Chuck on Bustin’ Loose

“The Deputy Mayor and his staff are expected to outline next steps for development on parcels F1 and G1 and will hear commission and community feedback. ANC 6B will also likely debate and consider a resolution on development at the site,” says Flahaven on his website.

The meeting begins at 7:00 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Avenue SE).

A little bit of Trusty's. Make sure you see more on Wednesday. Photo by María Helena Carey

Why should you make haste to Trusty’s, 1420 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, on Wednesday, May 16th, and drink to Mike Boone, you ask?

Because, apart from being a bartender at the beloved Hill East watering hole Trusty’s, he’s a hero– and one who needs your help. Mike Boone was walking a girl home from the bar in the wee hours of May 1st, when suddenly someone snatched her purse. Boone chased him and got the purse back, but not before getting stabbed SIX  EIGHT TIMES. He is now recovering well and thankfully walking about, but he won’t be able to work for some time. This means that he will need help with his hospital bills, among other things. And YOU can help! Show up to Trusty’s and drink, participate in raffles, and just take in the bonhomie that’s pouring out for this Good Samaritan.

If hanging out at bars and having fun is not your thing (I am not judging), but you still want to help Boone with his bills, you can always donate via PayPal to mike[dot]boone [at] yahoo.com. Make sure you label your donation as a gift!

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

Here are a few of my favorites from the weekend.  Chime in with yours in the comments!

Favorite master bedroom: 2 6th St, NE (the “keyhole” entrance).  Situated on the top floor in the round tower with exposed brick and 17′ ceilings.  I didn’t see anything else quite like it on the tour.

Favorite kitchen:  How can one possibly choose?  There were plenty of amazing options but if I can only choose one, I’ll go with 906 East Capitol, NE.  I dream of one day having a big kitchen that opens onto a lovely back yard.

Favorite small space:  308 East Capitol, NE Unit #1.  It was so perfectly appointed and welcoming that you’d want the owners to invite you back for a drink.

Most surprising: 317 A St NE looked fairly small from the street, but inside it was deeper than expected with lots of windows in the dining room and kitchen, looking out onto a dogleg and the backyard.  As Goldilocks would say, it was just right.  My runner up in this category is 621 Massachusetts Ave, NE.  Who knew there was a true “tropical oasis” hiding inside a 100+ year old house?

Favorite wall colors:  11 9th St, NE’s Benjamin Moore Moonshine and Greyhorse.  This was the second of two mirror-image homes (we entered through 9 9th).  The palate is like a greyish green; this combination was a nice neutral but warm and unusual.

Place I want to go back to for reading the Sunday paper:  514 Constitution Ave, NE.  The basement kitchen opens up to a beautiful garden and fountain bounded by the carriage house.  These kind homeowners host B&B guests, so next time your family is in town, see if you can have them stay here.  They’ll definitely love it.

Favorite overall:  100 5th St, NE.  I’ve walked by this place hundreds of times and just a couple of weeks ago the hubby and I were debating and decided that this corner place was actually two houses, not one.  Well, we were wrong.  I loved this place all the way from its top floor master suite with views of the Capitol and Supreme Court to the first floor kitchen and dining room opening up to the wooden side porch.

Kudos to CHRS for what must be a huge undertaking — the organizers and volunteers did a fantastic job.  Also to the homeowners who so graciously opened their homes, left notes about paint colors and art and shared where they got some of their lovely furniture and accent pieces.  You shared not just your homes, but a bit of your story, which was just lovely.  And don’t worry, I didn’t take a single photo, use your bathroom or open a single blue-taped cabinet door so you’ll find nothing nefarious on your video surveillance system.

Can’t wait for the Renovator’s House Tour in the fall!

photo by theupper on Flickr

• Housing Complex reported that plans for a gas station at 14th and Maryland Avenue NE appear to be moving forward despite residents’ efforts to stop it.
• Greater Greater Washington shared a video interview of Tommy Wells with Smart Growth America.
• Urban Turf looked at a new proposed 2-unit building planned for a small vacant lot on the 1000 block of D Street NE.
• Frozen Tropics wants to know what you think about liquor license moratoriums.
• Prince of Petworth noted that Georgetown Valet is coming to the 400 block of H Street and shared photos showing how much the street has changed.

uploaded to flickr by CapitolHillKate

Catch unseen sides of the Hill with your lens? Please post to the THIH flickr pool!

Ulpoaded to flickr by mbostock

What little things make a difference to you when you’re traveling? Understanding that the little things can mean everything, DoubleTree by Hilton asked travelers what “little things” would improve their travel experience and created a unique experience for consumers nationwide based on their responses.

On May 14, 2012, the Little Things Project tour will stop at the main hall in Union Station from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to surprise people with some of the “little things” they asked for. Travelers will be able to take advantage of free wi-fi, charge their cell phones, enjoy one of DoubleTree by Hilton’s legendary chocolate chip cookies and grab great deals on local attractions in D.C.

Little Things Project ambassadors will also venture out into D.C. with “Swarm Cars” delivering real-time “little things” requests received via Twitter hashtag #littlethings.

 On Monday, September 8, 1958, three boys were fishing for catfish in the Anacostia River, underneath the East Capitol Bridge. Their fishing gear was a jump rope with a hook attached, not exactly the most likely equipment to catch anything. Thus, they were surprised that they catch anything, and furthermore by the sheer weight of it. After much pulling, they determined that it was not a fish that they had caught, but a body.

Police were called, and they pulled the body out of the river. Their first impression was that it was of a young, African American woman, and that she had spent only a short time in the river. After being strangled, and before she was cast into the Anacostia, she had been tied to a 26-lb block of concrete so that she would remain underwater.

After reading the article published in the Washington Post on Tuesday, John Sulhoff, who was the superintendent for a downtown building, went to the coroner. One of his elevator operators had failed to appear on Sunday, and he was concerned that the body might be that of his missing worker.

Sulhoff identified the body as that of Ruth C. Reeves, who lived just of East Capitol Street on 34^th Street SE. Reeves, a cafeteria worker as well as an elevator operator, was known as a “devoted, dependable, cheerful employe who was seldom absent from work” according to the Post – and was actually 38. She was also a member of the House of Prayer on 7^th Street NW.

Detail of picture of Reeves published in the Washington Afro-American on September 16, 1958 (Google News)

The police were soon on the trail of a mysterious “regular visitor” of Reeves’s, and on September 10, they arrested Philmore Clark, who lived on Capitol Hill at 300 C Street NE.

300 C had been a boarding house since it was built in 1888. Its only previous brushes with crime had happened in 1896, when someone wrote a bad check to an inhabitant, and 1924, when the wondrously-named Harry H. Haggenmaker was arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct at that address. In recent years, however, it had become much less salubrious, in spite of its proximity to the Capitol.

Clark was indicted in October in the murder of Reeves, and after considerable hearings, during which his sister was indicted for perjury, eventually plead guilty to second degree murder in the slaying. The final proof that he had been involved was revealed by Assistant US Attorney John Conliff Jr, who explained that the hunk of concrete that had been used to sink Reeves’s body had come from a wall at 300 C Street.

The Post never mentioned either how long Clark was sentenced to jail for his crime, nor was any motive ever postulated. Reeves was buried in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, just across the District line in Suitland, Maryland.

Robert Pohl will be reading from his new book Wicked Capitol Hill this Wednesday at 6:30 at Ebenezer’s Coffeehouse.

Peonies are also nice for Mother's Day, you know. Photo by María Helena Carey, who is still looking for whoever stole AN ENTIRE PEONY PLANT FROM HER GARDEN.

Hello, dears.

Yes, it really is Friday before Mother’s day and I am willing to bet there are some of you out there who are hoping to riffle through the debris around your home for a good regifting option. Put down those expired iTunes gift cards or that set of Thomas Kinkade postcards you got at your last Secret Santa, people! Instead, do something good for the community’s kids and get the mom(s) in your life something green, which she’ll nurture with the same care, compassion and love they did for you (or, which she will sadistically and waterlessly let die in its pot… just like she did with you?? But we digress).

On Saturday May 12, stop by Eastern Senior High School (1700 East Capitol Street), and enjoy the fruits of the students’ labor (snort, snort). This is your chance to buy and enjoy 100% organic, locally-grown produce and flowers, and support the students as well. When you’re there, ask to have a tour of the Legacy Greenhouse and Garden as well! The prices are super-reasonable, too: plants start at $3 and seedlings at $2, with all proceeds going right back to supporting the garden.

With all that money you’re saving, you can turn around and get some therapy for your mother issues– or brunch with mom.

Yes, brunch is much safer.