New Columbia Heights

Is the BP gas station a drug dealer hangout?

2009-11-27T11:59:00.001-05:00

Recently on the South Columbia Heights listserve there's been some discussion about the BP gas station at 14th and Euclid. Apparently a bunch of guys were loitering after the owners asked them to leave. The police responded and everybody left, but a few days later the same people were there, so the police banned them from the premises. The implication on the listserve is that the gas station is a hangout for drug dealers, which I'd never really heard before.

I have seen guys meet other guys there and pass them money, but I (perhaps naively) figured it was just some guy who owed some other guy money. But this is the first I've heard -- has anyone else heard about this?

I posed the question on the listserve and got a response from one person who had recently been to a meeting with MPD where the BP station and two other problem areas (1333 Euclid and 11th and Clifton) were discussed. MPD's Lt. Pearce gave her cell number and asked people to text her if they saw anything that concerns them, such as aggressive people, people doing drugs or under the influence, and so on, especially around those three problem areas. Her number is 202-498-9833.

Lt. Pearce then asked people to call 911 after alerting her even if it's not an emergency, as 911 calls are logged to see where more police presence is needed.

DC rapper Wale to appear at Target on Friday

2009-11-26T14:26:00.000-05:00

In case Target wasn't crazy enough already, DC rapper Wale, who's featured Columbia Heights in two videos, will be at every Target in DC and PG County on Friday signing albums and giving away mixtapes. Since the only Target in DC is the one in our neighborhood, I expect he'll be there. His debut album, Attention Deficit, came out this month.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T11:03:00.001-05:00

Hope you're having a good one with friends or family. If you're going out to eat somewhere in the neighborhood, let me know how it is!

Black Friday is going to be crazy at DCUSA

2009-11-25T22:31:00.004-05:00

I have a feeling that DCUSA is going to be completely bananas on Black Friday: I've seen ads on tv today for sales at both Best Buy and Target starting at 5 am, and a poster on Twitter just told me that they're setting up port-a-johns outside. I'm out of town for the holiday, but if you take any pictures or have any tales, please let me know in the comments.

Hopefully everybody has a good time and the city makes lots of dough from tax revenues!

Update: I also saw commercials for Radio Shack of all places too, with sales starting at 5:30 am.

Art on 14th Street: Cherif Mamadou

2009-11-25T15:00:00.000-05:00

Walking down 14th near the Target a week or so ago I saw an artist selling his paintings, which is different from street vendors in the area. The artist's name is Cherif Mamadou, who's originally from the Ivory Coast via Paris but lives in DC now.

I've seen him before painting at the triangle park in Mt. Pleasant, he tends to paint quickly while listening to music. He said one of the goals is to get kids interested in art, which is a good one, and I've often seen kids watching him at work. He had a bunch of different works for sale, and he's a pretty friendly guy.

Here's a bunch of pictures of him working, and a video below.

Manny and Olga's coming to Georgia Ave?

2009-11-25T10:25:00.000-05:00

Saw this the other day on Georgia Avenue, just south of the Looking Glass Lounge. Since they seem to be looking for a franchisee, which require a fair amount of cash, I would assume this is a ways off. The pizza from Manny & Olga's is ok, but they do deliver very late.

Free English classes for families

2009-11-25T08:15:00.000-05:00

If you or anyone you know is looking for English classes, check this out -- there's a free family literacy program at the Carlos Rosario School at 1100 Harvard Street NW with all kinds of classes: English, computers, reading, etc.

Here's the flyer, in English, Spanish, Amharic, and Vietnamese. Spread the word!

Pictured: Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

Wild Post story about a wrongly convicted CH resident

2009-11-24T14:01:00.003-05:00

The Post has a great article about a man who was wrongly convicted of a murder, jailed for 10 years, and recently exonerated. He then accepted a scholarship from the George Washington University and lives in Columbia Heights. There was a documentary made about him too. Interesting stuff, have a look.

I'd heard about this story before in the GW Hatchet, but I didn't know he lived in our area.

Recommended: Mom & Pop Antiques (& Records)

2009-11-24T11:48:00.002-05:00

Mom & Pop Antiques
Originally uploaded by squidpants

The other day I was going to Looking Glass Lounge with some friends and we noticed the antique shop about a block down. It's called Mom & Pop Antiques and we decided to take a look. Now I'm not normally a fan of antique stores, but this one is neat.

There's a lot of interesting doo-dads, plus tons of cool old records (Tempations, Commodores, New Edition, etc). Lots of old school funk and R&B, mostly for $2, and the owner says they get new ones in all the time. The store isn't very big but there's a lot of things packed in there, so you could definitely spend some time. It's not super upscale or pricey like Goodwood, but it's not junky either -- just neat items. The owner was friendly and helpful as well.

Check it out! They're open 12-5 most days and closed Tuesdays.

Mom & Pop Antiques is at 3534 Georgia Ave NW, near Otis Place. Ph: (202) 722-0719

Drug bust on 1300 block of Columbia Road

2009-11-24T10:25:00.002-05:00

Nice to see this ~~especially since it's on the same block as the shooting of 9-year old Oscar Fuentes.~~ Let's hope that means the block and gang problems associated with it are getting cleaned up. From the 3D Listserve:

The Metropolitan Police Department Third District announces the arrest of three adults in the 1300 block of Columbia Road, Northwest, following the execution of a search warrant on Saturday, November 21. There was a significant amount of drugs and money recovered as well as two handguns.

These three arrests are as a result of on-going drug investigations in the Columbia Heights Neighborhood.

Unicyclist in the neighborhood?

2009-11-24T08:15:00.001-05:00

This is random -- the other day my friend said they saw a unicyclist going down 13th Street and that they've seen this before. Mopeds, scooters, and bikes I've seen, but unicycle, not so much. Plus that hill starting at 13th and Clifton would be pretty tough on one wheel.

Street Booze: MD 20/20 on Irving Street

2009-11-23T15:47:00.006-05:00

This is second installment of Street Booze, where I document the various bottles of booze found tossed around the neighborhood.

This one's a bottle of MD 20/20 (aka Mad Dog) with a plastic bag around it that I spotted on Irving between 13th and 14th (at night, hence the blurriness). Mad Dog is a fortified "wine" that's fruit flavored, and this one was "peaches and cream." I remember drinking this stuff in college and having it at parties as a joke.

Interestingly, according to Wikipedia, the MD stands for "Mogen David," the name of the company that makes it, and it's from Westfield, NY. Mogen David is Hebrew for Star (or shield) of David. Not sure what 20/20 means, since you won't seeing 20/20 after drinking it.

New beer series at Room 11 starting today

2009-11-23T10:45:00.000-05:00

If you like beer (and especially stout) get over to Room 11 today. They've started a new Monday Night Beer Series where they tap a keg of something different and pair it with some food. Today's beer is Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, and owner/bartender Dan Searing told the Post he might pair it with some blue cheese.

New monthly gay dance party at Wonderland

2009-11-23T08:15:00.002-05:00

Have been meaning to write about this for awhile -- there's a gay dance party called Pink Sock starting up for the third Wednesday of every month at Wonderland. Doors open at 9:00 pm with no cover and there's a $5 shot and PBR special. The first one was on the 18th and I hear there was a big crowd, and the next will be December 17.

Their press release also notes that Wonderland used to be a longtime gay bar called Nob Hill. The release adds: "We're talking everything from Grace Jones to Prince, Madonna to Lady Gaga, Miss Kittin to MSTRKRFT. To further stimulate and entrance you, there will be accompanying visualizations and home-made music videos that are sure to delight and disturb."

Here's their website and Twitter.

Strange column on Columbia Heights in the Post

2009-11-22T15:40:00.000-05:00

Saw this the other day: Washington Post columnist Petula Dvorak writes about Columbia Heights with a column called "Columbia Heights still has far to go." I agree with that premise, but the column itself is... strange. It almost reads like it was much, much longer but was cut down, leaving not much actual content. She talks to a couple kids who aren't surprised by the violence in the area, and then attempts to contrast Tynan Coffee and Tea with an unused playground.

Dvorak talks to one other person who says the new development isn't making crime drop, and Dvorak mentions statistics that crime is going up. And that's it. The column just sort of ends. It's odd, and I don't really know what to think. Obviously there's a lot that still can improve in Columbia Heights, especially involving kids and crime, but at the same time, this column lends nothing -- no suggestions, no ideas, no examples. Post commenters are pretty angry about it, calling it a "hit job" and such. Your thoughts?

Santa dog costumes at Target

2009-11-19T12:21:00.001-05:00

Santa dog
Originally uploaded by squidpants

Sometimes Christmas decorations and displays coming early can be funny -- saw this the other day at our local Target, it's a Santa costume for dogs. They also had some other various amusing Christmas things for pets.

Mostly I'm against dog costumes because they are ridiculous, but this one is just too funny/weird to ignore.

MPD neighborhood meetings today

2009-11-19T08:15:00.000-05:00

MPD's police service areas 302 and 308 are hosting meetings today. Here's the details:

--PSA 302: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM at Harriet Tubman Elementary School, 3101 13th Street NW

--PSA 308: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM at Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street NW

Here's a map of the PSAs if you're not sure which one you're in.

Open house for charity at Wonderland toninght

2009-11-18T14:30:00.002-05:00

Neat event tonight at Wonderland, where you can learn about Greater DC Cares and Inner City Outings. Greater DC Cares is a group that matches volunteers with groups that need them, and Inner City Outings takes inner city kids on trips to nature.

Here's the details:

Wonderland Ballroom is hosting a Greater DC Cares/Inner City Outings Happy Hour from 5pm-8pm. Enjoy food and drink specials and learn more about our programs. Wonderland is located at 1101 Kenyon ~~Ave~~ St NW.

14th Street construction update

2009-11-18T12:49:00.001-05:00

Construction
Originally uploaded by squidpants

As you've probably noticed, the 14th Street construction is continuing apace. The intersection of 14th and Irving is basically done, with new pavers, trees, benches, and it looks like an area for greenery. The civic plaza is done, and 14th and Park/Kenyon is the new focus, going north towards Monroe.

The streets are dug up along 14th and Park (pictured here), and sidewalk work isn't quite underway at that intersection. Sidewalk construction looks done at 14th and Kenyon. There's also been some street closures, more of which is on the Streetscape website.

Unfortunately future plans aren't described too well on the site, so stay tuned!

South Columbia Heights meeting tonight

2009-11-18T08:15:00.000-05:00

The South Columbia Heights Neighborhood Association/MPD/ANC meeting is today at the Josephine Butler Parks Center, which is at 2437 15th St. NW. Along with usual neighborhood meeting trappings and the police readout, there's also going to be a report on speed humps going in on the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Clifton and Euclid Streets, plus construction at Cardozo Court, which is at 1343 Clifton Street NW.

Best Buy Black Friday contest

2009-11-17T14:01:00.000-05:00

As most stores in the area have let you know, Christmas is coming. Our local Best Buy is holding a Black Friday VIP (aka the day after Thanksgiving) contest, where the winner gets lots of goodies:

- 1 winner in the DC area will be selected to receive:
--- limo ride to the Columbia Heights store on the morning of Black Friday
--- $1000 Best Buy gift card
--- early admittance into the store to shop for door-buster items and more
--- Insignia Digital Camcorder to document the experience

To enter, submit before November 20th a 250 word entry on what you're most excited about for this year's Black Friday. Here's the link for entering.

Arrest made, more scary details in Oscar Fuentes case

2009-11-17T10:16:00.003-05:00

Good news and bad news about the case of Oscar Fuentes, the 9-year old who was shot and killed in his family's apartment over the weekend. The Post reports an arrest was made, which is good. The scary news is that apparently the apartment building has 100 fire code violations and tenants say gang members control the building, even collecting rent from residents. That's insane and I hope something is done about that, and about the landlord.

There was a vigil last night, and there's a press conference going on now, so check back soon.

Top Chef contestant sighted at CommonWealth

2009-11-17T10:15:00.000-05:00

Last night my buddy spotted Michael Isabella at CommonWealth. He's from DC and is the chef at Zaytinya. Cool to see famous folks in the hood, even if they're from DC.

Google Maps now has points of interest in the neighborhood

2009-11-17T08:15:00.001-05:00

This is pretty cool -- I noticed on Google Maps that they have dots for bars, restaurants, shops and such.

It's pretty up to date also, Room 11 is on there. A couple spellings are off (El Rintinonto instead of El Rinconcito) but still, pretty cool.

Have a look.

In case you missed it, Chipotle opens Dec. 10!

2009-11-16T14:45:00.005-05:00

I wrote about it on Saturday, but in case you missed it, Chipotle is opening on or about Dec. 10.

I snapped this sign this weekend, which says "we will be opening for business on or about Dec. 10" and they're hiring (come by M-F 9am to 5pm), and I also snapped a couple shots of the outside and interior.