My cohort Intangible Arts wrote a great post last week about Mayorga’s new menu. You should check it out if you haven’t read it yet. And as I was walking by I also saw that they are celebrating a new salad bar and fresh juice bar. Do you think Mayorga will become more of a restaurant rather than a lounge now. I also saw that they will stop offering Wifi after 4pm. That kind of sucks, no?
The owner writes:
“as a gift to our community, quiet mind yoga is now offering a weekly, revolving FREE class for everyone to enjoy!
this week’s free community class is wednesday, june 11th at 8:00 pm with jewel greenberg: www.quietminddc.com/free_class.html
check the homepage every monday at noon to see when the next free class is offered: www.quietminddc.com
note…
to be sure that everyone has a chance to enjoy the community class, there are no online reservations available. we ask that students arrive at the studio a little early to ensure a spot in class. the studio can comfortably fit up to 25 students. thank you!”
Quiet Mind Yoga is up on 14th Street in North Columbia Heights. That’s pretty cool they offer a free class. Now, they just need to work on that sign…
This is going to be sweet. I think that sidewalk of the Tivoli is wide enough to make for some great outdoor seating. The application said they’d like to set up a 25 seat outdoor cafe. The hearing will be on June 25th. Do you think this strip of 14th Street is a good spot for outdoor seating or will it be too congested? (more…)
This was Powell Junior High School and more recently the Bell Multicultural School located behind the new DCUSA mall between Park and Irving on Hiatt Place. Check out the full demolition after the jump. (more…)
Mad props to New Columbia Heights who spotted a phenomenal quote from the 11th and Monroe Park meeting notes: “Anonymous resident (self-described drunk who hangs out in the park): people in the park aren’t that bad, come on into the park, we welcome kids, we welcome the church.”
And it was answered with vigor, a Columbia Heights resident posts on the listserv:
“We’re beginning a play group for any/all kids at the park on 11th and
Monroe. The park has a history of being a wee bit unclean but most
days it’s passable and it’s hoped that citizen use of the park will
help us reclaim this space a bit. We did this last fall and it was
fun, never too dirty and never had any problems until the cold set in.
So, if you’re interested, meet at the CH coffee shop at 8:30 on 11th
(between park & morton) to grab a cup and then walk over to the park
shortly thereafter. I’ll be with the young 2 year old with blond
curls and probably my wife and new baby most days.”
Beautiful.
This is a ridiculously cool house, check out the detail up top. It is one of those houses you walk by and think I can’t believe people actually live here. It is located at 1311 Irving St, NW. It has 5 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms and 1 half bath. The remarks say: High ceilings, exposed brick, wood floors, gas fire place, skylights…Gourmet eat in kitchen, cherry cabinets, high end appliances, deck, garage, and an English basement unit (the flier says the basement can rent for $1400 a month)… And the asking price is – $1,129,000.
So good deal or not? If anyone finds a link to photos of the inside please post in the comments. At the very least check out the coolest birdbath in town after the jump. (more…)
Ed. note this is my final Dear Pop on whether or not a particular neighborhood is safe. This is what inspired last Friday’s question of the day. I’m going to give my final opinion on crime in DC. If there are more specific questions, of course I’ll still address them, but no longer neighborhood wide safety questions.
“Can you tell me a bit about your opinion of Columbia Heights? Do women walk around by themselves at night? I know the area is improving but how safe is it really? Finally, have you ever been mugged in DC and where? What about if I went to Adams Morgan on a Saturday, drank too much, and decided to walk home to Columbia Heights at 3AM? Would you just take a cab?”
Moving from KC to DC
Dear KC to DC,
I would guess that crime and safety are the number one issues people are concerned with in certain areas of Washington, DC. However, I believe your question is impossible to answer. It is kind of like asking if the 9:30 club (a great live music venue) hosts good bands? Yes, many of the bands are great but they also host many bands that I don’t like. Similarly, your question requires a much more nuanced answer.
I can easily say that Columbia Heights is by far one of the greatest most vibrant neighborhoods in Washington, DC. It has incredible homes, restaurants, bars, culture and diversity. It also has crime. This is a fact. However, there are certain steps you can take to minimize your potential for becoming a victim. One is most definitely not to walk home drunk at 3am from Adams Morgan. That is an easy one. But it is really common sense. As has been mentioned many times on this site you have to be alert. I.E. after dark it is not advised to walk home with an ipod, talking on a cell phone or drunk. Having said that I have done all three on a few occasions because I am an idiot. Let me repeat that, I am an idiot. And if I did get mugged it would be because I was an idiot not because I was walking through Columbia Heights or living in Petworth. Maybe I am just supremely lucky. I can tell you I have never been mugged in DC (knock wood, knock wood) but I certainly could have been on multiple occasions. I also mention this because there is luck involved – good luck and bad luck. You can follow all the safety rules and still get mugged. It is obviously less likely but it is still possible and it does happen.
Even if it were to happen I don’t think that it can necessarily be attributed to living in Columbia Heights. You may have a slightly higher possibility of it happening in CH but it can happen anywhere in a city. So remember these common sense rules apply to almost all neighborhoods in Washington, DC – particularly Columbia Heights, Petworth, Shaw, Mt. Pleasant etc. Columbia Heights is a neighborhood that has a bar with a Wanted flier (see photo) on the bulletin board. That is saying something.
Like with all life’s decisions you have to weigh the pros versus the cons. And my conclusion, shared by many others, is that if you act responsibly the risk of being a victim of crime in Columbia Heights is far outweighed by all the wonderful options that Columbia Heights offers. If you can visit, you should and walk around a bit to gauge your comfort level. All I’m saying is that I’m 5’6″, 135 pounds soaking wet and I rarely feel happier and more at peace than when I am spending time in Columbia Heights.
Best of luck to you with your decision.
Be smart,
PoP
If you like coconuts, mangoes, tamales, you should do yourself a favor and check out this little street fair on the weekends. It reminds me of walking around a small town when I was in Peru a couple of summers ago. In addition to food check out the best find I’ve seen there in a while after the jump.
From a reader:
“So, I worked out at the newly opened Washington Sports Club at DCUSA this morning. Not sure when it opened, but the place is MONEY! Full length 4 lane lap pool with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Irving St; a full court basketball court with a beautiful old school wooden gymnasium floor; huge layout of the weight/cardio room with sweet views from the corner of 14th and Irving. Didn’t get any photos (they’re pretty strict about that sort of thing), but it’s a great addition to the neighborhood.”
If my swimming skills consisted of more than the doggy paddle, I’d totally be there. It definitely sounds awesome though, very cool to hear.
The original notice says:
“There will be a meeting held on 4 June 2008 at 1125
Spring Road, NW (the Mental Health Center), at 7:30pm,
About the park at 11th and Monroe Streets, NW.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide a public forum
for all the residents, especially those from ANC 1A04 and
1A07, to address concerns or make suggestions about the
park. Residents of other Single Member Districts in ANC
1A are also invited to participate.”
Apparently folks are upset that residents from ANC 1A04 and 07 are given a greater stake in the issue presumably because they live closer to the park.
I thought this was an interesting follow up comment from the listserv:
“The park is a community asset and there are many citizen interests in
the park – to use it for recreation, to use it for relaxation, to use it
to escape the heat, to walk by and not be harassed, to have a good night sleep because no one is in it drinking, to no smell urine/excrement when you walk in an alley, to feel safe and secure in your home/street because it is free of crime, to watch you property value rise because you have an attractive green space nearby.”
Personally, I think those that live right near the park do have a greater stake but obviously those in the general area would like the atmosphere of this park improved. What do you think – does proximity to the park give one a greater stake?