It’s all about the neighborhood
I think it's fair to say the Celebrate Petworth Festival was a success today. I arrived late, and it was still very crowded. The vendors I spoke with talked about the great day they were having selling, and kids were having fun with the music and dance area.
A gallery of pictures from today is after the break!
Read MoreThe momentum has been building for the past few months, and now the Celebrate Petworth Festival is here. It's going to be a very busy day, with a ton of activities for kids of all ages.
Enlarge to see the schedule of events
I encourage you to check out the day's schedule of events -- since the Festival runs from 11am to 5pm on Upshur Street (between 8th & 9th Street), there are a ton of events going on all day long.
I'll miss the first half of the day (I'll be at the MPD academy) but will be there for the last half of the day.
Special kudos to all the Celebrate Petworth planning committee, who worked hard to make the Festival happen:
If you live in north Petworth and below Takoma Park, there's a new option for a farmer's market. The 14th and Kennedy Street Farmer's Market launches this Saturday, June 6th at 5500 Colorado Ave NW. The market opens at 9am and goes to 1pm and will run through November 21st. It currently features seven vendors selling meat, fruit, vegetables, bread and coffee.
The new market would be a fun activity to do before the Celebrate Petworth Festival kicks off this Saturday the 6th at 11am on Upshur Street, between 8th & 9th Street!
As the season progresses, the market hopes to foster a deeper connection with the community and bring new and varying types of vendors each week based on the expressed needs and desires of the local residents. The market will also feature a rotating table hosting local community organizations, not-for-profit government organizations, and local community businesses to increase awareness of organizations and promote small business in the area.
The market will feature live music every Saturday. Starting June 6th, the market will accept WIC; some vendors will accept SNAP and all vendors will accept SNAP by August 1st.
For more information about the Fourteenth and Kennedy Street Farmers Market, visit their website and Like their Facebook page to stay connected.
Big thanks to Fido & Kitty's World at 4130 Georgia Avenue NW for being the first sponsor of the Petworth News website!
My wife and I shop at Fido & Kitty’s World for our two dogs, picking up frozen and refrigerated meals (look, they’re not spoiled, they’re just gastronomically challenged. It's in everyone's interest that they don't eat Alpo or similar).
Semhar Hagos, the owner of Fido & Kitty’s World, has always been really easy to work with, and special orders the food for one of our dogs that we can't easily get otherwise. We feed one dog frozen raw food, and the other gets grain-free food. Both pups are happy.
You don’t need to special order food, they have a ton of high-quality food for cats and dogs already on the shelves.
Puppy play area behind the store.
The pet store features pet food, toys, beds and other pet needs, as well as a very cute dog play area on the back patio.
Fido & Kitty's World has been an active sponsor of many local events in Petworth, and if you own a pet, check them out as a way of saying thanks. You can find them at 4130 Georgia Avenue NW, and at fidoandkittysworld.com.
And hey, when you swing by, tell them you saw them on Petworth News! :)
Alas, it seems Joe Maloney, ANC 4C Commissioner for 4C02 is resigning from the ANC. He and his family are moving out of the area. If you live in ANC 4C02 and are considering serving, they'll need a new commissioner. Joe sent an email to the 16th Street Heights listserv earlier today:
Read the full email after the break:
Read MoreI'm really pleased to share that I have been nominated to participate in the 1st Cohort of the Metropolitan Police Department Community Engagement Academy. Six residents from each of the seven MPD districts were nominated by MPD leadership to take part, and I was nominated by Fourth District leadership to attend.
I'm really not sure what to expect, per se. According to the nomination papers, the Academy is a six week, 28-hour training program offering information about how DC MPD operates, from the academy to station tours, overviews of specialized policing units like the harbor patrol and K-9, and class discussions on juvenile issues, policing scenarios and use of force. I'm thinking the goal is to create "champions" within the community that can liaison, promote and help MPD engage with residents. (Note that I'm not going to the police academy and not going to be a police officer... this is a learning opportunity for civilians.) Read more after the break:
Read More4D Inspector Vendette Parker
Inspector Vendette Parker, sub-commander for the MPD Fourth District, is kicking off a new public outreach campaign this week called "I Wish U Knew." This campaign is designed to offer local residents the opportunity to tell Inspector Parker what you wish she knew about any issue affecting you, the community and MPD. It's an off-shoot of Mayor Bowser's #IWishUKnew campaign, and was Inspector Parker's idea on how to reach out to and engage with the community.
This will be a weekly series of meetings outdoors in public spaces, where pedestrians can easily come up and talk to MPD. Inspector Parker will be setting up a tent at the Georgia Avenue Metro this Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:00pm to 7:30pm. She's asking for residents to come by, meet her and some fellow officers and share your thoughts, concerns, complaints and compliments. The next meetings will take place in Mt. Pleasant and Riggs-Park. Inspector Parker will announce other locations in the weeks ahead.
They're suggesting you use use hashtags #iwishuknew and tweet to @dcpolicedept on social media.
Inspector Parker has an impressive background with MPD, serving for more than 21 years across DC in all 7 police districts. Read her MPD bio here, and if you can, stop by to talk and meet Inspector Parker.
The Petworth Dance Project needs your help. A great addition to our local culture in Petworth, the Dance Project brings modern dance to Petworth Park on 8th & Taylor, free for residents.
They need help funding the project. They're only 17% of the way toward their goal, and they only have 40 hours left. If you can afford to drop them $5, $10 or $50, I know the organizers will appreciate your help, and you'll know you're supporting the arts in Petworth.
The next two events coming up in June and July sound great, and the one in July takes places in the Spray Park!
Visit their Indiegogo campaign site today, and donate a little Petworth love to them.
The kickoff of the 5th season of the Petworth Jazz Project was a good time -- crowded with people picnicking, kids playing and some really great music, and capped off a long day of Petworth activities. Big kudos to Tom Pipkin, the passionate organizer behind the Project.
I was able to chat with the percussionist Joe Kennedy, Jr (aka "Rainbow Joe") and he had a good time playing for the kids (he does drum workshops and lessons, if you're interested) and the kids had a great time playing instruments and dancing around the park.
While I was waiting for the Donvonte McCoy Quintet to come on, I met Sara Herrera Kopetchney, who runs the Petworth Dance Project... Read more & see pics and video after the break:
Read MorePetworth Library had its Summer Reading Kickoff celebration today, and got a visit by the 16th President of the United States! Ok, a tall fabric version, but close enough! The Lincoln mascot from the Washington Nationals came by to help celebrate summer reading and entertain kids of all ages (I think the parents were more excited than the kids, lol).
There are some great books available, from young kids to teens to adult fiction and non-fiction. Best part, they're all free. If you haven't checked out the recently renovated Petworth Library, y you're definitely missing out on a wonderful resource. You can even check out DVDs and CDs (no download required). ;)
See all the great pics after the break:
Read MoreThe Powell Carnival is going on at Upshur Street Park (at the basketball courts until 4pm).
There's a bouncy house, games, food and lots of neighbors and Powell parents with their kids. Councilmember Todd and his Director of Constituent Services Jackson Carnes were there (Todd even bought a Powell Elementary shirt). Carla Ferris, co-president of the Powell parents group, was doing great running the hoola hoop contest, while her husband Horacio Artiga made some outstanding hot dogs.
Andy Rowe, co-president of the Powell parents group, said "Turnout today has been great. We have folks from the school and from the neighborhood. It's been a great time!"
See pictures after the break:
Read MoreThe Petworth Market is doing brisk business this morning. Get set for a busy day in Petworth by picking up your morning coffee at Harrars, a sandwich from Meat Crafters and a dessert with Teeny's and Emma's Bake Shop.
Then treat yourself to handmade Petworth and DC art from Torie Partridge at Cherry Blossom Creative (Torie's art is the cover photo for Petworth News, and a signed copy is hanging in our foyer.) The prices Torie is asking for her artwork is insanely low-priced, so grab a piece of DC art!
Read more to see all the pictures!
Read MoreThis Saturday, May 30th is the kickoff of the 5th season of the Petworth Jazz Project at Petworth Park (8th & Taylor). There's always a kids' show first, followed by a very talented jazz musician or group.
As always Petworth Jazz Project brings the best in local jazz to the heart of Petworth, for free, outdoors, on the lawn. Is there any better way to spend your evening? Tell a neighbor and bring a friend!
Read more after the break:
Read MoreCome celebrate Petworth News reaching a milestone of 1,000 Facebook Likes, a new website (this one!), and neighbors connecting with neighbors.
If I've ever committed to buying you a beer for reading to the bottom of a long post, here's your chance to try to collect.
I look forward to meeting you at the event and putting faces to the names!
Petworth News, a neighborhood blog on local news, information & events about the Petworth area in Washington DC.
Petworth News is a news site about Petworth area neighborhoods in Washington DC, written by Drew Schneider and other amazing contributing writers. It features facts and objective reporting, as well as an occasional subjective point of view and opinion.
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