1000 block of H Street

Greening With Treeboxes

Check out this recent article from the Post (thanks to Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space for the link) on treeboxes. Maintaining treeboxes is not only a great way to beautify your street, but it can also be a terrific means to meet your neighbors.

Neighbors plant treeboxes on Montello

A Dance for H Street

Roll Call has a story on Project Exposure at the Atlas. Here is story (from the Atlas) on Project Exposure:

Project Exposure: H Street Revealed: Residents’ Stories Fuel Creation of Art

Young Artist Grant Recipient, Waylon Anderson, unites DC area artists to present an evening of dance depicting the essence of H Street. Talented local choreographers share their thoughts about the historic corridor. The ensemble will premiere new works in styles that include ballet, modern and hip-hop. The subject matter touches on the past, present and future of the H Street corridor. Project Exposure has something for everyone. Together the cast will use stories generated by the community to ask “What are we here for and what is the meaning of all of this?”

Project Exposure will have a three-day run at the Atlas Performing Arts Center starting May 31 and ending June 2. All performances are at 8:00 p.m.



May 31 at 8PM - Free community performance,
June 1 and 2, at 8PM - $10 Adult, $5 Senior or Student (1/2 proceeds to
benefit the Atlas Performing Arts Center's Capital Campaign).
Atlas Performing Arts Center
1333 H Street NE
Call (202) 399-7993 for Tickets

VOH on Amplified Free Speech Day

Here's a recent article from Voice of the Hill on the continuing efforts of a group of residents near 8th & H Street to get the city to more equitably enforce the noise ordinances with regard to a group of street preachers that employ an amplifier for hours on end each Saturday. The group, which finds a voice in resident David Klavitter's blog Quest for Quiet. The exasperated residents have called for supporters to join them in an amplied free speech day event in Georgetown. They hope this action will call attention to their noise concerns. The most recent edition of the Voice of the Hill also includes an editorial supporting the group's June 11th Georgetown plans.

Alley Dwellings Off H Street

The Post offers this piece on alley dwellings in the District of Columbia. Two different alley locations right off H Street are mentioned.

Farmers Market Tomorrow @6th & H

The producers only market has live flowers, as well as fruits, veggies, honey, pork, beef, goatcheese, tarts, various other cheeses, breads, scones, cookies & more. Get great food, meet your neighbors, & talk to the farmers.

When: 9am-12pm Every Saturday
Where: 600 block of H Street

WP: Armored Car Driver Robbed at Hechinger Mall

I missed this, but someone sent it out on a listserv. The Post has a story on the armed robbery of an armored car driver yesterday at Hechinger Mall.

Time for School

Strip Club Withdraws Application

Check out this Voice of the Hill piece on a strip club & how it WON'T be coming to H Street. So it sounds like 1335 H Street NE (Phish Tea) was the correct address. I've got to ask what the owners (both of the strip club & of Phish Tea's building) were thinking. As previously mentioned, it seems (in my opinion) virtually impossible for a strip club to locate in that building considing the zoning issues (& school, library & churches close by) & inevitable community imput on the liquor license. While I would almost have to laugh at the the strip club owner, I can't help but be more than a bit miffed at the building owner (I don't believe they would be legally barred from resisting renting to a strip club -but I could be wrong). Any thoughts?

Follow-Up on Saturday's Tour

The owner of African food store discussed how he purchased his shop only nine months ago & hopes to build his wholesale and retail business. His store, located on 6th Street did not appear in the recent Post map of the wholesale food district.
Richard has a little write-up of the informal practice tour we did of the Capitol City Market last weekend.

The owner of Caribbean Cresent showed off his wares.

WP: Education Tops the List

Today's Post features this story on how education now registers as the top issue on the minds of DC residents.

And Here We Go Again...

Just when you though there was going to be a lull in squabbing over liquor licenses, here comes one that's sure create more than a stir (from the ANC 6A listserv):

ANC6a Community,

A restaurant/tavern that offers nude dancing, most recently operating in Southeast DC, hopes to move to 1335 H Street. The operation, known as "Ron D's" would be a license transfer to our ANC. There are numerous issues that need to be reviewed, not only alcohol licensing issues but zoning issues related to this type of transfer.

While zoning and licensing regulations may preclude transfer of this license, we want to hear from the community regarding views on the "appropriateness" of this type of establishment on H Street. The owner, or his attorney, will make a presentation at the next regularly scheduled ABL Committee in June and answer questions. The committee will then listen to community discussion.

At the same meeting, an applicant for a Class A license on the 900 block of H Street will also make a presentation. This liquor license would also be a transfer from another part of town. There are currently 4 Class A, and 3 Class B licenses between the 700-1500 blocks of H Street, NE. We need to hear your comments on this application as well.

Both of these issues will be addressed at the June 20 ABL Committee meeting, held at Sherwood Recreation Center from 7-9 PM. I encourage everyone to make your thoughts heard...either at that meeting, on this list-serve, or to your SMD Commissioner.

Mary Beatty
ABL Chair
ANC6a05 Commissioner

I tried to find some info on this place but a search (google & phonebook) turned up nothing. The business name doesn't appear on any directory of gay oriented businesses (not that I know that this is one) that I could find. FYI -1335 H Street is currently occupied by Phish Tea.

*************************************
CLARIFICATION
*************************************
I don't think we really need to panic about with this particular application. Not only is the zoning all wrong, but it would be virtually impossible (as I understand it) for an establishment featuring nude dancing to locate at 1335 H Street NE because there (by my count) 4 churches, 1 library, & 1 school that are probably all located within 600 feet of 1335 (many of the same issues mentioned previously when it was rumored that Show Bar, aka Palace of Wonders, would be a strip club, and more recently when there was concern over a strip club locating on Mt. Olivet). I don't think it would be particularly difficult for the community to successfully object to this one. It now sounds like there may have been some sort of error with the address, so maybe the application is for an entirely different area of the city?

To Market, To Market

I met up with Richard from Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space Saturday for a dry run (with a small group) of an informal tour we'd like to do of the Capital City Market (aka Florida Market, aka the wholesale food district). The tour would likely include many of the businesses appearing on this map, plus a good location or two that we feel the Post doesn't mention.

H Street Farmers Market Tomorrow

What: A producers only farmers market selling live plants, herbs, breads, apples, cheeses, honey, pork, beef, greens, stawberries & much more.
Where: the 600 block of H Street
When: 9am-12pm Saturday mornings

HSMS volunteers offer information & baloons at a recent market.

Reminder: Free Composting Workshop Sunday

R&B Coffee Mentioned in Roll Call

R&B Coffee received a brief mention in a Roll Call piece on the Hill's coffee shops.

RC: Signs of (Night) Life on H Street

Roll Call has this brief piece on H Street night life. The article focuses on The Argonaut, the H Street Martini Lounge, & Phish Tea.

The Argonaut

H Street Martini Lounge

Phish Tea Cafe

PSA 504 Meeting Saturday

What: A police service area meeting for PSA 504 (includes all of Trinidad)
When: 10:00am Saturday May 20th
Where: The Youth Services Center 1000 Mt. Olivet Road, NE

WP: School Closing Plan Moves Forward

The Post reports on the progress (and concerns regarding) the DCPS plan to close & consolidate some schools.

Citywide Amplified Free Speech Day

Local (8th & H Street) blog Quest for Quiet is calling for June 11th to be declared Citywide Amplified Free Speech Day in order to draw attention to the high decibel preachers that occupy the corner of 8th & H each weekend. There appears to be a great deal of confusion over whether or not amplied speech requires a permit, with such behavior apparently being treated differently in different sections of the city.

Wylie

The location of a recent Operation Fight Back activity (in the alley).

WP: Movements against DCPS Plan & a Case for It

Wheatley Elementary, currently vacant (pending renovation) & likely to be consolidated with Webb Elementary.
The Post has this piece on efforts by some parents and school advocates to delay or scale back the proposal to close six DC public schools in August, consolidate two others, and lease space in nine other DCPS owned facilities. The coalition opposing the DCPS plan has posted an open letter to the school board asking ten questions about the closings/consolidations.

Here's a Post editorial calling the closings part of an inevitable process.

Action at Cutty's (804 H Street)?

It looks like someone has plans for this interesting, but beaten-up looking building at 804 H Street. Last week a plywood barrier was erected out front. Anyone know what the plans are?

Neighbors & Neighborhoods

Urban Spaces | Urban Places had a great post (linked to by In Shaw) on the so-called relational neighborhood. The post seemed timely to me because I've recently had a number of conversations with neighbors over how people in the immediate area relate to each other & just interact generally. I'm currently a little over half way through building a fence in my back yard & I've been building it with help (both in transporting materials & actually erecting the fence) from two of my neighbors. I can also think of many occasions where I've been moving something heavy, or digging, and someone I know has stopped to help (of course I help other people too in turn).

WP: DCPS to Close 6 Schools

And none of them appear to be in our immediate area (the closest one looks to be Van Ness Elem. & that's over by the Navy Yard). Here's the article.

A Return to the Ohio

I decided to go back to the Ohio on Saturday to try the southern food. I had the meatloaf special with mac & cheese, fried cabbage & sweet tea (which really is homemade sweet tea -and they make the lemonade themselves too). Oh, and there was cornbread too. The food was terrific. The mac & cheese tasted very much like stuff my mother makes (she's a really good cook). I wasn't sure what to expect from the fried cabbage, but it really was tasty. I would definitely suggest trying the meatloaf, & the fried chicken my friend ordered look great. Describing it as crisy, but light & not too greasy, he commented that it was better than the fried chicken at Oohs & Aahs.

One of the owner's smiles while talking to a customer
Another thing I did this time was check out the selection at the jukebox. It was filled primarily with classic soul or blues music (Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, maybe a little Bobby Blue Bland?), but also contained a smattering of new choices along the lines of Erykah Badu.

H Street Farm Fresh Market Tomorrow

Where: southside of the 600 block of H Street
When: 9am-12pm
What: fresh veggies, breads, meats, cheeses, flowers & more

Volunteers from HSMS hand out balloons & information.
You can sample many of the cheeses at the market & the scones are, of course ready to enjoy with a cup of coffee from R&B (sold at the market).

Follow up on the Hillscape/Wholefoods Thing

Frozen Tropics does no usually reach quite so far south, but we're going on a field trip to the Southeast Redevelopment Blog to address something I pointed out in the current Hillscape column. We're talking about the rumor that Wholefoods might be planning to open a store on 8th Street SE across from the Navy Yard. Hillscape says it's confimed & Redevelopment says not so fast. I've seen this blog before, but I'm impressed anew each time I see it.

Free Composting Workshop w/TIC Garden Club

Biz Journal: Council Pulls $ From Great Streets

The article is from a few days ago & this news is not news to most hstreet/anc6a listserv subscribers (Derrick Woody from Great Streets sent out an email on the topic a while back). $9.6 million (part of $16 million in additional funds assigned to Great Streets by the Council) is being reallocated to other economic development efforts. The Great Streets core budget for streetscape & road work remains intact.

Hillscape Items of Interest

The current Hillscape column mentions a few H Street related items:
-a recap of the latest what is a fastfood restaurant developments
-concern over the Lois Dreyfus project planned for 2nd & G
-the Wholefoods that people occasionally wish would locate on H Street? It's going to locate on 8th Street across from the Navy Yard.

J's Jook Joint @ the Atlas

J's Jook Joint at the Atlas

On May 12th and 13th, the African Continuum Theatre will present J's Jook Joint - a special, limited engagement cabaret that is a modern-day twist on the historical "jook joint" experience. Featuring the best and brightest of Washington D.C.'s African-American performers, J's Jook Joint highlights the continuum of African-American music- from jazz standards to gospel-inspired pop to soul-infused show tunes. The performers read like a who's who of Helen Hayes award nominated D.C. actors and singers who been seen on the stages of
Signature Theatre, Arena Stage, Round House Theatre and the African Continuum Theatre. J's Jook Joint is directed by Helen Hayes director Scot Reese.

Featured performers/styles:

A Show (7:30 pm on Friday, 10:00 pm on Saturday)
• Bev Cosham – Jazz standards
• Erika Rose – Show tunes, musicals
• Maurice Clemons – gospel/pop

B Show (10:00 pm on Friday, 7:30 pm on Saturday)
• Bina Malhotra – Jazz standards
• Eleasha Gamble – Show tunes, musicals
• Stephawn Stephens – gospel
• Cliff Walker – pop/show tunes

J's Jook Joint will be presented at the Atlas Performing Arts Center at 1333 H Street NE, Washington, D.C. on May 12th and May 13th. Show times will be at 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm each evening. Tickets for J's Jook Joint are $20.00 for general seating and $30.00 for table seating. For tickets and performance schedule, contact the Atlas Box Office at 202-399-7993.

WP: Obit Rev. J. West

Today's Post contains the obituary for a reverend from Calvary Episcopal Church (812 6th Street -just around the corner from Taste of Jamaica & Murry's). The piece talks extensively about Rev. James O. West's activities in the neighborhood & his involvement with groups working to promote H Street during its leaner years.

Another Reason to Live Where You Do

Trinidad trees
I saw this article (on Planetizen) about the reasons that suburban developments aren't going to have any tall trees for a very long time (not just because trees take a long time to grow). The issue is soil compaction and how it generally either kills trees, or severely stunts their growth.

1200 block of Neal Street

WP: Board Chief Steps Down @ Gallaudet

The Washington Post reports that, amidst protests over the newly chosen university president, the head of the Board of Trustees has resigned. She offered stress as the reason for abandoning her positiob.

Music Festival Coming to H Street

H Street's own the Red and the Black & R&B Coffee will be two of the four location (the others being the 18th Street Lounge & Anzu) hosting performances for the Can a Sista Rock a Mic? music festival.

Friday June 16 - THE REMEDY
Open mike jam session
+Green Tea, Khamilian, Alison Carney of Solystik + more
Hosted by Jamila | 80s Baby
@ The Red and the Black (1212 H Street)

Saturday June 17 - SUMMER LOVEFEST
Art | Poetry | Hip-Hop | Rare Grooves | Soul | House
DJ Elise P., DJ Fusion, DJ AppleJac
+Ebony Jackson, Rhapsody, Nzingah, Kuku + more
Hosted by Big Sllim
@ R&B Coffee (1359 H Street)

Big Space

At the corner of Montello & Morse.

WP: No Confidence in Fernandes

The Post reports that the faculty at Gallaudet have gone ahead with that threatened no confidence vote on the recently chosen candidate for president of the university. There are also some photos relating to the protests.

WTOP: More on Gallaudet President

WTOP has a really good article on the continuing debate at Gallaudet over the newly named president. The WTOP website also offers a nice link to a site that talks about the protest from the protestors' point of view (Unity for Gallaudet).
Thanks to DCist for this one.

Examiner: Q & A w/New Gallaudet President

The Examiner has an interview with the new Gallaudet president over the controversy surrounding her selection.

Roll Call: Exposed Aggregate Sidewalks for H?

DDOT is considering (based on community imput) using exposed aggregate as the new material for sidewalks on H Street when they are replaced as part of the streetscape project scheduled to begin this fall. If you have a subscription to Roll Call, you can read an article about the possible use of the material here. Some consideration to keep in mind (in no particular order): durability/maintenance, attractiveness, comfort (can you walk on it/push a stroller/wheelchair on it for a long time comfortably), safety (e.g. can you walk it safely in high heels). Thanks to everybody that alerted me to this article.

Rebuilding Place: Gallaudet Protests

Ok, while I was busy with exams, Rebuilding Place was carefully watching the protests at Gallaudet (and their press coverage). Here are a few posts of his you might want to read:
1. What People Protest
2. More About Current Gallaudet Student Protests
3. A Gallaudet Student Responds About the Current Protests

H Street in the 1920s -A Snapshot

Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space has an interesting bit of census info from 9th & H Streets in 1920. Click on the all sizes option for a readable version. Very cool. This is interesting, because, not only do you get a sense of where people are from at that time (lots of immigrants), you also see a bit about education & employment. The image appears as part of Richard's larger response to the City Paper article on the District's shrinking population.

Examiner: Protests Over New Gallaudet President

The Examiner has another story on the ongoing protests at Gallaudet over the woman chosen to be the new university president. For more of an "insider" view, you might want to check out the site Deaf DC.

Frozen Tropics in the Post

Well, mentioned in an online discussion anyway. Thanks to Marc for the heads up on this one.

WP: More on Jury Tampering in Stomping Death Case

The Post reports that a juror has pled guilty to jury tampering in a case where two men kicked and stomped a man to death in an alley behind the 1600 block of Holbrook (in 2002) following an altercation arising over a dice game.

WP: Kids Writing About Gentrification

The Post offers this brief piece on the winners of a children's essay contest on the topic of gentrification. Unfortunately there isn't much to the article (I'm sure it would be more interesting to read what the kids actually wrote).

PSA 102 Mtg May 9th

******************************
QUICK QUESTION: In which Police Service Area (PSA) do I reside?

ANSWER: The PSA 102 boundaries are (clockwise) the railroad tracks at Union Station, Florida Avenue NE, Maryland Avenue NE, 9th Street, East Capitol Street, 2nd Street, Massachusetts Avenue, and Columbus Circle. See the MPD website and map to determine your PSA.
******************************

WHAT: Police Service Area (PSA) 102 monthly meeting
WHEN: May 9 (2nd Tuesday of each month)
TIME: 7-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St NE

AGENDA:
* Washington Metro Area Transit Authority Police Lt. Tracie Simmons will meet with residents and MPD to discuss crime issues related to bus and rail stations-especially on H Street NE. In addition to Metrorail stations, WMATA police have jurisdiction over most bus stops and buses.

* Assess results of MPD burglary and robbery focus. Review other statistics.

* Identify problem areas in PSA 102 which citizens can remedy through the Partnership for Problem Solving (PPS) process.

**** PSA 102 meetings enable residents and police to discuss, identify and take action against crime and other quality of life issues in the community. The meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at the Sherwood Recreation Center, 10th and G Streets NE. 7-8:30 p.m. Tell your friends and neighbors! ****

BOUNDARIES of PSA 102 are (clockwise) the railroad tracks at Union Station, Florida Avenue NE, Maryland Avenue NE, 9th Street, East Capitol Street, 2nd Street, Massachusetts Avenue, and Columbus Circle. See the MPD website and map to determine your PSA.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PSA 102, photos, crime maps and more go to
http://psa102.blogspot.com.

QUESTIONS can be answered by PSA 102 Citizen Coordinators:
Marc Lesnick: 202-543-3736 (marc_lesnick@yahoo.com)
David Klavitter: 202-547-5745 (klav@questforquiet.org)
Or
Alphonso C. Coles, MPD Community Outreach Coordinator: 202-497-5033
alphonso.coles@dc.gov

Mugging @ 12th & H Street

NBC 4 has a story on the mugging that occurred last night outside a check cashing outlet at 12th & H Street.

H Street Farmers Market Returns Saturday

That's right, the Fresh Farm Market (producers only) will return to the 600 block of H Street this Saturday. Come out & meet the farmers while you shop. Representatives from H Street Main Street will be on hand with info about how you can be involved. There will even be face painting for the kids. If you make it there early enough you can snatch up one of the tasty scones before they sell out. Coffee sold at the market comes from R&B Coffee (1359 H Street). Stephane Lezla, a chef at Monmartre, will do a cooking demonstration at 10am.

Cinco de Mayo Argnaut Shuttle to Metro

Apparently, there is going to be a shuttle service on Friday night at the Argonaut (1433 H Street) to get people to the Union Station and Eastern Market metros.

The shuttle will run from 10 pm to 1 am - it will be based at the Argonaut and as patrons want to leave, the shuttle will take the patron to either Union Station or Eastern Market.

So now you'll hear no excuses from you non-Capitol Hill/Near Northeast/Trinidad dwelling friends about how they can't get a cab home. Shuttle buses people! Take advantage & spend your Cinco de Mayo right here on H Street.

Towards the Towers

1300 block of H Street.

Last Chance for "Manicures & Monuments" @ the Atlas

Final Weekend for Joureymen Theater's "Manicures and Monuments" at the Atlas
Vicki Caroline Cheatwood Called " "a play for grownups" by DC Theatre Reviews' Tim Treanor, Vicki Caroline Cheatwood's "Manicures and Monuments" is set in a nursing
home in Oklahoma. It is the story of a young woman, Janann, who as a volunteer at the local nursing home as part of her manicurist training, meets and clashes with Lucinda, an abusive, retired Army nurse. The sparks fly as both women come to understand one another and build a lasting and timeless friendship.
Performances:
Wednesdays at 7:30pm - Pay What You Can
Thursdays at 7:30pm
Fridays at 8:00pm
Saturdays at 2:00pm and 8:00pm

Tickets are $20; $15 for Seniors, Students and groups

Reservations:
Call the Atlas box office at 202.399.7993. Tickets may be purchased by credit card, check or cash.



Jen DeMayo
Public Relations
Atlas Performing Arts Center
1333 H Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
202 399 7993

Express Notes Quest For Quiet Activity

Today's Express refers to the ongoing battle over noise being waged at 8th & H Street as is documented in local resident David Klavitter's blog Quest for Quiet, and now also in the blogs of two of the street preachers (Lord's Chosen & Furious Zion).

WP: Insiders Shop the Florida Market

The Fish Room at Kang's Farms
Tomorrow's Washington Post features a story on Capital City Market (aka Florida Market, aka the wholesale food district). The market is located just north of Florida Avenue & just east of the NY Ave metro stop. You may remember that I mentioned it last week. For more of my photos of the market area, check out the "Wholesale Food District" photo set link at the bottom of my sidebar.
Also check out Richard's post in Rebuilding Place in the Urban Place.

Breakfast at Young's

You can see for miles...or at least as far as Maurice Electric, where you can get all kinds of light fixtures and that elusive rare replacement light bulb you've been seeking.

Further Preacher Antics @8th & H Street

The Quest for Quiet blog continues to document the on-going saga of members of the Israeli School of Universal Practical Knowlege (ISUPK) & their enjoyment of regularly standing on the corner of 8th & H Street & harranging passersby whilst shouting excitedly into a microphone for hours on end. Recently the street preachers have taken to blogging about their exploits on the corner, oh and they've also taken (as in they are not only displaying without permission, but also claiming to hold copyright to -a big legal no no) photos shot by David Klavitter (the man behind Quest for Quiet).

Uproar at Gallaudet

The Post has this story on some emotional responses following the announcement of a new president for the University.

In other Gallaudet related news, the Argonaut (1433 H Street) may have to consider discontinuing the otherwise successful Gallaudet night (every Wednesday) over concerns about keeping underage students out of the event.

Frozen Tropics in the Express

Frozen Tropics once again made the Express' Blog Log last week for the mention of the U.S. Beef building in the wholesale food district (Florida Market).

Em-Kay

Florida Ave (just south of the Florida Market Area).