From Past Tense located at 3253 Mt. Pleasant St. NW:
Join us Friday, January 14 after Happy Hour for a FREE book reading by local author Anna El-Eini. Her new novel, Beating Heart tells the story of a community organizer who lives in DC and is working to stop a new prison being built in one of the poorer areas.
I told you we use it here too! (From Mt. Pleasant St, NW) Of course I actually think this bodega is closed… Hahaha but I’m still allowed to use the term!
Last week I shared the good word that Mt. Pleasant had been awarded a grant to open a Temporium at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. for Jan. and Feb.
As part of the city’s new Temporary Urbanism initiative, the DC Office of Planning (OP) has awarded Mount Pleasant Main Street (MPMS) a grant to establish a “Temporium” in an unoccupied retail space at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. A Temporium is a temporary, pop-up retail space for local artisans to exhibit and sell their work. The Mt. Pleasant Temporium is scheduled to open for 24 dates between late January and February.
The Mt. Pleasant Temporium, scheduled to open for 24 dates beginning in late January 2011, will feature handmade goods for sale from 20 local, independent crafters and artists, as well as special programming that includes autobiographical and theatrical storytelling, trunk shows, educational panels, and live music.
The Temporium will be developed in partnership with Mount Pleasant Main Street, SpeakeasyDC, Hello Craft, Radio CPR, Partners for Livable Communities, the DC Office of Planning, and several neighborhood-based community groups.
At the time a reader noticed that this is the space that Nana is moving into. I spoke with the owner of Nana’s clothing boutique and she confirms that it is indeed the same space. She assured me that Nana will still be moving into that space when the Temporium closes. Good news all around!
I noticed some permits on the basement space below Radius next Tonic at 3155 Mt. Pleasant St, NW. It turns out Tonic is taking over that space and is creating another bar area.
You may recall that back in Oct. that Tonic had remade its upstairs space into a sportsbar. I’ll be sure to update as contstruction progresses and opening dates are announced.
I love this display every year. Just as cool if not cooler than elaborate lights.
Awesome, Mt. Pleasant is getting a Temporium. From a press release:
As part of the city’s new Temporary Urbanism initiative, the DC Office of Planning (OP) has awarded Mount Pleasant Main Street (MPMS) a grant to establish a “Temporium” in an unoccupied retail space at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. A Temporium is a temporary, pop-up retail space for local artisans to exhibit and sell their work. The Mt. Pleasant Temporium is scheduled to open for 24 dates between late January and February.
The Mt. Pleasant project will feature handmade goods for sale from 20 local, independent crafters and artists, as well as special programming that includes autobiographical and theatrical storytelling, trunk shows, educational panels, and live music. The Temporium will be developed in partnership with SpeakeasyDC, Hello Craft, Radio CPR, Partners for Livable Communities, the DC Office of Planning, and several neighborhood-based community groups. The vendor curator, Hello Craft, also helps produce the annual Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair.
Continues after the jump. (more…)
Danny Harris is a DC-based photographer, DJ, and collector of stories. He launched People’s District, a blog that tells a people’s history of DC by sharing the stories and images of its residents. You can follow People’s District on Twitter @PeoplesDistrict, and can read his previous columns here.
Today, People’s District tells the story of a house in Mt. Pleasant through two woman. Alex’s story below talks about growing up on 19th and Kenyon in the 80′s and 90′s. You can read about Tamara, the woman raising her family there now on People’s District. The two families have an amazing set of things in common, and talk about a changing neighborhood through the lens of a beautiful old house.
“I always regret that we sold the house in Mt. Pleasant where I was born and raised. You know, the place was falling apart and the foundation was going, but it was our home. After my parents got married in Afghanistan and then tried living in San Francisco, they decided to come to D.C. in the 1970’s. They were do gooders who traveled the world and helped women in third world countries open their own businesses. So, D.C. was a nice fit for them and they found a place on 19th and Kenyon St. and raised me and my sister there.
“The neighborhood was incredible and had such a rich culture, but if people think that Washington is bad now, you should have been in Mt. Pleasant back then. My Dad, sister and I got held up at gun point when I was eight years old. Our car got stolen four times and who knows how many times our house got broken into. A woman was shot in the back of the head on our street. Then, the riots of the 90’s happened in Mt. Pleasant, and things started to get even worse. I remember being at home, watching the riots on TV with my Dad. I couldn’t believe it was real until I saw on TV that they burned the KFC that used to be on the corner of Kenyon and Mt. Pleasant St.
“While it was rough, my parents still wanted me and my sister to live our lives and have fun. They knew that the more restrictions you put on a child, the more they are going to rebel. Instead, they put trust in us, and taught us how to take care of ourselves in the neighborhood. My parents never condoned carrying any kind of weapon, but they always taught us to always look behind you and be aware of your surroundings.
Continues after the jump. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user ewilfong
Some folks may recall the Temporium that was on H St, NE this summer. It was very cool. I’m now hearing another may be set up in Mt. Pleasant (though the announcement will come this week).
There was an official notice in October for those seeking funding:
On Wednesday, October 6, 2010, the DC Office of Planning announced funding available through the Temporary Urbanism initiative to establish a Temporium. A Temporium transforms vacant storefronts or spaces into a temporary retail space for local designers to exhibit and sell their work. A Temporium helps meet several objectives established by the District of Columbia through the Creative DC Action Agenda and the Retail Action Roadmap including supporting creative entrepreneurs, activating commercial corridors and highlighting their retail potential, providing residents with unique services and activities, and promoting neighborhoods. The Temporium implemented on the H Street NE corridor in July/August 2010 attracted over 1,600 visitors to H Street NE over four weekends, and generated sales and new opportunities for seventeen participating designers.
I think adding one to Mt. Pleasant would be awesome. I hope they are selected for funding – stay tuned!
And in other Mt. Pleasant news – a reader asks:
“I’ve been reading the news stories about local food banks being short on available food and household supplies this year due to increasing need. My neighbors and I in Mt P. would like to drop off some supplies in the local neighborhood area and are trying to find the best options. The biggest food banks in DC have websites with all the info, but I’m wondering if anyone knows of any churches, shelters, community groups that are doing drives currently as well.”
Anyone know of any Mt. P specific food banks?
“Dear PoP,
Saw this on my way to the metro this morning on Mt. Pleasant and Irving…”
Holy cow this is a crazy one. This week has plagued the city with breaks all over town.
Thanks to a reader for sending in these shots from a Mt. Pleasant St, NW bus shelter. It looks like it is from a District marketing program. I’ve been curious about this marketing program – I know I’ve seen some for H St, NE as well – do you think it’s a good use of district funds? Do you think they are effective?
And while we’re on the topic of signs – I know that there has been some controversy about placing some “Mid City” signs in the U St, NW area. What are your thoughts about these banners and banner marketing in general?
For the record, I’m a huge supporter of neighborhood banners.
