RSS FeedOld Convention Center Site Info
Have you walked past the old convention center site between 9th & 11th and H St & NY Ave lately? Here is a picture from the walkway which follows a shadow of 10th St through the parking lot. A DCist comment tells us that the walkway is part of an art installation which is detailed in an issue of Urban Land Institute. We’d excerpt the article, but it is a pay-only e-zine, so we’ll pass.
One notable piece of this not-yet-complete art installation is: astroturf! All of that green stuff in the picture is not grass. We thought PG Montgomery County was the only DC area location to use astroturf, but that is no longer the case.
According to the 2005 NCPC Annual Report, here are all of the juicy details:
- The design features––landscaping, banners, artwork,
a rain garden, and pedestrian pathways––create a
visually appealing location that enhances the
streetscape, provides amenities for pedestrians, and
creates a destination for public events. The 10th
Street Art Corridor, featuring artwork supported on
steel columns, benches, and a path paved with
recycled glass, would provide the primary pedestrian
access through the area.
The site will function as a parking lot, offering shortterm
parking for up to 1,000 vehicles, including tour
buses. It also will serve as a location for festivals,
markets, and special events. The temporary use is
approved for no more than five years.
As part of the 1995 Memorandum of Agreement for the
MCI Center, in which NCPC played a major role, it is
expected that 10th and I Streets will reopen to vehicles
when permanent plans for the site are finalized.
Newseum News
Thanks to Jason and an anonymous comment for letting us know that Wolfgang Puck is planning on opening up a restaurant in the Newseum.
Anon pointed us to this well rounded blog posting with lots of details about the upcoming Newseum – opening in 2007.
Lastly, I snapped two pics of the current state of construction at the Newseum. We’re happy to see that the building will not only house the museum, but also retail and 135 apartments. Apologies for the belated posting of this article!
The WaPo also wrote an article about the Newseum.
Something Fun For The Weekend, Outside Of Gallery Place *Updated*
Updated with a couple of pictures from the weekend. The first picture is courtesy of Tracy‘s flickr account and the 2nd from GPLiving.
Ok, so this does not have to do with Gallery Place – but it is a unique, free event this weekend that readers may want to check out in Dupont Circle. The Phillips Collection (21st and Q St NW) will be hosting a free opening weekend which can be summed up as a Parisian-style block party. Here is the official flyer.
Festivities include:
- Chalk artist and street performers create a Parisian-style boulevard atmosphere outside the museum
- Mingle with the famous characters of Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party
- French cabaret performance and sing-along
- Tableau vivant or “Living picture” of Luncheon of the Boating Party by area students
- Screening of Jean Renoir’s film “A Day in the Country” paying homage to his father’s masterpiece
- Opening of the Young Artists Exhibition Program
- Create your own Boating Party hat—fun for all ages!
- Gallery talks on The Renoir Returns
- Free Luncheon of the Boating Party poster
Note: Pic courtesy of the Phillips Collection.
Introducing A New Contributor, pqresident!
Some of you may have noticed a new contributor listed on the upper-right corner of the blog. We want to take this opportunity to welcome pqresident as Gallery Place Living’s newest contributor!
As can be inferred by the alias, pqresident adds new focus to the blog by representing the Penn Quarter area of our neighborhood, which is roughly centered at 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.