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Liberty Tree Takes Root on H Street

March 12th, 2010 by Kyra Deblaker-Gebhard · Capitol Hill

Chef Graig Glufling discusses the menu with patrons at the bar

Liberty Tree is a welcome addition to the restaurant scene on H Street NE. It’s a more sophisticated space than the bars and gastropubs that line the east end of the H Street corridor, but don’t confuse sophisticated with fussy and over-priced. At Liberty Tree you get more than you pay for—from atmosphere to food and drinks.

My friends and family were eager to try the restaurant I had been talking about all week. When we walked through the heavy blue curtains into the warm yellow dining room, we were pleased to see our table was ready and waiting for us. Our party of five and a half (we brought our 18-month-old daughter to dinner with us), fit comfortably in the booth in the front window, and despite the construction equipment that sat outside we found the interior to be very inviting.

We started with a bottle of wine—an Argentine Malbec that was both affordable and delicious—and chose offerings from the “small plates” and “appetizers” section of the menu. Our server brought our wine to the table, but struggled—for what felt like an eternity, but was probably only five minutes—to open the bottle. It would be the only hiccup in our evening.

When our small plates and assorted appetizers arrived mere moments after we placed our order, we eagerly filled our plates. The peppadew peppers stuffed with goat cheese had a spicy kick at the end of each bite.  The toasted bread that accompanied the white bean dip was unfortunately too hard to bite into, so I simply ate the dip with a fork. My friend enjoyed the seared scallops and recommended that we all take a taste of the fennel bed that held the scallops, though he never actually passed the plate around. I had frowned upon placing an order for hand-cut French fries when there were so many other options on the menu, but boy were we glad we did. The fries were the perfect mix of crispy and soggy and reminded me a lot of the fries I got on the boardwalk as a child. If only they served good ol’ Heinz ketchup, that classic American condiment! [Read more →]

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Local Art Draws A Crowd to H Street, NE

March 11th, 2010 by Sharee Lawler · Capitol Hill

Usually when people are clamoring to squeeze into a hot locale on a Saturday night on H Street, its for the latest burlesque act at Palace of Wonders or a table at Sticky Rice.  This past Saturday, though, it was art that got all the attention.  City Gallery opened its doors last weekend with an All-Member Exhibit that drew more than 700 people to a space upstairs from the T-Mobile shop at H & 8th Streets, NE.

Representing over 20 local artists of all types – painters, sculptors, engravers, printmakers, photographers – the gallery’s mission is to connect these artists with the broader DC arts community.  The gallery works on a juried membership model.  Artists are asked to join with either an associate or full membership and in turn are represented by the gallery’s managers.  Associate members are established as practitioners, but don’t have quite the portfolio for a solo show so they are part of the 3-4 group shows the gallery will do throughout the year.  Full members are well established in their field and will do solo shows.

Martha Huizenga, who in her other life is one of the owners of DC Access, has shown her photography – which she does old school, shooting on film and finishing photos herself in the darkroom – locally with the Capitol Hill Arts League and in shows at Fusion Grill and Evolve Urban Arts Project.  She is showing one of her pieces, Minerva, in the exhibition and says she is happy being affiliated with City Gallery because, “it allows me to get more exposure to a different crowd, plus I like that it is a space in the neighborhood.” [Read more →]

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sweetgreen Coming to Capitol Hill This Spring

March 11th, 2010 by Claudia Holwill · Capitol South

This spring is about to get much yummier around Capitol Hill.  Along with the many new restaurants on 8th Street, sweetgreen will open its fifth location on the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE in the space that used to be Trovers Bookshop.  If you have never been to sweetgreen, or had the joy of a trip to their sweetflow mobile, you are in for a treat.

I was one of those kids who would refuse to eat my vegetables… and anything that they touched on my plate.  While I did eventually learn to love my vegetables (well, some – I still won’t touch brussels sprouts) I’m ashamed to say that I only really discovered a love for salads a few years ago when my sister made me try sweetgreen.  Before then, salad bars meant ugly plastic sneeze guards, bland iceberg lettuce, and an array of toppings that never seemed all that appetizing when displayed under horrible florescent lighting.  At sweetgreen, and now the many other specialty salad joints that have sprung up around the city, your salad bar options are created by “salad dudes” (the guys at Chop’t actually have that on their shirts) who toss and mix some really tasty creations. [Read more →]

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The Elephants Are Back in Town

March 11th, 2010 by Maria Carey · Capitol Hill

Photo by María Helena Carey

There are a few reliable signs that spring is on its way to Washington: the cherry trees start unfurling their first precious pink buds; the air starts warming up and getting more and more humid; and the sounds of elephants marching to St. Paddy’s day bagpipes can be heard all over Capitol Hill.  The circus is coming to town and the elephants will be marching down DC’s streets all the way to the Verizon Center, where Ringling Bros. Circus will be holding its Zing Zang Zoom tour shows from the 18th to the 21st of March.  Whether you would like to cheer the elephants on as they march or protest the abuse and ill treatment thereof, here are the details:

When: Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
Time: 1 pm
Where: Starting at Virginia Avenue, SE, (close to Garfield Park) and continuing north on 4th Street toward Union Station via Massachusetts Ave. NE; from Union Station to the loading dock at the Verizon Center.

So gather your friends, children, pickets and/or camera, and enjoy the parade!

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To-Do List March 12-14

March 11th, 2010 by Amber Palmer · Capitol Hill

Originally Uploaded to flickr by worldislandinfo.comLet’s face it:  the 8th graders are coming.  Before they take over the Mall, the Smithsonians and the food court at Union Station, you should try to get in a few of the tourist things that made DC a cultural wonder that attracted 5.5 billion tourist dollars in 2007.  So, this To-Do List will feature my suggestions for doing DC like a tourist — but not one of those tie-dyed CIA t-shirt wearing tourists; more the cool hip tourists who find the best things to do in a weekend.

Friday, March 12
Head straight from your office to Chinatown.  The National Portrait Gallery is open until 7pm each evening.  They’ve got great exhibits and a beautiful indoor courtyard.  It’s a peaceful place to wind down from a busy week.

While you’re in Chinatown, head over to the Verizon Center to watch the Washington Capitals take on the Tampa Bay Lightening.

Saturday, March 13
Take a bus tour of Washington, D.C.’s television and movie sites.  Start at Union Station at 10am and spend 3 hours exploring the sites featured in films including The Exorcist, The Godfather IIMission Impossible III,  and many more.  The guided tour takes you on a journey of the timeline of filming in the nation’s capital and is led by actors and actresses who share inside industry information.  If you order through Goldstar, it only costs $24 per person.

If you’d like to pretend you’re a little more “high brow” for your culture, head over to the National Gallery for the “Naked at the National Gallery Scavenger Hunt.” Every tricky question on this two-hour hunt involves nudity in some way, shape or sultry form. Highlights include naughty nymphs, a seamonster surfer, eye-catching codpieces, bathing beauties and the original Adonis. No knowledge of art, or nudity, is required. For adults only.  The adventure starts at 2pm and costs $15.25 if you reserve your spot through Goldstar events.

Saturday night, head over to Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar at 1104 H Street NE to hear DJ Chela starting at 9pm.  The Washington Post called the show “hot hip-hop, Latin and classic sounds from NY mixtape mixtress.”

Sunday, March 14
The Atlas Performing Arts Center hosts “WAM! Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart” at 3pm.  The Washington Ballet’s Studio Company and In Series take a look at the life of Mozart.

What other activities do you suggest for this weekend?

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Fashion on the Hill: Hats Off, Heels On, to Spring

March 10th, 2010 by Elizabeth Festa · Capitol Hill

Hats off to spring--even if it feeds the birds. Eastern Market Pocket Park fee

Hats off to spring--even if it feeds the birds. Eastern Market Pocket Park feeder

“Goodbye ugly boots, helloooo heels,” says my friend Heather. We are talking about the onset of spring-like weather, hopefully heralding the arrival of a season of pretty, diaphanous, sugar-spun days, and how we greet them sartorially, at least.

Because these days will soon greet us with their cherry blossoms, daffodils and tulips all in a row (house), it is high time to dump the water-logged, beaten-down suede and pack away the woolens for the moths (or deserving MOTHs) for  next year’s snow battles.

I saw a woman, apparently so excited for spring this week, in burgundy patent shoes accompanied by a patent bag in bright blue for a stroll.  A few steps later was a toddler outfitted in the cleanest, brightest  pair of miniature green Crocs this side of the Potomac.

“My goal in the next few weeks is to pack up my winter clothes and then get my spring/summer stuff from Pennsylvania,” said the Hill’s lovely Jordan S., who works for the U.S. Army but favors jewel tones and high-definition trench coats over Army greens. “I was walking around Eastern Market after church and you could tell people were ready for spring,” she said. [Read more →]

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Neighbors Go On Record about Proposed University High Charter School

March 10th, 2010 by Kate McFadden · Capitol Hill, Hill East

Uploaded to flickr by Hirata Yasukuki

Things are heating up as the monthly meeting of the DC Charter School Board (DCCSB) approaches. The proposal by the University High Public Charter School (UHPCS) will be discussed, and members of the public will speak during the comment period, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16th. The comment session will begin promptly at 7pm and there are only 20 minutes open for comment, with each of the ten speakers limited to two minutes, so don’t be late. See the details here.

Local neighbors are signing a petition in preparation for the hearings to give voice to their disapproval and show support for those who will represent the disapproval of University High’s proposal to open a high school targeted for at-risk youth in the space formerly occupied by the International Graduate University (IGU). WTOP reporter Mark Segraves, who lives near the proposed site, says various groups have gathered over 300 signatures and anticipate collecting up to 500 by Tuesday. He has agreed to represent neighbors’ vote against the proposal at the hearing, and has collected more than 100 signatures from community members who say he can represent their concerns and disapproval. The petition can be signed at 1241 E Street SE. [Read more →]

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Street Sweeping Resumes March 22

March 10th, 2010 by Claudia Holwill · Capitol Hill

image uploaded by LA Wad on Flickr

If you live along a major artery on Capitol Hill, it’s time to start thinking about street sweeping days again!  Street sweeping resumes Monday, March 22nd.  Tickets, which run $30 a pop, won’t be issued until March 29th, but do our hard working city workers a favor and comply.  Street sweeping helps reduce litter and pollutants which often find their way into the sewers and local waterways.  And don’t forget, those street sweepers are now equipped with cameras (which raised a few questions last year) to make it easier to ticket violators, so pay extra special attention to the signs on your block to make sure you are not on a designated street.

Learn more about the city’s street sweeping and alley cleaning efforts on the Department of Public Works’ Web site.

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Movies Return to H Street

March 9th, 2010 by Jen DeMayo · Capitol Hill

Bizet's Carmen“When are you going to show movies?”

In my capacity as the Communications Director for the Atlas Performing Arts Center, I have heard this question a LOT since the center opened in 2006. It’s a fair question since in a past life the Atlas was once a movie theater, one of several which graced H Street NE during its mid 2oth century heyday. The 60,000 square foot venue behind the  signature,  Art Deco marquee now boasts two main stage theaters, two Lab theaters, three dance studios,  dressing rooms, cafe space, offices, a green room, a scene shop and a box office but, until two weeks ago, no movies.

Long-time residents of the neighborhood have recounted stories of spending childhood Saturdays in the cool of the air conditioned building watching cartoons, serials and even the original Star Wars.

The building was an empty shell when it was purchased in 2001. The movie theater had been stripped of its screen and seats when the Atlas Theater closed for good in the late 70s.

One of the members of the Atlas Board of Directors, Meredith Ann Belkov, grew up in the neighborhood and has long wanted to see movies return to H Street. So to make that happen she made a donation  dedicated to the purchase of a screen. [Read more →]

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Vacant Homes Find New Life

March 9th, 2010 by Kyra Deblaker-Gebhard · Capitol Hill

The District is filled with vacant homes. Some are constant eyesores, while others find new life—as places of business, condominiums, or simply new homes. For the residents of 11th Street SE, two very famous vacant Hill homes will soon find new life as high-end, single family homes when business partners JD Schmidt and Jesse Connell of Connell & Schmidt Builders begin construction on the homes at 221 and 223 11th Street SE.

In mid-March, crews will begin to restore each home’s façade and rebuild each home’s interior—from frame to floors and everything in between.  But don’t think Schmidt and Connell will forget each home’s past.

“The homes will feature an open concept main floor, gourmet kitchen and large master suite,” said Schmidt,  but will be more traditional in terms of design, with “nice moldings, transom lights above the doors, wood floors and marble bathrooms.”

Connell and Schmidt, who met in Wellesley, MA restoring historic properties, started Connell & Schmidt Builders six years ago.

“Our involvement in this profession stems from our interest and passion for building things that last,” said Schmidt, who is originally from the DC area and attended Gonzaga High School. “We believe it is our responsibility to be good stewards with the things we have been given before we pass it on to the next person.”

The pair hope to complete the first home by mid-June.

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