5/6/04:                                           [85]

Expanded City Lights of China open at 1727 Conn Ave.

Quizno's Subs now open in former Burrito Brothers 
space at 1718 Conn Ave. 

See WT review "Sette's pasta wins for number of 
reasons,"
http://washingtontimes.com/weekend/20040505-111321-6002r.htm

Former Comfort One at 1630 Conn Ave expected to become
an AT&T Wireless store. 

WP has scoop on building at 1619 Conn Ave, once home
to Kemp Mill, and now slated to be new home for 
cosmetics retail shop BlueMercury. See "Behind a 
Connecticut Avenue Facade, a Hint of History,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61688-2004May2.html

WBJ profiles B&B The Dupont at The Circle, at 1604 
19th St. See "Water rescue: After a deluge left a
Dupont bed-and-breakfast partially closed, it turned
to the SBA to help bail it out,"
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2004/05/03/smallb1.html

M St strip club for sale. See "Nude Dance License Is a
Hot Property: Bankrupt Club Up for Auction,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3965-2004May5.html
   See also "Rare 'Class CN' Live Adult Entertainment 
Liquor License & Prime Real Estate in D.C. Available 
Through Live Bankruptcy Auction of 1819 Club on May 
18," http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040419/phm001_1.html 

Effort to improve Ross playground at 17th & R; see
http://www.rosselementary.org/wiebenson_playground.php

"100% Mexico, Hecho a Mano" will open in June at 1612
14th St (between Q and Corcoran). Owners say the store
"is the first international franchise of FONART, a 
Mexican government agency dedicated to promoting 
Mexican handicrafts on an international scale and to 
improving the life of Mexican artisans. The store will
sell a wide variety of pottery, ceramic tableware, 
glassware, laquerware, textiles (e.g. shawls, 
tablecloths, placemats), metalware (e.g. mirrors), and
baskets, all handmade and bought directly from 
artisans throughout Mexico."

See "Lincoln Theatre gets resident acting company,"
http://www.thecommondenominator.com/041904_news4.html

WP says work has begun to turn former Pitts Hotel at
15th & Belmost into 103 luxury condos, "The Fedora at
Meridian Hill." See "Condos Replacing Hotel,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3970-2004May5.html

WEG reports on new G-town cafés. See "Restaurant News
& Notes," http://www.westendguide.us/restnotes0504.htm

WEG reports on plans for 2518 Q St. See "Georgetown's
Sheridan Garage to Become Luxury Apartments," http://www.westendguide.us/sgarage0504.htm

WP profiles Côté Jardin, new antiques shop at 3218 O 
St. See "Turning Things Inside Out in Georgetown,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3361-2004May5.html

WEG reports on dilapidated sign at 1351 Wisconsin Ave.
See "Georgetown Theater Sign To Be Restored: Classic 
1950's Neon Sign Would Be Prohibited in Georgetown 
Today," http://www.westendguide.us/sign0504.htm
   See also "Theater Had Long History as Entertainment
Venue," http://www.westendguide.us/gtheater0504.htm

G-town's Polo shop will move temporarily to space next
to Barnes & Noble, then turn former Wisc Ave Britches
space into a 5-story flagship store.

WEG comments on G-town's new sidewalks. See "M Street
Worse After Reconstruction," 
http://www.westendguide.us/oped0504.htm

WEG reports on two buildings planned for waterfront.
See "Embassy of Sweden Complex To Provide Parkland, 
Housing at Georgetown Harbor," 
http://www.westendguide.us/sweden0504.htm

WP examines effects of Tenleytown's Container Store &
Best Buy. See "Big-Name Stores Change a Neighborhood,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22835-2004Apr18.html

WBJ covers fledgling efforts to redevelop 9th St 
between M and N. See "Retail ripple effect: Fledgling 
project tests development waters surrounding the 
Washington Convention Center," 
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2004/04/19/story4.html

WBJ looks at status of old convention center site and
proposed convention hotel. See "A $1 billion do-over:
What looked like done deals for two major downtown 
projects now may get erased by city leaders,"
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2004/05/03/story1.html
   See also "No do-overs,"
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2004/05/03/editorial1.html

New Five Guys open at 808 H St.

WP looks at redevelopment of Bowen Building at 15th &
I and other historic buildings. 
See "Builders Find Challenges in Blending New With the Old,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22834-2004Apr18.html
   Also says Urban Outfitters, Ann Taylor Loft and
Aveda Institute are coming to Gallery Place (7th & H),
and that Friendship Heights Hecht's will be completely
replaced with a new store adjoining a new Whole Foods
Market. Old building will be converted into a 
courtyard.

Ticketplace will move to 407 7th St (by D St) May 12. 

WP looks at Penn Quarter/East End/Downtown/Chinatown/
Gallery Place neighborhood. See "By Any Name, the 
City's Center Is Booming,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40097-2004Apr25.html

Friday, May 7: Bike-to-Work Day; http://www.waba.org 

Saturday, May 8: Complimentary neighborhood bash at
Helix's new outdoor lounge, Helix Inside Out, 1:00 -
4:00, 1430 RI Ave, "taking the groove outdoors."

May 8 & 9: go mama go! and Rice restaurant will be 
holding a fundraising barbecue and bake sale to 
benefit N Street Village on Mothers' Day weekend. 1809
14th St. 11 to 7 on Saturday and noon to 5 on Sunday. 

Saturday, May 15: Opening reception for digital light
sculptor Leo Villareal at Conner, 6-8. See [1] below. 

May 15: Opening reception for "Jason Falchook: Behind
the Shine" and "Gary Petersen: Something Like 
Paradise" at Fusebox, 6-8.

May 15: "Wig Aid" to benefit SMYAL, Velvet Nation, 
7pm, $10. See http://www.cookiebuffet.com/WigAid.html

Saturday, May 22: "A Dog Day Afternoon at National 
Geographic," 17th & M, 10 to 4.

Best regards,
Michæl
------------------------------------------------------
[1]                                         [abridged]
Leo Villareal
May 15 - June 26, 2004 

Conner Contemporary Art is pleased to present the 
digital light sculpture of New York based media artist
Leo Villareal in his second solo exhibition in 
Washington, DC. 
   The exhibition will feature "Horizon", a 24' 
installation of nine glowing tubes of light. Each 
plexiglass tube is filled with red-green-blue LED's 
(light emitting diodes) that are individually 
modulated, producing a palette of over 16 million 
different colors. "Horizon" is based on the artist's 
current examination of materials and the continued 
exploration color, form and movement through his own 
custom software. The new modulations create a 
mesmerizing temporal abstraction. 
   Inspired by mathematician John Conway's "Game of 
Life", Villareal's software utilizes a set of rules 
that govern autonomous agents within a matrix. As the
agents explore their terrain and encounter one 
another, a complex system emerges, visually 
manifesting a larger organism at work. At times, the 
resulting abstractions resemble the low-resolution 
graphics of early video games, while at other times; 
the motion suggests something more organic, like the 
shimmering surface of water. The layering of multiple
systems manifests in hypnotic optical effects that 
push and pull the picture plane. 
   There will be a reception for the artist Saturday,
May 15th from 6-8pm. Artist in attendance. 
   Conner Contemporary Art is still located at 1730 
Connecticut Avenue, NW - 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 
20009. Hour: Tues-Sat: 11-6pm. For further 
information, contact Karyn Miller @ + 202-588-8750 or 
via email @ info@connercontemporary.com. 
   Further information @: 
http://www.connercontemporary.com/news.htm