Ride Metro Rail or Bus? Attend a Public Hearing Thursday

Everyone has their own personal Metro gripe; Twitter is full of #wmatafail; and it is no secret the rail and bus system is in need of cash. But are the proposed service changes really fair? Metro is currently holding a series of public hearings on its proposed fare, route, and hour changes. The next one will be in Columbia Heights on Thursday, April 1 at 6:30 pm at the All Souls Unitarian Church (1500 Harvard St. NW).

A number of the changes Metro is considering greatly affects Columbia Heights, including a proposal to eliminate Yellow Line service to Fort Totten. Ward One Councilman Jim Graham has made it clear he is against the Yellow Line cut. And the MidCity Business Association has started an advocacy campaign to keep public transportation options available to locals and neighborhood visitors, alike. Visit midcitylife to sign the petition.

What are your ideas to fix Metro?

Columbia Heights Finalist for Land Use Award

This is actually quite exciting for the neighborhood. The Urban Land Institute has selected Columbia Heights as one of the 17 finalists for its Awards for Excellence: The Americas competition. The award honors urban development projects that are all encompassing and go beyond just design aesthetics to include planning, leadership, community participation, and private/public partnerships. The ten elite winners of the award will be announced in mid-April.

Here is what ULI had to say about Columbia Heights:

Columbia Heights, Washington, DC (The Government of the District of Columbia) Arising from a city-led initiative to revitalize a neighborhood destroyed in the riots following Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, Columbia Heights features 1.2 million square feet of new development, including more than 600 housing units, 650,000 square feet of large-format and community retail, and refurbished cultural and public spaces.

Columbia Heights “Best of DC” Winners

The Washington City Paper published its annual Best of DC issue today. As always, Columbia Heights was well-represented among the readers’ poll and staff picks. Let’s take a look at the neighborhood honors.

Readers' Poll

Best Bakery - 1st: Sticky Fingers Bakery

Best Burger - 1st: Five Guys

Best Electronics Shop - 1st: Best Buy

Best Neighborhood Bar - 1st: Wonderland Ballroom

Best Pho - 1st: Pho 14

Best Thai Restaurant - 1st: Thaitanic

Best Vegan Restaurant - 1st: Sticky Fingers Bakery

Best Outdoor Patio - 2nd: Wonderland Ballroom

Best Place to Smoke Weed - 2nd: Malcolm X Park

Best Singles Bar - 2nd: Wonderland Ballroom

Best Up and Coming Neighborhood - 2nd: Columbia Heights

Best Dive Bar - 3rd: Wonderland Ballroom

Best Greasy Spoon - 3rd: Florida Avenue Grill

Best Metro Stop - 3rd: Columbia Heights

Best New Bar - 3rd: Room 11

Best New Yoga Studio - 3rd: Quiet Mind

Best Pizza - 3rd: Pete's Apizza

Staff Pick: Best Bar with Board Games - Red Derby

ALERO! OMG! HUGE!

Prince of Petworth is reporting that ALERO is coming to Columbia Heights. Read it: http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/new-alero-coming-to-columbia-heights-in-the-tivoli-on-14th-st-in-old-rumberos-spot/
Alero provides some of the most generic Mexican food in all of DC. But their margarita pitchers are maybe my favorite... after Las Placitas on Capitol Hill.

And to answer your question PoP, YES this IS a good fit for that space. The problem I always had with Rumberos is that it was overpriced and not that interesting. Alero is not that interesting, but the price is right.

I really hope they do late night, because SOMEONE in Columbia Heights needs a better, cheap late night.

Mt. Pleasant Library Renovations to Start

The Mt. Pleasant branch of the DC Public Library will be closing on March 27 for about 17 months to undergo renovations. The library is located at 16th and Lamont streets. During renovations, an interim library will be located at 3164 Mt. Pleasant Street beginning April 19.

More information about the renovation and expansion of the Mt. Pleasant Library is available here - http://dclibrary.org/node/608.

DCRA Launches Basement Rental Site

DCRA and DDOT are often neck-in-neck for helpful resident outreach on Twitter, but the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs may have won this round. Prompted by a discussion on Prince of Petworth last week, the DCRA started a new website called rentmydcbasement.com. It provides homeowners -- and renters -- important legal information about DC's numerous basement aparment options. Do you have a question about your English basement or upcoming home buy? Let the DCRA help you.

ISO Public Art for Street Scape Project

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities  has issued a call for artists for the next phase of the Columbia Heights Street Scape Project. The agency is seeking neighborhood residents to submit public art proposals for the 17 mosaic medallions that will line 14th Street between Irving and Park. The medallions are expected to be installed by the end of the summer. Selected artists will receive a $500 honorarium.

Design Assistance Workshops:

Wednesday, March 24 from 6:30 - 8 pm
Saturday, March 27 from 12 - 1 pm

Both will be held at the DCCAH office – 1371 Harvard Street NW. Those interested in submitting a proposal are encouraged to attend. The workshops will be facilitated by Jann Rosen‐Queralt who is responsible for the mosaic design of the metro and fountain plazas.

Proposal deadline: Monday, April 12 at 6:30 pm

Download the full call for artists here (424 KB pdf)

Meridian Pint Needs a Mural

To the listserv from Meridian Pint:

As we prepare to open this spring at the corner of 11th & Park Rd. we are searching for an artist to help spruce the place up. Specifically we're looking for a mural to be painted inside the establishment. If you know of anyone, please have them email me at info@meridianpint.com

I did not know that Columbia Heights had a dance...

Neighborhood Wiki Does Not Disappoint

I don't know who has been writing our neighborhood Wikipedia page... but it's really good!

Lots of excellent history for the CH resident can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Heights,_Washington,_D.C.

Social Tries to Be Vegetarian Friendly (Fails)

Social is promoing a veggie special on Monday. As someone who doesn't eat meat and just attempted to have a meal at Social... I'd say skip it.

Just a few days ago they were out of one of the only veggie items on the menu - the mushroom dish. So we ordered the "Vegetable Tempura," which I would not describe as tempura at all, but rather deep-fried beer-battered carrots. The vegetables are grease soaked by the time they reach the table, there was probably a 2:1 batter to veggie ratio, and I think there were two or possibly three vegetable varieties at most.

In case you'd like to disagree and try it out, here is in the info:

Meatless Monday
$5/$11/$16 Veggie Tempura & Oven Roasted Madeira Mushrooms in the Living Room
Vegetarians need not be wary of the Living Room at Social our food specials will make any Monday better! The Oven Roasted Madeira Mushrooms are a delectable meat-free option served with creamy Herbed Goat Toast, coupled with the Veggie Tempura, Social can be your dinner destination.

Street Cleaning is Back and Better than Ever!

Our streets have become dried up rivers of sludge. Trash lines every curb. It's seriously getting gross. And that's why this year's return to street cleaning should be heralded and applauded like never before!

Street cleaning resumes March 22. Ticketing for not complying begins March 29.

More info here.

CH Yard Sale Day Coming Up April 3

The Columbia Heights Day Initiative, which your THL bloggers are participating in, will be holding a neighborhood-wide yard sale dubbed "Columbia Heights Spring Clean" on April 3. Apartment dwellers will also have a chance to join in by selling their stuff in a local park. Got stuff but don't feel like bothering to sell it? You'll be able to drop it off at a central location to donate it! Details below. Don't forget to sign up if you have a yard sale you'd like to register - email palermo@columbiaheightsday.org.

WHEN: Saturday, April 3, 2010 from 9AM – 12PM
WHERE: Across Columbia Heights in Washington, DC
WHAT: Columbia Heights Spring Clean is a neighborhood-wide yard sale and charity drop-off event
WHO: The event is open to all Columbia Heights residents who want to hold a sale, participate in a group sale, volunteer or shop
SIGN-UP: Email Josef Palermo at palermo@columbiaheightsday.org