9/5/02: Current reports owners of Janus theatre are looking to put in a restaurant along R St, and 1 or 2 retail tennants along Conn Ave. WP says the Brickskeller will be listed in the 2003 Guinness Book of World Records as the "bar with the largest selection of commercially available beers." See "1,000 Bottles of Beer on the Wall," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/new_features/barsclubs/brickskeller.htm Rhythm + Culture Music store now open at 2130-B P St. Current reports new bistro Firefly is set to open September 28 at 1310 NH Ave, with new Hotel Madera. WP reports former maternity hospital at L & 24th & M & 25th expected to turn into condos above street-level shops and restaurants. See "Developer To Buy Columbia Hospital: Condos Foreseen On Parcel in NW," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4368-2002Aug27.html WP reviews new lounge south of the Circle. See "Cool Calm: The mood at Savino's is lively--but not so lively you can't have a conversation," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64768-2002Aug26.html Joe Muggs coffee shop now open in Books A Million. CyberStop cafe now offers free high-speed Internet connections (bring your own laptop). See http://www.cyberstopcafe.com/wireless.htm Dupont home of designer Anthony Browne was featured in September Architectural Digest. Carriage house is at 1735 Fraser Court, south of S St between 19th & Conn. University of Notre Dame plans to convert building at 1615 NH Ave to dormitories and classrooms. Current reports DCCA is working with Heritage Tourism Coalition on a heritage trails program. New restaurant at 15th & RI Ave is getting good reviews. See "15 RIA comes close to perfection," http://www.washingtontimes.com/weekend/20020829-41253288.htm John Guggenmos is planning to open an upscale, sitdown gay lounge called Spectrum above Empire Video on P St, with a DJ but no dancing or entertainment. The two smaller "Fresh Fields" signs on the edges of the P St building were recently replaced. See "Your Favorite Store, Whatsitsname: There's Something New at Fresh Fields, and It's Not Small Potatoes," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19256-2002Aug31.html WP reports Washington Stage Guild is moving from the Source to the former Living Stage venue, to be called Arena Stage at 14th & T (catchy... -not!). Meanwhile, the Actors' Theatre is moving from H St NE to Source, bringing us Naked Boys Singing (the musical). See "Reshuffling Is in the Cards," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37994-2002Aug19.html SissyCity profiled 14th St's Go Mama Go. See http://www.sissycity.com/newsletter/SCNL_0802_go_mama_go.htm WP sheds light on why Starbucks tries to saturate neighborhoods. See "Pouring It On: The Starbucks Strategy? Locations, Locations, Locations," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56030-2002Aug24.html WP reports the former Louis Thomas Cabaret at 9th & R, where Duke Ellington's first performed, was torn down. See "Despite Protests, Historic Cabaret Razed," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31361-2002Aug17.html See also "False Choice Brings Landmark To Rubble," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/metro/columns/milloycourtland/A42485-2002Aug20.html See http://www.victoriansecrets.net/separated.html Mocha Lounge, an espresso bar & cafe, is being built at Florida & W St, 1 block north of 9:30 Club. Adams Morgan got its first speed hump, on Lanier Pl. WP says Target expected at 14th & Irving; project also slated for a bowling alley & health club. See "Target Fills In a Blank: Retailer Plans to Anchor Columbia Heights Shopping-Entertainment Complex in 2005," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38037-2002Sep4.html NYT reported on the Shop 2000 (dubbed RoboShop) in Adams Morgan, the only one operating in America. See "Shop Till Eggs, Diapers, Toothpaste Drop," http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/28/national/28AUTO.html See also "Convenience and Controversy in Adams Morgan," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13689-2002Aug29.html See also "Deli-Sized Vending Machine Debuts in Washington," http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=topnews&StoryID=1388845 See also snoozy industry viewpoint "Automated c-store: Vending's partner or competitor?," http://www.amonline.com/articles/am02/am05_02/0502_03.htm Georgetown's Loews Cineplex will open in November. WT reports on progress replacing 560-car Georgetown parking lot with a true park, at base of Wisc Ave. See "Park plan builds on 201-year mandate," http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20020821-13926487.htm See drawing of future park at http://users.erols.com/anc2e/waterfront/ParkSketch.jpg WP peeks at the Mather Building at 916 G St, finally undergoing earnest construction, with top condos going for $1.2 million, plus 1-br's for artists as low as $111,000. See "Giving Artists a Place To Hang Their Hats, Too: 12 'Affordable' Condos Due Next Summer," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47302-2002Aug21.html See also http://www.pnhoffman.com/mather/mather.htm WP profiles opening of Hotel Monaco. See "Heartburn Hotel: No one said it would be easy opening a trendy hotel in a 160-year-old abandoned government office building. But this was ridiculous," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42295-2002Aug20.html The downtown BID installed a new prototype roadway light fixture at 8th and E. It is worth a visit. Most of the lamps in Dupont and elsewhere were plucked from some highway catalog. The one at 8th & E matches the historic character of our neighborhood while still providing the same functionality as cobra-style lamps. Planet Hollywood at 11th & Penn will become Stacks and Archives, with a kosher New York-style deli on one floor and an upscale kosher restaurant on the other. WP reports on city's mishandling of proposed Milleniem Gate. See "Back to Square One at Barney Circle: Two Years Into Planning Memorial, Architect Put on Hold," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47289-2002Aug21.html See also "Barney Circle residents rally for monument," http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20020828-13951006.htm NYT reviews what's being offered in our local museums. See "In Washington, Every Which Way to Paint," http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/30/arts/design/30SMIT.html See "The Dulles Corridor Deluxe: Over-Road High-Rises Envisioned as Part Of Rail Transit Plan," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4393-2002Aug27.html Sunday, September 8: Adams Morgan Community Festival. See http://www.adamsmorganday.org/ September 8: Kalorama House and Embassy Tour. See http://www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org/housetour.htm September 12 - 15: Sing-A-Long Sound of Music. See http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEvent&event=XCPRI Friday, September 13: Whole Foods shows Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in Guy Mason Park, Calvert St, 8:30. Contact georgetown.events@wholefoods.com Saturday, September 14: BikeDC, a 14- or 36-mile car- free bike ride through DC. See http://www.waba.org September 14: Rainbow History Project sponsors a talk on local drag queens at West End library. See http://www.rainbowhistory.org/ September 14: Opening reception at Transformer at 1404 P St for new collection: BOOK an exhibition of artists' books and zines, 6-8pm. See [1] below. Tuesday, September 17: Australian Wine Tasting and Silent Auction to benefit Team DC, our contingent for the Gay Games. 6-8, $20, Cunningham Mansion, 1609 16th St. See http://www.teamdc2002.org/ Thursday, September 19: Tomα Garrigue Masaryk Memorial dedication. See http://www.oai-usa.com/afocr/ Thursday, October 31: Next Art-O-Matic kicks off with a Halloween Costume Ball. See http://www.artomatic.org Oops: The Frankie & Lu purse stand was on vacation after the last ish, but Kristin swears she'll be there this Saturday, so go to Eastern Market and say hi. Best regards, Michael ------------------------------------------------------ [1] Transformer proudly presents BOOK an exhibition of artists' books and zines, September 14 October 19, 2002. Public Reception: Saturday, September 14, 2002, 6-8 pm. Artists' books, book art, sculptural bookworks, and zines Transformer's third exhibition BOOK provides a sampling of work by artists exploring the rich genre of art expressed through book and magazine form. Defined by the artist visionaries who founded New York based non-profit artist-organization Printed Matter as "artwork for the page", the artist book medium is an accessible art form that applies visual techniques and structural invention to original texts and experimental materials. Artists participating in BOOK include: Ken Ashton, Carol Beane & Michael Platt, Cynthia Connolly, Stephen Gibson, Sara Greenberger, Lida Husik, Amanda Kleinman and Stephen Lewis. The exhibition will also include extensive zine collections from the archives of Dischord Records, as well as Sound Collector publisher Laris Kreslins. A series of handmade artist books and zines incorporating hand-operated letterpress by Horse & Buggy Press and Hot Iron Press will also be on view. Inspired by the work of Futurists, Dadaists, and the Fluxus group, artist books and zines are sites for a range of concerns or sensibilities to be expressed and communicated, be they personal, social or political. While wildly different, they often incorporate materials that are tactile and usually relating to the metaphor of the text. In the absence of text, the images and structure are the content that create an important link in the transmission and exchange of ideas. With total control over the end product, artist made publications provide a self contained "alternative space" for the presentation of artwork and artistic concepts. Featuring examples such as flip-books, journals, photo books, and comics, along with accordion fold, multi-fold, bound and/or unbound volumes, the creations in BOOK involve the reader actively in the viewing process - not only to see the words on the page, but also to think about how the words, pictures, and physical form of the objects all contribute to their meanings. Transformer's BOOK exhibition will include several ancillary programs throughout September and October including: an all day visit by the International Artist Book Mobile on September 24 with book-binding and self-publishing workshops; poetry readings by participating BOOK artists Stephen Gibson and Carol Beane; and a talk on book conservation with BOOK artist Lida Husik. *** Transformer gallery is a non-profit alternative art space founded by curators and art organizers Victoria Reis and Jayme McLellan. Transformer seeks to connect and promote emerging artists through high quality, professional exhibitions and workshops, while providing much needed mentoring and peer-networking among local, national, and international artists. Partnering with artists, curators, alternative non-profit and independent art spaces, as well as commercial galleries, museums and other cultural institutions, Transformer serves as a catalyst and an advocate for emergent expression in the visual arts. Transformer is located at 1404 P Street, NW Washington, DC 20005. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday from 6:30 to 8:30pm, Saturday from 1-6 pm or by appointment. Artists who are interested in submitting work to Transformer: please send slides, resume, artist statement and SASE for return of the work to: Transformer, 1404 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. |