Sometimes They Come Back...

Ashburn, shown here with Assistant Chief Groomes

Halloween decorations I mean. The crew at Capital City Diner tweets that they put out Halloween decorations on Saturday, only to find them mysteriously missing on Sunday. Owner Matt Ashburn reviewed the security tapes and posted the thief's image at a nearby bus stop and liquor store yesterday, and today the missing items had reappeared. Pretty impressive.

East City Art: Local Visual Art Scene

East City Art profiles the visual art scene on H Street and in Trinidad.

HSGS: CHAMPS Buy Local

H Street Great Street has info about how you can support local businesses, and save money at the same time. The benefits of joining the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce in its Buy Local campaign are pretty damn good when you look at these discounts (10-20% off at some local bars and restaurants, plus deals on local services).

New at Dangerously Delicious, The Lunch Special

delicious S&M, originally uploaded by philliefan99.

Dangerously Delicious Pies offers up a tasty sounding lunch special. Choose one savory slice, and add a mixed green side salad and a drink for $8. The special is only available Monday-Friday from 11-3pm. But you can always add a side salad to your pie or quiche for $2. 1339 H Street.

A Message From Palace of Wonders

Dear Palace of Wonders friends,

It is with our disappointment the opening of the Red Palace has been postponed through November 5th. This unfortunate delay has put us in difficult predicament, as business has been slow with out any shows. We are asking our friends to support the Palace of Wonders by spreading the word that we will be hosting already scheduled side shows and burlesque on the old stage temporarily.

GGW: Who Should Control the Streetcar?

Seattle Streetcar at Westlake and Olive, originally uploaded by WintrHawk.

Greater Greater Washington asks if WMATA or DDOT should be in charge of the streetcars.

Kathy Henderson At It Again

Kathy Henderson, shown here stealing campaign signs

Perhaps you thought Kathy Henderson couldn't sink any lower than her memorable campaign sign stealing antics (which were caught on video tape) during which she accused Capital City Diner owner Matt Ashburn of conspiring with Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas to frame her. Well, you were wrong. Don Quixote's evil sister Kathy Henderson is back. This time she's after a neighborhood association. She wrote the following email after a private individual associated with the association responded to her rant about trash collection. Is anything below actually true? Only the fact that the respondent ran (as a write in, against a candidate appearing on the ballot) for the 5B10 seat. Other than that, Henderson has made up all the rest of her "facts." One fact in the nine sentences of the first paragraph. Now that's impressive. Plus a new conspiracy involving the Councilmember! Exciting!

Red Palace Relaunch Delayed

Seriously, VERY close

You may have noticed that the Red Palace event on my Got (Halloween) Plans? post now says it's canceled back on. Here's the deal, they just a have to do a couple of more things like put fire resistant paint on a beam, or two. But, this being DC, it can take a while to get inspectors to come through. So...the relaunch is slightly delayed. Basically, they've canceled the October, and early November, shows that were scheduled. That sucks, but both Palace of Wonders and Red and the Black are open downstairs. Hell, as of last update, a few events are back on, and will be held on the downstairs Palace of Wonders Stage. Stop by and grouse with the bartenders over the headaches of opening/running a business in the District. 1210 and 1212 H Street.

Dos Tacos!

Available every Saturday and Sunday at the Friends in the Marketplace Funky Flea Market at the Florida Avenue Market. $2 per taco. Available in beef, pork, chicken, and (beef) tongue.  6th and Neal.

TBD: XII Faces Liquor License Opposition

TBD reports on ANC  6A's looming protest of the ABC license renewal of XII, a nightclub/tavern located at the corner of 12th and H Street. XII is the subject of an upcoming ABRA fact finding hearing following the physical assault of a woman in the club's bathroom. XII has also had numerous noise complaints, and these are largely the basis of the protest. The ANC's stated goal is not for XII to lose its license, but for XII and ANC 6A to enter in a new voluntary agreement with stricter regulations and penalties regarding noise.

Ethiopic Gets Outdoor Seating & a Great Review

The Washington Post covers Ethiopic in its fall dining guide, and Food Critic Tom Sietsema seems quite enamored of the place. He praises the well informed servers who can explain not only the ingredients in the dishes they serve, but also any particular cultural significance associated with the fare. I must agree with Sietsema that the vegetarian sampler is a must order. I love the lentil salad. If you haven't tried Ethiopic yet, you are really missing out. 401 H Street. Enjoy the outdoor seating while the weather lasts.

Did I mention that Ethiopic is the only Ethiopian restaurant featured in the Fall Dining Guide?

Lots Happening at the ANC 6A Meeting

Fortunately for those of us that had to miss tonight's meeting HstreetDC was on-hand to Tweet the exciting developments. Here are the highlights of the highlights:

HstreetDC: Scott from @ArgonautDC presenting plans to expand patio, cover part of it. Asking for ANC support. Partnering w/@Fragers on gardens. about 5 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

Tweed Ride to Hit H Street Again?

Ah the crisp chill of fall, the tangy bite of fall apple, and the almost forgotten site of a tweed clad bicycle ride of yesteryear...er, last year. The tweed riders are back, but I'm unable of find any route information online. Last years ride made for some very good photo ops, so here's hoping they wind up the ride over here and stop by our fine establishments for a refreshing beverage. The ride is scheduled for November 14th.

Got (Halloween) Plans?

Remember when I mentioned before about the serious shortage of cabs on Halloween? Yeah, it sucks! But neighborhood residents can avoid the issue by staying local on Halloween. Check out the events below and you won't even be tempted to hit that party in Columbia Heights or Petworth.

Jimmy Valentine's


TICKETING INFO and PURCHASE
$15 in advance (sells out)
$80 get you admission and free drinks at Jimmy's and Little Miss Whiskey's for the night.

Upcoming Political Forums

Oct. 19: Special Forum with Kwame Brown, the next Chair of the Council

In January, Councilmember Kwame Brown will take over the helm of the Council of the District of Columbia. Join our next Chairman, along with several of his At-Large Council colleagues and Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, for a conversation about the future of the Council. How will the Council keep education reform a priority? What are Mr. Brown's plans for working with Mayor-to-be Gray? What does he see as Council's role in the continued growth of H Street NE, the Capitol Riverfront and Southwest Waterfront?

When: Tuesday, October 19, 2010, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Where: Southeast Branch Public Library, 403 7th Street, SE
Additional details: Meeting room is downstairs; Eastern Market Metro Station is across the street.


Oct. 25: Ward 6 School Board Candidates Forum

On November 2nd, Ward 6 will elect a new representative to the school board. Hear from the two candidates -- Melissa Rohan and Monica Warren-Jones -- about their plans and vision for public schools in Ward 6. Find out where the candidates stand on improving our middle schools, driving academic performance, and continuing growth beyond our elementary school gains. Co-hosted with the Capitol Hill Public Schools Parents Organization.

When: Monday, October 25, 2010, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Where: Maury Elementary School, 1250 Constitution Ave, NE
Additional details: Parking available on-site (lot is accessed from 12th Place NE); we are also in the process of arranging child care on-site.

Oct. 27: Trinidad ANC Candidates Forum

The Trinidad Neighborhood Association would like to provide a forum for residents to get to know the candidates for the Advisory Neighborhood Commission. As you know, these elected positions are the front line for many neighborhood concerns and issues that need to be addressed by various District agencies. Since these positions don’t garner much media attention, there is little opportunity for voters to learn about the people who want to represent their interests. This is where TNA would like to help. Don't miss this chance to hear from the candidates.

When: Wednesday, October 27th, 7-8:30 pm
Where: Joe Cole Community Center 1299 Neal Street, NE

Weekend Arts Event Round Up

Courtesy of Phil Hutinet:

Weekend East City Event Round Up

Thursday October 14

Tim Conlon “Con Rail” Photo Courtesy Studio H

Studio H and CITY Gallery present the season’s first Art House Open House at 748 7^th Street SE.  The works of the following artists will be represented:

Geoff Ault- photography (CITY Gallery)
Tim Conlon- graffiti artist (Studio H)
Ellen Cornett- pastels (CITY Gallery)
Sherill Gross- cut outs (CITY Gallery)
Liz Lescault- ceramic scuplture (CITY Gallery)
Katherine Mann- mixed media painting (Hamiltonian Gallery)
Steven Pearson- mixed media painting (Studio H)
Pam Rogers- mixed media painting (CITY Gallery)

Refreshment and hors-d’oeuvres will be provided by Marvelous Market Capitol Hill.

Friday October 15

"Barking Pumpkins" created from glass, wire, styrofoam by Erica Fallin.  Photo Courtesy of Authentic Contemporary Art

Be part of history when the first art gallery opens in Ward 7.  Don’t miss the Tubman-Mahan Art Gallery’s inaugural opening “ReCREATE” at 3938 Benning Road NE from 6pm to 8pm.  The juried group show required artists to work with recycled material.

The following artists will be represented: Chuck Baxter, Sandra Davis, Jim Duckworth, Chava Evans, Erica Fallin, Magaly Gaza, Christopher Golden, Gints Grinbergs, Rania Hassan, Sean Hennessey, Roxanne Jarrett, Guru Sangat Khalsa, Gloria Kirk, Marla Mclean, Rose Mosner, Jordan Quintero,Wendy Rabinowitz, Kathy Turner, Ja'Ski Watkins and Sherry Ways

Saturday October 16

The Fridge presents Graham Boyle’s first solo exhibit “Thrive, Despite!” from 7pm to 10pm.  The gallery is located behind Belga Café in the alley between 8^th and 9^th streets SE.

Phil Hutinet is the Editor-in-Chief of East City Art.  You can get more information about East City Art on Facebook  or follow them on Twitter

Douche Bag City Opening at Conner

From the gallery:

FEDERICO SOLMI. Gallery hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10-5pm.

FEDERICO SOLMI: Douche Bag City
October 30 – December 18, 2010

to preview: CLICK HERE

My works are filled with corrupt politicians, murderers, swindlers, tyrants, porn stars, religious preachers... I want to present viewers with an ironic but perverse vision of our times and our near future.
- Federico Solmi

Conner Contemporary Art proudly presents Douche Bag City, a major exhibition of video-animation, painting, and sculpture by Federico Solmi.

Solmi shocked Europe last year by exhibiting The Evil Empire (2008), the video portrait of a future Pope whose violent sex addiction leads to widespread ruin. Because of the work’s controversial content, the video was censored in France and Spain. Solmi, who lives in New York, was put on trial in his native Italy for obscenity, blasphemy and offense to religion. Later that year, the Guggenheim Foundation honored Solmi by awarding him with the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, in the category of video and audio, and commissioned work from him. This year, curators Sarah Lewis and Daniel Belasco selected Solmi’s latest video, Douche Bag City (2010) for exhibition in the SITE Santa Fe Eighth International Exhibition.

In Douche Bag City, Solmi turns his satirical lens toward Wall Street. Here, the artist applies his signature style, combining painting and hand-drawn animation with digital models, through the implementation of computer gaming engines. Solmi’s satire of Wall Street greed and corruption operates as a critique of the violence inherent in social and economic power structures. The artist has designed a special installation of custom-framed LCD screens for the presentation of Douche Bag City in the gallery. In addition to Solmi’s most recent videos, we will present his seminal works Rocco Never Dies (2005), The Giant (2005), and King Kong and the End of the World (2006).

We are also delighted to show Solmi’s newest works, which have never before been exhibited: a large-scale sculpture inspired by The Evil Empire and paintings for the video animation Chinese Democracy and the Last Day on Earth (a work in progress). 

There will be an opening reception Saturday, October 30th from 6 -8pm. Artist in attendance. 

Additional information may be found at: http://www.connercontemporary.com. For further information or images, please contact the gallery @ 202-588-8750 or info@connercontemporary.com.

DC Beer: Sipping at Liberty Tree

DC Beer checks out the brews at Liberty Tree.

Every Bar in DC: the Pug

The Pug, originally uploaded by AWard Tour.

Every Bar in DC steps into the ring with the Pug.

Curbside Cupcake Takes the Curby

Local food truck Curbside Cupcake won the coveted Curby Award at the first annual Curbside Cookoff. Twenty area food trucks participated, and Curbside emerged victorious. Contestants were judged on popularity. Congratulations guys! Keep up the good work. Here's a photo of one of the owners accepting the award.

The Hate Graffiti That Wasn't?

Recently more information has come out about the graffiti that was painted on the door shared by Metro Mutts and BritishInk. It now appears that the culprit might have been a young man who was turned down for a job at the local tattoo parlor.  Apparently the suspect showed up unannounced with portfolio in hand, and when his work received an unimpressive appraisal, he left in a rotten mood. Paul Roe, of BritishInk, thinks this guy is probably behind the nasty graffiti. Frankly, if the graffiti is any measure of his artistic ability, it's pretty clear why Roe wasn't buying. DCentric has more.

Have You Eaten at Little Miss Whiskey's Recently?

Because Kywon, who you may recognize from the Capital City Diner, regularly grills up some tasty fare. Here are the menu offerings for this Thursday and Friday:

Choice One :
Flat-Ironed Steak served on a bed of Black Beans and Rice.
Alongside Fresh Cut Seasoned Green Beans.
Price : $9.00

Choice Two :
Jerk Chicken With Black beans and Rice.
Price : $7.00

Little Miss Whiskey's is located at 1104 H Street.

TBD: MPD Investigates Hate Graffiti at Metro Mutts

TBD has more details on the police visit to Metro Mutts, and a photo of the graffiti (just in case crudely drawn penises are your thing).

Trick, or Treat?

It's time once again for the annual Halloween primer, when we help out the newbies with what to expect October 31st (and also probably the 30th this year).

Q: I want to put out a pumpkin/jack-o-lantern, but won't someone smash it?
A: Actually, probably not. Though this was rampant where I grew up, it doesn't happen much around here.

Q: I don't really know if any kids will come around. Should I buy candy?
A: Yes. Halloween traffic can be hard to gauge, but it mostly seems to depend on whether you, and many of your neighbors, actually turn on porch lights that night.

Q: I've heard that old kids trick or treat here, and that many kids don't wear costumes. Is this true, and should I still give them candy?
A: Older kids do indeed trick or treat here (as in mid-teens, and yeah, they really do just want candy), and I've often had parents also want candy when they are out with the kids. Lots of kids don't bother with the costume. Despite what some say, it's not a money thing. There are lots of cheap/free ways to dress up for Halloween. So I find this annoying. But, I give the non-costumed candy anyway.

Q: Do kids egg houses on Halloween? Fireworks?
A: I've heard of Halloween eggings here, but they aren't common. Ditto for fireworks.




Other tips:

1. Try stocking something without peanuts, or nuts in it in case you find a kid with an allergy.

2. If you want trick-or-treaters you should turn your porch light on early.

3. A pumpkin, or jack-o-lantern, easily visible from the street (I like to put a decoration out in the yard that you can see from down the street) will decrease your chances of getting skipped.

4. If you offer kids the bowl and tell them to take two pieces it will not happen. That kid's going to grab a handful. If that's an issue for you then hand them the candy, or drop it into the kid's bag.

5. Don't leave out a bowl of candy. It will be empty after the first two kids.

6. this probably goes without saying, but no unprotected candles on the stairs due to long costumes, little kids, and visibility obscured by masks.

7. Keep pets inside. It's not a good night for them to be out.

8. Cabs are often in short supply on Halloween, and drinkers (and drunk drivers) are legion. Be safe.

Plant Swap at Ludlow Taylor

Here's a little info about an upcoming event where you can meet follow plant enthusiasts, and trade in your stuff:


Divide your bulbs, and plant new ones for spring blooms

Fall is a great time to divide your perennials, bulbs, and other spreading plants! Join us for the Ludlow Taylor Elementary School Plant Swap to exchange your plants with other gardeners. Bring your divided plants in containers (like old nursery pots, milk jugs, etc.) to the school to donate to the pool. For however many items you bring you will get a chance to pick from the pool in a round robin-style lottery.

This free event will be on Saturday, October 16th at 10am in front of the 7th Street entrance of Ludlow Taylor Elementary School. The address is 659 G Street.

Candidate Statement: Brian Cox ANC 6C05

I've posted several statements from ANC Candidates, and here's one more. As always, the mere posting of the statements does not constitute an endorsement, but is instead merely offered as a public service.

Candidate Statement

Brian Cox for ANC (SMD 6C05)

I am running for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner because I believe in the power of an organized community. I believe that by working together, we can make our neighborhood the best place to live or do business in Washington.

ANC 6C has almost $90,000 in taxpayer funding available to invest in the community. Yet the Commissioners have been extremely slow to reinvest those funds.

My pledge:

Action
The ANC can make a meaningful difference in our lives by making smart and strategic investments in our neighborhood. I have a plan to identify the best investments.
• Better promote the availability of grants
• Create competition among grant applicants to identify smart investments
• Invest in the best programs
• Evaluate the success of each program throughout the year
• Seek to grow and replicate highly successful and tested programs

Transparency
As an ANC Commissioner, I pledge to be a good steward of taxpayer funding. Today, most of the ANC’s funds are unspent and sitting idly, earning only 80 cents in interest each month. We must have higher standards. If our personal investments generated such a low rate of return, we would fire our bankers. For the ANC to be accountable to our community, it must:
• Publish grant reports on the ANC’s website along with program evaluations
• Publish ANC 6C’s checking account online
• Publish Treasurer’s Reports online so residents can access financial information without digging through meeting minutes

Responsiveness
As your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner I will be on call for you day and night. Whether you need help getting solutions from the District of Columbia, or have great ideas for our neighborhood, I will be your “Go-to Guy” for problems large or small. It’s time to take full advantage of modern communication technologies, so that each resident can keep up in a way that works for them.
• Easy to reach - Contact me by e-mail (brian@briancox.us), Facebook, mobile (202-905-2697), Twitter (briancoxforanc) or on the web (www.briancox.us)
• Swift follow-up – Response within 24 hours. I will provide regular updates and follow-up until solution is reached.
• Advice on navigating the D.C. Government – If you need something from the D.C. Government but don’t know where to start, I will be your first call. I will help you navigate the D.C. beaurocracy and get the answers you need!

With so much changing around us, the ANC provides a unique opportunity for residents to be heard in the process. I have lived on the Hill for almost five years. Like my neighbors, I have been inspired by the promise of a growing community. As your Commissioner, I will be your connection to change and your voice in the process. I ask for your support and your vote on November 2nd.

The Result:
A smarter, safer, more vibrant community.

More ANC Numbers to Make Your Head Hurt

An individual report is out for ANC 6A, but not for 6C or 5B. But we can look at the larger reports. The salaries and wages aren't the only numbers to check out. I suggest focusing on grants, and "services purchased."  ANC 6A and ANC 6C look pretty good, but ANC 5B looks a tad screwy. ANC 6A spent $10,219 on services purchased. Those services included "disbursements for a traffic impact study, advertising, and administrative and interpreter services." Ok, cool. ANC 6C spent $2,940.59 on services purchased. Those funds paid for administrative services, advertising, and webhosting. Alright, sure. But then ANC 5B spent $18,912.68 on services purchased, and the gloss explains this only as "administrative services." When I was on ANC 5B (I served one term, and did not seek re-election) I was the Secretary, and I took, typed, and distributed (electronically) all the meeting minutes. We employed someone for "administrative services" at the time (I'm guessing it might still be the same person), so I'm pretty sure that taking, typing, and distributing, minutes isn't part of those administrative services. I'm wondering exactly what that does include, since we paid close to $20,000 for it.

Now let's look at grants:
ANC 6A $5,694.96
ANC 6C $7,500.00
ANC 5B $0.00

Ok, now total expenditures:
ANC 6A $19,278.85
ANC 6C $10,943.65
ANC 5B $27,390.60

Now you're probably like, WTF ANC 5B? Right? Well, I'd like to point out that ANC 5B is bigger than these other two ANCs in terms of population*, so they get more funds. But, that still doesn't explain to me why more than 2/3 of the funds being spent in 5B went to administrative services.** In my time on ANC 5B I was never really able to pin down exactly what our administrative person did (granted, she was ill part of the time, so that might explain part of it). Perhaps the role is more active now, but I kind of doubt it.

Check out the breakdown of expenditures for all three of these ANCs by downloading the info from the DC Auditor. Trust me, it isn't boring. It will, however, leave you with nagging questions. I mean, what's this $1,080.01 in bank fees about? Sheesh!

-----------------------------------------------

*Each SMD theoretically represents 2,000 residents. ANC 6A has 8 Commissioners, ANC 6C has 9, and ANC 5B has 12.

**ANC 5A and ANC 5C have 12 Commissioners each (just like 5B). They spent, respectively, $536.28 and $287.00 on services purchased. Neither one of these ANCs paid any salaries or wages in 2009. Total funds spent on services purchased in Ward 5: $19,735.92. Let's do a little math. $18,912.68/$19,735.92=.95828722451. So, 96% of the money spent on "services purchased" in Ward 5 went to administrative services for ANC 5B.

Any thoughts?

Filling in the Spaces in the 1100 Block of H Street

You know all that vacant space (1113-1117) on the south side of the 1100 block of H?  Well, the District's got big plans for it. For reference sake I'll tell you that Family Dollar is located at 1121 H Street, and Me and My Supermarket is at 1111 H Street, so the parcel in question is currently behind a big white fence.

From the website of the District of Columbia Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development:

The District seeks the rehabilitation of properties from 1113 to 1117 H Street, NE. The project is an example of one of the targeted corridors of the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Great Streets Initiative. The District and its development partners are constructing rental housing units on top of ground floor retail.

The partner for this project is H Street Partners, LLC (AKA Wall Development). Total budget estimated at $3.5 million.

Spending ANC Funds

Michael Niebauer of the Washington Business Journal put out what was undoubtedly the most interesting tweet that I saw today. He's talking about the spending habits of a few ANCs in Ward 6. All ANCs get funds from the District government, but they spend those funds in different ways. Some ANCs employ people to do mailings, make copies, take minutes, or complete various other tasks (I have to say that in some cases, but not all, it's hard to see what exactly those employees do). Many ANCs give grants through a formal process, but others do not.  Do you know about your ANC?

Here's Neibauer's tweet:

mjneibauer Michael Neibauer

Audits on 3 Ward 6 ANCs released. Interesting that ridiculously busy 6A spent zero on salary over 2+ years. 6B [and] D spent $69,000 combined.

__._,_.___

Ward 6 Townhall Relocates to the Atlas

Oct. 27, 6:30 pm
Atlas Performing Arts Center
1333 H Street

Sova Introduces Game Night

Straight from Frank:

The first Game Night at SOVA starts tonight at 7pm (7pm - 10pm every Monday night). We'll have at least 4 board games upstairs, PS3 video games (Madden & FIFA) on the 42" TV downstairs, and Pictionary or Sharades on our new outdoor stage.

We'll also have extended happy hour from 7:30 to 8pm, every Monday night. That means half price beer and wine.

Citywide Neighborhood Watch Training

You are invited to join the Metropolitan Police Department and the National Sheriff’s Association in a partnership:

Location: Maurice T. Turner Jr., Metropolitan Police Academy

4665 Blue Plains Drive, SW

Washington, DC 20032

Time: 11 AM - 2 PM

FREE I.D. Pens with Invisible Ink for Labeling Property

FREE PARKING

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Yvonne Smith at 202.727.8809 or through

email at yvonne.smith@dc.gov.

Citywide National Neighborhood Watch

Training National Crime Prevention Month

10.23.2010

CALLING ALL NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS

Target & First Book Visit Wheatley

Target and First Book teamed up to give students at Wheatley Education Campus three free books each. In addition to the free books, students were also treated to a visit from characters like Dr. Seuss, and Clifford the Big Red Dog. This was part of a national effort to get books into the hands of low income children.

“We’re thrilled to have new books to give to kids to keep,” said Wheatley EC Principal Scott Cartland. “These are great books, great titles and [this program] enhances and supports what we’re doing around literacy. We’re grateful to Target and First Book for letting this happen.”

3,000 books went to Wheatley students, and 400,000 books have gone, or will go, to District students. The number is one million for the entire country.

Complete coverage from DCPS.

Washingtonian: Best of Capitol Hill

Sidamo Coffee and Tea was among the many H Street businesses mentioned in the article.

I was flipping through the latest issue of the Washingtonian yesterday, and they have a nice short feature The Best of Capitol Hill (print only). Several places along the H Street Corridor made the list.

WP: Making Streetcars "Work"

An opinion piece from the Post on how streetcars can work, or not work, in DC. I found the bit about zoning and surrounding development interesting.

Red Palace is Coming

Jonny Porkpie, originally uploaded by lindseyastin.

I got a sneak peak of the upstairs space on Saturday night, and it looks pretty sweet. The upstairs really is much larger than you would think, and I think it's going to impress people when it opens on the 15th. I didn't have my camera that night, but luckily they've now got some photos up on Facebook. Check 'em out. By the way, both the Palace of Wonders (despite what Yelp says) and the Red and the Black are open downstairs during construction.

Metro Mutts Hit With Graffiti

Sadly someone decided some racist and anti-gay graffiti would look really nice on the door of local pet supply store Metro Mutts. The vandal, who struck late Saturday, or early Sunday, scrawled two messages. The first included the word "cracker," and the second was along the lines of [gay slur] get out of our city. He/she/they also drew a large penis on the door. Stay classy people!

+++++++++++++

UPDATE

+++++++++++++

Here's exactly what it said (from a Metro Mutts Tweet):

"Arrived at the store today to find the following words spray painted on our door 'Cracker (large penis illustration) get out my city fag'."

Food in DC: Star & Shamrock Review

Food in DC writes up the Star & Shamrock.

Every Which Way I Look...Construction

Some good, some bad, and some that just never seems to end.

WT: Watch H Street Growth From Condos

The Washington Times looks at the Landmark Lofts. Unfortunately, the author makes a small, but embarrassing, goof when she writes about the nightlife on H Street. She suggests that people could patronize various hotspots "including the Rock and Roll Hotel, Pap and Petey's for jazz, and the Palace of Wonders, which has a vaudeville stage." Oops, Pap and Petey's closed quite a while back, and Toyland opened up in the space in February. The article also has some random, and weird linking choices, but it's mostly about the lofts. So, whatever.

WAMU: the Florida Market Celebrates 80 Years

WAMU looks at changes at the Florida Market as it celebrates a birthday.

Interesting fact: that sign promising you won't recognize the place? The phone number has been disconnected. Hmm...

Thrillist: Chuck's Wagon Bar-B-Q

Thrillist has the details on Chuck's Wagon Bar-B-Q which recently opened at 650 H Street.

Euro Style, Indeed

euro style, indeed, originally uploaded by philliefan99.

A sure win from Frozen Tropics Flickr pool user philliefan99.

CP: Old School Clothiers Ponder Their Role on H

George's Place isn't featured in the article, but the store has stood on the same corner for decades, and always has great window displays.

The City Paper talks to Stan's and Men's Fashion Center about what the future may hold.

Washington Informer: Passing of Brother Bey

The Washington Informer reports further, and announces the following:

Funeral services will be held on Fri., Oct. 8 at Union Temple Baptist Church, 1225 W Street, S.E. A wake will be held at 9 a.m.–11 a.m., followed by the funeral at 11 a.m.

Don't Miss Zestfest in NoMA

Today NoMA kicked off its three week long outdoor festival featuring music, dance classes, live painting, a doggie Halloween costume contest, a picnic, and much more. Here's what's happening tomorrow:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7th

11:30am-1:30pm FREE! Salsa Classes
Location: “The Backyard” at 1200 First Street NE

6-8pm FREE! Salsa Performance/Class
Location: New York Ave Metro Plaza

7:30pm Improbable Frequency, A Solas Nua Musical
Solas Nua's first musical transports you to World War II Dublin, where a mad scientist, a cruciverbalist and a host of spies and saboteurs threaten Ireland's neutrality in a giddy farcical romp. Tickets to the musical are $26.
Location: 111 K Street, NE

Read more about Zestfest, follow it on Twitter, or join up on Facebook. Presented by NoMA BID. Zestfest runs through the 23rd.

A Streetscape in Progress

1300 block of H Street

The Passing of Brother Kibwe Bey

If  you've lived here for more than five years the chances are good that you knew Brother Bey. He used to run a heath food store in the 400 block of H Street (Da Place: Institute of Healing and Happiness). He was always friendly, and he often had a free bottle of water for passersby on hot days. A commenter relates that he died just before 8am Sunday. Brother Bey fought a long battle with prostate cancer (though I do not know if that was his cause of death). He was first diagnosed when he took 85 men to a prostate cancer clinic for screening. I don't have any photos of Brother Bey, so I'm sharing the images of his truck and store instead.


Da Place in spring of 2005



He attended Coppin State University, graduating with a BA in social work in 1969, and finished his Maters there in Counseling and Rehabilitation in 1974. He was a Marine, and an All American football player. He had, and appeared on, radio shows on WOL and WPFW over the years. Da Place was one of the health food stores that he owned, another was called Brown Rice. More than once source credits him with opening the first health food store in the District. Though I was unaware of this he apparently also open various restaurants, including: De Soup De Salad, House of Bey, and Peace on Earth. Plus, he cooked for the likes of Earth, Wind, and Fire (he toured with them as a cook), Denezel Washington, Chaka Khan, Dick Gregory, Cathy Hughes, Gladys Knight, and Les Brown. He served as "Director of Howard University's Natural Food Deli, Food Manager of Chef Yours National Coordination, Baking Chef of the Spruce Tree natural food bakery, Health Coordinator of the training camp of former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe and as the Nutritional Counselor and Chef at Dick Gregory's Health Resort" "appeared on CBS 60 Minutes with Ed Bradley," as well as on Donahue He was also a part owner of the Baltimore expansion basketball team the Pearls.You can hear him interviewed online here.



Biographical info obtained from a newsletter produced by the School of Professional Studies at Coppin State University (January-March 2008 issue). Available online as a pdf. As well as from www.oursportscentral.com (quotation from that site). Diagnosis info from the Washington Informer.

Housing Complex: About Those Kiosk Libraries...

Housing Complex contemplates the future of kiosk libraries like the former R.L. Christian Library on H Street. These particular libraries are interesting because they are technically portable, and thus could be relocated to other places in the District, or anywhere else. Eventually a new building will go up on that space, but let's put that aside a moment. How would you use such a kiosk?

The Dinner Party at the Atlas

THE DINNER PARTY
Thursday, October 7, 2010
8:00 p.m. - $10.00
Join The Dinner Party for a monthly performance on Thursdays at the ATLAS.

THE MENU: David London, Nisrine Raqs, Ilana Silverstein, Star FK Radium and special guests.

We Love DC: You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

We Love DC has a review of You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, which runs through October 17th at the H Street Playhouse. It's a No Rules Theatre Company production. Tickets are $15-25.

At the Atlas: Don't Tea on Me

Gross National Product comes to the Atlas Performing Arts Center October through November 6th for a very special run of their new show Don't Tea on Me. The show is described as "a parody of the Mid Term elections"..."which highlights the lowlifes and multiple issues including Tea Party politics, from rights for zygotes to banning Social Security and beyond."

Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm with an additional 10pm performance Saturday night. Tickets are $30, $20 for seniors and $15 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the Atlas box office by calling 202 399-7993 and or online at www.atlasarts.org.

Ruins of the Temporium

13th and H.

Chuck's Wagon Bar-B-Q

Prince of Petworth has a posting up asking about this new business on H Street. Chuck's Wagon Bar-B-Q replaces Inspire Pizzeria (which replaced long-time tenant Platinum Catering. I believe Platinum Catering provided the original food at the H Street Martini Lounge, and you may have sampled offerings from Inspire Pizzeria at the 2009 H Street Festival. I actually just answered an email about Chuck's the day before yesterday. I haven't stopped by, or tried the bar-b-q yet. I discovered that there is a Chuck's Wagon Bar-b-q based in Bowie, Maryland, and I suspect that the two locations may be connected, but I wasn't able to get through a person at the 240 number.

I do recall that they had a couple of small tables in the space when it was still Platinum, but I don't know if they still have those, or if it's basically a carryout/catering business. This is located at 650 H Street, which seems to be kind of a tough spot for new businesses. Share your review, or any additional info that you may have.

Affordable Housing in Ivy City

Former President Jimmy Carter's been in the news most recently for a hospital stay and birthday celebration, but now he's making local news along with his favorite charity. Habitat for Humanity is one of the groups rehabbing blighted properties up in Ivy City, and Carter's made a special stop in town to support the efforts. The action in Ivy City is pursuant to the Department of Housing and Community Development's Ivy City Special Demonstration Project. I recently mentioned that the District received some additional NSP funding, which I believe is also headed up that way.
DCmud reports further.

Love ATM

I figure we could all stand to make a withdrawal on a rainy Monday morning. At the corner of H and 14th.

Candidate Statement: Camille Jean-Esther Tucker for ANC 5B10

I previously offered to post candidate statements for residents running for local ANCs. This is one such statement. Unless otherwise indicated, the mere posting of this statement does not indicated an endorsement:

My name is Camille Jean-Esther Tucker and I am running against India Henderson for ANC-5B10. I am a proud resident and homeowner in this community and I will do a better job serving you because:

• I currently serve as your Assistant Attorney General representing the District of Columbia in the prosecution of child abuse and neglect. As a prosecuting attorney assigned to close to 100 cases, I possess the skills and ability to multitask, assess problems, organize solutions, and work with others to get the job done. I will use that same skill set to implement needed change to improve our community.

• I am a member of the Trinidad Neighborhood Association, I also sit on the Trinidad Neighborhood Advisory Board for the new Hyacinth Women’s Facility, and I attend various community clean up events.

• I worked closely with MPD in their ongoing efforts to increase public safety and decrease crime and drugs in our community

My Action Plan As Your ANC-5B10 Includes:

• Learning your concerns and frustrations so we speak with one voice to improve the overall quality of life in our community.

• I will work to open the dialogue between city leaders, city service providers, area landlords, and most importantly YOU! This must occur to stop the lack of attention and poor responsiveness to our needs. I especially want to advance aggressive city enforcement of existing laws which are designed to prevent improper trash disposal, unkempt vacant lots and dwellings, and irresponsible landlords, and of course the ongoing rat problem!

• I will work with city leaders to help attract better businesses to our neighborhoods that must employ local residents and serve to enhance our community. We don’t need another liquor store!

• I will also work with others to organize an Educational Summit with school principals, parents, and citizens from our community. The summit will provide a forum to better understand how our community can support our schools in educating our children.

THE DISTRICT CAN DO BETTER! WITH YOUR HELP WE CAN BUT I NEED YOUR VOTE! We don’t need existing ineffective, divisive, and unproductive leaders. We need cooperation and hard work to become the premiere community and shining star of Ward 5 and the District. I welcome your comments and discussion and would appreciate your vote on November 2, 2010! THANK YOU. CamilleTucker[at]rocketmail.com or 202-518-8590

Sova on Real Housewives of DC

I mentioned a while back that Real Housewives of DC had filmed part of an episode at the neighborhood espresso and wine bar. Well, I'm told that the episode aired last week. Check the Reliable Source episode recap for a Sova mention.

DCmud: Uline Arena Update

DCmud has a general update on Jamal Douglas' Uline Arena project. Unsurprisingly, nothing appears to be happening soon.

Fall Specials From Healthy Motions

Here's the info:



Fall Specials at Healthy Motions Massage Therapy: Thru October 15, purchase Gift Certificates online for Massage Treatments (excluding Pregnancy Massage) via our website:

- 30 Minute Traditional Treatment with One Add-on Service (Hot Stone, Thai Reflexology, or Thai Herbal Compress) for $30

- 60 Minute Traditional Treatment with One Add-on Service (Hot Stone, Thai Reflexology, or Thai Herbal Compress) for $60

All Fall Special Gift Certificates expire 10/31/11, click on the Fall Specials link at our website, www.healthymotions.com, for more details.

Healthy Motions Massage Therapy is a family-owned and operated studio serving the H Street Northeast neighborhood and the DC Metro area since 2003. We offer personalized massage therapy treatments by talented, experienced, licensed massage therapists in a peaceful and relaxing space. Convenient online appointment booking is available.

We look forward to working with you.

Found Cat in the 800 Block of 9th Street

Really clean black and white cat in the 800 block of 9th St NE. No tags but it is definitely taken care of.Please call 410 404 8558 if you recognize the cat.

Horses

I've seen these guys around Trinidad and the Hill, but this was the first time I spotted them on H Street. I was with a friend (and without my camera). My friend snapped this photo.

Remember When (Pre-Palace and Red and the Black)?

So Palace of Wonders had its last pre-merger show last night, but you stop by for a drink and a dj night (tonight and tomorrow are suggested). The new Red Palace will launch around the 15th of October. In honor of the merger, I thought I'd share these images which I snapped about 5 years, and five and a half years, ago. Weird, eh?

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UPDATE

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I re-wrote the post above to clear up a little something that I misunderstood. The Red and the Black and the Palace of Wonders will both be open downstairs during construction. It's only the upstairs that will be closed until the 15th.