Festival

Memorial Day Action – Parade, Observance and Metro Closures

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user digital cure

From some emails:

UHOP Memorial Day Parade 2011

The annual United House of Prayer Memorial Day Parade will be Saturday, May 28, 2011 starting at 12 Noon. The parade is expected to conclude at 2:30pm.

The parade route is as follows:

Staging will be at 6th and M St NW
North on 6th St NW to S St NW
West on S St NW to 13th St NW
Turn on 13th St NW south
Around Logan Circle
To P St NW
East on P St NW to 7th St NW
South on 7th St NW
To M St NW
East on M St NW
Back to the Church at 6th and M St NW

UHOP encourages residents to participate in the last auxiliary in the parade and march back to the church.

11:00 a.m., Monday, May 30, at Logan Circle Park

The National Park Service, the Illinois State Society of Washington, DC and the Logan Circle Community Association will sponsor a Memorial Day Observance, paying tribute to General John A. Logan, founder of Memorial Day and to honor the efforts of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune to the colored men and women troops during World War I and II.

The event begins at 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 30, at Logan Circle Park, located at 13th Street and Logan Circle, N.W., Washington, D.C. This event is free and open to the public. Musical selections will be performed by renowned local vocalist, Alia Waheed of the National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C.

Serious Metrorail work – 4 stations closed:

Metro will conduct significant safety and reliability work on the Blue, Orange and Red lines over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend (May 27 through 30) resulting in service changes for customers.

On the Blue and Orange lines, buses will replace trains between Federal Center SW and Minnesota Ave and Benning Road stations, and four stations—Capitol South, Eastern Market, Potomac Ave and Stadium-Armory—will be closed. The work will begin at 10 p.m., Friday, May 27, and continue through closing on Monday, May 30.

During this time, Metro will replace four track switches at Eastern Market station, replace 4,700 fasteners, make repairs to the aerial structure outside Stadium-Armory station, lay more than five miles of new communications cable to upgrade cell phone access and make repairs to 21 escalators and eight elevators at Eastern Market, Capitol South, Potomac Avenue and Stadium Armory stations.

Sweetlife Festival Recap by Gabby

By Prince Of Petworth


Ra Ra Riot

The following was written by PoPville reader, Gabby who won the tickets to the festival.

Sweetlife Festival 2011 was an excellent fusion of cross-genre musical performances, fresh food, and great people! As I made my way through DC to meet up with my oh so lucky concert going guest du jour at his house on U street, I saw the sidewalks filled with groups lugging coolers and sporting their finest music fest worthy threads towards the different shuttle pick up locations throughout NW. Note to self for next year, sign up for the party buses!

As this was my first time at the Merriweather Post Pavillion, I was pleasantly surprised by easy layout of the venue tucked away in a beautifully green space in Maryland. We made some stops at the various tailgates going on in the parking lot before making our way towards the stage. Without hesitation I made a bee-line to the pit for one of the acts I was most excited for, Theophilus London!

Continues after the jump. (more…)

The 5pm Post – Mount Rainier Better Block Project (MD) – April 9, 2011

By Prince Of Petworth


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From an email:

“On April 9, 2011, local artists and volunteers will temporarily convert 1.5 blocks of 34th Street and Bunker Hill Road in Mount Rainier, MD into a vibrant, eclectic “Main Street” with a festival atmosphere. Better Block projects across the country have been a catalyst for sustained community development by providing a “live” demonstration of an area’s business potential.

The planning team behind the Mount Rainier Better Block project has energized residents, community leaders, resident artists and business owners to bring the project’s national success to a struggling business district in Prince George’s County.

This is a family-friendly event with food, shopping and musical performances offered at various locations along the avenue.”

You’ve heard of “Temporariums” and pop-up shops? Well, the Better Block Project is a pop-up neighborhood!
What:
The Better Block Project is a revitalization “tool” designed to enliven local neighborhoods and stimulate economic activity. For one day, local residents, artists, business owners and activists, get together and practice “do-it-yourself revitalization” transforming their neighborhood into their version of the ideal main street. Created by residents of Oak Cliff, a neighborhood in Dallas, TX, the idea has spread to several other cities including, Memphis, TN, Boston, MA, and New York.

Where:
34th Street, Mount Rainier, MD; starting at the circle on 34th and Rhode Island and continuing just beyond Bunker Hill Road

When:
April 9th, noon to 6 pm; rain date April 10th.

Activities:
Sweeping the Avenue: sponsored by Joe’s Movement Emporium, neighborhood volunteers will clean the streets prior to April 9th activities.

Artist/business partnerships: artists will be matched with business owners, create plans to improve business facades, create signage and artistic displays showcasing their wares.

Pop up businesses: vacant properties will temporarily house art galleries, cafes and small businesses, enabling property owners to creatively open their doors to potential tenants.

Performances: Dance and music performances on the main stage along with street performers.

The 5pm Post – Saturday – Cherry Blossom Fest at the Yards Park

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

The Capitol Riverfront BID will be hosting a National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Fun Day in the brand-new Yards Park on the river.  The event will be on Saturday, April 2 from 11 am – 4 pm.

Celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival, the start of baseball season and the beginning of spring at the Yards Park, the centerpiece of a new Washington, DC waterfront destination.  Like no other public space in the region, the Yards Park brings unique opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and the river.  The 5.5-acre park is the size of about four football fields and features a ¼ mile boardwalk and waterfall.  It is the centerpiece of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood and The Yards development.

The FREE Family Fun Day will include:

  • Lantern making for kids and adults
  • Kids crafts and activities including boat making kits and a moonbounce
  • Sake tasting and a Japanese beer garden by Mie N Yu
  • A variety of sushi and Japanese cuisine available from Nooshi Sushi
  • Trapeze School demonstrations and performances at 1:15 and 2:15
  • Martial Art performances by Hapmudo at 12:30 and 1:45

Happy St. Patrick’s Day – Celebrate with DC United

By Prince Of Petworth

Well this doesn’t really have to do with St. Patrick’s Day but you can get free half smokes at Ben’s Chili Bowl courtesy of DC United and “Ben Olsen’s Chili Bowl.” And free half smokes should not be overlooked. From DC United:

March 17, 2011

Ben Olsen’s Chili Bowl
1213 U Street NW

Free half-smokes!

* 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM – Free half-smoke for every fan wearing D.C. United gear.
* 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM – Ben Olsen’s Chili Bowl is open! Free half-smokes for all fans!

Special t-shirts

* Buy a ticket to the home opener at the event and you’ll receive a free limited-edition Ben Olsen’s Chili Bowl T-Shirt.
* Check into “Ben Olsen’s Chili Bowl” on Foursquare.com and show it to a D.C. United staff member for a free t-shirt.

Join Ben Olsen and other D.C. United fans starting at 7:30 PM at Touchdown Bar. 1334 U Street, NW

Personally, I’ll be celebrating at Chickass…

It’s Not Just Mardi Gras – Happy International Women’s Day

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Pablo Raw

Happy International Women’s Day:

“Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.”

Dear PoP – Mardi Gras Fun?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user JosephLeonardo

A reader writes asking for fun suggestions for her 24 year old niece and friends, specifically, “suggestions for Mardi Gras fun just a few steps up from the body-shots, pukey, sticky-floor yob crowd.” Hahaha, I’m curious to hear your suggestions as well!

I’ll share a few suggestions emailed my way. Well first off, I’m sure New Orleans themed, Little Miss Whiskey’s will be pretty spectacular located at 1104 H Street NE. Also on H St, NE The Pug is celebrating Mardi Gras at 1234 H St, NE:

And in NW The Heights will be celebrating at 3115 14th Street NW:

Also in NW, and one of my personal favorites, the Red Derby located at 3718 14th St. NW will be celebrating their 3rd annual Mardi Gras:

“We’re gonna have 3$ Hurricanes and $5 Shrimp Po’ Boys. AND the DECK is OPEN!! WHoooo”

Peak Cherry Blossom Blooming Dates Announced

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user kevnkovl

The big news was announced yesterday:

“The National Cherry Blossom Festival, partners and friends, gathered today to announce plans for the 2011 Festival and the predicted peak blooming period of the cherry blossoms – MARCH 29 – APRIL 3!”

The parade is Apr. 9th and the Grand Marshall of the parade is “Atticus Shaffer, who plays youngest son Brick Heck on ABC’s The Middle”. Awesome.


Photo by PoPville flickr user kevnkovl

The 5pm Post – Mt. Pleasant Temporium Opens Friday!

By Prince Of Petworth

At long last the Mt. Pleasant Temporium opens tomorrow at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW.

From an email:

The Mt. Pleasant Temporium is a temporary, pop-up retailer coming to Mt. Pleasant St. NW for 24 consecutive days from February 18 through March 13. The project, located at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, is part of the District’s new Temporary Urbanism initiative and features handmade goods for sale from 30 local, independent crafters and artists.

The Temporium’s special events schedule includes autobiographical and theatrical storytelling, crafting, book readings, and live music. All events are free and open to the public. Opening weekend includes a reception on Friday, Feb. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m.

The theme of the Mt. Pleasant Temporium is storytelling, which is woven throughout the retail aspect of the shop to give visitors a truly engaging experience with the products for sale and the stories behind the artists who made them. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the theme by leaving their own handwritten stories in the Temporium’s storefront window installation, created by local artists Sean Hennessey and Rania Hassan.

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