12/12/02: New Internet cafe Ben'N Mo open at 1225 Conn Ave. See http://www.bennmo.com/ WBJ reports Fitness First gym will open its first DC location by Jan 1 in old Brooks Brothers at 19th & L. See middle of "Retail & Restaurants," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/12/09/newscolumn8.html New Circle Bistro inside One Washington Circle Hotel. Tom Sietsema gave a glowing review to new restaurant on NH Ave. See "Catching Firefly: A neighborhood lines up to try chef John Wabeck's comfort food," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10396-2002Dec4.html NBC has nice photo of Dupont Metro. See "Commuters Walk 135 Steps To Top," http://www.nbc4.com/news/1834448/detail.html Current reports Governor's House hotel's expansion plans includes an enclosed cafe on 17th St and an open cafe on RI Ave. Though the heart of the art gallery community, Dupont's galleries have little impact on our streetscape. A brilliant exception is now on display in the second-story window of Conner Contemporary, at 1730 Conn Ave. The pulsing lights begin at 5pm daily, through Dec 14. See "At Conner, Shining Examples," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48894-2002Nov27.html Three area merchants have lovely Xmas displays worth visiting: Axis salon, Home Rule, and Reincarnations. See Web site for 33-unit condo building at 16th & S: http://www.ambassadorcondo.com/ MW reviewed late-night cafes, including Afterwords, Annie's, The Diner, and Ben’s Chili Bowl. See "Late Night Feeding," http://www.metroweekly.net/feature/?ak=233 WAMU ran piece on 14th & U, saying area "represents one of the largest urban redevelopment areas in the country." Piece visits HR-57, Ben's, Lincoln Theatre, and Studio Theatre. See http://www.wamu.org/mc/ WT reports on fate of Duke Ellington and Frederick Douglass murals which face sites under development: See "Developers put city's art at risk," http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20021205-63329176.htm See also "Murals Painted Into a Tight Corner," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43108-2002Dec11.html WP says HR-57 is facing $480,000 payment in May to stay in building. See "Let's Give It Up for HR-57," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13784-2002Dec5.html Current reports new condo project on east side of 14th, s of Q, with two new buildings flanking a former 3-story auto showrooom, to get an addition on top. 78 apartments open up this month at totally renovated building at 1225 13th St. See http://www.1225lofts.com WP profiles neighborhood around 9th and P. See "Signs of Change at Shaw Corner: Neglected Area Braces For Growth, Disruption Brought by Businesses, New Convention Center," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45969-2002Nov27.html Current reports now-empty O St market (by 7th St) has interest from a bank, coffee shop and video store, pending approval for redevelopment plans. Bloomingdale's getting its first luxury condo project, 17 units at 70 RI Ave. See http://www.TheEmber.com/ See "A long intermission: Tivoli Square project stalls again as city searches for funds to extend its $6.4 million commitment," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/12/09/story5.html WBJ has info on condo project at Champlain and Kalorama. See middle of "Real Estate," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/12/09/newscolumn7.html Idle Time Books will open soon at new location, 2467 18th St, across from new bar "Angry Inch Saloon." New restaurant to open around late January at Columbia and Mintwood called Mantis, serving Pan-Asian Tapas. See tale of mugging at Columbia and Wyoming, and inadequate police response, [1] below. WP profiles new Loews megaplex. See "14 Screens, 3,000 Seats, One Huge Chimney: In Georgetown, a Theater Rises From the Ashes," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51868-2002Nov28.html See also "14 Screens Open in Georgetown," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46718-2002Nov27.html WBJ says the Avalon, on Conn Ave in Chevy Chase, will reopen with 2 screens in February, with Ben & Jerry's added in May. See "Curtain rises on Avalon Theater," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/12/02/story2.html See also http://www.theavalon.org/ See "Seven Groups Vie for Downtown Project: Developers File Initial Proposals for Old Washington Convention Center Site," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42572-2002Dec11.html See also "Developers submit ideas for D.C. site," http://www.washtimes.com/business/20021210-27287552.htm WP says Crate & Barrel, Bed Bath & Beyond and Virgin Records might land in Woodies. See "Clothier to Occupy D.C. Woodies Store: H&M Also Opening in Six Malls," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20700-2002Dec6.html See "New Tenant for Woodies Site Stirs Hope of Revival: Swedish Fashion Chain's Lease May Lure Other Retailers Downtown, Leaders Say," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40008-2002Dec11.html WP's Lewis mulls downtown, then incongruously ruins it by wishing for munipal parking garages - the very structures which have ruined so many other downtowns. See "Remodeled Buildings, Retail Projects Are Rejuvenating Eastern Sector in Downtown D.C.," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48947-2002Nov27.html WT profiles new Stacks & Archives at 11th & Penn. See "2 kosher eateries open in District," http://www.washtimes.com/business/20021209-27345053.htm See "Green spaces 'help you live longer,'" http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_715938.html Tonight, December 12: Dumbarton House Holiday Open House. $10, 5:30 - 7:30. See http://www.dumbartonhouse.org/1/calendar/calendar.htm Saturday, December 14: Design Committee meeting for 14th & U Main Street Initiative, 10:30 - 12:30, Thurgood Marshall Center. See http://www.14thandu.org December 14: "The Power of Two" party at Fresh Fields celebrating their 2nd birthday, with a party "that's all about twos. Come taste some of our favorite food pairings for 2 hours starting at 2pm." Sunday, December 15: "Holiday Walk Through Time" at Tudor Place; $10. See http://www.tudorplace.org/programs.html#3month Monday, December 16: Children's Toy Drive and Holiday Party with Mayor Williams at Apex, 6 - 11. Admission is an unwrapped toy and includes food (catered by Food Bar), drinks, and entertainment. Thursday, Dec 19: Shop-N-Rock "rock & roll garage sale with guest DJs" at the Black Cat, 8:30pm to 1:00am. Friday, December 20: Candlelight Evening at Heurich House . $10, 6 - 8. See http://hswdc.org/Learn_About_DC/Calendar/Calendar.asp Best wishes for a Merry Christmas, Michael ------------------------------------------------------ [1] [12/11/02, from john@wiredstrategies.com] I got mugged at 8pm last night by 2 black teenagers at Columbia and Wyoming (near the 7-11). It was rather violent, to say they least - and I found out that there was another attack last Saturday. The cops have the name of a kid who knows who did it, but they didn't sound to me like they were planning on following up. So, here's the story, so perhaps you all can help. I live at the Promenade, was walking by the 7-11 to go the Washington Sports Club on Ct. Ave at a few minutes before 8PM last night. In front of the 7-11 were three black teenagers, probably 14 or 15 years old at best. I thought nothing of it and continued walking. I took a left at Columbia Rd. and started walking south on Columbia, on the east side of the street. About 30ft. later, I heard running behind me - I didn't turn to see who it was because I didn't want to be paranoid. All of a sudden, someone's arm was over my eyes and the other arm was across my throat completely cutting off my air. This was instantaneous, and very well done. A woman who witnessed it across the street said the kid ran at me and leaped on my back. As I was falling to the ground, I tried to struggle because I couldn't breathe at all and realized I was being attacked. The kid's grip tightened on my throat, it was hurting by this point, and by the luck of God as I fell to the ground, he lost a bit of his grip and I got enough air to try yelling for help. He still didn't let go and I yelled again a few times, when they finally broke and ran. The two of them ran back to the corner of Columbia & Wyoming (the 7-11 corner), laughing all the way - yes, they were outright laughing - and then split up - one ran down Wyoming going west, and the other ran to 19th and Wyoming, went south on 19th and cut through that first alley. I immediately called the cops, and while several of the onlookers didn't do a damn thing while I was screaming for help, others didn't come by to see if I was ok. Anyway, the cops came, I told them the story, there were 2 other witnesses who thankfully came up to me to offer to help. I noticed a teenage black or Latino kid at the phone at the 7-11 and remembered that he was standing there with the 2 guys who mugged me as I walked by before the attack. I told the cop, who went over to talk to the kid. The cop returned a few minutes later and told me and the other witnesses: "The kid knows who they are, he knows their names," the cop said. They apparently all go to Cardozo, he told us. He then said that the kid almost told him the other 2 kids' complete names, but stopped himself after saying "Jeremiah" - realizing that he probably shouldn't tell on his friends. I asked the cop if he got this kid's full name and address, and he said yes - the kid had an ID on him. I then asked if it might help to stop by the kid's home and embarrass him in front of his parents, to get the other kids' names. He said no they wouldn't go to the kid's home. I asked why not. And the 3 cops assembled all told me that the kid lives at 14th and Girard, "a fucking war zone," and that the kid probably didn't even have parents, or certainly not good parents. So apparently, no one was going to follow through on the one witness who the cops were convinced knows who did this. Afterwards, I told the guy behind the counter at the 7-11 what happened and he told me that someone else got mugged by 3 young black kids last Saturday on 19th street just below Wyoming. The cop also told me that there had been a string of such crimes in our area of late. What has started to bug me more and more since this incident is the fact that we've got the name and address of a kid who the cops are certain knows who these attackers are, and the cops seem to be telling me that they're not going to follow through with that kid. What the hell else do they need - I gave them at the very least a witness who knows the attackers' names, and at best an accomplice. Gang, I'm a 39 year old male, in very good shape, 5-10, 160 pounds. I was wearing a down parka which makes me look about 170+ pounds. I wasn't using my phone, I wasn't wearing head phones. Yet these kids had no worries about attacking me, strangling me, and forcing me to the ground at 8PM on a Tuesday on a busy road in a good neighborhood in front of several witnesses - there were people on the sidewalk about 50ft in front of me and 50ft behind me (who didn't do a thing to help). And they did it right next to a place where the cops usually hang out. These kids are experienced, and brazen. Had they jumped a smaller woman or an elderly person with the violence they used to take me down, the injuries would have been much worse (I got away with a bleeding tongue, a sore knee, a very bruised sense of personal safety - fortunately, as I was going to the gym, I didn't have my wallet on me). One other aside, the one cop told me that the way the kids attacked me, it being so violent and well- orchestrated (because within a millisecond they had me blinded and choked so I couldn't breathe or scream), that it was unusual for that kind of attack. Meaning, these kids are trouble. Finally, a 30-something guy at the 7-11 came up to me afterwards and told me he had seen 3 kids matching the description of my attackers hanging out at the corner of 19th and Wyoming the other day, they were just a bit down on 19th street, in that dark patch beside the 7-11. He got the distinct feeling that the kids were casing people, but then figured he was just being paranoid, so he walked away. Can someone out there please help with this? I have a very strong fear that I am not the first in our neighborhood attacked by the kids, and judging by the cops' lack of desire to follow through with the kid I ID'd, I may not be the last person they jump. The card I got from one of the officers lists his name as: Jeffrey Ackerman, badge #2181, 3d district My case number is: 182-471 My name is John Aravosis, phone 202-328-0013 I'm going to forward this to Jim Graham as well. Any help by the rest of you would be much appreciated. Thanks, JOHN |