DDOT to Host Public Meeting On Howard Theater Area Project

DDOT announced the following yesterday:

Design Plans will be Presented Monday, March 9
Media Contact: John Lisle at (202) 671-2004

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will host an informational meeting on Monday, March 9, 2009, to update the public on the major streetscape improvements planned around the historic Howard Theater.

The Howard Theater, located at 620 T Street, NW, in the Shaw neighborhood, was the nation’s first full-sized theater for African-American audiences and entertainers. It opened in 1910 and hosted many famous performers including Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye and the Temptations before closing in the 1970’s.

This District now plans to renovate and reopen the Howard Theater and in conjunction with that effort DDOT is moving forward with a streetscape project on the streets surrounding the Theater:

7th Street, NW between N Street and Florida Avenue: Repaving of the roadway, reconstruction of the sidewalks, upgrading street lights and traffic signals, landscape improvements.

T Street, NW between 7th Street and Florida Avenue: Reconstruction of the roadway and sidewalks, upgrading street lights and traffic sidewalks, landscape improvements, upgrading of water main and storm water drainage.

Wiltberger Street, NW between T and S Streets: Reconstruction of the roadway, upgrading water main and storm water drainage.

This project is part of the Great Streets Initiative in the Georgia Avenue and 7th Street Corridor. At the March 9 meeting, the project engineers will present their 65% design plans and solicit feedback and comments from the community.

Meeting Information:

What Informational Meeting on Howard Theater Area Project
When Monday March 9, 2009, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Where DC Housing Finance Agency
Auditorium
815 Florida Avenue, NW

The DC Housing Finance Agency is located near the intersection of Florida Avenue and 9th Street, NW. It is near the Shaw-Howard University and U Street /African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail Stations on the Green and Yellow lines, and is also accessible on the 90, 92 and 93 Metrobus routes.

Hatha-Yin Yoga Workshop at Maruka this Saturday

The Maruka School for Yoga and the Healing Arts is offering a Hatha-Yin Yoga Workshop with special guest instructor Carolyn Peters this Saturday, February 28, from 1:30 - 3:00 pm. This workshop is based on Paul Grilley's Yin Yoga theory, and will focus on stretching the connective tissue, fascia, and ligaments by holding floor based stretches for 3-5 minutes at a slow pace with teacher assists. It is great for hip openers and is open to all levels.

The cost for this workshop is just $25.00. Advanced registration is suggested; To register, contact Maruka at (202) 745-1881 or email at info@marukadc.com.

Maruka School for Yoga and the Healing Arts
1300 Ninth Street NW (corner of 9th and N streets NW)
(202) 745-1881
info@marukadc.com

Final Days of Restaurant Week

I'm behind the ball in reporting on neighborhood restaurants participating in Restaurant Week, which wraps up February 22, 2009. See the full list of here, or check out OpenTable's dedicated restaurant week page here.

A few notable neighborhood restaurants that I see on the list include Acadiana, PS 7's, Ulah Bistro, and Vinoteca. Vegetate is not officially participating, but they are offering a great special for the week -- a $25 fixed price, 3-course dinner will be available all evening.

New Wine Store on Ninth

A new wine and spirits store has opened up on upper Ninth Street in Shaw, Boston Wine and Spirits. The store inhabits the former location of Grape Legs at 1905 9th Street, NW (below the great restaurant 1905). The proprietor used to live in Boston, hence the name of her shop. Boston Wine and Spirits features a diverse array of quality wines at great prices from all over the world.

There will be a free wine tasting this Friday (February 20) beginning at 4 PM and continuing until 9 PM. The following wines will be offered:

Whites:
2007 Brunellesco Pinot Grigio (Italy)
2007 Graham Beck Chardonnay (Australia)

Reds:
2006 Terra Andina Carmère Reserva (Chile)
2003 Taja Reserva Jumillo (Spain)

These wines will be accompanied by an assortment of breads and cheeses. Stop by soon to check out this great new business!


Boston Wine and Spirits
1905 9th Street, NW
202.745.0070

Neighbors Unite to Make City Parcel Green Space

An under-utilized and unkempt city owned parcel on 10th Street may be transformed into a neighborhood park, thanks to the work of a group of citizens represented by the Friends of Tenth Street Park. The Friends of Tenth Street Park is composed of seven board members representing the Bladgen Alley/Naylor Court Neighborhood Association, the Clyde, the Eleven, Quincy Court, Quincy Park, the Whitman, and one at-large representative. The group is concerned about the existing condition of the parcel and shares a common vision to turn it into a "a positive element of the neighborhood, featuring green space, trees, and benches that can be used by residents as low-impact recreation space. " The 501(c)(3) organization was formed to represent the neighborhood’s goals, as well as to participate in the design, development and maintenance of a park.

For more information on how you can help, check out the Friends of Tenth Street Park Website .

Buy Me: 915 Rhode Island Avenue [UPDATED 2/19/09]

Hat tip to Drew for sending the attached photo showing that 915 Rhode Island Avenue, Northwest is for sale. If interested in learning more about the terms of the sale, call CBRE at 202.585.5659.

Back in 2006, then-Shaw-resident-and-urban-planning-student Rob Goodspeed wrote about this property. He reported

[The] DC city government’s online property sale database (which includes all sales from 1999 to the present) doesn’t contain a record for the address. The property assessment database lists its owner as Howard University and its value for 2007 as $631,750, with the existing structure contributing $159,820 to the total. The database also includes tax payment information since January 2005, and lists several payments to the city by Howard.

A Google search gives the impression the address has housed a physician’s office, insurance agent, and perhaps even a place of worship. All of this has made me begin to wonder how many other unused properties Howard owns. Sandwiched between a residential YWCA facility and Shaw Junior high just two blocks from the Metro, I have no doubt the property could interest a developer, or be better utilized by Howard University.

Here's to hoping that this property is better utilized in the near future under new ownership!

[UPDATE 2/19/09]

According to this Website, the 915 Rhode Island Avenue is for sale for $950,000. The property is described as follows:

This is an abandoned 3 story medical office building with on site parking. The property has excellent access along Rhode Island and 9th Street, and is 3 blocks to the Shaw/Howard Metro.

Auto Show at the Convention Center

The Washington Auto Show is underway at the Convention Center and runs through February 8. Adult tickets are $10 today and $12 this weekend. Autotrader.com offers a $4 off Friday's admission coupon here

I love the amount of people who descend on the area for the Auto Show. Hopefully First Cup, Old Dominion Brewhouse, Chatman's D'vine Cravings, EuroMarket and other local businesses will benefit greatly from the increased foot traffic.

Do Old Dogs Dream? Book Signing at Long View

Tomorrow night (Thursday, February 5, 2009) from 6 to 8 p.m., the Long View Gallery will host a book signing by author Hal Creel for his new book "Do Old Dogs Dream?" In addition to the book signing, the gallery will auction off artwork, including a piece by popular gallery artist Tony Savoie. Proceeds from the auction and from the book sales, and 15 percent of the proceeds from any non-auctioned art sales during the evening, will go to the "Hope Fund" for elderly dogs at the Washington Animal Rescue League.


The Long View Gallery
1302 9th Street, NW
202.232.4788

My Comic Valentine at Fort Fringe

Rotogravure Entertainment and banished? productions will present a limited performance of My Comic Valentine, a selection of romance comics from the 1950s adapted for the stage, from February 11 through 15 at The Shop at Fort Fringe, 610 L St Northwest (former home to A.V. Ristorante Italiano). From the press release:

Based on actual comic book stories from over fifty years ago, this show examines the culture and values of the early '50s through a most contemporary lens, challenging the conservative stereotypes and affirming universal truths in the never-ending search for true love. A living comic book with all the elements, from cover to cover including the ads and letters, My Comic Valentine brings heart, humor and sheer pre-code hotness to THE SHOP at Fort Fringe in four-color splendor.

Performance times are 8pm (Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat) and 10pm (Fri & Sat), with a Sunday matinee at 3pm. Tickets are $15 available online here or at the door one hour prior to scheduled performance times (at the door payment accepted in cash or check). For more information, click here.

Development Name, Delivery Date Announced

A few weeks ago, I snapped this photo of an ongoing renovation in the 1300 block of 9th Street:On Saturday I noticed that a banner has been hung announcing the name of the project, "The Nine," and a website for the same http://theninedc.com/. The renovation of the historic building fronting both 9th Street and Naylor Court should deliver this summer. The mixed use project includes a ground floor commercial space and several residences. The residences are advertised as being "nestled around an intimate courtyard and access to one of Washington's only remaining historic block-wide alleys." Here is a rendering of what the completed development will look like:It is thrilling to see this recently-vacant building brought back to life. The addition of another new commercial space and additional new residences to this block will really add to the vibrancy of the block (which is already pretty vibrant, with such notable neighbors as Be Bar, Azi's Cafe, The Long View Gallery, and Maruka School of Yoga and Boutique, and the upcoming tenants of The Exchange). Any thoughts on what kind of retail would be desirable for this building?

The Joy of De-Tagging

Studies show that graffiti removal within 24-48 hours significantly reduces the likelihood of recurrence. Home Depot sells un-wanted, mis-mixed paint at its paint counter for $5 a gallon, which is the easiest remedy to a tagged wall. For stone, cement, wood or brick (i.e., surfaces that you do not want to ruin by painting), I have found success with a slightly more expensive and labor intensive graffiti removal product (like this, which you spray over the graffiti and then scrub off). Of course, calling 311 is always a good option, especially when the graffiti appears on the property of another when you do not have that property owner's permission to take action against the graffiti yourself.

Below is the product of about 45 minutes of my de-tagging work this past Saturday. Removing or painting over graffiti our neighborhood is a neighborhood chore that I find really easy and gratifying, mainly because it's easy to see your own accomplishment. I plan to attack our alley this coming weekend, which has somehow accrued a lot of tags in the past month.