New view of Streetscape project via Google Maps

The great folks at Greater Greater Washington pointed out that Google Maps recently updated its DC satellite view. Where were you around 1 pm on Sunday, August 29?

I have been known to spend hours on Google Maps and Google Earth, but I was really surprised to see the full aerial shot Columbia Heights Streetscape Project. I never noticed the concentric circles before.

You can also see Columbia Heights Day, the day after.

View Larger Map

View Larger Map

Call for another trivia night?

I like bar trivia. I often win at bar trivia. But do we really need another one in Columbia Heights? Organizers from Trivia Kings, who host a number of events at DC bars, have started a petition on Facebook to bring a trivia night to Meridian Pint. With a weekly trivia at Wonderland on Mondays, a bi-weekly game at Commonwealth on Sundays, when would be the best fit for our newest 11th Street spot? 

New arts groups hosts fundraiser tonight

Looking for something to do tonight? A new music education group in Columbia Heights is having their first fundraiser. Stop by the Wonderland beginning at 8 pm to learn more about (and support) The Respect Music Foundation. There will be live music featuring an experimental set with Jason McMullen (drummer of The Drains) and DJ BlueMenthol. Drink specials include $5 PBR and Beam shot combos. Proceeds will go towards Resepct Music Foundation arts and educational programming, which will be used to obtain grants to build a community music cooperative, where artists may rehearse, record and produce for free in exchange for providing music lessons to the public.

details on new 11th St. Mexican restaurant

The Washington City Paper has a nice interview with the folks who will be opening a new Mexican restaurant in the 3300 block of 11th Street. Writes Tim Carman at Young & Hungry:

Jackie Greenbaum, the restaurateur known for her eponymous industrial DayGlo eatery in Silver Spring, has signed a lease to open a casual Mexican restaurant in Columbia Heights. The tiny, 800-square-foot operation will be located at 3313 11th St., in a former liquor store, and will not only sell regional Mexican foods but also snacks inspired by the L.A. street food scene.

It's great to see that their plans includes being open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and maybe even a rooftop deck. Will this be the new hotspot of 2011?

New Capital Bikeshare installed

I didn't notice this yesterday, so it must be a new addition. The Capital Bikeshare station, minus the actual bikes, has been installed at 14th and Harvard streets. Will you be one of the renters / cyclists?

Top 5 Things to Do on Columbia Heights Day

You know the details: Saturday, 10 to 6 pm, Tubman Field. Now here are some things to do.

1. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food rules at this year's festival. Not only are many Columbia Heights restaurants and bars offering all day specials, but some of your favorite food trucks will be parked on Kenyon Street.

2. Strike up the band. After grabbing some food, stop by the Main Stage for live music all day.

3. Cheer for the future Queen (at 11:45 am) or King (at 1:00 pm) of Columbia Heights Day. The competition will take place on the Second Stage at the festival and I am happily serving as one of the judges.

4. Cute overload. Bring your pup to the Dog Show (at 10:30 am) or be a kid again by stopping by the petting zoo but watch out of for the sheep.

5. Show your neighborhood pride with a Columbia Heights t-shirt. Two different styles will be on sale for $10 - $12.

Countdown to Columbia Heights Day

Next Saturday, August 28 is the 4th Annual Columbia Heights Day festival. Want to what's happening at Tubman Field and around the neighborhood, check out the schedule and map below. (Ed note: I am part of the Columbia Heights Day planning team)

4TH ANNUAL COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DAY

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28

10 am - 6 pm

Tubman Field - 11th & Kenyon St. NW

www.columbiaheightsday.org

SCHEDULE:

10:00 am Columbia Heights bike tour and scavenger hunt--starts at Tubman Field

10:00 am Morning yoga from Quiet Mind Yoga--Tubman Field

10:30 am Dog Show--Tubman Field

11:00 am Electric 11s (rock)--Main Stage

11:45 am Queen of Columbia Heights competition--Second Stage

12:15 pm Czars of Leisure (rock)--Main Stage

1:00 pm King of Columbia Heights competition--Second Stage

1:30 pm The Chariots (reggae)--Main Stage

2:15 pm Batala (percussion group)--Second Stage

2:45 pm La Unica Irish Band--Main Stage

3:30 pm Sticky Fingers Cupcake Eating Contest--Second Stage

4:15 pm Armchairs (rock)--Main Stage

5:15 pm Belladonna (belly dancing) --Second Stage

5:45 pm Flex Matthews (hip hop)--Main Stage

View Columbia Heights Day 2010 in a larger map

Room 11 turns the big "1" today

Sometimes it's difficult to remember way back when there was no friendly, neighborhood wine bar at 11th and Lamont streets. All of 13 months ago. Tonight Room 11 is celebrating its 1-year anniversary with some special treats:

- Complimentary sparkling wine with a purchase. 

- Drink specials on wine and cocktails.

- There will be punch.

As it has been written here numerous times, I am a big fan of Room 11. Every visit I know I can get something good to drink, a nice bite to eat, and a wonderful dessert. Now if they could just get some citronella candles on the patio...

CH Neighborhood Tees

Columbia Heights Day is now less than three weeks away: Saturday, August 28 (mark your calendars!).  And while there'll be bands and food and a petting zoo, there will also be opportunities to increase your Columbia Heights t-shirt collection.

The list so far includes:

1. Columbia Heights Day - official 2010 festival shirts, plus DC flag shirts ($10 to $12)

2. North Columbia Heights Civic Association - see image

3. Chocolate City Beer

What other local shirts have you seen around? I know Pleasant Pops and the Columbia Heights Community Marketplace sell them. My personal favorite is my Wonderland's 5th Anniversary Sundress Party tee.

DC National Night Out is tonight

You may have seen the signs around DCUSA, but tonight is National Night Out. Target is sponsoring a Community Block Party at the Columbia Heights Education Center Soccer Field (on Hiatt Pl by the DCUSA parking lot entrance). From 5-8 pm there will be There will be food and refreshments. Also presentations will be made by the Washington Area Bicyclists Association on securing your bicycle and by the Home Depot on securing your home.

For more info, visit MPD's listing of all DC events.

Transportation Briefs

Just a quick look at some transportation news affecting the neighborhood.

1. BeyondDC shares a great photo from DCDDOT of the finished (?) streetscape project. I still see orange cones and concrete barriers in my sleep, though.

2. The Coalition for Smarter Growth will lead a Columbia Heights walking tour on August 7. It features reps from the architects who were commissioned for the public realm improvements in the neighborhood.

3. The expanded Capital Bikeshare program will indeed have a few Columbia Heights locations: 14th & Irving, 11th & Lamont, 16th & Harvard, and 14th & Spring, among them.

View Capital Bikeshare in a larger map

A look inside 826DC's new HQ

826DC will soon be moving into the old Scores test prep space in the Park Triangle. The creative writing nonprofit's DC office will be housed at "the Museum of Unnatural History, a monument to the long-forgotten 'Unnaturalist Society'—a group of bizarre, outcast scientists who believed that “the path to truth often leads through the absurd.'"

Here's a look at their new space.

Gin Happy Hour tonight at Room 11

There is a happy hour tonight at Room from 6-7:30 pm with free
Hendrick's gin samples and drink specials.

The 11th Street spot is also debuting tonight its Sexy St Germain
Summer Strawberry Sangria. (That's a lot of S's!)

DDOT to party when the streetscape project ends

I'll miss getting this e-mails every day, but at least there will be a party.

From: "Kovaleski, Kevin (DDOT)"

Date: July 12, 2010 4:37:08 PM EDT

Subject: Columbia Heights Update

Dear Columbia Heights,

Today, crews began the final paving of the Columbia Heights Streetscape project. Crews are scheduled to return on-site tomorrow to finish the paving, weather permitting. As described in my updates last week, along with completing the final street paving, crews are scheduled to install a new sidewalk along the west side of 14th Street from Park Road to Newton Street this week. Additionally, some smaller punch-list items will be underway.

This will be my last official project update that will go out to the community. However, feel free to contact me directly if you have any remaining questions or concerns that might come up in the next weeks and I'll be more than happy to address them. I will send you all an email with details of an event that DDOT will schedule to celebrate the end of construction.

Thanks again for your patience and flexibility throughout the project.

Best,


Kevin

Kevin Kovaleski


Capital City Fellow

District Department of Transportation