Georgia Ave

Pleasant Plains Workshop (Art Studio) Opens Up at 2608 Georgia Avenue NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Sorry I didn’t get to post about the Grand Opening on Sunday but I found out about it a bit too late. But it looks like this is going to be a great addition to Pleasant Plains. (This is the former home of Showoff apparel that we checked out in ’08.) According to their Web site:

Pleasant Plains Workshop is a shared studio space with a storefront that features works by its resident artists along with a rotating lineup of works and projects by other DC-based artists and designers.

Kristina Bilonick is a native Washingtonian who uses screen printing, found objects and other media to create art installations that are often interactive. She has shown her work at at local art spaces such as Transformer, Honfleur Gallery, and Civilian Art Projects. Kristina also has an ever-changing line of clothing, accessories and housewares. Her most popular items are her long ‘all over print’ cotton scarves featuring repeated prints such as marching buffalo or overlapping prints of foliage. By day, she is program director at Washington Project for the Arts.

Anthony Dihle / Fire Studio
Anthony Dihle has screen printed concert posters for local and internationally known bands such as Greenland, Exit Clov, Elvis Costello and Jay-Z. In addition to making work, he has curated multiple gallery shows at local art spaces such as Civilian Art Projects and the Athaneum, featuring works of other masterful printer-designers. Dihle also creates hand printed greeting cards and t-shirts.

I chatted briefly with Anthony who said that the storefront part will be opening on Saturdays the week after Thanksgiving.

I’ll be sure to update when special events take place.


Grand opening was smashed crowded!

Couple more shots after the jump. (more…)

Bruce Monroe Bid Update: 175 apts, 52 rowhomes, Burgers, Folks from Churchkey?

By Prince Of Petworth

Well that was fast but we’ve already got an update on the development bid at the old Bruce Monroe School at 3000 Georgia Ave, NW. This just got very very serious. I’d be very curious to know exactly how serious Elevation Burger and/or the folks from Churchkey are in potentially coming to the space. If true this could be huge!

WBJ’s Michael Neibauer writes:

Option A — we assume it’s the firms’ preferred option — would feature an NDC-developed mixed-use building on the eastern third of the site, comprising 88-175 apartments up to 1,000 square feet, 17,000-26,000 square feet of retail space and a community learning center. Yes! Organic Market, Neighborhood Restaurant Group (Chuchkey, Birch and Barley, Rustico, Vermilion), Elevation Burger and a hardware store are listed as potential tenants.

The western two-thirds would comprise 52 EYA-developed townhomes ranging from 1,500-2,000 square feet, each with one or two garage parking spaces.

Now if you’ll forgive me, I’m going to lay down for a few minutes before I pass out with joy…

Bid Details on Old Bruce Monroe School Plot at 3000 Georgia Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to all who sent links. Washington Business Journal’s Michael Neibauer has the scoop:

…the bid features multi-family rental units atop street-level retail — a hardware store, perhaps, or a Yes! Organic Market — in addition to EYA-built townhouses on the western end of the 121,825-square-foot site.

Bruce Monroe was closed after the 2008 school year and subsequently razed. Graham secured $1.5 million in the fiscal 2011 budget to temporarily enhance the space with playgrounds, a tennis court, two basketball courts and parking.

…the city needs several weeks to vet the Neighborhood Development Company/EYA bid before deciding how to move ahead.

Sound like a good use of the space?

I gotta admit, every time I walk past the, now, park it makes me smile because people seem to be having such a good time. Though I haven’t forgotten that bad blood is still felt by many after the school was razed. Can YES! Organic Market save the day?

Maybe we should aim higher…?

Dear PoP – What’s the best way to get to Bethesda from Georgia Ave, NW?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user jimbographer ⓓⓒ

“Dear PoP,

Much to my chagrin, my employer is moving offices out to Bethesda, right by the metro stop. So my commute from Georgia Ave is going to increase from fifteen minutes to…well, I don’t know how long. I’ve been toying with a lot of different transportation option but can’t seem to come up with any good, efficient ones. I would like to avoid using the car, but I’m afraid it might come to that. Does anyone have any suggestions?”

Assuming this is the section of Georgia Avenue from Park View or Petworth how would you suggest the reader get to Bethesda – bus, metro, bike – combination therein?

The NoMa BID is Badass, I Want One

By Prince Of Petworth

When I was walking around 1st St, NE (where the new Harris Teeter is going in) I noticed a couple of BID (Business Improvement District) workers sporting some sweet sweatshirts cleaning some streets and I was like man, this a badass BID. Then a block away I saw the truck pictured above and I was like this is a seriously badass BID. Their Web site says:

“Located just north of Capitol Hill and Union Station, the NoMa Business Improvement District (BID) was created by the District of Columbia City Council and approved by the Mayor in March 2007. The BID supports the emergence of NoMa as one of the District’s most exciting mixed-use neighborhoods. Through a special assessment collected from property owners in a 35-block area, the BID is helping to make NoMa safe, clean, and attractive for businesses, residents, and visitors. Its main tasks include:

• Providing cleaning and safety services
• Promoting NoMa through marketing and community events
• Coordinating public and private investments and services
• Enhancing the community by promoting employment and community projects with NoMa neighbors.

The BID is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of nine property and business owners. The BID’s FY2008 budget is approximately $1.3 million and is funded by an assessment that applies to commercial property (including land and parking lots), residences of ten or more units, and hotels.”

Holy cow a $1.3 million budget. No wonder they are so badass. Who else has BIDs? Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Downtown. Does U Street have one? And the real question that has popped into my head is – why doesn’t Georgia Avenue have a BID?

Hadiyah Cafe Becoming Ma Ma’s Southern Cuisine at 3118 Georgia Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Recently I noted that Hadiyah Cafe had closed but I noticed a permit in the window so I had hopes of a proper restaurant coming in. It was a good hunch as a recently applied for liquor license application indicates:

“New southern cuisine restaurant, providing good and healthy foods to the community, and quiet jazz for entertainment. Occupancy load is 23”

I’ll be sure to update when they look closer to opening up.

Cool New Art Display, District Modular, Goes up on Georgia Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Have you talked about “district modular” on GA Ave a few stores up from petworth liquors at kenyon? It looks like an art gallery.”

I’ve been getting a number of emails about this and walked by on Saturday. The display at 3216 Georgia Ave, NW is quite cool. Unfortunately the doors were locked and there was nobody to talk to, to get more info. According to the Pinkline Project:

“District Modular is a growing artists-collective with the goal of creating collaborative installation and experimental media projects to join/complicate/carry-on the cultural conversation at a local level.”

Medical Marijuana Clinics a Good Fit for Lower Georgia Ave, NW?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user JosephLeonardo

A reader forwards the issue as posed by an ANC commisioner from the Columbia Heights Listserv:

“Over the last several weeks ANC1A commissioners have been getting calls and emails from persons interested in opening Medical Marijuana Clinics in the area. One spot of interest was near Georgia Ave. and Kenyon. In general commissioners are very leary of having the first clinics open in our area, primarily because of fear they could have a negative impact on the current drug trade. The current drug trade involves both illegal drugs and prescription drugs, the clinics may spawn spinoff trade. Comparisons have been made to the methadone clinics which have impacted the area. There are also concerns about the clinics being overseen by ABRA instead of DOH, locations next to schools and etc..

There has not been much community dialogue on this issue.

William Jordan, ANC1A05”

ANC commissioner, 1A08, Cliff Valenti was able to send me the recommendation ANC1A passed at its last meeting.

“Regarding the location of dispensaries, ANC1A recommends that they be located in medical facilities such as
Washington Hospital Center. Section (g) of the law states that a dispensary or cultivation center shall not be located
within any residential district or within 300 feet of a preschool, primary or secondary school, or recreation center.
ANC1A believes that the radius in the law should be changed to 500 feet. Additionally, the rules need to state that
dispensaries:
• Are not located within 500 feet of a substance abuse treatment center.
• Are not located within 500 feet of a halfway house
• Are not located within 500 feet of a day care center”

You can read the full recommendation below:

ANC1A MM Recommendation

Cliff writes:

“I knew when this law passed that Georgia Avenue would be a contender for this “experiment”, and sure enough its the first location they have chosen for consideration. I think a more stable area, like Wisconsin Avenue, would help insure success of the program and the law. There is too much addiction, criminal behavior, and mental illness on Georgia Avenue for something new and controversial. The law is written without much consideration to the Pandora’s box it opens for law enforcement.”

What do you guys think – would lower Georgia Avenue be a good spot for a medical Marijuana dispensary? If not Georgia Ave, where do you think would be a more appropriate location?


Lower Georgia Ave at Euclid looking north

G Spot Tavern Coming to 5413 Georgia Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Well this is certainly, uh, an interesting choice of names… The liquor application license says:

“New cocktail bar lounge with billiard table. Salad and sandwiches will be served, no entertainment. Seating capacity is 8. Total occupancy load is 40.”

Seating capacity is 8 but no entertainment (except for a billiard table)? Sounds like a legit tavern. Could be interesting.

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