Brookland

Disturbing Incidents on the Met Branch Trail

By Prince Of Petworth

We just spoke about how great the trail looks back in mid-Sept. A reader writes:

“There’s been a rash of assaults on the newly-opened Met Branch [bike] Trail. I’ve enclosed one message below. [From the Brookland listserv]:

This evening at about 7:50 I was heading South on my bike, going from Brookland to Capitol Hill to visit a friend. I was approaching the section just North of Rhode Island Ave. where there’s a parking lot and shopping plaza. About four black youths (junior-high age) were at the bench along the trail, when one of them (the smallest kid, no more than 4 feet tall) came out with a large plastic drink cup and doused liquid at me, hitting my chest. It was not water. It was bodily fluids. I stopped and got off my bike, and tried to catch the perpetrator but they all dispersed (laughing), and I realized it was futile, so I got back on the bike and continued. I made it to my friend’s house, promptly took a shower and threw away the clothes I had on, and then called 911 to report the crime. The dispatcher said that since I was no longer at the scene, they couldn’t file a report, but that they would send an officer to check out the area.”

And another:

“I was riding my bike home from work on the Metro Branch Trail about 3:45 pm this afternoon (Saturday) when a female member of a group of 6 young teenagers stood up from a bench and pushed me off my bike as I rode by. I slammed into the fence along the trail. She then proceeded to sit back down on the bench as I struggled with my bike. They did not attempt to take anything from me. This happened a few hundred feet from the entrance onto the trail at 8th and Edgewood, right by DC Prep. I rode my bike(which was all bent out of alignment) to the trail head and called police. The police responded quickly and were very helpful, but the kids were gone.

I am bruised and shaken, but basically okay.”

Judging Renderings and Bonus Sweet City Sign

By Prince Of Petworth

The Brookland Artspace are going in on 8th St, NE though applications will not be accepted until January 2011. According to the ArtSpace Web site:

“Dance Place and Artspace are partnering to create a $13 million arts campus in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington D.C. Artspace will break ground on 41 affordable live/work units for artists and their families with gallery and studio place will be developed. Artspace is assisting Dance Place, Washington D.C.’s most prolific presenter of modern dance, to build a new performance and rehearsal space, an education center and administrative space.”

And it’s been a while since I’ve spotted a sweet old school city sign so I wanted to share this simple one from 12th St, NE also in Brookland.

Nice Brookland/Edgwood Mural and Metropolitan Branch Trail

By Prince Of Petworth

These murals are located near Franklin St, NE and a new section of the MBT trail.

The Metropolitan Branch Trail is looking great:

Their Web site says:

“The Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) is an 8-mile trail that runs from Union Station in the District of Columbia to Silver Spring in Maryland. Following the Metropolitan Branch Line of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad, the trail passes through numerous vibrant and historic neighborhoods as well as connecting to the National Mall. The MBT is an important transportation route providing connections to homes, work and play as well as access to seven Metro stations. Current plans include connections to the area’s trail network such as the Capital Crescent Trail, Anacostia Trails System, and integration into the East Coast Greenway.”

You can see a full map of the trail here.

Good Deal or Not? “Four finished levels of space” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1239 Monroe St, NE:


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The flier says:

“GRAND DAME IN BEST BROOKLAND LOCATION. VERY CONVENIENT TO ALL TRANSPORTATION AND SHOPS. SPARKLING INSIDE IN MOVE IN RENOVATED CONDITION. FABULOUS MASTER BEDROOM SPACE, SUN-PORCH, FRONT PORCH, GREAT FENCED YARD WITH SUPER OFF STREET PARKING, CLASSIC DINNING ROOM, EAT IN KITCHEN, AND FOUR FINISHED LEVELS OF SPACE. SENTRA ACCESS ON FRONT WALKWAY HANDRAIL. LP TITLE TO SETTLE”

You can find more info here and a virtual tour here.

What do you think about the home itself? I think I may have asked this once before but how much of a discount would you give if you lived next door to a firehouse? Ed. Note: I’ll show the firehouse for the 4pm ‘judging buildings post’, it is pretty sweet. Does $529,500 sound reasonable for this 5 bed/2.5 bath home?

Coming Soon to DC Micro (Nano) Brewery – Chocolate City Beer

By Prince Of Petworth


Chocolate City Beer Headquarters in Brookland

There’s been a bit of chatter about a new DC Microbrewery. Many have heard of DC Brau but there is a second slightly smaller Brewery that is also poised to hit DC. They are called Chocolate City Beer. I sat down for a chat with two of the three partners at Looking Glass Lounge last week.


Ben Matz (left) Jay Irizarry (right) third partner not pictured is Brian Flanagan

Ed. Note: Sorry for the cell phone pic. Many may recognize Jay Irizarry as a Manager and Bartender from Wonderland and Looking Glass Lounge. Matz and Irizarry have been friends for years and have had a passion for brewing beers for just as long. What started as just a backyard experiment has turned into a legitimate brewery after lots of planning and a bit of luck. Both couldn’t understand why DC didn’t have a micro brewery (DC last had an active brewery in approx. 1958). Not only was DC missing an active brewery but they also noted nearby Philadelphia had around 20 successful ones. So why not DC?

While it is a passion for both, Matz, 28 has professional experience and has been a brewer for Gordon Biersch and Wild Goose Brewery up in Baltimore. Matz has perfected a few recipes while experimenting at Jay’s Capitol Hill home. To start, Chocolate City Beer will be offering two varieties to about 15 different bars/restaurants around town. They will be offering an IPA and are deciding between Dussledorf Altbier or ESB for their second variety. In the beginning they will only be offering these two types in kegs but expect to expand gradually over time.

They have recently secured a HQ in Brookland (see photo above). Their HQ is about 1300 square feet and will produce around 150 kegs a month in the beginning. They hope to start distributing their kegs around late Dec. pending permit approvals. For those who share a passion for brewing and want to start their own microbrewery, in addition to expertise, start up costs can easily run up to $200,000. But they welcome the competition, believing DC will see 4 or 5 more microbreweries pop up in the coming months.

Now for the name – Chocolate City Beer. It is an homage to the District of Columbia based on DC’s nickname from back in the day. Furthermore, their first IPA is going to be called Big Chair IPA in tribute to the Big Chair in Anacostia. They almost had the HQ in Anacostia but the spaces were too large. The recipe for Big Chair IPA was developed over a two and a half year period.

I’ll be sure to update when distribution gets started for one of DC’s first new microbrews. I know I’m looking forward to tasting a Big Chair IPA.

Lots more photos of Chocolate City Beer HQ after the jump. You can see a few touch ups are needed… (more…)

Good Deal or Not? “Expansive wrap-around deck” edition (Reader Request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This house is located at 3300 13th St, NE:


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The flier says:

“Lovely renovated home on a corner lot located just 5 blocks to the Brookland METRO. A beautiful kitchen w/ Stainless Steel Appliances. Dining area with office nook/built-in storage. Generous living room w/ wood-burning fireplace. 2 BRs upstairs, Spacious master bedroom on main level. 2 full baths. Expansive wrap-around deck. Landscaped yard. Driveway parking. Closets, closets, closets!”

You can find more info here and a virtual tour here.

Wow, I think they did a great job on this one. That deck is pretty killer. Do you like the reno? Does $434,555 sound reasonable for this 3 bed/2 bath?

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