Taste of the Capital Show Raises Funds for Local Burlesque Festival

The organizers of this Friday's Taste of the Capital burlesque show at Rock & Roll Hotel (1353 H Street) aim to do more than just give audiences a thrill. The production is a fundraiser the team hopes will raise money and excitement for the Capital City Burlesque & Vaudeville Festival, a new multi-day festival they want to launch July 4th weekend of 2016. These guys are so into the idea of the Festival that they are sinking 100% of the proceeds from Friday's fundraiser into the new effort.

ANC 5D06 Single Member District Meeting 9/3

Community Meeting Notice
SMD 5D06
Community Meeting
ANC Commissioner Yvonne Buggs
(202) 300-8436

7pm Thursday, September 3rd
Joseph Cole Recreation
1299 Neal Street

A Visit to Addis Ethiopian Restaurant

I recently dined at Addis Ethiopian Restaurant (707 H Street) for the first time. Addis opened in late January, and I feel like they've largely flown under the radar for many folks. That's too bad because they serve solid food and it's decently priced. My dining companion that night was a vegetarian, so we ordered the vegetarian sampler (eight dishes for $14.25:  split peas, split lentils spicy, mild lentils, collard greens, potato and carrot, shiro, cabbage, yetimatim salata) and the awaze tibs (beef, onions, tomatoes, and peppers for $14.75). As is common at many local Ethiopian restaurants, the servings are quite generous, so this was more than enough to feed two people and have leftovers to take home.

Maison-Dixon Hot Chicken Pops Up at Vendetta

Maison-Dixon Hot Chicken pops at H Street's own Vendetta (1212 H Street). It kicks off Thursday, September 17th starting at 6pm, and runs until they sell out of grub. But Maison-Dixon wants to make sure all the folks who want hot chicken get it, so they have asked people to RSVP (reservations@maisondixondc.com) just so they have a better idea just how much chicken and fixings they should prep and bring. The menu that night is not confined merely to hot chicken. Maison-Dixon will also serve up chicken and waffles, pimento grilled cheese, and Southern sides. Read their full menu for complete descriptions of those items. Follow Maison-Dixon on Facebook to keep up with all their news.

Fare Well Pops Up & Launches an Indiegogo Campaign

Fare Well is coming to 406 H Street. If you can't wait to try the food from H Street's yet to open vegan "diner, bakery, takeaway lunch counter and bar," you can take a field trip to northwest on September 21st and 22nd, where Fare Well will be taking over G by Mike Isabella (2201 14th St NW) at 6 pm each evening. You can make reservations by calling 202-234-5015. If you think you might be tempted, the full pop up menu appears on Fare Well's website.

8th Annual Jimmy Valentine's Trinidad Youth Program Fundraiser 10/1

The 8th Annual Jimmy Valentine's Lonely Hearts Club (1103 Bladensburg Road) Fundraiser for Youth Programs is fast approaching. This annual event raises money for youth programs in the District’s Trinidad neighborhood. This year’s event will be held Thursday, October 1st from 7-10pm This event raises funds to support programs related to youth education and sports, as well as after-school programs, and the purchase of classroom materials. It’s also a great opportunity to spend an evening with neighbors and friends of the Trinidad neighborhood in a relaxed a friendly setting.

Live Rock-A-Sonics at Gallery O on H Friday

 

Free live rockabilly and vintage style rock 'n' roll from the Rock-A-Sonics this Friday 8-11pm at Gallery O on H (1354 H Street).

Shooting at Florida & Orren

Image from Google Maps

There was a shooting at Florida and Orren just after midnight. The victim was shot in the stomach. I do not have further information on the condition of the victim. This is in the Trinidad neighborhood.

Maketto & Toki's Erik Bruner-Yang on the Protagonist Podcast

Here's a little fun listening for your Friday or weekend. Chef Erik Bruner-Yang tells the Protagonist podcast the story of how and why he came to open Toki Underground (2nd floor of 1234 H Street) and Maketto (1351 H Street). Erik also has a Union Market shop called Honeycomb (1309 5th Street) where you can buy things like really awesome homemade kimchi, fresh noodles, turmeric marinated onions, and Pocky.

Watch Pee-Wee's Big Adventure Outdoors in Ivy City

This is the third in a three movie series playing outdoors in Ivy City (Ivy City Playground, north corner of Mt. Olivet and West Virginia).  No cover and open to all ages. These guys play old shows and movies that someone taped on a home VCR. So I don't know if this is an edited for tv version of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (PG) or not. I would assume it does not have captions, because the chance of the original taper having them turned on at the time don't seem great. More about this film series:

Community College Open House Saturday 8/22

The new Community College Academy Prep at the former Gibbs Elementary School is hosting an open house this Saturday from 11am-3pm.

Beautification Day at Wheatley Education Campus 8/22

Local residents (maybe event you!) are teaming up with the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (MOCRS) to host a volunteer day this Saturday (8/22) to beautify Wheatley Education Campus (1299 Neal) as kids prepare to go back to classes on Monday. Join the group in volunteering from 10am-1pm. Even if you can't make it maybe you can still stop by to donate unused school supplies or K-8 children books.

Non-Fatal Shooting in the 1300 Block of Florida Ave

 

This Google Map shows the path between the block where the victim was shot & the fire station

A man was shot in the leg last night about 10:30pm in the 1100 block of Staples Street. He made it to the firehouse located at 1342 Florida Avenue where he obtained help. This is in the Trinidad neighborhood.

Do You Know this Cat?

A reader writes in seeking to find out if anyone recognizes the cat pictured above and knows if he or she has a home. The cat was trapped in an alley behind 6th Street between I and K Streets. The reader took the cat to be scanned, but they found no microchip. Please call 202/997-9399 if you know this cat.

Suspect Arrested in 8/10 Stabbing of Stranger on H Street [UPDATED}

MPD announced on Friday that they have arrested 57 year old Hector Louis Felix of Northwest for the fatal stabbing of 44 year old Suitland, MD resident Eric Lee Smith on August 10th. Mr. Felix allegedly stabbed Mr. Smith at a bus stop on the X2 line while Smith argued with a third man. Passengers were boarding the bus at the time. Felix stabbed Smith repeatedly in the chest (according to the Washington Post), or in the back (according to NBC News 4). MPD suggests that Felix did not know Smith or the other man who was arguing fighting with Smith. The stabbing happened in broad daylight on a Monday at about 3:49pm. Felix has been charged with Second Degree Murder. So...not a lot of answers about why this happened.

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UPDATE

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The Washington Post has a another piece that tells a little more of the story. According to the article, Smith boarded a crowded bus, couldn't find a seat and bumped a small child with his bag while leaving the bus. The child's mother followed Smith off the bus and confronted him about not apologizing. They began to argue. Another man intervened and he and Smith became involved in a physical fight, during which Smith punched the unnamed man multiple times while on top of him. That's when Felix approached with a knife. Smith saw the knife, got off the other man, and began to back into traffic, where he was hit by a moving vehicle. Smith reportedly said to Felix "Oh, you’ve got a knife, go ahead, swing it," after which Felix did, stabbing Smith repeatedly in the chest with it. According to an NBC News 4 story Felix then WALKED AWAY heading east on H Street. Several witnesses assisted police.

More details in the WaPo piece "Witnesses say fatal H Street stabbing was over a bump on a crowded bus," as well as in this story from NBC News 4 "Man Stabbed on H Street NE Bumped Someone on Bus, Witnesses Say."

I Made a Sign About the Recall Efforts in ANC 5D

By now you all probably know my feelings about the efforts to recall three of the six commissioners on ANC 5D. These three commissioners have worked very hard (for no pay) to represent the best interests of their constituents.

All three of them have:

• Gone through hours of training
• Attended way more meetings than most of us would ever care to attend
• Coordinated with agencies to address matters like trash, blighted properties, crime, etc.
• Held regular Single Member District meetings
• Stood up to bullying by the Chair of ANC 5D to protest the interests of their constituents (even when it was politically risky)

Weekend East City Event Round Up: Summer Swimming Edition

The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities will exhibit works by recipients of the Fiscal Year 2016 Artist Fellowship Grant.  200 I Street gallery photo by Phil Hutinet for East City Art

Weekend East City Event Round Up: Summer Swimming Edition

Thursday, August 13

Anacostia Community Museum – 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

ACM’s award winning photographer, Susana Raab, discusses her research documenting east of the river communities and how those communities have changed over time. For more details, click here.

Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum is located at 1901 Fort Place SE.

Reduced Saturday Service & Video Monitors for X2 Buses

There are two bits of information of interest to riders of the busy X2 bus line that runs down H Street and Benning Road. First, WMATA is tweaking scheduling and routes as part of its Better Bus initiative. For the X2 this means fewer Saturday buses.

Saturday Supplemental trips will be eliminated.
Regular Saturday service will operate on affected holidays with articulated buses.
The 4:45 p.m. eastbound school trip to Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station will be eliminated due to low ridership.

This change takes effect August 23rd.

About Tonight's ANC 5D Meeting

Screenshot of a video by Edward Milton

If you haven't been attending ANC 5D meetings (or at least following what's been happening) you might not quite grasp all of what could happen tonight. This is particularly true for things that are not on the agenda. Below are two topics that could come up.

1. Bank Account Access: Not on the agenda, but previously discussed and likely to come up again. The DC Auditor recommends that all Advisory Neighborhood Commission Officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Parliamentarian) be authorized signatories on the account. Currently only Chair Kathy Henderson and Treasurer Keisha can sign checks (all checks require TWO signatures). Henderson wants to keep it this way and has refused to sign papers granting the ability for other ANC Officers to become authorized signatories. The reason the Auditor recommends that all Officers become authorized signatories is to prevent gridlock. In a case where the ANC has approved an expenditure, but for whatever reason, one signatory refuses to sign off you have a serious problem if you only have two authorized signatories. I would say that given the history of ANC 5D, a disagreement between the Chair and the Treasurer, or between the Chair and any or all of the Officers is quite likely. Because Chair Henderson has repeatedly refused to sign the papers, the other Commissioners have forwarded the appropriate papers on to the DC Auditor without Henderson's signature.

Stabbing Near 8th & H Street this Afternoon

A man died tonight after being stabbed near 8th and H Street this afternoon. Here's the original tweet from MPD.

ANC 5D Meeting Tomorrow [UPDATED x2]

I still haven't seen an agenda, but there is an ANC 5D meeting tomorrow and I expect this to be an interesting one.

What: Monthly public meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission ANC 5D
When: 7-8:30pm
Where: MPD 5D Station, 1805 Bladensburg Road

Tonight at the Starburst: Grammy Nominated Cheick Hamala Diabate

 

Cheick Hamala Diabate in concert. Photo provided by H Street Main Street

Grammy nominated artist Cheick Hamala Diabate will perform a free concert at the Starburst Plaza starting at 8pm tonight. It sounds like a great event that could appeal to all ages. Full details appear in the H Street Main Street press release below:

Cheick (pronounced "shake"),  is a West African historian in the Griot tradition, and a world-recognized master of the ngoni, a Malian traditional instrument. A sought after performer, lecturer, storyteller and choreographer throughout Africa, Europe, Asia and Canada, Cheick Hamala began touring in the US in 1995. His performances have been featured at such notable venues as The Smithsonian Institute, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest and many of the top festivals across the US.

From Craigslist: Lost Engagement Ring (Reward Offered)

The lost engagement ring from a Craigslist post

I spotted this post on Craigslist about an engagement ring lost in our area:

Lost engagement ring - I'm heartbroken. Please contact me if you've found it - reward offered. I think it fell off on Tuesday night somewhere in NOMA/Capitol Hill - probably between 1st Street, NE and 8th Street, NE, and I and E streets, NE.

Found Parakeet

A reader writes in with news of a parakeet he found in his front yard. Do you recognize this bird?

This afternoon I got home from work around 5:30 and found this sweet little gal chillin on the rose bush in front of my house. She (actually I have no idea, could be a he) is a small blue parakeet with a white face and a black and white almost zebra stripping on her back neck. Very pretty. She is/was obviously someone's pet and had a metal tag on one of her legs. I was able to wrangle her into a box and dropped her at the Humane Society on NY Ave a couple hours ago. Hopefully someone is looking for her and can get into contact with the shelter to get her home safely.

Help Local Kids Get Needed Tools for School

Photo by Flickr user Steven Depolo. User under a Creative Commons License

Browne Education Campus (850 26th Street) Principal Andre Samuels is asking the community to step up and help students get the supplies they need to go back to school prepared. He lays out some of the basics below. Browne serves students from Pre-K through eighth grade. Many of those students live in the Langston-Carver Terrace Community.

Weekend East City Event Round Up: Preponderance of Local Artists Edition

See 38 regional emerging artists at Touchstone Gallery this weekend. Pictured above: Nubian Spin by Fletcher Chuck. Courtesy of Touchstone Gallery

Thursday, August 6

Transformer – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

E12: Social Practice will feature the work of Kunj in this month’s installment. The artwork in this mentorship program explores topics of femininity, critical pedagogy, urban planning and visibility.  For more information, click here.

Transformer is located at 1404 P Street NW  

Sally's Middle Name to Offer Free ESL/ESOL Class

The owners of Sally's Middle Name (1320 H Street) recently sent word of a very exciting new development. It's not a new beer menu, or a plan for a cool patio. They are offering a free ESL/ESOL (English as Second Language/English for Speakers of Other Languages). The free eight week class starts September 2nd and consists of one hour weekly sessions.

MPD Releases Video of Suspects in 7/21 Robbery of Vendetta

 MPD seeks the public's help to identify three men and a vehicle of interest in the violent armed robbery of the restaurant Vendetta (1212 H Street) on H Street. At 12:16am Tuesday, June 21st three men robbed and pistol whipped the general manager on duty.

Anyone who has information regarding this case should call police at 202-727-9099.  Additionally, information may be submitted to the TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.  The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a robbery committed in the District of Columbia.

Photos from Last Night's National Night Out at the Starburst

There was a large turnout for the National Night Out event at the Starburst Intersection last night. I spoke with Anwar Saleem or H Street Main Street who told me they had already had over 1,000 people come through by the time I talked to him at a little after 8pm. When I arrived shortly before 8pm a second band had taken the stage, and the food was gone, but the crowd was still going strong. Several agencies and community partners had tables set up with information for residents. I spotted a lot of neighbors and a few ANC commissioners from ANC 5D (including Keisha Shropshire, Kathy Henderson, and Adam Roberts). Multiple Councilmembers had stopped by earlier in the evening.

Florida Avenue at Night

Look Back at DC's Crack Era in a Reading at Maketto Tonight

Author Tony Lewis Jr. reads from his memoir "Slugg: A Boy's Life in the Age of Mass Incarceration" starting at 6pm tonight at Maketto (1351 H Street). Lewis is the son of Tony Lewis Sr. who was a major drug kingpin during the District's crack cocaine epidemic. As this piece from WAMU describes, the book mostly focuses on Tony Jr.'s life after his father went to prison and the young man returned to District with his mother and found himself amidst the chaos of the crack epidemic. This event starts at 6pm. Signed copies of the book will be available for sale.

Shooting in 800 Block of 20th Street

The 800 block of 20th Street. Image from Google Maps

From MPD:

Alert: SHOOTING at 2218 HRS in the 800 BLOCK 20TH ST NE. NO LOOKOUT
DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/ EVENT # I20150440657
Sent to 5th District (PSA 501-507) Alert DC
Sent by MPD Cad # 5269

This is in the Carver-Langston area.

Hill Now: H Street Organic Market to Close Tomorrow

Hill Now reports that the H Street Organic Market (806 H Street) will close its doors tomorrow. All inventory is currently discounted by 20%.

GU Grad & 1st Deaf America's Next Top Model Contestant Hosts Watch Party on H

Image courtesy of America's Next Top Model

2012 Gallaudet University graduate Nyle DiMarco is the first Deaf competitor on the reality show America's Next Top Model (WARNING: Linked video will AUTOPLAY). DiMarco majored in math and had plans to become a teacher until an acting part on Switched at Birth shifted his focus. He's hosting a watch party at Red Rocks (1348 H Street) starting at 6pm Wednesday 8/5. DiMarco's twin brother will be on hand to DJ. Wednesday is Hump Day Happy Hour all day, so take advantage of the discounts while you watch.

Celebrate National Night Out Tomorrow

Come out tomorrow evening and gather with neighbors and police as part of National Night Out. Meet the officers who work in your neighborhood. Get crime prevention tips, and have fun.
The 5th District will celebrate National Night Out at the Starburst Plaza (6-9pm). They'll have food, full activities, fingerprinting for kids, a live performance by the Caiso Calypso Band, appearances by Chief Lanier and Attorney General Karl Racine, and a demonstration of the body cameras MPD officers will wear. I also wouldn't be surprised to spot a few reporters there tonight given the recent attention to the recent public identification of the Starburst as a problem spot for synthetic marijuana, and ANC 5D Chair Kathy Henderson dubbing Bladensburg and Benning Roads "Zombie Corridors." I haven't seen any details on the 1st District's event offerings, but they will hold their celebration from 5:30-8:30pm at Folger’s Park (3rd and D Streets SE).

Opera on Tap Tonight at Vendetta

Lego Opera singer by Ted Drake on flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license

Stop by Vendetta (1212 H Street) tonight for free opera, cabaret, and classics of musical theater from Opera on Tap. You'll hear songs from Grease, Porgy and Bess, Aladdin, Carmen, and more. Tonight's artists include: David Chavez, Rachel Sitomer, Elizabeth Mondragon, Carla Rountree, Mandy Brown, Patrick Cook, and Molly Simoneau. 7-9:30pm. No cover, but cash donations to Opera on Tap are accepted. Tonight is $2 slider night (two drink minimum). Show up early for Happy Hour from 5-7pm.

Fatal Shooting 800 Block of 18th Street [UPDATED]

The block of the shooting as shown by Google Maps

Info released by MPD:

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred in the 800 block of [18th] Street NE. On Sunday, August 2, 2015, at approximately 5:32am, members of the Fifth District responded to the report of a robbery. Upon their arrival, officers located an unidentified, unconscious male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital where all life-saving efforts failed and he was pronounced dead.