Awesome

Pretty Cool – Check Out the 2014 Code for Progress fellows

By Prince Of Petworth

code_for_progress

From an email:

“What do a 51 year old grandmother of five from Anacostia, a local DJ, an entrepreneur and a DC transplant from Sierra Leone have in common? They’re all learning to code in the name of improving the lives of people in and out of The District.

Meet Jason, Terri, Cassidy and Selina — the 2014 Code for Progress fellows. These four Washingtonians are about to make some major changes to historically underserved communities here in town.

Terri Acker has been on the board of Bread for the City for years, and you can’t go anywhere in Anacostia and find someone who doesn’t know her. She’s a 51 year old mother of five and a grandmother of seven who has lived in public housing her entire life. After witnessing people in her community slowly being pushed out of their neighborhoods do to rapid gentrification, she decided to make a change. Terri will be using her 17 week fellowship to learn how to code an app that will make it easier for Washingtonian’s to access low-income housing in their areas.

Selina Musuta DJs all over town. She has been working in social justice issues for years, mostly in the broadcast industry. She even incorporates her sound recordings into her DJ sets! Selina is taking her knack for technology to Code for Progress where she seeks to learn how to code an app that will connect SNAP beneficiaries in DC to stores near them using GPS. Even better—each location on the map will have a “healthiness rating”.

Cassidy Henderson was born in Sierra Leone, but now lives in Washington DC. She is a transgender woman who is hoping to improve the lives of other LGBT people in the US by connecting them with safe spaces and social services through the app she creates.

Jason Towns has been involved in policy and social entrepreneurship in the District for a long time. He will be using his Code for Progress fellowship to teach DC underprivileged youth how to use technology and code to create opportunity for themselves.

Pretty cool, right? Check out more about what they’re doing at codeforprogress.org.”

Pretty cool indeed!

Right Proper Brewing Company Launching Cheese Counter and Weekend Lunch

By Prince Of Petworth

photo1
Photo courtesy Right Proper Brewing Company

Sweet new addition to the already awesome Right Proper Brewing Company – Cheese! The former cheese buyer/lead cheesemonger at the now-closed Cowgirl Creamery, Tim Lake, has been at Right Proper since December.

Tim tells me “we’ll be launching a full cheese counter this weekend (4/5) to coincide with new lunch service hours at 11:30am, Sat-Sun. We have about 20-25 cheeses that guests can order on-site as cheese plates, or can have wrapped up for take-out, along with growler-fills. Many of the cheeses are chosen specifically to be paired with the fresh beers on tap.

To start though, guests can expect an array of styles – local, domestic, imported; raw, pasteurized; cow, sheep, goat; mild, funky. Housemade accompaniments (pickles, mustards, pates) are available with cured meats forthcoming.

Lunch service starts at 11:30am and rolls uninterrupted into dinner at 5pm. Saturdays & Sundays for now.”

right_proper_cheese
624 T Street, NW

Huge Maze Coming to the National Building Museum this Summer

By Prince Of Petworth

national_building_museum_maze

From the National Building Museum:

“Get lost at the Museum this summer!

The Museum, in partnership with BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, will create a never-before-seen large-scale maze for the Museum’s historic home. Soaring 18 feet high and measuring 61 feet by 61 feet, the Baltic birch plywood structure will boast a series of twists and turns for visitors to weave through and explore. The “BIG Maze” will be open July 4 to September 1, 2014.

Inspired by ancient labyrinths, garden and hedge mazes of 17th and 18th-century Europe, and modern American corn mazes, this contemporary maze will be located in the West Court of the Museum’s historic Great Hall. In addition to viewing the maze from the ground floor, visitors will also be able to get an unexpected aerial perspective from the Museum’s second- and third-floor balconies.

Bjarke Ingels said of his design: “The concept is simple: as you travel deeper into a maze, your path typically becomes more convoluted. What if we invert this scenario and create a maze that brings clarity and visual understanding upon reaching the heart of the labyrinth?” From outside, the maze’s cube-like form hides the final reveal behind its 18-foot-tall walls. On the inside, the walls slowly descend towards the center which concludes with a grand reveal—a 360 degree understanding of your path in and how to get out.”

HAPPY video of folks Dancing around DC = Awesome

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

“My friend Omid and I went around DC for two weeks asking people to dance for us as we put this HAPPY video together. Inspired by the spread of Pharrell Williams’ videos happening around the world, we thought DC could use one and show the world we’re more than just politics.”

Put a huge smile on my face – nice work!

New Tavern with Ping Pong Tables Coming to Georgia Ave

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_4666
3118 Georgia Ave, NW

A new tavern is coming to the former Ma Ma’s Southern Cuisine space which closed back in October (formerly Hadiyah Cafe before that.) A recent liquor license placard has been posted that says:

“This is a new “C” Tavern with a Summer Garden. The establishment will serve coffee, small dishes and alcoholic beverages, while offering ping pong tables for use by patrons. Establishment will offer entertainment from DJs and musicians.”

Awesome!

IMG_4667
looking north on Georgia towards Kenyon

Republic in Takoma Park Kicking off their Live Music Program with Krist Novoselic from Nirvana Sunday

By Prince Of Petworth

republic_takoma
6937-6939 Laurel Ave

From an email:

“Republic will officially launch their music program this month, hosting a live event on Sunday with Krist Novoselic, award-winning bassist from Nirvana. The event will benefit Takoma Park-based FairVote (http://www.fairvote.org/), of which Krist is board chair, and also features New Yorker essayist, Hendrik Hertzberg and a number of Maryland politicians including State Senator Jamie Raskin and Congressman Chris Van Hollen. Food and drinks from Republic’s new late night menu will also be available, with 5% of proceeds going to FairVote. See attached invitation for more info:

Republic, the newest addition to Black Restaurant Group, will debut their live music program and a new late night menu this March. Booking Manager and 9:30 club veteran, Catherine Rytkonen, will manage a diverse music line-up, featuring a wide variety of performances including open mic nights, blues nights, and jam sessions. Chef/partner Danny Wells and bar manager, Brett Robison, have collaborated on a late night food and drink menu which can be enjoyed throughout the restaurant, and on the expansive back patio, weather-permitting. (more…)

View More Stories