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.

Tonight: Edible Urban Garden Tour and Community Potluck

Tonight (Friday, July 15) from 5 to 8 P.M. is the first-ever Edible Garden Tour. Home base for the self-guided tour is Old City Green, where you can enjoy cocktails and community potluck.

Tickets are $10 each, with a portion of the proceeds to support Eat Local First DC. RSVP on Facebook here.

From the press release about tonight's event:

Explore city spaces and residential gardens that will open their doors and gates for the public to see what growing good food in our own backyards, front yards, rooftops, and empty lots is all about. It’s a chance to ask questions, learn from and hear what inspires some of DC’s best gardeners.

The tour will start at the beautiful, plant-filled garden shop named Old City Green and stretch through the revitalized neighborhoods of ...Shaw, Bloomingdale and Ledroit Park. Plus, see for yourself and learn more about Common Good City Farm the community garden that Prince Charles recently toured as part of his inspiring Future of Food visit to DC. A map of tour locations will be distributed on the day of the event at Old City Green. The tour is self-guided and will cover several miles so a bike or a car is recommended.

By organizing this tour, we hope to support the "grow your own" movement and create a community event designed to be a resource for so many local residents interested in finding ways to grow their own food.

Edible Urban Garden Tour
Friday July 14, 5 to 8 P.M.
Old City Green

ANC2C Newsletter, July Agenda

Advisory Neighborhood Commission ("ANC") 2C's new Communications Committee recently published its first newsletter.  It is available online here and is being distributed in hard copy throughout the ANC.  Congrats, ANC2Cers!

ANC2C's July meeting is tomorrow night (July 6, 2011) at 6:30 PM at the Watha T. Daniel Shaw Neighborhood Library (1630 7th Street, NW). The agenda is available on the ANC's website, but I've copied and pasted it below too.

Agenda

1.  Call to Order and Roll Call
3.  Approval of Agenda
3.  PSA 308 Report: Lt. Jeffrey Carroll, Metropolitan Police Department
4.  DC Statehood: Request for Support for Resolution Endorsing Statehood for the District of Columbia
5.  DC Statehood: Request for Co-sponsorship of DC Statehood Teach In at Shaw Library (Stand Up! For Democracy in DC)
6.  KIPP WILL Academy, 421 P Street, NW: Proposed Disposition of Montgomery Elementary and New Curb Cut on 5th Street, NW
7.  Bundy Field (400 block of P Street, NW): Proposed Transfer from Department of Parks and Recreation to Department of Real Estate Services to Accommodate Private Sector Restoration of Field and Use by KIPP WILL Academy
8.  509 Q Street, NW: Request for Support for Special Exception to allow Construction of an Addition (Raymundo Madrid)
9.  Squares 450 and 451 (Bounded by K, L, 6th and 7th Streets, NW): Request for Support for Raze Permits for Demolition and Moving of Buildings to Facilitate Construction of American Association of Medical Colleges Building (Douglas Development)
10.  1225 5th Street, NW (HPA #11-375): Request for Support for Subdivision of Adjacent Corner Lot and Construction of an Addition
11.  1200 Block of 9th Street, NW: Proposal for ANC 2C to Request Diagonal Parking on Sundays
12.  Parcel 42 (NE Corner, 7th and R Streets, NW): Request for Support for Temporary Art Installation (Washington Project for the Arts)
13.  901 Restaurant, 901 9th Street, NW: Request for Support for Valet Parking Application (U Street Parking)
14.  SOME’s Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger, November 24, 2011: Request for Support for Street Closures (So Others Might Eat)
15.  Art All Night: Nuit Blanche DC, September 24, 2011: Request for Support for Street Closures (Shaw Main Streets)
16.  Audi Best Buddies Challenge, 10/22/11: Request for Support for Street Closures (Special Olympics)
17.  DOES Job and Opportunity Fair, 07/07/11: Employment and Training Event Scheduled for Kennedy Recreation Center, 11 AM to 3 PM (CCCA)
18.  Request for Proposals for ANC 2C Website, Branding, and Newsletter: Presentation by Insomniac Design Vendors
19.  Other New Business
20.  Old Business
21.  Approval of Minutes of 06/01/11 Meeting and FY 2011 3rd Quarter Report
22.  Approval of Expenses
23.  Announcements
24.  Adjournment

To receive ANC 2C notices via email, send your request to ANC2Clist@gmail.com

There are certainly some interesting items up for discussion. I'm particularly interested in the angled parking proposal for the 1200 block of Ninth Street on Sunday mornings (I'd be curious to hear neighborhood businesses weigh in on the proposal in addition to churches), the temporary art project proposal at Parcel 42 (Seventh and R Streets, NW) and the various development-related topics.

Neighborhood In Bloom

The tulips we planted on Ninth Street in 2009 and in 2010 are in bloom and look fantastic!

Save the Date: SMS Happy Hour at The Passenger

On Monday, April 25 from 5 to 8, The Passenger will donate ten percent of its proceeds to local economic revitalization group Shaw Main Streets (note regarding that link: a new Shaw Main Streets website is coming soon).  It should be a great opportunity to mingle with neighbors and business owners, to enjoy the amazing concoctions The Passenger's mixologists are known for, and to help Shaw Main Streets carry out its mission of improving the neighborhood via the proceeds from your bar tab.  Plus, haven't you been looking for an excuse to drink a lot on a Monday night?!

So save the date and plan to have a great time later this month!


Happy Hour Benefiting Shaw Main Streets
April 25, 2011, 5 to 8 pm
The Passenger, 1021 Seventh Street, NW
For more information, e-mail shawmainstreetsinc@gmail.com or call 202.265.SHAW



Full disclosure -- I'm a Shaw Main Streets board member and am helping organize this event. 

Be a Part of the New Library

The new Watha T. Daniel-Shaw Library, located at 7th Street and Rhode Island Avenue Northwest, opens this summer. The new library will feature a large photo mural depicting 300 faces of the Shaw community.  If you would like your face to be included in the mural, come to the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Interim Library on Monday, May 24, 2010 from 5 to 8 p.m.  A photographer will be there taking pictures for this once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of our new neighborhood library!

You will need to sign a photo release form to participate, and minors must get the signature of their parent or guardian.  For more info, contact Martha.Saccocio@dc.gov.

Watering Trees Made Easy by Casey Trees

It's been thrilling to see so many new street trees planted in recent months (even if a few of our tulips were lost in the process...). It will be even more thrilling to know that these trees will thrive for generations of Shaw-ers to come. Ensuring trees will endure takes the dedication of neighbors to water and care for trees in tree boxes near their homes.

Trees, especially those that have been in the ground for less than 3 years, need 25 gallons of water - approximately equal to 1.5 inches of rainfall - per week to survive. From now through September, Casey Trees will issue weekly tree watering recommendations for DC residents. No more guessing when to water trees--Watering recommendations will be posted each Monday on the Casey Trees website and on their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

If you pledge to practice 25 to Stay Alive by watering trees on and surrounding your property each week in times of little or no rainfall during the spring, summer and fall, Casey Trees will send you a complimentary rain gauge to help you monitor rainfall totals on your property so you know just when to water.

Also, Ooze Tubes are always available free of charge for pick up at Casey Trees's downtown location during normal business hours.

I'll take the pledge and look out for the new trees on my block. Will you for yours?

Become a CSA-er This Week

The term "CSA" stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It's a great way to get an abundance of vegetables for a season (generally May through November) while at the same time helping farmers by ensuring that they'll be able to sell what they've grown. Basically, individuals and families purchase a share or a half share of the harvest early in the season and receive produce in the summer.

Old City Green is slated to be a weekly drop off location for Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative (LFFC). LFFC is a non profit organic farmers cooperative of 64 farmers in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. They focus on creating healthy high quality foods from highly maintained and enriched soils on small scale family farms. LFFC plans to deliver produce every Wednesday to Old City Green.

By signing up for a share or a half share (we--two adult non-vegetarians--signed up for a half share), you'll get a lot of produce and a pretty wide variety of stuff over the course of the season, from tomatoes to lettuces to peppers to watermelons to potatoes to sweet potatoes to squash to onions and so on and so forth. You can check out a sampling of last years' deliveries here. You can also order fresh meats, eggs, cheeses, breads, and other stuff at any time, which will be delivered with your order. I'm sure arrangements can be made if you're out of town one week, etc.

LFFC extended the deadline to April 23 (THIS FRIDAY!!!) to sign up for the CSA delivering at Old City Green. Please tell anyone interested in this great program to sign up soon to make this central Shaw location a booming success for LFFC. You can buy your share online here.

Keep Shaw Beautiful this Saturday!

Shaw Main Streets will host its sixth annual Keep Shaw Beautiful Day this Saturday (April 17, 2010). The community enhancing event kicks off at 9:00 a.m. at Old City Green. Volunteers will weed and plant liriope in tree boxes, pick up trash and generally have a good time. Bring your gloves and gardening tools if you have them. For more information, call Shaw Main Streets at 202-265-SHAW or email info@shawmainstreets.com.

The current forecast for Saturday is gorgeous (sunny in the 60's), so it should be a great day!

Keep Shaw Beautiful 2010
9:00 a.m., Saturday, April 17
Old City Green

"Here or There" Art Project Seeks Residents' Collaboration

An interesting art project is about to hit the streets of Shaw soliciting items from residents to become part of an art installation. The following description is from the project's leaders:

"Here or There," the name of the upcoming art installation, was conceived by an artist, architect and real estate developer, all of which work locally in the area. This unusual collaboration explores value in the community; the value of art, space and commerce. Ultimately, the installation will consist of mementos and objects from residents of the Shaw and U Street neighborhoods that show how these residents make a living.

In order obtain these items, the team will provide 100 bags to homes along the Ninth Street corridor from U Street to N Street today (Friday April 9) by leaving the bags at doorsteps along the way. These bags will then be retrieved on April 12 to be assembled for display.

The path of the bag distribution is guided by the locations of the installation. The initial installation will take place April 19 in the retail space of Moderno, a mid-rise residential building at Twelfth and U Street, developed by one of the members of the team. The collection of items will follow a path to the second and final point, Long View Gallery at Ninth and N Streets. The installation will be displayed in the gallery at the beginning of May.

Each bag provided contains a Shaw Buck (pictured). The Shaw Buck is a community currency created for the purpose of this art process and installation. In exchange for a personal memento or object, residents may redeem the Shaw Buck at a handful of local businesses for discounts or gifts.

Check out the Pop Up Gala Website for more information on the Here or There project as developed by Team WORK as well as the Pop Up project as a whole: http://popupgala.tumblr.com/

This project is sponsored by the Cultural Development Corporation (CuDC). CuDC is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC that creates space and builds the capacity of artists to prosper within that space.

CuDC ensures the continuing creation of affordable spaces for artists to live and work. Each year CuDC serves 5,600 artists, 75 arts organizations and touches over 150,000 greater DC metro area residents by providing space, funds, knowledge, marketing, advocacy and presentation opportunities.

Through programs, such as Flashpoint, Source and the Creative Communities Initiative, CuDC works with artists and arts organizations to build the creative infrastructure that fuels the arts and economy in Washington, DC.

http://www.culturaldc.org/

Interesting, right?! I look forward to posting more about this project soon.

Our Tulip Project in Bloom. . . and a Contest

As you may remember, a group of us planted roughly 800 tulips, supplemented the soil with nutrients, and mulched 32 tree boxes on Ninth Street between N and Rhode Island Avenue last fall (we'll do a similar project this fall on Ninth Street north of Rhode Island Avenue). The bulbs have finally started blooming en mass and have added some beautiful color and life to the streetscape.

To memorialize this humble enhancement, I'm putting out an all call to photographers and wannabe photographers in the reading area: I encourage you to take photos of the new tulips on Ninth Street and to submit your photos to the ReNewShaw Flickr Group. I will crown the taker of my favorite photo with a $25 gift certificate to Old City Green and a posting of the photo in the right hand side of the web page.

So take advantage of the gorgeous weather, take a look at the product of our fun but hard work from last October and snap a shot of the uplifting effect of these new blooms!

New Monthly Shaw Column

In case you cannot get enough renewshaw.com here or on twitter, I recently began contributing a monthly column about the neighborhood to the newly re-branded monthly newspaper DC MidCity (formerly DC North). The column will have a similar content and voice to which you have become accustomed in my vast media empire. Last month's column, available here, spotlighted some of the unique businesses around the convention center. This month's column is in the editor's hands now and should come out shortly.

Vote Shaw in Best of DC

The Washington City Paper is holding its annual "Best of D.C." contest now through March 15. Cast your votes here! Shaw scored significant recognition in last year's poll; let's continue the tradition and keep Shaw on the map with Washington City Paper readers!

Snow Miscellany

In light of the major snow storm afoot, the Mayor declared a snow emergency that went into effect today (Friday, February 5, 2010) at 9:30 a.m (see press release here; for a PDF map of snow emergency routes, click here, and for a PDF list of streets included, click here). According to an e-mail blast I received, if one's vehicle is not moved off the snow emergency route, DPW will tow the vehicle to a pre-determined lot and the owner will incur a $250 fine for parking on a snow emergency route during a declared snow emergency, a $100 towing fee and a $25 impound fee (this fee will double after 48 hours and then increase by $25 every 24 hours thereafter).

I spotted the Shaw Main Streets Green Team out this morning spreading salt at crosswalks. This will undoubtedly make journeys through the neighborhood easier in the coming days.

Long View Gallery's opening tonight is still on, so for the brave and cultural, the gallery will be a happening beacon in the storm.

As we expect so much snow, it is advisable to shovel your sidewalk a few times during the downfall. I usually shovel the sidewalks and front steps of my elderly neighbors (and, if feeling major cabin fever, will continue down the block), and encourage all to be generous with their physical might for greater mobility for all.

Be warm and stay safe!

Washington Real Estate Community Has a Heart for Haiti

Major players in the Washington real estate community have quickly joined forces to aid in the Haiti relief effort. The influential group’s immediate focus is to respond to the search and recovery effort, and the group’s long-term vision is to help rebuild the devastated country.

The group’s first expression of support for Haiti comes in the form of a major fundraiser to be held tomorrow night (1/20/2010) from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Avenue, NW). Tomorrow night’s event is entitled “A Heart for Haiti” and is one of the largest, rapid-response fundraising efforts in D.C.

Thanks to the generosity of its sponsors, one hundred percent of the event's proceeds go to The American Red Cross – Haiti Disaster Relief Fund. Admission is $100 per person and you should register in advance to attend through the fundraiser’s website. Donations can be made at the event or through the website, regardless of whether you plan to attend.


A Heart for Haiti.
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Avenue, NW)
January 20, 2010
6 to 9 p.m.

Facebooking Shaw

Many neighborhood businesses and organizations have a very active presence on Facebook. I've enjoyed being a fan or friend of a variety of neighborhood establishments, as it's allowed me to get updates in my Facebook news feed on what's happening around the neighborhood. Below is a listing of some of the many Shaw entities with an active presence on Facebook:

1905

Bread for the City

Long View Gallery

Motley Bar

Nellie's Sports Bar

Old Dominion Brewhouse

The Passenger

Shakti Mind Body Studio

Wagtime

Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Is there a Shaw business or organization with a very useful facebook presence that I've omitted?

Neighborhood New Year Resolutions

Although 2010 is in full swing, it's not too late to make a few neighborly resolutions. Here a list of suggestions (updated from the ones I suggested in 2007) that would be transformative in 2010:

1. Pick up at least 5 pieces of trash outside a day.

2. Volunteer in our neighborhood. Here are a few options; contact the volunteer coordinators for specific opportunities:

+ Voulunteer at the Watha T Daniel Shaw Community Library. To learn more about volunteering at the Library, click here

+ Volunteer at one of our neighborhood schools. To learn more about volunteering at a neighborhood school, click here.

+ Volunteer at a local park or at the Kennedy Recreatrion Center. To learn more about volunteering at a neighborhood park, click here.

+ Volunteer at a local non-profit - Several non-profits in the area need volunteers to advance their mission, such as Bread for the City and ArtSpace DC.

3. Organize and/or participate in a neighborhood watch for your block. Check here for more information.

4. Become a graffiti fighter. Buy paint now and, whenever you see a tag, paint over it ASAP.

Do you have other suggestions and/or did you make any community-oriented resolutions that others, too, might want to adopt? Share in the comments!

Old City Green Brings the Holiday Spirit

. . . in more ways than one!

First, from today through Sunday (December 11 through 13), if you buy a Christmas tree at Old City Green, National Pedicabs will deliver you and your Old City Green Christmas to your home. Cool, right? Get a tree (and other greenery), hop on a pedicab, and have you and your tree peddled home!

Second, this Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m., Old City Green will have a live jazz band playing seasonal music! Refreshments will be provided. It'll be a great time to be in the area for some holiday shopping!

Also, ask Old City Green about how you can donate your tree for composting when the season comes to an end!


Old City Green
Corner of Ninth and N Streets, Northwest
202.412.2489

Launch Party for ReadySetDC at Long View Tonight

ReadySetDC will hold a launch party tonight (Thursday, December 10) at Long View Gallery from 7 p.m. until midnight. From the press release:

ReadysetDC, the “Creative Urban Enterprise” will hold its official launch party on December 10th, 2009 at the newly reopened Long View Gallery at 1234 9th Street NW. The theme and title “For the Love of DC” reflects the website’s mission to promote and spotlight the urban renaissance that’s happening here in the nation’s capital and coincides with ReadysetDC’s new site redesign. “For the Love of DC” also marks the beginning of the ReadysetDC creative agency; offering branding, web design, photography, video, writing, marketing and new
media services.

“For the Love of DC” is an RSVP only affair and will feature several artist exhibitions as well as three live performances. There will be four photography exhibitions; Tracy Clayton, Lillian Cho, Paul Frederiksen and Vincent Gallegos, all DC-based photographers and contributers to ReadysetDC. Also included, will be the nationally recognized artists of “No Kings” Collective who will provide an original art installation coinciding with the event’s theme. “For the Love of DC” will feature DC music acts; DJ Tittsworth, Bullfight Academy featuring hip hop artist duo Henry Mills & DJ Fleg (AWR) and a special surprise rock band. The event will begin at 7pm with viewing of the art installation and photography. Performances will start at 7:30pm and run until midnight. Light fare and drinks will be available.

“For the Love of DC” will be an interactive experience, working with our sponsors, HP, Intel and Best Buy, to facilitate live testing of the HP ENVY. Event goers will have a chance to win a new Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition, which will be raffled off by DJ Tittsworth. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the event for $5 each. A majority of the proceeds will benefit Arts for the Aging, Inc. (AFTA) a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides visual, performing, literary and intergenerational arts outreach programs specially designed to improve the health and enhance the lives of seniors throughout the metro D.C. area. Marvin, Modern Liquors and Fathom Creative are also sponsors.

RSVP: http://www.readysetdc.com/rsvp
Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199699428473

Sounds neat!

For the Love of DC
Launch Party for ReadySetDC
Thursday, December 10 7 p.m. to Midnight
Long View Gallery
1234 Ninth Street, Northwest

Wounded Warrior Action Group at 1314 Ninth

The Wounded Warrior Action Group ("WWAG") recently established its home in the second floor office suite of the gorgeous 1314 Ninth Street, Northwest. Our new neighbors' honorable and noteworthy mission is to ease the burden on the wounded individuals and their families through political action.

This Saturday (December 12, 2009) from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., WWAG invites the public to get a glimpse into the life of soldiers and technologies used to protect our forces, and civilians, through an exhibition called "Airman to Infantry". The event will take place in the new (never-before-posted-about-here) gallery on the first floor of the 1314 Ninth Street, CRE8 Space Studio Gallery.



Wounded Warrior Action Group Presents Airman to Infantry
Hosted by CRE8 Space-Studio Gallery
1314 Ninth Street, Northwest