Tuesday, April 30, 2013

ANC6A hosting special session this Thursday, May 2, at Miner Elem (601 15th St NE) to discuss late night hours at Khan's Bar & Grill on SW corner of 12th & H

The following message comes courtesy of ANC6A Chair David Holmes.  If any neighbors have had a problem with late night noise from Khan's outdoor area, they need to let the ANC know.  The ANC's Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee is trying to conform every establishment with a sidewalk cafe to the same hours.  With limited exceptions, these areas are located next to people's homes and many have found that the later the hours, the louder the patrons.  If you cannot attend, but wish for your views to be heard contact ANC6A Commissioner Gloria Nauden (gnauden@gmail.com), Alcohol Committee Chair Jay Williams (williamsANC6a05@gmail.com), and ANC Chair David Holmes (holmes6a3@gmail.com). 

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A will meet in emergency session to consider a license renewal. It was announced at the April ANC that this may be necessary.
We cannot wait for the regular May meeting as a license protest must be filed by May 6. The necessity for the meeting is caused by the timing of the ABRA notice which fell between the dates of the monthly ANC meetings. There will be no protest hearing if Khan's agrees to our Settlement Agreement, an agreement we still hope to obtain.

The meeting take place this coming Thursday, May 2, at Miner School (601 15h St NE), at 7 pm.

The hours of service for Khan's sidewalk cafe currently are until 2 am every day of the week. With one exception, no other sidewalk cafe has hours of service that extend past midnight on the weekends or past 11 pm on weekdays. The exception was adopted last year for Cusbah, located across the street from Khans. The ABL Committee will seek the same hours from Cusbah when their license comes up for renewal. The ABL Committee intends to bring all sidewalk cafes into conformity with respect to hours of operation.

Both Khan's and Cusbah are located close to residences. The ABL Committee does not feel, and the Commission has not in the past felt, that extended late night hours for outdoor operation are appropriate in close proximity to people's homes.

The meeting should be very brief. The topic will be the motion offered by the ABL Committee for the May Commission meeting and any amendment or substitute thereto.
ABL Committee Recommendation: that the ANC protest the license renewal of Khan's (1125 H Street NE) unless there is a new signed, approved SA before the protest date.
Any amendment must be germane to the jurisdiction of the ABL Committee. No other motions will be considered.

--

David Holmes
Chair, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A
 

Art in the Alley Saturday, May 11, 6-10 pm

Art in the Alley 2013: Trinidad DC’s local art festival!
Saturday, May 11, 6 -10 pm
Alley between the 1200 blocks of Florida Ave & Morse St NE [between Montello &  Trinidad Aves]
photo courtesy of Art in the Alley
Art in the Alley celebrates the confluence of community and creativity by exhibiting local art in local places.

Bending Bridge Farm CSA offers 11th & F drop off + Meet the Farmers this Sunday, May 5, at 2:30 pm

CSA for the neighborhood -
 
600 11th Street NE will be hosting NE drop offs for farmers Audrey and Cameron who own and run Bending Bridge Farm.
We're having a "Meet the Farmers" afternoon this Sunday, May 5, at 2:30 .... where farmers Audrey and Cameron will get to show off produce grown on their farm and answer any questions us consumers may have.

This is a wonderful opportunity to support a small and local farm and know who is growing your food every week. Please come and tell/bring your friends for an afternoon of farm fresh knowledge and delicious veggies.
 
Sunday 2:30
600 11th Street NE

Also, if interested in signing up for this summer's CSA you can do so here - we are the Capital Hill Location.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Celebrate H Street Main Street's Great American Main Street Award tonight, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St)


H Street Main Street Wins 2013 Great American Main Street Award; Will Host Special Celebration April 29 at Atlas Performing Arts Center.

 
H Street Main Street and the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) will host a special event to celebrate H Street NE receiving a 2013 Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA). The grand celebration will take place on April 29 from 7 to 9pm at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, located at 1333 H Street, NE. Event details are just below, followed by background information on GAMSA.

 
WHAT: H Street Main Street GAMSA Award Celebration
WHEN: Monday, April 29, 2013 from 7-9pm
WHERE: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street, NE


About the Award

On Sunday, April 14th, H Street Main Street was presented with a 2013 Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA), recognizing H Street as an outstanding example of urban commercial revitalization. Each year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center recognizes exceptional Main Street communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive commercial district revitalization. Winners are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants by a national jury based on successful and innovative uses of the Main Street Four-Point Approach®. H Street Main Street, which is funded by the Department of Small and Local Business Development’s DC Main Streets Program, is the second program in Washington DC to win this award.

Established in 2002 and managed through Department of Small and Local Business Development's DC Main Streets Program, HSMS was designated as an organization to work with private and local partners to encourage and support small business growth and revitalization along the H Street, NE Corridor. Known as the last of the “riot corridors”, H Street built its legacy off of the civil rights era. Today, H Street stands as a symbol of urban and cultural transformation and is recognized as a neighborhood that has gone through a rebirth, adding a unique and diverse mix of retail and service businesses, drawing thousands people to the neighborhood each year.

“In the last ten years, H Street Main Street has supported the creation of more than 140 new businesses while adding an additional 1500 new jobs to the District,” said DSLBD Interim Director, Robert Summers. “There have been many personal journeys that have been built around H Street, and DSLBD is ecstatic to learn that the small businesses and residents who have contributed to the success of the H Street corridor are being honored for their outstanding efforts.”

“In our field, this is like receiving an Oscar or a Grammy,” said Anwar Saleem, Executive Director of H Street Main Street . “Our eyes have been on this award since the time we knew it existed.”

“I am proud of the work we have done to turn H Street back into a thriving business corridor, supporting local residents and visitors alike. It demonstrates what is possible in urban America today,” said Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, “and I'm looking forward to coming together on April 29 to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.”

The April 29 celebration is free and open to the public. Hors d'oeuvres and beer and wine will be provided and guests will be entertained by music by the William Knowles Trio. Attendees are asked to RSVP at www.hstreet.org or by emailing julia.christian@hstreet.org.

Artichoke Week at Boundary Road

Boundary Road (414 H St) is having a week long celebration of the artichoke.  This week, they will feature artichoke prominently on their menu as well as in a small list of artichoke inspired craft cocktails and they'll be offering some special classic Italian wines too. It starts today, Monday, April 29 and goes through May 3. 
 

Friday, April 26, 2013

Dog found just east of Lincoln Park


A neighbor found a very sweet, well-behaved, housebroken, neutered male pitbull in the middle of East Capitol St. at 14th St. early this morning. David James is walking around the neighborhood and parks to see if anyone recognizes the pup. He took him to the area vets this morning, but no one recognized him, and he is chipped, but it was never activated. The vet figured he was around a year old. David's landlord is insisting that the dog be out of his apartment by the end of the day today. David's contact info is 202-489-1107, and his email is DJLantz AT me.com.  He is continuing to wander the streets looking for the dog's owners. Does anyone recognize, or is anyone willing to take this guy in? He reportedly seems like a great dog.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Weekend East City Art Event Round Up, incl Saturday night pop-up at Flats at Atlas


Weekend East City Event Round Up: Banquet of Art Edition

Friday April 26

Honfleur Gallery (6pm to 8pm)

You don’t have to fly to New Orleans for Jazz Fest, simply cross the Anacostia River this Friday!  Honfleur will show a series of collages by John Lawson depicting Jazz greats.  Lawson, who lost most of his work during Katrina, has also assembled a series of poems to pay homage to his subjects.  Jazz trio Twins Jazz will perform during the event and a pop-up restaurant next door will serve chicken and waffles.  For more information, click here.

Honfleur Gallery is located at 1241 Good Hope Rd SE


The Gallery at Vivid Solutions (6pm to 8pm)

Upstairs from Honfleur Gallery, Antoine Sanfuentes’ Unsung Jazz, documents Washington, DC Jazz musicians who are relatively unknown outside of Washington.  The exhibition gives the viewer insight into the rich, tradition of local jazz.  For more information, click here.

Vivid Solutions has been temporary relocated to 1241 Good Hope Rd SE, second Floor


Art Lives Here- Better Block Project (6pm to 10pm)

Celebrate the beginning of Art Lives Here, an arts based initiative in the Gateway Arts District to showcase local talent and business.  The event includes mural painting, music, food, art openings and children’s activities.  For a complete list and schedule, click here.

The series of events take place in Mount Rainier MD, consult schedule for details


Saturday April 27
 

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop at Eastern Market (9am to 4pm)

It’s hard to believe that it has already been four years since CHAW started its first student ceramic show at Eastern Market.  This is the perfect opportunity to buy that early mother’s day gift.  Note that the sale is both Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm.  For details, click here.

Eastern Market is located at 225 Seventh St SE

 
Brentwood Arts Exchange & 39th Street Gallery (Starting at 5pm)

Graduating BFA students from the Corcoran’s class of 2013 will show a series of works in a variety and medium.  Several performances will take place beginning at 5:30pm and a short film will commence at 5pm sharp.  For a full schedule and list of student artists, click here.

The Brentwood Arts Exchange & 39th St Gallery are located at 3901 Rhode Island Ave (route 1), Brentwood, MD


FLEX (7pm to 10pm)

For one night only, artists Michael Dax Iacavone, Jonathan Monaghan (who created a small sculpture of an eagle shown on the Colbert Report), Calder Brannock and Billie Friebele will present a group show of various media that is independently curated.  Details listed here.

The pop up space is located at 1600 Maryland Ave NE

 
Phil Hutinet is the Editor-in-Chief of East City Art.  You can get more information about East City Art on Facebook  by follow them on Twitter or click here to sign up for their newsletter.

Friends of the National Arboretum Annual Garden Fair & Plant Sale tomorrow and Saturday

Friends of the National Arboretum Annual Garden Fair & Plant Sale
FRIDAY, APRIL 26 (10 am - 1 pm Members Only, 1pm - 4pm Open to the Public)
SATURDAY, APRIL 27 (9 am - 4 pm Open to the Public)


Monday, April 22, 2013

DC Public Libraries pairs up w/ DC Dept of Parks & Recreation to provide toddler story time at Sherwood Rec Ctr, Wednesdays at 10:30 am

The DC Public Library and the Sherwood Recreation Center (640 10th St NE) are teaming up to provide a toddler story time at Sherwood on Wednesdays at 10:30 am, through June 5. Because this story time is being held at the Rec Center, you will have to provide registration information at the front desk.  You or your child's caregiver will have to provide the following information about the child:

First Name
Last Name
Email address
Gender
DOB
Primary Phone Number
Secondary Phone Number
Address
City
State
Zip
ID number or OneCard number

Space is limited, and you cannot register for the class online.

Also, be sure to join us this week at the Southeast Neighborhood Library (403 7th St SE). We will have our final pajama story time on Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm. Furry friends and pajamas welcome!

Laura Gonzales, Branch Manager
Southeast Neighborhood Library
403 7th St SE
202-698-3377
www.dclibrary.org/southeast
laura.gonzales(at)dc.gov

Friday, April 19, 2013

Lemonade Stand at Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School Today, 2:30 - 3:30 pm

Heads up!  Homemade Lemonade today and each Friday afternoon from 2:30 - 3:30 pm til the end of school at Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School (659 G Street, NE).  The stand will be on 7th St between F & G Streets near the entrance by the flagpole.  The lemonades will be made with fresh ingredients, includes raspberry and strawberry options, and will be part of an effort to promote entrepreneurship among the school's students.  More details follow:
  • This Friday Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School will be proudly participating in the 1st Annual Lemonade Day DC.  This is a nationwide event which works with 4-7th grade students to promote entrepreneurship through the Common Core State Standards. Our Lemonade Stand will be the only one to feature a fully integrated team of students with exceptionalities and neurotypical students. This is a HUGE kudos to the parents, students, and staff of Ludlow-Taylor and their support of ALL students! We will be running the stand from 2:30-3:30 on Friday afternoons thru end of school unless otherwise noted.  Lemonade slushies will be homemade (read: fresh ingredients, not powder mixes!) with various fruit flavors (raspberry, strawberry, etc).  Cost will be between $1.25-$1.50. Students have made full business plans for this event and we are even having a contest between shifts to see who makes the most.

Guest Post from our friends at Casey Trees: Restoring Our Tree Canopy with Community Tree Plantings

The following guest post is provided by Casey Trees -- one of our very favorite local nonprofits.  Casey Trees' mission is "To restore, enhance and protect the tree canopy of the nation’s capital." 

Got Plantable Space?

The District has made some strides lately towards becoming a greener, healthier place to live. The Mayor’s recently released Sustainable DC Plan has set some goals that we believe are reachable – including a 40% tree canopy goal, and an annual tree planting goal of 8,600 trees per year. But as hard as we’ve worked the past 10+ years, we know we’re not capable of achieving them without your help.

H Street, and Ward 6 generally, have 17% canopy, well below the 40% goal – but through satellite imagery and GIS data, we know that the opportunity is there to double that number. But in order to do that, we need your help identifying potential areas to plant.

No one knows your neighborhood like you – from the freshest produce vendor in Eastern Market to the fastest corner to get a cab, your relationship with your community is special, and we appreciate that. We just ask that the next time you’re going for a run, walking the pup, or heading home from work, consider one question: “Got Plantable Space?”

If the answer is yes, then Casey Trees’ Community Tree Planting program is the next step. We provide the trees, tools, and technical assistance for hundreds of plantings around the District in the fall and spring every year – all you have to do is submit an application. Let us know of a place with space for 10 or more trees in the larger H Street neighborhood and faster than you think, that space could be transformed.

No one knows your neighborhood like you. Help us give it a greener future.

Thinking Green Thoughts –

Casey Trees

friends@caseytrees.org

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Ward 6 Budget Briefing with Mayor Gray, Thursday, April 25, at Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan School (215 G St NE)

Ward 6 Budget Briefing
Date: Thursday, April 25, 2013
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan - 215 G Street, NE

On April 25, Mayor Gray will be in Ward 6 to present his budget. This year's town hall meeting will be held at the Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan School (215 G St NE).  Like previous budget town hall meetings, Mayor Gray will be discussing his priorities for the next few years as reflected in the budget. Mayor Gray and his cabinet of DC agency heads will be present to answer questions and respond to concerns about the budget.  The Mayor's budget proposal is available online at http://budget.dc.gov and is currently the subject of various DC Council Committee hearings.

4th Annual Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival presented by Events DC, April 27, 2013

What:  The fourth annual Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival presented by Events DC, featuring seven bluegrass bands including The Hackensaw Boys and more. The festival will celebrate local music, food, and culture as well as the revitalization of the Anacostia River.
 
The Festival will include seven hours of performances by local bluegrass bands, DC’s favorite food trucks, Sierra Nevada beer, bike giveaways from BicycleSPACE and tours of the island, local music busking stages, and a children’s area with crafts and games.
 
“DC has many local treasures with a great cultural history. Kingman Island is one of our hidden environmental jewels and bluegrass owns a remarkable musical tradition in our city. This festival celebrates both.” – Ward 6 Council Member Tommy Wells
 
When:             Saturday April 27th
1:00pm – 8:00pm
 
Where:            Kingman Island located on the Anacostia River-
575 Oklahoma Avenue NE Washington, DC (at the entrance to RFK Stadium).
Biking and metro are encouraged. A free shuttle will run from Stadium/Armory Metro Station. Free parking is available in RFK Lot 6.
 
Who:   The Kingman Island Bluegrass Festival presented by Events DC, is a collaboration between Living Classrooms, Councilman Tommy Wells’ Office, BicycleSPACE, Listen Local First and media partner WAMU’s Bluegrass Country. All are welcome to attend.
 
Cost:    $10 Suggested Donations. Donations will support Living Classrooms’ environmental education programming for DC youth on Kingman Island.
 
            Tickets can be purchases ahead of time at: http://kingmanislandbluegrass.eventbrite.com
 
More Information:
http://www.kingmanislandbluegrass.com/
FB Event Page - https://www.facebook.com/KIBluegrassFest
Twitter - @KIBluegrassfest
 
2013 Bluegrass Festival Video –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiVa6STxGCk
Bicycle Space video from 2012 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PICYWI9-qsg#!
 
 
Musical Line-up:
King Street Bluegrass – 1:00pm
http://www.reverbnation.com/kingstreetbluegrass
Hollertown – 1:50pm
http://www.hollertown.com/
By and By – 2:40pm
http://byandbybluegrass.com/

Split String Soup – 3:30pm
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Split-String-Soup/151385041542722
Dead Men's Hollow – 4:20pm
http://www.deadmenshollow.com/
Bob Perilla & Big Hillbilly Bluegrass – 5:10pm
http://www.bighillbillybluegrass.com/

Hackensaw Boys – 6:00pm
http://hackensawboys.com/

 
Artist Side Stage
Linsay Deming - http://www.linsaydeming.com/
Jonny Grave - http://www.jonnygrave.com/
 
 
Activities
·         BicycleSPACE Bike Tour to the Island (Leaves 12pm from shop in Mt. Vernon Square)   More info can be found at http://bicyclespacedc.com/kingman-island 
o   BicycleSPACE will be offering a raffle and giving away prizes including a Linus Bicycle worth $700
·         Kids Corner with music, crafts, face painting, yoga – Partners include Lil Omm Studio, Rich & The Rocking Dogs, Living Classrooms face painting, DC Fire Department and their inflatable bouncy slide
·         Living Classroom Island Tours and Trails –
·         Folk Music Busking Side Stages
·         Live Burlap Photobooth by Sarah & Samantha
 
Vendors
·         Food Vendors – DC Food Trucks include:
·         Beer Vendors
 
Volunteers
We Need Volunteers!!!  If you would like to volunteer in return for FREE admission please email, Theresa Pangelinan: theresa.pangelinan@gmail.com
 
About Kingman Island:
Kingman and Heritage Islands are located in the middle of Anacostia River, which runs through the eastern half of Washington, DC. The islands provide a beautiful area in Washington, DC for people of all ages to learn about the natural environment.
 
Directions to the island:  http://www.kingmanislandbluegrass.com/
Bike Tour Info: http://bicyclespacedc.com/kingman-island
 
More info on the island at www.kingmanisland.org
 
About Living Classrooms:
Living Classrooms Foundation strengthens communities and inspires young people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job training, using urban, natural, and maritime resources as “living classrooms.” Living Classrooms Foundation is a Washington, DC-Baltimore based non-profit educational organization with a distinctive competency in experiential learning—literally learning by direct experience, or what we call “learning by doing.”
 
More Info on Living Classrooms can be found here - http://www.livingclassroomsdc.org/
 
About Events DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital.  Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and Maloof Skate Park at RFK Stadium.  Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

H Street FreshFarm Farmers' Market resumes this Saturday, April 20, at 13th & H

The H Street FreshFarm Farmers' Market reopens for the season this Saturday.
Along with the usual line up of stellar farmers/producers, there will be some new people:
Crab cakes, dips and soups from Shells Yes!
Hand-rolled croissants from Frenchies (coming in May)
McCouley's Pepper relish (small batch spicy pepper spread)
Chef Wes Morton from Art & Soul will be on hand this weekend for a cooking demo. 
 
Also, by popular demand the market has been extended through December 21st this year. 

Friday, April 12, 2013

H Street Office Hours w/ Councilmember Tommy Wells Thursday, April 18, 8-9:30 am at Batter Bowl Bakery (403 H St)

Please join Councilmember Tommy Wells and your neighbors for his H Street Community Office Hours on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at the Batter Bowl Bakery located at 403 H Street, NE from 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. This is a great opportunity to sit down with the Councilmember and members of his staff to discuss issues affecting you and your neighborhood. Please contact Pat Joseph at 202-724-8072 or pjoseph@dccouncil.us if you have any questions.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Sol Mexican Grill opening lunchtime Friday at 1251 H Street NE


Popular food truck Sol Mexican Grill will open their brick and mortar location next door to Smith Commons at 1251 H Street NE, this Friday, April 12, at 11:30 am.  Stop by to check out the newest addition to H Street and the first of a handful of Mexican restaurants opening on H Street this year.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Schools, Education & Youth Issues Candidate Forum w/ April 23 At-large special election candidates tomorrow evening

A reminder for the Schools, Education and Youth Issues candidate forum on Tuesday evening, 6:30 pm, at Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Constitution Ave, NE.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/458790684190213/

Our moderators will be Mark Segraves from NBC4 and Thomas Byrd from We Act Radio. They will be joined by a student representative from the Eliot-Hine Middle School student government association to ask a few questions that have been developed directly by the students. The questions and topics will be focused on education and youth issues. 

This is a non-partisan forum and all candidates have confirmed. The forum is being sponsored by the Eliot-Hine Middle School Civics Club, Stuart Hobson Middle School, Jefferson Academy, Defeat Poverty DC and the Capitol Hill Public School Parents Organization.


We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday evening,

Charles Allen

Friday, April 5, 2013

H Street FreshFarm Farmers' Market returns Saturday, April 20, at 13th & H

The FreshFarm Farmers' Market returns to 1300 H Street in two weeks on Saturday, April 20.  Market hours remain Saturday 9 am - noon.  The Market will continue to offer the vendors you've come to enjoy in years past (Atwaters, Cedarbrook, Garden Path, Quaker Valley, Richfield Farm, Full Cellar, Blueberry Hill, etc) and will run later this year with the final market of the season not until December 21. 

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Streetcar Construction Update: Power Substation work begins at 12th & H

 
dc streetcar full-color.jpgTraction Power Substation Installation Work
Begins April 3 At 12th & H Streets
 
The DC Streetcar construction team starts work today on building the streetcar system’s Power Substation at the southwest corner of the 12th and H Street. The substation, depicted below, will be a safe, fully-enclosed, sound-proofed structure housing equipment to boost power to the streetcars at the mid-point of the H Street line.
The first phase of construction – lasting for about two weeks beginning with set-up activities on Wednesday, April 3 – involves extending electrical conduits from H Street to the substation site. This requires excavation of the sidewalk on H Street at the 12th Street corner, and excavation of the sidewalk on 12th Street alongside Khan’s Bar & Grill.
The 12th Street sidewalk is public space, owned by the District of Columbia. Khan’s Bar & Grill uses a portion of the public space as a sidewalk café.  During the construction work, the sidewalk café will be closed for approximately one week, beginning  April 4.
The DC Streetcar construction team has worked closely with the Khan’s Bar & Grill owner to coordinate the work so as to minimize the disruption of his business and restore use of the sidewalk café well in advance of warm-weather demands. 
During the construction period, parking will be prohibited on the southwest corner of 12th and H Streets and the southwest side of 12th Street from H Street to just past the Khan’s Bar & Grill location.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Streetcar Construction Update: Western Turnaround construction work btw 3rd St & top of bridge behind Union Station

DC Streetcar Construction Update: Significant Impacts April 1 – mid-June 

H Street, NE from the Top of the Hopscotch Bridge to 4th Street, NE

 
Construction work along H Street to ready the corridor for DC Streetcar continues. Phase 1 of the Western Turnaround work is set to begin on Monday, April 1 and continue through mid-June. The Western Turnaround is the extension of the streetcar tracks from 3rd Street, NE to the top of the Hopscotch Bridge. This includes construction of a streetcar platform where passengers may board or leave the streetcars with access to Union Station and tracks to allow the streetcar to reverse course and proceed eastbound through the corridor.
 
Traffic and parking restrictions and changes are as follows:
• I Street, currently one-way east, will be made two-way from 3rd Street to 5th Street, continuing until October.
• The 800 block of 3rd Street, between H and I Streets, will be restricted to local traffic only. Entrance to and exit from this block of 3rd Street will be at I Street only.
• The 700 block of 3rd Street, between G and H Streets, also will be restricted to local traffic only. Entrance to and exit from this block of 3rd Street will be at G Street only.
• Parking will be temporarily removed on 3rd Street between H and I Streets, except for spaces in front of the residences on the northeast portion of 3rd Street near I Street.
• No turns onto 3rd Street will be permitted from H Street.
As alternatives, motorists are encouraged to use 4th Street, which is one-way south, or 5th Street, which is two-way, to reach streets north and south of H Street to proceed to 3rd Street and other points west.
• Parking will be temporarily removed on H Street between 4th Street and the Hopscotch Bridge, eastbound and westbound.
• The Kaiser Permanente building and the Union Station loading dock will be right-in, right-out only. This is a permanent change.
Phase 1 - Western Turnaround
Advance warning signs will be posted. The schedule is subject to change due to weather, material and equipment availability and other unforeseen conditions.
DDOT encourages all motorists to Stay Alert and follow all signs as they travel through this corridor.

MUMBO SAUCE -- local art popping up at 906 H St this Friday and running through April 21

Opening, Friday, April 5 at 906 H Street NE.
6 - 10 pm Opening Reception (artists in attendance)
7 - 10 pm Music by DJ Stereo Faith

Running Tuesday - Sunday, 11 am - 6 pm until April 21

MUMBO SAUCE is an art exhibition planned in response to PUMP ME UP – D.C. subculture of the 1980s, an art exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art curated by Roger Gastman that will open February 22, 2013. Curated by Lauren Gentile, owner of Contemporary Wing gallery, and Roger Gastman, MUMBO SAUCE is a survey of artists who have, or once had, deep roots in Washington, D.C. The exhibition will be an exploration and commentary on how the environment of Go-Go, graffiti, punk, hardcore, graphic design and fine art has influenced their work.

Mumbo Sauce is a red, sweet, and tangy sauce, thinner than barbeque sauce and similar to plum sauce. Arguably indigenous to Washington, D.C., the condiment is found in carry outs throughout D.C. and the surrounding metro areas. Mumbo Sauce is a part of the African American culture and is the flavor of home for true D.C. natives.
Just like the sense of identity that Mumbo Sauce carries for D.C., the artists featured in the exhibit will be creating new works and tribute installations surveying their relationships and remembrances from living and working in the Capital.

The participating artists are BORF, Richard Colman, Cynthia Connolly, Tim Conlon, COOL "DISCO" DAN, Mark Jenkins, Globe Poster Archive, Clark Fox, Rosina Teri Memolo, Mingering Mike and Robin Rose.

The art will be in various media and for sale.

Monday, April 1, 2013

At-Large Council Special Election candidate forum April 9 at Eliot-Hine (1830 Constitution Ave NE)

Please save the date – Tuesday, April 9th, 6:30–8:00pm– for a very special candidate forum for the upcoming April 23rd At-Large Council special election. This forum will be focused on schools and education issues.
Working with parents organizations, such as CHPSPO, we're putting together a non-partisan candidate forum for the upcoming April 23rdspecial election to fill the at-large councilmember seat -- but with a twist. The forum will be partnering with the Eliot-Hine Middle School civics club and student government association (and we're reaching out to students from other schools) to have the candidate forum help get young people more involved in their own neighborhood and with the city leaders that make decisions impacting them every day.
 
In the build-up to the forum, the students will be meeting once a week with officials from the Council, ANC, and Board of Education, as well as advocates and reporters covering education issues in the city. The forum itself will be co-moderated by the students and a member of the DC media.
 
What: At-Large Council Special Election Candidate Forum
When: Tuesday, April 9th, 6:30-8:00 pm
Where: Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Constitution Ave, NE (Stadium/Armory Metro; D6, 96, 97, & B2 Metrobus; BikeShare at Stadium/Armory Metro; on-site parking available)

If you are interested in helping us organize this forum –helping promote, working with students, volunteering day-of, etc. – please let Charles Allen know at cwallen AT gmail.com.

Capitol HIll Book Club meeting at Star & Shamrock April 8, 7 pm

 The Co-Ed Capitol Hill Book Club's next meet-up is April 8, 7 pm at the Star and Shamrock (1341 H St).  They'll be discussing Swamplandia! by Karen Russell.
Thirteen-year-old Ava Bigtree has lived her entire life at Swamplandia!, her family’s island home and gator-wrestling theme park in the Florida Everglades. But when illness fells Ava’s mother, the park’s indomitable headliner, the family is plunged into chaos; her father withdraws, her sister falls in love with a spooky character known as the Dredgeman, and her brilliant big brother, Kiwi, defects to a rival park called The World of Darkness. As Ava sets out on a mission through the magical swamps to save them all, we are drawn into a lush and bravely imagined debut that takes us to the shimmering edge of reality.

Email ebeth07@gmail.com for updates and questions.