11/9/01:
A new restaurant by local chef Savino Recine is coming
to One Dupont Circle (near CVS), in old Cagney's spot.
Conn Ave Ann Taylor Loft now open, and looks fabulous.
The Bristol Apartments, at 1833 S St, are going condo.
See "HRC cancels Rhode Island Avenue plans: National
gay group to lose undisclosed sum for deposit on $8
million land deal,"
http://www.washblade.com/national/011026d.htm
DC released report stating 1 bicyclist and 16
pedestrians die each year in traffic. Further states
that the worst intersection for bicycles was Conn Ave
and L St, which had 7 collisions between '97 and '99.
This spring, WABA will launch a "Safe Streets"
campaign at that intersection, in conjunction with the
MPD, DDOT and the courier association, passing out
info to bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers.
WP posted pictures from the High Heel Race. See
http://www.washingtonpost.com/highheelrace
See also "High Heel Race 2001,"
http://www.washblade.com/point/011026a.htm
Pix at http://www.washblade.com/point/011026a2.htm
The Golden Triangle BID (south of Dupont Circle) will
be decorating lampposts for Xmas with jumbo gold bows.
WP ran cute profile of 1409 Playbill Cafe, 14th St's
littlest stage, now playing funny "After Dark." See
"You Want Fries With Your Play?,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24113-2001Nov1.html
Borderline-cozy Green Lantern now open near 14th & L.
WB writes about new crop of gay bars. See "The old is
new again in Club Land: Cobalt and Green Lantern
return; Hunt Club gone,"
http://www.washblade.com/point/011109a.htm
See construction pix of Saxon Court (on Church St) at
http://www.pnhoffman.com/saxoncourt/saxonprogress.htm
BodySmith gym coming to 1624 14th St (above Corcoran)
by January, larger and more upscale than 18th St gym.
New coffee shop Feker at 12th & V, by Lincoln condos.
WT reports status of Tivoli Theatre. See [1] below.
Tenleytown project advances, hoping to build at least
172 apartments over rooftop parking lot, with retail
below. See "Rooftop Residences at Hechinger Site,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3626-2001Oct28.html
See pictures of The Lofts at Adams Morgan, at
http://www.pnhoffman.com/the_lofts/adams_morgan.htm
Muscle Beach has been replaced with Third Power
Fitness, at 2007 18th St, north of Florida Ave.
WP provides glimpse into competing offers for big
parking lot at 5th & K. One offer is teamed with
Arlington's nationally-recognized Signature
Theatre. See "Dramatic Development," middle of
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45132-2001Nov5.html
WBJ says construction imminent for 11-story building
on NY Ave parking lot across from old convention
center. See "N.Y. Ave. project gets green light,"
http://washington.bcentral.com/washington/stories/2001/11/05/tidbits.html
Construction has begun for 11-story Gallery Place at
7th & H. Developer is trying to get Old Navy to join
project. Would join Virgin Records, Jillian's, Chevy's
and possibly H&M. See "Washington Sports works out
lease in downtown D.C.,"
http://washington.bcentral.com/washington/stories/2001/10/29/newscolumn6.html
See also "Buildings on Rise Despite Downturn:
For Developers, D.C. Is Still Attractive,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39878-2001Nov4.html
4th St will be re-opened to pass through new Waterside
Mall, with a streetscape to include shops and cafes
for residents and patrons of nearby Arena Stage, the
result of a $100,000 study done in '98 by the Urban
Land Institute, paid by the SW Neighborhood Assembly.
See "District Plans To Redevelop Mall in SW,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48104-2001Oct24.html
See also "$100 million plan will revitalize
Waterside Mall,"
http://www.washingtontimes.com/businesstimes/default-20011152077.htm
That location is near the new Millennium Arts Center,
DC's nascent answer to the Torpedo Arts Center. MAC
has a glass-blowing studio and exhibition space. See
http://www.millenniumartscenter.org/
NBM hosted a fabulous symposium on the Anacostia
Waterfront Initiative yesterday, with the most
brilliant slide show I have ever seen, and even
suggested hope for restoring streams which run into
the east side of the river (known as "daylighting").
City plans to add a new rowing clubhouse, and an
education center sponsored by the National Geographic.
This initiative could be a crowning achievement. This
spring will see construction of a 2,000-foot
"demonstration trail" around Buzzard Point.
WP covered this event. Last night, on the Web, the
story was called "Officials Envision Lively New Area
Along Anacostia." Today it's clumsily called "Lively
-- Costly -- Area Envisioned Along Anacostia." An
example of editorial spin? See
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64530-2001Nov8.html
TCD reports plans for a 5-story Hilton hotel,
conference center, restaurants and health club past
Howard. See "Hilton, partners plan 200-room NE hotel,"
http://www.thecommondenominator.com/110501_news1.html
NYT reports that in spite of "Washington's resistance
to trendiness" we still have some good restaurants:
Citronelle, Full Kee, Jaleo, Tosca, Palena, and Bread
Line (which I wish could be cloned in Dupont). See
"Washington Favorites With No Term Limits,"
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/28/travel/28TAB.html
WP gives more details on $450 million complex near
White Flint Metro, to include 1,338 residential units,
1.2 million sq ft of high-rise office space, and
200,000 sq ft of retail space. See "Plans Proceed For
Development Along Rockville Pike,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36206-2001Nov3.html
Now playing: I Love Robot, at Metro Cafe. See
http://members.fortunecity.com/lucreziablozia/glamonstrosityinc/id11.html
See also "‘Robot’ programmed for hilarity,"
http://www.washblade.com/point/011109d.htm
Saturday, November 10: Peirce Mill open house, 11-4.
See http://www.peircemill-friends.org/meeting.html
November 10: Yard sale benefiting Whitman-Walker Food
Bank, 10-3, Foundry United Methodist Church, 16th & P.
November 10: "Jason Gubbiotti: Field Trip" opening, 6-
8pm at 14th St's Fusebox. See http://www.fuseboxdc.com
November 10: "Insides Out" exhibition at Lesbian
Services Program of Whitman Walker, 1432 U St, 8-10pm.
Wednesday, November 14: WMATA community meeting on NY
Ave Metro, at Gallaudet at 6:30pm, with a reception
followed by the presentations at 7:00pm.
Thursday, November 15: Fundraising happy hour for HIPS
(Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive) at the Blue
Room. See [2] below.
Saturday, November 17: Go Mama Go! hosts an opening
reception for Monroe Reeves' paintings and prints of
"colorful, dynamic jazz scenes, tropical visions and
swirling dancers." 3 to 7; 1809 14th St.
November 17: "Almost Abba" "performs" at a dance party
at the Black Cat.
If you have any influence, get the Black Cat to
open the Food for Thought cafe during daylight hours!
Tuesday, November 20: Meeting for Neighborhood Problem
Solving, 7pm at The Whitelaw. See [3] below.
Saturday, December 1: WABA Auction & Party at Results,
7-10. See http://www.waba.org/new/news/3063.php
Sunday, December 2: Logan Circle house tour. See
http://www.logancircle.org/news/news11a.html
For the record, I thought I'd announce that my own
house was broken into on Monday. See [4] below.
Best regards,
Michael
------------------------------------------------------
[1] October 29, 2001
Tivoli Theater to be restored by January 2004
By Chris Baker
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The restoration of the historic Tivoli Theater in
Columbia Heights is proceeding quietly, more than a
year after the project was announced to much fanfare.
Horning Brothers, the D.C. development company
spearheading the restoration, recently began repairing
the murals inside the abandoned, 1920s-era movie
palace at Park Road and 14th St. NW.
The company is also negotiating with businesses
to set up shop inside the theater building. In
addition, Horning is working with the city on zoning
changes that are needed before construction can begin
next summer.
"We're making significant progress on a number of
fronts," says Joseph Horning III, a Horning Brothers
partner.
The company plans to make the refurbished theater
the centerpiece of a larger development called Tivoli
Square. The $28 million plan calls for the
41,000-square-foot theater building to be restored,
with much of the space converted into offices, shops
and restaurants.
A new performing arts area with more than 200
seats will also be built.
The project includes a Giant Food supermarket,
which will be built a few feet away from the theater.
Plans also call for housing to be built on the
property. The project is on track to be completed by
January 2004, Mr. Horning says.
The District announced last October that it would
spend $5 million to help save the theater, which
activists fought to preserve for more than 20 years.
Since then, Mr. Horning has signed the Gala
Hispanic Theater group to develop the performing arts
space inside the Tivoli. He also started negotiations
with possible office and retail tenants for the
building.
The restoration of the Tivoli's famed murals is
also under way.
New York artist A. Battisi painted the murals in
the building's lobby, promenade and above a stage in
the original 2,500-seat theater. The murals feature
musical figures in neo-classical, wooded settings.
Since the theater closed in 1975, the murals
suffered severe water damage, Mr. Horning says.
The restoration of the murals will cost about
$150,000, Mr. Horning says.
------------------------------------------------------
[2]
Please join HIPS (Helping Individual Prostitutes
Survive) at the Blue Room from 6 to 9 pm on Thursday,
November 15, for a fundraising happy hour. The $5
cover goes directly to HIPS operating costs, and we
will have door prizes!
The Blue Room is located at 2321 18th Street, NW,
in Adams-Morgan. (No jeans or exercise wear please, at
the request of the management.) Please join us, and
forward this message to your friends!
HIPS is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization that
relies on over 100 dedicated volunteers, local
community advocates, community religious
organizations, private foundations and community
businesses who support our work helping individuals on
the streets. For more information about HIPS, please
check out our website at http://www.HIPS.org, or call
(202) 232-8303.
------------------------------------------------------
[3] - from Kleinpd@aol.com
Metropolitan Police Department of the District of
Columbia, PSA 306
Meeting for Neighborhood Problem-Solving
Tuesday, November 20th, 2001
7PM
The Whitelaw
1839 13th Street, NW
Partnerships for Problem Solving
An opportunity for citizens to target problems of
utmost concern and to create a plan for action and
review.
Help improve our quality of life. Work with PSA 306
and neighbors for a safe, healthy, vibrant community.
Come with your list of target problems:
- crimes/disorder problems
- situations harmful to the community
- issues that have been the subject of repeated calls
for service
------------------------------------------------------
[4]
Some idiot forced open my rear door on 11/5/01, on the
north side of Caroline St (near 15th & U). The wooden
frame broke off. A stereo, walkman, camera, CDs and
coins were stolen. Apparently there has been a surge
of break-ins, so be careful, and please alert the
police to any suspicious activity. -Michael
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