the "Performance Pit". I felt much better down there. And that's where I took this video. The b-boy and b-girl competitions are best viewed from up on high behind the fence, but those spots are hard to come by. I was happy down below.

Was it just me or was there a lot more crotch grabbing this year? Perhaps a year-late MJ tribute. Despite that, I thought the level of dance was higher than 2009 and many of the same dancers were took part. There were way more women this year, which was awesome. Hopefully that trend continues. And there were more tandem and synchronized moves between partners. This video is form the second round. The sound is a little blown out so turn it down if you're in the office. Sorry about that. Check out other dance videos and more on The 42 Bus Vimeo page.

Crafty Battles 2010: BBoys and BGirls (1) from The 42 Bus on Vimeo.

Fiesta DC Visits Mount Pleasant on Sunday

now on Twitter @The42BusDC

Fiesta DC is this Sunday! And it's now the de facto Mount Pleasant Day. After the neighborhood's namesake fest died years ago --2005 saw the last large scale Mt P Fest-- Fiesta DC became our only major yearly street festival. Even after it was thiiiiiiiis close to relocating to Columbia Heights, Fiesta DC is still strongly associated with Mount Pleasant and I think we're the rightful home at this point.

Because it's held up and down Mount Pleasant Street NW, Fiesta DC might be considered a quint, small time party with booths to stroll by and enjoy casually without being at all crowded. It's not. This Fiesta attracts tens of thousands of visitors. The street is packed and I often wonder how the Parade of Nations even happens or is seen. But it happens. And I always go because it's fun, the parade rules and the music rules (5 stages!). And it's ours! I hope it never moves to 14th Street, which I guess is still entirely possible.  

Fiesta DC was first held in 1971 and honors Hispanic History Month. It will take place this Sunday, September 26 from 11:00am until 7:00pm. Generally, all events are held on Mount Pleasant street NW between Park Rd and Argonne Pl.  Recently, the some of the music stages have spilled over onto Argonne Pl, Kilbourne or Kenyon.  The highlight is always the Parade of Nations, which features dancers, musicians and performers from over 30 groups representing various nations.  The Parade is scheduled from 1-3pm and begins at the top of Mount Pleasant and heads south the length of the festival route.

Last year: