Weekend East City Event Round Up

Ben Carver's ten year retrospective of post-Katrina New Orleans is on view at White Room.  Image courtesy the artist

April 28-May 1 Edition 

Friday, April 29

DC Arts Center – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In Sip and Paint Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, almost 30 artists interpret the Dutch Master’s iconic painting and express how it relates to their own practice.
DC Arts Center is located at 2438 18th St. NW

Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival Saturday

It's not too late to snag tickets for Saturday's Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival. Tickets are $25 if you buy them online by midnight Friday, or $35 at the gate. Kids under 13 are admitted free. The family friendly event is now in its seventh year, and features live music, food, drinks, kayaking, motorboat tours of the Anacostia River, a family tent with crafts and games, and more.

Reminder: J. O. Wilson Rendezvous at Market Day 4/30

J. O. Wilson Elementary (660 K Street) hosts Rendezvous at Market Day this Saturday (10am-3pm) with games, food trucks, summer camp info, a moon bounce, and more.

News in Brief: Highline at Union Market, Holbrook Terrace BZA, & a Clean Up

Image from Level 2 Development website

Make way way for Level 2 Development's Highline at Union Market (320 Florida Ave). The developer has filed a raze permit application for the Burger King that currently occupies the space. Upon completion the Highline will include 317 apartments and nearly 10,000 square feet of retail space.

Miner Elementary Community Yard Sale 4/30

 

Some of the donated items that will be for sale

The Miner Elementary (601 15th Street) Parent Teacher Organization is holding a yard sale fundraiser this Saturday from 9am to 12pm (north side of the school). They will have all manner of items for sale, including some flowering plants from Cultivate the City. It's not too late to donate your own items for the sale. You can bring them buy Friday 4-6pm (ask at the security desk for the yard sale team), or Saturday morning before 9am. They will also be collecting hazardous household waste and electronic waste for safe disposal.

Right Proper Beer Dinner at Granville Moore's 5/4

Right Proper Brewing Company and Granville Moore's (1238 H Street) are teaming up for a four-course dinner with beer pairings May 4th (7pm) at Granville's. Tickets are $64.29.

Session Beer - Ornithology (Grisette, 3.9%) with surprise amuse bouche
1st course - Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne (Aromatized Berliner Weisse, 3.8%) with a roasted cherry, sorrel and watercress salad and warm Bounty Hill Farm goat gouda
2nd course - The Lubitsch Touch (Pale Smoked Beer, 4.8%) with spicy Lubitsch Touch Adobo mussels
3rd course - Astral Weeks (Farmhouse Pale Ale, 4.5%)with apricot glazed cornish hen, braised fennel, spring radish and english pea purée
4th course - Baron Corvo (Rustic Biere de Garde, 7%) with seared lamb loin, root vegetable and merguez hash, cherry balsamic reduction

Kentucky Derby Pig Roast at Little Miss Whiskey's 5/7

Photo provided by Little Miss Whiskey's

Chef Ryan Gordon of the Queen Vic (1206 H Street) is cooking up a feast for the Kentucky Derby celebration at Little Miss Whiskey's (1104 H Street). Tickets for the all you can eat and drink (from kegs of Anderson Valley beers) event will set you back $48. The fun starts at 3pm and continues until supplies of beer and food are exhausted. The bar will show the race live at 6:34pm. Full food menu and beer list below.

News in Brief: Pocket Opera, Sandwiches, & Carpe Librum Returns

The Washington Post reviews In Series' production of Cosi Fan Tutte Goes Hollywood, which updates Mozart's work setting it in the 1920s. The pocket opera runs through May 1st at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H Street). Tickets are $22-45.

Dining Out for Life Thursday 4/28

This Thursday the local restaurant community will unite to help provide so much more than a meal. The funds raised through Dining Out for Life will benefit Food & Friends, a non-profit organization that supports children and adults in the Washington area facing HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses. Two H Street spots are joining the effort and donating 25% of the check totals for the night: Le Grenier (502 H Street) and Red Rocks (1348 H Street). Trinidad resident Robin Jones (who emailed me about the event) will be at Le Grenier to provide information about Dining Out for Life and Food & Friends.

Wrapping Up a Violent, Non-Lethal, Weekend

We had a pretty violent weekend starting with a stabbing (1600 block of 19th Street, green) just after 1:30pm Friday afternoon, followed by a second stabbing blocks away (700 block of 21st Street, yellow) later that night.  Early Saturday afternoon we had two shootings, one in the 1400 block of Florida Avenue (red), and one in the 800 block of Bladensburg Road (blue). The victims in all four cases were found conscious and breathing. Sunday morning two men robbed the Pizza Hut at Hechinger Mall at gunpoint (purple star). These are just the reports of shootings and stabbings, plus a robbery of an establishment. It doesn't capture every mugging or assault that occurred in the area in recent days. Click on the icons to see more details about the incidents.

News in Brief: Tempting Eats, a Race for the Cup, & a Prince Tribute

Driftwood Kitchen (400 H Street) has rolled out a new mid-spring menu.

DCist highlights Ten 01's (2nd floor of 1001 H Street) half smoke benedict ($11.50 at brunch, also available in vegetarian version).

That Time Prince Played a Concert at Gallaudet

Image from the Gallaudet University Library Deaf Collections & Archives

While glancing at Facebook tonight I spotted a post (here's a 2nd one) from the Gallaudet University Library Deaf Collections & Archive featuring photos from a concert Prince played at Gallaudet (800 Florida Ave) back in 1984. Prince was 26 years old at the time, and (as explained in this not so politically correct article from the Washington Post) asked to present the private concert for approximately 1,900 students of the University, as well as about 600 local public school students. The author says Prince steered clear of his more erotically charged works, but performed more than a dozen songs, including 1999, Little Red Corvette, When Doves Cry, and Purple Rain. The concert was kept secret until the last minute to prevent outside fans from sneaking in to watch. In the photo above Prince is seen signing "I Love You" back to the audience during the concert.

Gallaudet's Unity Fest is Tomorrow (2/22)

Gallaudet University (800 Florida Ave) has all sorts of entertainment lined up for tomorrow's Unity Fest which runs from 11am to 4pm. The event, which is free to attend, will have food vendors and plenty of performances (including a Chinese lion dance).

Weekend East City Event Round Up: Spring Openings Edition

Photo: Zocalo, 1988, color pencil, graphite, 22 x 22 inches, by Kevin MacDonald. 

Courtesy of Adamson Gallery.

Friday, April 22

Washington Studio School
Washington Studio School presents Intervals, an exhibition of recent paintings by George Pearlman and Figurative Drawings featuring drawing from life by Sonia Safier-Kerzner.
Washington Studio School is located at 2129 S St. NW

DC Breeze Ultimate Frisbee Game & Youth Clinic 4/23

From the Facebook event page

The District's professional ultimate team the DC Breeze is back at Gallaudet's Hotchkiss Field this Saturday when they face the Toronto Rush, a team that has never lost a regular season game on U.S. soil. The fun starts at 5:00pm when the gates open for the band, concessions, and the free pre-game youth clinic.* The game starts at 6:30pm. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $12.50 at the gate. Children 12 and under are admitted free. This game will be live broadcast on ESPN3 as the American Ultimate Disc League Game of the Week. Also, the DC Breeze has a bi-weekly podcast called Hot Air.

Police Unity Tour Fundraiser at the Pug Tomorrow

The Police Unity Tour, a group that rides bikes to raise awareness about officers who died in the line of duty, will hold a fundraiser tomorrow at the Pug (1234 H Street).

News in Brief: Starbucks Gets Tipsy, Notable Sales, Booze Awards

 

512 is the tiny multi-colored brick building behind the tree in this 2006 photo

Michael Neibauer of the Washington Business Journal notes that 512 H Street has sold for $720,000 to an LLC associated with Getinet Bantayehu. If that name sounds slightly familiar it could be because he's been a part of Palace of Wonders (now defunct, but formerly at 1210 H Street) and Dr. Granville's (1238 H Street). Also from Neibauer, Clark Realty Capital sold the Flats at Atlas (1600 Maryland Ave) and the adjacent lot (set aside for a later phase) for around $95 million.

Ward 6 Budget Town Hall Tomorrow

News in Brief: SingSing Karaoke & Streetcar Myth Debunking

Photo courtesy of Sing Sing Karaoke Palace

SingSing Karaoke Palace (1222 H Street) is coming soon to the corridor. It's dream come true for karaoke fans, particularly if you've ever wanted to do your singing in a private room with push button waiter service with noodles, sushi, and a full bar. It's a project from the team behind next door neighbor Sticky Rice (1224 H Street).

405 Yoga Launches Rooftop Yoga at Jenks 4/23

When Merideth VanSant first moved to the neighborhood she set about searching for a local yoga studio, but couldn’t find one that offered the power flow based classes she loved. It was the identification of the services gap that spurred VanSant to open her own studio in a former liquor store on the edge of Trinidad.

405 Yoga (1000 Florida Ave) welcomes practitioners of all skill levels, with VanSant emphasizing that anyone can do yoga. The studio offers two donation-based classes a week, and also runs a free yoga class on Sundays at Union Market (1309 5th Street).  405 Yoga is located just across the street from Gallaudet University, and VanSant has made sure to reach out to the local Deaf community. The studio holds ASL yoga classes on an occasional basis, and has a teacher who conducts ASL workshops.

District Cuisine: Cusbah Responds to Closing Rumors

Cusbah on Krampusnacht

Local blog District Cuisine recently broke the news that the space home to Pakistani & Indian restaurant Cusbah (1128 H Street) was for lease, and spoke with a representative for the landlord who said the business had to be out before May 1st. The news was met online by confusion and concern from patrons and fans of the restaurant. Cusbah initially did not respond to inquiries other than to tell curious patrons the closing rumors were only rumors. The restaurant has since released a statement (posted in its entirety on District Cuisine) acknowledging that they are engaged in a legal dispute with their landlord, but saying they intend to remain open and operating in their current space.

Farmers Market Returns Tomorrow

The H Street farmers market kicks off the season tomorrow morning. The market will operate with slightly expanded hours this year, running from 9am to 12:30pm on Saturdays. This market, which is run by FRESHFARM Markets, will run through the middle of December. It typically offers seasonal fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, eggs, breads, pastries, ice creams, preserves, flowers, and much more. This is the market's 12th year along the H Street Corridor. It's located on 13th Street between H and Wylie Street.

Weekend East City Event Round Up

EMULSION 2016 concludes Saturday at Gallery O on H at 6-8 p.m.  
Image credit: Andy DelGiudice

EMULSION 2016 concludes Edition

EMULSION 2016 People’s Choice Award—Saturday, April 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Find out which two artists won the people’s vote, Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Gallery O on H.
Gallery O on H is located at 1354 H Street NE

News in Brief: Artists to Arts Hotel, the Pug Takes Cards Again

W.S. Jenks gears up for summer

The Kojo Nnamdi Show covered the new arts hotel coming to 411 New York Avenue in two segments yesterday, and you should listen to both (they are short). Segment 1 (14:35) introduces you to the developers behind the project, and segment 2 (10:33) asks whether a project like this is the answer to the District's artist displacement problem.

Dog Found in Alley Off Benning

Twitter user @JDIV sends word of a dog found yesterday in an "alley behind 21st and 23rd NE near Benning" Road. The dog has a collar, but no tags or chip.

Streetcar Social Today at Red Rocks

The Streetcar folks are holding a social at Red Rocks (1348 H Street) from 5-7pm. Stop by to talk streetcars, with (presumably streetcar oriented) goodies, and happy hour specials.

Pick the Flicks for NoMa Summer Screen

Photo by Sam Kittner (from the NoMa BID newsletter)

There's a fine list of films on the list of candidates for this year's NoMa Summer Screen, and you can vote for your top ten. Many of these are films that have been shown at past Summer Screens, and brought out big crowds (movies like "The Princess Bride" and "Jurassic Park"). The complete list appears below, and you can vote for your favorites. This year's theme is Choose Your Own Adventure, so all of the possibilities are pretty action-packed. Summer Screen runs from June 1st to August 24th. All movies feature closed captions.  As in years past, Summer Screen is a free outdoor movie series that also includes music, food trucks, picnicking, giveaways, and more at Storey Park  (1005 First Street).

Local News Brief: New Chef at Toki, Cusbah's Closing, Gallaudet Turns 152

Erik Bruner-Yang is leaving his position as executive chef at Toki Underground (2nd floor 1234 H Street) to focus on other projects, including one in Adams Morgan. A rumor to this effect has been circulating, and Eater confirmed it yesterday. Jonathan Uribe (previously of TaKorean and Neopol) is taking over, and Brightest Young Things talked to him about his future at Toki.

No Kings Collective "Beasts of England" at Lab 1270

On Friday the artists group No Kings Collective launched a pop up site specific installation of co-founder Brandon Hill's work. The installation is called The Beasts of England, and it's an interesting modern reinterpretation of author George Orwell's book Animal Farm. You'll find it at Lab 1270 (1270 5th Street), which is a space owned by the EDENS team behind Union Market (1309 5th Street). The space is bare bones, and lends itself well to an installation like this one.

Blues Brunch & Hot Chicken at Vendetta this Sunday

I've got two great reasons you should stop by Vendetta (1212 H Street) this Sunday (4/10). The first of those is a Blues Brunch featuring the blues/rock band Dinner Party. Brunch service starts at 11am, and the band will play between 11:30am and 2:30pm. More of a jazz fan? No worries, the band the Captones plays jazz there the first Sunday of each month.

The DC Breeze Bring Ultimate Frisbee to Gallaudet

Did you know DC has a professional ultimate frisbee team? We do, and they're called the Breeze. You can catch the Breeze many spring and summer weekend afternoons and evenings on Gallaudet's (800 Florida Ave) Hotchkiss Field. Bring the kids out 1.5 hours before the games for a free youth clinic. Partake in food and drink (including craft beer on tap), while enjoying live performances by local indie bands before games. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12.50 day of game. The events are FREE for all kids 12 & Under. Sign up in advance via their ticket site for the free youth clinic and get a free youth game ticket (6-17 years of age).

EMULSION 2016 Kicks Off Saturday

28 EMULSION 2016 artists compete for three cash prizes awarded Saturday, April 9 at 8:30pm

EMULSION, an annual juried art exhibition, is back for its third year at Gallery O on H (1354 H Street). Tell your friends from near and far to head down and check out the fun and festivities. It's easily accessible via the X2 bus and the streetcar, but the event will also offer valet parking across the street at 1353 H Street this Saturday for opening night.

ANC 5D Agenda for 4/12 Meeting

DRAFT MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 - 7:00 PM

Metropolitan Police Fifth District Headquarters

1805 Bladensburg Road, NE

Washington, DC 20002

7:00 – Welcome & Commission Business (5 minutes each)

• Call to order & Adoption of agenda Commissioner Roberts
• Chairperson’s Report Commissioner Roberts
• Treasurer’s Report Commissioner Shropshire
• Adoption of Meeting Minutes Commissioner Buggs

Desperately Seeking Community Service?

If so, I've got two local service projects for you this weekend.

The Trinidad Neighborhood Association invites everyone to a community clean up Saturday 10am-12pm at Joe Cole Rec (1299 Neal Street). Trash bags will be provided. Please consider bringing your own gardening gloves. Meet post-clean up at 405 Yoga (1000 Florida Ave) for pizza. Don't forget to RSVP so the organizers know to expect you.

Cultivate the City is hosting community build day over at J.O. Wilson Elementary (660 K Street) 9am-2pm Saturday. Join neighbors and J.O. families to help make the garden its best this year.

Crunkcakes & Whiskey Pairing Tomorrow

From the event Facebook page

Little Miss Whiskey's (1104 H Street) hosts a special evening of locally made Crunkcakes (boozy cupcakes) paired with four different whiskeys. Each Crunkcake is also made with the whiskey with which it is paired. Tomorrow's event, which starts at 7:30pm, also features The Buch Stops Here punch with Buchanans. Tickets are $12. This event is capped at 35 seats.

J.O. Wilson Rendezvous at Market Day 4/30

Everyone is invited to J.O. Wilson Rendezvous at Market Day (660 K Street) 10am-3pm Saturday April 30th. There's fun for the whole family with games, food trucks, summer camp info, face painting, a moon bounce, a cake walk, and more. This event is free, and it's sponsored by the J.O. Wilson PTA.

Local News Round Up: a PTA Boost, Failed Criminals, & Cheap Wings

The first Tuesday night of each month is J.O. Wilson Elementary Family Night from 5-10pm at Ben's Chili Bowl (1001 H Street). Donate 10% of your purchase price to the J.O. Wilson PTA by saying the word "Cardinal."

Next ANC 5D Meeting 4/12

 

WWW.ANC5D.ORG

MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

April 12, 2016 - 7:00 PM

Fifth District Metropolitan Police Headquarters

1805 Bladensburg Road, NE

Washington, DC 20002

Look for an agenda in the coming days.

Cambodian New Year Dinner at Maketto

Chefs Erik Bruner-Yang and James Wozniuk have created a special 4-course menu (complete with wine pairings) to celebrate the Cambodian New Year at Maketto (1353 H Street). This is one of those special food events that, while a bit of a splurge ($130 per person), is likely to be a very memorable evening. It's happening three nights in a row (March 13th-15th) with two seatings (5:30pm and 8:30pm) each night.

Little Miss Whiskey's Responds to Breast Milk Allegations

You may have seen (or heard about) a post that appeared on the blog PoPville this afternoon. The post was a reader's account of a recent Saturday night out when the reader's group of friends, including a woman who had recently given birth, got together for dinner and planned to go dancing on H Street. There are two different versions of what happened next. After reading the story posted on PoPville I reached out to Mark Thorp, who owns Little Miss Whiskey's (1104 H Street), for comment. His full statement appears at the bottom of this post.

It's Girls Pint Out at Whiskey's 4/14

The 2nd annual DC Metro Girls Pint Out (for women who love craft beer) takes place April 14th (7pm-9pm) at Little Miss Whiskey's (1104 H Street) Ticket are $15, which gets you six tastings of beers paired with cookies.

So...This Happened Earlier Tonight

Photo by Helen McCulley

A couple of readers sent me pictures of a car clearly in the streetcar's area on the Hopscotch Bridge earlier tonight. It's not entirely clear to me how the car ended up in that location. I've heard no mention of ambulances or injuries. The car was later towed away. It is unclear from the photos whether the car had Maryland plates.

Man Shot in Arm Early Saturday in 1100 Block of H Street

Photo by Matt LeBarron

A man was shot in the arm a little before 4am on Saturday. Police found the victim conscious and breathing when they arrived in the 1100 block of H Street. MPD issued a look out for a black male wearing dark clothing.

Local News Round Up: Artists, a Hotel, & a Bar Owner Fights Back

A studio in the Union Arts building

This week's Washington City Paper cover story A More Perfect Union? focuses on the Union Arts building (411 New York Avenue) and the artists who work out of it. The building, which for decades has been largely dedicated to arts uses, is slated to become a boutique arts hotel. In that More Perfect Union piece author Matt Cohen writes that the developers are now offering to lease the entire third floor (about 11,000 square feet) to the artists, but at the impossibly high rate of $95 a square foot (about $1,000,000). According to a recent Washington Business Journal article the artist currently occupy about 30,000 square feet of the space. In a separate piece the Washington Business Journal reports that the developers have offered a deal to the artists that "would extend a planned move-out date for the artists from Sept. 1 to Nov. 1, offer a cash rebate of two months rent and relocation assistance of up to $600 per tenant." That offer only applies if everyone accepts the deal.

Weekend East City Event Round Up

April Super Weekend Openers Edition

Has it already been a year since Otis Street Art Projects opened? The "Critiqued" get their own show during the Mount Rainier Art Space's anniversary celebration! Photo courtesy Otis Street Art Projects. 

Friday, April 1

Honfleur and Vivid Solutions Galleries–6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
French Doors by Aziza Claudia Gibson-Hunter opens at Honfleur Gallery and Primordial Planes by Alexandra Chiou opens at Vivid Solutions Gallery.
Honfleur Gallery is located at 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 
Vivid Solutions Gallery is located next door at 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE.