Cardinal's Nest Closed After Saturday's Shooting - UPDATED

I just heard on NBC4 that the Cardinal's Nest has been closed after yesterday's shooting/homicide (though the shooting did not actually happen at the club/restaurant). I can't find a link, but will hopefully post one tomorrow.

**UPDATE** Robert Vinson Brannum has just announced that the Summary Suspension against the Cardinal's Nest has been lifted and the ABC Board will not be review the matter at its hearing tomorrow as initially planned. The incident will be on the agenda for the Thursday 5D-CAC meeting.

The Community that eats together...

It's short notice but you have two wonderful dinner invites for TONIGHT. You can choose between fundraising for John Burroughs Family Day while enjoying New Orleans cuisine or join Our Saviour Church for a friendly fish fry.

John Burroughs School Family Day Fundraiser
Where: Saint's Bourbon Street which is donating a percentage of the profits.
1812 Hamlin St. NE, Washington, DC 20018 US
When: Friday, April 4, 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Phone: 202-576-6039

Our Saviour Episcopal Church, Brookland Parish Fish Fry
Where: Irving between 16th and 17th, NE
When: Friday, April 4, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
$7 per dinner (whiting or trout), with potato salad and greens.
Dine in or take out.

photo by Operators Are Standing By

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.

Woodridge Dunkin' Donuts on Rhode Island Ave. Closes

The latest blow for Woodridge's Rhode Island Avenue commercial corridor: our Dunkin' Donuts has closed its doors. While a PSA 502 officer reported yesterday on the MPD-5D listserv that the store was temporarily boarded up due to a fire a few back, it looks like the close is permanent....From Central Baking Company partner Chris Mellgren:

We were forced to close the store due to poor business demand and security issues at the location. We were saddened to have to close the site but the store had been losing significant amounts of money last year and to add to that it was robbed 6 times in 2007 [emphasis mine].

We are looking for another location in the neighborhood but somewhere that is more secure and will generate more guest visits. In the meantime we have a location at 400 Rhode island NW at the corner of Rhode Island and New Jersey Avenue [1739 New Jersey Avenue NW].

Brookland Holiday Party - TONIGHT

What: A Brookland Holiday Celebration with refreshments. music and cash bar.

When: Wednesday December 19th, 6:30-9:30pm

Where: Cardinal's Nest, 3748 10th Street NE (across from Turkey Thicket)

Sponsored by: ANC Commissioner & Brookland Civic Association President Mary Baird Currie, Friends of Turkey Thicket, and Turkeys Unlimited.

Hosted by: The Cardinal's Nest owners, Darrell and Tammy Green

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

Saint's Bourbon Street - Live Music in September

Check out the free, live music at Saint's Bourbon Street, 1812 Hamlin Street NE, in September:

Friday, 9/14 - Stacey Brooks and Friends Blues Band @ 8:00 p.m. Stacey Brooks and Friends are coming back for a repeat performance. This talented new band play well together and the stellar vocals by Ms. Stacy Brooks herself add to that blues and rhythm sound that has them performing all around the country.

Saturday, 9/15 - Allan and Friends @ 8:30 p.m. Award winning local songwriter with several CDs. Allan will be releasing 2 more CDs this summer, and will be playing songs from those, as well as his earlier material.

Friday, 9/21 - Meteor Band @ 8:30 p.m. This blues band has a sound all their own. Their style has people all over DC area coming in on Fridays to hear them. Get here early!

Saturday, 9/22 - After Hours Band 8:30 p.m. At Saint's for the second time! If you were here last time, you may have noticed the superb showmanship, polished professionalism, and musical magic of this jazz and blues band. You know they say it only gets better the second time around! Can't wait to prove that one true!

Friday, 9/28 - First Thing Smokin' @ 8:30 p.m. With a motto that reads "If you cant feel it, it ain't real," these acclaimed blues performers are always welcomed and celebrated by Saint's customers. They play national blues festivals and are known for giving people a good time.

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

Saturday Night Out in Brookland - Discounts this Summer

Dance Place is partnering with Wohlfarth Galleries, Roxanne's ARTiques & Gallery, Washington Works on Paper, and Colonel Brooks' Tavern for Saturday Night Out in Brookland, a new venture offering multiple discounts each Saturday beginning on June 2 and ending on August 11, from 5-8pm with Dance Place performances beginning at 8pm.

Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy a summer evening in Brookland with dinner, visual arts and performing arts, all at affordable prices!

Participating organizations and their discounts:

• Colonel Brooks' Tavern, two dinner entrees for the price of one (with the second entree equal or lesser in value to the first) - 901 Monroe Street, NE

• Dance Place, 20% off performance tickets (check performance schedule at www.danceplace.org, call 202.269.1600 to purchase tickets) - 3225 8th Street, NE

• Roxanne's ARTiques & Gallery, 20% off purchases - 3426 9th Street, NE

• Washington Works on Paper, 20% off purchases - 3420 9th Street, NE

• Wohlfarth Galleries, 20% off purchases - 3418 9th Street, NE

Mention Code: KEEP MOVING to obtain your discount.

"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.

Saint's Bourbon Street's One-Year Anniversary - Saturday, May 19th

Celebrate with Saint's Bourbon Street on their one-year anniversary all day Saturday, May 19th 2007 (1812 Hamlin Street, NE - the north side of Rhode Island Avenue at Hamlin Street)

· Free bead giveaway
· Free face painting & mask giveaway for kids, 3-5pm
· Free dinner giveaway (one at 4:30pm and again at 8:30pm)
· Live DJ
· $5 Hurricanes all day
· Half price appetizers all day
· $5 martinis all day, including our famous "Sex with an Alligator"

Call Saint's at 202.269.2150 for more information.

Saint's Bourbon Street Live Music - April/May

Saint's Bourbon Street is one of the only sit-down restaurants in Woodridge. Located at 1812 Hamlin Street, NE (where Hamlin and Rhode Island Avenue meet across from the Woodridge Library and next to Woodridge Liquor), Saint's specializes in Cajun/Creole cuisine, and bourbon cocktails. Check out their mouth watering menu here, stop by for some of the live music (dates below), and make them your friend on MySpace.

Friday, April 27th: Harry Wilson Jazz Trio will be here at 9:00 pm. This performance is free!

Saturday, April 28th: Saint's will be closed all day due to all day private party. See you Sunday!

Friday, May 4th: Stacey Brooks and Band Synergy will perform at 9:00 pm. This blues band performance is free!

Saturday, May 19th: It's our one year anniversary! Come out and celebrate the completion of our first year! Harry Wilson will play live for free! The performance will start at 8:00 pm.

Sunday, May 20th: The Terry Marshall Quartet featuring DeCasto Brown on vocals will perform. There is a ten dollar cover charge applied by the band, and a two drink minimum applied by the restaurant. Come see this innovative live performance! A repeat performance will be played June 24th! All Sunday performances start at 4:00 pm.

Call 202.269.2150 for additional information.

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 Ties for Worst Neighborhood to Grab a Bite to Eat

Though it was sweet of the new Share Your DC site to include Brookland in its survey, Michael Grass at FreeRide wonders if Brookland was included as a "sacrificial lamb":

So we'll see what the crafty marketers extract from the input of experts and everyday people like you and me. Maybe, just maybe, we'll get a slogan like this: "Explore Your Nation's Capital: Just Don't Eat in Brookland."

Don't hate the messenger, hate the reality of the message, particularly based on recent negative reactions to the Cardinal's Nest and the limited options for sit-down dining. What do you think?

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.

Free Rita's Ice and Dunkin' Donuts' Iced Coffee - TODAY

To celebrate the first full day of spring, both Rita's Ice and Dunkin' Donuts are offering free goodies!

» Free regular Italian Ice at Rita's - 2318 Rhode Island Avenue, NE (near the corner of Rhode Island and South Dakota Avenues)

» Free 16oz small iced coffee at Dunkin' Donuts - 1803 Rhode Island Avenue, NE

ANC-5C Monthly Meeting - Tuesday, March 20th

What: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C Monthly Meeting

When: Tuesday, March 20th, 2007, 7-9pm

Where: McKinley Technology High School, 151 T Street, NE

Agenda Includes:
· Update on Armstrong School Renovation plans
· Update on National Marathon run through ANC5C
· Update on Bloomingdale Farmers Market plans
· Update on Saint Martin's Housing Plan
· MPD-5D public safety report
· Update from Julius Bell, whose proposed sitdown restaurant "J. Bell's" should be opening soon at North Capitol and P Streets, NW

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.

Cardinal's Nest Now Open!

(or, the post I should have made over a week ago)

The Cardinal's Nest is up and running! Though I haven't yet had the chance to go myself, a number of folks in the area have posted primarily positive experiences on both on the Brookland listserv and their blogs.

A message from the Cardinal's Nest MySpace page (I know some of you out there are on MySpace - don't be shy now - make them your friend!):

Dear Friends and Neighbors of Brookland, I would like to welcome you to The Cardinal’s Nest coffee house, internet café, and lounge. We strive to give you the best products, prepared with fresh ingredients and with the strictest quality control. We aim to prepare food that will satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores alike! We are proud to serve coffee and tea from Orinoco Coffee & Tea, a private, family-owned company that provides gourmet coffee and tea exclusively to specialty stores and gourmet coffee and tea shops. Guests will have access to wireless DSL free of charge. In addition, we also have Ethernet ports and cables available for guest without wireless capabilities. Over 200 power ports are located throughout the establishment available to charge any electronic device you will need! We would like to remind our patrons of the near proximity of neighboring houses on Perry Place. In an effort to minimize noise and disturbances to our neighbors, we would kindly request that patrons keep the noise down when leaving the establishment and refrain from parking on Perry Place at all times. Your help is greatly appreciated. We are proud to serve all our guests and neighbors and look forward to becoming part of the Brookland neighborhood. Call us at (202) 269-NEST or drop us an email at cardinalsnestdc@yahoo.com.

» View the yummy and reasonably priced menu.
» Visit our newest neighborhood hang-out at 3748 10th Street, NE, just two blocks from the Brookland Metro station.