Shaw

“Without your help, Capital Checkers will have to close its doors”

By Prince Of Petworth

capital checkers

Thanks to a few folks for emailing – U Street Buzz tweeted earlier:

“Capital Checkers, a 30-yr-old Shaw institution, has no heat, may have to close. Pls donate”

The Fundraiser says:

“Capital Checkers has been a DC cultural institution for over 30 years, located just off U St on the corner of S & 9th NW. Home to several national champions and grand master players, Capital Checkers is one of the only checkers associations in America that provides a dedicated space for its members. Over the years, DC has gentrified, rent has gone up, and members have had to pay more and more. This year, the furnace broke, and their is no heat in the building. Members continue to play in the cold building, but they do not have enough money to make the repairs and pay rent. Without your help, Capital Checkers will have to close its doors. (more…)

“Wanted to let you know about a scammer who goes by the name Gene”

By Prince Of Petworth

scam
Photo by PoPville flickr user Thundercheese

Thanks to all who’ve sent emails warning others:

“Wanted to let you know about a scammer who goes by the name Gene who came to my home on Saturday, February 13 with a tale of woe. Turns out he’s been working my whole neighborhood (U Street area, around 10th, 9th, Westminster and French Sts) for a couple of weeks now. Not sure if the police have caught him yet. I have attached a full description of the story from my neighbor below. It’s exactly what happened to me. Please warn readers in case he’s still out there.

“On Feb 5th, a man named Gene knocked and asked to use our phone as he accidentally got locked out while changing his cat litter box. Said he lived at 9xx S St NW. Caught off guard we let him in. He attempted to call several numbers. No one answered. Said he needed to get to Bethesda where he had an extra set of keys at the catering company he worked for. Asked for a metro card. We said we wouldn’t give him our card but we were getting uncomfortable having him in the house so loaned him $20 to get him to leave. He left. I checked the last number he called and it’s for Purple Tie by Ridgewells which is an events company so we thought he may be legit. We were leaving the country on 2/6 for vacation so I sent a note to my neighbor who was in Italy at the time. While we were on vacation my neighbor responded that the person house sitting for him said the same guy came by but while asking to use the phone, his (Gene) cell phone was in his pocket went off so he left. We just returned last night 2/14 and while walking the dog today, another neighbor warned me about him. Said the same guy named Gene tried the same thing to another neighbor two days ago so he’s still working this neighborhood. He’s white, thin, late 50’s. Looks like Jim Cramer on Mad Money, the financial show. This guy scammed us out of $20 and don’t want it to happen to anyone else. I don’t think he’s violent but we felt best to give him cash to get him out of the house.”

and

“My apologies for not sending this earlier, but we had the same guy come to our house over the weekend. Luckily, I’d already read about his scam on the ShawNeighborhood listserve, so I took a picture of him and told him I knew his scam and was calling the cops. (I didn’t actually do so, as he hadn’t done anything illegal to that point, but I wanted to scare him away.) His picture, although he seems to use the same name every time, which makes it pretty easy to identify him.

Cava Grill coming to “Shaw’s hip epicenter at The Shay” this Fall

By Prince Of Petworth

the shay
8th and Florida Ave, NW

From a press release:

“The latest restaurant group to join Washington, DC’s thriving Shaw neighborhood, Cava Grill is thrilled to announce a fall 2016 opening in Shaw’s hip epicenter at The Shay building. The 2,500 square foot space will place focus on the local community with art and lifestyle events hosted throughout the year. Cava Grill’s Shaw location will make 20 locations by fall, with eight coming this year including Silver Spring, Dupont Circle, four Northern Virginia locations and a second location in Los Angeles, CA.

Cava Grill’s new Shaw location will feature the restaurant’s signature health-conscious fast-casual Mediterranean fare and afresh look, with an expanded open-kitchen layout; local beer and wine on tap; new menu items including seasonal vegetables roasted in Cava’s new stone-fired ovens, and rotating seasonal soups, juices, and teas made in-house daily; deeper relationships with local partners like Whisked!, Gordy’s Pickle Jar, and RunningByrd Tea; and additional community initiatives representative of Cava’s commitment to innovation, evolution, and attentiveness within fast-casual dining.”

Whoa “Live At 9:30” – “will be unlike any music show on TV today” – launching April

By Prince Of Petworth

930
screenshot via live at 9:30

From a press release:

“Launching nationwide on public television this April is a new series unlike any other: “Live At 9:30 Hosted by Squarespace” – an unpredictable, modern-day music variety show.

Off the beaten path in Washington, D.C. is one of the world’s greatest music venues — the 9:30 Club. It’s the most-attended music club of its size in the world – a 1200-person venue where world-famous artists have started their careers, refined their sounds, and played legendary shows. Now it’s home to TV’s most groundbreaking music show.

Each cinematic, one-hour episode of “Live At 9:30” will feature a collection of acts from different genres, interspersed with insightful and entertaining interviews, short films, and comedic bits. In a word: variety; variety that people will be talking about. Filmed unobtrusively with more than a dozen cameras, including hidden GoPros and an airborne cable-cam, “Live At 9:30” will be unlike any music show on TV today. (more…)

The Columbia Room Re-Opens February 9th – The Digs and the Drinks Do Not Disappoint!

By Prince Of Petworth

COLUMBIA ROOM - Mosaic mural
Mosaic mural (Photo by Jeff Elkins)

Update – The Columbia Room send professional photos – now we’re talking!

Why on God’s green earth did I not bring my good camera? This I do not know. What I do know is that the new Columbia Room (124 Blagden Alley, NW) is the bomb. For those who missed the info last time:

Columbia Room, the intimate cocktail bar created by leading spirits expert Derek Brown, re-opens in Washington on February 9, 2016. Widely hailed for its meticulously crafted cocktails and intimate drinking experience, Columbia Room returns with the same attention to detail and top-notch service that earned it two James Beard Award nominations.

The revamped Columbia Room is a 2,400-square foot bar divided into three distinct areas: The Spirits Library, Punch Garden (outside) and Tasting Room.

“We’re so excited that we get to expand on our original idea” Brown says about the Columbia Room, which he originally launched inside The Passenger in 2010. “It means that we get to add bells and whistles, but it also means that we get to bring a new perspective, a more confident perspective that I think, for guests, will translate into a richer experience with our service, drinks and food.”

Against the backdrop of a stunning Italian mosaic mural that tells the story of the bar, ticketed patrons at the Columbia Room’s signature 14-person tasting room will indulge in three and five-course tasting menus featuring specialty cocktails, punches, sodas and light snacks curated by Brown and his team of expert bartenders, including head bartender J.P. Fetherston. The 20-seat Spirits Library, framed by bookcases and original artwork, will allow guests to taste one-of-a-kind spirits and cocktails à la carte. The Punch Garden, an outside terrace with a panoramic view of Washington, is slated to open in Spring 2016.

I took a taste last night and it was phenomenal. I just want to add that I went in with super high expectations too – DC is very lucky to have them back in action.

COLUMBIA ROOM- Tasting Room bar
Tasting Room bar (Photo by Jeff Elkins)

A couple More mediocre phenomenal photos after the jump. (more…)

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