Union Station

Petition to Rename Union Station to Honor A. Philip Randolph

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user ianseanlivingston

From an email:

“A. Philip Randolph was a civil rights leaders, labor organizer, and President of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters – bargaining for better wages and improved working conditions. Honoring Mr. Randolph will continue the trend of renaming major national transportation facilities to recognize great American Leaders. The A. Philip Randolph Union Station will provide an opportunity to educate all youth – especially African-American youth – on his contributions. A. Philip Randolph has several accolades, included being an inductee in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Labor Hall of Honor.

Personally, I am a native Washingtonian who grew up in the 1960’s and 1970’s, attended the 1963 March on Washington, witnessed the 1968 riots, and truly participated and witnessed the “re-building” of Washington, D.C. I believe renaming Union Station to honor A. Philip Randolph is a moral, social, and historical imperative.

If you support this effort, please click on the link and sign our petition. And please pass this along to your friends and family.”

ShopHouse coming to Union Station

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user ianseanlivingston

Thanks to @vplus for tweeting us the news:

“@PoPville breaking lunch news — Shophouse coming to Union Station. (h/t @robinlasher5001)”

News this big can’t wait until lunch!

ShopHouse will follow the successful June opening of Shake Shack in Union Station. Updates when they get closer to opening.

And in other ShopHouse news – don’t forget every Sunday in August, Capital Bikeshare members get a free bowl.

“As Members of Congress & DC Residents Miss Trains Due to Union Station Traffic, Norton Calls for Traffic Changes”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user ianseanlivingston

From a press release:

“The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released today a letter sent to officials at the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) urging them develop a new plan to address traffic congestion in front of Union Station. Norton’s office has received complaints from residents, Members of Congress, congressional staff and bus companies that they are missing trains or having to get out of taxis and other vehicles in order to make trains. In her letter, Norton calls upon USRC and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) to hire consultants to deal with the issue.

“Amtrak riders, including D.C. residents and Members of Congress, have justifiably complained that the current traffic patterns at Columbus Circle often are chaotic, and, many times, passenger cars with luggage have to wait in lines so long that they are unable to reach the entrance of the station to unload their luggage,” Norton said of the situation. In her letter, she wrote “Frequently, passengers, in order to make their trains, often feel they must begin offloading their luggage before they reach the entrance to Union Station, further slowing traffic. I am requesting that USRC and DDOT seek outside consultants to deal with the traffic pattern and implement a new traffic pattern in Columbus Circle that prevents vehicular delays.”

The current traffic pattern at Columbus Circle is relatively new and is based on a ten-year study undertaken by the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT). USRC and the developer that oversees the circle have hired additional people to monitor the traffic to ensure vehicles are using the proper lanes, but there is little evidence of their presence or effectiveness. Norton’s office was informed that USRC is also part of a working group with the District of Columbia, the Metropolitan Police Department, Amtrak, and the National Park Service that is looking at ways to produce signage that will aid drivers.”

The full letter follows: (more…)

Holy Cow – Check Out the Progress at 2nd and H Street, NE by Union Station

By Prince Of Petworth

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Back in Feb. 2013 we learned that this would become a new development by the Fisher Brothers:

“701 2nd Street, NE is a 10-story, 398,103 square foot building comprised of 377 apartments on the ground to 10th floor, approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space located along H, 2nd, and G Streets, and 309 parking spaces located on two floors below-grade.
The location of the development offers more convenient access to mass transit than any other luxury multifamily project in Washington, DC with covered access via an entrance across 2nd Street to Union Station, allowing access to every major mass transit provider in Washington, DC (Amtrak, Metro, VRE and MARC). There is slated more than 210,000 square feet of high end retail space, including more than 100 specialty shops and 50,000 square feet of restaurant space.”

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Lining Up for Shake Shack at Union Station

By Prince Of Petworth

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Thanks to a reader for sending from Shake Shack’s opening in Union Station this morning:

“This is a great design. There are three entrances, one from the outside, you can see in the middle of this picture. One from the corner entrance which is on the left in this picture, its the entrance next to Starbucks and one next to Roti.

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Tons of seating upstairs, tables, booths, and lounge type chairs.”

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Upstairs seating:

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and @JoshGFlood tweets us the line at lunch:

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Shake Shack Opening in Union Station Monday, June 23 at 10:30AM

By Prince Of Petworth

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From a press release:

“Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) is proud to announce that it will open its fourth Shake Shack® location in our nation’s capital this Monday, June 23 at 10:30AM inside historic Union Station, one of the largest and busiest transportation hubs in the U.S.

Shake Shack is a critically acclaimed, modern day “roadside” burger stand known for its 100% all-natural Angus beef burgers, delicious flat-top dogs, fresh-made frozen custard, hand-cut fresh fries, craft beer and wine, and more. A fun and lively community gathering place with widespread appeal, Shake Shack has earned a cult-like following in DC and across the globe.

Like its DC predecessors on F Street, in Dupont Circle, and at Nationals Park, Union Station’s menu has all the Shake Shack classics, from delicious 100% all-natural Angus beef ShackBurgers® and griddled-crisp flat-top dogs to our exclusive Brooklyn Brewery ShackMeister® Ale. The Shack will have two location-specific frozen custard concretes that feature local bakers: Busy Bee (vanilla custard, strawberry puree and Baked & Wired Bee Sting bar with sliced almonds and honey); and Beaux-Arts Banana (vanilla custard, caramel sauce, banana and graham crackers from Pollystyle). The Dupont Circle Shack’s popular Washington Monu-Mint (chocolate custard, minted marshmallow sauce and chocolate truffle cookie dough) will also be available at Union Station.

Prominently located in the vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood, the two-story Union Station Shack is in the original West Hall of the restored and revitalized landmark building, which dates back to 1907. Modeled in the monumental Beaux-Arts style, Union Station serves AMTRAK, regional commuter trains and the Washington Metro. With more than 90,000 visitors passing through its historic halls daily, Union Station is also a thriving retail center and frequently hosts major cultural and civic events.

Shake Shack Union Station, which has been carefully designed to harmonize with the historical fabric of the edifice’s structure, will feature a custom planter and trellis created by SHIFT_DESIGN that will grace one of the neo-classical niches in the restaurant’s waiting area. In addition, in keeping with Shake Shack’s eco-responsibility commitment, the Union Station location is constructed with recycled and sustainable materials and features energy-efficient kitchen equipment and lighting. Chairs and booths are made from lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and tabletops are made from reclaimed bowling alley lanes by Brooklyn-based CounterEvolution. Good ‘n green.

As part of its mission to Stand for Something Good®, Shake Shack Union Station will donate 5% percent of sales from the Beaux-Arts Banana concrete to the nearby non-profit Casey Trees, devoted to restoring, enhancing, and protecting the tree canopy of DC. Shake Shack staff will also volunteer at events run by the eco-friendly organization.”

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West Hall of Union Station in the former America restaurant space

Dangerously Delicious Pies Closes Outpost in Union Station due to Coming Construction

By Prince Of Petworth

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Dangerously Delicous Pies opened their Union Station outpost almost exactly two years ago in June 2012 in the old Vacaro’s spot in the food court. In the forum a reader asks:

“It’s been a frustrating day, so I went to Union Station to drown my sorrows in pie and the counter is empty! Not just devoid of pie, but the cash register is gone too – does anyone know what happened?”

Owner Sandra Basanti responds via email:

“We just closed last week as they begin renovations and begin replacing the escalator, which is currently shut down, that ran directly in from of our spot in the food court. There is some major construction going on in that wing. We had so many lovely regulars visit us that have reached out and we are sad to not be able to serve them every week but we hope to be invited back to serve pies at union station perhaps after renovations or in a new spot.”

Dangerously Delicious Pies’ original DC space is located at 1339 H St, NE. You can see their menu here. And in Feb. 2012 they opened up a spot in Chinatown at 901 7th Street, NW.

Man Riding Capital Bikeshare Bike Hit by Car and Injured Very Badly behind Union Station – Police Looking for Driver

By Prince Of Petworth

Last night at 10:17pm a reader wrote:

“Just saw a biker being loaded into an ambulance on H St bridge. Is he okay? They’d cut off clothes and he wasn’t moving. There was a bikeshare next to him. Hope he’s okay.”

@DCPoliceDept tweeted:

“Street closer for pedestrian struck on 3rd and H St. NE. H St. from North capital to 3rd St/ both East and West Bound.”

Now NBC Washington reports it was a hit and run and police are looking for a gray Honda SUV:

“The bicyclist was taken to an area hospital with serious to life-threatening injuries.”

UPDATE from MPD:

“The Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Investigations Unit is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a vehicle of interest in connection with a hit and run involving a bicyclist which occurred in the 200 block of H Street, Northeast.

On Thursday, May 1, 2014, at approximately 9:48 pm, an adult male operating a bicycle was travelling eastbound within the 200 block of H Street, Northeast, near Union Station, when he was struck by a dark grey, four-door, Honda Accord with unknown tags. The vehicle continued eastbound on H Street, NE, failing to stop.

Anyone with information about this vehicle or its driver is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.”

Luke’s Lobster Coming to Union Station’s Outdoor Market Thursday

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user ianseanlivingston

From a press release:

“Starting May 1st, Luke himself will have the chance to greet newcomers, as well as office regulars, to that same station. Luke’s Lobster will be taking over a concession cart in the famed Outdoor Market, right outside the station’s doors.

Luke’s will be dishing its signature fresh, sustainable Maine lobster rolls, crab rolls, and shrimp rolls to the hungry masses at lunch time, and to the weary commuters starting their trek home in the evening. For the first time, Luke’s will even be open to the breakfast crowd, starting at 7 am. They’ll be selling direct trade cold-brew iced coffee from Vigilante, DC’s favorite local roaster, and are also experimenting with some delicious breakfast options sure to brighten up your walk to the office (you’ll have to visit to see what the test kitchen has come up with).

The team is honored and excited for the opportunity to hock its wares in such a historic site where so many great vendors, large and small, have gone before them. And since they travel back and forth between DC, New York, Philly, and Maine so often, they know as well as anyone how rewarding it will be to have a fantastic, fresh meal as your light at the end of the tunnel.
Luke’s at Union Station Outdoor market will be open Monday through Saturday, 7 am to 7 pm, May 1 through October 31.”

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