Gala Auction Items Announced

The Shaw Main Streets gala is here!  As part of the amazing event on Wednesday, April 18, 2012,  the following eleven auction packages will be auctioned off by the hilarious and larger than life drag queen Lena Lett.  Don't miss out on the fun or the opportunity to win one of the fabulous packages; be sure to purchase tickets here and attend the extraordinary  event!


1. The Bitten Word Dinner Party for Six- The Bitten Word is an internationally known food blog written here in Washington, DC, by creators Zach Patton and Clay Dunn. The website chronicles the men's culinary adventures through beautiful photography and engaging tales from their kitchen. Saveur magazine named it a 2011 Best Food Blog, and in 2009 the London Times named it one of the World's Best 50 Food Blogs.

Zach and Clay will work with auction winner to curate a menu for six that they will cook – and potentially document on their blog – for the lucky winner and five other guests. The dinner will feature four seasonal courses (wine included) served at a to-be-decided location on a date that works for all parties.

Estimated value: $300

2. Dinner for Two at Corduroy - Tom Power’s highly acclaimed fine dining establishment Corduroy relocated to Shaw in 2008. The restaurant’s modern American menu is served in a tranquil elegant setting.

The winner of this package will receive a chef's surprise five-course tasting menu for two, available Monday through Thursday.

Estimated value: $130 value (excludes pairings, tax and gratuity)

3. Wagtime Services Package and Gift Basket – Wagtime is a star business in the Shaw neighborhood. Its adorably renovated and sparkling facility on 9th Street is always abuzz with activity by way of its retail store, grooming center, and daycare and boarding facilities.

This package includes a gift basket of dog toys and treats, as well as a gift certificate for $250 dollars in services at Wagtime. The certificate is not valid for holidays.

Estimated Value: $300

4. Seasonal Pantry Pasta Making Class for Six – Seasonal Pantry has been drawing foodies to Shaw since its opening in 2011. From its tiny storefront on 9th Street, Seasonal Pantry sells prepared foods, hosts gourmet dinners, and holds cooking classes. Seasonal Pantry won Shaw Main Streets’ best new business of 2011 award.

This package is a pasta making class class for six at Seasonal Pantry. Learn how to make pasta from acclaimed Chef Dan O’Brien in DC’s most unique, foodie market.

Estimated Value: $294

5. Dinner for Four at Ristorante Tosca – The award winning Italian eatery Ristorante Tosca in downtown D.C. is owned by Shaw resident Paolo Sacco. It has been consistently named by Washingtonian Magazine one of DC’s top 100 restaurants.

This package is for a dinner for four for up to $200 (food only) at Ristorante Tosca

Estimated Value: $200

6.  Beau Thai Dinner Party/Cooking Class for Six - Beau Thai began serving its authentic, made-from-scratch Thai cuisine in the Shaw neighborhood in August 2010. It has quickly garnered a loyal following and fantastic reviews – it has been named in City Paper’s Best Of DC Readers’ Poll for two years in a row.

This package is a hybrid dinner party and cooking class for six. The creative forces behind Beau Thai will host six people at a centrally located, beautiful Shaw row house for a meal that’s part cooking class and part dinner party. During this intimate evening, you will nosh on delicious Thai appetizers and sip signature cocktails and wine while the main meal is prepared for you in front of you. Enjoy dinner by candle-light and then take a few recipes home with you to make on your own later.

Estimated value: $360

7. Rogue 24 Journey Dinner for Four – Rogue 24 is an interactive culinary experience where the kitchen is at center stage and diners experience a progression of 24 courses created by James Beard Foundation award winning Chef RJ Cooper. Chef Cooper’s vision is to remove traditional barriers to dining and showcase seasonal flavors in novel textures and presentations served directly from the creator.

This package is a dinner for four Rogue 24. The diners will enjoy Rogue 24’s signature twenty-four-course “Journey Menu.”

Estimated value: $480 (excludes pairings, tax and gratuity)

8. DC Taste Cooking Class for Four – DC Taste is the amazing caterer of the Shaw in Bloom Gala. Chef/owner Jennifer Tye is formerly an assistant chef instructor at L'Academie de Cuisine, a two-year veteran cook at award-winning Michel Richard Citronelle as well as Central Michel Richard in Washington.

This Package is a cooking class for up to four people in your home with Chef Tye. The winning bidder can choose from a variety of cooking classes (like hors d’oeuvres, classic French dishes, breads, pasta, desserts, and knife skills classes).

Estimated Value: $500

9. Four In-Field Box Seat Nationals Tickets - This package is for four in-field box seat tickets to a 2012 season Nationals game. Tickets are based on availability on a mutually agreed date, excluding opening day, post-season, marques and prime games.

This package made possible by The Washington Nationals.

10.  Have a Drink Named for You at The Passenger – The Passenger, Shaw's nationally-recognized home of creative cocktails, will name a drink created with your preferences in mind (flavors and ingredients, like sweet, gin, cherry, vodka, etc.), which will be available at the bar for one week and promoted on Facebook andTwitter. You'll be able to go to The Passenger and ask for the "Joe Smith" (insert your name), and have your friends (and total strangers) do the same.

This prize has a suggested starting bid of $250.00.

11. Virginia Getaway for Two – Flint Hill, Virginia, is a peaceful retreat that feels worlds away but that is about an hour and a half from Washington. The historic community is nestled in beautiful Rappahanock County, Virginia, where wine tasting, antiquing, dining, and hiking are part of the way of life.

This package is a two night stay at the beautifully renovated Flint Hill Public House and Country Inn. Stay in one of the Inn’s luxury suite features, each of which feature a king-size bed and a private bathroom with an oversized shower, luxury linens, cable TV, free high-speed Internet, and much more.

Nearby Rappahanack Cellars has donated a Premium wine tasting, tour, and olive oil tasting for two.

Estimated Value: $300

Shaw in Bloom: Shaw Main Streets' 2012 Gala

Much of my time lately has been spent helping plan the Shaw Main Streets' 2012 Gala.  The catered event will take place on April 18 at Long View Gallery (1234 9th St., NW).

It's going to be a stellar night of fun -- we'll have live jazz from Laissez Foure, we're having a live auction of fantastic packages conducted by Lena Lett (drag queen MC at Town night club), we're serving a signature drink by Derek Brown of The Passenger along with wine, beer and catered food by DC Taste, and we'll have Shaw-centric flourishes throughout the night.

I've been chair of the board of Shaw Main Streets for the past year. As Chair, it's been my goal for Shaw Main Streets to become a more visible, value-adding organization to the businesses and residents alike.  From the tulips currently blooming along Ninth Street planted by volunteers the past three falls to our Clean and Safe team on the street most days of the week to the special events like Art All Night to storefront improvement projects in the works, I hope you find that we're making the Shaw neighborhood a better place.

By sponsoring or attending this gala, you can help Shaw Main Streets continue improving the Shaw neighborhood.

Purchase tickets in advance here!  Check out sponsor opportunities here.

Shaw in Bloom:  Shaw Main Streets' 2012 Gala
April 18, 2012, 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Long View Gallery
1234 Ninth Street, NW

Still Here

Sorry for being MIA on ye old blog lately.  I've been swamped with a number of projects that have kept me from renewingshaw virtually.  A few exciting tidbits from other writers:

• New-ish blog EastShawDC has lots of scoop on Shaw, including most recently that Tom Power of Corduroy seeking to buy the Mood Lounge building. 
• Hodges Sandwich Shop crossed New York Avenue, closer to Central Shaw.
• Seasonal Pantry won Best New Shaw Business of 2011.
• Old City Green is open!!!

Stay tuned for new blog posts shortly.

Howard Theatre Reopening in April

The reopening of the Howard Theatre in April will be a catalytic event for the Shaw neighborhood.  From the Press Release:

The Howard Theatre, the historic arts landmark that launched the careers of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye and The Supremes, announces their grand re-opening after a $29 million renovation with a star-studded opening gala and lineup of top-tier events. The Howard Theatre will re-open the week of April 9th with performances by Wale, The Roots, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Meshell Ndegeocello, Bad Brains, Chuck Brown and comedienne Wanda Sykes.

On April 12th, the new venue will host a Grand Opening Gala Fundraiser presenting performers from the Howard Theatre's past and future including Smokey Robinson, Al Jarreau, Madeleine Peyroux, Savion Glover and many more. The event will honor famed Motown Records founder and producer Berry Gordy, who will be in attendance. A full slate of wide-ranging performances in the 12,000 square foot, 650 seat (1,100-standing room) theatre will continue with a lineup that includes Chuck Berry, Chaka Khan, Esperanza Spalding, Jack Bruce, Boyz II Men and a weekly Sunday Brunch featuring the Harlem Gospel Choir. The scheduled lineup is listed at the end of this release.

The Howard Theatre will be operated by Blue Note Entertainment Group, the owners and operators of clubs and theaters around the world which include the Blue Note Jazz Club, B.B. King Blues Club and The Highline Ballroom in New York.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to be associated with the restoration of the legendary Howard Theatre," says Steven Bensusan, president of Blue Note Entertainment Group. "It’s an honor to be a part of this project and to help preserve the rich tradition of the Howard, while bringing forth a modern concept in both design and programming that we hope will revitalize the music-loving community. We've created a very flexible venue that can host an amazing array of events. Our booking policy will be eclectic, and we plan to feature the top names in all genres of music.”

The Most Historic of Theatres: A National Treasure

“The Howard Theatre will provide a true D.C. experience showcasing what Washington was and what it has become,” says Chip Ellis, CEO of Ellis Development and the leader behind the Howard Theatre Restoration (HRT) project. The Howard Theatre is located near the corner of 7th and T Streets Northwest in the Shaw Neighborhood of Washington, the area was once known as “Black Broadway” due to its burgeoning music scene. The theatre was built by architect J. Edward Storck for the National Amusement Company and opened on August 22, 1910 featuring vaudeville, live theatre, talent shows, and was home to two performing companies, the Lafayette Players and the Howard University Players. Like the nearby university, which is unaffiliated with the theatre, it is named after Union general Oliver Otis Howard.

After the stock market crash of 1929, the building was briefly converted into a church until Shep Allen, a theatre manager from Atlantic City, reopened it for its original purpose in 1931. Allen, who recruited native Washingtonian Duke Ellington to play the theatre’s first night, brought the theatre national attention by introducing Amateur Night Contests (whose early winners included Ella Fitzgerald and Billy Eckstine) and nationally-regarded performers including Pearl Bailey, Dinah Washington, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lena Horne, Lionel Hampton, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Dizzy Gillespie and The Supremes, who made their first stage appearance at the Howard. Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun got his musical start by watching jazz from inside the theatre’s storied walls. Speakers to grace the stage included Booker T. Washington and Sydney Poitier, as well as comedians including Redd Foxx and Moms Mabley. The theatre’s balls and galas attracted President and Mrs. Roosevelt, Abbott and Costello, Ceasar Romero and Danny Kaye. As the 1950’s ushered in a new musical era, the theatre became a leading venue for rock and blues artists as well as a home for jazz big bands.

When the nation was deeply divided by segregation, The Howard Theatre provided a place where color barriers blurred and music unified. The Washington Bee dubbed it the "Theatre for The People" for it was the place where dignitaries gathered with everyday folks to see both superstars and rising stars. The theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. While The Howard Theatre inspired change, it felt the impact of a nation in flux following the 1968 riots. Eventually, the degradation of the neighborhood forced the theatre to close in 1980.

In 2000, the Howard Theatre was designated an American Treasure under the “Save America’s Treasures” program by President Clinton, a designation for historic sites around the nation that are “so important to the history of the United States that they must be preserved and restored.” In 2006, a 501(c)3, Howard Theatre Restoration, was formed to raise funds for the restoration. After raising nearly $2 million through HTR, the city of Washington gave $12 million in grants via tax incremental financing, historic tax credits and new market tax credits, and Eagle Bank stepped in to finance the remainder, all paving the way for an overhaul of the theatre, which began in September of 2010.

An Old Theatre Steeped in New Design and Technology

The Howard Theatre features a regal windowed façade, originally incorporated into the structure in 1941, and combines elements of Beaux Arts, Italian Renaissance and neoclassical design.

The balconied interior is built with flexibility including supper club-style seating for approximately 650, which can be quickly removed through elevated hydraulic platforms to allow standing room for 1,100. The new configuration, with black walnut walls, oak floors and Brazilian granite bars on each level, features a $2 million state-of-the-art acoustic system, 10’ video screens and recording capabilities allowing The Howard to retain the intimate feel of its former 1,200-seat space, while appealing to both traditional and digital-age audiences, be it for a live performance, a private gala or a political fundraiser. A deeper stage, basement and additional wing space provides for enhanced set preparation, gourmet kitchen and administrative office space. A 600-square-foot museum and gift shop will showcase memorabilia, photos and videos of the astounding array of artists and guests who graced The Howard in years past. 100 dedicated parking spaces will be available at the neighboring mixed-use development, Progression Place.

A Dining Destination Created by a Master

In addition to first-rate entertainment, the Howard Theatre will feature a full dining menu designed by consulting chef, Marcus Samuelsson, the youngest chef to ever receive two three-star ratings from The New York Times. In addition to designing the dinner and brunch menus, Marcus and his team from the Marcus Samuelsson Group will assist in the appointment of the Theatre's executive chef and develop the training program for the culinary staff.

Like its other award-winning supper club properties, the theatre will open its doors two hours prior to all seated shows, with first-come, first-serve basis seating. For standing room-only shows, a streamlined menu will be offered. “Bringing in a chef of Marcus’ caliber really separates us from the entertainment pack,” says Bensusan. “An avid supporter of the cultural arts, Chef Samuelsson is a natural fit to create a menu inspired by our Theatre’s cultural heritage, allowing our patrons to have a dining and performance experience that will be truly unparalleled.”

A Full Opening Schedule

The Howard Theatre will begin its opening with the Howard Theatre Community Day on April 9th, featuring live music performances, memorabilia displays and tours of the theatre. A memorabilia drive is currently underway, in which members of the community are donating tickets, posters, and souvenirs from the theatre’s past.

The Grand Opening Gala and Tribute Concert will be held on Thursday, April 12, 2012. A fundraiser for Howard Theatre Restoration, the 501c3 charged with preserving the building and history of the theatre, the event will feature a full line-up of legendary music, comedy and dance performances. “This will be a memorable night of entertainment that will officially raise the curtain of the Howard, celebrating the great history of entertainment at the theatre while looking toward its magnificent future,” says Ellis.

In addition to its opening evening performance lineup, the theatre will also host Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring the Harlem Gospel Choir, a completely seated, weekly gospel concert and brunch for $35 including a full Southern-style buffet brunch. Sunday Gospel Brunches will begin at 12:30 each Sunday starting April 15.

“Washington DC does not have a venue like the Howard which incorporates great food, state-of-the-art sound, lighting and video systems,” says Bensusan. “In addition to presenting great music, we plan to host many private events and corporate functions at the Howard. We are proud to bring the Howard Theatre back to Washington D.C. and look forward to adding a brand new chapter to its illustrious history."

A complete list of scheduled talent and ticket pricing can be found at the end of this release. Tickets for all scheduled events will be available for purchase beginning February 27th at http://www.thehowardtheatre.com/.

The Howard Theatre
630 T Street NW, 620 T Street NW,

CAS Riegler Plans Grand Transformation on Ninth

Developer CAS Riegler is seeking approval for its plans to transform 1250 Ninth Street (former home to Fight Club) and the lot at Ninth and N currently occupied by Old City Green into a mixed use project.  The development would include ground floor retail and fifty four residences.  The innovative design is by the great architectural firm PGN Architects.

Here are the images of the project as currently proposed.  I think it looks awesome:

Looking north on Ninth

Looking south on 9th

Looking east on N Street

Interior Courtyard

Renderings courtesy of PGN Architects.

Long View Gallery Presents Tony Savoie

Tomorrow night (February 23, 2012) from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Long View Gallery celebrates the opening of its show of new works by Tony Savoie entitled "In Thoughts, Words and Deeds."  Check out the Facebook event page for the opening here.  The show will be on display through March 18.

From the press release:

Orlando, Florida artist Tony Savoie works in mixed media, creating visually striking and complex shadowboxes. “In Thoughts, Words and Deeds” is an artistic expression of his own personal struggle with our world's political landscape, the abuse of power and an oft-innate lack of humanity. His struggle is manifested in this series of new works, inspiring the viewer to evaluate their own tendencies to "follow the leader."

Savoie’s obedient subjects are central to each work -- dogs, boy scouts, musclemen and weaponry -- surrounded by text and imagery relating to their environments. Through the juxtaposition of text and imagery, Savoie criticizes the pack mentality and questions the morality of acting solely on orders rather than self-evaluation. Addressing the gap between the potential for human decency and an often brutally cruel reality, he manages to balance his frustration and disgust with humor and possibility.

Tony Savoie uses a wide range of media including clear acrylic, spray paint, photographs, stencils, oils and found objects to create his multi-dimensional statements.

Long View Gallery
1234 Ninth Street, NW
202.232.4788

Tonight: NPS Woodson Site Public Meeting for General Management Plan

I apologize for the late notice (I'm just now seeing this), but from NPS comes news of a meeting (tonight, February 22, 2012):

The National Park Service is developing a General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment/Interpretation Plan for the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site.


The plan describes the process for development, visitor use, and management of the national historic site. Throughout the planning process, the National Park Service has received ideas and comments from members of the public. Input from the public is valuable, and I hope you will take part in reviewing the plan.

The plan will be available online in mid-February 2012 at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/woodsongmp; I invite your and comments.

The review and comment period will last for 30 days once the plan is released. To promote environmental stewardship, only a limited number of printed copies and USB flash drives will be available; therefore, I encourage you to access the plan online. Please make your comments on the website listed above. (To request a printed copy or USB flash drive of the plan, please call 202-673-2402.)

You are also invited to provide feedback at a public meeting.

Please join us:

PUBLIC MEETING FOR GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

WHEN: Wednesday, February 22, 2012

WHERE: African American Civil War Memorial and Museum

1925 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001

TIME: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A presentation will be made regarding the plan, and National Park Service staff will be available to answer your questions. If you are unable to attend the meeting, I recommend visiting www.nps.gov/cawo starting in mid-February to view a video message from me. Look under Park Management on the website for a link to the video. For more information about national historic site, please visit www.nps.gov/cawo . I welcome your participation in this planning effort and look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your interest!

Sincerely,

Alexcy Romero, Superintendent

National Capital Parks-East