RSS FeedSummer in the City
Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of Summer. Here are just a few suggestions for free or inexpensive opportunities for Summer Fun in our neighborhood.
Fridays through August, National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden (Constitution Ave. and 9th St., NW)
Stargazing at Astronomy Night
June 14, National Mall
Mini Golf at the National Building Museum
(5th and F Sts., NW)
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
June 26-30, July 3-7, National Mall
4th of July Fireworks
National Mall
Indian Summer Showcase
June 8, August 10, Museum of the American Indian (4th and Independence Ave., SW)
Church of Epiphany (1317 G St., NW)
Safeway BBQ Battle
June 22-23, Pennsylvania Ave. and 9th St., NW
Military Band Concerts
Various weekdays, U.S. Capitol
Smithsonian Museum of American Art (8th and F Sts., NW)
Happenings at Harman
Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St., NW)
National Gallery of Art Concerts
(Constitution Ave. and 6th Sts., NW)
Have any other favorites? Please share them with us in comments.
Eleven Story Redevelopment Coming to 10th and F St NW (1000 F St NW)
Above: Rendering of 10th and F St NW (courtesy of Douglas Development via Mackenzie PR)
We learned that redevelopment, big time redevelopment, will now move forward for the corner of 10th and F St NW starting at the end of 2013. We’ve followed this corner since Douglas Jemal of Douglas Development purchased the properties in 2006 declaring that an 11 story building would follow. That redevelopment is now moving forward thanks to a partnership between Douglas Development and CBRE to the tune of exactly that, an 11 story office building, which will also include ground/lower floor retail.
The K & B Newsstand and the Downtown DC BID were located in the two buildings adjoining that corner on F St NW before they closed and moved respectively. Currently, those properties house souvenir shops and FrozenYo. The Waffle Shop on 10th Street closed some time ago. As of now there are no signed retail tenants but Douglas Development is in the process of speaking with retailers interested in the retail spaces. This corner is the last of the corners to undergo redevelopment at 10th and F St NW and it will complete the aesthetic upgrade sorely needed by the intersection.
The press release follows… Continue Reading >>
Home Near The Range
We’re a little embarrassed to admit it, but this past week was the first time we’ve ever actually used the golf facilities at Hains Point (East Potomac Park, 927 Ohio Dr SW). We’ve looked on while others played as we swam in the neighboring public pool or jogged around the Point, but having not played golf since moving to DC we were always intimidated by this city spot.
Well not anymore, at least not for the driving range. A neighbor caught us at just the right time Tuesday after work, asking if we wanted to hit some golf balls. We’d had one of those days at work, and the idea of working off some of our frustrations sounded too good to pass up. The driving range (double-decker) is basically self-serve; there are machines that dispense balls into readily available buckets ($7 for 50 to 70 balls, depending on how you pay), clubs are freely available if you don’t have your own, and you can take any open slot on the range. You can also purchase big cans of beer to take into your range slot for about $5. The slots all have space heaters so you could hit golf balls in the winter as well, if you were so inclined.
The driving range hours vary, basically following available daylight. As you’d expect, we’re at almost the longest/latest hours now with the range open until 9:30 pm now, and 10 pm next month and through the rest of the summer. We arrived around 7:30 and while there was a good crowd, there were also plenty of open range slots. In fact we had no trouble finding two that were side-by-side so we could chat and exchange clubs as we practiced. Those hitting on the range were from all skill levels, some bouncing the ball just a few feet in front of them, others laying out beautiful drives. There did not appear to be any judging or intimidation, although we might have muttered a few choice words at some of our own terrible swings.
We’re probably raving a bit too much about the range, but it really is a unique experience. Much like our over-the-top joy when we discovered the East Potomac Park public pool, it’s just incredible that you’re in the middle of the city and have this kind of recreational service right there.
Oh and did we mention the view?
(Both photos courtesy of Penn Quarter resident Jaime)
Update On Sinkhole Repairs At 14th And F St NW
You may have heard about the sinkhole that opened up in the middle of the 14th and F Street NW intersection yesterday (photos included). DC Water sent PQ Living a press release with additional information now that they’ve had some time to evaluate the problem. Follow the DC Water Twitter and DDOT Twitter feeds for ongoing updates – the press release follows:
5/22/13 — Sinkhole Damage at 14th and F Streets, NW Will Require Complex Repairs to Sewer Line
DC Water and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) crews remain on the scene of a hole that opened in the roadway at 14th and F Streets, NW and are working to determine the cause of underground concrete falling 15 feet onto a sewer line.
A DC Water sewer investigator yesterday determined that concrete from above had collapsed a large section of a 54-inch diameter brick combined sewer line. The concrete may have come from the road itself or from another utility casing.
There are a number of utilities and old trolley tracks above the collapsed sewer, making this a complex repair. This sewer is 15 feet below the road surface and was built in 1897. DC Water anticipates approximately 30 feet of the sewer will need to be excavated and repaired.
DC Water and contractor crews will work 24 hours per day until the repair is complete. DC Water will provide updates throughout the process.
DDOT will manage traffic control during the process and traffic advisories can be found at www.ddot.dc.gov on the Featured News Section. The intersection remains closed to vehicular traffic at this time.