Miscellany

DCMud has renderings of Douglas Development's new office and retail plans for the Wonderbread factory on S Street.

Prince of Petworth has word that Café Eagle on Ninth Street is now a Mexican restaurant. As evidenced by PoP’s post and this Yelp review, it’s getting praised as such.

Some neighbors started this online petition protesting Mood Lounge, which apparently the Blagden Alley Naylor Court Association approved at its recent meeting.

Mari at InShaw has two posts about a section of row homes on R Street that suffered earthquake/hurricane/bad renovation damage.

Capital Pool Checkers Club Video

Here's a video I found in researching my next article for MidCity DC.  It's about a checkers club at Ninth and S that's been meeting since 1982 (my article is about a new mural paying homage to this group). Very cool.

Checkers at 9th and S from Peggy Fleming on Vimeo.

Naylor Court Stables

A neat new residential development has been proposed for Naylor Court by OPaL, DC.  Here are a few renderings of the project (grabbed from their blog here):

I think the renderings look great and would compliment the historic alley well.  What think ye?

Back in July, Urban Turf reported that the project architect is Gregory Sparhawk and that the earliest that ground would be broken would be late Spring 2012.  Urban Turf also provides a photograph of the location of the proposed development.

The project went before ANC2f last night.  I haven't heard about the outcome.  Drop a comment if you have any insight.

Callbox Project Organization Meeting Saturday

This Saturday (8/27/2011) at 3:30 in Conference Room 2 at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library, the Shaw Main Streets Design Committee is holding an organizational meeting for the execution of a project to repurpose thirteen historic police and fire callboxes throughout the neighborhood.  The cast iron relics, many over century old, will each be transformed into beautiful historical markers, providing information about the surrounding area and each receiving an artistic overhaul.

The call boxes, some of which were originally the bases for gas streetlights, facilitated calling for assistance in the days before cellphones. The boxes covered by the project are located at 10th and N, 8th and N, 6th and N, 7th and P, 6th and R, 6th and S, 9th and S, 8th and T, 7th and Rhode Island, 8th and Q, 9th and Rhode Island, and 10th and Rhode Island. All are in various states of disrepair – some are mostly intact, some are missing parts and some are missing altogether.

One of the callboxes to be repurposed

Upon completion of the transformations, the callboxes will be another interesting draw to the neighborhood. Maps will be available at local businesses for self-guided tours, a website will be set up to help with their promotion, and local youth will be trained for providing tours of the call boxes.

If you are interested in taking a substantive, leading role in the project, please rsvp to shawcallbox@gmail.com and plan on making this Saturday’s meeting. Some of the upcoming tasks that will be assigned include fundraising, analyzing best practices of similar projects elsewhere, revising/editing text for callbox plaques, securing historic images for the plaques, and obtaining quotes from vendors on casting plaques and missing parts.

Laundromat at Eleventh and Rhode Island Remodeling

Based on permits I spotted in the window last weekend, it appears that the laundromat at Eleventh and Rhode Island Avenue is simply being remodeled (and not redeveloped), thus answering this reader query from March.

Bye Bye, Kelsey Gardens

CityPaper has the scoop on the raze permits filed for the vacant Kelsey Gardens complex.  From what I've heard, this redevelopment project in the 1500 block of Seventh (dubbed Addison Square -- not sure if that name will stick or not) will move forward soon with a new party taking the lead.

With CityMarket, Kelsey Gardens, and Progression Place all in motion, the Seventh Street corridor is really going to be transformed.

Restaurant Week(s) at 1905

1905 is once again participating in Restaurant Week starting today (Tuesday, August 16) through Saturday (August 20)! For those of you unfamiliar with Restaurant Week, it is a twice-a-year event during which restaurants offer special multi-course menus for $35.11 (does not include tax and gratuity). 1905 has extended Restaurant Week next week also (August 23 - 27) in case you are not able to make it in this week.


Below is the special menu that Chef Matt put together. Some of the items are from 1905's existing menu, while others have been created just for Restaurant Week.

First Course Choices

Virginia Meatballs Locally raised beef and lamb, in a lingonberry and Virginia red wine sauce

Virginia beefsteak tomato salad topped with white bean skordalia, and fresh oregano vinaigrette (v)

Norfolk cream of crab soup

Second Course Choices

Wild Caught Rockfish pan seared and finished with garlic, lemon, dill butter and sambuca, with minted orzo salad and grilled radicchio

Chimichurri chicken breast grilled over hickory chips, served with radish-dill Danish potato salad, and cider vinegar pork fried bok choy

Spanakopita ~ Greek feta baked in phyllo with spinach and ricotta, served with heirloom bean and red onion salad in parsley vinaigrette (v)

Beef Short Rib Milanese ~ braised in a rich tomato gravy served with saffron risotto and a gremolata garnish

Third Course Choices

Chocolate bread pudding

Apple shortcake fresh apples in homemade cinnamon-cashew butter over shortcake

Please note that if you would like a reservation between 8PM and 9:30PM any night, you must call the restaurant because they do not accept online reservations via OpenTable during peak hours. They also require a credit card number for all Restaurant Week reservations to encourage honest reservation making habits.


1905
1905 Ninth Street, Northwest, 2nd Floor
202.332.1905

Flats at Blagden Alley Site For Sale Again

The Washington Business Journal reports that the sites of the once-planned Flats at Blagden Alley (917 M Street and 1212 Ninth Street) are again for sale.

I've reported about the Flats at Blagden Alley project on a few occasions -- giving a hopeful prediction of it moving forward way back in 2006, reporting about its sale to Self-Help in 2007, and reporting about it being listed for sale again in 2009.  I'm still holding out hope that the beautiful Eric Colbert and Associates PC plans for the parcels -- which envision 63 residential units and ground floor retail on Ninth Street -- will be realized someday soon.  

Confirmed: Giant Closing September 8

I'm behind the ball in reporting, but Giant confirmed that its O Street store is closing on September 8, 2011 (my birthday for anyone who's keeping track...).  This means that the long anticipated, catalytic, beautiful, huge CityMarket at O project is about to start! 

Civilian Art Projects: Danielle de Picciotto Reading Saturday

This Saturday (August 13) at 6:00 pm, Civilian Art Projects is hosting a reading by Danielle de Picciotto. From the press release:

The Beauty of Transgression is Danielle de Picciotto's memoir of Berlin. The book brings together her accounts of musicians, fashion designers, and club owners as well as other artists and their milieus with unique first-hand descriptions of milestone places and events. It is not only a fascinating collection of stories about key individuals, but also gives an authentic and detailed overview of why Berlin has become one of the most appealing metropolises for creatives from around the world.

Danielle de Picciotto's intimate text and personal selection of images penetrate through hype and commercialization and make The Beauty of Transgression a uniquely genuine documentation of the creative history of Berlin's underground. Danielle de Picciotto will be reading from her book on the 13th of August at Civilian Art Projects.

To underline the Berlin atmosphere she is portraying, film clips and photographs will be projected during the reading and her husband Alexander Hacke of the legendary German Band Einstürzende Neubauten will create live electronic soundscapes during the show.

Civilian Art Projects
1019 7th Street NW
202.607.3804
Hours: Wed-Thur-Sat 1-6pm

Reader Request: Support Shaw's Tavern!

A reader submits the following important request to help Shaw's Tavern secure its liquor license.

Neighbors,

In case you hadn't heard, Shaw's Tavern has gotten in trouble with ABRA (which issues alcohol licenses). The City Paper reports the full story, but the details are pretty silly: They used their "soft opening" to host a charity event for victims of domestic violence and, allegedly, served—but did not sell—alcohol. ABRA would have given them a "one day" license for this special event, but they simply failed to do that. Because of this harmless misunderstanding, the bureaucrats at ABRA may decline to give Shaw's Tavern their liquor license. This would doom the business, since most restaurants rely on drink sales to survive.

Having lived a few doors down 6th St for over four years, I was elated to see the business open, and got to know their management well. I really could not have been more delighted with how they fixed up a building that had been a terrible eyesore and turned it into a wonderful attraction that could help to catalyze the revitalization of a neighborhood that has yet to recover from the '68 riots. I have also found the managers to be truly thoughtful social entrepreneurs, who care deeply about neighborhood revitalization.

I plan on attending Wednesday's hearing at ABRA in person to make sure ABRA doesn't derail this great effort for such a harmless, innocent mistake. I'd encourage all of you attend to show your support, too. But if you can't, please take a moment to "sign" this online petition to show local support for Shaw's Tavern. After you sign, please share the petition with your friends on Facebook or Twitter!

The ABRA hearing will take place at 3:30pm on Wednesday at at 2000 14th ST, Suite 400S (14th & U). I hope to see some of you there!;

Happy Hour Benefiting Shaw Main Streets Next Thursday

Next Thursday night from 6:30 to 9 at Etete Restaurant (1942 Ninth Street, NW), there will be a happy hour benefiting Shaw Main Streets.   In addition to drinking for a good cause (Etete is generously donating a portion of its proceeds that night to the commercial revitalization nonprofit), you'll have the chance to the  Bid on one of several fantastic silent auction items or win a prize for best beach attire (yes, beachware is encouraged).

Bring friends and spread the word!  There's a facebook event set up for the happy hour here.



Happy Hour Benefiting Shaw Main Streets
August 11, 2011, 6:30 to 9 PM
Etete, 1942 Ninth Street, NW
For more information, e-mail shawmainstreetsinc@gmail.com or call 202.265.SHAW

Renovations in the 1300 Block of Eleventh

A few weeks ago, a reader submitted a tip about ongoing work on a set of five row homes in the 1300 block of Eleventh Street (including the building in which The Annex Market used to be). She reported that the owner intends for the ground floor corner retail space to be a restaurant with outdoor seating, and that several restaurateurs have already expressed interest in the space.

Walking to work this morning, I noticed that construction is moving along and things are looking great. The once drab, monotone buildings appear to be on their way to being an attractive rainbow row.

They're looking fantastic, right?

Touchstone Gallery Opening Friday for "Minisolos"

This Friday, August 5, from 6 to 8:30PM, Touchstone Gallery opens its latest show, "MiniSolos@Touchstone," which features works of thirty seven artists.

From the press release:

Touchstone Gallery continues the tradition of sharing its space by presenting the work of 37 area artists during the month of August. This MiniSolos@Touchstone artists exhibition fills two perpetual community needs: that of giving emerging, artists the rare opportunity for exhibition space in top-notch downtown gallery, and that of providing collectors access to work they don't yet know. The new voices in this exhibit offer viewers a range of imagery from the serene to the vivid to the provocative.

A small companion show, Summer Sampler, includes a variety of works across all media by Touchstone Gallery members. In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever to foster a thriving local arts scene. Support your local artists and join us for MiniSolos@Touchstone and Summer Sampler from August 4 - 27, 2011.

Participating artists: Nancy Abeles, David Alfuth, Stephanie Bianco, Kimberly Bush, Mason Thorpe Calhoun, Laurence Chandler, Megan Coyle, Ellen Delaney, Jonathan French, Judy Giuliani, Denise Graveline, Lynne Eve Grossman, Eric Johnson, Gongsam KimPark, Lauren Kotkin, Margret Kroyer, Christine Learned, Linda Lowery, Sue Lutz, Iris Malloy, Eve Monte, Carlos Munoz, Eileen Olson, Cheryl Parsons, Kathy J Paz, Ellen Ratner, Deborah Saks, Bhaval Shah Bell, Fred Tarr, Inna Timokhina, Tre, Tinam Valk, Susan Van Pool, Kay Walsh, James Wang, Hilda Witherspoon, Richard F. Wyvil.

Touchstone Gallery has been an artist-owned gallery for 35 years. The gallery moved in September 2010 to its current location in a modern loft-style space at 901 New York Ave NW in downtown Washington. You'll find this newly designed gallery near the Convention Center. It is a short walk from Mt. Vernon Sq., 7th St-Convention Center, and Metro Center metro rail stops and numerous parking garages. Gallery hours: Wednesday-Thursday 11-6, Friday 11-8, Saturday-Sunday 12-5.

For more information please contact Ksenia Grishkova, Director, at 202-347-2787 or e-mail at info@touchstonegallery.com or visit our website at www.touchstonegallery.com

Touchstone Gallery
901 New York Avenue, NW
202.347.2787


Image credit: Difficult Passage-Wide Open Big Cry by Linda Lowery

August Community Safety Walk

ANC2C04 Commissioner Rachelle Nigro is hosting another Community Safety Walk tomorrow night (August 2). Meet in the alley behind the new Yale West building between New York Ave and M St NW off 5th St NW. Come out to meet your neighbors and take a stand against crime. The final stop will be The Passenger at 1021 7th St. NW for some neighborly fun. All ANC 2C residents are encouraged to attend!

If you have questions or comments, contact the commissioner at 202.670.1732, nigroanc2c@gmail.com, facebook.com/votenigro, or on Twitter at @nigroanc2c.


Community Safety Walk
Tuesday, August 1, 6:30 PM
Meet behind the new Yale West building between New York Ave and M St NW off 5th St NW