coronaville

“Washington Sports Club Still Charging?”

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: On Monday a few folks tweeted me at @PoPville to say they had been charged for September too.

“Dear PoPville,

I received an email today from WSC saying that I have a balance on my account, even though WSC announced in April that they’d be freezing accounts due to COVID and even though a judge granted DC’s request for a temporary restraining order against Town Sports, and directed Washington Sports Club not to charge consumers on September 1 if they canceled their accounts during the time the gyms were closed in March – June. (more…)

“COVID-19 has devastated DC’s music community. Coalition of Music Advocates Launch Campaign To Pass DC Music Venue Relief Legislation”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Tim Brown

From a press release:

“A coalition of DC musicians and music advocates launched a grassroots campaign this week to advocate for government relief of the city’s music venues. The #SaveDCVenues campaign, which has accrued hundreds of signers within a few days, urges the DC Council and mayor Muriel Bowser to adopt a version of the 2020 DC Music Venue Relief Act: a piece of draft legislation that provides direct relief to businesses who rely on (now-absent) revenue from live music.

The outreach campaign is the latest in a series of public actions organized by the “DC Music Stakeholders,” a grassroots coalition of many DC-based musicians, venue owners, nonprofit leaders, and local activists. The Stakeholders formed shortly after the pandemic hit the District in March, and have met twice weekly since then, sharing information and providing support for a music scene in crisis.

COVID-19 has devastated DC’s music community. Since it began, the pandemic has forced the closure of at least four longstanding D.C. music institutions, all four cornerstones of the local music economy who presented the jazz, R&B and soul musicians bearing the torch of D.C.’s legacy of Black music. The most recent casualty is the beloved Twins Jazz, which supported DC’s vibrant jazz scene for 33 years, which announced its closure on August 27. (more…)

“Total visitation to Washington, DC estimated to fall 53 percent in 2020”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Eric P.

From Destination DC:

“After 10 years of growth, total visitation to DC estimated to fall by more than 50 percent in 2020 before potential rebound in 2021

Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, today announced that pre-COVID-19, the nation’s capital welcomed 24.6 million total visitors, with 22.8 million domestic visitors (up 4.1 percent), and 1.8 million overseas visitors (down 7.9 percent). (Sources: MMGY Travel Intelligence, Travel Market Insights, National Travel & Tourism Office, U.S. Department of Commerce). According to 2019 data from IHS Markit, visitation supported 78,266 jobs across all sectors in Washington, DC, up 2.3 percent from 2018. Tourism also generated $8.2 billion in visitor spending and $896 million in local tax revenue to the District.

Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of DDC, addressed approximately 1,000 attendees virtually at the organization’s annual Marketing Outlook Meeting. He also shared data from Tourism Economics that projects approximately 11 million domestic visitors, down 53 percent, will travel to the city in 2020. (more…)

“wanted to let you know about a Labor Day combo we’re doing with BBQ Bus and Port City for pickup at both Free State and Lost & Found”

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

“Labor Day Brisket + Beer Combo with BBQ Bus and Port City Brewing

Have the best DC staycation over Labor Day weekend with a local combo for pickup at both Free State and Lost & Found bars.  The special includes two sandwiches from BBQ Bus (either slow smoked brisket or “VBQ” plant based) with house made pickles, onions and BBQ sauces plus sides of BBQ baked beans and vinaigrette slaw. (more…)

Downtown DC BID’s Economy Update is Bleak, as would be expected

By Prince Of Petworth

From the DOWNTOWNDC ECONOMY UPDATE SUMMER 2020:

“DAYTIME POPULATION DROPPEDFROM 225,000 IN FEB TO 22,000 IN JULY -DOWN 90%.

METRORAIL WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP FROMAPRIL–JUNE 2020 WAS 3%OF APRIL–JUNE 2019 RIDERSHIP

THE RETAIL VACANCY RATE REACHED A RECORDHIGH OF 17.1% IN JULY 2020

DOWNTOWNDC RESTAURANT SALES WERE DOWN 80% IN JULY 2020 WHILE THE REGION WAS DOWN ONLY 52%

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to have a catastrophic impact on the DowntownDC and DC economies. The data for April-July 2020 for the DowntownDC and DC economies, clearly shows the impact. (more…)

“The Capitol Riverfront BID will host a special drive-in movie theater experience, set to launch Sept 25 and run until October 30 at the Akridge Lot in Buzzard Point.”

By Prince Of Petworth


100 V Street, SW courtesy Capitol Riverfront BID

From the Capitol Riverfront BID:

“Grab your popcorn! The Capitol Riverfront BID will host a special drive-in movie theater experience, set to launch Sept 25 and run until October 30 at the Akridge Lot in Buzzard Point. Located at 100 V Street SW, the Capitol Riverfront Drive-in will transform the Buzzard Point parking lot into an outdoor cinema with six showings of hit movies. Beginning today, Washingtonians can visit riverfrontdrivein.eventbrite.com to register for select date(s) – space is limited to 75 cars per movie, so guests are encouraged to register early.

“We recognize the challenges the District has faced over the last few months, and we wanted to create an experience where residents and visitors alike could gather for an entertaining activity while still maintaining a safe distance,” said Michael Stevens Capitol Riverfront BID president. “The Drive-in is one small way we’re supporting the communities we serve.”

The family-friendly contact-free experience will launch with Selma, a film honoring the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis and the Voting Rights marches, a historic movement that still resonates with the Black Lives Matter movement today. (more…)

Speaking of Unicorns (also The White Whale)

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to Trina for sending from near the National Cathedral.


Photo by Michele Banks

Thanks to Michele for sending: “I’ve been looking for Princess Byelochka at Rose Park for weeks with no luck, but I spotted a n00b! So small and white. This is Babybel, photo from Rose Park, Georgetown, 8/29”

If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife around town, lunching or otherwise, and get a good photo please send where you spotted it to [email protected] and I’ll add it to the queue. Hawks around Town is made possible by a generous grant from the Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.

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