Big Bear Cafe is Open and Celebrating! (and don't forget the Bloomingdale Farmers Market)

From big bear's site:

This Saturday the 7th we’re going to invite all a y’all to come by and celebrate a month in business with us. In the morning [10am] Jessica — head pastry chef of Hawthorne — will come by to chat and maybe reveal the secrets behind the best blueberry muffin in town. In the afternoon [2:30pm] we’ll have a coffee tasting of 5 of Counter Culture’s single origins: La Golondrina, from Cauca, Colombia; Dolok Sanggul, Sumatra; Gayo, Aceh, Sumatra; Gitare, Kiambu, Kenya; and Finca nueva Armenia, Huehuetenango, Guatemala.

We will also debut our Big Bear t-shirts for men, women, children, and dogs. and we will begin selling our delicious coffee by the pound.

papa chapa, back from barcelona, may be dj-ing.

hope to see you here!

big bear cafe is located at 1700 1st Street, NW.

» Richard Layman's thoughts on big bear and how well it illustrates urban revitalization principles
» DCist giving the 'hood some love
» DC North hearts the big bear, too
» Sean's Bloomingdale blog has all the details for the weekly (Sundays through November) Bloomingdale Farmers Market, 10am-2pm

For the Ladies: Teasing Your Way to Fitness

Tuesday's Express had a fitness feature on what may be Ward 5's sexiest way to tone up: The P Spot.

Located at 210 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, The P Spot offers ladies a creative and invigorating way to stay fit:

Incorporating striptease moves into workouts is nothing new, but this offers more toning than any Carmen Electra DVD. "Before it's a pole class, before it's a strip class, it's a fitness class," says Michaela Brown, a 2003 Georgetown grad, who calls out moves throughout the hour-long session like the head cheerleader of sexy.

» PoleFit: 101 is offered Mondays through Thursdays and on Saturdays, and costs $21.15 per class. Five- and 10-class passes are available at discounted rates.
» More details at Express FreeRide
» The P Spot site

Borf in Bloomingdale

Yipee - might be a good spot for the cops to pick up ROB, Magic, Inca, Nehi, et al.

ANC-5C Monthly Meeting - Tuesday, May 15th

What: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C Monthly Meeting

When: Tuesday, May 15th, 2007, 7-9pm

Where: Catholic University's Pryzbyla Center (the Pryzbyla Center is located next to the Parking Garage off John McCormick Road, NE

Agenda Includes:
· Bloomingdale Community Involvement Project, Bertha Holliday
· Eckington Row Condominiums Proposal, Ron Hanks
· Grant Application: Edgewood Civic Association, Michael Henderson
· Capitol Commerce Center-North, Lewis Shrensky

Noth Capitol Main Street, Inc. Spring Open House - Friday, April 27th

Host: North Capitol Main Street, Inc. (NCMS) Board of Directors
When: Friday, April 27, 6:00pm
Location: Big Bear Cafe, 1700 R Street, NW (1st & R Streets)

Meet the NCMS, Inc. Board of Directors and volunteers at the first NCMS, Inc. Spring Open House!

· Enjoy wine & hors d' oeuvres with friends and neighbors
· Learn about NCMS, Inc. 2007 projects
· Get briefed on what the NoMa BID means for North Capitol Street
· Preview the much-anticipated Big Bear Cafe, a new and exciting amenity to the community

Brookland & Bloomingdale Neighborhood Clean-Ups, Trinidad Tree Planting - Saturday, April 21st

BLOOMINGDALE
The Bloomingdale Civic Association (BCA) will sponsor a Neighborhood Clean-Up this Saturday, April 21st from 9am to 12pm. A volunteer will distribute trash bags and loan cleaning equipment (rakes, shovels, brooms) from the pocket park at the intersection of First St, NW & Rhode Island Avenue, NW (in front of City Cleaners). Trash pick up locations will be marked by signs at the northeast corners of the unit blocks of:

Adams St. NW
V St. NW
and Thomas Streets, NW above Rhode Island Avenue and the northeast corners of the units blocks of
T St. NW
R St. NW,
and Florida Avenue, NW below Rhode Island Avenue NW.

BCA is seeking volunteers to help with its semi-annual Neighborhood Clean-up this Saturday, April 21st from 9am to 1pm. Timed to coincide with the national celebration of Earth Week, this Neighborhood Clean-up will spruce up our neighborhood in time for the coming good weather. Volunteers do one, two, or all of the followings tasks for their blocks:

· distribute Clean-Up flyers on their blocks,

· rally their neighbors to participate in the clean up

· assure that trash is placed in the correct location for DPW pick-up, and/or

· help schedule the pick up of household hazardous waste products from their blocks.

Any level of volunteer participation will be greatly appreciated. To lend a helping hand please email Cassandra at ACleanerPrettierBloomingdale@hotmail.com.

BCA will also assist by transporting the hazardous household waste to the Carter Barron of residents without automotive transportation. Please email Cassandra at ACleanerPrettierBloomingdale@hotmail.com to schedule a pick up from your home.


BROOKLAND
In conjunction with Catholic University of America students, we will be holding a street cleanup in conjunction with Earth Day, this Saturday from 10am to 12pm. We will join up with CUA students at the corner of Monroe and 12th streets. Gloves and bags will be provided.


TRINIDAD
Celebrate Earth Day by Planting Trees
Saturday, April 21st
9am - 1pm

Joseph H. Cole Recreation Center
1200 Morse Street, NE

We'll be planting around 15 trees at the recreation center on Saturday, so we'll need lots of volunteers.

Sponsored by Trinidad/Ivy City Garden Club in collaboration with Casey Trees.

Contact Trinidad/Ivy City Garden Club (202-398-4779) for more information.

National Marathon, NE Street Closures, and Volunteer Opportunities - Saturday, March 24th

Folks in Eckington and Bloomingdale, along the North Capitol Street leg of the National Marathon, are planning on helping out tomorrow by cheering and handing out cups of water. A water station will be set up at North Capitol and Quincy Place (I'm not sure if it'll be on the NE or NW side), and race officials are asking that they be prepared by 8:45am tomorrow morning, March 24th. If you can add to the needed 30 gallons of water and 1000 small cups, I'm sure it will much appreciated.

» DC.gov info about street closures from 7am-2pm, Saturday, March 24th - the only ways over North Capitol during that time, unless you go north of Michigan Avenue or south of K Street, will be the bridges on Rhode Island and New York Avenues.
» View the National Marathon course map here (PDF).
» View the race turn-by-turn here (PDF).

Brookland, Bloomingdale in the Big Blogs Today

Brookland - well, select areas, including the debatable Cardinal's Nest - is featured today in the Express FreeRide blog.

DCist features Bloomingdale's anticipated EC12 restaurant at the corner of North Capitol and Quincy Place, NW. Two cheers for creating sit-down restaurants in Ward 5! From the DC Business Resource Center site:

Vacant for nearly a decade, Old Engine Company 12 will transform into a full-service, sit-down restaurant named "EC-12" with a second-floor cultural and performing arts space programmed by XM Satellite Radio, a marketing partner on the team, who will broadcast live music events from the location. The lounge will also provide community meeting and exhibition space. EC-12 will include a sidewalk café and a renovated rooftop deck to accommodate an outdoor seating area.

Worshippers Robbed at Union Wesley Zion Church Sunday Mass

Absolutely disgusting...from MPD:

At approximately 8:05 am, on Sunday, November 5, 2006, members of the Full Gospel Zion Church were holding services in a chapel of the Union Wesley Zion Church, located in the 1800 block of Michigan Avenue, NE. It was at this time that two armed men entered the chapel and robbed three women and two men. Taken were purses, wallets, cash, credit cards and a cell phone.

The first suspect in this case is described as a black male with a light complexion, 5’8” tall, 160 pounds and wearing a black bandanna over his face. He was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweat shirt and black pants. He was armed with a silver colored handgun. The second suspect is described as a black male with a light complexion, 6’ tall, 160 pounds and wearing a wool mask over his face. He was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweat shirt, blue jeans and a dark grey jacket. He was armed with a black handgun.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099.

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any robbery committed in the District of Columbia.

- - -

Also of note - homicide at 4013 Gault Place, NE - from MPD:

At approximately 8:57 pm on Friday, November 3, 2006, Metropolitan Police were called to an apartment building located in the 4000 block of Gault Place, NE, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located 23-year-old Matheno Immanuel Nichols, of the 2100 block of County Road in District Heights, Maryland, suffering from apparent multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Personnel from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia responded to the scene and pronounced Mr. Nichols dead.

The case is under investigation by members of the MPDC'w Violent Crimes Branch. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099.

The department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

- - -

Homicide in the Unit Block of Quincy Place, NW, from MPD:

At approximately 11:05 pm, on Thursday, November 2, 2006, Metropolitan Police were called to the unit block of Quincy Place, NW, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located 27-year-old James Burton, of the 1600 block of First Street, NW, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene, but could not find signs consistent with life. The victim was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia and pronounced dead.

The case is under investigation by members of the MPDC's Violent Crimes Branch. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099.

The department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

Weekend Ward 5 / NE Murder Roundup

Unfortunately there was enough activity over the holiday weekend thus far to call this a "roundup" - and it doesn't include the bulk of the regional weekend violence - (all info below from MPD):

• At approximately 10:15 on the night of Friday, June 30, 2006, police were called to the A & L Market, located at 2007 First Street, NW, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival they located the owner of the store, 35-year-old Maurice Darnaby of the 11000 block of Old York Road in Mitchellville, Maryland, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. DC Fire Department emergency medical personnel responded to the scene but found no signs consistent with life. Local news coverage from WaPo, ABC7, WUSA9, and NBC4.
• At approximately 12:15 on the morning of Saturday, July 1, 2006, police were called to the front of 2012 Maryland Avenue, NE, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival they located 25-year-old Ronald Anderson, of the 2000 block of Maryland Avenue, NE, suffering from apparent multiple gunshot wounds to the body. He was taken to the Washington Hospital Center's MedSTAR Unit and pronounced dead.
• At approximately 1:44 on the morning of Saturday, July 1, 2006, police were called to the front of 4119 Gault Place, NE, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival they located 23-year-old Francis E. Watkins, of the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, suffering from apparent multiple gunshot wounds to the body. He was taken to the Howard University Hospital and pronounced dead.
• At approximately 1:35 am, on Tuesday, July 4, 2006, 27-year-old Robert W. Allen, of the 400 block of Mellon Street, SE, was driven by a private vehicle to the Greater Southeast Community Hospital and admitted in critical condition with apparent multiple gunshot wounds to the body. He was later pronounced dead at 2:14 am. The preliminary investigation indicates that Mr. Allen was shot while standing in front of 380 Eastern Avenue, NE.

Anyone with information about these cases is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099.

The department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

And they do solve homicides with our help.

Mayoral Candidate Forum Series at McKinley High School Wednesdays, May 10th - June 28th

What: The Coalition for Voter Empowerment (COVE), a collaboration of Civic Associations and residents of Bloomingdale, Bates, Eckington, Edgewood, and Hanover Place, is hosting "Wednesdays with the Candidates," a series of one-on-one Mayoral interviews.

When: Wednesdays, May 10th - June 28th, 2006, 6:30-8:30pm

Where: McKinley Tech High School Amphitheater, 151 T Street, NE

Interview Schedule:
May 10, 2006 - Vincent Orange
May 24, 2006 - Marie C. Johns
June 7, 2006 - Michael Brown
June 21, 2006 - Adrian Fenty
June 28, 2006 - Linda Cropp

Greater Brookland Business Association, Inc. Monthly Meeting Wednesday, February 22nd

What: The Greater Brookland Business Association, Inc. (GBBA) Monthly Meeting

When: Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006 at 6:30pm

Where: Ryan's Funeral Home on 12th Street, NE

Agenda: (taken nearly verbatim from a posting on the Brookland Listserv) This meeting is of particular interest for DC businesses as Mid-City Urban Development, the developer of the planned $100 million Rhode Island Metro project, is expected to make a presentation to the group.

From the GBBA:

The position of the GBBA is to impress upon this and other developers that most of the good and services they will need to build the project and to operate it after it is built are available right here from DC businesses. Most often, development projects are built with no DC businesses involved but with plenty of DC tax dollars. We are interested in:

1) making sure developers are aware of good and services available locally,

2) making the DC Council, ANCs, and other approving entities require participation of DC businesses as a condition of their approval, and

3) making it known that DC Residents and Businesses are active in the success or failure of development projects in DC.

Plan to attend and find out what is proposed and how, as a DC based business, you can participate in this and other development projects. You will also meet many of the other business owners in the Greater Brookland Area. A good turnout will also impress on the developers, DC Council Members, and ANC Commissioners that the Brookland area residents and businesses are involved, and care about what projects get approved in our area.

Unfortunately I can't make it to this one - I'll be trying to make it to the ANC-5A meeting the same night. My assumption is that the 5A Commissioners will be at their own meeting, rather than this one. This meeting should also be of great interest to residents of Edgewood, Eckington, Brentwood, and Bloomingdale.