New Columbia Heights

Columbia Heights condos on video

2009-12-03T15:46:00.000-05:00

It seems like the new thing on Youtube is videos about condos in the neighborhood. I've found a few recently, some by owners, some by realtors, and they give you a pretty good idea of what you might get.

Some of them aren't the most fascinating videos I've ever seen, but hey, if you're looking for a condo in the neighborhood they might help.

Bands in the Neighborhood: Lucky Dub

2009-12-03T13:03:00.005-05:00

This edition of Bands in the Neighborhood is on Lucky Dub, a reggae/dub group with members in Columbia Heights and elsewhere.

Bassist John Baker and two others formed the band in summer 2007 and then had some turnover. One person left, a Rasta from Jamaica joined for awhile, and soon vocalist Gordon Daniels joined. Daniels had just moved back after living and playing music in the Virgin Islands for a year and was looking for a reggae band. "After meeting a few of the guys I came to the next show they were playing at Asylum in Adams Morgan," said Daniels. "The singer literally just didn't show up. I was in the crowd, and they asked if I knew enough songs to make it though the night. I jumped on stage, and we just clicked." The band picked up a horn section in January.

Daniels and Baker both live in the neighborhood, around Georgia and 15th respectively, but other members "span from students in the city from around the country, and professional musicians from as far as Baltimore and Virginia."

The band played the most recent Columbia Heights Day and other venues in the area, like Wonderland and even Morgan's Seafood at Georgia at Kenyon. One memorable show was at the Rock and Roll Hotel for a Greenpeace event: "There was so much energy from the crowd, just having done a successful action; I've never seen a group with more collective energy get down so hard!" said Baker. "We had so many people come up to dance on stage that the club had to make a special announcement for them to get down."

Daniels also cited good times at the now-closed Ghana Cafe in Adams Morgan. "We played through power blackouts, had the entire bar up on stage, our musicians dancing and playing in the crowd, and it would go until 2:45 in the morning," he said.

Influence-wise, band members are from around the country, and Daniels gives the Caribbean a particular emphasis. "The motto you hear from everybody and see down there is 'Positive Is How I Live,' and it’s true," he said. "...I love the feel and vibe I get from a reggae show or techno show, where everybody is just smiling and you can feel everybody loving life."

Musically, Daniels mentions the first reggae acts they heard like like Bob Marley, plus reggae-influenced 90s rock like Sublime and 311, and classic rock, blues, and hip hip. They also mentioned are pulling from dub like King Tubby and Augustus Pablo, world music, roots reggae likes Toots and the Maytals, and newer bands like Michael Franti & Spearhead.

Asked about records, they mentioned not an album but a Guinness Book record. "We did set the Guinness Book world record for the longest jam," said Daniels. "We have T-Shirts to prove it," added Baker. "It was a six-day jam that took place at Johns Hopkins University and we were the final closing act."

As for albums, they have a live album called "Lucky Dub Live" on iTunes, which was recorded at the Black Cat, and they're working on their first studio record.

Since the band members aren't full time musicians, most of their tours have been weekend trips, but they are planning a tour to the Virgin Islands during Carnival.

Asked about the local music scene, both Baker praised Wonderland and the neighborhood. "I think Columbia Heights is very much one of the creative centers for DC, I know lots of artists and musicians that live in the area, and I think that's been something that has made the area a tighter community than other areas of DC," mentioning the drum circle at Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park as an example: "...it's a fantastic collective of people from all different backgrounds that come together simply to make music and dance together."

And the last question: if you had to rename your band for something in Columbia Heights, what would it be? Daniels suggested Jam Down, a favorite Jamaican restaurant on Georgia Avenue. "If you haven’t been yet you have to check it out. They bump good reggae music into the street giving off good vibes all day on what is sometimes a dark street. It’s a bright spot. I mean I love the neighborhood, but when you walk by it you just kind of feel better. That’s what I’d like from the music we do..." He also thinks Cesar Chavez Elementary School would be a good name.

The band's next shows are in the Virgin Islands, but check out their Twitter and Youtube for more.

Want to help form a neighborhood watch?

2009-12-02T13:37:00.001-05:00

This sounds like a good idea -- the Northwest Columbia Heights Neighborhood Association is working with MPD to put together a neighborhood watch for the area. They're hosting a Block Captain training on Tuesday, December 8.

As described by the NWCHCA, a Block Captain is a volunteer "who gets to know all the people living on their street, so they can keep an eye out for people who aren't normally there. They also help when a neighbor goes on vacation by picking up the mail and things like that."

The training session is at the MPD Park Road Substation, 750 Park Road NW, and it's from 7:30 to 9 PM.

They also noted that neighborhood watches have made a big difference in other parts of DC and around the country. It doesn't matter if you live in northwest Columbia Heights or not to participate, and businesses and apartment dwellers are encouraged to come too. It's free, and there will be refreshments.

To RSVP, email nwchca@gmail.com before Sunday the 6th.

Here's more from MPD on neighborhood watches.

Chipotle opens Dec. 11

2009-12-02T11:05:00.005-05:00

Just got word in a press release that Chipotle on 14th Street opens December 11 at 11 am. They'll be open daily from 11 am to 8 10 pm. Let the burrito discussion begin!

UPDATE: First 100 customers to buy a burrito on the 11th after 3:00pm get a t-shirt and free burrito card.

Street music in the neighborhood

2009-12-02T08:15:00.001-05:00

While street life has definitely gotten busier in the neighborhood, one thing we don't seem to have much of is street performers doing music. I think only once have I seen anybody, and that was a guitarist I've seen around the city at Metro stations. However, I found a couple of recent videos of some good bands playing in the area. Let's hope it keeps up!

Cool time-lapse video of Kenyon Square construction

2009-12-01T17:14:00.004-05:00

Spotted this on Youtube. Pretty amazing to see the before picture.

The only weird part is that the sound is one of the iPhone's ringtones.

Room 11's Monday events: Awesome

2009-12-01T11:49:00.000-05:00

So I've been to Room 11's first two Monday events, and they're great. Each Monday the bartender/owner Dan Searing serves a new kind of beer, some new cocktails, and some food to match with it.

Last night it was Scottish themed for St. Andrew's Day, the national day of Scotland, with a Scottish-style beer, a whisky cocktail, and a gin cocktail. Both were great, and the Hendricks Gin folks showed up and gave out free drinks, plus free shoeshines. Random, but cool.

The food pairing was cockaleekie soup, a Scottish chicken soup with leeks, and my friend said the duck confit and pork belly cassoulet was great.

The only problem is the place is small, but it was never too crowded last night.

Cool Washington Post cartoon on BloomBars

2009-12-01T08:18:00.000-05:00

The Post ~~wrote~~ drew about BloomBars, the performance space on 11th Street the other day. Pretty neat, take a look.

Not every day you see a useful and interesting cartoon! Part of the Post Magazine's redesign I guess.

Recommended: Enterprise Rent-a-Car on Georgia Ave

2009-11-30T14:32:00.000-05:00

For Thanksgiving I needed to rent a car, so I used my old stand-by: the Enterprise Rent-a-Car location at Georgia and Girard. The place is usually cheaper than other rental car places, they almost always have cars (I rented a day before I needed it), and best of all, it's walking distance to most of the neighborhood. It's also close to the Georgia Ave shops and such if you need some snacks or coffee for your trip (like Sankofa Coffee).

It's a good alternative to Zipcar, especially for long periods of time, so I recommend it! Enterprise isn't on Orbitz, but here's the location's website.

(In case anybody was wondering, I don't get paid or anything for the various places I recommend, they're just things I think folks might find useful.)

Enterprise is located at 2730 Georgia Ave NW. Phone (202) 332-1716

Celebrate St. Andrew's Day at Room 11

2009-11-30T11:28:00.004-05:00

Last week I wrote about Room 11's new Monday beer series. Today's version is a bit different: it's St. Andrew's Day, the national day of Scotland (like St. Patrick's Day for Ireland). I've always thought it was weird that nobody celebrated St. Andrew's Day, even though so many folks are Scottish.

But thankfully Room 11 is doing something, starting at 5 pm:

We'll have guest tap Brooklyn Winter Ale, a Scotch-style Ale (think dark rich and malty) on
draft while it lasts. From 8:30 to 10 pm Scottish gin Hendrick's will be offering free samples and free shoeshines! We'll also have Scotch whiskey and cocktail specials from Compass Box and we'll declare the winner of the Highland Bitters Scottish Cocktail Smackdown. Will the Mel Gibson (Hendrick's Martini with house-made Highland Bitters and a house-pickled onion) or the Liam Neeson (Compass Box Asyla with sweet and dry vermouth and house-made Highland Bitters) emerge victorious? Cast your vote by ordering one then feast on some delicious Scottish food specials from Chef Ben Gilligan.

Jim Graham launches re-election campaign

2009-11-30T10:25:00.001-05:00

Jim Graham, the Ward One councilmember (which includes Columbia Heights) has launched his re-election campaign. In my opinion, he's done a good job, but he's also had some scandals in his office, with former chief of staff Ted Loza involved with some shady stuff.

I presume that Graham will win, but he does face some opposition: Adams Morgan ANC commissioner Bryan Weaver.

So far on the blog, there's been one pro-Graham comment and one anti-Graham comment. What do you think? More bowtie or new blood?

Photo by dbking

Lost Dog! Have you seen Bindi?

2009-11-30T08:21:00.001-05:00

Sad story: got an email from some folks who lost their dog on Thanksgiving day at 14th and Newton. Bindi is a black and white Tibetan terrier. If you see Bindi, just call 202.365.7250 or 703.402.2973 or email me and I'll pass on the info. There's a reward as well.

Attached is a photo.

Is the BP gas station a drug dealer hangout?

2009-11-27T11:59:00.001-05:00

Recently on the South Columbia Heights listserve there's been some discussion about the BP gas station at 14th and Euclid. Apparently a bunch of guys were loitering after the owners asked them to leave. The police responded and everybody left, but a few days later the same people were there, so the police banned them from the premises. The implication on the listserve is that the gas station is a hangout for drug dealers, which I'd never really heard before.

I have seen guys meet other guys there and pass them money, but I (perhaps naively) figured it was just some guy who owed some other guy money. But this is the first I've heard -- has anyone else heard about this?

I posed the question on the listserve and got a response from one person who had recently been to a meeting with MPD where the BP station and two other problem areas (1333 Euclid and 11th and Clifton) were discussed. MPD's Lt. Pearce gave her cell number and asked people to text her if they saw anything that concerns them, such as aggressive people, people doing drugs or under the influence, and so on, especially around those three problem areas. Her number is 202-498-9833.

Lt. Pearce then asked people to call 911 after alerting her even if it's not an emergency, as 911 calls are logged to see where more police presence is needed.

DC rapper Wale to appear at Target on Friday

2009-11-26T14:26:00.000-05:00

In case Target wasn't crazy enough already, DC rapper Wale, who's featured Columbia Heights in two videos, will be at every Target in DC and PG County on Friday signing albums and giving away mixtapes. Since the only Target in DC is the one in our neighborhood, I expect he'll be there. His debut album, Attention Deficit, came out this month.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T11:03:00.001-05:00

Hope you're having a good one with friends or family. If you're going out to eat somewhere in the neighborhood, let me know how it is!

Black Friday is going to be crazy at DCUSA

2009-11-25T22:31:00.004-05:00

I have a feeling that DCUSA is going to be completely bananas on Black Friday: I've seen ads on tv today for sales at both Best Buy and Target starting at 5 am, and a poster on Twitter just told me that they're setting up port-a-johns outside. I'm out of town for the holiday, but if you take any pictures or have any tales, please let me know in the comments.

Hopefully everybody has a good time and the city makes lots of dough from tax revenues!

Update: I also saw commercials for Radio Shack of all places too, with sales starting at 5:30 am.

Art on 14th Street: Cherif Mamadou

2009-11-25T15:00:00.000-05:00

Walking down 14th near the Target a week or so ago I saw an artist selling his paintings, which is different from street vendors in the area. The artist's name is Cherif Mamadou, who's originally from the Ivory Coast via Paris but lives in DC now.

I've seen him before painting at the triangle park in Mt. Pleasant, he tends to paint quickly while listening to music. He said one of the goals is to get kids interested in art, which is a good one, and I've often seen kids watching him at work. He had a bunch of different works for sale, and he's a pretty friendly guy.

Here's a bunch of pictures of him working, and a video below.

Manny and Olga's coming to Georgia Ave?

2009-11-25T10:25:00.000-05:00

Saw this the other day on Georgia Avenue, just south of the Looking Glass Lounge. Since they seem to be looking for a franchisee, which require a fair amount of cash, I would assume this is a ways off. The pizza from Manny & Olga's is ok, but they do deliver very late.

Free English classes for families

2009-11-25T08:15:00.000-05:00

If you or anyone you know is looking for English classes, check this out -- there's a free family literacy program at the Carlos Rosario School at 1100 Harvard Street NW with all kinds of classes: English, computers, reading, etc.

Here's the flyer, in English, Spanish, Amharic, and Vietnamese. Spread the word!

Pictured: Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

Wild Post story about a wrongly convicted CH resident

2009-11-24T14:01:00.003-05:00

The Post has a great article about a man who was wrongly convicted of a murder, jailed for 10 years, and recently exonerated. He then accepted a scholarship from the George Washington University and lives in Columbia Heights. There was a documentary made about him too. Interesting stuff, have a look.

I'd heard about this story before in the GW Hatchet, but I didn't know he lived in our area.

Recommended: Mom & Pop Antiques (& Records)

2009-11-24T11:48:00.002-05:00

Mom & Pop Antiques
Originally uploaded by squidpants

The other day I was going to Looking Glass Lounge with some friends and we noticed the antique shop about a block down. It's called Mom & Pop Antiques and we decided to take a look. Now I'm not normally a fan of antique stores, but this one is neat.

There's a lot of interesting doo-dads, plus tons of cool old records (Tempations, Commodores, New Edition, etc). Lots of old school funk and R&B, mostly for $2, and the owner says they get new ones in all the time. The store isn't very big but there's a lot of things packed in there, so you could definitely spend some time. It's not super upscale or pricey like Goodwood, but it's not junky either -- just neat items. The owner was friendly and helpful as well.

Check it out! They're open 12-5 most days and closed Tuesdays.

Mom & Pop Antiques is at 3534 Georgia Ave NW, near Otis Place. Ph: (202) 722-0719

Drug bust on 1300 block of Columbia Road

2009-11-24T10:25:00.002-05:00

Nice to see this ~~especially since it's on the same block as the shooting of 9-year old Oscar Fuentes.~~ Let's hope that means the block and gang problems associated with it are getting cleaned up. From the 3D Listserve:

The Metropolitan Police Department Third District announces the arrest of three adults in the 1300 block of Columbia Road, Northwest, following the execution of a search warrant on Saturday, November 21. There was a significant amount of drugs and money recovered as well as two handguns.

These three arrests are as a result of on-going drug investigations in the Columbia Heights Neighborhood.

Unicyclist in the neighborhood?

2009-11-24T08:15:00.001-05:00

This is random -- the other day my friend said they saw a unicyclist going down 13th Street and that they've seen this before. Mopeds, scooters, and bikes I've seen, but unicycle, not so much. Plus that hill starting at 13th and Clifton would be pretty tough on one wheel.

Street Booze: MD 20/20 on Irving Street

2009-11-23T15:47:00.006-05:00

This is second installment of Street Booze, where I document the various bottles of booze found tossed around the neighborhood.

This one's a bottle of MD 20/20 (aka Mad Dog) with a plastic bag around it that I spotted on Irving between 13th and 14th (at night, hence the blurriness). Mad Dog is a fortified "wine" that's fruit flavored, and this one was "peaches and cream." I remember drinking this stuff in college and having it at parties as a joke.

Interestingly, according to Wikipedia, the MD stands for "Mogen David," the name of the company that makes it, and it's from Westfield, NY. Mogen David is Hebrew for Star (or shield) of David. Not sure what 20/20 means, since you won't seeing 20/20 after drinking it.

New beer series at Room 11 starting today

2009-11-23T10:45:00.000-05:00

If you like beer (and especially stout) get over to Room 11 today. They've started a new Monday Night Beer Series where they tap a keg of something different and pair it with some food. Today's beer is Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, and owner/bartender Dan Searing told the Post he might pair it with some blue cheese.