June 27, 2015

Better Know a Commissioner: Kathleen Crowley

June 27, 2015/ Drew

It’s time for “Better Know a Commissioner!”

This ongoing series is about the ANC 4C and 4D commissioners that serve our Petworth neighborhoods. Hopefully you know your ANC commissioner -- if not, now you can.

I’m pleased to introduce Kathleen Crowley, ANC 4C commissioner for single member district (SMD) 4C10. A newly elected commissioner for 2015, Kathleen took her community activism and made it formal when she won a contested race for the SMD. Learn more about Kathleen after the break:

June 26, 2015

New Principal for Powell Elementary

June 26, 2015/ Drew

Powell Elementary is getting a new principal.

With current principal Janeece Docal leaving to move with her family to Spain, the DCPS Chancellor has selected Ms. O'Kiyyah Lyons-Lucas as the next principal of Powell Elementary.

Ms Lyons-Lucas has been a teacher since 2007, was the vice principal of Columbia Heights Education Campus and was recently the principal of Center City Public Charter Schools.

The message from Kaya Henderson, DCPS Chancellor:

"After balancing your input and recommendations with the needed experience and skills that research links to success, we concluded that your recommendation, O’Kiyyah Lyons-Lucas, is the strongest candidate to lead the Powell school community. We are happy to report that Ms. Lyons-Lucas has accepted the offer to be the Powell Elementary School principal. Her official appointment begins on June 29, 2015.

O’Kiyyah Lyons-Lucas has spent her entire career in education serving the students of Washington , DC. She began her career as a Teach for America corps teacher in 2007 at Columbia Heights Education Campus. She spent four years as a teacher before being promoted to an instructional coach position at the school. After serving as an instructional coach, Ms. Lyons-Lucas was promoted to an assistant principal position. Ms. Lyons-Lucas was an assistant principal for two years before leaving DC Public Schools to become the principal of Center City Public Charter School at the Capitol Hill campus. Ms. Lyons-Lucas holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree from American University."

There's an informal meet and greet with Ms Lyons-Lucas on Monday, June 29th, at 9:30am at Powell' summer off-site location of Sharpe Health School (4300 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20011).

Good luck to Ms Lyons-Lucas! And a fond farewell to Ms Docal, the DC Principal of the Year last year.

June 26, 2015

A partnership to help cats find their forever home

June 26, 2015/ Drew

Did you need a kitty to brighten your home? The Washington Humane Society and Annie’s Hardware has you covered. The next event is scheduled for Sunday, June 28th, from 12pm - 3pm.

Near the end of the summer in 2012, Yolanda Thomas was at Annie's Hardware when she met Anne Strom, owner of the store, and her dog. Yolanda had just left the Washington Humane Society (WHS) shelter and was wearing her WHS t-shirt. After talking for a bit, Anne offered to host an adoption event and the rest is, as they say, a successful history.

Thanks to the support from Anne and her staff, the adoption event has been held almost every month since that first summer 3 years ago. Approximately twenty cats and kittens have found permanent loving homes, and they’ve been able to increase donations (both monetary and supplies) for WHS.

In fact, the first kitten adopted at the very first event was taken home by the roommate of one of Anne's employees.

And if you're interested, there are many ways to donate to support the Washington Humane Society.

June 25, 2015

Dunkin Donuts opens on Georgia

June 25, 2015/ Drew

If you hadn't heard or seen by now, Dunkin Donuts has opened at the corner of Quincy and Georgia Avenue, at the bottom of the Park Place apartments.

June 25, 2015

Petworth Jazz Project Saturday

June 25, 2015/ Drew

Update: Tonight's Jazz Project is cancelled due to the rain. Next month!

I highly recommend you go to the Petworth Jazz Project at the Petworth Park (8th & Taylor St NW) on Saturday, June 27th from 6-9pm if you:

a) like jazz
b) have kids
c) like good pizza
d) wanna hang with neighbors
e) all the above

Baba Ras D will perform at 6pm for kids (if you don't know Baba, he's like the Bob Marley for 3 and 4 year olds, they love / are obsessed with him). He's also an incredibly nice guy.

The Corey Wallace DUBtet will perform at 7pm for everyone, and should offer a great show. From listening to some of Corey's music, we're in for a treat.

And lastly, Timber Pizza Co will be onhand with their portable brick-oven and will be making outstanding pizzas.

Here's hoping the weather cooperates!

June 23, 2015

Youth Summit on rights & law enforcement

June 23, 2015/ Drew

So this is pretty interesting, and frankly, is something that everyone should attend. The USAO's office (United States Attorney's Office) is holding its 5th Annual United States Attorney's Office Youth Summit. The summit focuses on educating youth about understanding their rights and responsibilities when interacting with law enforcement. The goal is to teach kids how to deal with the police so that interactions don't escalate. Read more for details:

June 22, 2015

What do you want on your pizza?

June 22, 2015/ Drew

Timber Pizza Co. is organizing a community meeting with ANC 4C07 Commissioner John-Paul Hayworth to discuss their plans to open a restaurant at 809 Upshur Street NW. The meeting is Wednesday, June 30th from 7:30-8:30pm in the Petworth Library large meeting room (basement level).

Come by and meet the owners, Andrew Dana and Chris Brady, and discuss the restaurant concept, help shape their ANC / community agreement, discuss any noise concerns (they're planning on outdoor seating), and so on. I think this is a great idea, and kudos to Timber Pizza for being proactive!

No RSVP needed. (h/t JP Hayworth)

June 22, 2015

Thai/Balinese Restaurant coming to Upshur St

June 22, 2015/ Drew

Looks like Upshur Street between 8th & 9th Streets continues its growth as a restaurant row. Word is that a group is looking to open a Thai / Balinese restaurant at 845 Upshur St NW, where the closed China American Inn is now.

They hope to open in Fall 2015. I'll try to get more info.

June 21, 2015

A quick review of Timber Pizza

June 21, 2015/ Drew

Timber Pizza Co. had their portable brick oven set up at the Kennedy Street Festival on Saturday, and getting a pizza from them was high on my list of to-do's for the day. By the time I got there, there were only three pizza doughs left -- they clearly had a good day, and I clearly was lucky to get there in time.

I finally got the chance to meet owners Andrew Dana and Chris Brady in person, after doing a phone interview with Andrew a few weeks back. Both are very excited about opening up the restaurant on Upshur Street later in the winter (though with the amount of work 809 Upshur St needs, I'm thinking this might be an early 2016 opening).

Owner Andrew Dana making me a pizza with two kinds of cheese and pepperoni.

Then we got down to the business at hand, and I ordered a half-pepperoni, half-cheese pizza (a small one to split with the family). I watched Andrew stretch the dough, put the sauce on, then the two kinds of cheese (low-moisture mozzarella/provolone, fresh mozzarella), then a couple of thin pepperoni slices.

Into the brick oven it went with the long-handled pizza spatula. Before I knew it, "Pizza coming out!" was shouted and the pizza came back out of the oven, steaming and bubbling. After walking around the festival for a few hours, at this moment my growling stomach and I were both very focused on the pizza.

Over it went to Chris, who offered to put on basil (and they had some very fresh-looking basil waiting) but I declined -- not sure my 4 year old would go for it. Chris then grabs a large "rocker" pizza cutter and quickly cuts the pie up into 4 large slices. The pie went onto a perfectly cut, perfectly sized round piece of cardboard and I think I mumbled a quick "thanks" as my impatient appetite pulled me over to the entryway of a closed business where my family was sitting and waiting.

Even with a bandaged hand, Chris is a master with the rocker.

This was a good pizza. The cheese was thick and melty, and there was good oil on the pizza without making a total mess everywhere. The bottom of the crust had that slight wood-burnt crunch, and the edge soft and thick. It folded up perfectly. The pepperoni was tasty -- cut thin so the flavor was there but it didn't overwhelm the slice. I was really hoping the pizza would be good, and Timber Pizza did not disappoint.

My 4-year old daughter said, chewing around her second piece, "Daddy, when they open, I want to go eat there every night." Yeah, me too.

You can try them out for yourself this upcoming weekend. Timber Pizza Co. will be at the Petworth Jazz Project on Saturday, June 27th at the Petworth Park (6pm - 9pm). I highly recommend you show up to grab a pizza -- before they run out of dough.

Find them online at TimberPizza.com.

June 21, 2015

Overview of the Kennedy Street Festival

June 21, 2015/ Drew

The 2nd annual Kennedy Street Festival kicked off at 11am on Saturday, and between all the artists, booths, vendors, the guy dancing to the Michael Jackson music, and tasty food trucks, it was a great event. I tried to talk to a few different vendors and get an idea of what was being sold, drawn, crafted or showcased.

Read more to see pictures and video and learn about some of the vendors.

June 20, 2015

Introducing new Petworth News logo

June 20, 2015/ Drew

I started this blog as a basic Facebook page back in late November 2014. I was unsure of how popular it might be and how long I might keep it up, and even changed its name a couple of times before settling on Petworth News. As the page became more popular, I realized I needed to get legit and get my own brand, logo, colors, and so on.

That's why I'm proud to introduce the new, official Petworth News logo:

A friend of mine thought it looked like the "World of Petworth," which I thought was great. From my perspective, I think by focusing on the Avenues, Streets and Circles in our neighborhood, it calls attention to the fact that Petworth News is first and foremost a neighborhood blog. The bright colors reflect the ideas of positivity for our community. You'll see this new design on my Facebook page, Twitter and other places.

I even created new business cards (I'm always surprised by how many people ask me for a business card). Let me know if you want one: I ordered 500!

This blog is for anyone, and covers news and events happening in Petworth and the surrounding communities like Brightwood, Park View, Shepherd Park, Crestwood, 16th Street Heights, and so on. There are readers in DC, California, Maryland, Virginia and New York, one fellow in England and two readers in Serbia (hi Kevin & Cica!). I hope you all find value in the blog and dig the new design and look!

Thank you for reading and supporting Petworth News.