September 21, 2015

KSDA keeps up the pressure on vacant properties (updated)

September 21, 2015/ Drew

Here's some good investigative work by neighbors in the Kennedy Street Development Association on vacant and blighted property in the area. It's bad enough that good homes are sitting vacant and are unsafe (or being used by squatters or for other uses), but the city is losing millions in taxable revenue that could be used for good purposes, like homelessness and affordable housing, perhaps? Good job to the KSDA folks for their tenacity on this issue... Read more >

September 20, 2015

Renovation Tips: Eat, bathe and relax in style

September 20, 2015/ Guest Contributor

Are you considering updates and renovations at your house? This is the second in a short series written with my friend and local real estate agent Ryan DaSilva about renovation ideas that are “worth it.” Obviously, “worthiness” is always up to the homeowner. Whether you’re planning on moving in a year or living in your house for the next 50 years, there’s always something to update and improve the house to make it more enjoyable for you.

September 18, 2015

Notes from ANC 4D September meeting

September 18, 2015/ Drew

While ANC 4D met a week ago during their special meeting, there were still agenda items to take of for September. At this meeting they discussed the new senior apartments coming to Kennedy Street, the new Zoning Comprehensive Plan for downtown, CareFirst Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Castello's restaurant and a few other items. Read all the notes and see pictures, after the break:

September 18, 2015

Join Friends of Grant Circle, NPS and your neighbors to keep the Circle beautiful

September 18, 2015/ Drew

The National Park Service is turning 100 next August, and they’re kicking off their centennial celebrations on September 26th with a city-wide celebration — cleaning parks.

They’re looking to work with community members to help maintain and improve the parks in our area, including Grant Circle. Petworth neighbors Carol Herwig and George Morgan are partnering with NPS to launch a new Friends of Grant Circle group that will team up with NPS to help maintain the park in the Circle. The Friends will take care of things that don’t fall under “normal” maintenance and be the “eyes and ears” of the Circle for NPS.

Read more about the Friends of Grant Circle and the upcoming celebration on September 26th, after the break:

September 16, 2015

How to read Petworth News in iOS 9 Apple News app

September 16, 2015/ Drew

If you upgraded to iOS 9 on your iPhone or iPad, you can now get Petworth News in your Apple News app. Pretty neat. Obviously, the best way to read Petworth News is on the website. But since I'm a geek, here's another option for you.

Read how to set up Petworth News in the Apple News app in iOS 9:

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: