The community Temple Garden on the 1700 block of 15th Street NW closed after this year’s harvest. (Luis Gomez Photos)
What made news in Borderstan in 2011? Reader favorites included the following stories:
- closing of the community Temple Garden
- formation of a new community group, Urban Neighborhood Alliance
- snowball fight in Dupont Circle (featured image from photo set on Flickr)
- opposition to a new apartment building, 17th and O Streets NW
- protest over a paved embassy front yard (Embassy of Congo)
- lost dog (found!)
- annual LGBT parade through the neighborhood
Those were the subjects of 6 of the year’s 12 most-read stories in the News section at Borderstan. Other hot topics for the year (see the list of reader favorites by month) included:
- more parades (UHOP Memorial Day Parade, kids’ Halloween Parade)
- local public schools (Garrison, Ross)
- changing neighborhoods (gay to straight, poor to rich)
- journalists who live in the neighborhood (Mason, DeBonis, Jaffe, Mathis)
- local parks (French Street, Shaw Skate Park)
- festivals (17th Street)
- how much you pay in rent
January 26: First snowball fight of the season in Dupont Circle. Click for more photos. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Top Dozen News Stories of 2011 on Borderstan
- Temple Garden to Close After 2011 Harvest (Tom Hay)
- Meet Julie Mason, White House Correspondent, Neighbor (Michelle Lancaster)
- Photos: Season’s First Snowball Fight in Dupont Circle (Luis Gomez)
- New Kid on the Block: Urban Neighborhood Alliance (Tom Hay)
- Best of D.C. 2011: Borderstan Area Winners
- Change We Can Believe In: Not on 17th Street (Guest post from Stephen Rutgers)
- SYMHM: Happy Hump Day March 30 (Michelle Lancaster)
- Poll: Where’s the D.C. Gay Neighborhood in 2011? (Matty Rhoades)
- Embassies, Trees, B&Bs: Be Careful What You Protest? (Michelle Lancaster)
- Rally in Dupont Circle For Wisconsin Workers (Luis Gomez)
- OWNERS FOUND! Beagle-Mix Found at 9th & V NW (Matty Rhoades)
- June 1-12: Capital Pride Events in Borderstan Area (Matty Rhoades)
January
- Meet Julie Mason, White House Correspondent, Neighbor (Michelle Lancaster)
- New Kid on the Block: Urban Neighborhood Alliance (Tom Hay)
- Photos: Season’s First Snowball Fight in Dupont Circle (Luis Gomez)
February
- Garrison Elementary Partners With ANC 2F, LCCA (Tom Hay)
- Rally in Dupont Circle For Wisconsin Workers (Luis Gomez)
- OWNERS FOUND! Beagle-Mix Found at 9th & V NW (Matty Rhoades)
March
- Best of D.C. 2011: Borderstan Area Winners (Borderstan)
- SYMHM: Happy Hump Day March 30 (Michelle Lancaster)
- One for the Dudes: Shaw Skate Park Reopens (Luis Gomez)
April
- Temple Garden to Close After 2011 Harvest (Tom Hay)
- Garrison Elementary Wins Library Makeover (Tom Hay)
- Saturday: Ross School Auction (Lunch with Chuck Todd, Michelle Rhee?) (Jana Petersen)
May
- Photos: Saturday’s United House of Prayer Annual Parade (Luis Gomez)
- Monarch Butterflies Welcome at French Street Park (Tom Hay)
- SYMHM: May 20 TGIF Edition (Michelle Lancaster)
June
- Poll: Where’s the D.C. Gay Neighborhood in 2011? (Matty Rhoades)
- June 1-12: Capital Pride Events in Borderstan Area (Matty Rhoades)
- Harry Jaffe Unfiltered (Isn’t He Usually?) (Michelle Lancaster)
July
- SYMHM: July 13 Hump Day Edition (Michelle Lancaster)
- SYMHM: Offices-Not-Condos Edition (Tom Hay)
- SYMHM: TGIF July 15 Edition (Michelle Lancaster)
August
- SYMHM: Parking App, Fully Loaded, Booze, Wonder Bread, MLK (Michelle Lancaster)
- SYMHM: August 31 Hump Day Edition (Michelle Lancaster)
- Mike DeBonis on Life at The Post and His Must-Read List (Michelle Lancaster)
September
- Change We Can Believe In: Not on 17th Street (Guest post from Stephen Rutgers)
- 17th Street Festival Announces Lineup of Bands, Performers, DJs (Matty Rhoades)
- 2011 17th Street Festival Photos: Did We See You There? (Luis Gomez)
October
- Rent: What’s Your Pain? (Matty Rhoades)
- Sommer Mathis: Telling DC’s Story (Michelle Lancaster)
- Kids Halloween Parade Draws Several Hundred for First-Time Event (Luis Gomez)
November
- Embassies, Trees, B&Bs: Be Careful What You Protest? (Michelle Lancaster)
- Central Union Mission Prepares for Last Thanksgiving on 14th Street (Maggie Barron)
- Reader Poll: 17th Street Safeway Bag Check (Matty Rhoades)
December
- No More Concrete at The Embassy of Congo (Luis Gomez)
- Heritage India: PR 101 Course, Perhaps? (Michelle Lancaster)
- The Other Side on the B&B that Became a Cement Embassy (Michelle Lancaster)
Borderstan: News from Dupont-Logan-U Street.
Borderstan.com thanks this weeks advertisers for their support. Remember to Think Local First and support local businesses in DC and the Dupont-Logan-U Street neighborhood.
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The Rutstein Group: A Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “In today’s market it’s important that your agent has the latest technology working for you! Drop us an email and tell us what you are looking for.” Office at 1606 17th Street NW.
Stem: Clothing, jewelry and accessories for men and men. “Visit us for the holidays. Fashion accessories for both men and women. Nannapat Pollert collaborates with Thai designers presenting all handmade and exclusive collections that are simply-beautiful.” Located at 1412 U Street NW.
Salon Rouge: “Be exquisite for the holidays. Call for our December specials. Perfection in hair and skin care standards is a must for all of our clients. Our stylists are L’Oreal trained and we proudly carry the title of “L’Oreal Professional Elite Hair Salon.” Located at 1636 17th Street NW, just south of R Street.
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe: “Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe is DC’s only full-service restaurant and complete bar combined with an independent bookstore.” Located just north of Dupont Circle at 1517 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Hank’s Oyster Bar: “Ring in the New Year with great food and great company.” Make New Year’s Eve reservations and find out about their Champagne specials. Located at 1624 Q Street NW, just off 17th Street.
Get information about advertising on Borderstan.com.
Well Built is closing its store January 31 and will shift its focus to the commercial sector with a showroom and online presence. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Tom Hay. Questions for Tom? Send him an email. You can follow him on Twitter @Tomonswann.
Last week we reported on the posting of an Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration application for the space currently occupied by the Well Built furniture store at 1541 14th Street NW.
The news broke just before the Christmas holiday weekend and we could not get in touch with store owner Ann Blackwell about her plans for the store. This week we got more details from Blackwell, whom we profiled last December. It turns out that the retail location will close at the end of January 2012.
Borderstan asked Blackwell if she was going out of business when her 14th Street location closed. She said, “WellBuilt has gone commercial! We will still offer our residential customers our online services and an office/showroom by appointment only — but commercial sales to the office and restaurant sector continue to be our main focus. I have loved having a storefront on 14th and hope to find an office space here.”
Fans of the store, which features high quality, sustainably-produced furnishings, can take advantage of discounts on January 25 and 26, just before the store closes. We will keep monitoring for details on the Italian restaurant that owner Tad Curtz of Standard BBQ plans for the space.
Earlier this week we reported that neighboring Artfully Chocolate (ACKC) at 1549 14th Street NW would be closing this Saturday.
Previous Posts
“Celebration” is by luisgomezphotos from the Borderstan flickr pool.
From Luis Gomez. You can follow Luis on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos and at One Photograph A Day.
Photos of the Day are pulled from the Borderstan Reader Photos pool on Flickr.
Today’s photo, “Celebration” was taken by luisgomezphotos in December 2011 on the 1600 block of 15th Street NW.
If you don’t already have a Flickr account, you will need to sign up for one, and then join the Borderstan Reader Photos group. Already a Flickr member? Join the group! You can submit up to five photos per day in the Borderstan reader pool. We are looking for photos from DC’s Dupont, Logan and U Street neighborhoods.
The simple option for curing your hangover: scrambled eggs and beer at home or at a local diner. (Ashley Lusk)
From Ashley Lusk. Check out her blog, Metropoetrylis. Find her on Twitter @arlusk or email her.
Let’s be real, people.
On New Year’s Day you’re not trying to pull out your best smoked prosciutto and cheese for the people who had an “accidental sleepover” at your place.
That’s okay: we here at Borderstan don’t judge, and that’s why we have collected a series of easy recipes that will help you replace all those nutrients you lost while you were chugging celebratory champagne.
Hair of the dog. Ever wonder about that term? If all else fails for your hangover, there is always the beer or Bloody Mary option.
Keeping-it-Classy: Spinach and Cheese Strata
This dish is for the host who had the wherewithal to prepare for the next day before pre-gaming began. This strata from Epicurious can “marinate” in the fridge for up to 24 hours prior to baking.
- 1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed
- 1½ cups finely chopped onion (1 large)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 8 cups cubed (1 inch) French or Italian bread (½ lb)
- 6 ounces coarsely grated Gruyère (2 cups)
- 2 ounces finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (1 cup)
- 2¾ cups milk
- 9 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Directions
- Squeeze handfuls of spinach to remove as much liquid as possible, then finely chop.
- Cook onion in butter in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in spinach, then remove from heat.
- Spread one third of bread cubes in a buttered 3-quart gratin dish or other shallow ceramic baking dish and top evenly with one third of spinach mixture. Sprinkle with one third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice (ending with cheeses).
- Whisk together milk, eggs, mustard, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a large bowl and pour evenly over strata. Chill strata, covered with plastic wrap, at least 8 hours (for bread to absorb custard).
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Let strata stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
- Bake strata, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
- Note: Strata can be chilled up to 1 day. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.
What, exactly, causes a hangover? “Hypoglycemia, dehydration, acetaldehyde intoxication, and glutamine rebound are all theorized causes of hangover symptoms.” – Wikipedia
One for the Team: Hangover Pizza
Even though this hangover pizza from iVillage is simple enough already, we suggest taking it a step closer to simplicity by replacing the homemade pizza dough with that of the Pillsbury variety.
- 1 can of pizza dough
- 1 cup baby arugula 10 ounces Robiola cheese, rind removed, at room temperature (or combine 5 ounces of fresh mozzarella and 5 ounces of smoked mozzarella and 2 tablespoons of Pecorino Romano), all grated
- 4 eggs
- Sea salt and ground pepper
- 2 to 3 tablespoons of white truffle oil, or a drizzle of your favorite flavored oil
Directions
- Open pizza dough and spread on a large sheet of parchment paper; dust with flour. Roll out dough into a 10- to 12-inch rectangle. Using a fork, pierce dough all over. Slide pizza along with paper onto hot baking sheet. Bake according to directions on can until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Push down dough using back of spoon. Cook another 3 minutes.
- Remove pizza and spread or sprinkle cheese, salt and freshly ground pepper. Top with arugula. Carefully crack 4 eggs on top of pizza. Put pie back in the oven until eggs are cooked, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle with truffle oil. Cut into squares and serve hot.
No More Snoozing: Drunken Noodles
This is really for the person who isn’t hung over at all, but wants to nurse her bum friends back to health so that she can get them out of her house. What’s more ironic than this drunken noodles recipe from Epicurious?
- 2 14-ounce packages of ¼-inch-wide flat rice noodles*
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 12 garlic cloves, chopped
- ¼ cup chopped fresh Thai chiles*
- 1½ pounds ground chicken
- ¼ cup fish sauce
- ¼ cup black soy sauce*
- ¼ cup Golden Mountain sauce* or light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4 large plum tomatoes, each cut into 6 wedges
- 4 Anaheim chiles or Italian frying peppers, or 2 green bell peppers (about 12 ounces total), cut into strips
- ½ cup fresh Thai basil leaves* or regular basil leaves
Directions
- Cook noodles in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring frequently. Drain.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and Thai chiles; sauté 30 seconds. Add chicken and next 4 ingredients and sauté until chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Add noodles, tomatoes, and Anaheim chiles; toss to coat. Transfer to large platter, sprinkle with basil leaves, and serve.
- *Available in the Asian foods section or produce section of some supermarkets, and at Southeast Asian and some Asian markets.
Hair of the Dog that Bit You: Hangover Smoothie
The only thing less appealing than putting more liquids down your gullet is the thought of putting anything solid down there instead. Buck up, champs, this hangover smoothie from Free People will have you feeling better soon.
- One handful (approximately 1 cup) of washed spinach
- 4 leaves of washed dinosaur kale
- 2 bananas
- 1 cup of soy milk
- 4 to 5 drops of liquid B12
- ¾ cup of chopped ice
Directions
- Blend all ingredients until smooth.
Click for the slide show. The year’s most read arts and entertainment story was about the March farewell party at the closing of go mama go! (Luis Gomez Photos)
Following are the top arts and entertainment stories each month on Borderstan in 2011. The top story each month was the one that was read by the most readers. The writer’s name is next to each story.
Top food story for the year in terms of reader views? The winner was Photos: Sunday’s Farewell Party at go mama go! by Luis Gomez, followed closely by Danny’s Top 10: D.C.’s Best 2010 Concerts from Danny Shapiro.
Of note: While one gallery closed on 14th Street NW in 2011, another gallery opened. See the August stories below: Irvine Contemporary closed in September and [email protected] opened in November.
- January: Danny’s Top 10: D.C.’s Best 2010 Concerts (Danny Shapiro)
- February: Biutiful One of the Best Films of the Year (Mary Burgan)
- March: Photos: Sunday’s Farewell Party at go mama go! (Luis Gomez)
- April: Gary Fisher: Art Changed My Life (Cecile Oreste)
- May: City Empties Out, But Galleries Full of Great Exhibitions (Jana Petersen); and Forgotten Dreams, Unforgettable Drawings in Cave (Mary Burgan). There was essentially a two-way tie between these two stories.
- June: New Exhibits Open at Irvine, Project 4 (Jana Petersen)
- July: The Art of Vandalism and the Launch of MuralsDC (Tom Hay)
- August: Irvine Contemporary Bids Farewell; Closing Party Saturday (Matty Rhoades)
- September: Your Ultimate Guide to Saturday’s 17th Street Festival (Laura Herman)
- October: At the Keegan: There’s a Witch Hunt on in Dupont Circle (Kate Hays)
- November: [email protected]: Regina Miele’s New Gallery on 14th Street (Kate Hays)
- December: “U Street Portrait Project” Closing and a “Don’t Miss” Exhibition (Luis Gomez)
Get details on 12 neighborhood galleries. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos on Picplz and at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
The 2012 is gallery season will soon get underway at Borderstan galleries. In the meantime, if you are in town this weekend, there are some great exhibitions — call first as some galleries have holiday hours.
January and February Openings
- Art @ Work, at Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery: Opening reception is Friday, January 13, 7 to 9 pm.
- Works by Bernardo Siles” at gallery plan b: Opening reception is Saturday, January 14, 6 to 8 pm.
- “Jonathan Monaghan: Sacrifice of the Mushroom Kings” opens Saturday, January 14, at Curator’s Office.
- Mike Weber, at Long View Gallery: Opening reception is Thursday, January 19, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
- Works of photographer Al Wildey go on exhibit Tuesday, February 7 at [email protected].
Closing Exhibitions
- “One Foot In America: The Artwork of Eugeen Van Mieghem” at Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery runs through Saturday, December 30.
- “In Season”, at Project 4 Gallery, runs through Saturday, January 7.
Get more details on the 12 galleries in the Logan-Shaw-U Street area below. Some galleries have holiday hours, so all first!
Adamson Gallery at 1515 14th Street NW
- Check back for upcoming exhibitions.
- Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 am to 5 pm; Saturday, noon to 5 pm.
Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery, DC Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th Street NW
- “One Foot In America: The Artwork of Eugeen Van Mieghem” runs through December 30.
- Overview: “Belgian artist Eugeen Van Mieghem (1875-1930) found inspiration in the men and women, many of them Jews, waiting at the Antwerp docks to board ships to take them to America. One Foot in America, opening September 22, features his works and creates a stunning visual record of those leaving behind one life as they search for a better life in a far away, unknown place.” (Bronfman Gallery)
- Gallery Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 am to 10 pm; Friday, 10 am to 4 p.m.
[email protected], 1830 14th Street NW
- Overview: [email protected] is a new addition to the Mid City gallery lineup from artist Regine Miele. Current works on display are Miele’s paintings.
- Next solo exhibition begins February 7 and runs to March 30 with photographer Al Wildey.
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Friday, 11 am to 7 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm.
Curator’s Office at 1515 14th Street NW
- “Jonathan Monaghan: Sacrifice of the Mushroom Kings” runs January 14 through February 18.
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm.
gallery plan b at 1530 14th Street NW
- “Works by Bernardo Siles”
- Opening Reception Saturday, January 14, 6 to 8 pm.
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 7 pm; Sunday, 1 to 5 pm
Hamiltonian Gallery at 1353 U Street NW
- “Selin Balci and Ryan Hoover” runs through January 22.
- Overview: “Although Balci and Hoover implement distinct artistic practices, both artists present new works of precisely controlled media, imbued with their ruminations on the structures of interpersonal relationships, international affairs, and geography.” (Hamiltonian Gallery)
- Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm.
harmon art lab, 1716 14th Street NW, 2nd Floor
- Works by artists Peter e Harper and Joren A. Lindholm runs through January 13.
- Overview: “Peter e Harper’s work may seem easy at first. Bold, brave color. Roughly drawn grids. Birds heavy in flight. Planes falling toward the earth. If you stop there, you will not be disappointed. But the work is more complex than that. Taken in its totality, Harper’s installation at harmon art lab is about the complexity of life. Joren A. Lindholm’s project space installation is a fragmention of our collective experience. He examines our place in the world, the heirarchic structures that keep us rooted there, and our own collusion in the process.” (harmon art lab)
- Gallery Hours: Call for an appointment; gallery staff is in the building Monday through Friday during business hours.
Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery, 1632 U Street NW
- Art @ Work: Opening Reception & Meet the Artist on Friday, January 13, 7 to 9 pm.
- Overview: “In partnership with Albus Cavus, an arts group that transforms communities through public art, Art @ Work will use graffiti-style mural art to bring Washington DC residents together in beautifying their neighborhoods.” (Joan Hisaoka Gallery)
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Friday 11 am to 5 pm; Saturday, 11 am to 3 pm; and by appointment.
Lamont Bishop Gallery at 1314 9th Street NW
- “FLYY ON THE WALL Exhibition and Pop up Shoppe.”
- Overview:“Flyy on the wall is an exhibition that will feature the works of Rakiyt Zakari a high end street wear designer with the eye of a tailor, known for creating 3-d graphic designs with a surgeons precision and attention to detail, think Basquiat x Jeremy Scott. Flyy on the wall also will encompass The Original David pop up shoppe, their first ever experiential retail event!.” (Lamont Bishop Gallery)
- Gallery Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 1 to 7 pm; Sundays by appointment only.
Long View Gallery at 1234 9th Street NW
- Mike Weber, Opening Reception: Thursday, January 19, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
- Overview: “”Homestead,” featuring approximately 20 new mixed media works by Los Angeles artist Mike Weber. Since relocating his studio from D.C. to Los Angeles in 2010, Weber’s work continues to explore themes of spirituality and genealogy, inspiring a global audience to create connections between their memories and those of the artist, sculpted in a modern context.” (Long View Gallery)
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm; Sunday, noon to 5 pm.
Project 4 Gallery at 1353 U Street NW
- “In Season,” runs through January 7.
- Overview: “In Season will feature a variety of media and showcase works by Margaret Boozer, Beau Chamberlain, Christine Gray, Lisa Kellner, Tricia Keightley, Thomas Müller, Ellington Robinson, Foon Sham, Jill Townsley, and Paul Villinski.” (Project 4 Gallery)
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm.
Transformer Gallery at 1404 P Street NW
- 9th Annual DC Artist Solo Exhibition runs through January 28.
- Overview: “9th Annual DC Artist Solo Exhibition presents the work of Lily deSaussure in a site-specific installation of hand-embroidered images originating from snapshots of family, close friends and lovers, central to this autobiographical body of work.” (Transformer)
- Gallery Hours: Check website.
News from Dupont-Logan-U Street
The DC Department of Public Works is observing the New Year’s holiday on Monday, January 2. As a result, there will be no trash and recycling collections. Parking regulations will not be enforced either.
In once-a-week collection neighborhoods, collections will “slide” to the next day. In twice-a-week collection neighborhoods, Monday and Thursday collections will be made Tuesday and Friday, and Tuesday and Friday collections will be made Wednesday and Saturday. Trash and recycling containers should be put out for collection no earlier than 6:30 pm the night before collection and removed from public space by 8 pm on the collection day.
As for parking enforcement, there is no enforcement of parking meters, residential parking, and rush hour lane violations. DPW also will not tow abandoned vehicles. Parking enforcement will resume Tuesday, January 3.
“Frontera” is by luisgomezphotos from the Borderstan flickr pool.
From Luis Gomez. You can follow Luis on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos and at One Photograph A Day.
Photos of the Day are pulled from the Borderstan Reader Photos pool on Flickr.
Today’s photo, “Frontera” was taken by luisgomezphotos in December 2011 on the 1600 block of 17th Street NW.
If you don’t already have a Flickr account, you will need to sign up for one, and then join the Borderstan Reader Photos group. Already a Flickr member? Join the group! You can submit up to five photos per day in the Borderstan reader pool. We are looking for photos from DC’s Dupont, Logan and U Street neighborhoods.
Artfully Chocolate/ACKC will close its 14th Street location on December 31. (Luis Gomez Photos)
The Logan Circle location of Artfully Chocolate (ACKC) will be closing its doors on December 31 at 1529 14th Street NW. The news came in a Wednesday-evening email from owner Eric Nelson, which is also posted on the company’s Facebook page. He emphasized that the two Alexandria locations are not affected. The Logan Circle store opened in 2008.
The email from Nelson added that while ACKC’s last day is Saturday, there will be a special post-closing sale on Thursday, January 12.
Closings and Movings on 14th Street Corridor
It has been a year of change for the 14th Street corridor beyond the new residential development and store openings. A number of long-time businesses either closed, moved or were considering it.
- Late last week the news came that Well Built Furniture would be leaving the space at 14th and Q NW — and that the owners of Standard BBQ have applied for a liquor license for an Italian restaurant.
- The owner of 1409 Playbill Cafe announced he would move to find a more affordable space.
- Garden District went out of business in May.
- El Paraiso (which has another location in Alexandria), closed its location just south of U Street. That entire block is being developed into a new residential-retail complex.
- Ruff ‘& Ready furnishings closed to make way for Taylor Gourmet, and the owner looking for a new location.
- Go mama go! closed in March.
- AYT Auto Service is closing its 14th Street location at year’s end is and relocating its training institute to Northeast in 2012.
- PULP was close to closing, but a new buyer was found at the last minute.
- Miss Pixie considered moving her store, but announced this month that she signed a new five-year lease on her space.
Borderstan: News from Dupont-Logan-U Street
DC Police reported a robbery involving a gun Wednesday at 8:30 pm on the 1100 block of V Street NW:
“Police Alert – Robbery Gun_2030 hours_1100 V St NW_No Lookout DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #I20110667951. Sent on: 12/28 20:39”
You can sign up for Police Alerts at Alert DC, and get email or text updates.
Townhouse Tavern, 1637 R Street NW: The raid on the bar in February was top crime story of the year on Borderstan.com. (Borderstan)
Following are the top crime stories each month on Borderstan in 2011. The top story each month was the one that was read by the most readers.
Top story for the year in terms of reader views? Hands down, it was February’s top story: MPD, Feds Visit Townhouse Tavern; Arrest Made, Weapon Seized.
Also, in October Borderstan welcomed Cody Telep to the team of contributors. A resident of the U Street area, Telep writes about crime and the police, and is finishing a PhD in criminology at George Mason University.
- January: Burglaries Up Locally, Citywide in Past 60 Days
- February: MPD, Feds Visit Townhouse Tavern; Arrest Made, Weapon Seized
- March: U Street: February Crime Up From 2010
- April: 2 Men Shot Thursday Afternoon at 14th & V NW
- May: Logan Circle Smash and Grabs on the Rise
- June: Police Districts and PSAs Changing in Borderstan Area
- July: January-June: D.C. Property Crime Up 8%, Violent Crime Down 7%
- August: Robert Wone Civil Suit Settled; Swann Street House Sold Again
- September: Dupont Circle: August Crime Numbers Flat Compared to Last Year
- October: 15th Street Area Sees Rise in Car Break-Ins
- November: Thursday 5 PM Shooting, 1400 Block of R Street NW
- December: Everyone Fears Robberies: Where and How They Occur in Borderstan (from Cody Telep)
CrossFit MPH is at 1469 Church Street NW. (Courtesy CrossFit)
From Candida Mannozzi. You can reach her at [email protected].
Borderstan, let me admit it right at the outset: I like to work hard and I play just as hard, too. So, when it comes to my choices for sports, ways to keep fit and maintain or improve my health (which, well into my fourth decade, seem ever more important), I tend to gravitate toward intense, demanding and, by the same token, rewarding workout or sports routines.
On that note, CrossFit MPH is not an athletic program for the faint of heart, but it’s why I chose it. And Borderstan, do you know that we have one of the premier CrossFit outfits of the DC metro area in our very own hood?! Let me backtrack a bit, assuming that many of you may not be familiar with what CrossFit actually is. It was not a clear or known concept to me either, until just a few months ago.
What is CrossFit?
CrossFit is an athletic program that combines basic gymnastics, running, weightlifting, rowing and powerlifting movements in a vast number of combinations, adding repetition, weight or resistance and speed to achieve a broad response in the body of the athletes practicing it. Improving overall health and fitness, as well as developing the skills to become good at a number of different things (i.e., run a marathon, increase your overall strength, acquire explosive skills) are the goals. Improving your heart-rate, losing weight, gaining muscle mass, looking better, finally getting those six-pack abs, those are correlated results that come with a CrossFit practice, but they are not the goals a typical CrossFit athlete sets for him- or herself.
Feldman: “CrossFit is just inherently better than regular workouts — those endless bicep curls facing a mirror — this is closer to real sports, to actual movements. It reminded me of martial arts when I first started.”
So, this article will not be about commercial gyms or personal training sessions, va bene (OK)? A new year is in the offing and I am offering you a way to try something new, to push your limits, maybe even to explore a whole new community of folks in 2012.
CrossFitMPH (MetamorPHitness, indicating the transformative power of this athletic practice) is owned by John Main and co-managed by Melody Feldman. The two certified coaches are ably supported by Rebekka Ellman. The gym opened in July 2009 and is located just inside the corner of 15th and Church Streets NW. It has been attracting a growing number of dedicated athletes to their challenging, rewarding and collegial workouts.
Main and Feldman live in the neighborhood. So when, in 2008, they decided to open their own athletic facility, they found themselves increasingly gravitating to the Borderstan and Logan Circle areas of DC. MPH is more than an athletic facility, it is a community. Nothing proves this more than the fact that the demo and build-out of the space took a month and was a joint effort by these coaches, who relied also on the support of their former clients from the commercial gym where they had trained for over five years.
MPH’s space is multi-functional, sparsely furnished and supremely flexible. At first glance any observer will understand this is a no-frills environment, focused on the safe and efficient movement of its athletes, coaches and gear. It can accommodate an amazing variety of set-ups, which are easily assembled and broken down, fitting beautifully with the flexibility and variety that a CrossFit practice requires.
Who Can Practice CrossFit?
Feldman: “Sometimes, the less experienced someone is when they come to CrossFit, the better opportunity they have to acquire the basic movement patterns that are the building blocks for any CrossFit workout. They’re working from a clean slate.”
Main: “CrossFit has a reputation for being dangerous. Practiced or coached incorrectly, this reputation is deserved. There is an inherent risk in what we do, as we work with free weights and body weight, and add speed and intensity to most workouts; so posture, movement mechanics and awareness are all essential. When coached correctly, CrossFit is safe and suitable for everyone.”
That’s the key. With coaches like John, Melody and Rebekka, CrossFit is an adventure in self-exploration and growth. Based on your registration for a particular workout, the coaches will have prepared variations to fit your individual fitness and strength levels. No time is wasted during class adapting the challenge to each athlete’s skill set and this allows the coaches to do just that: to coach — properly and attentively.
CrossFit is an exciting journey down the road of self-discovery and self-improvement. Some basic requirements: being self-motivated, being collegial, enjoying challenges (personal or imposed) and wanting to acquire new skills and capabilities.
So, Borderstan, if any among you are looking for a way to challenge and explore your physical and athletic limits in the new year, CrossFitMPH lies right in the heart of our ‘hood — a part of ours, ready to welcome you into the community.
The most popular food & drink story in 2011 was Alejandra Owens’ “Saturday Night Sips: Fighting Hunger in DC.” (Alejandra Owens)
Following are the top food and drink stories each month on Borderstan in 2011. The top story each month was the one that was read by the most readers. The writer’s name is next to each story.
Top food story for the year in terms of reader views? The run-away winner was Saturday Night Sips: Fighting Hunger In DC from Alejandra Owens.
- January: Saturday Night Sips: Fighting Hunger In DC (Alejandra Owens)
- February: Meat Week: A Visit to American Ice Co. (Laura Herman)
- March: The Oven is Hot: Pizza No. 17 Open for Business (Matty Rhoades)
- April: Korean Food? Bibimbap? Try Mandu on 18th Street NW (Alejandra Owens)
- May: Peregrine Espresso to Open This Week (Luis Gomez)
- June: Restaurant Profile: El Centro DF on 14th (Alejandra Owens)
- July: Charcuterie in the Basement: Local 16 Thinks Meat, New Menu (Ashley Lusk); and Standard BBQ Delivers on Promise of Good, Cheap Eats (Alejandra Owens) There was essentially a two-way tie between these two posts.
- August: Florida Avenue Grill Serves Up Breakfast Right (Alejandra Owens)
- September: Borderstan Brunch Guide: We Polled the Team for Favorites (Laura Herman)
- October: Attention Oenophiles! DC Wine Week Events in Borderstan (Ashley Lusk)
- November: Smucker Farms of Lancaster Co. Opens Shop at 14th & W NW (Maggie Barron)
- December: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace is the Real Deal (Ashley Lusk); and Two Best Things I Ate Last Week: 1905 Edition (Alejandra Owens) There was essentially a two-way tie between these two posts.
Tuesday, 6:15 pm: The evening sky over DC at 15th and Corcoran Streets NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Michelle Lancaster. Follow her and tell her your news on Twitter @MichLancaster or email her at [email protected].
Hard at work or hardly working? This one’s for you – the few of you toiling away in quiet buildings with no co-workers, questionable heat and no real motivation.
Borderstan Well Represented in ‘Top Standbys’
That may not sound too fancy, to be the best staid and true standby restaurant. But the list compiled by Eater DC yields something a bit better than your mom’s meatloaf. It includes Estadio, Hank’s Oyster Bar, Cafe Saint Ex, Bar Pilar and many other places that you’d be all too happy to make your Thursday dinner staple. May I recommend trying most of them this week, while crowds are typically smaller than average?
Double Rainbow!
The non-stop rain finally slacked off around quitting time yesterday, prompting a flood of Facebook and Twitter pics of the rainbow that popped out all too briefly at 5pm. It was a pretty impressive display. A few of our favorite can be seen here (snapped at the airport) and here.
What’s Up with the Bike Lanes?
Greater Greater Washington invokes the ‘paralysis by analysis’ line to query what is taking so damn long with the city’s bike lanes. Is the Mayor, they wonder, commissioning so many studies to avoid making a decision or taking some action on additional bike lane striping. With L and M Streets stuck waiting for the conclusion of the Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street study, it’s hard not to wonder what is going on here, especially since the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has already done a study on these lanes. Politics taking a long time in DC? Color me shocked.
Lauryn Hill at Warner Theater
Readers of a certain age will remember a time when Lauryn Hill was on top of the world and tossing rhymes as the frontwoman for the Fugees. Well, despite her prowess behind the mike, life has taken some twists and turns for Hill. Notably, a bad dip at a Ram’s Head show that the Baltimore Sun brings up as way of introducing her new gig. The show is February 29 and tickets go on sale December 30.
Occupy DC Tent Makeover
The Washington Blade sent out their ‘Gaylarious’ crew to make (ostensibly) someone’s holiday wish come true. They went down to McPherson Square to make over an Occupy DC tent. Hilarity sort of ensues. It’s at least entertaining enough to kill five minutes of your day, as you try to bill eight hours for Minesweeper, making coffee and shredding some paper.
