Brookland Small Area Plan - Saturday, April 26

Since 2006, the D.C. Office of Planning has been working on a Brookland Small Area Plan. For those that haven't been following the conversations, a Decking Feasibility Plan was just released April 8th, 2008. The feasibility plan explores possible ideas for decking over the tracks at the metro station. When reading the decking study, you will see visions of open plazas, farmers markets, connectivity from Michigan Ave to 10th Street, new residential development and deck parking. It's a grand vision of what the metro area of Brookland could become, but there is a lot of work (and a few reality checks) between us and anything close to the neighborhood portrayed in colorful sketches in the document.

If you want to know more or get involved, there is a meeting coming up. The DC Office of Planning invites you to attend a public meeting about the Brookland/CUA Metro Station Area Plan. All are invited to share comments and questions.

When: Saturday, April 26, 2008
9:30-10:00 a.m., Open House
10 a.m.-noon, Presentation

Where: Noyes Elementary School, 2725 10th St NE The meeting will be in the school auditorium; enter from Franklin Street.

For more information please contact: Deborah Crain, Ward 5 Planner, DC Office of Planning, 801 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 4000
Phone: 202-442-7615 Fax: 202-442-7638
E-mail: Deborah.Crain@dc.gov
Or visit the DC Office of Planning online.

Please RSVP: 202-610-0005 or rsvp@jsallc.com

Outdoor Events of Note

[Edited: Note correction of Monastery Plant Sale dates.]
The sunshine earlier this week had neighbors out and about in anticipation of clearer days. Now the rainy weekend will have a number of us parked in front of the computers again. While puttering on the Internet and fighting the overcast, pull out your calendar and make note of some good outdoor dates:

Moonlit Hike on the Mall, April 18, 7 p.m.: It's not in Ward 5, but it's an opportunity worth mentioning. Sierra Club's MWROP is hosting this hike as part of their "Get to Know DC" series. The family is invited, so long as they can walk 7+ mi. (or a shorter 3 mi.) on relatively level terrain. Bring water. Meet on the Mall side of Constitution Ave., halfway between 15th and 17th Sts. Nearest Metro station is Federal Triangle. For more information, contact the leader, Jim Finucane, at 301/365-3485 (before 9 pm).

Franciscan Monastery Plant Sale, April 26-27: Unless you drive by the Monastery, you might not hear word of this sale. Their annual sale is a spectacular way to get small plant, especially herbs and veggies, for your garden. They also sell annuals, perennials, roses, and trees. I found the prices last year to be very reasonable, often quite lower than Home Depot, with the added bonus of supporting one of the finest (and most hidden) gems of DC.

Great Brookland Yard Sale, April 19: With more than 30 families now participating and several refreshment stations hosted by Menkiti Group, this has grown into an all-neighborhood yard party.

Trees for Ward 5 Homeowners, April 29, 10 a.m - 2 p.m., St. Anthony's School at 12th and Monroe: Our soon-to-be neighbors and all around generous folks at Casey Trees have partnered with DDOE to sponsor a tree giveaway for Ward 5 residents. Homeowners can request up to 2 shade trees for their property. Pre-register by emailing dcshadetree@earthlink.net or calling 202.349.1909 with your name, addy, number and types of tree(s): Princeton American Elm (Ulmus americana ‘Princeton’), River Birch (Betula nigra), or Black gum or Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica). The trees will be in 10 gallon buckets, so these are small enough for the average homeowner to transport home in a car or even a wheel-barrow if you live close enough.

Photo by sophiagrrl of the Monastery in full bloom.

Announcing the Great Brookland Yard Sale, April 19, 2008

In my house, spring cleaning leads to piles of stuff... stuff that isn't trash but doesn't need to be in my house any longer. The neighbors in Brookland have a great solution for this: the (First Ever) Great Brookland Yard Sale. Save the date and come out for some great finds.

What: Great Brookland Yard Sale.
When: Saturday, April 19, 2008 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m
Where: Map online here.
Households throughout the Brookland neighborhood have joined together to hold yard sales. In addition to the individual yard sales, St. Anthony of Padua’s Church on 12th Street NE will be participating as well, with a yard sale in the church’s parking lot.

Yard sale organizers have posted a blog with complete information on the Great Brookland Yard Sale, including a map of the area with participating homes highlighted, and information on some of the items that will be for sale. This information will be updated frequently as the sale approaches.
For more information contact Andrew S. Fortin.

And for Brookland neighbors, it's not too late to sign up. Take a look in the attic or basement and ask yourself, do you really want to miss this grand event??

Photo by Dustin DeKoekkoek

Brookland's Tropicana Co-Owner Charged in Illegal License Scheme

From The Examiner:

A local restaurant owner was part of a scheme to provide illegal immigrants with fraudulent driver’s licenses, authorities said Thursday as new details about a raid on the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles center in Georgetown emerged.

Inside the courtroom, defendants Gloria Gonzalez-Paz, 34, of Prince George’s County, and Dora Romero Morales, 29, of Vienna, appeared in separate hearings. Both women, who are in the U.S. on temporary work permits, wore headphones to listen to an interpreter.

Gonzalez-Paz, who owns a Tropicana Eatery franchise on 12th Street Northeast in D.C. with her husband, wiped tears from her cheeks.

Casey Trees Moving to Brookland in Late 2008

Casey Trees, the DC organization committed to protecting and renewing the city's tree canopy, will be moving to Brookland [pdf] in late 2008:

...Next year [Casey Trees] is moving from 1425 K Street downtown to the Brookland neighborhood at 3030 12th Street and Irving. The group plans to renovate and add to the existing 4000 square foot structure to house a staff that is expected to grow from 20 to 30-35 people over the next 15 years.

“Our central downtown location has been great, but as we’ve grown our need to be based within a neighborhood where we can work hand in hand with our network of community members has increased. We’re looking forward to putting down our own roots as an organization to join the roots of the trees we’ve planted with our volunteers over the past six years” said Mark Buscaino, Casey Trees Executive Director.

Casey Trees has retained Smith Group as its architects who are now working on concepts. Initial thoughts about the building’s construction are for it to be as “green” as possible, incorporating trees, low-impact development stormwater control features, possibly a green roof, and other elements.

You can read Washington Business Journal's article here [pdf].

The Library Saloon's Open House for Brookland - Saturday, October 27th

In response to the recent grumblings from the Brookland community, The Library Saloon is having an open-house with free food and soda tomorrow night for the locals from 5-7 p.m. Additionally, owners Brian Westlye and Gaynor Jablonski recently posted the following response to reoccurring complaints on the Brookland listserv:

1- We appreciate all of the feedback we have received, both positive
and negative, with that feedback we can do our best to try and give Brookland residents a place they can enjoy. Keep it coming please!

2- As of this week our beer selection will be increased to more than three times of what we were originally carrying. Unfortunately, due to the size of our cooler and amount of draft lines we have, a majority of the selections will be in bottles. They range from a nice selection of Light beers to select imports and a few micro-brews. Please come check that out sometime later this week.

3- The glass issue is a work in progress. Glass will be used until a certain point in the evenings where it gets extremely busy. We have been working very hard with our Security staff to do our best to prevent any cups leaving our establishment.

4- The surly bartender who has drawn the ire of many Brooklanders (and us) has been let go. We are currently looking for a new bartender with a more sunny disposition. I myself will be there on Tuesday through Happy Hour if anyone would like to come in and give me some feedback in person.

More on The Library, Cardinal's Nest, and Ellis Island from CUA's The Tower:
» "'Library' Owners React to Local Concerns: Say They Are Cracking Down on Underage Drinkers, Want to be 'Neighborhood Saloon'" - 10.19.07
» "Card's Nest, Ellis Seek Changes To Liquor Licenses" - 10.19.07

Listerv Squabble Over "The Library" Makes the News

Because what we say on our neighborhood listservs isn't behind closed doors....FreeRide also points to a CUA Tower article on students being arrested recently for providing false IDs on the way in.

Dwellings Will Be Closing Soon

Less than a month after Basements & Attics abruptly closed, Brookland's Dwellings will be closing soon:

Dear Friends & Customers,

It is with much sadness that we must announce that Dwellings will be closing at the end of October 2007. Although it was our desire to be a part of the Brookland landscape for many years to come, the store was not growing at a rate that could ultimately sustain itself. We truly enjoyed serving the Brookland community and will miss the relationships that we established with so many of you. We sincerely thank you for your patronage during the past 2 1/2 years.

Yours truly,
Roz Moore
Owner

This is a terrible loss and a severe blow to the revitalization of Brookland's retail core. While many in Brookland want to see a more dynamic and successful commercial "main street" along 12th Street, the fact remains that the neighborhood's density, along with the selection of businesses, are factors in the corridor's struggle to become a destination for shoppers. And while we'd all like shops and restaurants that serve "us" (however broadly or narrowly each resident defines "us"), we have two university communities right next door who would also utilize a commercial strip that serves them. I'd love to see the same number of CUA and Trinity students populating 12th Street Thursday-Saturday as I normally see on the Metro platform, taking their money out of Brookland and down the Red Line.

Would promoting that type of foot-traffic have kept these two stores open? Would it be the impetus for more - and better quality - sit-down restaurants along 12th?

We all seem to know what we want, but too often fight our neighbors and proposed density that will help get us there.

Volunteers and Participants Needed for the 2007 Brookland Day Festival on September 29th

From Mary Hodges and the Brookland Day Festival Planning Committee:

The Brookland Day Festival Planning Committee is in full force and could use some help from additional volunteers and participants.

Brookland Day is a great way to promote your company or organization to the Ward 5 community. If you would like to be in the parade or have a booth at the event, please contact me (Mary Hodges) at mary@menkitigroup.com or Richard Layman at rl.brookland@yahoo.com.

We are seeking help from volunteers in the following areas:

1. Exhibitor Recruitment (This would involve contacting a list of local community organizations, artists and craftsmen and businesses and encouraging them to participate in the festival)

2. Parade Participation Recruitment (Contact groups and encourage parade participation- antique car owners, duck tour etc.)

3. Event Promotion and Marketing (Work with designers to create flyers and distribute to local businesses and organizations)

4. Day of festival set up and cleanup support.

We meet Mondays from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the Brookland Visitors Center. Please email me at mary@menkitigroup.com or call 202.243.7717 if you would like to volunteer.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:
The annual Brookland Day Festival on 12th Street NE between Monroe and Otis Streets is scheduled for Saturday, September 29th, 2007.

Greater Brookland celebrates this year the 80th Anniversary of what could be considered the first Brookland Festival, held in 1927 to celebrate the paving of 12th Street NE. The occasion included a parade, an 80-piece band, remarks by District Commissioners, and dancing at St. Anthony’s Hall.

In honor of this auspicious anniversary, we are planning a grand event, with special emphasis on expanding dance, music, and spoken word performances and on enhancing the Children’s Fest, an area of the Festival designed to engage children.

Mark your calendars for September 29th and be sure to join us for Ward 5's premier annual celebration!

Mary Hodges
202.243.7717
mary@menkitigroup.com

REMINDER: Tuesday Night Historic Brookland Farmers Market

4pm - 7 pm

10th and Otis Streets NE (adjacent to the Brookland subway station)

NOTE that we are tending to move the location to under the Michigan Avenue bridge, in case of inclement weather.

This week, Michigan Park neighbor Roxanne Carter joins the market with plants (grown locally) and baskets.

Tonight's market features peaches, apricots, more fruit and vegetables from Licking Bend Creek Farm in Pennsylvania and the Community Supported Agriculture/CSA producers Stoney Lonesome Farm from Gainesville, Virginia. Wonderful cookies and pastries come our way from Lynnette's Cakes and Catering (Virginia), and italian ices from Little Jimmy's Italian Ices (Woodridge DC).

From the Brookland CDC's Richard Layman:

Speaking of peaches, a great way to change your breakfast routine in the summer is to make fruit smoothies, with orange juice and ice, or with yogurt and ice (or both). This morning I had a peach banana smoothie, featuring "scratch and dent" peaches from D&S Farm (from the Sunday Market).

There will be plenty of peaches at the Tuesday Market, that you can use to perfect your own smoothie recipe.

This internet recipe for a ginger peach smoothie sounds pretty good too:

4 Peaches Peeled & sliced
8 oz. Vanilla Yogurt
1/2 Tsp. Grated fresh ginger
2 Tbsp. Honey
1/3 Cup Orange Juice

- - -

The SUNDAY MIDDAY MARKET is located on Newton Street NE, next to the CVS drug store. The hours are from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m, every Sunday through October 28th, 2007.

The TUESDAY TWILIGHT MARKET will remain at its location near the Brookland/CUA Metro Station for the convenience of commuters. It will be open each week from the hours of 4:00-7:00 p.m, every Tuesday through October 30th, 2007. The TUESDAY TWILIGHT MARKET is located on the grassy area on Otis Street NE, between 10th Street NE and the Brookland Metro station.

For more information, contact Richard Layman, Interim Program Manager
Historic Brookland Main Street Program
Brookland Community Development Corporation
Brookland Visitors Center
3420 9th Street NE ▪ Washington, DC 20017 ▪ phone 202-526-4848
BrooklandCDC@AOL.com ▪ www.HistoricBrookland.org

Brookland Bed & Breakfast Now Open!

David Fox has opened up the Brookland Bed & Breakfast, located at 3619 12th Street, NE. The B&B offers 5 double rooms and 1 single room at $85/night for the single and $95/night for the double; rooms are reserved via reservation only.

Amenities include:
· Clean, cozy, and convenient lodging for your visit to the Nation's Capital and at a reasonable price
· One block from the Brookland station on the Washington Metro system's Red Line
· A number of shops and services are located immediately around the B&B
· The B&B features five double rooms and one single room over two floors
· Continental breakfast served every morning from 7:30am to 9:30am
· Each room in the B&B features cable TV
· Complimentary wireless high speed internet access is also provided

For information or to make a reservation, please call 202.315.8714, or e-mail David at david@brooklandbandb.com.

"At Home in Brookland" Celebration & Related Events - Saturday, June 9th

At Home in Brookland event to celebrate the spirit of home
Saturday June 9th, 2007, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The Historic Brookland Main Street program and businesses in the Greater Brookland neighborhood are sponsoring "At Home in Brookland," on Saturday, June 9, 2007, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm. Events will take place on 12th Street NE, Brookland's main commercial corridor, as well as on 9th Street NE, with complementary events in other parts of the neighborhood.

"At Home in Brookland" will feature events, demonstrations, and products to highlight and capture the spirit of home. Events will focus on purchasing, designing, furnishing, decorating, improving, repairing, entertaining, and relaxing at home.

(This event is designed to complement the annual Brookland House and Garden Tour, which is held the second Sunday of June. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the House Tour won't be held this year.)

Businesses and community organizations will be offering free trainings and presentations throughout the day, including:

- DC Fire and Emergency Services firehouse Engine Company 17 "reopening" open house celebrating the completion of an 18 month renovation project during which the firehouse was closed, 1227 Monroe Street, NE;
- the 20th anniversary open house and Community Media Day for DCTV, the District's community access cable television organization, 901 Newton Street, NE (Colonel Brooks Mansion);
- Community Computer Day at Byte Back, a community access computer training organization, 815 Monroe Street, NE;
- and the week long DanceAfrica event at Dance Place, the community and regional arts center devoted to the presentation and expansion of dance, 3225 8th Street, NE.

WALK THE BROOKLAND MILE: Community members are invited to put on their comfortable shoes and "Walk the Brookland Mile" to meet and greet local business owners and their neighbors, while exploring all the goods and services locally available for their home. Use the list below to locate participating businesses or look for the white tents or green, yellow, and blue balloons that mark the business locations. All participating businesses will have free bottled water.

Participating Businesses:
Allstate, 2901 12th Street NE
Keller Williams, 3124 12th Street NE
Keller Williams will hold an open house with free credit reports and Home Value Reports and will have a Moon Bounce for the children.
The Total Relaxation Store, 3101 12th Street NE
Visit Total Relaxation for a highly coveted Gift Certificate or for candles, soaps, and lotions to help you relax. Events include free Mini-Spa Treatments.
Basements & Attics, 3217 12th Street NE
Visit Basements & Attics, a re-sale/consignment furniture and home accessories shop. Proprietor Norvell Jackson invites you and your family to investigate new arrivals.
Classic Framing & Art, 3219 12th Street NE
Frame a family picture or special work of art at Classic Framing & Art or choose a work of art from their own collection.
Brookland True Value Hardware, 3501 12th NE
Brookland Hardware will be demonstrating an environmentally friendly, no chemicals carpet cleaning machine-the new Host Dry Carpet Cleaning System. Host can be used on all types of carpet, including wool and sisal.
Dwellings, 3509 12th Street NE
Dwellings will feature demonstrations throughout the day on entertaining at home, featuring wonderful tapenades and other gourmet treats.
Edward M. Johnson & Associates, 3612 12th Street NE
The Johnson pavilion will feature workshops on paint colors, building green, and renovation ideas.
Citibank, 3800 12th Street NE
PNC Bank, 3806 12th Street NE
Yes! Organic Market, 3809 12th Street NE
Petals Ribbons & Beyond, 3906 12th Street NE
Petals, Ribbons, & Beyond will be holding an outdoor tent sale, with birdhouses, plants, and summer wreaths. From 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm, visitors can learn the art of making a flower centerpiece. Those wishing to take a centerpiece home may do so for $15.00 (for flowers and container).
The Menkiti Group Sales Team and The Ilora Condos, 400 Evarts Street, NE
Menkiti Group will host the closing reception at the Ilora Condos from 4-6 PM with remarks by Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. as well as refreshments, a raffle drawing, and an opportunity to tour the first fully renovated Ilora condo unit.

For more information about "At Home In Brookland," contact Richard Layman, Interim Program Manager, Historic Brookland Main Street program, at 202.526.4848, or by email at rl.brookland@yahoo.com.

At Home in Brookland - Related events

Brookland Fire Station Reopening Celebration
After almost 2 years of renovations, Brookland's fire station (Engine Co. 17) has reopened! In celebration, Captain Redington and all our local firefighters and medics are hosting a neighborhood open house on Sat., June 9th from 10am to 5pm. Festivities will include:

*Free cook-out
*Free fire helmets and balloons for kids
*Tours of the fire engine and the paramedic unit
*Tours of the fire station, which still has its original brass fire pole
*Fire safety instruction for kids
*Antique fire apparatus on display

Come one, come all...The fire station is located at 1227 Monroe St, NE.

DCTV's Media Access Day / 20th Anniversary Celebration
DCTV cordially invites you to attend its 20th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, June 9th. DCTV will host an all day extravaganza of food, workshops, entertainment and games for the entire family. The all day event will be held at Brooks Mansion. A reservation is required.

Byte Back Community Computer Day
In conjunction with DCTV's Media Access Day / 20th Anniversary Celebration. Stop by for free classes on various topics and kids activities from 10am-5pm.

There will also be free computer recycling from 10 - 4. This is an opportunity to clean your house of that old computer equipment and dispose of it responsibly. We are especially looking for monitors - an organization that sends computers to Tanzania will be collecting the monitors.

If you have any questions, please contact Patricia M. Jayne, Executive Director at pjayne@byteback.org or 202.529.3395.

DanceAfrica presented by Dance Place
DanceAfrica, DC 2007 will run from June 4 through June 10, 2007. DC's 20th annual festival celebrates the dance and music of the African Diaspora. The vitality and richness of African culture is experienced through dance, music, visual arts, food, clothing and crafts. Through master classes, outreach to school children, a performance series and an African Marketplace, DanceAfrica, DC promotes a greater understanding of African culture and illuminates its importance to this city and the nation. The festival is hosted by artistic director and festival Griot, Chuck Davis.

The week long festival includes:
• Master Classes, June 4-10
• African Marketplace, June 9-10, 1:00 – Sundown
• FREE Outdoor Performances, June 9-10, 1:00 – 7:00 pm
• Indoor Target Family Series Matinees, Saturday, June 9 and Sunday,
June 10 at 3:00 pm
• Indoor Evening Performances, Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10
at 8:00 pm

Where: Dance Place, 3225 8th Street, NE; two
blocks from Brookland/CUA red line subway station, free and convenient parking.

Tickets: Target Family Series Matinee Tickets: $20 day of, $15 in advance, $7 children 17 and under (part of the Target Family Series – each paying adult may reserve a free ticket for one child 12 & under.)

Evening Performance Tickets: $30 day of show, $25 in advance, $10 children 17 and under. To purchase tickets, call 202-269-1600.

Historic Brookland Farmers' Market Reopens this Weekend for the 2007 Season

The Historic Brookland Farmer’s Market reopens this spring for the 2007 season in two locations. The Historic Brookland Farmer's Markets are sponsored by the Historic Brookland Main Street program of the Brookland Community Development Corporation.

The SUNDAY MIDDAY MARKET launches on Sunday May 13th, on Brookland's Main Street, the 12th Street NE commercial district. It is located on Newton Street NE, next to the CVS drug store. The hours are from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m, every Sunday through October 28th, 2007.

The TUESDAY TWILIGHT MARKET will remain at its location near the Brookland/CUA Metro Station for the convenience of commuters. It launches on Tuesday June 5th, and will be open each week from the hours of 4:00-7:00 p.m, every Tuesday through October 30th, 2007. The TUESDAY TWILIGHT MARKET is located on the grassy area on Otis Street NE, between 10th Street NE and the Brookland Metro station.

At the beginning of this farming season, the markets will feature:

. freshly picked strawberries
. freshly picked vegetables
. freshly baked artisan breads (Sunday only at this time)
. Amish cheese
. eggs from happy chickens
. preserves
. ginger-related products (Sunday only)
. a variety of bedding plants
. fresh roasted coffee (Sunday only)

Farmers who participate in these producers-only markets grow food using low pesticide and organic methods. All food is grown within 150 miles of Washington, DC.

These farmers participate in a number of food support programs including:

. The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC)
. The Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)
. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (Senior FMNP)

Dogs are welcome at the Market, but must be kept away from the farmer's stalls. Please leave your dog with the Market Master while you shop for food.

Note to community organizations: The Main Street program would like to extend the invitation to Ward 5 organizations to exhibit at the Sunday Farmers Market, which provides your organization the opportunity to introduce your organization to the patrons of the Brookland commercial district. The intent is to feature a different organization each week. There is no cost for exhibiting. The Main Street program will provide a tent, but you would have to provide your own table and chair(s).

For more information, contact Richard Layman, Interim Program Manager
Historic Brookland Main Street Program
Brookland Community Development Corporation
Brookland Visitors Center
3420 9th Street NE ▪ Washington, DC 20017 ▪ phone 202-526-4848
BrooklandCDC@AOL.com ▪ www.HistoricBrookland.org

Shop in Brookland for Mother's Day Gifts, Dwellings Tea Party - Saturday, May 12th

Upcoming events from Dwellings (3509 12th Street, NE), including tomorrow's Tea Party:

Tea Party
Saturday, May 12th, 2007, from 11am to 7pm
Red tea? Green tea? White tea? Black Tea? Join us as we celebrate the vast spectrum of tea. Taste a variety of teas from The Republic of Tea & Tea Forte.

Learn about where different teas originate, their healthful benefits, and some great tea recipes. Receive tips on how to plan a tea party with panache!

Memorial Day Weekend Holiday Cook-In
Saturday, May 26th, 2007, from 11am to 7pm
Kick-off the cook-out season at our Memorial Day Weekend Holiday Cook-in! Enjoy tasty tapenades, zesty mustards, and grilling sauces by Wildly Delicious. Sample sweets from Dean & Deluca. Quench your thirst with a cup of Passion Fruit Papaya Iced Tea by The Republic of Tea. Receive great ideas on how to host the ultimate cook-out!

"Entertaining at Home" Demonstration
Saturday, June 9th, 2007, from 10am to 5pm
Whether planning a dinner party for 10 or hosting an unexpected guest, Dwellings will show you how easy it is to entertain at home. With our Wildly Delicious line of products, we'll demonstrate how to serve gourmet food in seconds, including oven roasted tomato bruschetta, chicken with blood orange & ginger teriyaki glaze, and cheese with cranberry & port compote.

We'll also mix up a variety of summer iced teas that your guests will be sure to love!

» Dwellings 2007 calendar of events
» Sign up here for updates
» Through the entire month of May, save 10% at select Brookland merchants with the ad below (click on it for larger size to print or clip it from the May issue of DC North)

Brookland Multi-Modal Transportation & Streetscape Study Final Community Meeting - Tuesday, April 24th

What: The Final Community Meeting for the Brookland Multi-Modal Transportation and Streetscape Study (not to be confused with the ongoing Brookland/CUA Metro Small Area Plan)

When: Tuesday, April 24th, 2007, 6:30-8:30pm

Where: Saint Anthony's Church cafeteria, 3400 12th Street NE (between Lawrence and Monroe Streets)

Etc.:
Study Goals and Objectives
· Enhance transit connectivity, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, accessibility, and efficiency.
· Reduce traffic congestion at key intersections.
· Reduce impact of truck traffic on residential neighborhoods.
· Lay the groundwork for future transportation investments.
· Reinforce a sense of place through creative and sustainable urban design, and create a safe, inviting, and interesting public realm that supports diversity of use and activities.

Check the project website to view and download the final report (March 2007, 166 page PDF).

For questions and special accommodations, please contact Sharlene Reed, Ward 5 Transportation Planner (Sharlene.Reed@dc.gov; 202.671.0493), or William Carlson (wcarlson@volkert.com; 703.642.8100).

Basements & Attics After-Work Gathering - Thursday, April 19th

Basements and Attics, 3217 12th Street NE, would like to invite our neighbors and friends this Thursday, April 19th, 6-9pm for an "After-Work Gathering" to say thank you for supporting us these last few years. Complimentary wine, food, and other refreshments will be available for the entire family.

The last time I visited this fabulous store, I picked up a Kodak Brownie Starlet in its original box with all the paperwork inside! The home furnishings are a mix of traditional and eclectic - luckily for my hubby I was walking that day and couldn't pick up a set of dining room chairs on a whim. Take a look at some new arrivals here.

Drum Circle at Café Sureia - Sunday, March 25th

What: Café Sureia presents a community drum circle to celebrate the arrival of the spring/vernal equinox

When: Sunday, March 25, 2007, 2-4pm

Where: Café Sureia, 3629 12th Street, NE

Details: Join your neighbors to celebrate the coming of SPRING! Feel the primal rhythm of the universe, play midwife to SPRING and drum your ass off! NO EXPERIENCE necessary. All ages and all levels of experience are welcome. Just bring your joy for life and prepare to have the time of your life. Jerry Peloquin, Brookland resident, organizational psychologist, and a drummer who played with such famous artists as Nina Simone, Paul Winter Consort, and Jefferson Airplane will facilitate the drum circle.

Bring your percussion instruments — hand drums, shakers, claves, tambourines, etc. (no snares, please). A donation of $5.00 per person is requested.

About Drum Circles: Drumming and rhythm are natural parts of our daily lives. Our very life blood and existence are driven by the beat or our hearts and the steady rhythmic pattern of our breathing. The sea pulses upon the shore. The clock ticks away the hours. We are naturally attuned to the beat. It is a profound part of our nature and once we reconnect, it frees us and binds us. When the beat builds and is driven by the group, it links us all together.

12th Street NE Commercial Corridor Vandalized

Both the Brookland CDC (the site is still under reconstruction) and Richard Layman have brought to my attention the tagging of 12 buildings along Brookland's main street this past Wednesday, including our new Yes! Organic Market and the Historic Newton Theater/CVS. I also noticed a few weeks ago the back of the Long & Foster at the corner of Monroe and 12th had been tagged pretty heavily.


Many thanks in advance to Richard, the Brookland CDC, Alice Thompson - Ward 5 Neighborhood Service Coordinator, and DPW for cleaning this up in a timely fashion.

NE DC Historical Society Meeting - Sunday, December 10th

What: Join the NE DC Historical Society as they continue to explore the history of our Northeast Washington communities - past, present, and in years to come. This month's community history focus will be the John T. Rhines Funeral Home, a thriving DC enterprise celebrating its centennial year.

When: Sunday, December 10th, 2006, 2-4pm

Where: John T. Rhines Funeral Home, 3015 12th Street, NE - at the corner of 12th and Hamlin Streets

Presentations will include: "The John T. Rhines Funeral Home—Our 100th Year" by Gretchen Shorter Roberts, Historian, and more.

Etc.: For those unable to attend this meeting, don't miss next month's meeting to be held from 2-4pm on Sunday, January 14th, 2007. We will again reach out beyond NE DC to discover more of Washington's historic neighborhoods — this time, Georgetown! Our community host for this event will be the Mount Zion United Methodist Church at 1334 29th Street, NW. Our presenters will include Carter Bowman (historian) on "The Mount Zion United Methodist Church And Community: One Hundred Ninety Years of Institutional Building"; Ida Jones (Howard University's Moorland-Spingarn Research Center) on "We Have Come This Far By Faith—Methodism in Georgetown"; and C.R. Gibbs (author, lecturer, and historian) on "Facing The Rising Sun: Washington, DC's First Black Vote." Contact queenstowndc@yahoo.com for furhter information.

Yes! Organic Market Grand Opening - TOMORROW

That's right - TOMORROW, Wednesday, November 15th marks the grand opening of Brookland's very own Yes! Organic Market located at 3809 12th Street NE, on the southeast corner of the intersection of 12th and Quincy Streets, NE. The phone number is 832-7715. PLEASE NOTE THE PARKING LOT IS ACCESSED FROM 12TH STREET ONLY. Yay!