all in a day's work

the makings of a new front lawn for anacostia's oldest:


soil is completely tilled...


...and the fresh-rolled sod is ready and waiting

the re-sod is a necessary step because of the amount of potentially hazardous paint chips and debris that accumulated in the original lawn during the restoration.

Community Tree Planting - sign up!

Sign up now! From 9AM to 1PM on Saturday, April 18th, we will be planting about 30 trees on two city blocks in Historic Anacostia, and we still need a lot of volunteers. Necessary tools and light refreshments will be provided.

the purpose of the Casey Trees-sponsored event, outside of the obvious (planting a ton of magnificent trees), is to get the neighborhood excited about the value of trees and to bring us together for an awesome community-building event. Hopefully this will be the first of many neighborhood tree plantings!

graphic by DG-rad

workin' on the water mains

wondering what all the torn-up sidewalks, patchy streets, and orange construction fencing is all about?


sawing through street: better pressure is on the way

there are two major underground infrastructure replacement projects underway in the neighborhood: the Anacostia Combined Sewer Separation project (helps reduce pollution in the river), and the Anacostia Water Main project (gives us better water pressure and better water).


how many guys does it take to dig a hole?

whereas the combined sewer project is limited to the blocks between Shannon and 13th Streets, the Water Main project is much more comprehensive and, although it means a hassle in the short term, will be a boon to the neighborhood via a better water supply and newly-paved streets.

The construction is expected to last through 2010. For a comprehensive fact sheet that includes a street-by-street schedule, Click Here (PDF)

spring awakening

it's been a long winter of gray days, salty streets, and frozen earth. But here, finally, is Spring!


a sea of daffodils on 16th


flowering plum on V Street


the year-round tulips of U Street


Cherry blossoms at the corner of U and MLK


the MLK snowballs: Bradford Pears in full bloom


forsythia on Pleasant Street


the bud before the bloom...


a new street tree, its leaves yawning and stretching to life


even the weeds (and the bugs) are waking up


more cherry blossoms, just below Cedar Hill

Thanks to all who have beautified the neighborhood with flowers, trees, and dirty fingernails. It's what keeps us coming back.

photos by DG-rad

the evening afterglow

we've been getting some great evening weather lately. the clouds part just in time for the sun to lay a cool orange glow on the neighborhood:


totally classic church with a very alive & diverse congregation.

also, new windows at 2025 MLK?


i haven't yet seen the finished product - but i'm optimistic

last week in restoration central

at last week's HABA meeting, Mayor Fenty came to answer questions about development, transportation infrastructure, abandoned properties, and the Historic Homeowner Grant Program.

clearly these grants are making a real difference in Anacostia - just check out some of what was happening around the neighborhood last week:


scraped and primed on Rosie's Row


some good-looking new windows on 15th Street


more brick repointing on 13th Street


Anacostia's oldest got sanded and scraped

there have been rumors that the program would be cut out of the 2009 budget, but we did our best to convince the Mayor of its totally critical importance.

photos / images by DG-rad

REEL this Wednesday night

drinks + music + river east idealism = a good time



if last month's event was any indication of future coolness, Wednesday night's REEL meet & greet is sure to please.

the Washingtonian feature

a few days ago the Washingtonian profiled me in their Blogger Beat. Click Here to check it out.



inside the article: why I live here, my favorite things about Anacostia, what needs improvement, and much more.

(awesome) photograph by Joseph Allen

Tuesday - Waterfront Forum

this is a pretty awesome series that the city puts on. Next forum is on Tuesday at 6:30 PM.

Click to Enlarge


hope to see you there!

mark your calendars

wednesday:



Entrepreneur? Local-business-interested? Affinity Lab is thinking about setting up shop in Anacostia, and is hosting a meet and greet + discussion at the Honfleur Gallery. (1241 Good Hope)

They describe themselves as a "shared office space meets incubator meets entrepreneurial club-house." Come out and show them we are their next market. 6:30-8:30 PM.

- - -

thursday:



the Historic Anacostia Block Association is hosting Mayor Fenty starting at 7 PM at the UPO Anacostia Community Service Center. (1649 Good Hope)

Listen as we share our top neighborhood priorities, and show the Mayor that we care about top issues like abandoned properties, transportation plans, public safety, and the Historic Homeowners grant program.

- - -

next wednesday:



River East Emerging Leaders (REEL) is hosting another meet-up event at the Honfleur Gallery (1241 Good Hope) from 6:30-8:30 PM.

the event last month was spectacular, and as always, everyone from all areas of the city are welcome and encouraged to attend.

- - -
morning of Saturday, April 18th:

Mark your calendars now (seriously) for the first-ever Anacostia Community Tree Planting! Help plant roughly 30 trees on two city blocks within the Anacostia historic district.

from the ground up

just a couple first-stage facade restorations to get the morning started:


new stucco on V Street


brick repointing on 13th

Both of these homes are slated for pretty extensive facade fix-ups. New paints, new porch, new leases on life.

interested?

last week's new street trees

this is another "revealing the power of the DC Service Request Center" post, because last week I noticed that a bunch of street trees requested last year were finally planted.


a bunch planted all the way up Valley Place


corner of Valley and High


16th Street, between V and U. More are on the way.


near the corner of 14th and Good Hope (Fairlawn side)


V Street, between 15th and 16th

It's as simple as putting in a request for the specific block or address you would like to see street trees on. Although the process can take as long as a year, the benefits are totally long-term. If you see newly-planted trees on your block, please water them!

snow twins (in March)

you can barely see it, but the house on the right has one of my favorite features, a false-front crown above the cornice. Probably not the technical name, but it's one of those fanciful details that adds really cool character to our little neighborhood.