uploaded to flickr.com by ElvertBarnes

While there is a good chance of rain tomorrow, hopefully the soggy weather won’t dampen the spirits on 8th Street SE. The annual Barracks Row Fall Festival starts at 11:00 a.m. and promises to offer fun for the whole family.  Sponsored by Barracks Row Main Street (BRMS), the festival will close down 8th Street SE between E and I Streets starting at 7:00 a.m.

In addition to the bars and restaurants expanding onto the sidewalks, there are special events planned suitable for all ages.  The annual armed forces cooking competition starts early at 7:00 a.m. in front of the Marine Barracks, with winners being announced later in the day.  Folks will have a chance to watch the master chefs at work as well as sample some of their creations and foods from sponsors.  Live music will be provided on stage by the Marine Corps Brass Quintet and the West End Band, among others.  The return of the petting zoo, along with face painting and crafts will provide welcome distractions for the little ones.  Live demonstrations by the Trapeze School of New York and the Shakespeare Theatre should also prove very entertaining.  There will also be opportunities for the public to tour the Home oft he Commandants.

You can find the full festival schedule on the event website.  For up-to-the-minute updates and any weather-related news follow BRMS on Twitter (@BarracksRow) or Facebook.

uploaded to flickr.com by malinky

This past Saturday (April 30) was the third annual Taste of 8th event organized by Barracks Row Main Street on 8th Street SE.  Twenty restaurants, stores, and soon-to-be eateries participated, offering a sample of food and/or drink for $5.  Those who were more curious or more voracious could get five tastes for $20.  The turnout was high and tasting tickets sold out before the 4:00 p.m. closing.  My daughter and I ventured over to 8th Street SE after nap time to partake in the food-filled merriment, bought our five tickets, and set out to sample some dishes from old standbys and the newly opened alike.  Sadly we left feeling like we didn’t get our money’s worth at a few locations — earning some places hits and others misses.

Now let me start out by saying I enjoy splurging on a nice meal as often as I can.  And for $20 I was not expecting an all-you-can-eat buffet or to leave needing a Tums.  Five dollars certainly isn’t a windfall, but it’s enough to get you a sizeable amount of food at some locations on the Hill.  It also is at least half the price of many appetizer plates at Hill establishments.  So when I purchased my $20 of tickets I wasn’t expecting a full meal, but I was expecting five portions large enough to give me an idea of what I was supposed to be eating, and certainly I assumed (perhaps foolishly) that I would be provided with $4 or $5 worth of food per serving.

First stop: Hello Cupcake.  I’m a fan of the Dupont Circle location and am looking forward to having their light and sugary confections within easy reach.  The Capitol Hill outpost is set to open in a couple weeks according to staff on site, and they were trucking in cupcakes for the event.  While the chocolate on chocolate cupcake we ate was good, it can be purchased on any given day for $3.50 — less than the cost of one “taste” at the festival.  I would have gladly taken a cup of ice cold milk or coffee with the sweet and called it even but none was offered.  This was a miss to me, in terms of value.

Next stop: Zest.  We were enamored last year with their offering and frankly were just as impressed this year.  The cheesy grits topped with braised beef short ribs was melt-in-my-mouth good, the portion more than fair and the service happy and welcoming.  Total hit in my book.

Third on our tour was Senart’s Oyster and Chop House.  I’ve not been for lunch or dinner yet, but my sample made me note Senart’s would be next on the list for a night out.  The gazpacho was just spicy enough, and the large oyster quite satisfying.  Excellent offering, Senart’s.  I look forward to returning for a sit-down portion.

Chesapeake Room was next.  I’ve not been to eat there yet either, and the smoked shrimp crostini with pesto sounded tempting.  The smoked taste definitely came through on the shrimp, though I was wondering where the rest of it was.  I received half a shrimp…one shellfish sliced lengthwise, served on a toasted crostini.  Left the Room feeling a little gipped.

Our final stop was Ted’s Bulletin, where my love-hate relationship with the place was in a state of romance thanks to a wonderful recent dinner.  We reached Ted’s a little after 3:00 to be told that they had run out of vanilla milkshakes and were not making any more, but I could “take two cookies” instead.  I overhead one of the owners saying something about running out of donated stock.  Sorry, but if you participate in an event like this you should have enough for the tickets being sold or find a suitable substitute.  Telling my 3-year-old to swap a cookie for a milkshake is sort of like saying instead of this video game try a paper doll instead.  That ended this phase of romance with Ted’s.

Some of the other restaurants participating did offer good-sized portions and the long lines of ticket-holders were evident of good taste and good value.  The mini-dogs from DC-3 seemed quite popular and hearty.  Samples from Las Placitas looked like full appetizers, and the waffles and beer from Belga Cafe were crowd-pleasers for sure.  I did note hearing from other tasters a disappointment in portion-sizes from certain locations so I felt like perhaps I was not the only one feeling a little short-changed.

Thankfully my ticket stubs are good for half-price yogurt at 32 Below, the new frozen yogurt shop opening on 8th Street SE this summer.  Perhaps that is the value I was looking for.

uploaded to flickr.com by Madame Meow

If you enjoy sampling new foods, or perhaps there are some establishments on Barracks Row you’d like to try out, mark your calendar for Saturday, April 30.  From 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Barracks Row Main Street presents “Taste of 8th,” providing you opportunities to sample the wares of several restaurants along 8th Street SE.  A sample portion (from one restaurant) will set you back a mere $5, or try 5 tastes for $20.  Funds go to support ongoing plantings, maintenance, and improvements along Barracks Row.

At press time the following establishments have confirmed participation: Banana Cafe, Belga Cafe, Cafe 8, Cava Mezze, Chat’s Liquors, The Chesapeake Room, Chicken Tortilla, DC3, Fusion Grill, Hello Cupcake, Las Placitas, Levi’s Port Cafe, Matchbox, Old Siam, Senate’s Oyster & Chop House, Starfish Cafe, Ted’s Bulletin, Trattoria Alberto, The Ugly Mug, and Zest American Bistro.  Other eateries may be added to the list before the event.

This year BRMS has partnered with the Washington Nationals for a special offer in conjunction with the Taste.  When you purchase your tasting tickets online in advance, you will have the option to also purchase infield gallery tickets for the April 30 Nationals vs. Giants game for $20 each.  That’s a discount of $8 per seat.  Quantities are limited though, so if that deal interests you buy your tasting and game tickets soon!

Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Barracks Row Main Street website.  Nationals game tickets purchased online will be available for pick-up at the BRMS will-call table.

BRMS still needs volunteers to help out at A Taste of 8th.  Each volunteer who works a 90 minute shift receives three free tastings.  Sign up here if you would like to help out.

uploaded to Flickr by Phil Roeder

The numbers are in and the report has been delivered — for the recent Barracks Row feedback poll, that is.  The question remains, was there any suspicion that the results would be anything other than a battle cry and ammunition for uber-restaurateur Xavier Cervera in the ongoing neighborhood dialogue about the restaurant and retail mix on Barracks Row?

The survey, completed at the end of February by Jon Stover & Associates, was paid for by Cervera and overseen by Barracks Row Main Street. Responses were gathered online, by phone, flyer and on the street, and 837 people weighed in. If you want to know how the surveyed really felt, read the 195 comments. My favorites are the shout out to Santa and the trash talking about 7-11. But, as one would suspect, the message was this: there’s enthusiastic support for the  growing restaurant scene on Barracks Row, concern about parking by those within a 3 block radius, and a considerable desire for more retail outlets.

Along with the survey, Stover & Associates produced a thorough market analysis on the neighborhood with information about the area’s economic evolution, parking analysis and recommendations, occupancy trends on Barracks Row, and city-wide neighborhood zoning case studies, gathered together with information from DC Office of Zoning and the CHAMPS Retail Mix committee. The comparisons between neighborhoods that have and haven’t instituted liquor license moratoriums and the volume of licenses does make for some interesting reading and pondering of Malcolm Gladwell-style economic trending. One hopes that recipients of the report, including ANC 6-B and the economic development subcommittee of Barracks Row Main Street, will give all the data points time to ruminate.

And, as promised, four survey participants won $25 restaurant gift cards.

uploaded to Flickr by Monica's Dad

We’re glad to report the folks behind the recent poll of Barracks Row neighbors, as well as a wider Capitol Hill audience, are continuing to gather information and have reopened the poll of sentiments around concerns aabout issues such as parking, restaurant and retail density, and nightlife on 8th Street. Be sure to use this url; the one published last week has been moved.

According the John Stover, who’s conducted the survey (both door to door and online) at the request of and funded by Xavier Cervera, and under the supervision of Barracks Row Main Street, 465 people have taken the survey. Cervera is the owner of Molly Malone’s, Lola’s and Chesapeake Room, as well as yet to open Senart’s Oyster and Chop House. At least 165 of the respondents live within the three block radius around Barracks Row.

The goal is not only to see how people feel about hot button issues (parking and comparisons to Adams Morgan, anyone?) but how their attitudes shift based on proximity. When you provide your address at the end of the poll that information is sliced and diced accordingly.

If you provide your email address at the end of the poll, you’ll receive a link of the results in the near future. Next week, Stover will present the findings at a meeting of  the economic development subcommittee of Barracks Row Main Street, as well as at the next ANC 6B meeting.

Everyone taking the poll and submitting their email address will be eligible for a $25 gift certificate at the restaurant of their choice on Barracks Row.

Uploaded to Flickr.com by M.V. Jantzen

Barracks Row Main Street has received the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Program accreditation for 2010.  The program was set up to recognize business groups and local revitalization organizations that have strengthened the neighborhood economy and protected historic buildings.

Barracks Row Main Street is evaluated annually by DC Main Streets, an organization that works in partnership with the National Trust to identify programs that meet the requirements of the National Main Street Program.  There are ten performance standards that are evaluated to determine if the work of the local organization is sustainable and keeping the neighborhood’s best interests in mind.    These standards include preserving historic buildings, fostering public-private partnerships, and tracking economic progress.

Barracks Row joins 4 other programs in the District that have received the accreditation this year.  The others are H Street Main Street, Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets, Deanwood Heights Main Streets Inc., and Shaw Main Streets Inc.

Complete details, from Barracks Row Main Street, are below.  For the full text of the BRMS announcements this week, including details on progress with The Chesapeake Room and Ted’s Bulletin, check here.

From Barracks Row Main Street:

REMINDER: Lower 8th Street Visioning Exercise
Final Community Meetings TOMORROW: Feb. 23, 2010, 8:30 AM & 7 PM
People’s Church, 535 8th Street, SE

The Lower 8th Street SE Visioning Process Advisory Committee has coordinated a vision process with property owners, other community stakeholders, and Barracks Row Main Street along the Lower 8th Street, SE corridor. Sponsored by the Capitol Riverfront BID, this process is an attempt to gain consensus on a vision for the area and to address issues of height, density, mix of uses, parking and access, as well as what should be the character of a redesigned Virginia Avenue Park as an amenity or community benefit for the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood and Capitol Hill. If consensus can be reached on the vision, it could serve as the basis for asking the Office of Planning to develop a small area neighborhood plan that could then be used as justification for any agreed upon zoning or density changes.

This final meeting will attempt to synthesize a community consensus on the vision of Lower 8th Street. For the agenda for the upcoming meeting, and minutes and presentations from past meetings please visit: Lower 8th Blog Site

Community Integrated Master Plan – Marine Barracks Washington
Community Workshop Series

Community Workshop #1: Wednesday February 24, 6 – 8 PM
Van Ness Elementary School Auditorium: 1150 5th Street, SE

The Marine Corps is facilitating a Community Integrated Master Plan to evaluate community-military development partnering options. There are unmet facility needs and security requirements at Marine Barracks Washington (Building 20), and there is potential to meet common community and military needs through this process. Recognizing that the Marine Barracks and the community are linked in past and present, the goal is to use a coordinated planning process to create a win-win in meeting the development needs of the local community and Marine Corps. By every indication, the Marine Barracks facility plans on staying in the immediate area (within a third of a mile) of its current location of Building 20 at 8th & I. A Community Leadership Group, which Barracks Row Main Street along with several other community groups is represented, is providing guidance on the development of the planning process. Community involvement is essential to the success of the Community Integrated Master Plan efforts and public participation in the workshop series is encouraged.

More information on the project can be found at the CIMP Official Website.

The grants are intended to improve the pedestrian experience around the city and  Barracks Row Main Street seeks to do this while also connecting visitors to the history of the street.  The funding will go toward the conservation of three murals along Barracks Row (pictured below) – these murals were incorporated into the historic walking tours given regularly along Barracks Row, including Smithsonian Food & History Tours which started this weekend on Nov. 1st.

To see the listing of all the projects that were selected, go to DDOT’s Website.

Do you know where, along Barracks Row, these three murals can be found?