The 42

Mount Pleasant Street at Dusk

2013-05-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

New Local Music Series: Indie Adams Morgan

2013-05-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

Indie Adams Morgan isn't so much a music venue as it is an ongoing music series. The collective organizes shows for both DC and touring bands. The shows take place in the space most of us know as Heaven & Hell - 2327 18th St NW in Adams Morgan. That's a bit of a departure from the old days of Neal The Angel's 80s night parties which ruled that space for many years. I have a feeling you'll be able to dance at some of these shows, too.

Indie Adams Morgan has a pretty robust schedule of shows, including one this Friday (tomorrow) with BRENDA, B Side Shuffle, and Andy D. $10. Music starts at 8:00PM. Enjoy the show!

Harper at Bat

2013-05-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

Mount Pleasant Spring Shop Hop is Saturday

2013-05-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Spring has sprung! If you haven't spent a Saturday in the neighborhood yet this spring, this weekend is your chance. You can usually find me at the farmers' market on Saturday AM, but this week, you'll find me all up and down Mt Pleasant Street NW supporting the businesses taking part in the Spring Shop Hop.

The Mount Pleasant Business Association and a dozen local businesses are teaming up to offer specials and show off some of our civic treasures like the newly renovated Mount Pleasant Branch Library and the great kids attending Bancroft Elementary.

From the organizers:

Bancroft Elementary parade. Photo by Rick Reinhard

This Saturday May 18th

Mount Pleasant Street.... All day long. A Parade. One of DC’s Best Farmers Markets. A preview of Each Peach Market, a new artisan food store set to open this summer. A Karate Demo. And an outdoor Kettlebell Class in Lamont Park. Singha Saturday at Beau Thai.

May 18th will be one of those awesome Mount Pleasant Saturdays.

It's Mount Pleasant's annual Spring Shop Hop with local shops and restaurants offering some great deals and fun specials in DC's most eclectic neighborhood.

As you stroll the corridor, you can watch Bancroft Elementary School’s marching band lead a parade (10:15 AM), enjoy some youth artwork displayed in shop windows and at the newly renovated Mt. Pleasant Library, get your bike fixed, eat some homemade ice cream , get your fitness on with the DC Self Defense Karate Association and That Yellow Gym in Lamont Park (2:00 PM) and much more.

Visit MtPleasantDC.com for more info and a listing of specials brought to you by the Mount Pleasant Business Association.

Libertine, Mediterranean Spot Get Signage

2013-05-13T02:00:00.000-04:00

Two new additions to Adams Morgan each added new signage recently.

The Mediterranean Spot has new electronic signage at 2421 18th Street NW. This was originally a Caribou Coffee, installed after the completion of the Adams Station Condos in 2003. After Caribou closed, the space sat vacant, save for a bit of activity in 2010 (amounted to nothing) and a brief occupancy by a special Adams Morgan Cherry Blossom pop-up shop in 2011. Mediterraneans Spot currently has a location on U Street and is most known for shawarma and falafel.

Toledo Lounge was one of my first hang outs in DC. Loved that place. After nearly 20 years of operation, they closed last year in favor of a major renovation and re-branding. They have yet to open but the new name is clear: Libertine. Looking forward to the new venture, although I thought Toledo was pretty close to perfect as is. No word on an opening date. Libertine is located at 2435 18th Street NW.

Q Street

2013-05-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

220 Key Adams Morgan Hotel Moving Forward

2013-05-06T02:00:00.000-04:00

This former church will become part of a new 220 room hotel by 2015.

The contentious plans for a luxury hotel in Adams Morgan on the site of a former church look to be moving forward. The New York based co-developer Slydell Group plans to utilize the First Church of Christ, Scientist building at 1770 Euclid St NW along with new construction to bring a 220 room hotel to the Adams Morgan neighborhood by mid-2015. The address of the hotel will be 1780 Columbia Rd NW. The church selected the other co-developer, Friedman Capital, for this project in 2004. So, if the hotel is actually competed in 2015, this will have been an 11 year project. (Also, Friedman Capital is totally a candidate for 100percentmen).

Slydell Group has developed Ace Hotels in the past, however this hotel will be managed and operated by Bethesda-based Marriott International. They are using the language "boutique hotel," but there is no official name or branding, yet. Will it become part of Marriott's Edition brand? Possibly.

All 220 guest rooms will be in a new eight floor addition added to the southern edge of the property along Champlain Street NW. The new construction will replace the building formerly occupied by the Washington City Paper and WPFW Pacifica Radio station. In addition to the eight above ground floors, there will one concourse level and four underground parking levels with 132 spaces.

Not everyone is in favor of the development. Groups like No Adams Morgan Hotel oppose various aspects of the plan citing zoning oversight, economic impact, the controversial $46M tax abatement, traffic, noise, and pollution concerns.

However, momentum seems to be with the developers. They plan to start construction this calendar year. They also have a promotional/informational website, oddly named Adams Morgan Historic Hotel. I suppose the church building is historic; it is over 100 years old. And FYI, the Christian Scientists who own and used this church in the past moved to a smaller place of worship at 1782 Columbia Rd NW years ago.

The old church structure will house part of the lobby, restaurants and meeting spaces. The main entrance and check-in area will be on the Champlain St side of the hotel, in the newer structure. Developers are seeking LEED Silver certification for this project.

For more architectural plans (PDF): Architectural Plans, Elevations and Renderings.

More renderings below courtesy of The Adams Morgan Historic Hotel website.

Building Section via Key Documents

via Key Documents

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

2013-05-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

This is a bit of a cheat. "On Our Own" was released in 1989; obviously not in the 90s. But, it's such a 90s song, it counts for today. Bobby Brown was kind of on top of the world for a hot second. Maybe nano second. OK, maybe not really on top of the world, but damned close. I was already a huge fan when he teamed up with THE GHOSTBUSTERS (!!!) to pen this gem for the Ghostbusters II soundtrack. Keep in mind this was on an album with Howard Huntsberry's version of Higher and Higher and Run DMC's version of Ray Parker Jr's Ghostbusters. Anyway, dance to this.

PS. Rest in peace Chris Kelly!

Amsterdam

2013-05-02T01:30:00.000-04:00

Dangerously Delicious Pies Opens in Chinatown

2013-04-30T01:00:00.000-04:00

Dangerously Delicious Pies continues its march westward. The Baltimore based pie shop opened its first DC location on H Street Northeast, followed by a location at the Union Stations food court. And now, their first NW shop, about a block from the Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metro station.

The new shop is located at 675 I (Eye) Street NW. It's on a quiet block next to TD Bank and across the street from PNC Bank and ASLA offices. It's a small affair, with just a few seats at the window bar. This is really for takeout. As for vegan pies, there's usually one --but almost always, two-- on the menu; a savory option and one of the berry pies (not apple, though. womp). If you can get your hands on a slice of strawberry rhubarb DO IT. It's good.

The Chinatown location of Dangerously Delicious Pies is open Monday - Saturday from 10AM - 4PM, closed Sundays.

Spring in Mount Pleasant

2013-04-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

So, DC Has a Roller Derby Skate Shop!

2013-04-25T02:00:00.000-04:00

Department of Skate is located at 919 H St NW.

And that is awesome.

I had never heard of Department of Skate. But, there it is at 519 H Street NW. Right in Chinatown, one block from Gallery Place Metro Station. Department of Skate is a roller derby skate shop which opened earlier this year. They're open six days a week (closed Mondays). If you derby, this is like, THE place for equipment and services, right? Has to be.

While I have to give a shout out to my hometown River City Rollergirls, I have to imagine that most of Department of Skate's business will come from DC Rollergirls players. DC has a very robust scene with four awesome teams; Scare Force One, Majority Whips, Cherry Blossom Bombshells, and the DC Demoncats. There are all-star and travel teams, too.

FYI - the next DC Rollergirls bouts are this Saturday April 27 at the DC Armory. Here's the full schedule.

Good luck Department of Skate!

New Café for Mount Pleasant Street

2013-04-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

New coffee spot at 2103 Mount Pleasant St NW?

UPDATE: Ramona's Salon and Day Spa will remain open on the second and third floors.

For the past five+ years, the Barreiro Salon & Day Spa has operated at 3103 Mount Pleasant St NW. They offered the usual spa services like massage, waxing, mani/pedi, facials, hair care, and skin care. They even hosted a semi-permanent art gallery and occasionally held special events.

Well, it looks as if a new business is moving in. Sobé Café has signage up announcing an imminent opening. The website listed was not yet active, as of last night. The Barreiro Salon website is still active, though. However, a food display case, cafe tables and chairs now inhabit the first floor, not salon equipment. And the Salon nameplate has been replaced by Sobé Café's. In addition, DCRA permits dating back to last summer indicate that the managers of the new space have been planning a conversion to food service for some time.

This café would join current Mount P coffee hangouts Flying Fish, Dos Gringos, and Heller's Bakery. More news as it comes.

Marie Reed Gifted a New Soccer Field

2013-04-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Marie Reed's new field was gifted by City Soccer in the Community.

Marie Reed Elementary School in Adams Morgan is receiving a much needed gift. The school's lower athletic field at the corner of California St and Florida Ave NW is being revamped into a proper soccer pitch.

A non-profit, City Soccer in the Community, is financing the new facility as part of a broader effort happening across five American cities (DC, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, New York). City Soccer in the Community was formed by the Manchester City Football Club and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Washington DC. Their mission is to get young people in American cities to play soccer.

As part of the deal, the District will replace the crude wooden bleachers on the edges of the field, which are in pretty bad shape as is. The soccer field will be 60 yards by 40 yards, use artificial turf and should be ready by August of this year. Such cool news!

The current state of the field is... not good.

The city will replace the wooden bleachers as well.

Electronics Store Opens in Mount Pleasant

2013-04-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

Computer 4Less is located on the 2nd floor of 3167 Mt Pleasant St NW.

Computer 4Less, a small electronics and computer store opened last week at 3167 Mount Pleasant Street NW. I made a quick visit yesterday to see what they had to offer. The space is pretty small, occupying about half of the available square footage in the 2nd floor space above El West clothing store. The other half of the space appears to still be inventory storage for El West.

Computer 4Less did indeed have a few computers for sale, mostly laptops. They also offer computer repair services. Looks like most of their business will be in mobile phone sales and voice/data plans. They primarily carried T-Mobile phones and Clear internet services. The sales staff indicated that they'll probably expand the phone lineup depending on customer trends and requests (including the iPhone for T-Mobile starting next week).

The other products consisted of a variety of small electronics, including hand held video games, audio accessories, headphones, headphones and more headphones. There is an array of headphones; both earbud and earmuff style. So many. To be fair they carry a lot of other small electronics and accessories. I can't list them all. Anyway, a cool addition to the Mount P retail scene. They don't have a website, but the phone number to Computer 4Less is 202-332-6362.

Have a great weekend!

Tiny (Hot Dog?) Restaurant Coming to Penn Quarter

2013-04-18T01:30:00.000-04:00

750 6th Street NW is at the corner of 6th and H Sts NW.

The tiny ground level retail space at the corner of 6th and H NW has sat empty for... maybe 5 years? And if I remember correctly it was a video (adult at that) store at last occupation.

This building at 750 6th St NW dates to 1890. But, it's now on a corner dominated by new construction. The new 777 6th Street office building is across the street, 700 SIX is a few doors down, and other glass office and residential towers have sprouted up all over what was is still known as Chinatown, however small.

There has been some activity at the site recently. The boards over the windows have been removed and an approved DCRA building permit is displayed in their place. The permit is for a 12 seat restaurant in a space that is less than 900 square feet (over 2 floors). No indication regarding specifics, like the trade name or menu. But the zoning review notes that the request is for a "Retail to Fast Food "Hot Dog" establishment." After cupcakes; after froyo; (but before donuts) I always thought hot dogs were going to be the next thing. Gross, but yeah. Hot dogs. Truth be told, any quick service, hand held food provider has a chance in this spot. Lots of office workers and tourists looking for lunch walk past this corner on a daily basis.

More details as they come.

Inside.

Carriage House Opens in Adams Morgan

2013-04-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Carriage House opened last night in the old Tom Tom space in Adams Morgan. I stopped by for a drink at the bar. First impression: feels like a solid neighborhood bar and has definitely set itself apart from Tom Tom, in a good way.

The menu is pretty standard with burgers/sandwiches, salads, various entrees, and sides. The bonus is that they have a wood fired pizza oven. That could end up being what sets Carriage House apart from the other bars on the strip. Two dishes appear totally vegetarian; the lentil burger and the ratatouille. The food and drink menus may change, but for now they offer a neat list of specialty cocktails, decent beers on tap + bottles/cans, wines and the usual suspects in harder spirits, including Bulleit Rye Whiskey (win).

Service was friendly and the ambiance was chill. Every staff I encountered told me their name, welcomed me and asked if I was taken care of. The place had more of a lounge feel, opposed to the the drunk dance party vibe of Tom Tom. This is a totally new establishment. The lone misstep --which I dismissed as opening night oversight-- the Nationals game was switched to the O's. Tsk tsk. In all seriousness though, I'll be back. Very cool spot. Good job by the owners and management.

Carriage House is located at 2333 18th Street NW.

TJ and Co.

2013-04-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

Arlington National Cemetery

2013-04-12T01:00:00.000-04:00

Mount Pleasant Morning

2013-04-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Cherry Blossom Bike Ride is Tomorrow

2013-04-09T02:00:00.000-04:00

DC Bike Party is leading a Cherry Blossom ride for bikers that happens to coincide with this great week of mid-70s spring temps. The ride will be about 10 miles. It starts in Dupont and ends at 1355 H Street NE : the Biergarten Haus. DC Bike Partiers will have special happy hour access to the roofdeck. Sweet.

The ride will traverse the monuments on the Mall and of course the cherry blossom trees. There will be a short break in SW before heading on to H Street. DC Bike Party is encouraging everyone to wear their best (worst?) tourist wear for the ride, since you'll be partaking in the most tourist-tastic activity of the year, seeing the blossoms up close and personal.

This is not a race; everyone is welcome.

From the organizers:

WHAT: DC Bike Party Cherry Blossom Chase

WHERE: Departs from the fountain of Dupont Circle

WHEN: Wednesday, April 10th. Meet at 7:30 PM, Depart at 8:00 PM

Your Body of Art: Tattoo Lecture at Smithsonian

2013-04-08T02:00:00.000-04:00

Photo/Tattoo by Kurt Fagerland

One of my favorite tattoos was done by friend and master artist Amy Black of Richmond VA. If you know me, you know that I really love it and take good care of it; as would anyone who made a big, awesome, artistic investment like this one. I love getting tattooed and the only restriction is, well, $$$. And time, I guess.

A few months ago, Ms. Black was a panelist of an event hosted by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts called "The Art of Tattoo." This presentation examined the historical affections of popular tattoo symbols. No kid gloves; the Museum was treating tattoos and body art like any other legitimate visual art forms. I think it's very cool that major institutions of art and culture are beginning to take a serious look at tattoo culture in a smart and engaging way.

The conversation has now reached DC. The Smithsonian Institution is hosting a tattoo themed talk next week. "Tattoos: Your Body of Art" is scheduled for Thursday April 18, 2013 at the Ripley Center (1100 Jefferson Drive, SW). The program is $20 for members and $30 for general admission.

The conversation looks to be pretty wide ranging and includes a tattoo anthropologist / television show host and the owner of DC's British Ink, among others. You will get to listen to some great stories and inspiration and perhaps have a chance to share your own.

Just as an aside; sometimes there isn't a story behind a tattoo. And that's OK. I have a few without "a story." People get upset that there isn't deep meaning each individual piece. OK. Get over it. Every now and then you dream a weird idea and boom, a week later it's right there on your forehead. Nah, just kidding. I usually wait at least a month.

On the flip side, others I have are rich with historical significance and a couple have some personal connection to friends and family. Either way, the art has to shine through. That's what this talk is about. I love hearing people spin a yarn about their tattoos. Storytelling with visuals.

Here are the details for the Smithsonian talk:

What: Tattoos: Your Body of Art Evening Lecture.

When: Thursday, April 18 - 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - $20 Members / $30 Gen. Admission

Where: S. Dillon Ripley Center. 1100 Jefferson Drive, SW. Metro: Smithsonian (Blue/Orange Lines)

Farmers' Market Opens Tomorrow

2013-04-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

One of the best Saturdays of the year: opening day for the Mount Pleasant Farmers' Market. The market operates each Saturday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM from tomorrow until December 21, 2013.

New Lunch Options for Penn Quarter

2013-04-04T01:00:00.000-04:00

There are two new-ish lunch options for Penn Quarter, located within one block of each other.

District based Taylor Gourmet already had a Philly-style deli at nearby City Vista (485 K St NW). But, that's a bit of a walk if you're in Penn Quarter and you need a quick lunch. The Taylor folks recently opened a new restaurant at 624 E Street NW, about half way between the Navy Memorial and Verizon Center.

Taylor has all manner of sandwiches including five vegetarian options. None are vegan as-is, though. The prices are good. A six inch hoagie with soda and chips will set you back about $10, the magic lunch number. The staff at Taylor are always so nice and they keep the line moving. I love them because you get your sandwich quickly and roll out.

Just a block south of Taylor is Protein Bar -- 398 7th St NW. This place is awesome. There are only two locations outside of Chicago and one of those is in the District (with another on the way to 19th & K NW). The Penn Quarter location has been open since July of last year.

Protein Bar is what I'd consider a fast casual style restaurant with healthier options than others in this category. They are very vegan friendly. There are several menu items (breakfast, burritos, salads, chili) that can be ordered vegan right off of the menu. In addition you can modify most dishes into vegan meals.

The raw juices and specialty blended drinks cost a bit more, but a wrap or salad plus a bottled drink comes in right around $10. Really, really into this place and will definitely be back.

Photos: Opening Day 2013

2013-04-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Players warm up while fans fill the seats.

There were several new "Division Champs" signs posted around the park.

Even with decoration, the parking lots are still the ugliest part of Nationals Park.

This was a surprise considering you could still buy tix the day before on the Nats website.

Bryce Harper, moments before hitting his second of two home runs.

Post game traffic on South Capitol Street.

Lots of red.