5/2/02: Marc Fisher visits the issue of Dupont becoming less of a gay Mecca, AKA "de-homosexualization." See "With Their Circle Seeming Broken, Gays Face Change," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18535-2002May1.html See discussion at http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/02/fisher050202.htm Dupont's application for the ReStore DC/DC Main Streets program failed. The Shaw Heritage Trust was one of the 5 winners, and will focus on 14th & U. See "Mayor Announces DC Main Streets Designees," http://www.dcbiz.dc.gov/home/news/2002/april/04_26_02.shtm Reuters wrote about yesterday's vigil on the 1st anniversary of Chandra Levy's disappearance. "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh said he believed "Levy was the victim of a serial killing in the Dupont Circle area." See "Chandra Levy Missing One Year; Parents Seek Help," http://www.miami.com/mld/miami/news/world/3177899.htm WP offers a guide to rediscovering our city, including "Dupont Circle's Gilded Age." See "Walking Points," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9029-2002Apr18.html Conn Ave restaurant Peter's Passion has closed after less than a year in old Dimitri's space. Nearby, Thai Chef is undergoing a major renovation, to be completed in 3 weeks. Tom Sietsema reviewed 18th St's Grille 88, perhaps the first time the Post has described a Sunday brunch as having a "crowd of muscle boys and fashionistas." See "Piano Bar Plus: A mood in tune with the neighborhood -- and better food than you might expect," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38666-2002Apr24.html WP reviews The Gables, the pricey P St enclave west of 17th St, with rents from $1,828 to $4,163. See "Dupont Landlord Aims to Please and Hits Target Market," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62316-2002Apr28.html WP covers debate over Peppers' use of their 2nd floor, as well as The Big Hunt's plan to switch from a restaurant to a tavern (with a dance floor) and plans for The 1819 Club (strip joint at 19th & M) to expand. See "ABC Wants Neighbors Alerted on Clubs' Plans," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14404-2002May1.html Ellington Plaza finally breaks ground on May 8 at 10:30 at NW corner of 13th & U. Will include 190 units and retail, opening fall '03. See http://www.dkdevelopment.com/history.html#ellington See note from Go Mama Go, [1] below. Garden District opens Wednesday, May 8, at 14th & S. Hours will be Wed-Fri 10-6 and Sat-Sun 9-5. See "Alcohol Board Called Lax: Logan Circle Residents: Panel Fails to Enforce Liquor License Rules," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2022-2002Apr17.html Dr Gridlock reviews threats to cyclists. See "'Bicycle Friendly' 13th Street Proves to Be No Such Thing," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14410-2002May1.html WBJ covered report tracking money spent by residents outside their own neighborhoods. In Columbia Heights/ Petworth, $425 million was spent elsewhere "in part because of a lack of quality retailers to serve them." See "Retail study: Two D.C. neighborhoods lose $600M," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/04/22/daily10.html See map at http://www.socialcompact.org/images/petworth_columbia.jpg Development slated for five city-owned lots in Columbia Heights includes 528 apartments, shops and cafes, and a dance school. See "City Picks Builders for Six Columbia Heights Sites: Projects Seen as Key To Revitalizing Area Ravaged in 1968 Riots," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40882-2002Apr24.html See also "Columbia Heights Development," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40888-2002Apr24.html See "D.C. Housing Authority Probing Sale by Nonprofit: Two Houses in Columbia Heights Went to Investment Group, Not Low- or Moderate-Income Buyers," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5298-2002Apr17.html WT looks at CBS pilot called "Georgetown," about a wealthy Washington family headed by a politically powerful matriarch (other than Velveeta von Krapp). See "'Georgetown' inspired by Post's Graham," http://www.washtimes.com/business/20020426-1763859.htm See "Development Gives Chinatown a New Flavor," As Decline Is Reversed, Older Businesses Are Forced Out," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14408-2002May1.html See "Transit Ridership Outstrips U.S. Pace: Area's Increased Use of Trains and Buses Attributed to New Stations, Fare Subsidies, Immigrants," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4752-2002Apr17.html Use of Dupont Metro remains fairly steady; see [2] below. See [3] below for chances to mingle with one of Dupont's biggest celebrities, Lucrezia Blozia. May 3 & May 4: Annual National Cathedral Flower Mart. See http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/flowermart/ Friday, May 3: Bike-to-Work Day. See http://www.waba.org/new/bwd/index.php May 3: First Friday - open house for Dupont's art galleries, 6 to 8. See http://www.washingtonprintmakers.com/friday.html Saturday, May 4: Debut of "Laugh Out Loud: Washington DC's International Gay & Lesbian Comedy Festival," with Funny Gay Males and comic Jessica Kirson. 8pm. See http://www.oneinten.org/laughoutloud Sunday, May 5: Rededication ceremony for Dupont Circle Plaza, at 4:00, followed by a concert by the Washington Symphony Orchestra. (Raindate May 12.) Monday, May 6: Adams Morgan resident par excellance Erika Hoffman is scheduled to be on The Weakest Link. Join her at a party at Adams Mill Bar & Grill at 6:00. Wednesday, May 8: Creating New Urban Retail, lecture at the NBM, $15. Saturday, May 11: Georgetown garden tour. See http://www.gtowngarden.org Saturday, May 18: Garage sale at 16th & R, by the Wetskins, our gay water polo team, 8 am to 3 pm. Anyone interested in helping me find props for the next Cherry Red show, "Schoolgirl Figure" (about anorexic schoolgirls), I'm looking for copies of Sassy, Seventeen, Self, Vogue, Elle, Glamour, Mirabella, Svelte, Slim, Thin, Reedy, and Concave. Best regards, Michael dupont_circle@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------ [1] go mama go! would like to thank friends and customers who came out to donate to Joseph's House and to view the new paintings by Patrick Campbell. The event raised a lot of money for Joseph's House. Watch for the Washingtonian Magazine's May issue. go mama go! will be mentioned for Patrick Campbell's hand-made fountains and metal garden sculptures by Lawrence Weisgal. On Mothers' Day, Sunday May 12, go mama go! will be in the New York Times' Sophisticated Traveller issue, as a destination shop in Washington, DC. ------------------------------------------------------ [2] Dupont Circle Metro Station 2000 average daily entries mar 21,669 ************************************* apr 22,228 ************************************** may 21,425 ************************************* jun 22,164 ************************************** jul 22,257 ************************************** aug 20,688 ************************************ sep 21,587 ************************************* oct 22,339 *************************************** nov 20,898 ************************************ dec 19,485 ********************************** 2001 jan 21,197 ************************************* feb 21,951 ************************************** mar 22,858 **************************************** apr 22,975 **************************************** may 22,625 *************************************** jun 24,366 ****************************************** jul 24,205 ****************************************** aug 22,184 ************************************** sep 21,143 ************************************ oct 21,747 ************************************* nov 21,258 ************************************* dec 19,533 ********************************** 2002 jan 21,249 ************************************* feb 20,994 ************************************ mar 22,892 *************************************** apr 22,205 ************************************** ------------------------------------------------------ [3] Sweetests, Miss me? I've missed you too. But now we can see each other -- as early as this Friday! On Friday I'm hosting/auctioneering a benefit for LadyfestDC (www.ladyfestdc.org) called "Under the Velvet Hammer". It's an art auction/stress relief valve where you can bid on art to take home or to utterly destroy right on the premises. It's at Metro Cafe (1522 14th St., NW). Doors open at 6:00 PM for art viewing, the auction runs from 7:00 - 8:00 PM and then par-tay from 8:00 - 9:00 PM. Music by DJs Plan B and Christine Moritz. All of this for a great cause for $7 (plus all the art you're going to buy/fry). For more info call (202) 546-0334 or e-mail UrbanGrrl@Bust.com. Then on Mother's Day come check me out as the ball- busting, cum-guzzling Wanda in a Cherry Red workshop production of Rob Remy's Cocktail. What better way to tell Mom you lover her? http://www.cherryredproductions.com/cocktail.htm Ooh, ooh, ooh. Can't wait. xox L. Blozia |