Petworth

Safari DC, an East African restaurant that offers authentic East African food now under new Managment in Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

safari_dc_petworth_restaurant
4306 Georgia Ave, NW

From a press release:

“Petworth’s restaurant landscape is a kaleidoscope of culture, with everything on the menu from Asia to Africa. Teeming with diversity, it can now boast another rare gem in its growing nightlife offerings – Safari DC, an East African restaurant that offers authentic East African food.

With its succulent flame-grilled meats, sumptuous fried fishes, and uniquely seasoned rice, Safari DC provides a terrific introduction to some of the foods unique to the East African region and highlight the chef’s passion for tasty fare.  With hopes to providing a glimpse into the contemporary side of modern African cuisine and drink, Safari Restaurant DC plans to utilize its patio seating area for fun outdoor activities that will make you feel like you are in East Africa. Safari DC is offering people a chance to sample Kenyan and Tanzanian food as a delightful precursor to the Folklife Festival scheduled to take place at the Smithsonian later on this month. The Folklife Festival will feature Kenya and China this year.

10436665_784258828273470_7165675758424601766_n
Photo via Safari DC

The restaurant is under new management, and the owners are excited to be in Petworth, a neighborhood that they feel has a rich sense of history and a diverse, close-knit community. It echoes of the African values of family and togetherness; a strengthening of community through cooperation and mutual support. There are three floors (two for dining) and an upper room for events. Out back is a breeze-filled patio with ample seating and a view of tree-lined streets. There are several televisions where people can watch the games, and a bar that also offers a television and several different types of alcohol.

Take the journey into new cuisine that is difficult to come by in the DC metro area. Safari DC the only East African restaurant in the DC area that offers Kenyan and Tanzanian food. The restaurant is open from 4 p.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Sunday.”

Action at former Moroni’s Pizza space on Georgia

By Prince Of Petworth

14302503160_7e2e3be59a_z
4811 Georgia Ave, NW

“Dear PoPville,

Moroni’s pizza closed down months ago, which sucked. I passed by it today and the windows were spray painted from the inside, but I found a slit in the paint and it looks like re-modeling is happening. I hope it’s a new North Petworth Neighborhood bar or restaurant! The brick pizza oven is still standing……”

Anyone hear who’s coming in?

Crane and Turtle Opens Tuesday – Holy Transformations Vol. 27 – Have a Look inside and at the Menu

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_8709
Finishing touches outside of 828 Upshur Street, NW

Whoa! Crane and Turtle turned out even nicer than the renderings. I had to do a quadruple take when I walked inside. I think you’ll do at least a double take next time you pass the little spot between Dannie’s Carryout and Kilroy’s Cleaners on Upshur Street. Until then you can see in the photos below that it is truly a beautiful transformation.

Here’s how the space looked in 2012:

828_upshur_2012

And they open Tuesday at 5pm!  To start hours will be:
Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs: 5pm – 10pm
Fri, Sat: 5pm – 11pm
Mon: closed

Check out the menu:

Crane and Turtle Opening Menu (PDF)

More info from a press release:

“CRANE & TURTLE is a chef-driven, neighborhood restaurant that celebrates the marriage of Chef Makoto Hamamura’s great passions—Japanese and French cooking. Located in a cozy commercial building on Upshur Street, NW, the restaurant has been designed by Nick Pimentel to put food and drink at center stage.

Crane & Turtle is a small, intimate space seating 25 inside and 14 outside. The menu features a strong seafood component, marrying ingredients and techniques from Japan and France. The beverage program highlights dynamic offerings from all over the world that pair with the food and celebrate the interplay of cocktails, wine, ciders and craft beer.

Paul W. Ruppert is the operating partner for this new restaurant. Over the course of 20 years, he has created a number of noteworthy restaurants and bars, including Ruppert’s Restaurant, The Passenger & Columbia Room, Room 11, Hogo and Petworth Citizen.

ABOUT THE NAME
Our name—Crane & Turtle—comes from the Japanese fable celebrating friendship, longevity and mutual support. Many years ago during a great flood, water covered the land and the Crane had no place to rest. The Turtle rose from the floodwaters and welcomed the Crane to rest on his back. Years later, there was a terrible drought. Seeing that the Turtle needed help, Crane lifted him up and carried him a long distance to a thriving lake. Wildly different, the Crane and Turtle became mutually supportive and enjoyed a long life as friends.

Chef Hamamura has a personal connection to this classic Japanese story. At birth, his mother was
given the Japanese name Crane and her twin sister became Turtle. Their life-long connection
has influenced his career and encouraged him to look for the harmonies that join disparate things together.”

And here’s a look inside:

IMG_8713

IMG_8715

Lots more photos of the small but incredibly beautiful space after the jump. (more…)

Capital Fringe Festival [“the boozy retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”] Coming to DC Reynolds

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

“Petworth-based theater company, LiveArtDC (pronounced “give art”), is bringing the Capital Fringe festival close to home. They will host a production of Shakespeare’s most famous love story, Romeo and Juliet, at Georgia Avenue’s DC Reynolds — re-imagined with beer, flip cup and audience participation.

From the press release:

“LiveArtDC will host the DC premiere of Three Day Hangover’s “R+J: Star-Cross’d Death Match” for the 2014 Capital Fringe Festival at DC Reynolds. From rap battles, dance-offs and beer-filled flip cup competitions, the boozy retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” brings the audience into the middle of theater’s best-known family feud.

Buy your tickets now!

Where:
DC Reynolds
3628 Georgia Ave NW
A block south of the Georgia Ave./Petworth Metro stop, on the green and yellow lines

When:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from July 10-26 Weekday shows start at 8 pm; Saturdays, at 9 pm”

Dear PoPville – Tracking down the owner of a vacant lot for a Community Garden?

By Prince Of Petworth

vacant_lot_gardening_bill_dc
Photo by PoPville flickr user johnmcochran2012

Dear PoPville,

I having been renting in Petworth for about a year in a group house with friends from all over the country. I live between two row houses occupied by families, and both have active gardens in the summertime.

This year I decided I wanted to build a raised bed and start my own. While spending a lot of time in the backyard gardening, I noticed that there are two enormous lots that appear to just be sitting there with no one using or tending to them. I think they belong to the city, but I haven’t been able to confirm this… If there is interest amongst my neighbors and the community, I am thinking about submitting a proposal to DPR to start a community garden. I also have a friend who started and managed a community garden that I will reach out to to get advice and pointers.

Any ideas on where I should get started on tracking down the owner of the land? Zillow and Google Maps have not been helpful thus far.

This is potentially really good timing, if District owned, as Council Member’s Cheh and Grosso have have just introduced legislation to encourage community farming on vacant lots –

“An Bill To amend the Food Production and Urban Gardens Program Act of 1986 to establish an urban farming land leasing initiative; to establish a nonrefundable tax credit for food commodity donations made to a District of Columbia food bank or shelter; and to establish a real property tax abatement for unimproved real property leased for the purpose of small-scale urban farming.”

You can read the full bill here – D.C. Urban Farming and Food Security Act of 2014

If the lot is privately owned – any suggestions on how to track down the owner? Would guerrilla gardening be worth a shot?

“Petworth top neighborhood [Brookland 3rd] for home flipping in the nation”

By Prince Of Petworth

flipped_house_neighborhoods

From an email:

“Redfin released an analysis today about flipped houses in major markets and found that DC had several of the hottest neighborhoods for home flipping in the country last year. Petworth ranked #1 in the country with average gain of $312,400 per flip. Brookland/Catholic University ranked 3rd with an average gain of $271,900 per flip. Fort Totten and Stadium Armory ranked #6 and #7 respectively. This gain is the difference in value between purchase price and sale price for homes bought and sold within a year; it does not factor in remodeling or other costs.

In our metro, the average gain for a flipped home was $104,100 in 2013. Last year 4,260 homes were flipped in the DC metro – according to our analysis of MLS data – with a median flip time of 172 days. And 73.2 percent of these homes were flipped for a gain. The analysis shows that our market continues to see high levels of flipping activity this year.”

Meeting about the Future of the Old Hebrew Home – “Based on the comments and questions, there seemed to be a concern about the process”

By Prince Of Petworth

1125 Spring Road, NW
1125 Spring Road, NW

From Kathleen Crowley of ANC4C10:

“For my fellow ANC 4C folks, below is a brief summary for those who may not have been able to attend the meeting held by DC Department of General Services (DGS) regarding the future of 1125 Spring Road NW, here are a few highlights:

-1125 Spring Road NW is a capital asset with DGS and will be developed as a residential property consistent with its zoning designation. DGS plans to surplus the property to the DC Housing Authority.

-The purpose of the meeting was to solicit feedback from the community regarding the possible residential uses of the property (i.e. affordable housing, mixed use, senior).

-Based on the comments and questions, there seemed to be a concern about the process. For example, how will the feedback from the community inform the final recommendations and decisions; concern the community will not be able to review or comment on the recommendations to be presented to the city council; lack of confidence in the DC Housing Authority to move this project forward in a way consistent with the community interests (e.g., parking issues, permanent versus transient, etc.); and a concern that decisions will be made regarding this project amid changing DC leadership.

-The intended use of the property is the undecided issue. Although most would like to see the property used for senior living, it was suggested a survey be conducted to better understand the community’s overall interest about the use.

-DGS emphasized that the best way to express your interests and concerns regarding this matter is to 1) contact your DC City Council Member; and 2) contact DGS“

Strawberry Festival Sat. at St. Paul’s in Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

strawberry_festival

From an email:

“St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is celebrating its 147th annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 21, 2014, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Food, music, strawberries, free moonbounce, field games, craft activities, face painting, scavenger hunt, and tours of the historic Rock Creek Cemetery. Admission is free. Join us for this annual family celebration! There are two entrances: one at Allison Street and the other at Rock Creek Church Road and Webster.

Special thanks to Christian Family Montessori School and the Petworth Co-op!”

Condos still coming to the Former Goins Building?

By Prince Of Petworth

former_goins_petworth
3930 Georgia Ave, NW

Lots of readers have been sending in questions about the corner of Sherman and Georgia Ave, NW. Last we heard, in September of last year, the building at the corner of Shepherd and Georgia Ave, NW (formerly home to the Goins restaurant) had been demolished. At that time it was supposed to become the the Fahrenheit Condos. That website is still active and I’ve seen construction workers at the space so presumably it’ll still become condos. Anyone heard anything different?

Brunch Returning to Chez Billy after Labor Day – Help Pick the Menu

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_8446
3815 Georgia Ave, NW

From the folks at Chez Billy:

“Chez Billy, Petworth’s neighborhood French bistro, is bringing back Sunday brunch the weekend after Labor Day and wants to know what you’d like to see on the menu. I love the authentic French dishes like Vichysoisse and Moules-Frites, but what do you think is missing from brunch in Petworth? Bottomless drinks? Classic American breakfast dishes with a French twist? More wine and cheese? Speak up!”

View More Stories