We’ve talked about dry cleaners from time to time. I’m a devotee of OXXO’s neighbor in Columbia Heights, Georgetown Dry Cleaners both across from the Giant on Park Rd. But I have to say I’m always mesmerized by the automatic pickup machine at the OXXO. Does it work well? How are the prices?
And what do you think Kwame Brown had to do to get his sign in the window?
I’ve always been a huge fan of the beer garden at Wonderland and still am. But get there late on a beautiful day and it is smashed crowded. So I was psyched to see that they have opened up more outdoor seating options with individual tables. The perfect spot for Happy Hour drinking and eating but mostly drinking. Has anyone sat at the new outdoor space? Like it?
A few months back I posted about some homes on Kenyon between 11th and Shepherd Sherman that were damaged by fire. Well, a reader wrote me today telling me of the great work done on 2 out of 3. Sadly, the scuttlebutt on the third home is that the owner did not have insurance and will have to sell. I thought all homes had to have insurance? At any rate that is a very sad situation. But on a happier note it is really nice to see how quickly and more importantly how nicely the first two home were fixed up. Here’s what it looked like back in February.
Thanks to the good folks at The Heights Life for tipping me off to their investigation of Columbia Heights Retail. This is what they found out about the Washington Sports Club: “The doors are open and the machines are lined up, but the sweat will have to wait. I was told WSC would open on Monday, but that’s only to sign up new members. Workouts won’t begin for “another few weeks.”
I unfortunately missed the actual ceremony but I was able to catch the celebrations afterward. Pictured above is James O’Brien, owner of Red Rocks, John Andrade, owner of Asylum and the upcoming Meridian Pint, and Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham. I also spoke with 3DG owner, John Goldman (photo after the jump) who told me that a fence will go up around the old Bi-Rite building and demolition will take place in less than two weeks. By the end of the summer Mr. Goldman hopes to move 3DG headquarters into the second floor offices. Mr. Andrade hopes to have the restaurant/bar Meridian Pint open by December. Sounds pretty ambitious but I’m certainly looking forward to it.
And now for the exciting but somewhat unrelated news from Councilmember Jim Graham. Graham hopes to work with Metro to convert the little park (owned by Metro) directly across the street from Red Rocks on the southwest corner of 11th and Park into a dog park! Graham asked O’Brien and Andrade if they supported the idea and they were 100% behind it. Stay tuned for more info on that front.
More photos and info on the 3DG building after the jump. (more…)
I’m told the menu is still being tweaked a bit but it looks great to me. And just for the record I sat outside for over two hours Sat. night and did not encounter any unpleasantness, save for my own boring stories. The outdoor seating option is terrific. And remember for those that are fearful, there is a bouncer sitting right at the door should anything untoward happen. Now for the brunch options: Ed. note: mmm, tater tots and Red Derby is located at 14th and Quincy.
Derby Brunch:
Multigrain Egg Sandwich with tater tots
Breakfast Burrito
Whole Wheat French toast sticks with maple syrup
Morning Burger (our burger served with a sunny side over fried egg) and tater tots
BLT on multigrain served with tater tots
Bagel, cream cheese & lox
Veggie bagel
Seasonal fruit basket
Assortment of mini-muffins
Southern-style biscuits with honey butter
Derby Libations:
Mimosas, Bloody Mary’s & Harvey Wallbangers – $2 with brunch, $4 without food
The following series was created by our intern in Petworth, Julian. This week’s question were:
1.How long have you been in the neighborhood, and what changes have you witnessed? If your move was recent, what brought you here?
2. Does the neighborhood, as it is, offer you the things you need? What would improve it?
3. What place or thing is your favorite in the neighborhood?
4. What is special or not-so-special about U street?
5. Have you noticed the changes in Columbia Heights affect business in the area at all? Does it make you want to move away from U street?
Helena
Thanks to a buddy of mine for sending me this photo that’s a couple of years old. First one to recognize it gets a free t-shirt.
There is an awful lot going on here. Water, trinkets, rocks…just soak it all in and don’t think too deeply on it.
Ed. note: Snap-shots is a series created by our intern in Petworth, Julian. This week’s snapshots come from Columbia Heights but following snapshots will come from Petworth, U Street, Mt. Pleasant, Logan Circle, Shaw and Adams Morgan.
The following questions were asked:
William – Newton and Holmead
1. “We’ve worked hard to make the changes that have come to our neighborhood. There could be better changes, we could have bigger and better improvements, but the public realm hasn’t been met. We still have a long way to go with paving, sidewalks and public safety.”
2. “Yes, the neighborhood offers me everything I need, and coming! We’re not done yet, but we have many of the basic elements in place.”
3. “My favorite place to people watch is the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza (or Tivoli square) – this is where you get to people watch – this is the intersection that brings it all together.”
4. “The people make [Columbia Heights] special.”
5. “When you drive, the neighborhood is night and day. When you walk, you see the diversity of everything – from the people, to the buildings, to the atmosphere.”
Katheryn – Fairmont and 12th
1. “The changes really haven’t affected me yet, but they’re probably going to influence my decision to stay in the neighborhood longer than I would have otherwise.”
2. “I wish it had an internet café/coffee house … a Tryst-like place. And maybe more coffee shops down where I live.”
3. “My favorite place in the neighborhood is the little Latin market close to where I live. They always have fresh cilantro.”
4. “For me personally, the reason I moved [to Columbia Heights] is because I couldn’t rent a large house to live in and also have my art studio. It also offered an opportunity to get to know a neighborhood I hadn’t really known the last 8 years of living here.”
5. N/A
Susan – 13th and Harvard
1. “Well, I just moved to this neighborhood in February from U street, a couple of weeks before all the big changes, so I really can’t say. U street was great for me, so when I was living there I didn’t really come up for anything in particular.”
2. “It would be nice to have more restaurants. Coming from U street, where there are more options – I really feel like this neighborhood could benefit from something like that.”
3. “Well, I haven’t really found my spots to hang out in the neighborhood yet, but I really like Rumberos, and all the new little fast food joints that have opened up on Tivoli square, like Ritas and the Pollo Campero.”
4. “Columbia Heights is special because it has everything you need, and you can walk and feel safe.”
5. N/A