Photo Exhibits Opening Tonight in Anacostia

Stories and Migrations: Photography by Antoine Sanfuentes and Ann Curry of NBC and Deborah Terry of International Lifeline Fund



Friday January 22nd at 7PM marks the opening at Honfleur Gallery of Stories, an exhibit of photographic stories created by three artists to help raise awareness and funds for relief efforts in African nations. Stories features documentary photography created by Antoine Sanfuentes in a 2008 visit to East Goma with NBC’s Ann Curry covering topics such as children soldiers of Africa, education and rape.

Works by Ann Curry will be presented from the same trip, alongside Deborah Terry’s images of Sudanese and Ugandan refugees and conflict victims as well as multimedia presentations of the grassroots work done by International Lifeline Fund. Proceeds from this exhibition and the opening night fundraiser will go to support International Lifeline Fund.

Concurrently, Terry will be exhibiting at The Gallery at Vivid Solutions, also in Historic Anacostia, with a solo exhibition entitled Migrations, illuminating the lives of two disparate groups at odds in the Darfur conflict: nomadic herders/warriors known as Janjaweed, and the refugees displaced by them.

Foundation Laid at 2345 MLK

work is progressing at 2345 MLK Ave: foundation is laid and the exterior walls are beginning to go up. Still no word on the final design (sure, I could make a trip down to planning and zoning...) but I know it is residential over retail/office.



I'm glad to see the new building begin to block the Morgan Family Fish Fry building. It's the oddball on the block that's set way too far off the street.



It's encouraging to know that development activity is happening at both ends of MLK in Anacostia. Really looking forward to seeing this one progress!

Big Chair Coffee Open for Business

temporary sign - new one coming soon

Exciting times on MLK this morning: Big Chair Coffee opened for business! Here are some photos of the opening. I missed part of the morning rush, but got there at about 8 and witnessed a pretty steady flow of customers. Here in Anacostia we're accustomed to walking or driving down the street with no expectation of anything being open, so I'm sure it will take a little time for the place to really fill up. But this is hot.


the to-go cup, ...otherwise you get a mug


fresh pastries, fresh customers


hash browns to order - and a food menu throughout the day


all the machinery came from Murky Coffee - so it's quality stuff


everyone was pretty ecstatic, with a few "I'll be back for lunch" promises


I do love the word "open"

It's going to take some getting used to, this whole idea of having a legit place to go in the neighborhood. I'm kinda beaming right now.

Click Here to read Fox 5's weekend write-up on the opening.

(sigh)

a frigid January day wish.

Big Chair Coffee opening Monday

I'm kind of scared to announce this because I can hardly believe it is finally here. But... Big Chair Coffee is opening this Monday, January 11. Preliminary hours are 7AM to 7PM (but I think they might go later if the demand is there).



It's also going to have food: sandwiches, mini burgers, etc. Come on out and support!!

New Roots, New Branches

it's that time of year again (just before or after the deep ground freeze) when the DC Department of Transportation plants their new street trees. They get tips from residents, do walk-throughs, and identify spots where new trees are needed.


a lovely row of new trees on U street SE

Anacostia has many such spots, and one of my personal goals has been to re-tree the hood to give its streets the same presence and magnificence as those in other more established neighborhoods.


planting a diverse mix means that if a disease hits, the whole block won't die

One block that saw a ton of new plantings was the 1200 block of U Street SE, home of Rosie's Row and my Flip't DC house (woohoo! prettier street = prettier house). To request street trees for your block, fill out a request online a the Service Request Center.

photos by DG-rad

14th Street Twin-ovation

Twin houses are one of Anacostia's specialities, and this pair on 14th Street SE is finally seeing some new dignity. This is the first property in the neighborhood built with plans edited and commented on by yours truly and the rest of the Historic Anacostia Design Review Committee.

This is what it used to look like:



And this is what it looks like now:


I love the passageway between the houses ... although not sure I'd actually want it if it were my home


the awning has been replaced with a real porch with a standing seam metal roof


glad to see the quality windows and wood siding on all sides of the house

Coming soon: a new house on the lot to the left of this one. Sure, the big projects in the neighborhood have seen a slowdown in this economy, but there is still a lot of work being done on a smaller scale.