YOGA WARS! Past Tense v. Quiet Minds

A yoga war is brewing in Columbia Heights! The first two emails in my CH Listserv Digest today:

1.

Past Tense yoga studio opens this weekend (7/11) From: jp.fielder

2.

enjoy headstands with daniel tonight at 8pm @ quiet mind From: nicole_ncrc

How long until we're all snapping our fingers in warrior pose having a yoga style brawl on the streets of our 'hood?

New Yoga Studio in Mount P

Mount Pleasant is getting a new yoga studio at the corner of Mt. Pleasant and Park. I don't really do the yoga - that's ArtBart's thing, but even I might be convinced to try it out since Past Tense (that's the new studio's name) is holding a free yoga class in Lamont Park on Sunday.

Class starts at 7PM at 17th and Lamont. You can see their other offerings at www.pasttensestudio.com. There is also an open house on Saturday from 10AM to 2PM, hosted by CH resident and Past Tense instructor/yogapreneur/local writer Kelly DiNardo.

Jim Graham Engages WSC on Security

Council Member Jim Graham will defend Washington Sports Club patrons everywhere! Or, at least in Columbia Heights.

The story has been everywhere - but a recap: One WSC gym patron had to take security matters into his own hands when a man with a bolt cutter stole his stuff in the men's locker room. He chased, he yelled, and WSC staff seemed to do something. The thief was apprehended, but the gym-goer is still livid. See the comments section on this post for more of his thoughts.

Now - Jim Graham has this to say to the gym hero:

Thank you for sharing this story and for the actions you took entirely on your own volition. I also want to applaud the off-duty police officer and guard at Bed Bath Beyond who eventually apprehended the thief.

I have copied Drew Greenwald with DC-USA on this email to bring this incident to his attention. I am requesting he work with Washington Sports Club to review their security procedures in the locker rooms and front desk coverage.

Let's keep in touch.

Bests, Jim Graham

Happy Pete's Delivery Day

As we mentioned last week, Pete's Apizza is starting their new delivery service today. Since we last posted, they expanded their boundary out to Georgia Ave. There is also a $20 minimum on orders.

Pete's says they are taking it hour by hour and might consider going outside that delivery area if they aren't busy, or might consider trimming it back in the future if it's too much.

THL lives a little too close to justify Pete's delivery, but for updates on how it's going you can check Twitter @petes_newhaven. Starts at 5PM tonight. Also, Pete's says they are organic so stop calling them Domino's. I'm inclined to agree - unless someone tells me Domino's has organic arugula salads.

Miss Nori? Buy it Back!

Nori is up for auction. You can buy their kitchen equipment and other items over at this auction site.

We noticed over the weekend that the "Now Open" sign is still hanging over the Park Road doors.

Alas, at least if you liked Nori (which we didn't), you can buy it back and make it your own.

Fourth of July Leftovers

An unfortunate traffic jam was not the only thing I encountered at Giant on Saturday .... behold, cupcake creations! Yes, there really are cupcakes under the pounds of frosting and food coloring.

WSC - Thief Apparently Caught in Men's Locker Room

There is an upsetting account of a locker robber at the DCUSA Washington Sports Club over at Prince of Petworth. Not sure about the veracity of the story, but if it is true - then a guy with bolt cutters was able to walk by the front desk, into the men's locker room, and start stealing stuff.

I happen to know that a friend who goes during peak hours also frequently just blows right by the desk because there is a long line. No ID checked, nothing - she just gets away with barreling in there. Nice security, WSC.

Traffic jam at Giant parking entrance

A Snapple truck with no where to go snarled traffic on Park Road Friday afternoon. Cars trying to leave the Giant parking garage were stuck while the truck blocked the exit. The traffic situation outside of Giant is rarely ideal, but today's incident reached a new level of ridiculousness. Seriously, just look at the back-up on the parking ramp!

Lots of progress at 14th and Girard park

Construction continues at 14th and Girard park but now that the fence has been removed you can see how much it truly has changed. The basketball court has been installed and some landscaping has been completed. The brick structures in the photos are restrooms. It is scheduled to reopen this summer, and a rendering of the park's final design is available here.

From the mailbox: Question about unzoned parking in Columbia Heights

A reader asks: "I have some friends driving down this weekend and I'm trying to figure out which streets in Columbia Heights are unzoned. I'm on Lamont between 11th and 13th. Any suggestions?"

Since this is a holiday weekend, all parking restrictions are suspended on Friday and Saturday. From the DC Department of Public Works:

• Parking enforcement for meters, rush hour ticketing and towing, residential parking, abandoned vehicles towing, and booting will be suspended.  Other violations – blocking a fire hydrant, crosswalk, bus stop, or driveway – will be enforced.

For other times, though, most of Columbia Heights is zoned parking. In pre-DCUSA days, weekend parking for visitors was fairly easy to find (minus Sunday mornings) and with few limitations. The arrival of the retail complex also brought about weekend parking restrictions for most streets within a 2-block radius of the complex.

Tree Comes Down on Irving

Right off 14th and on Irving, a big tree was being chopped up and
removed this morning.

Shiny New Domain Name!

Ever want to tell your friends in the CH about The Heights Life, but you couldn't remember our URL?

Well we just made it a little easier! THL can now be found at www.theheightslifedc.com. We can also be found at www.theheightslife.blogspot.com. OMG WE ARE EVERYWHERE! Also, www.twitter.com/theheightslife!

I think it will all redirect and such, but please do let us know if you have any issues finding our stuff.

Why didn't we get www.theheightslife.com you ask? Well apparently two nice young women from Houston already have it for their neighborhood, The Heights or Houston Heights or something like that. We will call them Bizzarro Spud Lite and ArtBart.

They may have won the domain name, but they lost the gmail address. They are theheightslifehouston at gmail. We, however, are theheightslife at gmail. One point Houston, one point DC. It's on!

Pete's Apizza Delivery Details

That's the Pete's Apizza delivery area you see there. Pete's says they will deliver from 5PM to close (10PM Sun-Thurs, 11PM Fri-Sat). Delivery boundaries are:

16th Street to the West
Upshur Street to the North
Georgia Avenue to New Hampshire Avenue to Sherman Avenue to the East
U Street to the South

Michael at Pete's says they could limit that delivery area depending on how service goes and he noted that it's a completely new venture for them with new drivers, etc. Once they get their delivery system sorted out, they plan to add Mt. Pleasant and then possibly Petworth.

There will be a delivery charge - $3 per address. 

Pete's Apizza Straight to Your Stoop

You may have seen this on the Twitter, but just in case you didn't...

Pete's Apizza is starting delivery next TUESDAY, July 7. Not sure what the delivery area is, but we've issued that inquiry.

So, when it's raining... when you're hungover... when you just want the pizza to come to you... you can now ask Pete's. (You can also ask Mr. Chen's or DC Noodles for food, too - THL likes those places.)

I wonder if this announcement has less to do with Pete's recent public survey and more to do with the Washingtonian telling President Obama to try Pete's. Is a White House delivery in the works?