September 13, 2015

The opposite of a Slim chance: an interview with Paul Ruppert

September 13, 2015/ Drew

You can’t talk about the recent resurgence along Upshur Street in Petworth without mentioning Paul Ruppert. The Ruppert family has lived and owned businesses in DC since the 1890s when his great-grandfather opened up a hardware store. An entrepreneur at heart, Paul has run several successful restaurants in DC since he opened his first one on 7th Street with his mother in 1992. Paul has made a career of opening businesses in areas of DC that are on the cusp of change, and then lending support to those communities. It’s no different with Petworth. Read more about Slim's Diner and Paul Ruppert, after the break...

September 12, 2015

Petworth Dance Project has been canceled for tonight

September 12, 2015/ Drew

Alas, the rain is chasing the dance away. This evening's Petworth Dance Project has been canceled. They're looking to combine it with the Petworth Jazz Project on Saturday, September 26th. Should make for an outstanding show at Petworth Park at the end of the month!

I'll post more about the final Jazz Project show of the season as we get closer to it.

September 11, 2015

Notes from ANC 4C September 9th meeting

September 11, 2015/ Drew

This meeting looked liked a pretty tame agenda at the outset, but had some interesting moments with community concerns around requiring notice to ANCs about public space use permits, an argument about a grant for a block party, a long back and forth about a small deck and a few other items. You can read them all, below. Grab a drink, it's a long one (and truly a joy to read).

Read more about the meeting and see pictures, after the break:

September 10, 2015

Thai restaurant at 845 Upshur Street gets a name

September 10, 2015/ Drew

The southeast Asian / Thai-inspired restaurant coming to 845 Upshur Street NW is going to be named after a friend of Chef Alex McCoy (well, a friend's nickname, really). It's going to be called Alfie's.

September 09, 2015

Don’t miss Petworth Dance Project’s last performance on Saturday

September 09, 2015/ Drew

The Petworth Dance Project is one of the best gems in the Petworth cultural crown, and the last performance for this summer is this Saturday, September 12th. (Read my first article about the Dance Project and what it means to live in a neighborhood.)

This wonderful event has drawn a small but dedicated crowd that grows each performance. It would be great to give them a big send-off for the last show of the season. So bring a picnic meal and some drinks and enjoy a great experience.

Read more about the free dance program after the break:

September 04, 2015

4D Inspector Parker to become 7D Commander

September 04, 2015/ Drew

Inspector Vendette Parker poses for a selfie with Drew, June 3, 2015

4D substation commander Inspector Vendette Parker is headed off to be the 7th District's newest Commander. Her promotion is effective Sunday. She's going to have a busy workload.

Inspector Parker has been a great resource for me and has worked hard for the Petworth and Ward 4 community.

I wish her the best of luck!

Inspector Parker's email is below:

It is bittersweet that I must send this email. Effective Sunday I will take command of the Seventh District. I have really enjoyed my time at the Fourth District. The relationships and partnerships are irreplaceable. I hope that in my short time here, I have had as much of a positive impact on you as you all have had on me. This is not goodbye but instead, until I see you again.

Inspector Vendette T. Parker, CPM
Fourth District

September 04, 2015

A special September meeting of ANC 4D

September 04, 2015/ Drew

ANC 4D held a special meeting on Thursday, September 3rd in order to clear out some financial business. Basically, they didn’t have a quorum at the end of the August meeting, and were required to vote on expenditures (fiscal year closes at the end of September). Since all ANC expenditures have to be voted on in public, they had to do the meeting.

Since they were meeting… they decided to use the time to talk about the community’s concerns regarding the reinstatement of the liquor license of the Trinidad and Tobago Association (known as “the Club House”) as well as introduce a new affordable senior housing coming to Kennedy Street... Read more about the meeting after the break:

September 03, 2015

A new store for Upshur: DC Treasure antiques & collectibles

September 03, 2015/ Drew

Upshur Street is getting another new business, this time on the 200 block next door to Slash Run. Noah David is opening DC Treasure, an antiques and collectibles store in the old Louisiana Gumbo Express at 205 Upshur St NW. Read more about the new store coming to Upshur:

September 02, 2015

CM Brandon Todd visits Petworth Park, meets parents & staff

September 02, 2015/ Drew

Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd and his staff made a visit to the Petworth Park (801 Taylor St NW) and Petworth Recreation Center this afternoon, along with John Stokes, the chief of staff for the Department of Parks and Recreation.

CM Todd was there to meet with local area parents to hear about concerns and requests for improvements at the park, as well as meeting with Recreation Center staff Clarence Anderson and Karla Kelley. Read more about the visit after the break:

September 02, 2015

Agenda for September ANC 4C meeting

September 02, 2015/ Drew

Whooboy, which blogger gets excited to post an ANC draft agenda? This guy. (Ok, that might be overstating it a tad, but still.)

Here's the agenda for the upcoming Wednesday, September 9th meeting of ANC 4C, held in the basement meeting room of the Petworth Library. Starts promptly at 6:30pm. What's nice is that the ANC is now sending out small descriptions of the agenda items... Read more after the break:

September 01, 2015

Neighborhood Watch crime prevention training

September 01, 2015/ Drew

If you're interested in learning how to reduce crime -- and not be a victim yourself -- consider attending the next Neighborhood Watch crime prevention training.

The next session will be September 16, 2015 at the Second District police station (3320 Idaho Avenue, NW, 20016) at 7:00 pm. This is a free training open to anyone interested in reducing crime. Please contact the Citywide Neighborhood Watch Trainer Samantha Nolan if you plan to attend (desserts and materials are prepared based on the number of participants).

From Ms. Nolan's email: "If you want to learn ways to prevent crime and reduce your likelihood of becoming a crime victim, please attend the training. You will see pictures of actual crime scenes and learn how to avoid becoming a victim of the crimes. More than 80% of crime in DC is preventable (Crime of Opportunity). By reducing these crimes, the police can concentrate on preventing and solving more violent crimes."

If you would like to attend the training, please email Ms Nolan or call 202-244-2620.

August 31, 2015

Community meeting with owners of new Upshur restaurant

August 31, 2015/ Drew

ANC 4C07 Commissioner John-Paul Hayworth held a public meeting this evening with the three owners of the new southeast Asian restaurant coming to 845 Upshur Street, Marc Dosik, Alex McCoy and Hunter Thompson. The meeting was an opportunity to get resident input on a Community Agreement between the three owners and ANC 4C. Read more about the meeting after the break:

August 30, 2015

Park Place apartments retail rumor

August 30, 2015/ Drew

By the way... I heard a rumor that 7-Eleven has either backed out or is no longer being offered a lease at the Park Place apartments (on Georgia Ave over the metro stop). I believe the Wells Fargo bank is still slated to open, but no word on the other empty retail space.

I understand that the sale of the building last year by Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund (for $64 million) to TA Realty (paywall link) was predicated upon having long-term leases (hence national chains like 7-Eleven, Dunkin Donuts and Wells Fargo who can afford a long-term lease), so I wonder if another national chain is going to take that spot. Be nice to see local-owned businesses come into those long-empty spots. Kids' clothing store maybe?

We'll see what happens.