Photo by Airbus777
From the Mayor’s Office:
“Ahead of Frederick Douglass’ birthday on February 14, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that the District’s new bridge bearing his name is expected to open October 1, 2021. DDOT further honors Frederick Douglass and Black History Month with the release of Frederick Douglass Builds a Bridge, an interactive video for school-aged children that explains the process of building a bridge. (more…)
1345 Connecticut Ave, NW
In late December Barredindc reported that “The Big Hunt Has Terminated Its Lease. Building for Sale/Rent”. I’ve been waiting for official word to come out but after spotting this dreaded sticker, I can be in denial no more:
For those not familiar:
“The Big Hunt is a one-of-a-kind dive bar and comedy venue in a sea of trendy clubs in the Dupont Circle area of Washington DC.
Open since 1992, The Big Hunt is one of DC’s oldest beer bars and has been serving quality craft beers on draft since long before the craft movement became mainstream”
The Big Hunt’s website is no longer live, their phone number has been disconnected and their last Facebook post is a tribute to their founder Joe Englert (RIP) and the page lists that they have “Permanently Closed”.
There’s much that can be said about The Big Hunt. It had it’s ups and downs like all spots do that have been open for so many years. At the end of the day all I can say is that I spent many many hours here, had many many good times here and met many many great people here. This Big Hunt was a great bar. (more…)
Greg sends last night from “Petworth. Right on the stop sign!”
*If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife and get a good photo please send in an email where you spotted it to [email protected]. Thanks! Hawks around Town is made possible by a generous grant from the Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.
Yesterday Dianne shared her great owl photo from Chevy Chase and of course last week we saw the great shot from Heather at a Home Depot. Turns out these are boom times for owls.
Tommy sends from Mount Pleasant: (more…)
Photo by Margaret Knudsen
Margaret shared with us the other day: “RIP Potomac Yard Movie Theater” and it got me thinking about movies. So harking back to our ‘Friday* Question of the Day’ series from the before times – I’m just curious – what was the last movie you saw in an actual theater? The last one I saw was 1917 at the Uptown (RIP).
*I realize it’s Wednesday but we can all admit that everyday is the same day these days.
Image Credit: Library of Congress
I keep forgetting to post this bit of awesome from The White House Historical Association:
“It’s hard to imagine the White House at any address other than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW–but at the turn of the twentieth century, Washington, D.C. socialite and activist Mary Foote Henderson proposed a new home for the president. (more…)
Thanks to Ron for sending the reminder (and the really good video above) about the anniversary of the tragic Knickerbocker storm disaster. The Washington Post reported:
“By the end of that day…, 98 people lay dead, crushed beneath the fallen timbers and concrete of the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre. Structurally unsound, it had caved in under the weight of nearly two feet of snow.
Because the streets were nearly impassable, the moviegoers had mostly trudged on foot to the theater at Columbia Road and 18th Street NW. The crowd, which had been snowbound for days, was young and festive. There were many, many children.”
“Tanya Golash-Boza is a Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Merced, the Founder of the Racism, Capitalism, and the Law Lab, and the author of several books. Her scholarship helps us understand how racism and capitalism structure our lives and what we need to do to change this country and the world. Tanya shares her experiences and takes a close look at racist housing policies in the mid-twentieth century to see how they can help us understand gentrification patterns today. Tanya Golash-Boza is a Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Merced, the Founder of the Racism, Capitalism, and the Law Lab, and the author of several books. Her scholarship helps us understand how racism and capitalism structure our lives and what we need to do to change this country and the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.”
Photo by Doug Goodhill via Alexandra Hiniker
Thanks to Alexandra for sharing this awesomeness:
“DC friends, ever wonder what 18th Street looked like in the 1970s?
This is my dad in front of his print shop, Rainbow Press.
Plenty of posters calling for DC statehood on those walls!
It later became Rumba Cafe. Curious to see what it will be next.”
Magnificent. Here’s what Rumba Cafe looked like in it’s heyday: (more…)
Randomly stumbled upon these behind the Chinese Embassy in Van Ness. Very cool:
Now about that statue: (more…)
Photo by Nathan Jones
From The National Mall:
“Tonight, 5:30 pm ET, will be the first-ever lighting around the Reflecting Pool in honor of the American lives lost to COVID-19. People everywhere are invited to participate by illuminating buildings and ringing church bells in a national moment of unity and remembrance.”
From the Presidential Inauguration Committee:
“The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) is hosting a memorial to remember and honor the lives lost to COVID-19. On January 19 at 5:30pm (local time), we invite Americans across the country to come together for a national moment of unity and remembrance.
Get Involved (more…)