Rickeys, Riots, and Retail 3/3 Smith Commons via City Stream & EHT Traceries

Rickeys, Riots & Retail: An H Street History Experience at Smith Commons with CityStream and EHT Traceries

Did you know that H Street NE was home to D.C.'s first Sears Roebuck store and was a humming commercial center prior to the 1968 riots? Or that the two buildings at 1379 and 1381 H Street NE are the oldest standing structures in the area and date back to 1872 and 1873? What about the rickey--did you know that D.C.'s semi-official cocktail was invented in 1883 at what is thought to be the district's first dive bar?

Who: CityStream, architectural history firm EHT Traceries and Smith Commons (1245 H St)

What: An evening of libations and enrichment; learn about and sip D.C.'s native cocktail, whipped up by a native Washingtonian; learn about the rich history of one of D.C.'s oldest neighborhoods with a rare photographic slideshow.

Where: H Street's newest hot spot and culinary destination, Smith Commons (1245 H St)

When: Thursday, March 3 6:30pm-8:30pm

Cost: Free to attend, cocktails available for purchase at the bar

How: This event is free, but you must reserve your spot here: Space is limited!

Why: You like to learn while you imbibe--drink & think!

Music Together classes resume March 21 at Atlas Performing Arts Center.

The next session of Music Together classes at Mr. Mike's Music will begin Monday, March 21st. If you're interested please contact Mike Showalter (mistermikesmusic@gmail.com) ASAP to reserve a spot.

I'm so excited to now be holding classes at The Atlas. Because of the success of my program I'm also adding a class on Monday's at 10:20.

Spring schedule is as follows:

Each Monday 10:20 - March 21-May 23

Each Tuesday 9:20 - March 22-May 24

Each Tuesday 10:20 - March 22-May 24. There are only 2 spots still available in this time slot. If you are interested in it, please call me directly to hold a place for your child.

To register please email me at mistermikesmusic@gmail.com or call 202.251.7205.

Additional information is available at http://www.mistermikesmusic.com/

The song collection for spring is titled Maracas and features 25 new songs.

The program includes

• 10 weekly 45-minute group classes (Class size is limited to 12 children)

• A Fantastic Songbook - The Music Together® Collection is beautifully illustrated and comes with images, descriptions and the musical notation of all of the songs in the 10-week period.

• CD - Two copies(One for home and one for the car) of a professionally recorded CD with colorful arrangements of all of the songs in the the 10-week repertoire.

• DVD titled Music and Your Child: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers -

An informative and insightful parent education guidebook based on extensive and detailed research (given to first-time families).

Groupon weekend deal: Half at Joy Of Motion

Groupon is offering half off at Joy of Motion Dance Center this weekend.  They have a variety of great classes and dance lessons available at their Atlas Performing Arts Center location (1333 H St).

The Pug supports another good cause tonight 8-10 p.m.

The Pug (1234 H St) has been doing a lot of cool events lately, many of which have been in support of good causes.  Tonight from 8-10 p.m., a $20 donation gets you open Jameson and Murphy's Irish Stout during those hours with the proceeds going to support the Belfast Beltway Boxing Project.
The Belfast Beltway Boxing Project helps at risk youth in Belfast and DC. They have been paying for young boxers to come to DC for the last couple of years and hope to soon take DC youths to Belfast as well.
 
You can preregister and pay via paypal through the organization's website.

Intersections Festival begins tonight at the Atlas PAC; preview via The Hill is Home

THIH has this detailed Intersections Festival preview from Atlas Performing Arts Center  (1333 H St) Communications Director and H Street resident Jen DeMayo.  Intersections offers something for everyone at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St) beginning tonight and running the next three weekends.  When it's all done, there will be over 100 performances, from over 600 artists, over the course of 9 days. 

The Intersections Festival kicks off tonight with a fun event in partnership with the City Paper and various H Street restaurants.  Smith Commons, SOVA, H Street Country Club, and Star and Shamrock will all host Intersections-related events and performances.

Details on the City Paper event after the jump

Tom Sietsema: The Atlas Room offers "a world of flavor" & "deserves a full house on every night"

Tom Sietsema's Sunday restaurant review is of the Atlas Room (1015 H St) and he likes the food quite a bit.

His highlights:

• The seafood salad is "one of the chefs' best efforts" and the fish chowder is "enlightened."
• The pan-seared chicken breast is chicken "put on a pedestal." 
• The pork flatbread has an ok crust , but "pinches of goat cheese, forkfuls of pork, glossy Italian parsley and pureed squash on top keep me amused.
• The short rib pasta? "unless you want fork marks on your hand, I suggest ordering a couple of plates if you're eating with company."
• The vegetarian offerings of the root vegetable gratin and the indian chickpea dish.
• Also worth a visit, the "sublime cocktails."

Although, he didn't enjoy his desserts (we think they've gotten better recently) and he thought the chicken fritters were a bit light on the chicken, he clearly really likes the Atlas Room.  Noting that the restaurant is typically packed on weekends, but relatively quiet on week nights, he says it should be packed all week long:

The most ambitious kitchen on H Street NE deserves a full house every night.

We agree, but hope we wont need reservations to get in on coming weeknights.  Congratulations to Matt, Bobby, Mark, Chris, and everyone else at the Atlas Room on the well-deserved recognition.

Metro Mutts news: now offers dog walking & pet sitting; Spot on Training opening celebration tonight

Metro Mutts Now Offering Dog Walking & Pet Sitting Services!

  

As a valued customer, you already know that Metro Mutts is a trusted partner that helps you care for both your canine and feline family members.  We strive to make the life of busy pet parents easier by offering such a large variety of quality retail items at a reasonable price.  We truly appreciate all of the feedback you have provided along the way, and as a result we have expanded our store to accomodate more inventory.  We are now offering two new lines of food, and we continue to research new and unique products to see what would best fit our customer needs. 

  

Retail isn't the only thing you've been commenting on this past year. We have received many inquiries about whether we had plans to offer dog walking and pet sitting in the future, and are very pleased to announce that we will be launching both services at the end of February!  As of February 25th, you can start using our online system to sign up, create a profile with your information and get scheduled for a "Mutt Consult", which is a one time meeting for new customers.  We are offering some very exciting promotional packages for those of you who get signed up before March 31st.  This gives you an opportunity to see how great the services are while enjoying significant savings. 

Our Capitol Hill neighbors will now be able to use Metro Mutts as their trusted dog walker during the weekdays while they are at work, and also for morning, evening and weekend visits as needed. There is even a special package designed for puppies and adult dogs who will be alone for extended periods of time or have medical needs.  And Romeo will tell you, we also love the kitties and will be offering pet sits specifically for our feline friends. 

Why use our service?  Metro Mutts will provide a safe and enjoyable outing for your dog with a focus on individual attention and good manners at every visit.  By walking dogs individually we will be in tune with their mood, monitor their bathroom habits and help reinforce the training cues you already have in place (ex. sit, wait, off, leave it) which will go a long way towards your goals of having a well behaved pup!  After each visit you will receive a Mutt Diary that summarizes our time with your dog, their manners progress, and what additional tasks were taken care of such as feeding, giving fresh water, re-filling Kongs or treat dispensing toys and administering medication. 

We are thrilled to be offering such a valuable service for our customers and encourage you to spread the word if you know other pet parents who would be interested. Check our site for information and updates on this new service!

  

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Join Us for a Night of Celebration

Thursday, February 24th, 7-9pm

  

You're invited to join us for a night of celebration and fun on Thursday, February 24th from 7-9pm. Come check out the first dog training studio on H Street!

Spot On Training and Metro Mutts have officially forged a business partnership and want you to be part of the celebration as we showcase how our businesses have expanded to offer even more great services and products.  The lower level of Metro Mutts has been transformed into a small intimate training space where dogs and their owners can learn in a calm, relaxed environment.  Think yoga studio with a canine twist.

To make room for the new training studio, and to better meet needs of Metro Mutts customers, we have expanded the back storage room into a "Food Room," now offering a greater selection of quality food.

Stop by and take a tour of the NEW Spot On Training Studio and check out everything Metro Mutts has to offer while enjoying the sounds of local musician, Mark Francis Nickens.  We'll have plenty of food, wine, and beer to really make it a party.  Plan to get there early, we'll have gift bags for the first 40 guests.

And for those lobstah lovers and canine lovers, we made special arrangements for the Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck to roll in and will sell those delicious authentic Maine Lobster Rolls and donate 50% of their proceeds to Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.  So if the downtown lines have been too long for you, Thursday, 2/24 is your night to give it a whirl.

To ensure we have plenty of food and drink, please RSVP even if you're just planning to stop by for a few minutes.  It's simple click here to tell us who you are and if you plan on bringing any friends.

P.S.  Whereas pets are always welcome this party is geared more to the human persuasion so they might be more comfortable at home.  Large crowds and loud music can be very frightening and stressful for many dogs.

ARTventures On H tomorrow 5:30 p.m. w/live mural painting, printable map & full details

Tomorrow, February 24, CHAMPS – Capitol Hill’s Chamber of Commerce and H Street Main Street present ARTventures on H. From 5:30-8pm 13 different galleries and art spaces along the H Street Corridor will open their doors for a special art walk. Art walk participants will be given an ARTventures “passport,” to be punched at each stop on the art walk. For every punch received, attendees receive an extra 2% discount that evening from 7-9:30pm at any of 17 participating restaurants, cafes, and bars on H Street NE (maximum 10%). Passports will be available at each of the art walk stops; attendees choose their own starting points. 

The last ARTventures was a great success and this one is shaping up to be even better with many more art and dining participants. 

Washingtonian's Todd Kliman likes the Atlas Room too

From yesterday's online chat with Washingtonian Food Critic Todd Kliman:

... We've all had the experience: You crack open the menu at a new restaurant and you can't make up your mind what to order, it all looks so good. Then the food hits the table, and what was beautiful to behold on the printed page turns out to be insipid on the plate. You feel betrayed even before the meal's half over.
   Then there's the meal that proceeds from the opposite set of expectations, like my recent dinner at the new Atlas Room (1015 H Street NE; 202-388-4020): Nothing looks especially appealing, and everything turns out to be delicious. You don't just feel good about dinner; you feel immediately more optimistic and hopeful about human nature.
   A seafood stew came with perfectly cooked shellfish and a delicate, marjoram-flavored cream broth. A flatbread with butternut squash, pulled pork and goat cheese sounded dull but was exceptional, each element distinct and cleanly handled. A roast chicken was perfectly cooked. I braced myself for an oversauced, salty short rib ravioli, with either undercooked or hard, overcooked pillows of pasta; but the dish couldn't have been more carefully executed.
   Add in a good cocktail menu, a setting that suggests a hipster's version of a supper club, intimate and stylish, and informed, attentive service, and you have the first restaurant on H St. that merits serious attention. ...

Kliman later admitted that he also likes Granville Moore's and really enjoys Ethiopic as well.

H Street Cares wrap up: Deals for Deeds raised over $5,000 for Brainfood

Great work, H Street!  When H Street Cares started the goal was to raise $1800 for Brainfood.  That amount was raised by early in the second day and the goal was increased and exceeded a couple more times with the final donation to Brainfood reaching $5,080.  Read more about the success of H Street Cares and its impact at Brainfood via Deals for Deeds.

Link roundup

DealsforDeeds has this nice interview with Scott, Shaaren, and Ara of the Argonaut.

The Washington Post's the Daily Gripe had this piece on traffic calming efforts on G Street NE where residents report increasing high speed commuter traffic and are interested in obtaining speed bumps.  DDOT reports that 75% of a block's residents must sign a petition requesting installation. 

ArtVentures on H Street returns on Thursday.  All the details have been posted now and it looks like a fantastic event.  It starts with 12 art spaces and ends with 17 different restaurants up and down the corridor.

The Intersections Festival begins at the Atlas this weekend and kicks off Friday with a fun event in partnership with the City Paper and various H Street restaurants.  Smith Commons, SOVA, H Street Country Club, and Star and Shamrock will all host Intersections performers. 

Metromix has 5 nominees for best bar in DC.  H Street is well-represented by Biergarten Haus and H Street Country Club.

The Washington Post reported that the Atlas Performing Arts Center appointed Sam Sweet to be its Executive Director.

DC Theatre Scene highly recommended shows at the H Street Playhouse (1365 H St) and the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St).  24-7-365 runs at the Atlas through Sunday, February 27 and Touch runs at the H Street Playhouse through the same date.

Spend this great, long weekend on H Street

Tonight seems like a great night to be outside and H Street has more great spots for that than ever.  Maybe tonight's the time for your first patio experience with the new and improved Argonaut 2.0?  I wouldn't be surprised to find their new indoor-outdoor bar open this evening.  Or maybe a trip out back at the Biergarten Haus.  Outdoor seating is always hard to find during happy hour on nice Friday evenings.  Hopefully your office can find room among the 300 outdoor seats there.  If not, Smith Commons has a second level back deck, which could be a nice spot for a drink.  They recently launched the bar menu, so now you can eat on the second level as well. 

Touch is getting good reviews at the H Street Playhouse and 24-7-365 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center was featured in today's paper.  Grab a quick bite at Liberty Tree or Souk beforehand an a sophisticated cocktail at Church and State or the Atlas Room after.  Red Palace has Palace of Wonders-style shows both nights, Rock and Roll Hotel has concerts both nights as well as a DJ tonight.

Saturday is all about brunch and now that the Argonaut is back, you can enjoy bottomless mimosas, make your own bloody marys, and more while the weather is nice.  Granville Mooore's brunch is as good as their dinner and the wait is shorter.  And now it's available on Saturdays as well as Sundays.  Did you know the Pug also does brunch on weekends? 

Sunday the Atlas Room gets in the brunch mix starting at 11:30.  You know if its coming out of their kitchen it is going to be delicious.  And you can stop by Little Miss Whiskey's afterwards where they are having another one of their "garage sales."  If you like their creative decor, this is your chance to take some of it home to deck out your own place.  They've got a lovely back patio too, so you can stick around an enjoy a craft beer before it gets cold again.  And if you're lucky, you've got Monday off for President's Day, so you can stick around for a while. 

Have a great weekend!

H Street Cares 50% off the Pug via Deals for Deeds to support Brainfood

And the final H Street Cares Deals for Deeds is available.  $20 gift certificates to the Pug (1234 H St) are available for $10.  The deal notes that the Pug is now open for brunch every weekend.  They've also been tapping special casks on Thursdays lately. 

The H Street Cares deals from earlier this week for Granville Moores (1238 H St), Liberty Tree (1016 H St), the Argonaut (1433 H St), and the Star and the Shamrock (1341 H St) ($50 gift certificates for only $30) are also still available, so if you missed them earlier this week, you've got through the weekend to buy one or go back for a second.  All H Street Cares purchases lead to 15% of the purchase price going to Brainfood, which is a great organization.

H Street FreshFarm Market Opens April 16

Our H Street FreshFarm Farmers' Market at 625 H Street reopens a bit earlier than usual this year on Saturday, April 16.  Here's looking forward to a great crop of spring produce!

H Street Cares 40% off at Star and Shamrock via Deals for Deeds to support Brainfood

Today's H Street Cares deal via Deals for Deeds is $30 for a $50 certificate to the Star and the Shamrock  (1341 H St) with 15% of your purchase going to support Brainfood.

Evolve Property Management coming to 1344 H Street (renovation update)

Evolve Property Management bought 1344-1348 H Street late last year and has begun renovating the 1344 H St property to house their office headquarters.  Evolve manages a variety of residential properties around the Capitol Hill area, including a building on the 800 block of Maryland Ave and the old Pierce School Lofts building (1375 Maryland Ave), which was converted to lofts and is home to Evolve Urban Arts. 


1344-1348 H Street. 
The building on the left (1344 H St) will be home to Evolve's office headquarters after the ongoing historic renovation is completed.

Evolve is working away at 1344 H Street and recently posted some photos and details on the interior work there.  They also plan to renovate the adjoining building at 1346-1348 H St to be made available for a restaurant tenant. 

A couple photos from the Evolve Facebook page are after the jump.

Avalon Bay to develop 140 apartments in vacant lot at 4th & I Sts NE

Avalon Bay has purchased the lot at the northwest corner of 4th & I Sts NE and plans to begin constructing 140 apartments at the location this Spring.  The property is convenient to the Loree Grand (250 K St NE) where Chef Gillian Clark will open Kitchen on K St later this year and also to both ends of the H Street Corridor, including the Giant grocery store that will be located in the Steuart Development mixed use building that breaks ground between 3rd and 4th Streets later this Spring. 

From the Washington Post's Capital Business Section:

the company is close to getting underway at another smaller site in the District, near the city's burgeoning restaurant and entertainment hub on H Street NE. Cox said the company had acquired 318 I Street NE, a site that Broadway Development had planned for condominiums before being foreclosed upon in 2009. AvalonBay plans 140 apartments, which will have easy access to H Street, NoMa and Union Station.
"We're targeting people that want the H Street corridor as an amenity," Cox said.

H Street Cares: 40% off Argonaut via Deals for Deeds to support Brainfood

Today's H Street Cares deal via Deals for Deeds is $30 for a $50 certificate to the Argonaut (1433 H St) with 15% of your purchase going to support Brainfood.

H Street office hours with CM Tommy Wells tomorrow, 8:00 am at SOVA

Councilmember Tommy Wells holds his monthly H Street Office Hours tomorrow, February 17, at SOVA (1359 H St) from 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Need help navigating DC government?  Consider dropping by to talk to Tommy and his capable staff.  You may find it more satisfying than just griping.

WP: Tacos Impala "offers first-rate food in an unconventional, effortlessly cool kind of way."

Today's Washington Post has this minireview of Tacos Impala, which is open at 1204 H St through March 31. 

The piece notes that Erik Yang and Troy Hickman "are as devoted to the Atlas District as they are to their product."

Supple corn tortillas, made fresh all day, exemplify that passion. Try one filled with carnitas: juicy braised pork from the picnic shoulder cut that is seared to a crisped edge before serving. Vegetarians will delight in the bean tacos, which hold a soft, flavorful mash of mayacoba beans, tomatoes, garlic and onion with crumbled Cotija cheese on top. Marinated beef is cooked to order for the carne asada taco, the most popular (though we were partial to that pork). All are $3 and come with a choice of sauce. The brick-red Impala version is deeply smoky; the pulpy salsa verde, made with tomatillos and jalapeno peppers, is vibrant and addictive.

The crispy pork skin dish known as chicharrones makes an occasional and welcome appearance as a fourth option ($3). All tacos are garnished with crunchy bits of radish and onion, flecks of cilantro and wedges of lime.

It also says that while Tacos Impala will close at the end of March to allow Philadelphia Water Ice to reopen, its owners hope to find a new home for their pop up venture and to eventually open a sit-down Mexican restaurant as well. 

ARTventures On H returns Thursday, Feb 24

On Thursday, February 24, CHAMPS – Capitol Hill’s Chamber of Commerce and H Street Main Street present ARTventures on H. From 5:30-8pm 12 different galleries and art spaces along the H Street Corridor will open their doors for a special art walk. Participants will be given an ARTventures “passport,” to be punched at each stop on the art walk. For every punch received, attendees receive an extra 2% discount that evening from 7-9:30pm at any of 17 participating restaurants, cafes, and bars on H Street NE. Passports will be available at each of the art walk stops; attendees choose their own starting points.

The Art Walk: 5:30-8pm

Art walk stops and their associated exhibits are as follows (listed from West to East):

Senate Square: 201 I St (entrance on 3^rd Street between H and I)

Metro Mutts: 508 H St
Exhibit: Pet Life
Artists: Bev Hollis, Jenna Isaacson
Additional Information: Bev Hollis is a contemporary, fine art pet photographer who specializes in dog and pet photography and animal portraits in northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC area. Jenna Isaacson is a photojournalist, stylist, crafter, camping enthusiast and proud Midwesterner. After working in the newspaper business for 10 years in Utah, Missouri and Florida, Isaacson moved to D.C. in 2009 and is a proud member of Capitol Hill-based Pitchfork Studio.


Adobe Design Center & Showroom: 654 H St
Exhibit: Where Art Meets Function
Additional Information: Adobe Design Center & Showroom offers a unique collection of art, furniture, accessories, and unusual pieces, collected by owner Edith Buffalo, from all over the world. When asked about the combination of fine art and home furnishings in a recent DC Ladies interview, Buffalo responded “The marriage of art and furniture has been a very happy union. People get a chance to see how chair looks with art to the left or right of it or how a mirror or lamp looks in a particular setting. The greatest discovery is that the mat does not have to match the fabric.”

City Gallery: 804 H St
Exhibit: Color and Shape
Artists: Nancy Donnelly, Jill Finsen
Additional Information: From East City Art: “Color and Shape showcases Nancy Donnelly’s elegant glass art and Jill Finsen’s whimsically primitive paintings executed in oil paint.  Fascination with texture as a component of color and shape is apparent in the work of both these artists. Allusive of the natural world, they are direct and accessible. Yet surface abstraction is paramount to the success of these art pieces—the texture of the glass complements layered textures in the paintings. These works complement each other and pull the exhibit in new and exciting visual directions. Both artists find negative space crucial to this effect, moments of rest that energize each work and in this sense make each more complete.” East City Art


Jorge Velazquez: 1015 H St, 2^nd Floor
Exhibit: My Vision of Art
Artist: Jorge Velazquez
Additional Information: Born in Mexico, Jorge Velazquez is a self-taught artist whose inspiration is inner peace and pushing his own boundries.  He was always told that he could do whatever he set his mind to. My Vision of Art features a selection of past and present works by Velazquez.

Atlas Performing Arts Center: 1333 H St
Exhibit: Ten Miles Square Photography Exhibit
Artists: Amy Keys, Michael Du Bois, Michael Galkovsky, Maria Helena Carey, Patrick Yuen, Tonianne DeMaria Barry, Angela Kleis, Brian Mosley, Karon Flage, Brett Davis, Kevin Harber
Additional Information: Part of the INTERSECTIONS Festival, this photography exhibit aims to tie together the diversity and dynamism of the performers on stage with the vibrancy of the neighborhood outside the Atlas. The featured photographers are the winners of Ten Miles Square’s contest that challenging entrants to take on the ten square miles surrounding the Atlas neighborhood — capturing connections, innovation, intersection of cultures, ages, races. Ten Miles Square is a venture to promote local photographers through independent, art supporting businesses, while also nurturing a new generation of collectors by offering real art at affordable prices.


SOVA Espresso & Wine: 1359 H St
Exhibit: Untitled Photography Exhibit
Artists: Students enrolled in the Critical Exposure program.
Additional Information: Critical Exposure is a nonprofit that teaches youth to use the power of photography and their own voices to become effective advocates for school reform and social change.

Gallery OonH: 1354 H St
Exhibit: Facing H Street
Artists: Various artists from the collection of Dolly Vehlow and Steve Hessler
Additional Information: Facing H Street features portraits of the known and the unknown, interpreted through the lens of various outsider artists from the collection of Dolly Vehlow and Steve Hessler. In addition to the exhibition, GalleryOonH will debut the “H-Street-Piano” project and will be featuring an on-site caricaturist so you can leave with your own portrait.

Evolve Urban Arts Project: 1375 Maryland Ave
Exhibit: Flights of Fancy: Elements of Surrealism
Artists: Iwan Bagus, Peter Karp, Micheline Klagsbrun, Trix Kuijper, Joyce McCarten, Langley Spurlock
Additional Information: Flights of Fancy: Elements of Surrealism features six talented artists from the Studio Gallery in Dupont Circle all of whom create works which embody or employ key elements of Surrealism.


G Fine Art Gallery: 1350 Florida Ave
Exhibit: The Adjacent Possible
Artist: Linn Meyers
Additional Information: From a G Fine Art Gallery Press Release: Meyers’ drawings create a sense of unpredictable logic.  Her lines whirlaround into seemingly complicated compositions, the marks slip and shiver, turning into intricate waves that subsequently settle into shimmering eddies.  At close proximity the marks vibrate against each other with a magnetic tension; with greater distance the drawings fold into a unified world, making references but never landing – hovering between place, time, object and experience. Meyers’ site-specific wall drawings soar up over tall walls, cling to corners, and fill rooms. They demand on the spot improvisation and a blast of focused, sustained energy.  And yet, despite this intense exertion, the works are generally temporary, lasting only a few weeks before being painted over.  These works explore and embrace our complicated relationship with time and ephemerality.


Conner Contemporary Art: 1358 Florida Ave
Exhibit I: Windowboxing
Artist: Cordy Ryman
Exhibit II: High Pressure System
Artist: Brandon Morse
Additional Information: These are two concurrent solo exhibitions. Windowboxing features painted sculptural assemblages by Cordy Ryman and High Pressure System features real-time generative digital work by Brandon Morse.

Industry Gallery: 1358 Florida Ave, Suite 200
Exhibit: Fossilized
Artist: Jens Praet
Additional Information: Fossilized is the first solo US exhibition of Jens Praet and features Tables, Consoles, Benches & Shelves made from shredded magazines and documents

The Dine Around: 7-9:30pm

There are currently 17 restaurants and bars participating in the Dine Around portion of ARTventures on H, with more to be added in the coming week. So far participants include (from West to East):

Ethiopic: 401 H St
Sidamo Coffee and Tea: 417 H St
Toyland: 421 H St
Liberty Tree: 1016 H St
Taylor Gourmet: 1116 H St
Twelve Restaurant & Lounge: 1123 H St
Souk: 1208 H St
Sticky Rice: 1224 H St
The Pug: 1234 H St
Fruit Bat: 1236 H St
Dr. Granville Moore’s: 1238 H St
Smith Commons: 1245 H St
H Street Country Club: 1335 H St
Dangerous Delicious Pies : 1339 H St
Star and Shamrock : 1341 H St
The Argonaut : 1433 H St
Capital City Diner: 1050 Bladensburg Rd
Over 1000 people attended the inaugural ARTventures on H in June of 2010. “It is so exciting to be part of such a collaborative group of businesses,” said Julia Christian, CHAMPS Executive Director. “The H Street business community truly sees the benefit of working together and ARTventures on H is the perfect example of that. We are thrilled to produce the event again—this time with the support of H Street Main Street—and I can’t wait to see all of the great exhibits–right here in our neighborhood.”
For up-to-date information about ARTventures on H (including participants, maps, and dining discounts), visit www.capitolhill.org or CHAMPS’ new website www.whatthehill.org.

ARTventures on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ARTventuresOnH
ARTventures on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ARTventuresOnH

H Street Cares: 40% off at Liberty Tree via Deals for Deeds to support Brainfood

H Street Cares continues with today's deal via Deals for Deeds:  $30 for a $50 certificate to Liberty Tree (1016 H St) with 15% of your purchase going to support Brainfood.

Link roundup

Prince of Petworth reported scuttlebutt that an Indian restaurant would be opening at 1128 H St, which was previously home to Naby's Island.  We've heard rumors that this was in the works, but had not heard that the lease had been signed, which is what PoP is now saying.  Our source suggests it is nearly final and that the concept is an Indian restaurant that serves small plates.  We think Indian food will be a welcome addition to H Street as will the small plate concept. 

Deals for Deeds launched "H Street Cares" with discounted coupons to H Street restaurants in support of Brainfood.  They have a nice interview with Chef Teddy Folkman who helped pull this together and is a champion of Brainfood's.  Of note, Teddy reports that he's still planning to dig out the basement to expand Granville Moore's (thank goodness!) and that now that he also hopes to add lunch to the growing reportoire at Granville Moore's. 

The Argonaut announced that Fried Chicken nights return starting Monday.  The Argonaut has a great rotation of nightly specials with Fried Chicken Mondays, Taco Tuesday, Family Night Wednesdays, and Neighborhood Night Thursdays, Argo-Mutts Saturday afternoons, and bottomless mimosa/make your own bloddy mary weekend brunches.  They're also one of the best deals in the Buy Local Capitol Hill campaign.

DDOT & MACTEC reported that 12th St would be closed along the south side of H St today and tomorrow until 4 p.m. to lay streetcar tracks and pour concrete around them.  Tracks were laid across 9th, 10th and 11th Streets over the past week and the streetscape contractor has been taking advantage of the good weather to make some real progress lately.  They also reported that the new streetlight at 5th St goes live on Friday after a week of blinking orange (for H St traffic) and red (for 5th St).  This should be an improvement for pedestrian safety and for cars trying to cross H Street at that intersection.

NPR had coffee with Rep. Earl Blumenauer on H Street to talk about streetcars.

Capital Spice raved about Tacos Impala, which is available at 1204 H Street until the end of March and is apparently now providing its homemade corn tortillas to the H Street Country Club to use as well, which is another good reason to get back to the Country Club some time soon.

The Yum Report had a fun night trying out a variety of spots on H Street.

The Anthology enjoyed the minigolf course at H Street Country Club, which its been too long since we last played.

DC Style is Real continues working its way through H Street with a write up on the Pug, which celebrated its Fourth Anniversary last weekend.

Smith Commons adds bar menu, valet parking

Smith Commons (1245 H St) is now offering a bar menu available on the second floor bar (still drinks only on third level). 

They also added valet parking in recent weeks and have secured part of the AutoZone lot next door to it for valet use. 

Smith Commons dining room remains busy on weekend nights, so the bar menu option will be a good one for those busy nights.  Another option is making a reservation online.

H Street Cares: Deals for Deeds: $30 for $50 to spend at Granville Moores & support Brainfood

H Street Cares starts today with this Deals for Deeds deal: for $30 you get $50 worth of food and drink at Granville Moore's (1238 H St) to the benefit of Brainfood. 

Brainfood is a nonprofit youth development organization that uses food and cooking as tools to teach life skills and healthy living to teenagers in a safe, healthy and positive environment.  Stay tuned for more great deals that support Brainfood all week long. 

Construction update: streetcar stop and traffic signals in place at 5th & H Sts

H Street's first streetcar stop was also installed today at the southwest corner with 5th Street, near the entrance to Toyland (421 H St). 



photo courtesy of Topher Cushman www.gototopher.com



The H Street streetscape contractor also reports that new traffic signals on H Street at the intersection with 5th Street are now functional with flashing yellow along H Street and flashing red along 5th Street as they prepare to go live with regular functioning. 

"H Street Cares" Feb 14-20: H St partners with Deals For Deeds to support Brainfood

The social buying site Deals For Deeds has partnered with Brainfood, Chef Teddy Folkman, and other leading H Street establishments to bring us “H Street Cares: A Week to Benefit Brainfood”, a special week of deals February 14-20, 2011.  The establishments will offer deals via Deals for Deeds to patrons and 15% of the sales will be donated to Brainfood.  The announced participants and deals to date are:

Dr. Granville Moore’s: $30 for $50 to spend.
The Liberty Tree: $30 for $50 to spend. Star and Shamrock: $30 for $50 to spend. The Argonaut: $30 for $50 to spend.

The Pug: $10 for $20 to spend.

http://www.dealsfordeeds.com/ and connect on Twitter or Facebook.

http://www.brain-food.org/ and connect on Twitter or Facebook

Atlas Peforming Arts Center Young Professionals Happy Hour tomorrow at the Argonaut

The Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St) is hosting a Young Professionals Happy Hour on tomorrow at the Argonaut (1433 H St) from 6-8 p.m.  Thursday nights are also neighborhood night at the Argonaut witih discounts for neighborhood residents, if you need another excuse to attend. 

Just what goes on behind that historic marquee? Come down to the newly reopened Argonaut and meet up with neighbors and friends of the Atlas and get to know what's happening here and how you can be a part of the Atlas and the change on H Street.

Enjoy drink specials and catch a mini- performance by an artist from the upcoming INTERSECTIONS festival.

WP's Tom Sietsema says Smith Commons is a "new name to remember" on H St

Tom Sietsema has this "First Bite" minireview of Smith Commons (1245 H St) in today's Washington Post.

Sietsema welcomes Smith Commons as part of H Street's "rapidly expanding food and drinks scene" and says after checking out the quality renovation of the old warehouse, he "wanted to move in."  He also speaks highly of the drink options at Smith Commons, but appears to like some menu offerings more than others.  He joins us in recommending the beef carpaccio, the "eggplant lasagana", and the scallops, but seems to have had an overcooked steak.  We've had that experience as well, but have been impressed by how graciously the staff has whisked it away, replaced it with one properly cooked, and how much we've enjoyed it when not overdone. 

Overall, the review is a nice, early assessment of Smith Commons, which is off to a very good start and will likely continue to improve as they settle in as the new hot spot in town.  In the meantime, we recommend considering calling ahead for a table on weekends or planning ahead to grab a drink upstairs while you wait.  Despite H Street's rapidly expanding dining scene, we've found long waits for tables at Smith Commons, Granville Moore's, and the Atlas Room on recent weekend nights.

Link roundup

CityStream checks out SOVA and does a nice write up of the coffee shop/wine bar's many favorable attributes.

Greater Greater Washington hosted a chat with DC State Board of Education Member Pat Mara who is one of the leading candidates for the At-large Council seat that was vacated when Kwame Brown became Council Chair.  Of note to H Streeters, Mara said "I support Street Cars :)" in a response to a question about DC's most imporant infrastructure investments.  

DCMud has a development update on NoMa.  We're excited about the restaurants from Chef Gillian Clark and Chef Todd Gray.

PeoplesDistrict has this nice piece on ANC6C Commissioner Anne Phelps, who represents the neighborhood north of H Street between 1st & 7th Streets NE, does policy work for Councilmember Tommy Wells on smart growth, transportation, and the environment, and is an all-around great person and neighbor. 

TastingTable has a good write up of Church & State (1236 H St) and includes their menu of classic cocktails.

DCStyleisReal checked out Fruit Bat and had some good cocktails, but found the space, especially near the swinging door in front of the bar, a bit cramped.

The Washington Post touts Logic, Luck, and Love at the Atlas (1333 H St) for Valentine's Day and joins in our recommendation for a preshow dinner at the Atlas Room or Liberty Tree and after dinner drinks at Church & State.  Buy tickets here.

Valentine's Day on H Street

The Atlas Room (1015 H St) will open for Valentine's Day, will have some special thematic cocktails, and is taking reservations at (202) 388-4020. 

Liberty Tree (1016 H St) is whipping up a special Valentine's Day menu and taking reservations for Valentine's Day only (202) 396-TREE (8733). 

Smith Commons (1245 H St) has a special menu available all Valentine's weekend.  Call for dining room reservations (202) 396-0038 or enjoy a cocktail (but still no bar menu) upstairs.

and Ethiopic (401 H St) is offering a $30 prix fixe deal as well (via Frozen Tropics). 

Other ideas:  go neighborhood low key, casual with your friends and neighbors at the Argonaut where Monday is half-priced wine night, go for a night of fun and games at H Street Country Club, grab a drink and relax at SOVA or Church & State.

Coming Soon: Sunday Brunch at the Atlas Room

The Atlas Room has been open for a couple months now and is receiving top marks for the very high quality meals they are serving.  When they opened, the said they wanted to do brunch once they had a chance to get comfortable.  That time is coming and the Atlas Room will now offer Sunday brunch on starting February 20. 

New restaurant coming to 414 H Street

We mentioned a few points of progress on the western end of H Street earlier this week, including our understanding that there would be a restaurant coming in across from Sidamo and we can now confirm that Boundary Road Restaurant -- a neighborhood restaurant serving "American fare" -- has applied for a liquor license to open at 414 H Street. 

The establishment's proposed hours will allow it to operate for both lunch and dinner with capacity to seat 65, which suggests that it will likely occupy both the first and second levels of the building.  It has sought late night hours and an entertainment endorsement as well. 

414 H Street the proposed home to Boundary Road Restaurant

Here's the application for a liquor license for Boundary Road (414 H St).   

315 G Street NE sold - more progress on the western end

The Neighborhood Development Company has purchased 315 G Street NE -- a long vacant property near the southeast corner of 3rd & G Streets NE -- for $1.8 million. 
 

Preliminary work planning seems to have already started inside the property as neigbors have reported seeing workmen going in & out the back, though no record of permits issued is available from DCRA's online database.  The property was previously home to sixteen relatively small residential units, but it is not yet known how many units the Neighborhood Development Co. plans to offer after renovation is complete.  

The property had recently been classified as vacant and uneligible for exemption by DCRA, and was therefore slated to be taxed at the recently reinstated 5% vacant property rate this spring prior to changing hands, which may have helped the previous owner come down from his $2.5 million asking price (the city had assessed the value to be about $1 million).

With this property sold for redevelopment, it joins the old police station on 9th Street and the old fire engine house on Maryland Avenue as prominent large long-vacant properties in the area south of H Street that have been slated for residential development now that the H Street and north Capitol Hill area has become so attractive to homebuyers and developers.   

Save the date for Intersections at the Atlas Performing Arts Center

Intersections returns in a few short weeks.  Three weekends of great performances on H Street:  February 25 - March 13, 2011.  Save the dates and check out their website http://www.intersectionsdc.org/ Twitter or Facebook pages for more info.

Western end updates: construction progress, Sidamo sidewalk cafe, Tru Orleans, and more

The streetscape construction has made substantial progress along the 300 and 400 blocks of H Street and is moving steadily to the east, with tracks, new curbs, and new sidewalks finally installed.  Unfortunately, paving is on hold pending warmer weather, so other than the new sidewalks along the south side of the street, there isn't much to enjoy yet.  A bulb out was installed in front of Sidamo where a streetcar stop will eventually be placed.  Sidamo plans to seek a public space permit for a small sidewalk cafe.

Some exterior construction has started at 400 H St, the future home to Tru Orleans.  Tru Orleams recently applied for a liquor license and is seeking a great deal in terms of outdoor dining (nearly the entire second level of the restaurant appears to be intended for outdoor dining), which will be intresting to watch as the ANC reviews the application and negotiates a way to mitigate noise on the surrounding commmunity.  We did not attend, but understand  many neighbors were at the ANC6C Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meeting on Tuesday.  While everyone wants to see a thriving restaurant with a nice outdoor patio, no one wants nearby neighbors to lose sleep due to late-night outdoor dining, so hopefully an agreement can be reached to limit the hours and noise that is produced. 

409 H Street -- an inhabited, but otherwise somewhat blighted building, has also begun construction to renovate its first floor for retail use.  This building is one of a handful between Ethiopic and the next operating business on the block that appear blighted, but this one is actually inhabited upstairs.  Keep an eye on it for a new ground level retail tenant in the coming months. 

409 H St ongoing ground level renovations

Unfortunately, Toyland experienced a bit of a setback with a dispute among owners.  Co-owners and managers Erin and Garrick appear to have been ousted by the property owner who also had a seemingly silent ownership stake in the business.  Erin and Garrick are missed already, but promise that if they aren't back running the business they created and nursed to good health at Toyland, that they'll be with us on H Street in another spot eventually.  We're counting on it, but also hope the new team in place is able to produce a worthy successor.

We're also hearing rumors that another restaurant has signed a lease in a currently vacant building at the western end, but we cannot confirm any details on that at this point, but think the western end is ready for another restaurant/bar option, especially with groundbreaking at the Steuart Development site that will house a Giant grocery store and hundreds of residential units slated for this spring.

Could a restaurant be in the works for one of these long-vacant buildings?

Catoctin Creek Distilery Tasting event Church and State Tuesday, March 1

Our First Event at... CHURCH & STATE

Join us for an evening of expertly mixed Catoctin Creek cocktails, food, fun people and prizes at Church & State (1236 H St), located above Fruit Bat from 6-10pm, Tuesday, March 1, 2011.  Tickets are $20.00 until February 15, when they go up to $25.00.

Your ticket gets you in to Church & State, a guided tasting of Catoctin Creek spirits, one Catoctin Creek cocktail, hors d'œuvres and one raffle ticket.

Catoctin Creek is a certified organic distillery in Loundon County, Virginia that had received acclaim for the gin, rye, white (unaged) whiskey and other spirits it produces.

Click here to purchase tickets and check out the Gintender -- the blog of Church & State's Erik Holzherr -- for more details.

Capitol Hill Little League

Capitol Hill now has its very own Little League!

If you have child aged 7-12 interested in playing baseball or softball, they can now play right here in our neighborhood!  Sign-up begins Tuesday 2/1 for Spring Ball.  Workouts or tryouts begin for all divisions the first two weekends in March at Ludlow Taylor Elementary School (659 G St NE) and Opening Day is the beginning of April.  There will be three divisions with Majors for predominatly 11 and 12 year olds, AAA for predominantly 9 and 10 year olds, and AA for predominantly 7 and 8 year olds. 

The website is up, running, and ready to take registrations.

ARTventures On H Street returns, February 24

The H Street art walk returns.  ArtVentures on H Street has been scheduled for Feb 24.

From 5:30-8pm several galleries and art spaces along the H Street Corridor will open their doors for a special neighborhood art walk. Participants will each be given an ARTventures “passport,” to be punched at each stop on the art walk.

For every punch received, attendees receive an extra 2% discount that evening from 7-9:30pm at participating restaurants and bars on H Street.

Participating galleries include:
City Gallery: 804 H Street, NE (http://www.citygallerydc.com/)
Jorge Velazquez: 1015 H Street, NE
Atlas Performing Arts Center: 1333 H Street, NE (http://www.atlasarts.org/)
SOVA Espresso and Wine: 1359 H Street, NE (http://www.sovadc.com/)
Gallery O/H: 1354 H Street, NE (http://www.galleryoonh.com/)
H Street Playhouse: 1365 H Street, NE (http://www.hstreetplayhouse.com/)
Evolve Urban Arts Project: 1375 Maryland Avenue, NE (http://www.evolvedc.com/)
Conner Contemporary Art: 1358 Florida Avenue, NE (http://www.connercontemporary.com/)
Industry Gallery: 1358 Florida Avenue, NE – Suite 200 (http://www.industrygallerydc.com/)

For news and updates on ARTventures on H, visit http://www.whatthehill.org/ or connect on Facebook and/or on Twitter:

City Gallery presents: Nancy Donnelly & Jill Finsen Color & Shape, Sat., Feb 5, 6-9 p.m.

CITY Gallery Presents:
Nancy Donnelly (glass) and
Jill Finsen (paintings)
Color & Shape

Color and Shape showcases Nancy Donnelly’s elegant glass art and Jill Finsen’s whimsically primitive paintings executed in oil paint.

The opening reception with the artists is Saturday, February 5, 6:00–9:00 PM at 804 H Street.

Granville Moore's launches Sunday brunch Sunday, February 6

Granville Moore's (1238 H St) Saturday brunch has been getting great reviews (we've still yet to make it) and this Sunday the brunch will be expanded to cover both weekend days.  Brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 - 3 p.m. and the bar will remain open between brunch and dinner service for anyone who wants to make an afternoon of it or get an early jump on a night out on H Street. 

H Street brunch opens have expanded dramatically over the past few months after a period when it seemed like the Argonaut was literally your only option with brunch now available at Biergarten, Liberty Tree, Granville Moores, and the newly revived Argonaut.  Stay tuned for details on brunch at the Atlas Room, which is coming soon as well.

WCP Contest: Enter to win free pie from Dangerously Delicious Pies

For a chance at a free pie from Dangerously Delicious Pies (1339 H St), sign up with the Washington City Paper here!

Link roundup

Roll Call noted that the "H Street Boom Continues with New Hot Spots" and rounded up a bunch of the recent additions and come ones on H Street (subscription required).

THIH joined us in pronouncing the rebirth of the Argonaut as back and "better than ever."

CityStream is excited about the "new and improved" Argonaut, which they say is "is still the same family-friendly neighborhood gathering place" as before, but nonetheless "boasts some serious upgrades."

DC Beers weighs in heavily in favor of Smith Commons and compares their beer list and overall feel to that of DC's beer haven, Church Key. 

Express Night Out calls it a "Dining Room and Public House Delight."

DC Style is Real finds comfort at the Atlas Room:  "a good place to go for a low-key, long conversation over polished drinks and exceptional yet surprising first, second, and third dishes" and where "the food is wonderful, the drinks are good. For the eclectic H Street scene, it’s quiet enough to feel out of place. And that’s why I like it."

THIH checks out the Sound of Palin from Gross National Product at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

The Feast checked out Church & State (1236 H St), which opened last week and brings a new craft cocktail concept to H Street.

DCUrbanTurf notes that 1360 H Street is for sale and makes it this week's "find" for an investor or entrepreneur.

Greater Greater Washington hosted a chat with newly-minted Councilmember Sekou Biddle.  Of particular note to H Street, Councilmember Biddle is a fan of streetcars:

Streetcars are a great way to incentivize businesses to invest in some of our most important corridors. Having a streetcar system potentially powered by renewable energy will enable District residents to breathe cleaner air and demonstrate our commitment to environmental responsibility.  Our Streetcar system is an important component of a multi-modal transportation infrasture. The streetcar system will support the city and the region's longterm plans toward supporting and enhancing walkable neighborhood centers.