Photos: Wonderland Sundress Party

The Wonderland's 8th Annual Sundress Fest was Sunday afternoon. Here's a look at some the day's best and worst (?) dressed.

 

Wonderland Sundress Party is Sunday

Ladies and gentlemen, it's that time of year again. The Wonderland's 8th (!!!) Annual Sundress Party is this Sunday, May 6.

Head to 11th & Kenyon streets this Sunday afternoon (or follow anyone in a sundress), and be part of one of the neighborhood's most popular events. Happy hour prices for anyone wearing a sundress and the event will benefit The Family Place.

Check out the full Sundress Fest details on Facebook.

Best of DC Picks for Columbia Heights

The Washington City Paper published the results of its annual Best of DC Readers' Poll. Here are the winners for Columbia Heights:

Asian Restaurant -- Pho 14

Vegan Restaurant -- Sticky Fingers Bakery

Yogurt/Smoothie -- FroZenYo

Pho -- Pho 14

Arts and Culture Non-Profit -- BloomBars

Place to Buy Beer -- D'Vines

Outdoor Patio -- The Wonderland Ballroom

What are your favorites for the neighborhood?

DDOT says three Columbia Heights intersections are "most dangerous"

The DC Department of Transportation identified three (four, if you count U Street) intersections in the 14th Street corridor in Columbia Heights as some of the most dangerous for pedestrians in the city. TBD writes about these and 20 more places in the city on its website.

The neighborhood crossings are 14th and Columbia, Irving, and Kenyon streets. I can't think of a day when I didn't cross 14th Street from east to west (or vice versa) recently, and it's most always at one of these intersections. Am I worried for my safety, not really. Am I worried for other pedestrians, almost always.

Take for instance the corner of 14th and Irving, not only are sidewalks often very crowded with foot traffic, you have people rushing across crosswalks trying to catch the nearly dozen buses there, sometimes ignorant bikers in the lanes on 14th Street, and cars speeding up on yellow lights (especially when heading east on Irving and south on 14th). Watching this intersection is one of my favorite things to do while on a stationary cycle at the gym, but I've gasped aloud at the close calls happening below me.

During the planning of the Columbia Heights Streetscape project, I recall reading that traffic was reduced to a single lane in both directions on 14th Street to not only slow down any vehicular traffic but also to encourage cars and trucks not to use it as a north-south route. From my observations and now this DDOT report, that seems to be ignored.

How would you improve pedestrian safety on 14th Street in Columbia Heights?

One solution: bring on the pedestrian bridges?

View Dangerous D.C. intersections in a larger map

Map: What's Ahead for the Columbia Heights

It's that time of year again. Spring seems just around the corner and with it comes new stores, restaurants and more. Myself and other bloggers regularly write about these openings and developments but rarely does anyone aggregate them.

Well, consider this Google map a solution. Here's a rundown of what is opening up in and around Columbia Heights. Let me know if you have any updates or new places to add. Best to email at theheightslife@gmail.com or send a tweet to TheHeightsLife.


View Coming Soon to Columbia Heights in a larger map

Walk, Drink, Learn about the Neighborhood

The Washington Walks series is back in the neighborhood this month and having a "Columbia Heights Drinkabout" on Saturday, February 18. Enjoy a historical tour of 14th Street and the Columbia Heights heritage trail, while stopping at local bars and restaurants for refreshments along the way.

Some of the highlights of the tour include:

• The exterior of the restored Tivoli Theater
  
• Early 20th-century row houses developed by Harry Wardman
• The Wonderland bar
• A panoramic view of Washington DC from the 13th Street "heights"

Your guide for the afternoon is Brian Kraft, historian for the "Cultural Convergence: Columbia Heights Trail" developed by Cultural Tourism DC.  Brian also penned the Columbia Heights chapter in the classic tome "Washington at Home."  

Reservations are required and tickets cost $20. More information online from Washington Walks.

Photo of Columbia Heights Heritage Trail opening by Command Z.

DSW in Columbia Heights on Hold or Still Happening?

Last year, we posted about the possibility of DSW coming to Columbia Heights. A job posting on the shoe retailer's website indicated they were hiring a store manager for a DCUSA location. Now a review of the store's job listings only show positions for area Virginia and Maryland stores; nothing in DC.

But this week, the Prince of Petworth wrote about a tipster who says otherwise.

What say you: Will we ever get a new anchor store in DCUSA?

Room 11 Announces Expansion

From even before it opened in August 2009, the joke was that Room 11 got its name due to the number of people able to fit inside. Well, our cozy wine bar at 11th and Lamont streets is getting a little bigger.

Today, the owners sent an announcement that they are expanding to the space next door, currently occupied by Jeans 'N' Things.

"The only regular complaint we get is that there are not enough seats, so we are looking forward to having more room to serve our loyal guests," wrote Room 11's Dan Searing in an email.

Construction will begin soon and the projected completion date is early summer.

NSO in Your Neighborhood Plans for Columbia Heights

A few months ago, the National Symphony Orchestra announced that it selected Columbia Heights for the annual "In Your Neighborhood" series. This arts education outreach program brings NSO musicians to the community for a week's worth of workshops, concerts, and more. NSO in Your Neighborhood: Columbia Heights is scheduled for January 3-9, 2012.

Highlights for the week include:

• January 4 at 7 pm - Chamber music at Acre 121

• January 6 at 7 pm - Free NSO concert at the Columbia Heights Education Campus. Reserve free tickets at Eventbrite.

• January 8 at 2 pm - Dance and music collaboration at Wonderland Ballroom.

Room 11 has brunch now!

So as of 12/9, Room 11 is joining the brunch club!

The Heights Life stopped in for a preview* a few weeks ago and we're happy to report that Room 11 didn't disappoint. The high quality, interesting food they have always served was re-imagined for brunch and paired with cocktails and bloody marys. The one thing we were particularly pleased with was the pricing. You can get an affordable, gourmet brunch.

Some items, such as the mushroom bruschetta, belong on the brunch and dinner menus. That stuff was good.

You can read a summary of the menu on the Room 11 website. Pictured here is a smoked salmon and fingerling potato dish with creme fraiche. It was fresh and filling without being heavy.

*Preview meal gratis to your bloggers.

Well HELLO Thar!

So something around here got hijacked. Actually two things got hijacked...

Thing 1: Our time.

Thing 2: The blog feed.

We decided to resolve Thing 2 by returning to a blogspot domain and coming back to life! As for Thing 1, well we gave up on putting Soft Paws on the cats six toes and suddenly HOURS were added back to our days.

So, Columbia Heights... what's up?

Outdoor pools open this weekend

Saturday is opening day for DC public pools. And while the forecast calls for rain, Sunday and Monday look fantastic. 

The DCPR website has an easy-to-search map of all outdoor pools in the city, which will be open from 12-6 pm on weekends only until June 21. Here are some of my favorites:

Banneker

Georgia & Euclid NW

Think Giant or the Wonderland are the only places you see way too many people you know? Nope, try this pool, too. 

Francis 

24th & N

Morning recap central. Remove those earbuds and just eavesdrop on the conversations around you.

East Potomac 

Ohio Drive SW

Create your own mini-triathlon. Bike to Hains Point. Swim a mile in the pool. And run the Ohio Drive loop. 

Farmers’ Markets Open Saturday

The first Saturday in May means one thing. No, not the Kentucky Derby. Neighborhood farmers' markets are open for business! Here is a rundown of what you can find at Columbia Heights, Mt. Pleasant and U Street this weekend.

 

Looking for what's in season? This is a good resource (PDF) from Fresh Farm Markets.

 

Columbia Heights Community Marketplace

9 am to 2 pm – Civic Plaza @ 14th & Kenyon & Park

runs through December 17

 

Bella Terra Family Farm - Comus, MD

Bonaparte Breads - Savage, MD

Briar's Farmstead - Boyce, VA

Chapel's Country Creamery - Easton, Maryland

Chesley Vegetable Farms - Smithsburg, MD

Dragonfly Farms - Mount Airy, MD

Ginger Juice - Washington, DC

Gunpowder Bison - Monkton, MD

Les Caprices de Joelle - Jessup, MD

Liberty Delight Farms - Resiterstown, MD

Licking Creek Farms - Needmore, PA

Pleasant Pops - Washington, DC

Springfield Lamb - Kent County, MD

Spriggs Delight Farm - Sharpsburg, MD

Stachowski Brand Charcuterie - Arlington, VA

Twin Post Farm, LLC - Princess Anne, MD

Upper Crust Bakery - Silver Spring, MD

 

Mt. Pleasant Farmers' Market

9 am to 1 pm – Lamont Park @ Mt. Pleasant & Lamont streets

runs through November 19

 

Atwater's Bread - Baltimore, MD

Cherry Glen Goat Cheese - Boyds, MD

Earth Spring Farm - Gardners, PA

Groff's Content Farm - Rocky Ridge, MD

Panorama Baking Company - Alexandria, VA

Pleasant Pops – Washington, DC

Quaker Valley Orchards - Biglerville, PA

Reid's Orchards - Adams County, PA

Richfield Farm - Manchester, MD

Truck Patch Farms - Frederick, MD

 

14th & U Farmers' Market

9 am to 1 pm – Reeve Center @ 14th & U streets

runs through November 19

Cherry Glen Goat Cheese - Boyds, MD

Copper Pot  - Washington, DC

Dolcezza - Washington, DC

Garner's Produce - Montross, VA

Kuhn's Orchards - Adams County, PA

McCleaf Orchard - Biglerville, PA

Mountain View Farm - Fairfield, VA

North Mountain Pasture - Markelsville, PA

Panorama Baking Company - Alexandria, VA

Pecan Meadow - Newburg, PA

Plant Masters - Gaithersburg, MD

Truck Patch Farms - Frederick, MD

Whisked DC - Washington, DC

 

Lost dog in Meridian Hill Park

A friend found a calm and friendly dog with no leash while in Meridian Hill Park Monday evening. She had no collar and no leash but was obviously well cared for. The dog had no microchip. More info:

The dog is probably about 3 years old, a female and has an excellent temperament. She appears to be trained to walk on and off the leash. She's currently at the NY Ave shelter. Her ID is A1300513 and they've named her Kelly. Unless I reclaim her or someone goes into adopt her specifically she goes through a five day evaluation process and then hopefully up for adoption. Anyway, I highly recommend someone go get this dog.