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The following was written by Navy Yard ANC Rep David Garber.

After over a year of hounding the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s office daily to get them to take the steps necessary to open a privately-run kayak rental vendor at Diamond Teague Park, I’m happy to report that the Ballpark Boathouse — run by Boston Outdoor Recreation, Inc., the same company who runs the Key Bridge Boathouse — will finally be soft opening this weekend.

Diamond Teague Park is located at the corner of 1st Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE between Yards Park and Nats Park. This is pretty big news for this side of the city, as it’s the first kayak rental operation on the Anacostia River.

Operations at the boathouse will ramp up throughout the rest of this outdoor season, and will expand with rentable storage racks next spring where residents will be able to keep their own kayaks.

For now, the hours of operation are Saturdays and Sundays from 11am – 8pm. Because this is a soft opening, they’ll be starting small and working out the kinks over the next few weekends. An official grand opening is planned for later this summer.

More info here.



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From Council Member Bower’s Office:

We just found out today that the District Department of Parks and Recreation and the Citi Open Tennis Tournament are co-hosting a French Open Watch Party this evening at Takoma Station located at 6914 4th St NW. There will be complimentary food buffet (until 7pm), drink specials all night and prizes will be raffled off as well. So, if you are a tennis fan or want to check out a Ward 4 gem, do stop by and enjoy!!


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Photo by PoPville flickr user k-willow

Dear Popville,

On Memorial Day my fiance and I attended the Nationals game, and her purse was stolen out from under our seats around the sixth inning. The same thing happened to a couple sitting next to us. We were in the last row of Section 135, so it was definitely possible for someone to get directly behind our seats, reach down, and grab the bags without us immediately noticing. After the fact, a guy who had been standing in the area thought that he had seen something suspicious–two kids seemed to be distracting him by asking him to take their picture while two male adults were behind our seats. So that may well be the group responsible for the heist, although there is no security footage to verify this.

Anyway, I’m wondering if anyone else out there has had this experience or heard of a similar scheme taking place out at the ballpark, or at any other area sports venues. It sure seems like something whoever is responsible wouldn’t pull just once; they knew what they were doing by targeting our seats at a full game.


The folks at BYT tell us:

The Flugtag will launch in five cities across the country, including National Harbor’s Southpointe Waterfront, on September 21.

The requirements are simple: each team has one pilot and four people to aid in the takeoff. The craft must weigh no more than 400 lbs. (including the pilot) nor exceed a 28 ft. wingspan. Judges are looking for craftsmanship, creativity, and showmanship.

It’s free to enter, just fill out an online form and post sketch of your flying design.


From DC United:

The special DC Brau craft beer will be a unique, one-of-a-kind brew, crafted specifically for D.C. United and its fans to enjoy. One thousand gallons of the beer will be produced and will be made available exclusively at participating D.C. United official bar partners and at the DC Brau Brewing Company.

While the beer is currently without a name, the two have partnered to launch a contest giving D.C. United fans the opportunity to name the new brew. Fans can submit their suggestions online.

The brew is planned to become available for order on June 11.

Beer Specifications

Classification: Ale
Approx. ABV: 4.5-5.0%
IBU’s: 15
Hops: U.S. Fuggle, U.S. Cascade
Malts: Pale, CaraPils


M&MS Opera in the Outfield Show Boat on May 18 - Photo by Scott Suchman
Photo by Scott Suchman courtesy of Kennedy Center

From a press release:

Washington National Opera celebrates its fifth season of free opera simulcasts at Nationals Park with the M&M’S® Opera in the Outfield performance of the American classic Show Boat on Saturday, May 18. Gates open at 5 p.m. for “pregame” activities for the entire family. Show Boat will be broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera House to the high-definition screen at the ballpark at 7 p.m. Free seating will be available on the outfield grass and in the stands. Registration, including a chance to win prizes, is now open at OperaintheOutfield.org


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Photo by PoPville flickr user yostinator

From a press release:

Ten new members of the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame will be honored prior to the Washington Nationals series finale against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, April 28 at Nationals Park. This year, the renowned sports club will enshrine the following inductees:

o Elgin Baylor – Former NBA All-Star and Basketball Hall of Famer
o Bobby Beathard – Former General Manager, Washington Redskins
o Dave Bing – Former NBA All-Star and Basketball Hall of Famer
o *Maurice “Maus” Collins – Former Head Football Coach, Archbishop Carroll & Gonzaga High Schools
o Mike Gartner – Former Player, Washington Capitals
o Phil Hochberg – Former Stadium Announcer, Washington Senators & Washington Redskins
o *George Michael – Celebrated WRC Sportscaster
o *Sam Rice – Former Player, Washington Senators
o Bob Wolff – Sports Broadcasting Pioneer
o Willie Wood – Former Green Bay Packer and Pro Football Hall of Famer

* Inducted Posthumously

These honorees were selected based on their outstanding contributions to the world of sports, thereby bringing honor and recognition to the Nation’s Capital while furthering the high standards of athletics in the Greater Washington community. They will join a select group of Washington-area standout athletes and sports personalities, including Sammy Baugh, James Brown, Dominique Dawes, Josh Gibson, Walter Johnson, Sonny Jurgensen, Morgan Wootten and many others, already in the DC Sports Hall of Fame.

Each new inductee will receive a Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame plaque commemorating their induction during the pregame ceremony, and their names will be added to the large Hall of Fame display at Nationals Park, located on the side of Garage B facing the field.


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18th Street, NW & California Avenue, NW

A couple weeks ago we learned about this awesome gift. The groundbreaking is tomorrow:

Children and Adams Morgan community members will celebrate the ground breaking of the new UAE- Manchester City Field in the heart of the Adams Morgan along with senior diplomats from the UAE and the US, and local senior DC government officials.

The field will be a gift to the community by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Washington, and English Premier League Champions Manchester City Football Club’s City Soccer in the Community program.

For those interested in attending the event starts at 18th Street, NW & Wyoming Avenue, NW; 3:30pm on April 2nd.


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