6/12/02: Dupont Circle underpass is scheduled for a major renovation between N and R, to include structural, traffic signal, mechanical and electrical improvements. Construction is scheduled to be from March 2003 to December 2003. Dupont Down Under, the old trolley station, remains under litigation. D.C. Superior Court evicted the former tenant, who has appealed. The appeal is sitting in the docket, with no date set for a hearing. Thomas Circle is going to be rebuilt, removing the center lanes of traffic from going through the circle, making the center park larger. The Current reports "Police arrest at least 30 in Dupont drug sweep," mostly for crack, which was being sold at twice the price than in less well-to-do areas. New Web site has great neighborhood photos. See "Intricate Details: Dupont Circle Architecture Photography Project," http://www.geocities.com/rkimages/intricatedetails WP reports on expansion of Kathleen Ewing gallery, at 1609 Conn Ave. See "Growing Galleries," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33584-2002May30.html WBJ says leading possibility for old Columbia Hospital for Women at 2425 L St is luxury apartments. See "Hospital site may turn residential," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/06/10/story3.html See "Janus Theater Is Latest in D.C. To Shut Down," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41968-2002May31.html WP plays up local Feygele Feud feud, starring Ester Goldberg and Lena Lett. See "We're Farklempt - Talk Amongst Yourselves!," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8057-2002Jun6.html See also "Federal judge orders 'Feygele Feud' into mediation," http://www.washblade.com/national/020607d.htm NYT profiles Dupont's The Palm, which it says is an exception to the rule that "a city of transients and bureaucrats is not likely to produce interesting restaurants." See "Power Host to Power Brokers in the Power Capital," http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/05/dining/05JOCO.html Rumor mill adds that "nubile young things who grace the dining room" work at the nearby strip clubs. Washingtonian uses a Chanel-clad drag queen at St. Margaret's to illustrate our restaurant scene. 10 of their "100 Very Best" restaurants are in Dupont, with Teaism singled out for a funny lashing. See "Around Dupont Circle: The City's Most Diverse Neighborhood Reveals Pleasant Surprises—and a Few Disappointments," http://www.washingtonian.com/dining/bestof/dupontcircle.html Old Julio's spot at 16th & U, though run by team behind Dragonfly, will be an American-style bistro. WBJ offers tidbits on old convention center, Ellington Plaza, and Harrison Square. See "Business District," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/06/10/newscolumn2.html WP looks at history of 1433 Q St, originally built for $6,000. See "Q Street's 125-Year Witness to History: Like The Post, House at 1433 Laid Its Foundation in 1877," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60822-2002Jun4.html Cafe Saint-Ex will open at 1847 14th St (formerly Goh), named after aviator and "Le Petit Prince" author Antoine de Saint-Exupery. "The space will be dramatically upgraded into a new restaurant with authentic art deco era decor, featuring vintage aviation and travel themes from the 1930s-50s." One World Fitness opening at SW corner of 14th & S. New nonprofit art space Transformer has opened in old Ozone space at 1404 P Street. Studio Theatre expects to start expansion January 1st, with a major new entrance facing 14th St. The Delta Shuttle's inhouse mag calls the U St/14th St corridor "Washington's hub of urban hip." See "U-Turn: Hot in All the Right Ways, U Street is no longer just full of legends," http://www.shuttlesheet.com/feature/ WP reports the city paid $1 million for two abandoned brick apartment buildings at 15th and Girard, and will spend $4 more to convert them into a community center. See "Desolate Buildings in NW To Gain New Look, New Life: Site Left Unused by City to Become Community Center," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15244-2002Jun7.html WP looks at local womens clothing shops Niagara, Kaur, All About Jane, Daisy, and Wild Women Wear Red. See "In Adams Morgan, A Welcome to the Club: Homey Boutiques Are An Alternative to Hipper-Than-Thou," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36793-2002May30.html Temperance Row Farmer's & Artist's Market is now open at 13th & U, by the Metro, Wednesdays from 4 to 7. See "Olsson's To Close High-Rent Bookstore: Georgetown Address Proves Too Pricey, Too Competitive," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49059-2002Jun2.html NYT reports on developments in the East End, saying Woodies could become home to Crate & Barrel, H & M and the Container Store. Also says "10,000 units of housing are under construction or in advanced planning in the downtown area." See "At Least in One Respect, Washington Is a Stable Place to Do Business," http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/05/business/05DECE.html Hooters is rumored to be coming to 7th & G. WP covers opening of DC Home Depot. See "A Super-Sized Improvement In District's Retail Scene," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8969-2002Jun6.html WCP looks at auto-centric design of new shopping plaza. See "It's Sprawl Good," http://washingtoncitypaper.com/cover/cover.html Home Depot will be joined by a new Giant in October. WBJ reports plans for major mall with 6 big-box anchor tenants, by NY Ave and S Dakota Ave. See "Retail center in NE powers forward," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/06/03/story3.html NYT reviews theory that towns with lots of gays and bohemians "are more likely to have creative-class workers, high-tech industry and, as a result, strong economic growth," proposing "you cannot get a technologically innovative place unless it's open to weirdness, eccentricity and difference." Washington/Baltimore ranks #8 overall, and surprisingly #1 in the creative category. See "Creative Cities and Their New Elite," http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/01/arts/01BOHO.html WP reports on area boosters using this ranking to recruit more companies, and points out that "area arts organizations are enjoying $2.5 billion in new investment." WP refers to same book, saying author "analyzed cities for factors that make them attractive to smart young people. His studies show a correlation with the presence of artistic options, highly educated people and a large gay population." See "City's Culture Brings Talent, Then Companies," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8812-2002Jun6.html The Washington Monthly has more interesting info in their review of the book. See "The Rise of the Creative Class: Why cities without gays and rock bands are losing the economic development race," http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0205.florida.html Salon calls gays "the canaries of the creative economy." See "Be creative -- or die," http://www.salon.com/books/int/2002/06/06/florida/index.html See also http://www.bowlingalone.com/ WP revisits plans for 3 trolley routes: from Woodley Park through U St to the Minnesota Ave Metro; from Georgetown along M St to the new convention center; and from Silver Spring to the Potomac Ave Metro. See "Metro Urged to Revive D.C. Streetcar System: Light Rail Called Faster, Easier Solution," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9307-2002Jun6.html NYT praises 5 DC museums. See "At Washington's Lavish Art Buffet," http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/31/arts/design/31COTT.html "Connie" Francis pool is now open on weekends. Free military concerts offered through August 2nd. 8 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Capitol. See http://www.aoc.gov/projects/concerts_2002/mil_2002.htm Concerts at 8 pm on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at Sylvan Theatre. More listings at http://www.nps.gov/ncro/PublicAffairs/SummerintheCity.htm Thursdays on the Mall is Art Night. See http://www.si.edu/events/special/ARTNIGHT.HTM Tonight, June 12: LCCA Midyear Conference. See [1] below. Friday, June 15: The Great American Clean-Up Sign Off. See http://www.hillcrestdc.com/announce.htm#signoff Monday, June 17: National Theatre kicks off free film series with "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?". See http://www.nationaltheatre.org/Cinema/Cinema2002.htm Friday, June 21: Opening night for Schoolgirl Figure, latest jaw-dropper from Cherry Red. At Metro Cafe Fri-, Sat-, and Sun-days at 8pm at Metro Cafe. (And a pay-what-you-can preview on June 20.) Props by yours truly. See http://www.cherryredproductions.com/ Saturday, June 22: "Pride of Pets Fun Dog Show," 3-6pm at Dupont plaza. Categories include Best Tail Wagging, Most Butch, and Least Obedient. See http://www.petsdc.org/dogshow1.htm. Sunday, June 23: Canadian cable show Bump! features Dupont Circle, "where the boys hang out." See http://www.pridevisiontv.com/prog/bump.asp Best regards, Michael ------------------------------------------------------ [1] [from csilverman@juno.com] Announcing the LCCA Midyear Conference On Wednesday, June 12, 7pm, at the Washington Plaza Hotel (10 Thomas Circle, N.W.), the Logan Circle Community Association (LCCA) will hold its midyear conference: Logan Circle: Reflections on the Past & Shaping Our Future. This year's conference will feature keynote speaker Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Now in her sixth term as the Congresswoman for the District of Columbia, she came to Congress as a national figure who had been a civil rights and feminist leader, tenured professor of law, and board member of three Fortune 500 companies. Ms. Norton also had been named one of the 100 most important American women in one survey and one of the most powerful women in Washington in another. The Congresswoman's work for full congressional voting representation and for full democracy for the people of the District of Columbia continues her lifelong struggle for universal human rights. LCCA is also pleased to host Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans. He was first elected to the Council on April 30, 1991 and re-elected in 1992 and 1996. Councilmember Evans currently serves as Chair of the Council's Committee on Finance and Revenue. This committee is responsible for many of the most important issues facing the business and residential communities of the District and will be the lead player in the efforts to streamline and reduce the District's burdensome tax system. Prior to his Council election, Evans served as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) on the Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission and served as Chairman of the ANC in 1989 and 1990. Councilmember Evans has long been a strong supporter of Logan Circle and has been of great help to the Association in achieving its goals. The Conference will also include a slide show and presentation by D.C. historian and author, Paul Kelsey Williams. Mr. Williams is the author of The Neighborhoods of Logan, Scott, and Thomas Circles published in 2001 by Arcadia Press. He has also published similar books on Dupont Circle and U Street. Mr. Williams is the principal of Kelsey & Associates, Inc., "The House History People," which has been researching homes and businesses in Washington, D.C. since 1991, in addition to providing myriad historic preservation consultation services. Mr. Williams also serves as a contributing writer on preservation and history for the InTowner newspaper. This is an event you won't want to miss!!! |