Fitzy the golden doodle, who most certainly has his game face (and his Pats jersey) on.

The big day is almost here. Depending on your fondness for football, Super Bowl Sunday is either the biggest game of the year or you’re really looking forward to a day of eating snacks. And drinking a few beers. Or maybe you just like the commercials. No matter what, this day has something for everyone. Are you kicking back at a friend’s house or headed out on the Hill? There are plenty of places within walking distance where you can watch the game while expanding your waistline.

A go-to on a regular Sunday, so why not on Super Bowl Sunday? The Argonaut has plenty of seating and TVs to watch the big game.

Nearby, H Street Country Club will be offering food and drink specials during the game.

Union Pub’s heated patio and large projector screen make for another good option. Food and beer specials will be available.

Pour House will have specials, and no shortage of TV sets. The Ugly Mug will have $4 Coors Light drafts, $4 Blue Moon and $12 Coors Light pitchers. Wisdom will have pitchers of Fat Tire, DC BRAU and National Bohemian aka Natty Boh as well as homemade chili.

That should be enough to get you started. One final thing, I know I speak for the many DC by way of New England transplants when I say…Go PATS!

Originally uploaded to flickr by Brett Jordan

The suspect was apprehended by Metropolitan Police after a barricade situation, which shutdown several streets, including many south of the Potomac Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue intersection.

According to WUSA, the suspect had several felony warrants on his record, and when Fairfax police attempted to pull over the suspect, it resulted in a cross-district chase, leading police from Arlington, across the Wilson Bridge and to the I-295/Southwest-Southeast Freeway. The chase ended when the suspect bailed out of his vehicle in the Hill East neighborhood.

The Metropolitan Police Twitter stream reported that the suspect was apprehended and traffic reopened by 6 a.m. this morning.

Did anyone hear the helicopter, see the suspect or witness the police barricade? Leave comments in the post or send photos to our Flick pool.

uploaded to Flickr by [paumelia

A number of recent robberies and car thefts have many in the neighborhood on edge and wondering when a recent spike in crime will end.

Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) is planning to meet with 1st District Metropolitan Police Department Commander Daniel Hickson tonight to discuss the crime trend. They also will answer questions from neighbors concerned about safety.

According to Wells’s office, crime remains low for Capitol Hill,  but in December police saw an increase in reported incidents, especially sidewalk robberies and theft. In recent weeks, there have also been robberies at local businesses, including an armed robbery early Monday morning at the 7-Eleven on Barracks Row.

The community meeting was called for, says Charles Allen, Wells’s chief of staff, because the crimes are being committed by a small number of individuals and, he says, there is a need to get more information to the public.

In a prepared email statement sent to THIH, Allen said:

Tommy is working very closely with MPD to track these trends and ensure they have the resources they need to respond quickly. Tommy met with Commander Hickson yesterday afternoon [Tuesday] to get a full briefing, and the Thursday meeting will provide an opportunity for MPD to describe the steps they’re taking. Please keep in mind that MPD won’t be able to describe in a public community meeting some of the details of the tactical and resource shifts they are making, but they will be able to address generally the changes they are making and demonstrate the responsiveness to this spike, as well as answer questions from neighbors.

Wells encourages all residents to attend the meeting, taking place tonight, 6:30 p.m. at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave, SE.

uploaded to flickr.com by "clairity"

What an eventful year on Capitol Hill – and I’m not even talking about the warped and wishy-washy politics that went on in the big white domed building.  We here at The Hill Is Home attempted to bring you timely coverage of our neighborhood politics, cultural events, developing stories and (probably more than anything else) food options. So we realized as a staff we like to eat. And drink. Judging by the number of restaurants opening in our area the whole neighborhood likes to eat too. And drink.

So let’s take a look back at some of the highlights of food and drink in 2011 on Capitol Hill. 

H Street NE has blossomed into a destination where you can easily find a lovely dinner, head out to a bar and dance the night away, and then find an eatery for fourth meal.  The year opened with the opening of Church and State, the cheeky second floor bar from the owners of Fruit Bat and Wisdom.  Toki Underground opened a few months later.  Who knew a tiny second-floor eatery calling itself “underground” would become one of the hottest tables to snag in DC?  We also welcomed Shawafel, The Big Board, Khan’s Bar & Grill, the Queen Vic, and TruOrleans to the diverse array of restaurants already calling H Street home.

Over in Southeast we gained Senart’s Oyster & Chophouse and Lavagna as night-out dinner options, and many specialty food shops including 32 Below, the Sweet Lobby, Spring Mill Bakery, and Pitango Gelato. Do Hill residents have an addiction to baked goods?  Or just a more acute sweet tooth?  We added to our coffee options with Pound (and were introduced to the sinfully delightful Nutella latte), while teas and juices now abound at the B Spot.

The Tune Inn reopened in 2011 after a massive fire damaged or destroyed most of the interior.  I’m not sure if a completely remodeled and fully-sprinklered bar counts as a dive anymore, but I am sure the Tune Inn will do its best to live up to its reputation.

And near the Southeast Riverfront options are starting to multiply.  Justin’s Café and Lot 38 Espresso opened for the hungry masses heading to ball games or moving into new high-rises.

Also in Southeast, the DC food truck frenzy created a cult phenomenon known as Truckeroo.  One Friday a month the food trucks circle up in “Das Bullpen” right by Nationals Park like some sort of technicolor, aroma-ed caravan making camp.  Live music and beer added to the festive atmosphere, and urban foodies could sample the wares of many mobile kitchens.  I would imagine this tradition will continue in the warmer months of 2012.

We lost a few establishments along the way too.  Sadly we said bye-bye to Ba Bay; whatever the reasons for its closure, we lost our Vietnamese option on the Hill.  We also said so-long to the Hawk & Dove, though with major renovations already underway we may be able to say hello to it in a different reincarnation next year.

Speaking of next year, 2012 brings us even more options for dining and drinking on the Hill.  We expect Boxcar to open across the street from Eastern Market, and construction is moving swiftly on Chipotle on Barracks Row.  We also expect Ima Pizza to open on 8^th Street SE in the spring.  I know multiple dining and drinking options are in the works on H Street, including Sweet Charleston’s restaurant/lounge/bar/live entertainment venue (wondering if they might have a gift shop too?).  Maybe, just maybe, Crepes on the Corner will open on 15^th Street SE (a neighbor can dream, can’t he?).

image uploaded by caroline.angelo to Flickr

Car break-ins and theft are typical of big city life, but a recent spat of crime has some Hill East neighbors on guard. In recent weeks, neighbors on the Hill East listserv have reported several incidents of car burglary and theft.

The reports hit close to home for this THIH writer and Hill East resident, having experienced two car break-ins in the last two months.

And, Metropolitan Police say that they may know who’s behind the incidents. In a post on the listserv, Lt. Christopher Micciche with the MPD 1st District said:

There is a subject, well known to the police, who will smash the vehicle window to break into a car for purposes of theft. After doing so, he will frequently break three or four windows in a row and check those cars. We believe he does this because he figures the sound of breaking glass may bring the police, so he may as well hit as many cars as possible to maximize his chances of a good take.

We lock him up regularly, and regularly he is ultimately released. I believe he is currently held after his most recent apprehension. Hopefully it stays that way!

MPD stresses some basic tips to anyone who parks their car on the street.

One of the latest reported break-ins  seems to match police descriptions.  On Wednesday, a resident posted this story to the Hill East listserv:

Cars belonging to [me] and my neighbor were broken into sometime between Tuesday night and [Wednesday]. They were parked in their usual parking spaces behind our house in the alley that runs behind Jenkins Row. On both cars, the driver’s side rear “vent” window was smashed. I had a club locked onto the steering wheel of my car, no valuables were left inside, and nothing was taken, though the inside was ransacked – change was left in the ashtray (though the ashtray was opened) and a roadside emergency kit hidden under a seat was opened but not stolen.

My neighbor has yet to search her car for missing valuables. An officer came out very quickly (thank you Officer Chesley) and told me that this has been happening to several cars in the area and that most of the time change is taken. I’m not sure what preventative measures can be taken, other than better lighting and keeping valuables out of sight or out of the car altogether, but I wanted to let everyone know that this appears to be a recent trend.

Consider this a friendly reminder to keep your vehicle secure and store any valuable items out-of-sight when you park your car.

I think it has a fever. Uploaded to flickr.com by Edsel L

Thanksgiving is a time to pause and reflect on how grateful we are for the gifts around us, be they friends, family, and a small roasted ostrich and twenty side dishes (have more!).   But what happens when you find yourself in need of something to complete the perfect feast? Perhaps you will feel the need to stretch your legs and walk off some of that gravy and sweet potato casserole after Thanksgiving dinner, or maybe you just need a break from a certain in-law.

Do not fret; you have options.  There are diversions on the Hill available on Thanksgiving Day should you need to remove yourself from your house, whether for a last minute ingredient, a pick-me-up, or some sanity time.

Remembered all the ingredients but forgot the roasting pan?  Need another baster since your kid took yours as a bath tub toy? (It happens.)  Hill’s Kitchen will be open 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for last minute cooking utensil needs.

You may need a jolt of caffeine to get you through the cooking, or keep you awake through the televised parade from New York.  Peregrine Espresso will be open 7:00 a.m. to noon.  Pound Coffee will open doors from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Starbucks at Eastern Market is open until 3:00 p.m.

All CVS stores will be open on Thanksgiving day, should you need stomach remedies, ibuprofen, or last minute milk or soda.  All Harris Teeter stores will also be open on Thanksgiving day until 2:00 p.m., and both of our local Safeway stores will be open until 6:00 p.m.  But take stock of your ingredients early, because I wouldn’t want to be the one in line buying cranberry sauce at 5:45.

The U.S. Botanic Garden will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. should you need an indoor escape or a place to take out-of-town relatives while the turkey roasts.  The annual holiday exhibit “Seasons Greenings” opens on Thanksgiving Day, so you can enjoy a little bit of Christmas with the trees, model trains, and other fun creations.

Contemplate what you are thankful for and get a dose of history at Congressional Cemetery.  The grounds are open for walking, and self-guided tours can be downloaded from their website.

If the weather is favorable, burn off those pie-baked calories with a walk to one of our many parks, and better yet take the little ones to one of our playgrounds to burn off some energy.  The fountains may be off at The Yards Park, but a walk along the water on a crisp fall day can be invigorating.

Whatever you do, enjoy your time on the Hill this Thanksgiving.

image uploaded by Rukasu1 on Flickr

C-Span’s Rebecca Roberts took a walking tour of Congressional Cemetery last month, and now the cable station has a great documentary up about our historic gem.  From their website:

“Each week American History TV’s American Artifacts takes viewers into archives, museums and historic sites from around the country. Located 18 blocks from the U.S. Capitol, Washington’s DC’s Congressional Cemetery is final resting place of dozens of members of Congress and other prominent Americans. American History TV toured the grounds with Congressional Cemetery program director Rebecca Roberts, as she showed us the graves of some of the unsung heroes buried in the cemetery, as well as a few of her personal favorites.”

You can view the documentary, which aired this past weekend, on C-Span’s website.

And to get into the holiday spirit, stop for the Cemetery’s annual Halloween party, Ghost & Goblets, on Saturday, October 29th from 6-8 pm.  More information can be found on their website.

image uploaded by TrailVoice on Flickr

Just when we thought it was safe to pack-up the summer shorts, Mother Nature gives us an unseasonably warm and rain-free weekend. So why not get outdoors and take advantage of an opportunity to improve our neighborhood’s natural environment?

United By Blue, an environmentally-friendly clothing company, is sponsoring an Anacostia River clean-up on Saturday. The clean-up starts at the Anacostia Park, “Section F” near the RFK Stadium parking lots.

The company hosts these clean-up events around the country, and they’re on track to collect 100,000 pounds of trash by the end of the year.

According to an event release, UBB selected the Anacostia River as a clean-up site because there is more than 20,000 tons of trash deposited into the river each year. This includes plastic bottles, tires, construction debris and household waste.  It’s easy to forget that the Anacostia is a natural ecosystem home to 50 species of fish and 188 species of birds including the bald eagle. Volunteers for the clean-up event can register online and will be treated to free snacks, games and contest prizes.

Originally uploaded to flickr by Juushika Redgrave

I’ve been waiting all month for the calendar to near October 1, the self-imposed date that determines I’m allowed to eat as much candy corn as I want. Halloween is just around the corner, people! But what to do in the meantime besides raid the Halloween candy display at Harris Teeter? Read on.

Voting begins for the Hilly awards on Saturday; winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 13. Categories include restaurant and retailer of the year among many others. You can check out a complete list of the categories and nominations here.

We all know there’s no shortage of pet lovers on the Hill.  In keeping with the nearly 800 year old tradition in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals, Congressional Cemetery is holding the Blessing of the Animals on Saturday. You can bring your leashed four legged friend to the chapel at 2pm to receive a blessing from Rev. Cara Spaccarelli, Rector of Christ Church Washington Parish.

Feeling theatrical? H Street Playhouse is joining forces with the Rorschach Theatre, now in residence at Atlas, to host a 2011/2012 Season Kick-Off Event. So stop by the Red Palace on Monday from 7-9pm for a drink and to see excerpts of the work coming to H Street this year.

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous and fall-like this weekend! Why not take advantage of one of Cultural Tourism DC’s WalkingTownDC/BikingTownDC outings? There’s a few different options around the Hill.

The proposed mixed-use project at 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue (Wisdom is located to the left of the building). Courtesy of R2L Architects

A mixed-use development project at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street, Southeast, may be one step closer to construction if developers receive approval from Capitol Hill’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission next Tuesday.

Developers presented revised plans to the ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee earlier this week. The project keeps the building’s 21 apartment units intact, but would downsize ground-floor retail space — from 3,000 to 2,600 square-feet — to accommodate a bike locker room and a building curtailment that would widen the adjacent alley by two feet.

The proposed project is within walking distance to the Potomac Avenue Metro Station and would replace a boarded-over KFC restaurant. The KFC could be razed in five to six months if the city approves permits, said Paul Millstein, who is overseeing construction for Douglas Development.

For the last few weeks, Douglas met with ANC members and Hill East residents to address community concerns. The main issue has been the location and access of parking for the building.

In the revised plans presented on Tuesday, developers met a request made by the District Department of Transportation to seal off an existing curb cut on Pennsylvania Avenue and place residential parking at the rear of the building.

The plans still call for a seven-car garage.

To address community concerns about street-level parking, Douglas said they would prevent building residents from receiving residential permit parking in the neighborhood.

“On the parking issue, we may try to seek city council support to legislatively enforce parking on the street,” said Commissioner Brian Flahaven, a representative of the Hill East neighborhood.

Developers are also working with DDOT to move the location of a bus stop, which is located in front of the entrance to the apartments, said Millstein. The current plan is to move the stop no further than a block away.

A vote on the revised development plans will take place at next Tuesday’s ANC6B meeting.