SYMHM: August 31 Hump Day Edition
Work is underway on the Toutorsky Mansion at 16th and Riggs NW. The Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) is converting it into an embassy. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Michelle Lancaster. You can follow her and tell her your news on Twitter @MichLancaster. Email her at [email protected].
Back to Life, Back to Reality
School is back in session for area children. While it brings back (to me, anyways) memories of Soul II Soul, this year brings a new reality to D.C. public schools. Harry Jaffe is back in the Washington Examiner with the surprising news that schools that have been predominantly African-American are seeing many more Caucasian classmates this year. DCPS reports that the 2011 enrollment percentage of white kids may have broken double digits. Credit population changes, credit Michelle Rhee or are the two related? Talk away in the comments.
Salute Your Shorts!
The D.C. Shorts Festival is nearly here again, and this year they have a blog! The Film Festival features 145 short movies from 23 countries and begins September 8 – 18. The Festival is in its eighth year in the District. When you think of D.C. and movies, maybe all you think of is Bumblebee hitting a car while Transformers was shooting here awhile ago. It’s time to change your perspective — the festival has been ranked in the top 20 festivals worth the entry fee. If you are still being a stick in the mud and hate movies, maybe you can still support them by boozing and partying at one of their ‘epic events.’
Wanna Go to the Coffee Shop?
Filter in Dupont Circle was rated “DC’s Best Coffeehouse” by Washington City Paper this year. Now, NBC Washington reports they are opening a second location in Foggy Bottom. It seems those flat whites and lattes will be shared with non-Borderstanis in about four to six months.
Speaking of Coffee Shops…
The Guardian features a gorgeous piece by George Pelecanos, creator of The Wire and D.C. native. He describes his formative years working in his father’s diner, the Jefferson Coffee Shop on 19th Street. You may have known about his local roots as he lovingly chronicled and derided Baltimore in his TV show, but now you can feel his love for his dad and a greasy spoon in Dupont. Anyone know what the current incarnation is on 19th? I’m going to go stalk, I mean wait for, Pelecanos to come wandering back home.
Amnesty for Egg Stealers
Eater and other blogs have talked to restaurant owners to find out “shit people steal” with often hilarious results before, but this installment involves a Dupont eatery styled after Grandma’s cooking. And people are still stealing! The hot commodity are fake eggs in a display at Casa Nonna. So they are offering amnesty for anyone that returns an egg and rewarding their change of heart with a free scoop of gelato. I am dying to hear an update on how many are being returned, how many fake “return eggs” have been gifted and if the DMV will add ice cream to the ticket amnesty program.
Attack of the Tomato
It’s a little out of the Borderstan area (or a lot depending on if you are planning on walking) but it’s worth checking out Ripple’s ‘Tomatina’ Festival if today’s morning chill made you mourn the end of summer. Get your tomato fix at their interpretation of Spain’s tomato throwing festival. It’s in Cleveland Park, tickets are $65 for five courses of tomatoes, performance artists and a showing of the cult favorite (?) “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes”. Check out Metrocurean for more details, as I am unclear if this also includes tomato tossing.
