Georgia Ave

The 5pm Post – DC Caribbean Festival Parade Sat. June 25th!

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Blinkofanaye

You can get a taste of what it will look like here.

Parade starts at Kansas Avenue at 11:00 a.m. and goes south on Georgia Avenue.

For those concerned with street closings, following is info from MPD:

The 2011 Caribbean Festival and Parade

(Washington, DC)-The Metropolitan Police Department would like to inform the public that the 2011 Caribbean Festival and Parade are scheduled to be held on Saturday, June 25, 2011. In order to facilitate this event, there will be areas closed to vehicular traffic.

The following street closings will begin at 6:00 am and are expected to reopen at approximately 4:00 pm.

Parade Staging area:
Upshur Street NW from Georgia Avenue, NW to 13th Street
Iowa Avenue NW from Georgia Ave to Allison Street NW
Georgia Avenue NW from Kansas Ave to Allison Street NW

Parade Route:
Georgia Avenue NW from Kansas Avenue to Florida Avenue, NW

Festival Perimeter area:
The following street closings will begin at 6:00 am and are expected to reopen at approximately 9:00 pm

9th Street NW from Florida Avenue northbound to end of circle
(By the Sherman tower dorms of Howard University)
8th Street NW from V St to Barry Place
Barry Place NW from Georgia Avenue to Sherman Avenue

Georgia Ave News: GII Restaurant and Lounge is Dead. Long Live GII/The Proof Restaurant and Lounge + New Breakfast All Day Option at Ma Ma’s

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in very early March a reader noted that GII had been closed for a while at 2632 Georgia Ave NW. I just saw some new menus and a new alcohol application has gone up on their window:

The alcohol application says:

” Neighborhood restaurant, offering American style cuisine, Entertainment to include
occasional acoustic Jazz bands, karaoke, open mike and DJ. Capacity 86 Total load 100″

I feel like I’ve been burned a few times with this place but I’m cautiously optimistic that some “acoustic Jazz bands” could be pretty cool.

And quick side note: in other Georgia Ave, NW news – Ma Ma’s Southern Cuisine located at 3118 Georgia Ave, NW is now serving Breakfast all day. Sadly they were closed at 11am on Sat. when I would’ve enjoyed some breakfast… But seriously, I’m a huge fan of breakfast all day options – I look forward to trying them out.

Former Pharmacy then Campaign Office to Become a Liquor Store on Georgia Ave

By Prince Of Petworth

Georgia Liquors is looking to open up at 2917 Georgia Avenue NW (at Columbia Rd). This is the space most recently used as a campaign office for Jacque Patterson’s unsuccessful campaign for an at large city council seat. Prior to that I think it was a pharmacy.

I have to admit I’m a little disappointed because there are already a bunch of liquor stores on Georgia Ave. I was hoping this sweet corner space would become a restaurant.

I guess if it looks like the new Sherry’s in Woodley Park it won’t be so bad…

DC Caribbean Festival Parade June 25th!

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Blinkofanaye

DC Caribbean Carnival Parade is June 25th. The parade route has been a bit shortened:

The annual Extravaganza Parade will be staged along the Georgia Avenue corridor on Saturday, June 25, 2011 , and will commence at Kansas Avenue at 11:00 a.m. and terminate at the international marketplace at “DE SAVANNAH” – Howard Center Lot @ Georgia Avenue & Bryant Street.

This is a love it or hate day for many. I love it.

Building up to the event there is the Petworth Library Family Program – Caribbean Festival Mask-Making:

Caribbean Carnival Mask Making and Storytelling

Petworth Library, Saturday, June 18

On Saturday, June 18 at the Petworth Neighborhood Library, located at 4300 Kansas Avenue, NW from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm, children and adults will have an opportunity to make masks, and listen to tales from the Caribbean!

This event is supported by the Caribbean Food Alliance, Georgia Avenue Business Association, the Caribbean Carnival Committee, the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, the Petworth Library, the Caribbean Carnival Committee, Carnival Band Leaders Association and Councilmember Muriel Bowser.

Refreshments and Prizes

DC Reynolds Coming to 3628 Georgia Ave, NW (near Blue Banana and Looking Glass Lounge)

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in late April I shared the news that a new neighborhood bar would be coming to 3628 Georgia Ave, NW in the old (long vacant) Huron Pharmacy building. A number of people have been asking for an update – so here’s a bit more info that has become available. They’ve applied for a liquor license at the end of May:

New Tavern with food and beverage service for on premise consumption. Entertainment for inside premises and summer garden will include low volume musical performances such as two or three piece member acoustic bands and DJ’s. Seating capacity is 65. Total occupancy load is 65. Summer garden will have an estimated seating for 120 patrons.

They’ve created a Facebook page for the bar to be called DC Reynolds. You can see some photos of the construction progress and what it currently looks like on the inside – here and they describes themselves as:

American pub and grill opening fall 2011 in Park View/Petworth. DC Reynolds was founded by restaurateurs Jeremy Gifford, Jon Calvert, and Justin Gifford after years of experience with a wide range of diverse concepts. DC Reynolds will integrate a full service home cooked menu with a relaxed, comfortable ambiance.

But my favorite post from their Facebook page says:

Met with some farmers and cheese makers this morning at the Bloomingdale Farmers market to talk about sourcing local meat, produce, and cheese. The dragon breath cheese and prosciutto we tried were awesome!

Sweet! Stay tuned for more info as construction progresses.

Dear PoPville – Ma-Ma’s Southern Cuisine

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I recently went to Ma-Ma’s Southern Cuisine with my girlfriend and had a great experience.

Ma-Ma, herself, served us and treated us to some lemonade on the house. I had the broiled “Sadie Mae”, a tender and flavorful trout filet with a wonderful side of greens and potato salad. My girlfriend had the “Irving”, named after the street, presumably. This dish included tender short ribs with bbq sauce, sauteed spinach and macaroni and cheese. Ma-Ma was so nice. One thing she warned us about is that we may want to call ahead to make sure certain dishes are available. I originally wanted the “Jim Graham” but she had sold out by the time we arrived. There’s also karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights. I definitely recommend Ma-Ma’s Southern Cuisine to all of the readers.”

Great to hear a good review here. Ma Ma’s Southern Cuisine is located at 3118 Georgia Ave, NW?

Any other fans?

New Mexican Restaurant Coming to old Philadelphia Water Ice Factory at 2620 Georgia Ave NW

By Prince Of Petworth

On top the new taqueria coming to 11th and Lamont St, NW in Columbia Heights as well as the recently opened El Centro in Logan Circle comes news of another new Mexican spot for Georgia Ave, NW.

Back in June ’10 we learned that Philadelphia Water Ice Factory had closed at 2620 Georgia Ave, NW. I’m psyched to see a replacement is finally in the works. According to a recent liquor license application a new restaurant called Mama Chuy DC will be:

“Full-service Mexican Restaurant with carry-out and delivery service. No Live Entertainment. Summer Garden with 16. Seating capacity is 16. Total occupancy is 32.”

It sounds like it’ll be a bit small but if the food is good – potentially great news for this long vacant space.

New Neighborhood Bar Coming to 3628 Georgia Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Great news for Park View and Petworth residents. The old Huron Pharmacy space (long vacant) at 3628 Georgia Ave, NW has been leased.

I don’t have a lot of details but I’m told it will be:

“2 floors, super comfy, neighborhood bar with a 1400 sq ft outdoor space in the rear. Comfort food, comfort atmosphere, comfortable prices.”

While they are shooting for a Fall opening, a lot is contingent on introducing themselves to the neighborhood/ANC meetings as well as acquiring the proper licenses and permits.

But the fact that the space has been leased is huge news! The vacant properties of Georgia Avenue are slowing falling one by one. More details when they become available.

This is the space between Manny & Olga’s and The Blue Banana and Looking Glass Lounge a couple blocks south of the Georgia Ave-Petworth metro:

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