September 15, 2015

Brainstorming on grant ideas for Petworth ANCs 4C & 4D

September 15, 2015/ Drew

In my notes from the September ANC 4C meeting, I grumbled at how much money the ANC had and how few grants have been given out this year. It got me and a neighbor, Loren Schulman, thinking about why there weren't more grants and some ways the ANC could spend some of that money on behalf of the community. So we figured we'd ask our neighbors for ideas...

Read more about the idea and get the link to the brainstorming survey, after the break:

September 14, 2015

Meeting about 3701 Georgia Ave redevelopment (Sweet Mango Cafe)

September 14, 2015/ Drew

ANC 4C Commissioner Timothy Jones is holding a Single Member District meeting (SMD) tonight at 801 Shepherd St NW at 7pm along with Rooney Properties, the new owner and developer of 3701 Georgia Avenue, which used to be Sweet Mango Cafe.

Read more about the meeting and links to the backstory, after the break:

September 13, 2015

CAC public safety meeting on September 17th

September 13, 2015/ Drew

Ron Austin, the Chairman of the Citizen's Advisory Council for MPD's Fourth District, sent me a note that the CAC is meeting on Thursday, September 17th at 7pm to discuss crime and public safety issues with the community and MPD. The meeting, like all 4D CAC meetings, will be at the 4D headquarters at 6001 Georgia Avenue NW.

No special guests, just MPD 4D leadership will be on-hand to take your questions, listen to your concerns and address recent issues.

From the CAC flyer:

Please join us for this month’s Citizen’s Advisory Council meeting on Thursday, September 17, 7:00 PM at 4D headquarters, 6001 Georgia Avenue, NW. This meeting will have no guest speaker. In light of the recent spike in crime, especially violent crime, it was felt that a meeting solely devoted to public safety was appropriate. It is our hope that this meeting will be different from other recent events. At this meeting members of MPD will be on hand to hear your issues and concerns and at the end, we hope to establish an action plan with measurable goals and milestones that will be revisited regularly for review and where necessary, adjustment. (Download a PDF of the flyer.)

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: