New Neighborhood Library Opens August 2

The Prince of Petworth has a great preview, with photos, of the new Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library, which opens on August 2 (next Tuesday!!!).  It really looks amazing, has many great design features and functions, and will be a fabulous ammenityto our community.  Based on my review of the library's web page, the awesome programs featured at the interim library will resume in the new space, and a plethora of great new programs are also on the boards.


The Library will host a Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, August 28 from 10 am to 4 pm.

Pipeline: 1431 Eleventh Street

DCMud has the scoop (with images) on yet another development project anticipated for Eleventh Street. Paul Robertson Development (which brought us the Moderno, the Visio and the Murano) recently gained the approval of the Historic Review Board to renovate and develop 1431 Eleventh Street.

1431 is currently vacant and in pretty poor shape, so it would be great to see this project realized! 

July MidCity DC Shaw Streets Column

If you haven't yet grabbed a copy of this month's MidCity DC, check out a PDF online version of my monthly Shaw column here.  In it, I write about the first gay couple to book their wedding at Long View Gallery, the new art around the convention center and the development projects set to break ground this year.

Convention Center Hotel Construction Imminent

It appears that a deal has been reached among the various parties who filed lawsuits in the past year that will allow the construction of the convention center hotel to move forward finally. The Business Journal quotes D.C. Councilman Kwame Brown, D-At large, chairman of the economic development committee, as saying that “There should be a fence going up in the next 30 days” around the site.

Woohoo!

From SMS: Booze Flowing This Weekend

Shaw Main Streets passed the word along that four liquor stores in central Shaw will be open on Independence Day, Sunday, July 4, 2010, under a special permit allowing them to be open between the hours of 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM. The stores are as follows:

Log Cabin Liquors, 1748 7th Street, NW
Logan Circle Liquors, 1018 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Modern Liquors, 1200 9th Street, NW
Serv-U Liquors, 1935 9th Street, NW

Also, Modern Liquors, located at 1200 9th Street, NW, now under the management of Siddharth "Sid" Dilawri, invites new customers and old to the following three tastings:

Friday, July 2, 2010, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM: Flavored Whisky Tasting
Saturday, July 3, 2010, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM: Liquor Tasting
Sunday, July 4, 2010, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM: Wine Tasting

Modern Liquors is also offering a 15% discount on all wines through July 4, 2010.

From SMS: African Diaspora Music Festival in Shaw, July 3, 2010

As an initial note -- sorry for my silence of late. I hope to resume regular posting now.

If your Saturday afternoon is not already booked, Shaw Main Streest provides an excitement on upper Ninth tomorrow (Saturday, July 3, 2010):

As part of the monthly First Saturday events sponsored by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Shaw Main Streets will present the first ever African Diaspora Music Festival on Saturday, July 3, 2010, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

The public is invited to enjoy free live performances of musical styles created by people of African descent, in air conditioned comfort at three venues on the 1900 block of 9th Street, NW. No tickets or reservations are necessary.

At Little Ethiopia Restaurant (1924 9th Street, NW), one of Washington City Paper’s 50 Most Fascinating Restaurants for 2010, you’ll hear Yehunie Belay and His Band playing traditional and popular Ethiopian music, and see dancers demonstrating how to move to the groove.

At La Carbonara Italian Restaurant (1926 9th Street, NW), listen to traditional and contemporary Jazz by CDH Brassworks.

And thrill to the high-energy Afro-Caribbean stylings of the HR 57 All Stars at El Sol de America Restaurant, which serves Mexican/Salvadoran cuisine (1930 9th Street, NW).

Be sure to ask about food and drink specials at each venue.

Maps with these and other exciting destinations will be distributed at the southwest corner of 9th and U Streets, NW, during the event.

Metro: U Street/African American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Station
(Green and Yellow Lines).

For more information, call Shaw Main Streets at 202-265-SHAW
or email shawmainstreetsinc@gmail.com.

First Saturday events are sponsored by the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development, DC Main Streets, and the Historical Society of Washington, DC.