Petworth News

Magazine Club

[from Son Tran]

The "800 Pages of Fall's Most Unforgettable Clothes" meeting.

The summer haze has parted and like Manna from Heaven, the September Issue of Vogue descends... Behold 800 pages of the Fall Fashion Bible!

Weighing in at a hefty 4 lbs and with almost 691 pages of ads, the 'cover model may not be fatter' but the September issue is.

Come join us for our September meeting:

Ga Ave-Petworth Magazine Club
Thursday, September 1, 7pm
Wonderland Bar (upstairs), 1111 Kenyon St NW 
(note meeting location change since Domku will be away for vacation)

*As a special twist, wear/bring something inspired by latest trends/designs/colors/themes as seen in the September issue, and we'll play the guess-the-reference game!

See you then!

Son

Java and Cream

[from Karen Taggart]

I don't think I have been this excited about the neighborhood since we bought our place! Java and Cream is open. They are at 5522 Georgia Ave, between Kennedy and Longfellow.

Not only do they have great coffee, but the Cream stands for Ice Cream... and they are open until 10 pm on weekdays... and it's really clean, the service is great, friendly, etc.

Definitely take a moment to stop by. I cannot recommend it enough - I want to do all I can to keep this place open!  We need more positive businesses like this.

KT

Container deposit law

[from Kevin Morton]

Has anyone heard if there have been any recent attempts to pass legislation in DC requiring a deposit on beverage containers? Although it would take some time, once implemented, I can guarantee that we would see a dramatic transformation in neighborhoods, such as Petworth, with persistent litter problems.

When I go to visit my family in Maine, one of the first states to pass this sort of legislation, I am always amazed at how clean it is. I seem to recall that the issue of container deposit legislation came up a few years before I moved to DC in 1990, but it didn't go anywhere. There is a core group of interests in DC that I am sure fought it then and would certainly fight it in the future. Grocery stores and residential property management companies come to mind.

Kevin

Lincoln's Sanctuary

Click here for Amazon.com's listing of "Lincoln's Sanctuary". The book explores Lincoln's life at his summer cottage on the Soldiers' Home grounds.

Wardman rowhouses lecture

[from Kevin Morton]

This might be of interest to people on the blog. I have read that Wardman did build quite a few houses in Petworth:

http://www.citymuseumdc.org/calendar/view.asp?ID=52

Rec Center update

[from Ward 4 Councilmember Adrian Fenty's web newsletter]

The renovation of the Petworth playground is moving forward. The design has been approved, and is in the process of obtaining the necessary permits. The groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, September 17.

Post article

For those didn't see it in Thursday's Post, here's an article about DC neighborhood blogs and listservs.

Farmers' Market

[via Petworth listserv]

Remember, if you live in one of the neighborhoods surrounding the Georgia Ave-Petworth Metro station, then we're YOUR community market!  Our market is Saturdays, 9:00am to 1:00pm, at the southwest corner of Georgia and New Hampshire avenues (directly across from the Metro).

As usual, this Saturday's Georgia-Petworth Farmers' Market, will feature farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, artisan baked goods (including all five varieties of our famous French artisan croissants!), and our Community Lounge for you to meet/hang out with neighbors!

And each week, we have a changing variety of other vendors, including a range of crafts, plus the cooking talents of Rhondez-vous Catering’s Rhonda Parker. Folks continue to rave about Rhonda's incomparable salsa with fresh, hand-chopped vegetables, plus her homemade baked goods and fried-on-the-spot fish with various side dishes!

We'll see you at the market!

Article in Afro American

[One of many responses to a recent thread on area listservs. The original article in question is here]

I am a second generation DC resident who has lived in the Petworth area for plus 50 years. I would first note to new residents that the Afro [newspaper] has been the paper of record for the Afro-American community from beyond the dawn of the twentieth century, when the general press ignored Black news except for Black on White crime. Secondly, I think there is a new dynamic in action with our new changing neighborhoods. What used to be be ignored because it affected only the black community is now being confronted. There is no reason that anyone should tolerate open air drug markets, simply because "that's the way is".

I might know Little Joe on the corner who's being dealing for 10 years since he was 12. I might know Miss Mary, who is his grandmother and allows Little Joe to live and deal from her home. Miss Mary has been good to the neighbors, goes to church and is such a lovely person. But there's Little Joe and his hustle, his posse, the trash, and the criminal activity - car break-ins, street robberies, home invasions - that occur when criminals feel safe. And Little Joe says, "I know Mr Brown got hit upside the head and in the hospital. That's a shame! What you looking at me for?"

I saw the Afro article as one part in a conversation, which Bill Cosby started on Black Community Values and Behaviors in America. Because our communities in DC are now mixed ethnically, Little Joe and Miss Mary's situation is no longer just "us black folks not airing our business or compassionate tolerance - what else can the poor boy do?". This conversation will continue. And things will get better.

Ken Johnson

July home sales

[from Lesley Aranha]

5405 5th St  $380,000
5214 1st St  $420,000
736 Marietta Pl  $410,000
719 Madison St  $413,000
707 Jefferson St  $348,252
4927 9th St  $320,000
5111 7th St (shell)  $325,000
508 Ingraham St  $400,000
4316 3rd St  $400,000
3916 4th St  $425,000
5109 Illinois Ave  $375,000
5119 Georgia Av  $455,000
615 Webster St  $550,000
4712 8th St  $500,000
322 Missouri Av  $375,000
5414 3rd St  $515,000
208 Upshur St  $399,000
6 Farragut Pl  $425,000
4612 4th St  $375,000
610 Longfellow #202  $299,000
122 Ingraham St  $255,000
4904 4th St  $345,500
814 Randolph St  $425,000
510 Randolph St  $685,000

Article

[from Kevin Morton]

Did you know that Maryland Lt. Gov. Steele grew up in Petworth? This article about him gives some interesting neighborhood history.

Sherman Ave trees

There's momentum building among residents to create a tree-lined median on Sherman Avenue, roughly from Howard University to the Petworth metro. DDOT has already expressed support and DC Greenworks would help plant and care for the trees. From the effort's mission statement:

Our ambition is to create a greened landscape that would promote traffic calming, pedestrian safety, and connect Petworth, Columbia Heights and U street creating a renewed sense of pride and beauty.

At this point, the people involved are preparing to pitch their proposal to Ward 1 ANC's. Community support and input are very important. Anyone interested should check out the blog and listserv dedicated to the greening of Sherman Avenue.

Maybe New Hampshire north to Grant Circle could be next?

Night Out

Tomorrow night [Tues 8/2] from 6-9pm is the National Night Out block party in the 4200 block of 2nd St (off Upshur St near the Hitching Post restaurant). There will be food, activities, a moon bounce for kids, etc. Last year was a great crowd, it's a good chance to mingle with neighbors.

National Night Out is designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
• Send a message to criminals that neighbors are organized and fighting back

More info is here.

Darts at Domku

Domku Bar & Cafe reports that their dart board is finally up. Players can bring their own darts or rent a set for $2.