Petworth News

El Torogoz outdoor cafe

[from Joe Martin]

El Torogoz invites the neighborhood to stop by to sample free appetizers this Saturday afternoon from 2-6pm when it inaugurates its outdoor cafe service. Outdoor table service continues at regular cost until 11:30pm.

El Torogoz sits on 9th Street between Upshur and Varnum within sight of Georgia Avenue across from the Petworth Library.

The one hitch is that there is a delay in the liquor license for outdoor service. The restaurant's attorney hopes to iron that wrinkle out soon. (Has something to do with the licensing people defining El Torogoz as a garden cafe, whatever that means.)

Regular outdoor service hours will start up on Sunday at 11:30am to 11:30pm and continue through the warm months.

While 9th & Upshur isn't exactly Paris, it will be OUR little Paris, sorta. How about a tree box project here?  And with ANC funds perhaps. All those in favor, say "Aye!"

My own little editorial comment: Won't it be nice to show the naysayers that there is such a thing as responsible drinking -- even in outdoor cafes? There is an unfortunate notion in some quarters that serving alcohol only contributes to delinquency. We saw this argument used against Domku as it moved towards opening in late 2004.

With the "cherry park" potluck Saturday afternoon on the edge of Grant Circle and this, what a nice start of spring in Petworth.

Yard sale

[from Mark Torma]

We're having a yard sale from 10 until 5 this Saturday, April 1st. Lots of good stuff at great prices! Negotiating encouraged.

Our address: 722 Varnum St, just off of Grant Circle and New Hampshire Ave.

PSA 404 meeting tonight

[from Joe Martin]

Patrol Service Area (PSA) 404 meets at 801 Shepherd St at 7pm. 

The meetings are an opportunity to meet some of the Metropolitan Police officers who patrol our neighborhood's streets. The US Attorney's Office has been well represented at the last couple of meetings, too.

If you want to learn more about local law enforcement efforts, here's your chance.

Torta Bakery update

[from Kendall Bentz]

I just saw this on the Washington Post site in Marc Fisher's blog. About Ken Rubotzky and his Torta Bakery... Nice mention of Petworth News.

Babysitting Co-op

[from Jean Badalamenti]

The 16th Street Heights Babysitting Co-op is made up of parents of young children who live in the 16th Street Heights, Crestwood, Petworth, and Mt. Pleasant areas of Washington, DC. We have the opportunity to build community while providing babysitting service for each other. The co-op is intended to provide easy, guilt-free and no-cost access to babysitters that you know and trust (other parents!). It also provides a great opportunity for parents and their kids to make new and lasting friendships. Membership is limited to residents of the geographic area mentioned, who are parents, and who are willing to swap babysitting duty. Contact Jean (using email link below) if you are interested in joining the co-op or would like more information.

Jean Badalamenti
email
Co-op Chair (Feb-April)

Cherry trees birthday

[from Melanie Marshall]

It's been a whole year, now UNTS (Upshur/New Hamp/Taylor/Shepherd) and your Petworth neighbors invite you to celebrate our three new cherry trees with a potluck picnic!

When: Saturday 4/1, 1pm-4pm
Where: 'Cherry Tree Park' at Upshur, 5th, and Illinois
Rain or snow: 623 Upshur St

Hope to see you there! Bring the kids, your favorite food, cameras...

Petworth UK

[from Elizabeth Jenkins]

Hi all,

We in Petworth, West Sussex England are having a pie competition. We are looking for original recipes for a Petworth Pie. The children can draw a pie and put a list of ingredients. Is anyone interested? The closing date is 7th April 2006.

What about an information swap on a regular basis? We only have 1500 households in the parish.

Permits

[from Jason Glance]

The list of permits in today's Wash. Post District Weekly includes some interesting Petworth items. Anyone have inside info?

Permit Applications:

1) Grocery store conversion, 4414 Georgia Ave NW. Conversion of beauty salon to grocery store and delicatessen. Cost: $6,000.

2) Academia Bilingue de la Comunidad public charter school, 209 Upshur St NW. Construction of a bilingual middle school. Cost: $1.6 million.

Permits Issued:

3) Newton Variety Store, 3512 Georgia Ave NW. Conversion of a retail store to a restaurant. Cost: $24,000.

Diabetes screenings

[from Carlea Bauman]

Free diabetes screenings will be available at DC Firehouse Engine #24, 5101 Georgia Ave NW, on Tuesday, March 28th, from 9am-1pm.

The service is brought by the DC Fire/EMS, MedStar Research Institute and the American Diabetes Association.

Carlea Bauman
Director of Communications
American Diabetes Association

DCist article 3/21

Soldiers' Home Debate Continues

Book launch

Book launch for Three Modern Painters, a collection of poetry by Petworth resident Gadi Ben-Yehuda.

Saturday, March 25, 9:00pm
Domku Cafe, 821 Upshur St NW

Light appetizers will be followed by a reading at 9:30. Dessert at 10:00. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Specialty drinks all night (cash bar).

ANC 4D March meeting

[from Renee Bowser]

This is to announce that this coming Tuesday, March 21, 2006 ANC 4D will have its monthly public meeting beginning at 7:00pm.

The meeting will be at a special location at Nativity Catholic Academy located at 6008 Georgia Avenue, NW, directly across the street from the 4th District MPD.

Minnetta Coles, Residential Manager in the Real Property Assessment Division in the Office of Tax and Revenue, will be our featured speaker. She will provide information on why the property assessments are so high and how residents can appeal by April 1.

Thank you,
Renee L. Bowser
Chair, ANC 4D
Commissioner 4D02

Library event

[from Rebecca Miskell]

The Friends of the Petworth Library will sponsor a book talk on THREADS OF TIME plus an informal fashion show by Rosemary E. Reed Miller on Wednesday, March 22 from 6-8 PM. Petworth Branch Library, 4200 Kansas Avenue.

Join us for an evening of fellowship, discussion and fashions.

ANC 4C March meeting

ANC 4C monthly meeting
Tuesday March 14, 7:00-9:00pm
Regional Operations Command - North (the ROC)
801 Shepherd Street NW

14th Street Heights

This is a nearby case study of a neighborhood finding smart ways to reinvent itself in a positive spirit.

*****
[from Martin Smith]

We hope you will be able to join us next Wednesday, March 15th at a reception in support of the 14th Street Heights Main Street Program's 2006 efforts.

This event will be a reception to raise funds for the programs annual budget as well as serve as an unveiling of the final design options for our Gateway Signage Project, which has been made possible by a generous grant from the DC Department of Transportation. This project will allow us to install permanent signs along 14th Street on the light posts as part of an ongoing Neighborhood Branding Initiative.

It is important to note that we are in the matching funds portion of our operational grant from the DC Government, where every tax-deductible dollar donated to the program is matched dollar for dollar by the reSTORE DC grant, so your contribution goes twice as far!

The 14th Street Heights Main Street Program was founded in 2002 to assist in the revitalization of the area of 14th Street, NW between Webster and Decatur Streets.

The program's main goals are:

- To retain, expand and attract business within our commercial corridor, and work with retailers and restaurants that seek occupancy of available properties.

- To help brand our neighborhood as a unique enclave of shopping, dining, and historic homes

- To assist existing 14th Street businesses with public space permits, health/fire safety codes, construction permits, reducing illegal parking in our alleys, and other compliance issues

- To beautify the retail business district through landscaping, signage, street furniture, graffiti and trash removal, and our Façade Restoration Program.

- To reduce "quality of life" crimes and loitering by working with the Metropolitan Police Department.

We very much hope you will strongly consider supporting the program in 2006 and join us on the 15th! Also, please feel free to forward this invitation to your neighbors and other friends that live in or work with our neighborhood.

To RSVP, please reply to this email or call the program office at (202) 291-5939.

Many thanks!

Martin Smith, Executive Director
14th Street Heights Main Street Program
202-291-5939

February home sales

[from Lesley Aranha]

Address / BR / BA / List Price / Sold Price

10 Farragut Pl -  3 / 2.5 / $385,000 / $380,000
4417 3rd St -  3 / 2 / $439,900 / $340,000
427 Delafield Pl -  3 / 1 / $270,000 / $280,000
908 Farragut St -  4 / 1 / $336,900 / $342,900
4616 9th St -  3 / 2.5 / $394,000 / $402,000
4523 9th St -  3 / 1 / $315,000 / $352,000
122 Webster St -  4 / 3.5 / $579,500 / $589,500
723 Madison St -  4 / 2 / $439,900 / $450,000
4121 Illinois Ave -  3 / 1 / $404,990 / $407,000
731 Taylor St -  3 / 1.5 / $325,000 / $353,000
423 Quincy St -  4 / 2.5 / $465,000 / $444,000
620 Hamilton St -  2 / 1 / $275,000 / $291,000

Lesley
202-327-4502
email

DCist article

Battle Developing Over Old Soldiers' Home Land

Includes a link to the Sunday Post op-ed piece by the Soldiers Home's Chief Operating Officer, Timothy Cox.

Another Post article 3/3

DC Plan for Yellow Line Stalls
MD, VA Officials Question Extending Metrorail Service in NE

Post article 3/3

In Petworth, the Jazz Age Returns