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Spring is showing its colors in the DC area. The daffodils have started blooming, the Cherry Blossoms’ peak bloom will be the last week of March, but, now before we can get too excited about warm weather, another Spring snow storm is upon us.
A brighter Spring ritual, however, also arrives this week with the Environmental Film Festival kick off party.
Thursday, March 7
Warner Building Atrium
1299 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
6:30pm-8:30pm
Cocktails, art and silent auction.
Tickets can be purchased here.
The theme of the festival this year is “the vital role of earth’s rivers in human survival and their vulnerability in the changing global environment,” with films being shown March 12-24 at various locations downtown. The MLK DC Public Library, Embassy of Canada, National Building Museum, and the Museum of Natural History are just a few of the participating venues in our neighborhood.
There are over a dozen each of World Premieres and U.S. Premieres, including several films focused on our own DC rivers –Potomac and Anacostia.
Click here for the full calendar of films and venues.
Penn Quarter Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood
Above: Garlic Chive Dumpling tutorial from Chef Scott Drewno of The Source [Brightest Young Things (recipe)]
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Here’s what we were reading recently about neighborhood news in DC. Have something to add? Leave it in the comments!
Tips? Send them in confidentiality to: pqliving [at] gmail.com
Penn Quarter – Living Social takes some punishment. No bonuses for 2012 and a $110 million injection to provide additional funding. Ru-roh-Rastro. [WaBizJo]
Chinatown/Penn Quarter – A few construction permits worth noting – the former martial arts video store at the corner of 6th and H St (750 6th St NW) will become a “fast food establishment” and Potbelly’s (726 7th St NW) will convert into a Lime Fresh Mexican Grill with a new storefront after renovations. [WaBizJo – 750 6th St NW] & [WaBizJo – 726 6th St NW] & [PQ Living tweet (Potbelly closed photo)]
Mount Vernon Triangle – The Donohoe Company gets booted off the 5th and Eye (I) RFP by the DC Government. We want the 20 hours back that we spent reporting on this and attending community meetings over the years. [The Triangle]
Downtown – Another thorough installment from the Streets of Washington about a historic downtown DC building. This time it is the former Washington Post building at 1341 E St NW. One of the vintage postcards also depicts the “New” National Theatre which is still standing. [Streets of Washington]
Penn Quarter – Elisir Restaurant (427 11th St NW) is going casual and is now closed for a 10 day period. It plans to reopen as a more casual venue on approximately March 15. [Eater – DC] & [WaPo – Tom Sietsema chat]
Downtown – Looks like we’re going to get a Conrad Hilton for the hotel in CityCenter. Cocktails in the lobby bar anyone? [WaBizJo] & [WaPo]
Downtown – Tom Sietsema reviews Woodward Table (1430 H St NW) and gives it two stars out of four. We’ve eaten there a number of times and think Sietsema is close – we give it two and a half stars. The duck confit flatbread is pretty fantastic especially when paired with one of the red wines on tap. [WaPo]
Penn Quarter Crib(s) of the Week – Our Crib of the Week is one of the four level (if you include the deck) penthouse units at The Lafayette, 631 D St NW. Unit 1143 is for rent for $4,995 per month. Nice! [MRIS-Homes Database]
A Street Sense Success Story
Several years ago we changed our early morning jogging route and near the end of our run we would pass by the Starbucks on 11th between E & F, which is where we’d begin our cool-down. The main reason we started walking at this point was to exchange pleasantries with the Street Sense vendor wearing the “Cat in the Hat” hat. It wasn’t very long before he knew our names and we knew his, Phillip Black.
Phillip, with that contagious smile and friendly demeanor soon became our primary Street Sense vendor, and also our friend. Of course if you’ve had any interaction with Phillip you know we’re not alone. You’ll find Phillip in Penn Quarter near 11th & F Monday to Friday, and then at Eastern Market most weekends. I don’t know where Phillip ranks in total papers sold with Street Sense, but he must be near the top. Sometimes you have to wait to say hello, so many people stop to chat with him on their way into the office.
Over the years Phillip has shared with us (both in person and by reading his Street Sense columns) the trials of living on the street, as well as his personal triumphs. Last year his bid for public housing came through and he was able to get off of the streets. Not long after that, Phillip gained custody of his two teenage daughters (you should hear him brag about those girls!). When he moved into the apartment he told us his customers stepped up to provide furnishings and home goods to welcome him into his new space.
And it isn’t just a one-way relationship, Phillip shows real concern for his customers. When Phillip hasn’t seen Mrs. Columbo for several days he’s quick to ask if she is ok. When we walk by looking worse-for-wear, his honest compassion comes through. Phillip isn’t faking it, he is a genuinely nice guy who is putting his life back together. We have no doubt that Street Sense has helped numerous individuals get back on their feet, but this is the first time we’ve really seen it happen on a day-by-day basis.
The good news kept coming for Phillip. A few months ago he moved into a house given to him by his aunt, and again his customers celebrated his hard work and good fortune, helping him with gifts. Phillip is one of the good guys, and we just couldn’t be happier for him. And starting this afternoon Phillip is returning to his trained craft of being a plumber; he will be working part time weekday afternoons (pick up a current edition of Street Sense to see for yourself! Vol 10, Issue 7, Page 11). When you talk to Phillip you can see in his eyes that this is it, he is on his way and homelessness is in his past.
So if you pass by 11th & F in the afternoon and it somehow seems a little lonelier, don’t despair. While we may miss seeing Phillip every day, his story has a happy ending.
Or maybe it would be better to say that his story has a new beginning.
Spotted: Brainfood Urban Garden
While walking in the neighborhood the other day, I noticed a thriving urban garden. A little sign nearby said Brainfood Innovation Center. Not knowing anything about Brainfood, I looked it up. According to Brainfood’s web site, the organization is a non-profit youth development organization originally founded in 1999 that uses “food as a tool to build life skills and promote healthy living in a fun and safe environment.”
Brainfood offers year-long after school programs that teach “life skills and leadership skills using food and cooking,” as well as an advanced program where those leadership skills are then applied “to plan, facilitate, and deliver healthy cooking workshops to the DC community.”
The urban garden I stumbled upon at 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW was started in 2012 and is part of the Innovation Center. Here, participants have the “opportunity to participate in small-scale urban food production” and use that produce to “supply both Brainfood programs and cooking workshops led by our Community MVPs class.”
There is also another Brainfood location in Chinatown at 755 8th St. NW.
If food is the language of your life, consider supporting the Brainfood program or volunteering your time. Click here for more information.