From Allison Acosta. Email her at allison[AT]borderstan.com.

Look for locally made products in stores beginning in April. (Courtesy Logan Hardware)

Five locally owned Ace Hardware stores, including Borderstan’s own Logan Hardware, are teaming up with Think Local First DC to spotlight locally made products in their stores.

The goal of the program, called “Made in DC” is to offer local vendors an opportunity to sell their products in a larger market and to create a sense of community within the stores while supporting small businesses. The stores will choose one vendor per quarter to showcase on an endcap.

Vendors must live in DC and produce their products locally. Ace is looking for products that fit into one of their departments, and vendors must be able to fill the shelving allotment available.

The first deadline for applications is this Friday, March 15, but the program will continue to accept applications to bring in new vendors. To learn more about the program and to apply, please visit Made in DC.

You can look for locally made products in stores beginning in April.

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Local 16′s “Pig Roast V” on July 26. Click above to see the pictures. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.

Last Thursday Local 16 held “Pig Roast V” to benefit MidCity Dog Days (August 4-5) and Think Local First DC last Thursday, July 26.

It was a great event… a hot, traditional summer event in the neighborhood. True summer is about block parties and fun, and what could be better than an all-you-can eat pig roast? This year, complimentary Peronis were given out while blues artist Jonny Grave played to the crowd.

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From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.

Don’t miss the pig roast at Local 16, Thursday, July 26. Above: Photos from Eat Local First’s Saturday Farm-to-Street party. (Luis Gomez Photos)

This Thursday, July 26, from 5 pm to 8 pm, Local 16 (1602 U Street NW) will hold “Pig Roast V” to benefit the MidCity Dog Days (August 4-5) and Think Local First DC.

For neighbors this is already a traditional summer event. True summer is about block parties and fun and what could be better than an all-you-can eat pig roast? This year Blues artist Jonny Grave will be on hand and there will be complimentary Peronis, too.

You can purchase tickets online through the Capitol Deal. Hint: They’re a bargain! Get them while you can.

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Click on the collage for more photos from Saturday’s Farm-to-Street Party on V Street NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.

On Saturday, July 21, the Eat Local First weeklong celebration of local foods came to and end with the Farm-to-Street Party on the 1300 block of V Street NW. Although cloudy and rainy, the weather did not stop neighbors and hungry residents from gathering and enjoying a great urban block party.

There were plenty of dishes made with local ingredients, as well as local craft beer, wine and live music. Attendees also had the opportunity to buy from local retailers and take craft food classes in the event’s pop-up park.

Some participating businesses from the Borderstan area included Busboys and Poets, The Diner, Eatonville, Local 16, Whisked! and Logan Hardware.

Eat Local First is a campaign of Think Local First DC, a non-profit organization that works with independent businesses, consumers and policymakers to grow a sustainable local economy in DC.

Borderstan.com was proud to be a sponsor of Eat Local First 2012 and a member of Think Local First DC. Check the Eat Local First website for the extensive list of sponsors who made this year’s series of events possible.

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Eat Local First Week ends with its Farm to Street Party on Saturday, 1 to 7 pm at 13th and V Streets NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

Eat Local First will bring its weeklong local foods celebration to a close this Saturday, July 21, with the campaign’s Farm-to-Street Party. The party runs from 1 to 7 pm at 13th and V Streets NW. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online. (The entrance is at 13th Street.)

Don’t miss the block party this Saturday! (Courtesy Eat Local First)

The urban block party will feature an array of dishes made with local ingredients, as well as local craft beer, wine and live music. Attendees will also have the opportunity to shop local retailers and take craft food classes in the event’s pop-up park.

Some participating businesses from the Borderstan area include Busboys and Poets, The Diner, Eatonville, Local 16, Whisked! and Logan Hardware.

Eat Local First is a campaign of Think Local First DC, a non-profit organization that works with independent businesses, consumers and policymakers to grow a sustainable local economy in DC.

Borderstan.com is proud to be a sponsor of Eat Local First 2012 and a member of Think Local First DC. Look for more information in the coming days on events in the Borderstan area.

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Live Green will celebrate Eat Local First Week at Local 16. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com

As part of Eat Local First’s celebratory week, Live Green will host a Summer Bash on Wednesday, July 18 on Local 16’s rooftop, to celebrate another year of promoting and growing a green community.

The DC-based environmental organization will throw-down with specialty drinks (including Honest Tea cocktails), live music from DJ Payne of FunkDC and appetizers from Local 16 and Java/Café Green.

The event at Local 16 (1602 U Street) starts at 6 and goes until 9 pm. The price is $10 for members, $15 for non-members and $20 at the door. Tickets are available for purchase online. For more information, visit the event’s webpage.

Eat Local First Week runs July 14-21. (Courtesy of Eat Local First)

Eat Local First is a campaign of Think Local First DC, a non-profit organization that works with independent businesses, consumers and policymakers to grow a sustainable local economy in DC.

Borderstan.com is proud to be a sponsor of Eat Local First 2012 and a member of Think Local First DC. Look for more information in the coming days on events in the Borderstan area.

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Eat Local First Week kicks off Saturday, July 14, at 3 pm at Acre 121 in Columbia Heights. (Courtesy Eat Local First)

Tomorrow afternoon, July 14, Think Local First DC (TLF) kicks off a week full of food events with Eat Local First. The opening event is at Acre121 in Columbia Heights and will feature BBQ, beer, and live music. Time is 3 to 7 pm.

Tickets for the event, co-sponsored by Acre 121 and Listen Local First can be purchased online through Eat Local First. For $25, attendees will enjoy local BBQ and beer along with live music from local groups: Young Rapids, Typefighter and Frau Eva.

The Saturday festivities are the first of 13 events that focus on local farms, products and the restaurants, organizations and people that are making locally grown food more accessible in the DC community. You can purchase tickets for the events online.

Farm-to-Street Party on July 21

Eat Local Week, scheduled for July 14-21, includes the signature Farm-to-Street Party, an Industry Panel and the launch of a culinary incubation program. The Farm-to-Street Party will again be in Borderstan, on the 1300 block of V Street NW on Saturday, July 21, from 1 to 7 pm — and tickets are just $15. Six of the week’s 13 events are in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area!

Farm-to-Table Restaurant Week

Farm-to-Table Restaurant Week is also part of Eat Local First events this coming week. It celebrates local, independent restaurants in Washington, DC that source food locally. Dine at these restaurants between July 14-21 and enjoy Farm-to-Table menus, featured local entrees or discounts on local food. There are eight participating restaurants, with four of them in Borderstan — 2100 Prime, Busboys and Poets, Eatonville and Darlington House.

This year a special effort is being made to focus on the emerging culinary entrepreneurs that are growing the restaurant economy in DC. Think Local First says that “Washingtonians should prepare to see brick-and-mortar restaurants paired with the emerging class to create the most creative week ever.” For more information, contact Stacey Price at Stacey[AT]thinklocalfirstdc.com or visit their website.

Borderstan.com is proud to be a sponsor of Eat Local First 2012 and a member of Think Local First DC. Look for more information in the coming days on events in the Borderstan area.

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Cash Mob at OLD CITY green, Saturday, March 24. Owner Frank Asher is pictured at top left. (Luis Gomez Photos)

OLD City green at 9th and N Streets NW was Think Local First DC‘s (TLFDC) beneficiary of National Cash Mob Day, occurring on Saturday, March 24. The organization announced last week that it would pick a TLF DC member and announce the beneficiary on Saturday morning.

Borderstan reported last week that OLD City green will be open for another season at its current location.

What’s a cash mob, you ask? It’s sort of like a flash mob, but participants spend rather than dance. Cash mobs are organized through social media and bring groups of people together to stimulate local businesses, which have been undercut by deal sites like Groupon and Living Social.

TLFDC’s board nominated member-businesses based on their contributions to the community, among other factors, according to Executive Director Stacey Price. “The business also had to have affordable merchandise, in the $20 price range, and offer something for both men and women,” said Price.

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Related Posts

• Cash Mob! Give a Local Business a Shot in the Arm this Saturday
• OLD CITY Green Will Be Open for Another Season at 9th and N

This Saturday, March 24, Think Local First DC will announce the name of a local business that will be the beneficiary of a cash mob. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Alden Leonard. Contact him at alden[AT]borderstan.com and follow him @aldenleonard on Twitter.

(courtesy Think Local First DC)

District locavores unite! This Saturday, March 24, community- and business-focused organization Think Local First DC (TLFDC) is sponsoring a cash mob at a locally-owned DC business.

What’s a cash mob, you ask? It’s sort of like a flash mob, but participants spend rather than dance. Cash mobs are organized through social media and bring groups of people together to stimulate local businesses, which have been undercut by deal sites like Groupon and Living Social. TLFDC selects businesses to be mobbed based on their involvement and contributions to the community, among other factors.

In order to participate this Saturday, go to Think Local First’s Facebook page and RSVP. On the morning of the 24th, they will announce the location of the cash mob, at which point you will proceed to that business and spend like crazy.

Tweeting, posting, and talking about the cash mob is of course strongly encouraged.

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By Michelle Lancaster. You can follow her and let her know your news on Twitter @MichLancaster. Email her at michellel[AT]borderstan.com

A 42 Cocktail. (Luis Gomez Photos)

Oh, Metrobus. Despite innovations for mobile apps that should help you plan your trip, the buses still seem to run on their own schedule, which is carefully designed to thwart you on your most crunched-for-time mornings. Singer-songwriter Rene Moffatt lives in Mount Pleasant, and his experience with the 42 bus inspired a song and accompanying music video.

The Washington Post brings you the lyrics, link to video and more info about his debut album. I’ll admit to finding it pretty catchy, in a Jack Johnson kind of way.

If you’ve experienced anything similar to the full buses, out of service buses and loud cellphone talkers described in the song, you’ve probably also wanted a drink (along with your iPod) to ease the pain of the journey. Well, now you can (we do not condone breaking WMATA law on drinking on the bus).

The video was supported by Think Local First DC and they in turn have helped your 42 drinking dreams come true! Stop in to hear the song and try out a ‘Route 42′ signature cocktail for $4.20 at Tryst or the Diner; a ‘Route 42′ cupcake at Hello Cupcake; a ‘Route 42′ latte at Yola and a ridiculous-sounding Route 42 dessert at Flying Fish. The specials run through March 4.

Singer and songwriter Rene Moffatt wrote a song about the Route 42 bus. (Courtesy Rene Moffatt)

The 42 Cocktail

What’s in a 42 cocktail, you ask? We got the scoop from Think Local First DC:

Tryst on 18th Street NW: 42 Bus Sparkler: (highball, over ice) ½ oz Sobieski, ½ oz Aperol, splash honey syrup, top with cava and dash grapefruit bitters, garnish lemon twist.

The Diner on 18th Street NW: 42 Toddy: (bar mug) 1½ oz Jim Beam, 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp lemon juice, top with chamomile/lavender tea, garnish with a thin lemon wheel.

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