From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.
Asefu’s Yegna Restaurant/1920DC on 9th Street NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Asefu’s Yegna Restaurant and 1920dc, both operating under a single alcoholic beverage license at 1920 9th Street NW, had their license revoked by the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board in an order released Wednesday.
The revocation was in response to a series of infractions for serving alcohol during prohibited hours.
Temporary Shutdown
Asefu’s and 1920dc had been shut down for 96 hours by Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier late Saturday (1920dc Shut Down After Saturday Morning Homicide) in response to a homicide outside the premises early Saturday morning (Man Shot, Killed Early Saturday, 1900 Block 9th Street NW).
The liquor license revocation, however, was not related to the temporary shutdown. The ABC Board noted that the investigatory case related to the shutdown was moot as a result of the revocation order.
The ABC Board’s order found evidence that owner Asefu Alemayehu allowed the establishment to serve alcohol during unauthorized hours in a 2011 incident. On July 5, 2011, an investigator from the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) visited the premises at 3:49 am and witnessed approximately 20 customers inside drinking beer. D.C. law allows for alcohol to only be served until 2:00 am on Tuesdays.
At a hearing in the case in January 2013, the ABC Board rejected a compromise offer that would have led to a shutdown for the establishments between February 18 and February 27, payment of a $3,000 fine, and a transfer of the liquor license.
Why the License was Revoked
In Wednesday’s order, the Board said they were revoking the license under their discretionary authority and because of a legal requirement to do so. Under D.C. law, an establishment automatically loses its liquor license after four serious violations in four years. In addition to the 2011 incident, Alemayehu was convicted of violations related to serving during unauthorized hours in September 2008, May 2009, and April 2010.
The Board expressed disappointment with these repeated violations in its order, noting “by repeatedly remaining open past its Board-approved hours, the Respondent has shown she cannot comply with the law, and that she has no regard for public safety, or the quality of life of residents.” The Board voted 4-1 to accept the order with Chairperson Ruthanne Miller disagreeing on revocation as a penalty.
These violations all occurred before hip hop bar 1920dc opened in July 2012, but because of the shared liquor license, that establishment can no longer serve alcohol. A tweet from 1920dc said the bar is “officially closed due to the revocation of the liquor license.”
February 23 Homicide
In Saturday’s homicide case, 24 year old Cedric Spicer was arrested in the shooting death of 30 year old Joseph Hardin (Arrest Made in Saturday Morning 9th Street NW Homicide). Spicer made an initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court Monday and was charged with first degree murder while armed. He is being held without bond in the D.C. Jail. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for March 14.
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Get the info on Borderstan art galleries. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
Enjoy the beginning of the year with the new exhibits at the galleries in the neighborhood.
Openings and Closings
- Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery: “Be/Longing” opens Friday, March 1, and runs through April 13.
- Contemporary Wing: “a head of hair,” A Solo Exhibition of New Work by Sonya Clark, closes Saturday, March 2.
- Hemphill: “Steven Cushner: The Shaped Paintings, 1991 – 1993,” closes next weekend, Saturday, March 9.
- Project 4 Gallery: “Adaptation, Works by Victoria Greising, Lisa Kellner and Caitlin Masley,” closes next weekend, Saturday, March 9.
Adamson Gallery at 1515 14th Street NW
- Chuck Close, “New Work” runs through February.
- 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
- Gallery Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 am to 10 pm; Friday, 10 am to 4 pm.
Contemporary Wing at 1412 14th Street NW
- “a head of hair,” A Solo Exhibition of New Work by Sonya Clark, closing weekend, runs through March 2.
- Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm.
Curator’s Office at 1515 14th Street NW
- Andrea Way: Venetian Dream runs through March 23.
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm.
doris-mae at 1716 14th Street NW, 2nd Floor
- “John James Anderson and Rachel England,” opens March 16.
- Gallery Hours: Call for an appointment; gallery staff is in the building Monday through Friday during business hours.
Gallery plan b at 1530 14th Street NW
- Marilee Shapiro: A Collection, 100 Years In The Making opened February 20 and runs through March 13.
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 7 pm; Sunday, 1 to 5 pm.
Hamiltonian Gallery at 1353 U Street NW
- Jerry Truong + Annette Isham. Social Studies opened February 16 and runs through March 23.
- Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm.
Hemphill at 1515 14th Street NW
- “Steven Cushner: The Shaped Paintings, 1991 – 1993,” opened January 12 and closes Saturday, March 9.
- Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, or by appointment.
Hillyer Art Space at 9 Hillyer Court NW
- “Works by John Reuss, Marcia Wolfon Ray and Amy Hughes Braden.”
- Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Friday noon to 6 pm; Saturday and Monday, noon to 5 pm; and by appointment.
Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at 1632 U Street NW
- “Be/Longing” opens March 1 and runs through April 13.
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Friday, 11 am to 5 pm; Saturday, 11 am to 3 pm; and by appointment.
Long View Gallery at 1234 9th Street NW
- “Michelle Peterson-Albandoz , The Way Into The Wood,” opened February 15 and runs through March 24.
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm; Sunday, noon to 5 pm.
Project 4 Gallery at 1353 U Street NW
- “Adaptation, Works by Victoria Greising, Lisa Kellner and Caitlin Masley,” opened February 15 and runs thorough Saturday, March 9.
- Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm.
Transformer Gallery at 1404 P Street NW
- Forest Z., Allread: “Cabinets of Curiosity.”
- Gallery Hours: Check the website for upcoming events.
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From ArtSee. Email contact[AT]artseedc.com and follow ArtSee@ArtSeeinDC on Twitter.
Shapiro’s Nutcracker
bronze 14″ x 14″ x 9″ work at gallery plan b. (Courtesy of gallery)
The 14th street corridor’s gallery plan b is showing work by 100-year-old artist Marilee H. Shapiro, perhaps the only individual to have been personal witness to the ebbs and flows of the DC arts-scene for the past 70 years.
A DC-resident since moving to the area in 1943, Shapiro’s sculptural works are often abstract, and most often have roots in questions surrounding the human figure, its movements and nuances.
Nutcracker, a bronze sculpture just over one foot tall appropriates geometric elements to create an aesthetic reminiscent of Brancusi’s work in the first half of the 20th century.
In her solo show, “Marilee Shapiro: A Collection, 100 Years in the Making,” now at gallery plan b, open until March 31, Shapiro features some of her more recent works, fluid, transparent and ethereal figures and images made using computer graphics, a skill the century-old artist learned taking a class at the Corcoran.
J’acusse projects a digital image onto paper, creating a nearly three-dimensional work that brings the confrontational narrative into the viewers immediate space and implicates him in the apparent altercation. Looking at the image, one contemplates the scene and is challenged to intervene in the narrative.
Gallery plan b is at 1530 14th Street NW and is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 7 pm, and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.
Bringing the art in DC to you – Roxanne.
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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
John Settles is no longer in the special election race for City Council. (Luis Gomez Photos)
The city’s special election for an At-Large Council seat is now less than two months away — and we finally know who is, and is not, on the ballot. The election is to fill the seat formerly held by Phil Mendeslson, who won a special election in November for Council chairman — and is currently held by Anita Bonds, who was appointed by members of the Democratic Party to fill the seat until the election.
One of the original eight candidates will not be on the ballot come April: Logan Circle resident John Settles. Supporters of candidate Elissa Silverman challenged the ballot petitions of candidates Paul Zukerberg and John Settles. A total of 3,000 valid signatures were required to be on the ballot in April (there is no party primary, just the general election on April 23).
From John Settles’ February 26 statement: “It is political tricks of the status quo that taint the process and disproportionately impact new candidates, those with new ideas, positive energy, and no allegiances to the political establishment. It is an exploit of political insiders, insistent on maintaining power, at the expense of the betterment of the city. Civic-minded citizens need to stand up and call out those candidates, and their supporters that engage in these tactics. The Board of Elections also needs to answer the question of how they can limit voter choice, and impact elections using faulty data.
It turns out that Settles submitted more than enough signatures, but many were deemed invalid, per the DC Boards of Elections and Ethics requirements (DCBOEE). Now, Settles, who is out of the race, questions the DCBOEE’s records and their reason for knocking him off the ballot. One of Settles’ main questions goes to the accuracy of the DCBOEE voter registration files — the board has not been quick about processing change of address forms for DC voters.
The candidates that remain in the race are Michael A. Brown (who lost his At-Large seat last November), Anita Bonds, Matthew Frumin, Elissa Silverman, Paul Zukerberg, Perry Redd (Green Party) and Republican Patrick Mara. For more information about the candidates’ stand on the issues, visit Let’s Choose DC, a website created for the April 23 election by Greater Greater Washington, DCist and Popville.
Under the DCBOEE guidelines, registered DC voters who sign petitions must be registered at their current address. But, Settles asks whether this really matters in an At-Large (citywide) election, as long as voters are registered at a valid address in DC — and at what point is the DCBOEE responsible for its tardiness in processing change of address forms.
Statement from Settles
On February 26, Settles released the following statement, titled “Dirty Politics and Petition Changes” (Silverman’s reponse follows) –
“Less than four months ago I was listening to the news, and within a span of 10 minutes I heard about a rash of armed robberies on streets across the city, proposed school closings, and the increase in the average cost of a home in DC. As I thought of these and other problems, gripping my neighborhood and the broader city I thought about what I might be able to do. I decided to enter the race for the DC City Council.
“I had no idea of the sacrifice it takes to run for office. In spite of the difficulty I discovered, I was still ready to start courageous conversations and at the very least have a positive impact on the debate. Initially I was getting some pressure from a few insiders to drop out of the race.
“Just as my campaign was gaining momentum, a supporter of Elissa Silverman, a competitor, challenged my petition signatures, on her behalf. The DC Board of Elections requires candidates to collect 3,000 signatures from registered voters, in just over a month. We collected well over the required number, however, around 500 were ruled not registered and over 675 of these signatures were contested because while the signers were registered to vote in DC, they had moved and their new address was not in the Board of Elections system. Thirty-one people who signed were residents of the homeless shelter; they were ruled invalid because in the midst of struggling to keep their lives together they didn’t file a change of address form. Hundreds were elderly residents living in senior citizen facilities. The other majority were low-income individuals, who move frequently due to the high cost of housing in the city.
“The data used to determine the validity of the challenge has been in question for years. Even after receiving a count from the Registrar, we found over a dozen voters that the Board of Elections had ruled as not registered, were in fact registered, the board admitted the error, and revised the count. Many signers that were challenged informed us that they had just voted in November, and that they had changed their address, either when they renewed their driver’s license, or voted. It is surprising that a voter can update their change of address at a polling station on Election Day, and still be eligible to vote, but they can’t sign a petition to get a candidate on the ballot. In a city wide election why does it even matter that someone is not at the same address if they are registered to vote?
“It is political tricks of the status quo that taint the process and disproportionately impact new candidates, those with new ideas, positive energy, and no allegiances to the political establishment. It is an exploit of political insiders, insistent on maintaining power, at the expense of the betterment of the city. Civic-minded citizens need to stand up and call out those candidates, and their supporters that engage in these tactics. The Board of Elections also needs to answer the question of how they can limit voter choice, and impact elections using faulty data. Elissa Silverman, and her supporters also need to explain how in good conscious they can disenfranchise homeless individuals, seniors, low income individuals, and minorities, using data that they contend is faulty, in a current lawsuit against the board of elections.
“Even if I lose the opportunity to campaign to voters in this Special Election, I am still committed to taking on the status quo, starting courageous conversations and being part of the solution. A technicality may end this campaign, at least for now, but my compassion for the people does not end here or now. I want to thank the voters who signed my petitions, the volunteers who helped me in this campaign and the supporters who were encouraging throughout the whole process. Even if it is not in electoral politics, my desire for action and change has only been intensified by this experience.”
Silverman’s Response
Candidate Elissa Silverman responded to Settles’ statement with the following statement –
“I put my own petitions through the exact same process used to review John’s petitions before I handed them in to the Board of Elections. I put that process in place given my experience collecting signatures for a grassroots initiative to put a campaign finance reform bill on the ballot, and so I could guarantee to my volunteer circulators and signers that I would meet the ballot requirement. I think we need more oversight over the Board of Elections and its process to register and update voters, and I vow to do that on the Council.”
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From Eliza French. Follow her on Twitter @elizaenbref; email her at eliza[AT]borderstan.com.
Reading in Dupont Circle. (Luis Gomez Photos)
We live in America’s “most literate city.” Washington, DC has earned this title for three years running in the annual America’s Most Literate Cities study. Dr. John W. Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University, authored the study using research conducted by the university’s Center for Public Policy & Social Research.
Aside from national press coverage, the findings even a warranted Twitter shout-out from Mayor Vincent Gray. But what does this label really tell us about our city?
Six Criteria Examined
Researchers ranked all 76 cities in the study based on six separate criteria, and then considered all of the rankings to produce an overall literacy rank for each city.
Number of booksellers was the first area of evaluation. The researches assessed three factors — the number of retail bookstores per 10,000 people, the number of rare and used bookstores per 10,000 people and the number of members of the American Booksellers Association per 10,000 population. Despite local institutions like Kramerbooks and Politics & Prose, DC received its lowest score, fifteenth, in this category.
The study also evaluated education attainment, based on percentage of the adult population with a high school diploma and the percentage of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. DC ranked ninth on education attainment.
The Internet and Periodicals
Taking the top spot in both criteria, city’s strongest showing was in Internet resources and periodical publishing resources. These categories, like most of those considered in the study, focused not only on access to the Internet and magazines, but on how much residents utilized that access.
The newspaper metric, for example included the number of unique visitors per capita to a city’s Internet version newspaper, number of webpage views per capita to a city’s Internet version newspaper, and number of Internet book orders per capita, as well as the number of households with an e-reader
The nation’s capital tied with Portland Oregon for 13th place in library resources, and with Cleveland, Ohio, for fourth place newspaper circulation.
Interestingly, leading the pack in one of these categories did not guarantee a leading place in the overall rankings. Plano, Texas, led in education attainment but ranked 45th in the comprehensive ranking, and Newark, New Jersey led in newspaper circulation but was rated 33rd overall.
No study’s methods are perfect, and not every “America’s top 10 fill-in-the-blank” lists has significance. Still, after three years as the country’s most literate city, DC must be getting something right. If nothing else, the ranking serves as a reminder of the incredible resources at our fingertips and an affirmation of our community’s engagement.
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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
Indie Bands with a Mission is hosting a benefit concert to combat hunger. (Courtesy Indie Bands with a Mission)
Indie Bands with a Mission — a Northern Virginia-based nonprofit organization that hosts benefit concerts for food banks and homeless shelters throughout the DC area to battle hunger and homelessness– is throwing a benefit concert on Saturday, March 2, at Desperados Burgers and Bar (1342 U Street NW).
Saturday’s event will feature two bands from Baltimore (Treeforts and Sunners), one from DC (Atlas At Last) and a musician from Northern Virginia (Oklahoma Car Crash). The show starts at 9 pm, doors open at 8:30 pm; there is a suggested donation.
According to Clarissa Villondo, co-founder and current chair of Indie Bands with a Mission, donations collected from the show will go to help Indie Bands with a Mission file for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
For more information, visit the Facebook event page or email indiebandswithamission[AT]gmail.com.
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From Katie Andriulli. Email her at katie[AT]borderstan.com and follow her on Twitter @kandriulli.
Katie is exploring beer and donuts this weekend. (Brian Hussein Stanton)
As I approach my 30th birthday (why, it’s this Friday, thanks for asking!) I have been ruminating about life more than usual. The milestones met and unmet, what the future holds, what it all means, etc., and so far the only thing I know unquestionably is that I MUST become a stow-away aboard Titanic II when it sets sail in 2016.
Looks like I have a bit more soul-searching ahead of me. But in the meantime, it’s the weekend! So, let’s keep procrastinating, shall we?
Thursday
Does the ability to tweet snarky comments about Tom Coburn’s beard translate into telling actual funny jokes? Roll the dice and find out tonight at The Hamilton as 13 journalists compete in Commedia dell Media a stand-up competition benefiting Writopia and REACH, Inc., local organizations that promote youth literacy. The show starts at 8 pm and tickets are $22.50 in advance or $33 at the door.
Friday
Sometimes when two good things come together they create something even better (like screaming goats and Taylor Swift), and other times they implode in epic proportions (like Sex and the City: The Movie). I’m tempted to say that a “Mint Chocolate Ale” would fall into the latter category, but find out for yourself tonight at H Street Country Club, where you can sample and vote for it along with the two other beers that are currently in the running to join Blue Moon’s Fall 2013 lineup. Things kick off at 8 pm and free snacks will also be provided.
Saturday
I WAS going to recommend that you check out the DC Donut Fest that’s happening this afternoon from 12 pm to 4 pm at Penn Social, but apparently donuts are the new cupcakes or something and the whole thing is straight up sold out. If you want to swing by and try to scalp your way in, I won’t judge you. $15 for bottomless donuts is definitely worth it.
If you don’t end up gorging yourself on donuts (or even if you do) you can gorge yourself on beer tonight at the 9th annual DC Brewer’s Ball to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Tickets are $130, and include beer tastings from dozens of breweries, bites from local eateries like Hank’s Oyster Bar, Masa 14 and Mon Ami Gabi, live music and a silent auction.
Sunday
One of the Food Network’s top 3 least annoying chefs/king of my heart and stomach Bobby Flay recently claimed the people’s choice award for best burger at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival with his Green Chili Cheeseburger. The burger, a majestic beef patty topped with (OMG) roasted green chilis, queso sauce, pickled red onions and crushed potato chips, is available through today only at Bobby’s Burger Palace on K Street. Get over there and treat yo’ self.
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From Dito Sevilla. Email him at dito[AT]borderstan.com, follow him on Twitter @DitoDC.
In the near 10 years I have spent underground, mixing and listening, advising and shaking, pouring and un-popping I have seen and heard a lifetime of celebration and sadness, mind numbing plotting, relationship building and ending, the excitement of newly minted, fresh faced, non-profit workers alongside their jaded counterparts and results of three presidential elections.
After 10 Holiday Seasons, 10 High-Heel Races, 10 Gay Pride Parades and thousands of guests, I thought I had seen it all. Then came Tuesday, February 26, 2013.
It was a nasty, windy, cold and rainy night. My little bar was blessed with its usual mélange of friends, regulars and neighborhood newbies, each angling for a seat at the subterranean watering hole at which I have chosen to leave my mark on the world of service. The evening began normal enough: wine, lasagna, two Grey Goose martinis, some gays, some girls, a man on a date, a couple in the window and umbrellas strewn about.
Around closing time though the door walked a woman, a young woman with that look on her face. That look which says, “Oh, you’re still open…” I wasn’t, but why should that stop her. Morphing my disdain into a smile, I offered her a seat, affording her ample opportunity to ignore every subconscious signal I sent pleading with her to get out.
I guess my smile was convincing; she quickly made herself at home, ordered some wine and did her best to ignore me ignoring her. As there were few conversations in which she could insert herself, I took it upon myself to do the part of my job I either love or hate depending on who I have to do it with.
I asked, “So who the hell are you, where are you from, what are you doing here, etc.?”
I used nicer words; she unburdened herself. I re-filled her glass, and then my own.
After a few minutes, her story went from boring to depressing. She is, or was, an attorney. She was just laid off, and has come to DC for a temp job reviewing documents, blah, blah, blah. I can now assure you: the only thing more boring than reviewing documents is listening to a story about reviewing documents.
Anyhow, while I knew that the past 30 minutes were a half-hour I’d never get back, I forced myself to be pleased I had done a kind thing, not letting this stranger-turned-new-friend go thirsty. All was right in our little world. No sooner had I sighed, “Okay, well… goodnight…” the door opened again.
Really, now what?
Audibly exhaling, I turned to make eye contact with a very wet, yet extremely distinguished gentleman. I would like to say it was kindness which edited my internal monologue from “And who the hell are you?” to “Good evening, sir. How are you this evening? A little wet I see. Well have a seat.”
But no, it was curiosity.
I love people, especially when people look like they’re somebody, and he did. I thought to myself, his bearing is dignified. His overcoat is tailored. He looked like the kind of man who thrives in all climates. Wind, rain, perfect! This man was born with the understanding that what makes a man great is his ability to adapt, to succeed in the face of opposition, and prosper, not in spite of it, but because of it. Then again I had made all this up in my head. He sat, ordered a beer. I began my paperwork. I’d be home in 20 minutes. No, of course I wouldn’t.
They began talking. And talking. There was a connection, a spark. Conversation flowed; I eavesdropped. He’s a lawyer too. She’s always thought older men remind her of her father (daddy issues). He has two daughters. She wants to relocate. He’s a partner in a firm. He’s going to Greece next week.
She spent a summer in Athens. She loves Dogs. He did pro-bono work for PETA. She just bought a new watch. He collects them… and on, and on, and on. After two hours of agreement, I could take no more. They exchanged numbers, he asked her to join him in Greece. She said, yes. When they returned, he said, there might be room for new talent at his firm.
Just as I was thinking how magical my job was, that my patience somehow allowed these two to make such a meaningful and powerful connection right there, all before my very eyes… the phone rang. No, no. Not my phone, hers.
It was her “boyfriend.” WHO?
I raised my eyebrows, rolling my eyes back so far I could see my own ass. I turned, daring not to look at the gentleman. I heard the sound of my teeth grinding as she indicated she’d be home, “in a few.” Oh dear.
The room became cold. Goodbyes were exchanged. Calls and emails were promised. His dignity impressed me. No sooner had she returned my goodbye nod she was out the door, across the patio, and onto the sidewalk. Luckily, I didn’t have to say a word. With a last glance at her name and a flip of his wrist, her card fell to the cold, wet, concrete floor. He asked, speaking to me with the same bearing with which he entered “I’d sooner hire my ex-wife to litigate. Can you believe that simple bitch.” It wasn’t a question. I didn’t answer.
So, while there is probably a lesson here, something about opportunity, timing, the motives of man, I still haven’t figured it out. But people, when you’re in a restaurant, silence your phones, because the next time your “man” calls, you might be in Greece, with your new boss. Next Tuesday, I’m closing at 11.
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Lucky Strikes Again is by DoctorJ.Bass from the Borderstan Flickr pool.
Photos of the Day are pulled from the Borderstan Reader Photos pool on Flickr.
Today’s photo, Lucky Strikes Again is by DoctorJ.bass. The photo was taken on February 13.
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.
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Simon Vintage at 1911 9th Street NW, just south of U Street. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
Borderstan is a neighborhood full of vintage shops and quirky boutiques. GoodWood, Ginger Root Design and Miss Pixie’s are just a few in the 14th and U Street area — but wander east towards 9th Street NW and you’ll find even more hidden treasure.
Simon Vintage opened last year at 1911 9th Street (the former location of Toucan Boutique). The two-story shop, owned by Sean Reidy and Steven Cruse, offers a variety of furniture, home goods, toys and hardware with pieces ranging from Art Deco to mid-century style and even lightly used contemporary furniture.
The shop schedule is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 1 to 7 pm; and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 8 pm.
Let us know what you find!
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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
Should DC have a talller skyline? (Luis Gomez
Should DC have a skyline?
The conversation over the height of buildings in the District has been a contested issue since 1910 when the federal government issued the Height of Buildings Act, which limits the city’s vertical growth.
However, some argue that this law not only restricts the growth of DC’s skyline, it also limits DC’s potential economic growth.
March 5 Panel Discussion
On Tuesday, March 5, the National Capital Planning Commission is hosting a panel of international experts who will discuss the role governments play in managing building height in capital cities. The meeting at the National Archives’ William G. McGowan Theater (700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) from 7 to 9 pm will also “examine strategies to balance city character and economic vitality.”
The panel includes:
- Jurgen Bruns-Berentelg, Berlin/Hamburg, CEO of HafenCity and former manager of Berlin’s Sony Center.
- François Dagnaud, Paris, Mayor of the 19th arrondissement and former deputy mayor.
- Robert Tavernor, London, Architect, urbanist, and historian involved with key London development sites.
- John Worthington, London, Principal, DEGW Architects, and visiting professor, University of Sheffield.
- Gary Hack, U.S., Professor emeritus of city & regional planning, University of Pennsylvania School of Design.
The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited to first-come, first-serve. For more information, visit the event’s website.
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From Rob Fink. Follow him on Twitter @RobDFink or email him at rob[AT]borderstan.com.
The Bruery. (Brian Hussein Stanton)
As members of the DC-area beer community, we should revel in our local breweries and local beers as we rightfully ascend to “great beer town” status.
However, that sentiment should not discourage your exploration of world-class breweries and world-class beers already available in our area. I recently had the privilege of visiting a southern California brewery with prominent stature here in the District — The Bruery in Placentia, Orange County.
Nearly hidden, nestled in the back corner of a non-descript commercial park lies the Bruery, absorbing all of Orange County’s beautiful rays of sun and captivating our beer imagination along the way. My visit this past weekend coincided with their annual initiation party for members of their Reserve Society, a special membership which allocates you a number of rare, limited-release beers outside of their normal distribution network.
Some Favorite Finds
It felt like a beautifully crisp, warm autumn day back in the District, but I was quickly told that 65 degrees is a “cold snap” in southern California, even in February. As I acclimated to this so-called cold-snap, below are some warming, high-octane beauties which enabled me to deal with such wonderful weather.
- Grey Monday — 18.6% ABV, 2012 Vintage. What can I say, this beer is an invariably huge, complex stunner of an Imperial Stout. Aged in bourbon barrels for over a year along with a careful dose of Oregon grown hazelnuts, Grey Monday stultifies conventional understandings and perceptions of flavor. Lusciously intense notes of leather, dark caramel, charred oak and candied hazelnuts coalesce to form one of the most complex beer experiences of my life. If you have a friend in the Reserve Society, I suggest you somehow convince them to open this gem in your presence. Perhaps celebrate a “new” job, whatever you have to do.
- Oude Tart — 7.5% ABV. Refreshingly dry and, of course, tart, Oude Tart is a modern interpretation of the classic Flemish Red Ale. 18 months in red wine barrels allows softened oak to brace against growing levels of acidity, making the beer reminiscent of one of my all-time favorites, Rodenbach Grand Cru. For the initiation event, Oude Tart was served with an addition of boysenberries in the cask, brightening the beer’s underlying fruit flavors while accentuating its acidity; a beautiful beer for a pleasant February afternoon in southern California.
- Washington O.C. — 10.5% ABV. This time around the Bruery teamed up with our own Bluejacket (slated to officially open this summer at 303 Tingey St SE, near Nationals Park) to brew a burly Belgian-style Quadrupel. The addition of plums amplifies the already present character of fig, raisin and cherry while the beer is dry enough to disallow cloying fruitiness. This beer is a usual suspect on the draft of lines of Churchkey, and one not be missed.
Although several of the above beers are not readily available throughout Borderstan, our better beer stores such as Whole Foods on P St NW routinely have Bruery beers such as Saison De Lente, Mischief and Trade Winds Tripel, any of which would be a pleasing addition to your fridge for this weekend.
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From Kent Barnes. Follow him on Twitter @KentBarnes, email him at kent[AT]borderstan.com.
DC United is ready for its 2013 season. (Kent Barnes)
Just three and a half months after their disappointing playoff loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, DC United kicks off the 2013 Major League Soccer season this Saturday, March 2, at 8 pm. Olsen’s Army opens the season against the very team that ended their 2012 championship hopes, the Houston Dynamo.
After their surprise 2012 playoff run, the team has brought in a slew of talent that they hope will ensure another successful year at RFK Stadium. This includes exciting young Brazilian forward Rafael Teixeira de Souza, nicknamed Gladiator for his “thumbs down” goal celebration.
Although this weekend’s match against the Dynamo is in Houston, the team will be back in the District next Saturday, March 9th, for the home opener against Real Salt Lake. The match starts at 7 pm, but the party will begin a few hours before kickoff with plenty of tailgating in Lot 8.
There are a variety of ticket options available, but the team is expecting a packed house so you should consider ordering your ticket(s) in advance. If you’d prefer to enjoy the match from a comfortable seated position, tickets range from approximately $30 to $60 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster. If you’re looking for a wilder fan experience, consider ordering tickets through one of the team’s 4 main supporters groups: The Screaming Eagles, La Barra Brava, La Norte, or the District Ultras.
2013 promises to be an exciting year for District sports fans and you don’t have to wait for the Nationals to show your DC sports pride outside of the confines of the Verizon Center. Vamos United!
Libations and TVs
This weekend’s season opening match will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network, but if you’d rather surround yourself with fellow fans head to one of these bars:
- Touchdown Sports Bar – 1334 U Street NW. An official bar partner of DC United.
- Lucky Bar – 1221 Connecticut Avenue NW. Lucky Bar will be showing the game on an assortment of big screen televisions and encourages sports fans to enjoy a legendary “Big Ass Burger” along with their beverage of choice (I’m sold).
- The Queen Vic – 1206 H Street NE. If you’re heading out of Borderstan and over to H Street for the evening, you can still catch the match and an authentic British menu at another one of DC United’s official bar partners, The Queen Vic.
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Capital PRIDE at MOVA. (Luis Gomez Photos)
A happy hour celebration benefiting Capital PRIDE will take place on Wednesday, February 27, at MOVA Lounge, 2204 14th Street NW.
All proceeds from the evening will benefit Capital PRIDE and its community partner, Different Drummers.
The happy hour will take place from 6-9 pm – and there will be raffle prizes. For more information, contact apisapia[AT]capitalpride.org.
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From David McAuley. Email at david[AT]borderstan.com
Pizza time! Buy HomeMade Pizza to benefit Ross School. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Give yourself a break tonight and help the kids at Ross Elementary School.
The Borderstan branch of HomeMade Pizza is donating a portion of proceeds from the sales of its most popular items for one day only. The fundraiser starts at 1pm today and ends at closing. The promotion applies to all online, phone and in-person orders, but all orders must be picked up at the store, 1522 14th Street NW; no delivery is available. Their phone number is 202-588-0808.
“This is a straight donation,” said Melisa Niane, DC District Manager for HomeMade Pizza. “We don’t upcharge our products on the fundraising day… our customers simply purchase a HomeMade dinner at the normal price and we donate money based on that.”
The Parent Teacher Association at Ross Elementary will receive $4 for every deep-dish pizza sold, $3 for every large pizza and 10″ gluten-free pizza sold, and a percentage from sales of other items, including gift cards and catering orders.
Ross Elementary PTA supports many activities at the school, including field trips, staff development, classroom supplies, classroom technology and parent education. This is their first fundraising event with HomeMade Pizza.
Ross Elementary School is at 1730 R Street. It has about 150 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and has been in operation since 1888.
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