November 30, 2016

Display your sense of civility and democracy and buy a yard sign

November 30, 2016/ Drew

Update: Sales have closed. We'll try to have them ready for pickup on Saturday, 12/10 during the Art & Craft Fair on Upshur Street around 4pm.

I saw a great sign in a neighbor's yard this week, and posted a photo to Instagram. I received a lot of questions from readers on how they can buy the same sign. Turns out, local resident Conrad Gross produced the signs based off the design originally created by the Immanuel Mennonite church in Harrisonburg, Virginia. And you can get one if you want one.

November 29, 2016

Church at 8th & Upshur to be demolished, new condos to be built

November 29, 2016/ Drew

The Rock Creek Baptist Church at 8th and Upshur, originally built in the 1950s, had been up for sale for quite some time, as the church prepared to move to Maryland. Now the sale is final and the congregation has moved out, leaving questions in the neighborhood for what comes next. The answer is a developer, ERB Properties, purchased the property and the lot next door, and plans to build four new multi-unit rowhouses.

Neighbor Chris Broderick was kind enough to pass along his notes from a meeting with the developer held Monday, November 28th at Ruta del Vino. I've added additional information as needed.

November 28, 2016

Twisted Horn gets a new name to go along with new menu, prices

November 28, 2016/ Drew

"We are a neighborhood restaurant," Shane Mayson, marketing director for the Hank's restaurants, "And we found the Twisted Horn concept didn't match as closely with that idea. We want to use this opportunity to reintroduce ourselves to the neighborhood."

November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 24, 2016/ Drew

I'm very thankful for everyone who reads and supports Petworth News!

I really appreciate the work of the blog's contributing writers: Zina, Darrell, Adrienne, Lois, Elissa, Anne and Rachel. (And I appreciate my wife and daughter's patience with me as I continue to write this blog.)

I hope you have a wonderful holiday, remembering what makes you lucky in this life, and what we all can do for those who may be not be as lucky.

November 23, 2016

Urban churches on the perimeter of change

November 23, 2016/ Lois Cooper

With the rapid development and gentrification of urban cities, along with the skyrocketing cost of housing in walkable communities, many of the people who once lived in the neighborhood have moved out. Most members commute to worship in the churches that they helped to build by raising money to construct and improve the structures. The churches in local communities are a reminder of the culture and history that was once essential and vital to life in the neighborhood.

November 22, 2016

Are you happy with your cable and cell phone companies? Take a survey! [Update: survey closed]

November 22, 2016/ Drew

Every few months, someone sends an email to the area listservs asking for advice on what cable TV or cellphone company people like. I figured it was a good idea to get everyone's opinion and publish this for neighbors to get an idea of what others like, dislike and how much they're paying.

The information you submit will be published anonymously (no name or email will be published or shared with anyone). This isn't a sponsored post, and no company will see the results... unless they read the blog, naturally.

So share your thoughts!

November 18, 2016

Did you see that big balloon over Petworth?

November 18, 2016/ Drew

Being the curious sort who's also not shy, I walked over to ask ... what the hell is that? Ok, I said it much nicer. The truck was staffed by two gentlemen, who seemed amused at the questions we were asking.

November 18, 2016

A look at Meals on Wheels: where local matters most

November 18, 2016/ Drew

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and many senior citizens don’t have the necessary resources to enjoy food on the holiday. Unfortunately, this is the outcome for many senior citizens who do not have the proper support system, such as family commitment. That's where Meals on Wheels in Takoma Park continues to be a reliable source for the elderly.

November 15, 2016

The musical and visual journey of Bill Crandall and Místochord

November 15, 2016/ Drew

Petworth is more than porches, it's an amazing diversity of background, skills, age and talent. One of the people who help shape the cultural fabric of Petworth is Bill Crandall. Bill has lived in Petworth for over a decade, and has long thought of ways to help encourage the creativity in our neighborhood. That effort starts at his home, with his own art and a free show at the Third Floor on Sunday, November 20th.

November 14, 2016

Come support kids expressing themselves with DC SCORES Poetry Slam

November 14, 2016/ Drew

DC SCORES is a very cool non-profit that provides an after-school program to elementary and middle school children, teaching them soccer, community service and poetry. What they're really teaching is kids teamwork, respect and confidence to achieve their goals.

Learn about and RSVP for the Poetry Slam!

November 14, 2016

ANC 4D draft agenda for November meeting

November 14, 2016/ Drew

The Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4D meets on Tuesday, November 15th at Truesdell Education Campus 800 Ingraham St NW, from 7pm - 9pm.

November 14, 2016

Converting your basement into a rentable apartment? Here's what's involved

November 14, 2016/ Guest Contributor

There's a community meeting next Wednesday, November 16th on zoning and what's involved with converting a basement space into a legal rental. With the recent changes to DC's zoning regulations, many homes in Petworth changed from Zone R-4 to Zone RF-1, which allows for Flats or a two dwelling unit use of a property as a matter of right .

November 13, 2016

Petworth residents push for paid family leave

November 13, 2016/ Adrienne Chu

Anyone winding through the obstacle course of strollers and toddlers at the Petworth Community Market on a Saturday morning would agree that Petworth is experiencing a serious baby boom. The numbers back up the anecdotal evidence—the Petworth-Brightwood-Crestwood area has seen faster growth in the number of children than any other DC neighborhood.

So it comes as no surprise that Petworth is home to fervent supporters of the paid leave legislation now before the DC Council.