Teddy Folkman in the Tabloids

Apparently the current issues of US Weekly and Star Magazine have features on the Next Top Chef and photos of local contender Teddy Folkman (Dr. Granville's).

Bluegrass @Sova Tonight

Upstairs starting at 8pm.

Men's Journal: H Street

The neighborhood gets a mention in a piece on the best neighborhoods in America.

H Street Country Club Opens Tonight

Here are the basic weekday hours (so I'm assuming these are also the hours for tonight): 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM (Kitchen until 11:00 PM)

The Country Club is located at 1335 H Street. Over the past several days the Country Club has held a series of soft openings with limited food samples available. Based on what I tried I can strongly suggest ordering the guac and the tamales.

Here is some of the buzz from around town about the place:
Prince of Petworth
Brunch and the City
Daily Candy

Pick-Up Soccer Game

All ages and skill levels welcome.
--------------------------------
I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend. The weather is looking pretty bad at this point so I suggest we shoot for tomorrow night at Kingsman at 6:30.

We found out last week that there's another huge group that plays weekly (usually Tuesdays) at Kingsman and the field at 19th and Constitution NE (between Constitution and C Street). They were nice enough to let us play with them last week so I suggest we do the same if our numbers are low this week. If you come to Kingsman and don't find people playing there, head over to 19th and Constitution.

We are still trying to lock down a regular weekly spot. Thanks to those who have sent me suggestions. Until Sherwood is ready again, it looks like we've got some pretty good options.

5/27/09

6:30 pm

Kingsman Field

D Street NE, between 13th and Tennessee

See you then, weather permitting.

Omar

Birds on a wire

Sorry for the photo overload, but I was uploading a large fresh batch, and playing with archive photos. I haven't shot in a while, but I always enjoy it, and a friend happened to be heading out to shoot (so I accompanied). It's funny how when you walk around with a camera people tend to think you don't live in the neighborhood. Typically I have either had people presume that I work in real estate, or for the police. Today's presumption was that we worked for the city government. I really do like shooting local photos, because they make you stop and look at moments that you generally otherwise miss. Once, years ago on H Street, I had a policeman on hot foot pursuit run through my shot.

Here is is. Summer of 2005.

I'm Mostly Gone, Photos Circa 2005

Depiction of a phoenix rising, one of my favorite pieces by American students a few years back. A great image for H Street.

A defunct clothing store in the space now occupied by Spoiled and Rotten.

A fire destroyed Jimmy's Tire about a year and a half ago.

Phish Tea was one of the first new restaurants to open on H Street. Unfortunately, it was plagued by uneven service, and very spotty food. The Country Club now occupies this space.

Now occupied by Sova.

This place on the bottom is still there. I wasn't seeking defunct businesses, just picking through old photos.

Prince of Petworth Visits (and Films) H Street

Check it out here.

Capital City Diner Arrival in Photos

WP: Spoiled & Rotten Kids' Boutique and Spa

Patrons enjoy the grand opening of the new location. Photo provided by Spoiled & Rotten.

The Post recently ran this piece on the kids' spa.

Memorial Day Message From Napa 1015

NAPA 1015

Kick off your Memorial Day weekend with a complimentary drink at the bar on us. Mention that you saw this promotion on Frozen Tropics to the bartender and receive a complimentary glass of champagne during Saturday brunch and Saturday Dinner hours.

We hope you have a safe and fun weekend.

Cheers!

Jorge

Wheatley Groundbreaking Today

Please join Mayor Fenty at the official groundbreaking ceremony for Wheatley Elementary School and Joe Cole Recreation Center tomorrow

May 22nd at 10:30AM at 1200 Morse St NE.

Ward 5 & 6 Dems Diverge on Marriage Equality

Ward 6 Dems voted 73 to 3 in support. The Ward 5 Dems vote was a different matter. The vote was 87 to 51 against. You can download the video of the event online. Based on the video (I was at the Florida Ave Market meeting) things got pretty heated. There was also some talk that not everyone who received a ballot was actually a Ward 5 Democratic. One thing is clear, Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas is now being targeted as a potential no vote (he voted yes on recognizing same sex marriages conducted elsewhere).


For reference, Wards 2, 4, and 8 Dems have already voted in support.

New Location for Spoiled & Rotten

A weird schedule over the past week has put me a little behind on news. Here are some recent photos of the grand opening (it moved to 1012 H Street) of the Spoiled & Rotten Kids spa and boutique.
The owner was kind enough to pass along a few photos.

A Diner Settles Down on Bladensburg

A local resident has purchased a vintage 1940s diner that is now enroute to NE DC. The diner's destination is a former used car lot at 1050 Bladensburg Road. If all goes well (they are at the mercy of the utility companies on this one), they hope to be up in running in a few months. More info is forthcoming.
Here are some photos, provided by one of the owners:




All I can say is...WOW. Get the latest from Capital City Diner here.

I also thought people might be interested in this Victorian Secrets link on the lost diners of DC (including an old matchbox advertisement for one on Bladensburg Road.

And just for old time's sake, here's a shot of the Ohio (the closest H Street has had to a diner in a while) before it closed its doors.

A woman nurses her Heinekin, while a man enjoys the pig's foot platter at the Ohio (2006)

========================
UPDATE
========================

I'm happy to report (as are the owners Matt and Patrick) that the diner is now pretty much in place (though the crew will continue to work tomorrow). There were some crazy DCRA related delays, and at one point the diner almost got a parking ticket for parking on the sidewalk!
DCist covers the story.
ABC7
NBC4
FOX5
Citypaper

H Street in the 1920s

Shorpy's shows us 7th and H Street way back in the day.

Florida Market Meeting Monday @Gallaudet

The DC Office of Planning will host a Mayoral Hearing on May 18, 2009 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm to receive oral testimony on the Small Area Plan. The hearing will be held at Gallaudet University, Merrill Learning Center Building (library), Room LCB 1111.

More information can be found here.

New Hours @Napa

New hours of operation:

Tuesdays - Fridays 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Saturday Brunch 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM / Dinner 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Closed Sundays and Mondays

Consider the Crime...Elsewhere

The Post reports on shootings near the hearts of Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights. Over the years I got used to the "Where is that?" question when I told people where I live. These days I typically get one of the following:
-"oh cool, I go to such and such. That's a fun area."
-"Well, they say the area is up and coming." (mostly older people.)
-"Oh, I've been there. They have one or two places, but there isn't any place to eat." (I like to follow this one by listing off all the restaurants by geographical location. But then I'm a big nerd, so I would enjoy that.)
-"I've heard about the area, but haven't made it over yet."
-"I've been to a couple of places, but it's really hard to get to, and the area is super sketchy."

It's the last one that bothers me most. Ok, we have crime here. Most of it is theft from auto. Some of it is robberies, or assaults. Most of the time assault victims know their attackers. That, of course, doesn't make it ok, but it eases the fear of being a rando victim. It isn't always true, and many of us know people who've been victims of some type of crime where they didn't know the perp. But, to be frank, I feel safer living here than in Columbia Heights. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I know too many people who have been robbed in Columbia Heights. And when I say robbed, I mean pistol whipped, punched, or hit in the head with a brick. None of these people were resisting. By contrast, I only know (personally) one guy who was ever violently attacked during a robbery in this area. That was when he resisted (rightly, because the bastards tried to force him into an alley, and you should resist at that point). Of the roommates I've had over the years, only one has ever been mugged. He was a young black guy. He was mugged four times in less than two years. One happened on I Street (around 10th & I). That was an attempt by two bored teens. The police and one kid's grandmother (they came off that kid's own porch) were later called. Another was a latino teen in NoMA. The other two were violent muggings in Columbia Heights. The pistol whipping gave him quite the headache for a few days, but luckly no scars.

Attacks like that are pretty rare on H Street, although I have heard reports of recent muggings between the 1300 block, and the 1100 block. Basically, keep your wits about you, and avoid walking alone at night (particularly if you have been drinking). You can't avoid everything, but you can boost your chances. Overall, I don't worry inordinately. But apparently some people (even those who will blithely walk the streets at night in Columbia Heights or Adams Morgan after a few drinks) still do worry about our area a bit too much. Kind of sad, but hopefully it will change. I grow tired of reading stuff on Yelp that says stuff like "Blah blah is great, but the area is scary." It's a city guys. It isn't NYC in the 1970s, but it is a city. Some people live in Fairfax, or Van Ness because they just like it better. Some people live there because it's like every place they ever lived. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I'd still rather live here.

Capital Spice: HSCC Update

Capital Spice dishes on the H Street Country Club, and names May 27th as opening day.

Florida Market Meeting Monday @Gallaudet

There is a final public meeting for the Office of Planning's Small Area Plan on Monday. The meeting is at 6:30 in the Merrill Learning Center (library) room 1111. Interested parties can submit written testimony, or actually testify. Here's how:

• Public Comment Period. From April 17, 2009 to May 18, 2009, written comments on the plan can be submitted by US Mail, fax, or e-mail to: Melissa Bird, DC Office of Planning, 2000 14th Street, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20009, by fax to (202) 442-7638, or by e-mail to Melissa.Bird@dc.gov. Comments must include the name, address and any organization for which the comments represent.
• Mayoral Public Hearing. A public hearing on the draft Small Area Plan has been scheduled for May 18, 2009 from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm at Gallaudet University, Merrill Learning Center Bldg (library), Room 1111. The hearing provides an additional opportunity for stakeholders to present comments on the plan by providing oral testimony. Parties interested in providing testimony at the Mayoral Public Hearing are encouraged to register in advance with Deborah Crain, Neighborhood Planning Coordinator for Ward 5, DC Office of Planning, at (202) 442-7600 or Deborah.Crain@dc.gov.

DCMUD covers the topic, but as one comment points out, they have some pretty big accuracy problems (not by any means limited to the ones mentioned), so take it with about a tablespoon of salt (maybe just get salt on your margarita?). It kind of looks like the author skimmed the plan, but doesn't know much about the Market, or really understand the plan. The entire plan (it's BIG) is available online.

Thursday Bluegrass @Sova

Check out the no cover show as you sip on your beverage of choice. The show starts at 8pm.

SOVA presents our regular Thursday Night Bluegrass Session with The Extension Agents & FriendsCome on out tonight for the Big Bluegrass & Honky Tonk Country show at SOVA with the Extension Agents and special guests Buck Forty-nine, the acclaimed classic country honky-tonk band that has appeared at many a fine DC music venue. http://www.myspace.com/buckfortynineWe'll be playing plenty of new tunes and old favorites too, so bring your instruments, slip on your buckskin/ denim / rattlesnake hide, and bring some fun-loving friends to enjoy our whole-hog hillbilly and honky tonk harmony!

Frank

NoMA Summer Screen

If you're super bummed about the demise of Screen on the Green take heart. You can still catch NoMA's Summer Screen. Every Wednesday from June 10th through July 11th they will show a different film focused on this year's theme of music in pictures. Get the full schedule here.

Inside the H Street Country Club

They are still putting the finishing touches on the golf course, but the place is otherwise ready to go. With a capacity of 300 people, the space has great potential, and the owners have pushed it to the limits. The menu looks awesome, and one peak at the folks executing it will put any doubt to rest. Executive Chef Pablo Cardoso will get a hand from local celebrity Teddy Folkman (who once bested Bobby Flay in a Throwdown). James Beard-Award winning Chef Ann Cashion (Cashion's Eat Place, Taqueria Nacionale) designed the menu. If you've ever had her Mexican food you know that you will be in for a treat at the Country Club. The Club should be open very shortly.



The downstairs bar. On this level you can play pool, skee-ball, and more, while ordering of the Tex-Mex menu.

Part owner Ricardo Vergara poses in front of the upstairs mini-golf course

Upstair offers more authentic Mexican fare.




Check out the rest of the photos here.

Trinidad Market & Deli Shuttered For Violations

The Trinidad Market and Deli (Trinidad and Florida) was closed late last week for health code violations. The closure lasted the weekend, and will likely last at least through Monday. Here's an email from the Department of Health on the closure:

Good Morning Ms. Thompson,

Today we issued a summary suspension of the food product license forvTrinidad Market and Deli. The facility was operating out of the purviewvof their licensure. A food product license does not allow anyone to sell items too the public that are potentially hazardous / ready to eat. The
facility was selling pickles that customers may access directly in addition to cups of ice.

With respect to violations, I've never seen a facility with so many flies in ten years of experience. There were 9 fly traps spread throughout the store and several dead flies noted on top of some food products. We also found mice droppings on shelves and some evidence of tampering with food. The hand sink was in disrepair giving them less incentive to wash hands and the certified food supervisor was not present upon our arrival to enforce such a practice.

I told them to have the exterminator contact me directly so that I can instruct him / her to address the situation behind the walls of the store. Those horse flies are coming from dead and rotting material somewhere and we will find out where as this situation plays out.

Mr. Brown's staff also addressed the outside area and some of those areas are covered on the inspection sheet. I can provide copies of the pictures later when the inspector returns this afternoon.

I also took time to visit the man next door as he showed me the horrible conditions by which he and his family are being forced to live in. Folks, this is an unacceptable situation and we will try and do everything possible to correct. I envision the store being closed at least through the weekend and depending on what the exterminator can or can't do, we will revisit then.

Obviously this will be an ongoing situation but I think if we continue to work as one, it can be corrected. I stressed to all parties involved that as long as their neighbors, they will have to work together. We will try to facilitate that.

Thank You

Robert L. Sudler, Jr.
Program Manager

DC Department of Health
Food Safety and Hygiene Inspection Services Division
825 North Capitol St. NE
Room 8007
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-535-2180
Cell: 202-834-6325
Fax: 202-535-1359
www.dchealth.dc.gov

The complaint came from an adjacent neighbor who had to rip out drywall fdue to rats that appear to have come from the market. Even after ripping out walls they were unable to get rid of the rotting dead rat smell. Even with the drywall removed the smell of rot remains. The residents complained to the store owner, but reportedly the shop owner declined to pay for the damage that it appears he caused. The homeowner fears replacing the drywall until the rat problem is abated. My personal suggestion is to avoid this store (at least until he pays restitution, and cleans up his act). I won't give my money to an irresponsible business owner who shows such blatant disrespect for his neighbors.

Recent New News Round-Up

-Coming soon, pics from inside the H Street Country Club

-a Sunday flea market starting up on H?

-Pap & Petey's now offers an outdoor option

-DC Greenworks has been active in the community. Beyond a recent tree planting in Trinidad, they now have something going on with subsidized rain barrels.

-Trinidad Concerned Residents for Reform gets a website. Check them out in the links section.

Inside the Country Club

Biz Bash reports and takes cool photos of the interior.

Celebrate World Cocktail Week @Sova

World Cocktail Week Happy Hour @SOVA
Featuring Pisco Expert Melanie Asher and Cocktails Created by Derek Brown & Jamie MacBain
Saturday, May 9th, 7 to 9 P.M.
SOVA Espresso and Wine
1359 H St NE
Washington, DC
www.SovaDC.com
Read more about the event here.

City Paper Reviewers Love Napa 1015

City Paper readers sample Napa 1015 and like what they find.

Bread of Winter Review

DC Theater Scene reviews Bread of Winter, which is currently playing at the H Street Playhouse through May 10th.

A Message From Fitness Together

Announcement:

Dear Frozen Tropics Community,

Do you have a fitness question for the Fitness Together experts? In an effort to continue to promote health and fitness, we will take questions from Frozen Tropics readers and feature them, along with the answer, in our monthly posting. Please send your questions to FTCapitolhill@fitnesstogether.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

In Good Health,

Fitness Together - Capitol Hill

Thanks!

Alita

Alita Brown

Fitness Together - Capitol Hill
408 H Street NE
202-558-6486
FTCapitolHill@fitnesstogether.com
www.FTCapitolHill.com

H Street Country Club's Website

They've got the new menus posted, and they've also added more info.

ANC 5B Meeting Tomorrow

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5B Meeting

Thursday May 7, 2009
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Washington Center for Aging Services, 2701 18th Street, NE,
2601 18th Street NE

Meetings are held the 1st Thursday of every month (except July and August) 7:30 pm

Violin Virtuosos @the Atlas

Levine School of Music Faculty have an ongoing performance series at the Atlas. The third and final performance of the season takes place this week.

Levine at the Atlas
Virtuoso Violinists

Hear virtuoso violinists Susan and Joel Fuller, accompanied by Hyeweon Lee in a dazzling performance of virtuoso works.

They will be joined by the District Strings: 20 6-13 year old violinists.

Friday, May 08, 2009 at 7:30 PM

Tickets $10. Buy online or call 202.399.7993

Taylor Serves the Best Sandwich in DC...

...or so says Top Chef Spike Mendelsohn in an interview with New York Magazine. Apparently he favors the breaded chicken with sautéed broccoli rabe and pesto.

Catalyst Cancels Last Show of the Season

Dues to budgetary constraints Catalyst (which operates out of the Atlas) will not stage the final production it planned for the season. The canceled show was Bruise Easy. Here is a letter explaining the move:

Dear Friends,

Catalyst Theater Company has connected with audiences through award-winning theater on a shoe-string budget for eight successful seasons. As we come to the close of our most ambitious season yet, we also face our most financially challenging time. The move from Capitol Hill Arts Workshop to The Atlas Performing Arts Center has been a great artistic success for us. Moving allowed us to expand our commitment to artistic excellence and to more fully realize the technical aspects of our productions. The move to Atlas garnered us two Helen Hayes nominations and a Helen Hayes award for Outstanding Sound Design for 1984 but it also came with a large price tag..

After a round of budget cuts and difficult decision-making I am writing to announce that Catalyst will not be producing BRUISE EASY this spring. Catalyst will suspend activities to focus on strategic planning and fundraising. We are among the many theaters and individual artists across the country that are struggling because of the economic downturn. I have confidence that with our focused efforts Catalyst will return to producing.

Despite the increased costs, we thought it was important to keep our $10 ticket policy. However, as you may know, even in the best of times ticket sales only make up only a small portion of the costs it takes to put on a production. Though we have canceled our final production we still have to meet this year's budget needs and we simply cannot do that without your support. If you have enjoyed our productions and ticket price and look forward to more, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Catalyst. We realize that everyone is working within a tight budget, but any amount, no matter how small (or large!!!), helps us return to producing provocative, quality theater for Washington audiences. Checks can be sent to our offices at:

Catalyst Theater Company
1333 H Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002

As an artist and the company's founder please know that this was an incredibly difficult decision. I appreciate the time and excitement you have already invested in Catalyst and I look forward to seeing you at the theater soon.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

With much respect,

Scott Fortier
Artistic Director
scott@catalysttheater.org

PS.. As always, word-of-mouth is a powerful tool, if you know someone who has enjoyed our productions in the past, please encourage them to show their support by making a donation to Catalyst Theater Company.

6A01 Meeting tomorrow

ANC 6A01 tomorrow 5/6 at 7pm at Holy Names Church

Saturday is National Train Day

Photo by ntr23

The NY Ave station
Celebrate the holiday at Union Station. There will be a whole slew of events from 10am-3pm for all ages.

Photo by Greg Marshall

Mayor's Fix-It Tomorrow 10AM!

Sorry for the late notice, but as you can see the email went out very late. I received it from friend (who forwarded it) just 4 minutes ago (not sure why they didn't send this out on the general lists). Personally, I'm most concerned about the pitbulls roaming about without "leases," very dangerous. But seriously, we have a major unleashed dog (and pitbulls commonly) problem around here. Considering that two dogs recently attacked a child (and allegedly bit another neighbor), I'd say this is a real cause for concern.

I personally have a favorite neighbor who walks his dogs (all pits) unleashed. They have frightened more than one of my neighbors. They called animal control, and MPD after his dogs came at one on them on a certain occasion. He decided that I must have been the anonymous caller after I complained to him about the fact that he didn't clean up after his dogs when they defecated on my property. He, between sips of his 9am beer, screamed at me, and what he apparently now calls me to neighbors is unprintable. Nice guy. So attend if you can:

From: Thompson, Alice (EOM)
Sent: Sun May 03 12:36:30 2009
Subject: Mayor Fenty's Operation Fix--It: Monday, May 4th @ 10:00AM -- 1500 Levis St NE and surrounding areas


Good Morning All:

Due to complaints and concerns generated by emails last week-- we will visit 1500 Levis St., 1517 -1519 Queen St and surrounding areas. Monday, May 4th @ 10:00AM.

Issues of concern:

1. Vacant property
2. Trash and debris
3. Pit bulls roaming without leases
4. Tow trucks blocking the alley
5. Pot hole and sidewalk repair needed
6. Drug activity on 16th St -- we will need officers

Best,

Alice

Photos from the Beautification Day

Photos by Javi Sanchez. See more photos of the event here.

Successful Joe Cole Beautification Day

We had a good turn out of volunteers (more would have been better) for today's event. One crew repainted large portions of the inside, and another group trimmed trees, cleaned up trash, removed weeds, and planted flowers in the front. Volunteers, who worked for hours (some as many as 7 hours), found nourishment in sandwiches from Litteri's Italian deli.

Farmers Market Returns Tomorrow

9am-12pm
middle of the south side of the 600 block of H.