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.