Don't Let H Street Festival Related Bus Detours or Parking Restrictions Catch You Off Guard

The H Street Festival is a lot of fun, but there's a ton of logistical planning that goes into making it happen. Parking restrictions, street closures, and bus detours are a necessary evil that aren't a big deal as long as you remember and plan ahead.

Parking restrictions on H Street NE will go into effect at 4am tomorrow morning and remain in place until about 11pm (this could end earlier). During this time you will not be able to park on H Street NE between Fourth Street NE and Florida Ave NE. Emergency No Parking signs should already be posted to alert you.

The H Street Festival is Fast Approaching

The H Street Festival is headed our way this Saturday. That means tons of live music, food, vendors of all sorts. Most businesses will remain open during the festival, but some restaurants may run an abbreviated menu. I don't have a ton of details about what to expect beyond the usual fun from past years, and I think your best bet is to ask or check social media/newsletters from a particular business if you want to know what they have planned. 

Art All Night on H St. NE Sept. 14

The Art All Night website maybe loading slowly, but the schedule of H Street NE events is right here.

WBJ: Hechinger Mall Finds a Buyer

Hechinger Mall in a 2018 image from Google Streetview

The Washington Business Journal reported yesterday that MRP Realty and JM Zell Partners have sign a contract to purchase the 8.6 acre Hechinger Mall site at 1518 Benning Road NE from Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. This is really big development news for the eastern end of the H Street NE Corridor, where many advocates have long hoped to see the site of the aging strip mall redeveloped. Hechinger Mall officially opened June 12, 1981 (HECHINGER MALL II THE STRUGGLE, Washington Post, Nov. 12, 1990).

Interested in Volunteering for the H Street Festival?

This year’s H Street Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 21. The festival brings visitors from near and far, and is a massive operation. Volunteers play a vital role in helping make sure things run smoothly in the big day. If you have an interest in pitching in, head down to tomorrow’s volunteer info session from 6:30-8pm (Tuesday, Aug. 6) at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St. NE).

Special Releases & Plinko for Craft Beer Cellar's Birthday

Craft Beer Cellar (301 H St. NE) is celebrating its 3rd birthday tomorrow with some special limited release beers and a Plinko Board game where you can win swag and artwork. Starting at 10am you can get crowlers of Horus Aged Ales Hazelnut Harris and Triple Crossing Mosaic Triangles. At 10am and 2pm they will release the following beers (half the bottles in the morning, and half in the afternoon. Limits will apply.

• Drie Fonteinen: (Cuvee Armand & Gaston, Oude Geuze) 
• Frederiksdal (Rancio PX, Late Bottled) 
• Barrel-aged Fremont (Rusty Nail, B-Bomb, Coconut B-Bomb, Dark Star, Dark Star Spice Wars) 
• Struise (Black Damnatoin XXVI - Froggie, Dark Horse Reserva) 
• Bellwoods (Farmageddon Cherry, Grandma's Boy, Peach MOG) 
• Plan Bee (Surf & Turf, Karnevel, BeeRoo, Precious) 
• Pohjala (BA Oo, CocoBanger, Karneval, Port Over Easy (collab with Jester King))

Play Life-Sized BINGO on Union Market's Rooftop

Head over to Union Market (1309 Fifth St. NE) Sunday, July 28 from 6–9pm, for a playful interactive art exhibition featuring works by District-based artist Maggie O'Neill. O'Neill's Let's Play is inspired by nostalgia and a love of BINGO, and the evening will offer the chance to play a life-sized version of the familiar game. There will also be traditional-sized BINGO, as well as other games, raffles, live entertainment, and prizes. Food and drink will be available for purchase. The festivities will take place on the rooftop of Union Market.

A portion of the sales of all artwork will go to Children's National, a highly ranked children's hospital and health system in the District with care locations throughout the metro area. Tickets are free, and you can RSVP through eventbrite.