I’ve said it before and I’ll, sadly likely, say it again – this building is so awesome. Makes me weep every time I pass it in its current condition.
Downtown
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Thanks to a reader for sending word that a Paul Bakery is coming next to the Charles Tyrwhitt clothing store coming to the new building at Connecticut and K St, NW (both on the Connecticut Avenue side.) This will make the third store for Paul Bakery in DC – the two other locations are in Penn Quarter at 801 Pennsylvania Ave, NW and in Georgetown at 1078 Wisconsin Ave, NW.
A Charles Tyrwhitt clothing store is coming to one of the retail spaces at the corner of Connecticut and K St, NW. The entrance is on the Connecticut Ave side. Anyone ever hear of Charles Tyrwhitt?
Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw
From an email:
National Gallery of Art
Sculpture Garden Ice Rink Closing March 12
The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden ice rink is open through March 11, weather permitting. View magnificent works of sculpture while skating in the open air and enjoying music from the state-of-the-art sound system.
Friday-Saturday, 10:00am-11:00pm
Sunday, 11:00am-9:00pmDuring the evening skating hours, when the National Gallery of Art is closed to the public, access the ice rink and Pavilion Café via Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive at 9th Street.
But get ready for some Jazz soon!
Thanks to a reader for sending:
“Looks like new bike lanes on NY Ave, NW between 9th and 10th street. Can’t tell how far they’ll ultimately extend.”
Photo courtesy of DC Library
From a press release:
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) released its final report today after conducting a week-long review of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library building last November. Based on the results of the ULI report, the DC Public Library will begin an in-depth analysis next month to determine the feasibility and cost of implementing the scenarios.
“The analysis is the next step in a long process that will help us figure out how to make the District’s central library a spectacular place for residents,” said Ginnie Cooper, chief librarian of the District of Columbia.
The ULI report outlined three scenarios for consideration without necessarily recommending one over the other. All scenarios will require significant investment by District government for major improvements to the building, according to the report.
Keep the existing building as a library and lease excess space in the building to another commercial, nonprofit or municipal entity.
Maintain the existing building for complete use by the library.
Sell the building and identify another downtown location for the central library.The Library will work with nationally recognized architectural firm and architect-of-record for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, The Freelon Group, to examine how the MLK Library can be reconfigured for co-tenancy, complete an analysis of how two more floors can be added to the building, and identify, prioritize and provide cost estimates for needed major improvements. The work will follow the historic design guidelines developed by EHT Traceries.
Additionally, the Library will work with the D.C. Office of Planning to explore whether there are viable alternate locations downtown that can accommodate a 225,000 square foot central library. And finally, nationally recognized library experts will be consulted to test the assumption that 225,000 square feet is sufficient space to house a state-of-the-art, cutting edge central library. The analysis is expected to be complete by the fall. The results of the analysis will be used to continue the conversation on the future of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library with residents, city leaders and other stakeholders.
Continues after the jump. (more…)
New sculptures have gone up on New York Ave between 12th and 13th Streets, NW, outside the Women’s Museum. Last year folks had very mixed opinions about the colorful sculptures. A significant contrast this year – what do you think about these (which I think are made from old tires)?
Closeups after the jump. (more…)
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1901 L Street, NW
Washington Business Journal shares the healthy news that Sweetgreen and another spot called Energy Kitchen have signed leases at 1901 L St, NW:
“Sweetgreen is known for its salads and use of local produce, while Energy Kitchen is a healthy eating franchise relatively new to the D.C. market. Both should open by year’s end.”
I stopped by last week and a former tenant, Fresh Meal, has closed but the Asian Bistro next door was still open. I asked them if they were closing too and they said they hadn’t heard anything. I’ll update when Sweetgreen and Energy Kitchen get closer to opening.
Healthy eating the new cupcakes…?
Back in October 2011 we learned that Verizon Wireless was moving next door to the former Spezie restaurant at 1742 L St, NW. This weekend I noticed signs went up announcing who will be moving into the former Verizon spaces. Turns out it will be a MyEyeDr:
and a Ritz Camera:
Of course there is already a large Ritz Camera at the corner of 18th and L St, NW:
When I spoke to folks at the corner Ritz location they thought the current store would be closed and they’d be moved into the new space by the end of March. The new space is about half the size of the current space. The downsizing of this Ritz follows the news of Penn Camera’s bankruptcy and closing not too far away at 1015 18th Street, NW.
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Speaking of Italian restaurants, Fiola is located at 601 Pennsylvania Ave, NW not far from the Navy-Archives Metro. Their Website says:
Fiola is Chef Fabio Trabocchi’s first owned restaurant located in the heart of DC’s Penn Quarter on Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th and 6th streets with its main entrance on Indiana Avenue.
Fiola is a modern upscale Trattoria and uses the freshest ingredients for its daily changing lunch and dinner menus. Fiola’s wine list is extensive and great variety is used to compile wines from Italy, Spain, France and The United States.
Fiola has a large bar with available seating where classic and modern cocktails are being prepared by mixologist Jeff Faile. A unique degustation menu with cocktail parings is in the works to debut in early fall.
I’m hearing that while def. pricey, the place is amazing. You can see their menus here. Has anyone checked them out yet?