Trader Joe's to Open Near Union Market

We're getting the Trader Joe's that a lot of people have hoped for over the years. The new store will open at 1240 Fourth St. in the Florida Avenue Market, and very close to Union Market (1309 Fifth St.). According to the store's website they are hope to open in 2017.

I could not locate a copy of the press release, but the Washington Business Journal has more details, including that the Trader Joe's will go into the Edison Building (the address for the building has also been given as 340 Florida Ave., and it's on the corner of Florida and Fourth). That building will also have 187 residential units. The grocer will occupy 15,000 of the 30,000 square feet of available retail space at the site. Rebecca Cooper at WBJ also points out that this is just down the street from another large development that will feature a Latin market from chef Jose Garces.

Local Briefing: SMD 5D03 Meeting, Wunder Garten's Pavilion, & NoMa's Holiday Make-It

ANC 5D03 Commissioner Adam Roberts will hold his final Single Member District Meeting of the year at the Flats at Atlas (1600 Maryland Ave.) tomorrow Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. The full agenda is posted online. Representatives from Kettler Development will share their plans for public space improvements to K Street, 17th Street, and Maryland Avenue as part of phase 2 construction of The Flats at Atlas.

Stabbings on H Street & Florida Avenue

There were two local stabbings over the past few days. The first took place in the 1300 block of Florida Avenue Saturday about 11:40 p.m, and the second happened this morning about 1:25 a.m. in the 1200 block of H Street. Look out information was not provided for either crime.

Tree House Lounge to Host Final Show Dec. 3

Trinidad's Tree House Lounge (1006 Florida Ave.) will hold its final shows on Dec. 2 and 3. The tiny live music venue has hosted local and regional bands, as well as touring performers from all over. Tree House Lounge opened in April of 2013, kicking things off with a blues workshop. Since that time the Tree House has welcomed a vide variety of music acts and genres to their intimate space over the years. The owners have indicated that they intend to offer the space for lease as a bar and restaurant. The line up for the final nights appears below for those who might like to say goodbye.

Small Business Saturday on H Street

 

Metro Mutts is one of the businesses participating in Small Business Saturday

H Street spots are getting into the act to help you support small local biz today as part of Small Business Saturday. It's a great excuse to shop, eat, and drink right here in our own neighborhood. You can get more details from the slightly modified press release from H Street Main Street below.

Celebrate Small Business Saturday on H Street

Statement form Anwar Saleem, executive director of H Street Main Street, on Small Business Saturday—November 26, 2016

“Small Business Saturday is an important day for H Street NE and the District. Our locally-owned small businesses are backbone of our community. They provide essential goods and services and drive H Street’s identity and growth. Without them our neighborhood would not survive. Today and every day of the year, let’s show our thanks to our community businesses and the entrepreneurial spirit of H Street NE and our country by shopping small. America was founded on the idea that with determination, hard work and innovation, the sky is the limit. H Street embodies those ideals and our diverse and thriving small business sector is a testament to it.

Local Briefing: Atlas Hiring, West Elm Pops Up, DDOT Visitor Parking Passes

Lab 1270 (photo courtesy of MoKi Media)

The Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St.) is hiring a Marketing and PR Manager and a Patron Services Manager, as well as seeking interns in production management, and technical productions.

Burned Woman Found on Holbrook Street

NBC 4 is reporting that a woman with serious burns has been found on the NW side of Holbrook Street between Neal and Morse. The woman, who has burns to her face and upper body, has been rushed to the hospital. The news report says she was discovered by a person delivering newspapers, and that the police are saying the burns appear to be accidental. This is in the lower eastern corner of the Trinidad neighborhood.

Local Briefing: Meet the Principal at Wheatley, Arboretum Wreath Making, Thanksgiving at Langston Grille

The post-renovation ribbon cutting ceremony at Wheatley in 2009

A neighbor is putting together a school tour/meet the principal event for parents interested in learning more about Wheatley Education Campus. This event will take place at the school (1299 Neal St.) on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. To take part please RSVP to tdh17603[at]yahoo.com.

Krampus Returns to H Street Dec. 3

Hush...what's that creeping along the H Street Corridor? It's Krampus, the mythical Alpine beast who visits us each year to raise spirits while raising money for local foster kids. This is one of my personal favorite local events, and I highly recommend taking part. This blog is proud to once again be a sponsor for Krampusnacht on H Street.

On Dec. 3 Krampus will team up with Santa to decide who's been naughty and who's been nice during H Street's annual Krampusnacht celebration. Now in its fifth year, the event raises funds for Santa's Cause DC, a District based charity that benefits the approximately 75 foster kids of Family Matters of Greater Washington. There's no cover charge, but the organizers do request a $10 donation for the pre-walk reception and after party (100% of proceeds go to Santa's Cause DC). It's a great cause, and the team puts on quite the show each year.

The evening kicks off with a family friendly reception that will appeal to folks of all ages. Kids can visit with Santa Claus, create their own Krampus mask, get their faces painted, and post for photos with Santa and Krampus. Everyone can enjoy the Festivus performances by fire artists Dance Afire, and traditional folk dance by the Foggy Bottom Morris Men.

A Look at Old City Market & Oven

Photo by Karen Ramsey

Reader Karen Ramsey sent along these photos of the newly opened Old City Market & Oven (522 K St.). Much more than your typical corner store, Old City Market & Oven will offer freshly made pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven, espresso drinks, both typical American and gourmet groceries, beer, wine, and few more unexpected treats. The following is an excerpt from an email I received a while back from a representative for the shop:

Once you head downstairs, you'll find a wall plastered with great art from Curt's personal collection. The plan is to have a rotating selection of art available for purchase right there. In that very same basement you'll find a grand piano(free pizza for anyone that plays well enough to impress the chef), a record player surrounded by a vinyl collection that spans multiple decades and genres, and all sorts of household items from mugs to pet food, infant toys, preserved jellies and so much more.
           All the way in the back of the basement, there's a door that leads to a little workshop where Curt and his son are going to work building all sorts of things with some of the finest wood that he's collected in his travels over the years. They will also attempt to fix anything you have that needs repairs.

Local Briefing: Saturday Morning Cartoon Art & Advent Beer Boxes

Relive your childhood this Saturday at Big Chief (2002 Fenwick St.) at their Saturday Morning Cartoons art showcase (2 p.m to 6 p.m.).  The show features works celebrating the tv shows you'll recall from your younger days. Vendors will have affordable prints for sale, as well as originals.  The event also features chicken and waffles, a bacon bar, and original cocktails. Early bird tickets are $5.

JLW Holiday Shops Fundraiser at Dock5 Starting Friday

The Junior League of Washington will hold its 58th annual Holiday Shops at Union Market's Dock5 (2nd floor of 1309 Fifth St.) this weekend. JLW President Elizabeth Keys stressed that event raises funds that allow the organization "to continue supporting local organizations – with grants and volunteer resources – throughout the year." Holiday Shops features about 70 vendors, and includes multiple events. It kicks off with an opening cocktail party featuring Jos. A Magnus cocktails. Ticket prices are different for each event. You can watch a clip from WJLA for more info, or just see the full line-up below.

Local News Brief: ANC 5D Mtg, All Crafts Considered, Ben's Upstairs Gets Social

The agenda is out for tonight's ANC 5D meeting, and it actually looks like it could be a short one. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at 1805 Bladensburg Road.

ANC 5D Meeting Tomorrow

I  haven't seen an agenda yet, but Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5D will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow. I've posted the results of the recent election, but please remember that the new term does not begin until January of 2017. As always, the meeting will start at 7 p.m., and will be held at Fifth District Metropolitan Police Headquarters (1805 Bladensburg Road).

The Emporiyum Returns this Weekend

It's not too late to snag tickets to the Emporiyum at Union Market's Dock5 (2nd Floor of 1309 Fifth St.) this Saturday and Sunday. $15 for late admission (1:30 p.m. entrance Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday), $25 for early admission (11 a.m. entrance and a tote bag), or $40 for the VIP package (Sunday is available, Saturday sold out) that includes 10:00 a.m. entrance, "passed and stationed breakfast bites and cocktail sips," plus a tote bag filled with food and other fun stuff. The event starts at 10 a.m. both days, and runs until 4 p.m. Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. The Emporiyum, a "market and celebration of everything delicious," will feature more than 95 chefs, artisans, food producers, and restaurants. They'll be lots of cool stuff to see, and plenty of samples to try, as well as a DJ. Kids 12 and under are admitted free. The Washington Post has a list of some solid picks to check out if you go.

Annual Movember Charity Pig Roast at Little Miss Whiskey's

The Movember fundraising gang is back, and they are once again holding a charity pig roast. This year's event takes place at Little Miss Whiskey's (1104 H St.) from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 19,  and tickets are $60. That gets you all you can eat & drink, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Movember Foundation, which focuses on men's health (specifically on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health/suicide prevention).

ANC Election Results

I know many of us are still reeling from presidential shocker last night, but we also have results for some important local races. Here's what happened with some area Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

ANC 5D

The Commission stays largely the same, but with one big difference. Commissioner Adam Roberts, who is also the Commission's chair, lost his bid for re-election to challenger James Butler.

SMD	Candidate	Total Votes	Vote %	Winner	Incumbent
ANC 5D01	Peta-Gay S. Lewis	592	75.16%	X	X
	Write-In	24	3.05%
ANC 5D04	Vonetta Dumas	422	43.24%
	Keisha Shropshire	433	44.36%	X	X
	Write-In	14	1.43%
ANC 5D03	James Butler	495	47.55%	X
	Adam Roberts	414	39.77%		X
	Write-In	24	2.31%
ANC 5D04	Bernice S. Blacknell	371	57.79%	X	X
	Vincent "Sasquatch" Coles	194	30.22%
	Write-In	8	1.25%
ANC 5D05	Kathy Henderson	516	74.67%	X	X
	Write-In	69	9.99%
ANC 5D06	Yoomie Huynh	273	24.16%
	H. Yvonne Buggs	684	60.53%	X	X
	Write-In	19	1.68%
ANC 5D07	Clarence Lee	748	76.33%	X	X
	Write-In	36	3.67%

Where to Watch the Election Results Tonight

This is just a short list, and I'm sure there are plenty of other places along the H Street Corridor that will have the tvs tuned to the results.

RedRocks (1348 H St.) is hosting Team Grosso's election party starting at 8 p.m.

Something You Should Know About ANC 5D03 Candidate James Q. Butler

Candidate James Q. Butler in an old promotional video

I've wrestled with this information a bit (because much of the information is from a while ago), but ultimately decided it is important that I share it because I think it goes right to the heart of a candidate's ethics and fitness for office. It's something that a little casual Googling might miss, and Mr. Butler is lucky enough to appear first on the ballot in the race (a big deal in an ANC contest where voters may be less familiar with candidates).

My Endorsement for ANC 5D06: Yvonne Buggs

ANC 5D06 Commissioner Yvonne Buggs

The job of an advisory neighborhood commissioner is not an easy one. It can mean dealing with paperwork and hassles, and trying to untangle situations that have gone wrong, or simply not yet been properly addressed by city agencies. The individuals who take on the role of commissioner do so on a volunteer basis, and are not paid for their hours or effort. They receive some training, but often must work with the existing skills they bring with them, and learn the rest on the fly.

Stabbing in the 1300 Block of New York Avenue

There was a stabbing at 4:50 p.m. yesterday in the 1300 block of New York Avenue on the edge of Ivy City (near the Planet Fitness and MOM's). I haven't seen further details yet, but the text of the alert is below.

Alert: 5D stabbing at 1650hrs in the 1300 block of New York Ave NE. No lookout.
DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/ EVENT #I20160673753
Sent to 5th District (PSA 501-508) Alert DC
Sent by MPD CAD #10519

Trinidad ANC 5D02 Community Clean-Up Sunday (11/6)

Commissioner Keisha Shropshire (ANC 5D02) is hosting a community clean-up Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Meet at Trinidad Avenue and the 1200 block of Meigs Place. Cleaning supplies will be provided. You can RSVP by email to 5D02[at]anc.dc.gov, or through the Nextdoor event.

Ivy City Partners Selected to Redevelop Crummell School Site

A rendering from the Ivy City Partners proposal

The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development has chosen Ivy City Partners (Stonebridge Carras, Jarvis Company and Ocean Pro Properties) as the team to redevelop Ivy City's Crummell School. The group's proposal was one of three submitted for the site through OurRFP. The development site is 108,000 square feet site, and includes the historic school and the adjacent parking lot located at 1900 Gallaudet St.

Local News Brief: Oculus at Union Market, Tips at Sally's Middle Name, & Maketto Thanksgiving

I've got more details on the Facebook Oculus virtual reality roadshow (the large box currently outside Union Market, 1309 Fifth St.) that I mentioned yesterday. It's open to members of the public 13 years of age and over (those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Saturday.

Here's a little info they sent my way:

"The tour brings an immersive experience with Samsung's Gear VR, which was developed in collaboration between Samsung and Oculus, a team at Facebook. Attendees will be guided through several virtual worlds and will be able to leave with a GIF of themselves in VR to share with friends. Bring your friends and family to see what VR is all about."

Local News Brief: No More Bouldering/Coffee/Beer Garden for Mt. Olivet & Virtual Reality at Union Market

Twitter user @JRogers202 tweeted the above photo yesterday of a rectangular structure with facebook on it sitting outside Union Market (1309 Fifth St.). Peregrine Espresso tweeted a response suggesting it's related to an Oculus virtual reality project, and sent along a link to a story from the Daily Free Press (a student newspaper at Boston University). So this appears to be part of the Facebook Virtual Reality Roadshow. According to Peregrine, it's here through Saturday.