SYMHM: Hump Day June 22 Edition
Work is underway on The Aston at the southwest corner of 14th and R Streets NW. The building is slated to have 31 condo units plus ground-level retail. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Michelle Lancaster. Talk to me on Twitter @MichLancaster.
U Street Gets Upgraded Sidewalks…
While it may create some havoc, the project to repair some of the sidewalks and pedestrian areas along U Street is still welcomed by area residents. Greater Greater Washington has a good timeline of the project and some DDOT designs in their detailed piece today. Pay particular attention to that 16th Street, U Street and New Hampshire Avenue redesign — as someone that used to play Frogger on that particular intersection, I particularly enjoy the idea of ‘plazas’ to avoid getting stuck in the middle of the road.
…and Tea and Cookies as Well!
Teaism will open its fourth location at 12th and U Streets, reports Washington City Paper. Borderstan now boasts two of these tasty tea shops, given the one in North Dupont Circle. It’s not just tea — those salty oat cookies are addictive and the bento boxes are a great, healthy lunch option. Yum!
Dropout Factories Screening Tonight
PBS NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs and People’s Production House have partnered on a very cool project investigating ‘dropout factories’ that will be screened tonight at the Hillyer Art Space. At the event, you’ll see the five minute shorts produced by Radio Rootz reporters — students at the very schools with high dropout numbers. Given the attention paid to education in D.C. in the past few years, you should make an attempt to attend.
Reunited and It Feels So Good
Woodley Park is all in one ward again after a vote by the City Council Tuesday. Part of Woodley Park had been in Ward 1, while the rest of the neighborhood was in Ward 3. As DCist reports, the vote was somewhat surprising and came only after Ward 1 Councilmember, Jim Graham, gave his blessing.
What Divides Us Most: Race or Class?
This Washington Post article seems to be another blow to Mayor Gray’s “One City” mantra. Since most residents thought class was a bigger divider than race, perhaps it’s a sign of the post-racial times some forecasted after President Obama’s election? While affluent African-Americans identify more closely with upper-middle-class white residents, the study’s findings show that attitudes on gentrification, financial security and changes in the city still fall along color lines. What do you think? Is it race, class or something else entirely?
Speaking of Race and Class, Milloy to Join Twitter
Courtland Milloy, columnist for the Washington Post, has decried a number of changes in the city recently, and Twitter (and those who Tweet) were a particular target in discussing the new influx of young people. But as the Washington City Paper reports, now the Post staff will all be trained in social media and join in the discussion on Twitter. This is going to be interesting.
