RSS FeedMarching Band Takes To Neighborhood Streets – But, Who Are They?
A reader wrote in to ask: “What is up with the full-on marching band that takes to the streets every now and then? I’m talking full instrumentation, baton-twirlers, flag crews, etc. It’s people of all ages.“
The answer comes to us from the Life In Mt. Vernon Square blog: It’s the United House of Prayer (UHOP) Band (from 1721 7th St NW in Shaw).
They are practicing for their parade on May 26th at 12noon and they have invited the neighborhood to join the celebration! A couple of the band members have even posted comments on the Mt. Vernon Square blog.
Just a note: while the band may be loud and may briefly interrupt what ever you’re doing at the time, please take a moment to think about how the youth are participating in some very positive activity in our city. They are very aware of their neighbors and try to end practicing by 8pm and try not to march directly into a residential area.
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Comments
We aren’t bothered by them at all, but they were out much later than 8 pm last night. I think it was past 10 when we heard them go by.
The band hasn’t bothered me at all. They are a nice addition to the neighborhood. However, i must correct you on the time, as they have been marching down 6th street between 8 p.m. and closely approaching 10 p.m. (as was the case this week on Monday and Tuesday.
I am a little tired of the constant pounding on 6th street that begins earlier each day…7:15 a.m. this morning, to be exact. It is deafening. How long will this last?
This is actually an annual occurrence, and I must say that four years on it’s become my very favorite thing about living in the neighborhood.
RE: Anonymous’s post on the banging starting at 7:15. It’s the construction of that new building…I assume you live right next to RFD? I live at 400 Mass Ave and we had to deal with the same thing when they started building the Sonata, then Madrigal Lofts, and more recently, the Dumont. Unfortunately, I looked into the noise regulations and they can start doing construction at 7 am on weekdays. And of course they start precisely at 7 everyday. It probably should last only a few weeks…
I love this band, but miss them going down D Street (they now appear to head south on 6th Street to Penn or Constitution, instead of turning over on D).
Sometime last year, I could swear I heard a band MUCH MUCH later – like after midnight. I was in bed at the time, and I wondered if I was dreaming! It sounded like it was coming from toward 6th Street.
It’s impossible not to like this band. They cruised past my window yesterday and I stopped what I was doing and just listened. It was great.
DC Compass.com actually covered this event last year. If you like a good parade, this an event you don’t want to miss. Check out the video.
http://www.dccompass.com/festivents/20060917gsplparade.html
GABS
After some grousing about this (I believe that it was on the Penn Quarter Yahoo listserv) the last time the bands marched it is truly heartening to see residents appreciate this wonderful display of urban youth engaged in wholesome activities.
You never experience anything like this in the ‘burbs. When they marched down 6th street we opened our windows and cheered them (perhaps to the consternation of some neighbors). We love these kids! This is city living!
They are happy and joyous sounds plus in addition I’m particularly happy because Milan defeated Liverpool. This is a wonderful time. Thank you UHOP band!
I think it’s great, I love looking out my window and seeing these kids doing something positive on the evenings! This is in contrast to my disgust at the drunen bagpipers last week outside my window at 2am. I’ll take the band over that everyday.
I wondered who they were – I figured Dunbar H.S. Thanks for the post.
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last year they used to practice up 5th street just about every night at 10pm, I miss it!