Liberty Tree's Brunch Menu

As I mentioned before, brunch service starts tomorrow at Liberty Tree. Brunch will be served every Saturday and Sunday from 11am-3pm.

Farmer’s Omelet $10

Olives, mushrooms, green peppers, and goat cheese

Served with homefries

Eggs Kennebunkport $15

Lobster, poached egg, hollandaise on an English muffin

Served with homefries

Buttermilk pancakes $8

A stack of three with seasonal warm berry compote

The Breakfast Pizza $12

Herb butter, homefries, bacon, mozzarella, Sunnyside eggs, and Vermont maple syrup drizzle

Filet BLT $14

Tarragon mayonnaise

Served with house cut French fries

Chef’s choice Quiche Market

Ask your server for details

Original Chopped Salad $5/8

Romaine, crispy bacon, pasta, tomato, creamy garlic and herb vinaigrette

BRICK OVEN PIZZA

10” (6 slices)

G Special $9

Double pepperoni, banana peppers, tomato sauce, mozzarella

Meat $10

Linguica, prosciutto, pepperoni, tomato sauce, mozzarella

Veggie $9

Onion, mushroom, green pepper, roasted red pepper, olives, tomato sauce, mozzarella

Godfather $11

Spicy meatballs, bacon, onions, smoked gouda, tomato sauce, mozzarella

Cape Cod Casino $11

Chopped clams, roasted garlic, bacon, spinach, herb butter, pecorino romano

Greek $11

Kalamata olives, goat cheese, spinach, tomato sauce, mozzarella

Margherita $9

Fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, fresh basil

Cheese $7

Mozzarella, tomato sauce

Build Your Own

$1 each

Onions, roasted mushrooms, black olives, fresh basil, green peppers, roasted red peppers, banana peppers, roasted garlic, spinach, extra mozzarella,

$2 each

Meatballs, pepperoni, linguica, italian sausage, bacon, prosciutto, gorgonzola, smoked gouda, fresh mozzarella, goat cheese

Sides

Maple Bacon $4 Grilled Linguica $4 Homefries $4 English Muffin $2

Cheesecake at Gallery O/H

A tribute to the female form.
August 5, 6, and 7
August 12, 13, and 14
5:30-9pm
In celebration with Pink Line’s H-Street TEMPORIUM (1300 H Street) a design shop + wifi lounge where DC’s best designers show their wares. Treat your eyes then your palate! After you leave the gallery visit Dangerously Delicious Pies (1339 H Street) and get a 10% discount on your purchase.
Gallery O/H ( 1354 H Street).

Brunch at Liberty Tree

It starts tomorrow, and will be every Saturday and Sunday from 11am-3pm.

NBC 4: Euro Styles Robbery

NBC 4 has more on yesterday's robbery and assault of the owner at Euro Styles. I hope Mo's ok. He really is a nice guy.

THIH: H is for History

The Hill is Home recently ran this interesting post on the ongoing H Street History Project. Give it a read. Note the discussion of H Street's eligibility for designation as an historic district.

Rebuilding Place Responds to DCmud Post

Richard's got a well written post responding to the DCmud post I mentioned yesterday. That post concerned a proposed project at 1242 H Street. DCmud is, as Richard says, a very pro-development/developer blog. People often send me links to DCmud posts. The reason I don't regularly read their posts is because:

1. The posts are basically puff pieces produced off of press releases (or similar info) from developers. This means, for instance, that you can read all about the great stuff Clark is about to build behind the Safeway. Except that Clark isn't building anything behind the Safeway right now. They are playing wait and see the same way they have been for at least four years. Not that I blame Clark, I'm sure they'd rather wait for street construction to wrap up, and the economy to improve. But I don't need to read a bunch of junk about how Clark is about to build something they aren't close to building.

2. Some of the authors seem very ignorant about the neighborhoods, and even the history of the projects, about which they write. Do a little research people.

3. The writing is uneven, and sometimes downright bad/insipid.

In short, I get annoyed. Don't get me wrong, sometimes they turn out some good stuff, and they do have sketches, and plans. I'm just saying that a little quality control might be in order. Until then I can't deal with reading them regularly.

One odd thing in Shaun's post:
1. "An empty lot could become one of the first new commercial enterprises on the 1200 block of H Street NE"

+Maybe Shaun defines "new commercial enterprise" differently than I do. I would have considered the following to fall into that category:
Philadelphia Water Ice, Souk, Stella Bleu (now closed), Palace of Wonders, the Red and the Black, the Pug, H Street Martini Lounge, Doctor Granville's, Merry-Go-Round, and Drew. Maybe Shaun meant new construction.

Overall, the developer is asking for a lot here, and the deviation from the plan is significant. I'll back the ANC on this one and say the project need to be better. Why do they need four stories, again? And the building is just plain. I know it's infill on a vacant lot, but come on. I think we can do better.

Trivia @Sticky Rice

Sticky Rice is introducing a new trivia night this Sunday night. The game starts at 10:30, and from 12-2am they will be running some terrific drink specials. Stop by and check out the new night. 1224 H Street.

Restaurant Week @Napa

Napa 1015
Restaurant ~ Lounge
Restaurant Week Menu

Appetizers
Arugula Salad with Ruby Red Grapefruit and Bosc Pears with Lemon Vinaigrette
Pan Fried Chicken Mozzarella Croquettes
A Trio of Wild Mushrooms over Creamy Polenta
Serrano Ham thinly sliced with Asparagus and Aged Parmesan

Entrée’s
Herbed New England Cod Roasted in Red Curry and Lime Broth with Asian Vegetables
Pan Seared Muscovy Duck Breast with Pineapple and Sweet Potato Puree
Mediteranean Leg of Lamb with Couscous, Fresh Mint & Cucumber
Crepes Stuffed with Fresh Vegetables and Crème Sauce

Desserts
Fresh Blackberry Cobbler with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Hazel Nut Chocolate Mousse Cake
Tres Leches Cake with Fresh Berries
$35.09

Babes in Toyland & Toys for Tots

The Washington Savoyards open their new show Babes in Toyland, this weekend and they are offering some special discounts.

All tickets to performances Friday November 30th through Sunday December 2nd are $25. If you buy 4 tickets they are $20 each.

The show runs through December 9 and tickets are normally $35-$45.

Tickets to Babes can be purchased on the Atlas Performing Arts Center website or through the box office, 202.399.7993.

During the run of Babes in Toyland, The Savoyards will be collecting toys on behalf of Toys for Tots and the local organization Bright Beginnings.

The Atlas Performing Arts Center is located at 1333 H Street.

Watch the NBC News4 story on the production. A couple of points:
1. This isn't really community theater because the Savoyards are a professional company.
2. You'll notice the station used a old construction shot of the front of the Atlas. The panning shot immediately precedes Atlas Executive Director talking about all the new development on H Street. Sort of an odd juxtaposition.

WP: Horace & Dickie's

The Post's Sunday Source hits up H Street's little fried fish and chicken joint (conveniently located just north of H Street on 12th).

SOVA Opening Monday 11/12

A message from SOVA:
More than a year after R&B Coffee closed, I'm proud to say that SOVA has arrived. I received my C of O on Monday, and passed my health inspection this afternoon. I immediately went down to the DCRA building to pick up my business license, so I have everything I need to open. This coming Monday (Veterans Day), Nov. 12th, I will officially open the doors at 6:30 am.

The hours for SOVA (pre-alcohol license) will be as follows.

Mon - Friday, opening at 6:30 am
Saturday, opening at 7:00 am
Sunday, opening at 8:00 am (this is subject to change to 7:00 if there's enough demand from the neighborhood to open at that time on a Sunday)

Closing hours will be as follows

Sun - Thurs., 9pm
Fri. - Sat., Midnight (this time is also subject to change to 11pm if there is not enough demand)

Look forward to serving you all.

Frank Hankins

Congratulations Frank! I'm sure I'm not the only future patron excited about this. SOVA is located at 1359 H Street.

**************************************
UPDATE
**************************************

They also have WiFi!

CP: Marketing Mussels

The City Paper's Tim Carman reviews Dr. Granville's.

WP: Truth in Translation

Image provided by the Atlas (used with permission, all rights reserved).
The Post has a piece on Truth in Translation a production currently running (through October 6th) at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H Street). The work focuses on interracial reconcilliation by way of the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission in South Africa. Buy tickets online from the Atlas website.

****************************
UPDATE
****************************

Listen to the Atlas' Executive Director Patrick Stewart and Truth In Translation's producer on today's Kojo Namdi show.

WP: Country Club in Spring?

The Post contains a short update on what's new and suggests that the H Street Country Club, which will open in the vacant space previously occupied by Phish Tea, will be open this spring. The Country Club is a tongue in cheek venture from Joe Englert and co. that will serve burgers and other American fare amidst a nineteen hole DC themed mini-golf course. Sorry about the barely literate version of this that was up earlier today, I got distracted miscomposition & didn't post the corrected version.

Tonight @Dissident Display

H Street Co-op Fundraier @Sidamo

Coffee and Dessert Night at Sidamo Cafe
To Benefit the H Street Community Market

Help bring a co-op grocery store to the H Street Corridor by joining us for a night of Coffee, Desserts and Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony at Sidamo Cafe.

Event date: October 20th (Saturday) from 6-8pm
Place: Sidamo Coffee and Tea / 417 H St. NE

Ticket Price: $20
Description: The night includes coffee, desserts and participation in the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

To purchase tickets, go to our website at: http://www.hstcommunitymarket.org or email raynor@tcgillc.com

Washingtonian: Meet Me on H

The Washingtonian does a nightlife round-up on H Street.

H Street Update

The following is a reposting of an email recently sent out on a few local listservs by Derrick Woody:

H Street Constituents:

I am having posted a pictorial update of most H Street development to the ANC 6A and 6C yahoogroups sites and asking that it is posted to the Old City Capitol Hill site and others as well. The update is a five year overview of most of the changes that have happened over the last five years (2002-2007) since we began the discussions and planning for reviving H Street until today- from plan to progress. The document could be longer, but it should also get the point across that a great deal of our collective work is showing results. What the overview also shows is where more work needs to be done.

The great news is that H Street NE is definitely on the investment map by the private sector now! Larger development projects are planned or newly completed within the Urban Living section of the plan and some properties are being improved. At the east end, new businesses have opened around the H Street Playhouse and the Atlas Performing Arts Center and an Arts and Entertainment experience can be had on H Street. These things did not exist five years ago.

But within all of this there is still a need to really assist the folk who have been on H Street for some time and need help and a need to attract more entrepreneurs to fill vacancies. In Fiscal Year 2008 (FY08) which begins October 1, 2007, the focus on Great Streets within the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development will be on the following:

Launch H STREET NE - Great Streets Neighborhood Retail Priority Area.

In July 2007, DC Council approved the establishment of six neighborhood retail priority areas and the potential spending limits for Tax Increment Finance bonds. Up to $25 million in bond issuance was approved for H Street NE. DMPED is working with Councilmember Wells' office to determine the process by which these potential resources can leverage amenities for the businesses and residents of H Street NE. In earlier meetings with property and business owners and neighborhood constituents, it was requested that priority be given to building rehabilitation grants and loans, mix income/mixed use projects, anchor retail tenants, strategic public parking and some potential transit enhancements. In conjunction with Councilmember Wells, DMPED anticipates using available resources to support key, anchoring development projects on the corridor as well as to augment resources targete d toward smaller property and business owners.

At the moment, DMPED is working with the Office of the Chief Financial Officer and the Office of Tax and Revenue to iron out some issues related to this important resource, but we are confident that we will reach a resolution.

Actively Target Building Improvements - Corridor Wide.

Despite all of our work, the corridor still looks and feels underinvested. In partnership with other District agencies, DMPED plans to launch a building improvement campaign targeting vacant, unattractive and potential unsafe structures on H Street NE. The Retail Priority Area resources married with Great Streets resources may be used to begin this process.

DMPED has been coordinating with and through Councilmember Wells' office to address the issues of vacant and abandoned properties on H Street NE. This collaboration will continue moving forward.

Select a Development Team to Build a Mixed Use / Mixed Income Project on the 1100 Block South Side.

In order to encourage reinvestments by private land owners, the District needs to address how it uses its own vacant or underutilized land. A Request for Proposals was issued for 1113-1117 H Street NE. Two responses were received. They are being evaluated now. A selection will be made in early FY 2008.

Find a Mixed Use Development Partner to Build a Bigger and Better R. L. Christian Library in a Mixed Use Building.

Here again is another opportunity to leverage public land to produce a number of public benefits, i.e. new library, new housing or offices.

There has been some community concerns about a mixed use library site development on H Street-some for and some against, but at the core of it, everyone wants a new facility for all residents to take pride in and patronize.

DMPED plans to competitively offer the R. L. Christian Library site for mixed use development in early FY 2008. The new building will contain a larger library facility on the ground floor and housing and/or office uses above. $510,000 has been set aside to temporarily relocate the library to another facility on the 1300 block of H Street NE northside until the construction period is completed.

Work More Closely and Strategically with the H Street Community Development Corporation.

DMPED recently met with William "Bill" Barrow and Eric Jones of H Street Community Development Corporation. We are excited about future opportunities to partner with the HSCDC to bring about certain improvements on H Street NE.

Coordinate even more so with DDOT during the Streetscape and Transportation Improvement Process.

The H Street NE streetscape and transportation improvements are slated to begin in either late fall or early spring according to DDOT. The Improvements will be phased in nine phases over a 30 month period. DMPED and other agencies will be actively working to assist as needed and where possible to mitigate impacts on local businesses. It is important that all of us continue to remind business owners now that the improvements are coming and to plan accordingly. DDOT staff can provide more detail information on the scope and the timeline. Call 202.671.2542 or email karina.ricks@dc.gov with specific questions related to these planned improvements.

CONCLUSION:

H Street is well underway to becoming a greater street! There is a lot more work for all of us to do. DMPED is open to new and innovative ideas and thinking about addressing some of the challenges and opportunities ahead. We welcome your input. Please feel free to contact me via email at derrick.woody@dc.gov > so that I can more easily maintain a record or any responses and ideas.

NOTE:

Burnham Place and Station Place final phase will be included in future iterations of this document. If any of you have images of other new investments on H Street that are not include here, please share with me via email. You will be credited.

Thanks! See you soon.

Derrick Lanardo Woody
Coordinator - Great Streets Initiative
Office of the Deputy Mayor for
Planning & Economic Development
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 317
Washington, DC 20004-3001
202.727.2981 phone

The pictorial update to which the author refers is not yet posted.

Music Is Bulletproof

Coming Soon: SOVA

This picture was taken a coffee sampling during the H Street Festival. SOVA (1359 H Street) will be opening soon, but the date has not yet been set.