Game Roast Friday, Dec. 9, @ Watershed w/ DC Brau; Buy 1, Get 1 free for neighborhood residents

Watershed Neighborhood Game Roast

Be a Neighbor, Bring a Friend - Watershed Game Roast for Two, $75

Watershed's supper series continues with a hearty, festive game roast, featuring community-farmed, regionally-sourced fowl next Friday, December 9. Menu highlights include country style pate with toasted pistachio, cider-brined roasted game hen, pheasant and port wine cherry sausage, roasted new potatoes with rosemary, and chablis roasted pear with whipped armangnac vanilla cream. Come for happy hour, beginning at 5:00pm in the lounge, and stay for supper at 7:00pm. Watershed's Game Roast will also feature brews from DC Brau and live music. See the full menu after the break.

Special NoMa Neighborhood Offer: For neighborhood residents, bring a friend and you can both enjoy the Game Roast for $75.

When: Friday, December 9 at 7:00 pm
Where: 1225 First St. NE (Second floor of the Hilton Garden Inn)

Reservations: Reservations required. Call 202-534-1350 & mention that you are a neighborhood resident.

Streetcar Update on w/ Mayor Gray & DDOT Dir. Bellamy @ Atlas Theatre, Tues. Dec. 6, 7 pm

Save the date for and plan to attend this upcoming Streetcar Forum at the Atlas Theater (1333 H Street NE) on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Mayor Gray, DDOT Director Terry Bellamy, and other city officials are expected to be on hand for a discussion of progress on the H Street streetcar line.  We will be there and hope you'll join us in holding our public officials accountable in pushing towards the completion of the H Street line. 

Link roundup

Fashion Food Foreplay touts brunch at Smith Commons.

City Paper enjoyed the 10 course Peking Duck feast at Toki Underground. 

Tom Sietsema talked to Atlas Room General Manager Mark Medley about no show reservations.  Folks, if you're not going to make it to a reservation, please have the courtesy of letting the restaurant know, so they can seat someone else. 

East City Art rounded up the last exhibits of the season at various local galleries.

Tommy Wells' 5th Annual Livable Walkable Awards 12/8; Nominations accepted now

Councilmember Tommy Wells will host his 5th Annual Liveable Walkable Awards on Thursday, December 8, at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Ave SE).  Nominations for the following awards categories are being accepted through the end of today. 

Neighbor Award
Community Organization Award
Business Award
Public Service Award

Recent neighborhood awards winners include the Argonaut (Livable Walkable Business), Elizabeth Nelson (Neighbor Award for work with ANC6A, Maury Elementary, Trees for Capitol Hill & more), and Moms on the Hill (Community Organization Award).  Let Councilmember Wells know why you think your nominee goes above and beyond at the following link: http://www.tommywells.org/forms/LWAwards2011 and save the date.

Link roundup

Michelle Obama came to H Street for dinner on Friday night.

Frozen Tropics is keeping track of who's open and who's closed for Thanksgiving.

Eater has Chef Michael Hartzer currently of Jack Rose, previously of the Rays the Steaks group, and Indebleu's favorite spots to eat in the neighborhood.  He's apparently an H Street neighbor and is a big fan of Ethiopic calling it the best Ethiopian in town. 

Scout Mob has a cool piece on some tasty treats at Toki Underground from Mary Kong of Girl Meets Food.  Toki hosts a multicourse Peking Duck dinner tonight (sold out) before taking a couple days off for the holiday. 

The Post had a piece on the sale of the Murry's site that we reported on a few days earlier.

Yes, that was First Lady Michelle Obama on H Street Friday night

Only a couple weeks after Vice President Biden and a host of other prominent Washingtonians, including Colin Powell & Madeleine Albright dropped by the Atlas Performing Arts Center, H Street welcomed yet another prominent politico.  This time First Lady Michelle Obama came to Sticky Rice for dinner on Friday evening.  The First Lady arrived around 7 pm and stuck around for a couple hours while several suburbans and other secret service vehicles lined the north side of the 1200 block of H Street. 

Conveniently Sticky Rice had recently opened their expansion into the building to their west, which allowed the additional space and exits that was likely required by Secret Service for a high profile guest like the First Lady.  No word from the guys at Sticky Rice if any tots or PBRs were consumer alongside the First Lady's sushi. 

We're thrilled to see the neighborhood continuing to attract more and more visitors, but hope her visit to Sticky Rice doesn't foretell long lines at Sticky Rice again so soon after they doubled in size.  Although, the building next to the one they expanded into remains open...

413 H St sold for $550,000

The blighted vacant shell of a building at 413 H St (next door to Capital Fine Wine & Spirts near Sidamo and on the block bookended by The Big Board and Ethiopic) sold for $550,000 last week.  The building's previous owner made a good bit of money by doing nothing with the property according to DC property records.  The Office of Tax and Revenue shows the property was purchased in 2002 for $167,500, so the former owner appears to have taken nearly $400,000 by doing little more than paying the property taxes for the past several years.  The building was added to DCRA's "blighted" property list earlier this year and thus subjected to the "blighted" tax rate of 10%.  It was listed for sale soon thereafter for $650,000 in July.

We haven't spoken with the new owner, but are reliably informed that he plans to begin renovation of the building soon in anticipation of making it available for lease. 

This is yet another sign of great progress on the western end of H Street over the past year. 413 H Street joins 5 other properties currently under renovation on the 400 block of H Street and is just east of the ongoing 360 H Street/Steuart Development mixed-use project which will house a Giant grocery store & a couple hundred residential units in 2013.

H Street Bakes at H Street Country Club Sunday 11:30-2:30

The next H Street Bakes is this Sunday, November 20, from 11:30 AM to 2:30 pm at the H Street Country Club (1335 H St). H Street Bakes is a monthly pop-up bake sale featuring bakers from H Street and the surrounding neighborhoods. This month, the bakers include Kim Moffatt (Oatmeal awesome pie, Bourbon pecan pie tart, spiced pumpkin cheesecake, sweet potato tart), Crunkcakes (boozy cupcakes), biscuit (artisan breads, croissants, and other savory options), and others.

biscuit is  bringing buttery dinner rolls, challah, italian bread, and pumpkin chocolate chip loaves as well as the usual croissants, toffee, english muffins, stecca, and pizza, which may be useful to those hosting Thanksgiving this year. 

You can also place orders with Kim Moffat (on facebook at H Street Bakes) for whole pies, cheesecakes, cakes and tarts.  She's offering for preorder: oatmeal awesome pie, sweet potato tart w/ marshmallows & pecans, bourbon pecan pie tart, spiced pumpkin cheesecase w/ gingersnap crust (available gluten free), pumpkin pound cake bundt cake and vegan pumpkin chocholate chip bundt cake.  Make your hosting Thanksgiving easy by order something or make your hosts happy by bringing one home.  These items are available in whole pies by preorder only -- not at Sunday's bake sale.

50% off Fruit Bat via Deals For Deeds benefitting Brainfood

Deals For Deeds has 50% off Fruit Bat today ($30 gift certificates for $15) with 15% of the proceeds going to benefit Brainfood.

5 course Chocolate City Beer Dinner at The Big Board w/ Chef Mike Lunsford & Pasty Chef Kim Moffatt

Big Board is hosting a big beer dinner with 5 fun courses courses from their Chef Mike Lunsford w/ Pastry Chef Kim Moffatt (of H Street Bakes & Granville Moore's fame) and 5 beers from DC's own Chocolate City Brewery.  The meal will be served on Big Board's yet to fully open second level for $60 per person on Wednesday, December 7.  Call 202-543-3630 for reservations.  The full "Fast Food" Beer Dinner menu is after the jump:

Special DC Brau-Stillwater Ales release at Smith Commons on Friday

DC Brau Brewing Company Collaborates with Stillwater Artisanal Ales for  "NATAS"
Launch party on November 18th, at Smith Commons  8pm-12am

Belgium has long been known for producing strong, dark ales throughout the centuries. In recent years brewers all over the world have been been experimenting with Porters and Stouts brewed with traditional Belgian brewing ingredients to create new styles.

DC Brau and Stillwater Ales joined forces to create one of their own. "NATAS" is a Belgian Style Imperial Porter brewed with a traditional high gravity Abbey yeast. At first glance "NATAS" is pitch black in the glass with wafting aroma's of burnt sugar and caramelized fruit. The mouthfeel is silky smooth with hints of cocoa. It has a gentle, warming phenolic character that begs for a follow up inquiry. The hops are used to balance this brew and lend a subtle complexity. The dark lord himself would be proud to serve this hellish offering to his legions of demonic minions.

The beer name is a nod to Natas Kapuas, a skateboarder from Southern California in the late 80s and early 90s whose thrashing was super rad and adored by Brian, Jeff and Brandon while growing up. Natas is also Satan spelled backwards. Traditionally, there are many Belgian Strong Goldens and Tripels bearing the name of the Evil Spirit. Being that this beer is dark as midnight and therefore the opposite of this it is only appropriate that it should bear the name of the dark lord spelled BACKWARDS.

DC Brau Brewing Co. / Stillwater Artisan Ales Presents
"NATAS" Belgian-Style Imperial Porter
ABV: 7.5% ABV
Yeast: Wyeast 1762 Belgian Abbey II
Hops: Gr. Perle, Nugget, Fuggles and Columbus

A press release from DC Brau describes the beer as follows,

At first glance “NATAS” is pitch black in the glass with wafting aromas of burnt sugar and caramelized fruit. The mouthfeel is silky smooth with hints of cocoa. It has a gentle, warming phenolic character that begs for a follow-up inquiry. The hops are used to balance this brew and lend a subtle complexity. The dark lord himself would be proud to serve this hellish offering to his legions of demonic minions.

50% off Inspire BBQ via Deals For Deeds benefitting Brainfood

Deals For Deeds has 50% off Inspire BBQ today ($20 gift certificates for $10) with 15% of the proceeds going to benefit Brainfood.

Over 40% off the Argonaut via Deals For Deeds benefitting Brainfood

Deals For Deeds has over 40% off the Argonaut today ($35 gift certificates for $20) with 15% of the proceeds going to benefit Brainfood.

This is part of the second annual “H Street Cares: A Week to Benefit Brainfood”, a special week of deals taking place this week. Some of DC’s most popular restaurants and bars located along the H Street Corridor will be featured and 15% of every purchase will directly support Brainfood, a non-profit youth development organization in Washington, DC. Using food as a tool, Brainfood builds life skills and promotes healthy living in a fun and safe environment.

Last market of the season -- bring donations for the hungry - perishables, nonperishables, cash & check all accepted

Farmers and Producers at Market: Atwaters; Blueberry Hill; Cedarbrook Farm; Gepetto Catering (BBQ); Full Cellar Farm; Keswick Creamery; Quaker Valley Orchards; Richfield Farm; Garden Path Farm; Red Apron Butchery.

Special Customer Appreciation for this last market day: Red Apron will be serving hot dogs!

At market this week:
Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit First Church of Christ Holiness!

New Happy Hour specials & promotions at the Argonaut

Happy Hour Monday-Friday, 5pm-7pm

1/2-price glasses & bottles of McWilliams Shiraz and Lagaria Pinot Grigio
1/2-price draught beers [excludes high octane or limited beers]
$3 rail drinks

Daily Specials

Monday: 25¢ wings [with purchase of alcoholic beverage OR root beer, ginger beer, san pellegrino].

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday (Fish/Chicken/Tempeh Tacos = $3/$2/$2). Dine in only.

Wednesday: Family Night Kids < 12 eat free off the kiddo menu. Dine in only.

Wednesday (upstairs): Pub Quiz. 8-10pm. Prizes! 21+ (ps – our fabulous team of hosts come up with their own questions – no corporate packages here!)

Wednesday-Friday 11:30am-4pm: Want 25% off your lunch tab? Just ask for it! May not be combined with other offers. Dine in only.

Thursday: $3 Thirsty Thursday (select craft beer cans = $3) DOWNSTAIRS BAR CUSTOMERS ONLY (not for table service or upstairs).

Saturday: Argo-Mutts Doggy Happy Hour! 12pm-5pm. Patio only.

Sunday: 1/2-price draught beers 8pm-close [excludes high octane or limited beers]

Hill Schools & Child Care Info Night tonight at Hill Center (10th & Penn) via MOTH

MOTH is hosting their annual Hill School Night tonight at the new Hill Center (10th & Penn SE), from 6-8:30.  Pretty much every local school imaginable as well as a wide array of child care centers will be on hand.  Full details are on the Hill School Info website.

Half off Yoga District (526 H St) via Living Social

Living Social has 50% off at Yoga District (526 H St) today with $25 buying your choice of 5 classes.  We haven't been, but our yoga loving friends and neighbors seem to like it almost as much for regular yoga as our hot yoga friends do Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill (410 H St).  Have you been?  If not, this is a great opportunity to try it out and support another locally-owned local business.

Link roundup

The Hillys were Sunday night on H Street at the Atlas.  Julia Robey Christian of CHAMPS put on a terrific show and Aesthic Answers had the Atlas looking better than ever.  Congratulations to Inspire BBQ, The Queen Vic, Little Miss Whiskeys, the Pug, and Toki Underground on winning Hillys or being runners up for them.  The Hill is Home has the full awards run down.

Aldi opened at 17th & Maryland.  Aldi is a German grocery company, something akin to a Costco food section or a low-priced, all generic Trader Joes.  We swung through and were most impressed with the view of the Capitol from the checkout lines.  Various pantry items were very inexpensive, but you wont find a wide array of produce or any organic items here.  Note they accept debit, not credit and take a harder line on bringing your own bags than is required under DC law.  The Washington Post checked out the ribbon cutting and somewhat confusingly cites the Aldi as opening in a "food desert."  It is literally across the street from a Safeway.

Young & Hungry's Chris Shott has a nice piece on the Big Board and talks to the Brothers Flannery (co-owners Eric & Mark live along H Street & are usually managing at Big Board) about their secret burger marinade that they all got pieces of from their father Admiral Flannery.  We haven't a clue what's in it, but we've been very pleased with the burgers we've had there thus far.

Deals for Deeds is back on H Street again partnering with Granville Moore's & other spots to give you discounts at H Street restaurants, while raising funds for local nonprofit Brainfood.  The deals include:
Dr. Granville Moore’s: $30 for $50 to spend; Toki Underground: $20 for $35 to spend; The Argonaut: $20 for $35 to spend; Inspire BBQ: $10 for $20 to spend; and Fruit Bat: $15 for $30 to spend.

We reported that the sale of the Murry's property at 6th & H went through.

Sticky Rice tells us that their expansion into the building to their west is now open, so hopefully it'll be easier to get tables there now.  They've also rolled out a new food truck called Chupacabra.  The truck is based out of the building at the corner of 9th & H where they considered opening a Chupacabra restaurant.  They sell a variety of tacos, both traditional styles and more creative offerings. 

Tommy Wells is seeking nominations for his 5th Annual Liveable Walkable Awards.  Categories include Neighbor, Community Service Organization, Business and Public Service.

There are a slew of fun events this week.  There's a Movember Fundraiser at the Queen Vic tonight, pay what you can night for Theatre Alliance's Night before Christmas at the H Street Playhouse tomorrow, Great Lakes Brew Co event at the Pug on Wednesday, Jazz at the Atlas on Wednesday, a CD release party at the Atlas on Friday, and an oyster roast at Watershed on Friday (Buy one get one free for 20002 residents).

Over 40% off at Toki Underground via Deals For Deeds benefitting Brainfood

Deals For Deeds has over 40% off Toki Underground today ($35 gift certificates for $20) with 15% of the proceeds going to benefit Brainfood.

This is part of the second annual “H Street Cares: A Week to Benefit Brainfood”, a special week of deals taking place this week. Some of DC’s most popular restaurants and bars located along the H Street Corridor will be featured and 15% of every purchase will directly support Brainfood, a non-profit youth development organization in Washington, DC. Using food as a tool, Brainfood builds life skills and promotes healthy living in a fun and safe environment.

Wendell Kimbrough CD Release event at the Atlas Fri, Nov. 18, 7:30

Wendell Kimbrough is a performing songwriter based in NE DC and is hosting an album release for his band featuring two artists who he describes as the most dynamic acts in the area as openers--Andy Zipf and Justin Trawick at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street this Friday.  He will be backed by a full band of New Orleans-style jazz players from DC and NYC , including renowned clarinetist Gary Gregg from Chaise Lounge. It is going to be a fantastic night of music in a beautiful setting, and a real showcase of some of the great talent in the DC area.   We haven't seen Mr. Kimbrough perform before, but really enjoyed a few of his songs we found online, so we recommend checking him out.

Wendell Kimbrough CD Release w/Andy Zipf & Justin Trawick

Friday, Nov. 18, 7:30PM

Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE, DC
Tickets & more info: http://tinyurl.com/6gkzljb

Murry's property on 600 blk H Street sold for $10 Million to Insight Property Group

The H Street parcel that currently houses Murry's, Good Dannys, and another vacant storefront along the 600 block of H Street was sold for $10 Million to Insight Properties, LLC earlier this month.  Insight's principals appear to be former Kettler executives. The property includes three parcels along H Street, 6th Street, and I Street and is expected to be redeveloped for mixed use.  The property is across the street from another recently sold property that is expected to be redeveloped as well.  It will be interesting and exciting to watch what is arguably H Street's least lively block currently be redeveloped into something more vibrant.  The possibilities here are great and we look forward to following and reporting as the plans develop.  Perhaps it's time to resurrect the petition to bring Whole Foods to the neighborhood?

Pay What You Can Wednesday night at H St Playhouse for Theatre Alliance's Night Before Christmas

On Wednesday night, Theater Alliance is hosting its first Pay-What-You-Can staged reading of the 2011-2012 season for "The Night Before Christmas" at the H Street Playhouse.

The Night Before Christmas
By Anthony Neilson
Directed by Clay Hopper

H Street Playhouse
Wednesday, November 16 at 8:00pm
Pay-What-You-Can

As the holiday season rapidly explodes into red-nosed Santas, singing angels, and frosty snowmen, Theater Alliance is thrilled to bring you a "wicked little comedy to warm the cockles of your heart." (The Guardian)

Acclaimed Scottish playwright Anthony Neilson pens this darkly hilarious adult holiday play.  Late on Christmas Eve, a burglar is caught breaking into a London warehouse.  He claims to work for the "International Gift Distribution Agency" as an...elf.  Hijinks ensue as they wait for the police to arrive. 

"A smutty, dangerously funny, but warm-hearted cri de coeur against the Christmas Industry." (The Stage)

http://www.theateralliance.com/hothouse-on-h.html

 http://www.facebook.com/TheaterAllianceDC

Movember Foundation fundraiser at Queen Vic Tues, 11/15 w/$1 off beers/drinks/wines from 5pm - w/$10 donation

Plan to attend a charity fundraiser for The Movember Foundation at the Queen Vic on Tuesday, November 15, from 5 pm on.  For a $10 donation, the Vic is taking a dollar off all beers, mixed drinks and glasses of wine.  The Movember Foundation seeks to raise awareness of men's health issues while raising money for prostate and testicular cancer research. They do this by asking men to grow a mustache for the month of November and to talk about the cause.  Over 94% of money raised goes to cancer research which is about 18-20% higher than the amount of your traditional non profit.

The evening promises to be a great time with good drink specials, a Caps game on TV (a number of Caps are participating in Movember), money raised for a good cause, and lots of funny mustaches for people to laugh at.

40% off Granville Moores via Deals For Deeds benefitting Brainfood

Deals For Deeds has 40% off Granville Moore's today ($50 gift certificates for $30) with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit Brainfood.

This is part of the second annual “H Street Cares: A Week to Benefit Brainfood”, a special week of deals taking place this week. Some of DC’s most popular restaurants and bars located along the H Street Corridor will be featured and 15% of every purchase will directly support Brainfood, a non-profit youth development organization in Washington, DC. Using food as a tool, Brainfood builds life skills and promotes healthy living in a fun and safe environment.

This year’s other participants will include:

•Dr. Granville Moore’s: $30 for $50 to spend.
•Toki Underground: $20 for $35 to spend.
•The Argonaut: $20 for $35 to spend.
•Inspire BBQ: $10 for $20 to spend.
•Fruit Bat: $15 for $30 to spend.

Donation collection at H Street Farmers' Market this weekend and next

Plan ahead to participate in donation drives at the H Street Farmers' Market each of the next two weekends.  This Saturday, bring children's items - basic needs, education needs, sporting equipment, or old uniforms to support Haitian children.  Next Saturday, bring canned and dried good for a food drive to support needy residents in DC.

Hill resident Lisa McCabe Hobbs has organized Destination Abricots, a donation drive to collect goods for children (mostly orphans) living in a small town in Haiti called Abricots.  Destination Abricots will be at the H Street Farmers' market this Saturday, November 11.  They're collecting the following goods for children of all ages:

Basic needs: clothes (summerand light Fall clothing only), shoes, underwear, rain gear, school bags, lunchboxes, toiletries etc., and Sunday clothes.

Educational needs: musical instruments, table games, art materials for drawing, embroidery etc.; early reader books, comic books, teacher's edition books, and English / French, and Spanish / French dictionaries.

Sporting equipment: soccer and basketballs, goal nets and basketball hoop rings, sporting gear for these games like jerseys, shoes and socks.

Uniforms: Was your child on a soccer or basketball team in recent years? Coordinate with other members of your child's team to see if they would be willing to donate old uniforms. We are looking for 11 - 15 matching boys' jerseys in sizes medium and large and 11 -15 matching girls' uniforms in sizes small and medium.

Can't make it Saturday or prefer to donate financially?   They're also lining up monetary donations online through their beneficiary's website (CAPED in Abricots Haiti) where you can donate directly to CAPED (Center for Assistance to Poor Kids in Education and Development).

And next Saturday, November 19, the Market will be collecting canned goods for a pre-Thanksgiving food drive.  Canned and dry goods of all types are welcomed and will be distributed to DC residents in need this holiday season.  Stock up at your next trip to the grocery or clean out your pantry and bring what you can next weekend.

Link roundup

Eater had a couple great pieces on Toki Underground.  The first is a terrific interview with Erik Yang.  The second talks about his plans to offer Peking Duck over the holidays.  We're looking forward to trying that soon. 

The Hill is Home has a quick write up of an author's first trip to the Big Board.  She seems happy.  We've been a few times and have been very pleased as well.  They seem to be drawing a very good neighborhood crowd and are making really good burgers to suit all styles.  We also enjoyed the "tobacco onions," which are similar to onion straws that you might find at Matchbox or Liberty Tree.  WAMU also has this nice piece on them.

Frozen Tropics reports that the Pug is hosting a Whiskey tasting tonight at 8.  $10 to sample 4 types of scotch.

The Reliable Source reports that a slew of DC celebrities including Vice President Biden, Michael Douglas, Alan Greenspan, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Dick Gregory, and Bob Johnson came to H Street to see Anne & Emmet at the Atlas (1333 H St).   They play offers "look at the past through the lives of two teenage martyrs, Anne Frank and Emmett Till" and was written by Janet Langhart Cohen whose husband William Cohen represented Maine in the Senate and later served as Secretary of Defense.  We're sorry we missed it -- it's another reminder that there are lots of great things happening at the Atlas and we're lucky to have it here. 

Greater Greater Washington reports that another biker got their tires stuck in the streetcar tracks on H Street and asks whether bike lanes are needed here.  We don't see where they could happen on H Street, but like the suggestion that others have made that they be added to G St and I St and think some bike friendly adjustments should be part of the pedestrian safety improvements slated for Maryland Ave as well.

Washingtonian's Best Bites Blog says Tasty Kabob was looking for a storefront on H Street. We'd love to see something pop up in the Philadelphia Water Ice space again this winter.

The Hilly Awards are Nov. 13, at the Atlas (1333 H St)

The Hilly Awards -- the award winning local awards ceremony honoring the best of the best in our neighborhood from CHAMPS (the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce) is this Sunday, November 13, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St).  For more info on the event, check out this post on What the Hill.  To purchase tickets, click here. 

Come cheer on your favorite H Street businesses.  Lots of them have been nominated for awards, including Atlas Room (Best Restaurant), Granville Moore's, Queen Vic, the Pug, and Little Miss Whiskey's (Best Bar/Tavern), Metro Mutts (Retailer of the Year), Spot on Training (Home Service of the Year), H Street Playhouse and the Atlas (Arts Business of the Year), SOVA and Sidamo (Cafe of the Year), Toki Underground and Queen Vic (Best New Business), Inspire BBQ (Community Service Award), and Beth Baldwin, Sharkey, and Ellen Cornett (Artist/Artisan of the Year).

The event is going to be a lot of fun.  The following H Street & Capitol Hill spots are providing food:
Queen Vic, Granville Moore's, Acqua al 2, Cava, Sonoma, Matchbox/Ted's, Hello Cupcake
Capitol Lounge, Star and Shamrock, The Argonaut, Inspire BBQ, SOVA Espresso & Wine.

There will be passed hors d'oeuvres and platters during the red carpet reception and then also food and desserts during the celebration portion of the event. 

There will also be a Bartender of the Year contest that will feature 4 bartenders doing signature drinks (in addition to the open bar) and they are Adina Rubinstein (Capitol Lounge), Matt LeBarron (Granville Moore's), Lauren Hamilton (Union Pub), and Jaysen Lowery (Tunnicliff's Tavern).
In short, it's going to be a lot of fun, click here for tickets and read on for all the details. 

Rosedale neighborhood cleanup Saturday, 10 am at Miner Elementary (15th & F) w/ Greater DC Cares

Join residents of Rosedale and HandsOn Greater DC Cares for a neighborhood cleanup on Saturday, November 12 from 10am-1pm. The cleanup will begin in front of Miner Elementary School (601 15th St St NE). We will then work our way around 15th, 16th and 17th Sts NE, picking up trash and talking to neighbors we encounter about the work HandsOn Greater DC Cares is doing in the area and areas for growth. Trash grabbers, trash bags, gloves and HandsOn Greater DC Cares t-shirts will be provided.

Please contact Linda, HGDCC Greater Northeast community liaison, to sign up at 202-777-4469 or lkurtz@greaterdccares.org.

Hikari Sushi (644 H St) files for restaurant class liquor license

Hikari Sushi (644 H St) has now filed an application for a restaurant class liquor license.  We presume they'll be presenting more on their plans and the application to the ANC6C Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee, which is chaired by Kevin Wilsey, (6C09@anc.dc.gov) between now and the date of their hearing.  The ANC6C ABL committee meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. Meeting locations may change; but should be included in an agenda to be posted here.

Chupacabra -- new tacos food truck fr Sticky Rice team hits streets Monday

Chupacabra is the latest food truck on the scene bringing traditional and no-so-traditional tacos to you beginning on Monday. Chupacabra comes from the guys behind Sticky Rice, so expect creative takes on tacos to be a big part of the menu, including a Thanksgiving Taco (roasted turkey, stuffing, etc.) this month.
Chupacabra had been looking to open a small H Street outpost near 9th & H, but it's not clear at this point if the tacos will be available there or just via the truck for now. 

Follow them on twitter @ChupacabraDC
http://www.chupacabradc.com/

East City Art Weekend Event Round Up: November Super Saturday Edition

Weekend East City Event Round Up: November Super Saturday Edition

Friday November 4

G Fine Art (6pm to 8pm)

Right next door to Conner, G Fine Art presents Iona Rozeal Brown Open.ed- Harmonious Diatribes l Works in Progress from the Stage. Brown has created her own ode to graffiti, incorporating illuminated manuscripts, inspired texts as well as abstracted figurative forms on wood panels and paper.  For additional details, click here.

G Fine Art is located at 1350 Florida Avenue NE

Porch Projects (6:30pm to 8:30pm)

The Capitol Hill residence is hosting an interactive exhibition where attendees are asked to investigate a rift in the Space-Time Continuum and help the artists return to “their time”.  For more information, including information on how to schedule an appointment to attend this event, please click here.

A Gallery in Trinidad (9pm to 12am)

The one-night only exhibition _SX RM_ is already raising eyebrows in the DC art world.  The event promises a racy assortment of artistic paraphilia and costumed sex freaks.   For additional details, click here.

The Trinidad Gallery is located at 1501 Neal Street NE, Basement.

Saturday November 5

Art in the Alley (5pm to 9pm)

In the spirit of Trinidad DIY art shows, approximately six artists, most of them residents of Trinidad, will display their work in the alley behind the 1200 block of Morse Street NE. Works will include both photography and mixed-media. 

Art in the Alley is located between the 1200 blocks of Florida Ave and Morse St NE.

Studio H (6pm to 8pm)

Studio H will host an artist reception for the current exhibition Amalgamations by Steven Pearson.  Pearson paints large scale work and has created a 9’ x 9’ installation piece for the gallery.  Inspired by the deluge of quotidian information we are subjected to via social media, television, radio and email, Amalgamations translates this cacophony into vibrant colors and shapes that clash with one another eventually resulting in what Pearson calls “visual white noise”.  For additional details, click here.

Studio H is located at 408 H Street NE, second floor

DC Residence at DC Week- THE HOME (Starting at 6pm)

A group of local curators, fashion designers and writers from the Fridge and the now defunct WORN magazine have teamed up to create a series of events to discuss the direction of fashion, art and technology in DC.  For additional details click here.

THE HOME is located at 1629 L ST NE

Conner Contemporary Art (6pm to 8pm)

The gallery will host two concurrent exhibitions.  Artist Patricia Piccinini’s, a sculptor, has created a body work entitled The Welcome Guest which uses both natural and artificial objects to explore humanity’s challenge in facing the dialectic between nature and biotechnology.  The second artist, Victoria F. Gaitán, a photographer, explores gender stereotypes in Scenes of Mild Peril. For additional details, click here.

Conner Contemporary Art is located at 1358 Florida Avenue, NE

Industry Gallery (6pm to 8pm)

Above Conner, Industry Gallery closes Tom Price’s Meltdown.  The artist has installed a new piece called “PP Tree” made up of synthetic materials that contrast sharply to the ephemerality of the cherry blossoms from which the piece was inspired.  For additional details, click here.

Industry Gallery is located at 1358 Florida Avenue, NE, Second Floor

Phil Hutinet is the Editor-in-Chief of East City Art.  You can get more information about East City Art on Facebook  or follow them on Twitter

Opening Reception for "Amalgamations" by Steven Pearson at Studio H; Saturday, Nov 5, 6-8 pm

Studio H Artist’s Reception
“Amalgamations” by Steven Pearson
Saturday November 5 from 6pm to 8pm

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We are all subject to a flood of information on a daily, if not hourly, basis via a variety of technological means- emails, text messages, Facebook, Twitter, online newspapers, countless websites, as well as television and radio. With such a wide array of information from so many sources, one is obligated to discern what is true, verifiable, and good; and what is false, speculative, inflammatory, and bad.

Steven Pearson is interested in how our ability to receive and assimilate a myriad of information on a constant basis can be reflected in a 2-dimensional format. In his paintings, he employs complex compositions and an autobiographical visual language consisting of codes and symbols. Each painting possesses a layered history- as new statements are juxtaposed next to or on top of earlier ones, the paintings begin to suggest the manner in which we store memories or assimilate and make sense of information. Some shapes are strong and vivid, while others become broken and incoherent, only suggested by the pentimenti left as a visual reminder of their previous existence.

Each of the larger paintings in Amalgamations is created from tracings of earlier paintings. Pearson traces their compositions in random areas, and pieces it back together in a new arrangement. After each painting is completed, he repeats that process, tracing the newest completed painting to compose the next. With each painting the original source is broken down and altered, eventually becoming unidentifiable. The breakdown and reorganizaton of that original composition from painting to painting is a representation, or metaphor, for information sharing and social networking.

Steven Pearson. Amalgamation. 2011. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Studio H is located at 408 H ST NE, second Floor, Washington, DC 20002. Visit the gallery online at www.studiohdc.com. Gallery hours are by appointment. The exhibition runs through November 30, 2011.
Read Eric Hope’s interview with Steven Pearson by clicking here. More info about the artist is after the jump.

Boundary Road- American bistro restaurant coming to 414 H St this winter

Boundary Road a rustic American bistro will be the next new restaurant to open on H Street, likely some time this winter at 414 H Street.  Boundary Road comes to us from co-owners Karlos Leopold and Chef Brad Walker both veterans of some of DC's best restaurants and bars, including a few of our favorite non-neighborhood spots: Meridian Pint, Central, and Proof.

The restaurant is designed to have a comfortable atmosphere with a menu that balances creativity with local staples.  It will have a substantial neighborhood bar area with an eclectic beverage program, highlighting craft beers and old world wines, and a custom made from reclaimed wood communal harvest table.   They hope to be a neighborhood gathering place where local residents come for a comfortable place to unwind after work, a meeting spot for a group of friends to celebrate their birthday, or a Sunday brunch spot to catch up with family and friends.  High-quality affordable food prepared from fresh local ingredients is at the heart of the menu, which features regional favorites and other creative cuisine, as well as an impressive beer list and eclectic wine program. 

Boundary Road is still in the midst of their buildout, but we're confident it's going to add nicely to H Street's growing dining scene and will be another welcome addition to the western end of the corridor. 

Boundary Road (414 H Street)
http://www.boundaryrd.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/boundaryrd
Twitter: @boundaryrd

Watershed Oyster Roast w/ DC Brau Friday, Nov. 18

Watershed (1225 1st St NE) is hosting monthly dinner parties with live music and DC Brau.  We attended their October fish fry and really enjoyed the delicous fare, the cold Braus, and the music.  BYT had a nice write up with some great photos of the event.  The November event promises more of the same fun with an Oyster roast, live music, and DC Brau on Friday, November 18, at 7 pm.  If you live in 20002, the price is only $75 for a party of two, which is an incredible deal based on what we saw last month.  Nonresidents are welcome at $75 a piece, which for a delicious all inclusive feast with drink & entertainment is a pretty good deal too.  The full event announcement and menu follow:

FREE bootcamp workout w/ Elizabeth Brooks at 1005 H St tomorrow, 6 am

Elizabeth Brooks is offering a FREE bootcamp class tomorrow at 1005 H St (the vacant building that was previously home to Will Power gym).  Brooks was a popular instructor at Results the Gym - Capitol Hill and runs her own training studio Effervescence Personal Training just off H Street on Linden Court.