Dave Thomas Circle 2.0

“Mayor Bowser Unveils Newly Transformed Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Plaza” You Know – Dave Thomas Circle 2.0 Yo!

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Emma K Alexandra

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser was joined by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the NoMa Business Improvement District (NoMa BID), and community members to unveil the newly transformed Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Plaza at the intersection of Florida Avenue and New York Avenue NE. The completion of this $41 million infrastructure project marks a major milestone in the Bowser Administration’s work to create safer, more accessible, and better connected corridors across all eight wards. The event also celebrated the completion of the Florida Avenue Multimodal Streetscape Project. (more…)

“Goodbye ‘Dave Thomas Circle’ – Hello ‘Mamie Peanut Johnson Plaza'”

By Prince Of Petworth


the intersection of New York Avenue, NE, Florida Avenue, NE, and First Street, NE

From a press release:

“The NoMa Business Improvement District (BID) announces that “Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson Plaza” was selected by the community as the winning name for the trio of new public spaces being brought to NoMa by the reconstruction of the Florida Avenue/New York Avenue NE intersection.

Out of more than 4,300 votes cast, 40% of respondents selected this name to honor the legacy of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, the first woman to ever pitch in the Negro League and a longtime resident of Washington, DC. (more…)

“leaves out a considerable portion of Mamie’s DC legacy; her 30 year nursing career at Sibley”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I’m writing about the recent naming competition for Dave Thomas circle. The description for Mamie Johnson notes that she went to Long Branch High School, which as far as I can tell isn’t and has never been a high school in the DC area. It appears Mamie went to Long Branch in New Jersey. So while it’s technically correct, it feels misleading and leaves out a considerable portion of Mamie’s DC legacy; her 30 year nursing career at Sibley. Description below. (more…)