U Street

The 5pm Post – U Street Movie Series Tues. July 26

By Prince Of Petworth


Movie Courtesy of U Street Movie Series

From an email:

Friends of Harrison Recreation Center, the U Street Neighborhood Association, and the Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association continue a second season of films on Tuesday, July 26th with historical documentaries about treasured entertainment venues in the U Street area. The evening will feature 930 F Street, about the history of the 9:30 Club, including interviews with several musicians, staff, and fans that frequented the club. The film will be preceded by Howard Theatre: A Century in Song, a television documentary detailing the history of the famed theatre at 7th and T Streets that launched the careers of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, and is currently undergoing renovations.

Admission is free and films will be shown at the field at Harrison Recreation Center on V Street between 13th and 14th Streets, NW. Gates will open at 7 pm. Attendees are encouraged to come early starting at 7 pm to picnic in the park, listen to music spun by local DJs. Please note that park regulations do not permit pets on the field. Free popcorn will be provided to the first 100 attendees beginning at 7 pm. Showtime will be at sundown, exact time will vary. Local food truck vendors will be on site serving food.

This year’s movie series lineup includes films that feature and celebrate Washington DC, including both classic and family friendly Hollywood films set in Washington, DC, documentaries addressing environmental and education issues that resonate in Washington, DC, and films about local U Street entertainment institutions such as the Howard Theatre and the 9:30 Club. Prior to each feature film will be a screening of a short documentary.

El Paraiso Closes at 1916 14th St, NW – Still Open in Alexandria

By Prince Of Petworth

Another one bites the dust on 14th St, NW between T and U. In the last few months we’ve lost Taco Bell, Foot Locker, Domino’s, (soon) Ruff n Ready and (soon) United Supreme Council National Headquarters and Archives.

Stay tuned for more info on the big development/project coming into this space (except the Ruff n Ready space which is becoming a Taylor’s).

We judged El Paraiso back in Nov. ’08. I’m going to miss the Christmas trees…

For big fans, you can still check them out at El Paraiso II at 516 South Van Dorn Street in Alexandria, VA.

And for the curious – Chidogo’s is still open.

Dear PoPville – Be Aware of Unmarked Cars Offering Rides in the U Street Area

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Sanjay Suchak

“Dear PoPville,

On Sunday morning around 4:45AM I was at the corner of Vermont and U flagging down a cab for a ride to the airport for a business trip. A cab going in the opposite direction was in the process of making the U turn to get to me when another car pulled up right in front of me and the guy inside told me to get in and he would give me a ride anywhere I wanted to go. I was a little taken aback by the offer and didn’t respond at all so he offered again. At this point, an older guy walking by behind me asked loudly if everything was OK. The guy who pulled over didn’t move so the older guy asked again if everything was OK. By this point the cab was right behind the car so I thanked the older guy, said yes, and got in the cab.

Later in the day, I was telling the story to a friend who suggested I let the police know. The woman at 311 was upset with me for waiting so long to report it and the police were glad I called. Apparently they have had quite a bit of this happening recently. Previous reports had been of two black men who were pulling over to ask for sex and when refused, showing a knife. He added that I was the 2nd person to report a white man doing this that night.

Despite the hour (or maybe because of it), U Street still had a lot of pedestrian traffic. I’m 5’10” and was freshly showered, wearing work clothes. I say these things because I wouldn’t have considered myself an obvious target – I wasn’t on an empty street, I didn’t appear at all intoxicated or still out from a night of fun, and I’m not petite (and therefore potentially an easier grab). I’m urban savvy enough to be aware of my environment and like to think of myself as pretty smart. This, though, caught me totally off guard. Now, I’ll be much more aware of people in cars and not just the people walking by. I don’t have any intention of becoming a paranoid homebody but I’ll definitely keep my eye out for this potential problem.

The police officer mentioned the gypsy cabs too as a possibility but said he suspected this was trouble, especially since they’ve been seeing a rise in this recently and given the hour, location, etc.. From the sounds of it, yes there are two – one is a car with two black men (working together) and the other (the one I encountered) a single white man.

Thought maybe others would like to know as well.”

Scare Tactics Successful? Proposed ‘Post Office’ Bistro Pulls Its ABRA Alcohol Application

By Prince Of Petworth

ANC2B Commissioner Kevin O’Connor tweeted last night:

“Post Office (14th & T) withdraws ABRA application. May be a problem related to ownership of business. #ANC2B”

This is the establishment that some residents warned would turn T Street into the next Adams Morgan.

It’s not clear if this is in anyway related to the opposition group. Personally, I was looking forward to a “casual and relaxed bistro restaurant” at 1407 T St, NW.

I’ll be sure to update as more info becomes available.

Duffy’s Gets Expanded Evening Hours

By Prince Of Petworth

Congratulations to Duffy’s (a PoP advertiser) for finally getting full Hours now open until 2 am during the week and 3am on weekends.

Duffy’s is located at 2106 Vermont Ave NW behind the 9:30 club.

Andy Duffy writes:

“It has not been easy the last 5 plus years having to close so early. We could only have made it with the support of a great core of regular customers. An immense thank you to all our regulars and a special thanks to those many neighbors who wrote letters of support for Duffy’s

PoP Preview – Blackbyrd Warehouse (Opens Thursday)

By Prince Of Petworth


Blackbyrd Warehouse located next to Marvin at 2005 14th St, NW (14th and U)

At long last the next project from the Hilton brothers is about to open this Thursday. I had the chance to take a peek on Tuesday afternoon and it was well worth the wait. Ed. Note: To my Petworth brothers, sisters and cousins, I peeked in their Petworth project (Billy Simpsons) and it is moving along. Work is honest to God getting done. More on that later. Blackbyrd is located right next to Marvin just north of U St at 2005 14th St, NW. It has a very similar but slightly more polished feel to the American Ice Company. There’s an industrial feel and the huge second floor is going to blow you away. As an admitted seafood lover I was psyched to learn that there will be a raw bar and other seafood options. Blackbyrd Warehouse opens this Thursday.

Finishing touches were ongoing when I stopped by but you’ll get a good feel for how it’s gonna look from all the photos below. This a great addition to 14th and U.


First floor

Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)

Meridian Public Charter School Looking To Renovate, Move Into Old Harrison School at 13th and V St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to some folks from Meridian PCS for sending some info about the school at 2120 13th St, NW:


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Quick Facts about Meridian PCS…
Meridian has been renting a converted factory building at 1328 Florida Avenue, NW for 10 years
• Meridian PCS has an enrollment of 550 students ranging from early childhood to 8th grade
• Meridian PCS anticipates moving into its new facility by August of 2012
• This project is a $15M investment that includes a 49,000 SF renovation along with a 12,000 SF addition

Meridian PCS ANC Handout (7-Jul-2011)

I’m told the deal should be finalized tomorrow and that renovations would be starting as soon as possible.

Meridian PCS “will continue to operate at the Florida Avenue site [1328 Florida Avenue, NW] until the renovation/addition is complete which is expected Summer 2012. Other public charter schools in DC continue to also grow and search for affordable space. It is likely that another public charter school will lease the Florida Avenue site after Meridian leaves.”

Regarding the current tenant:

“The Children’s Studio School relinquished their charter with the DC Public Charter School Board in June 2010 announcing plans to continue as a private school. Since then they have known that they would not be able to continue operating from the public property of Harrison Elementary. The Mayor’s office has been trying to help them with this transition.”

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