New Deli Coming to MLK and V Street

I was walking around the neighborhood the other day and ran into some news about 2026 MLK Avenue, the building just to the left of Fireside Restaurant: a new deli and convenience store called 2nd Chance is moving in.



The owner wants to differentiate from other options in the neighborhood, so it will be interesting to see if their sandwiches and "convenience" items are different from those offered at other places just up the block.



From what I understand, permits are being sought for interior improvements, and the owner is open to the idea of not using bulletproof glass inside (although apparently had a bad experience at another shop he owns in the District).

New "mural" for Good Hope / MLK

you know the horribly depressing blue plywood at the corner of Good Hope and MLK? It'll be gone soon, thanks to the Department of Housing & Community Development, the Commission on the Arts & Humanities, and Billy Colbert - artist extraordinaire.


the new look


the corner as it appears today

The plywood will soon be replaced by a collage composition of recycled wood blocks and shiny orange metal that celebrates the gateway to Ward 8. The piece is intended as a temporary art installation, as DHCD is currently in the process of deciding how to best develop the property. Installation should begin this month.

Yes! Organic Market Opening Tomorrow!

I haven't blogged much (if at all) about the new Yes! Organic Market opening tomorrow in on Pennsylvania Avenue in Fairlawn, Anacostia's neighbor to the north, because well, it's in Fairlawn and this is a blog about Anacostia. However, it's big enough news and close enough by to make it bloggable. Folks, we officially have good produce, organic dog food, and Fig Newmans in River East!



Owner Gary Cha was kind enough to give me a sneak preview of the new store - the only organic grocer east of the Anacostia River, and the first (of I hope at least a few) Yes! Organics on this side of town.

This market is noticeably larger than both the Capitol Hill and Brookland locations (although apparently similar to Georgia Ave store), and is much more spacious than I expected. Although not the same size as a Whole Foods, this store carries many of the same products and is remarkably comparable!



The first thing you encounter upon walking in is the produce: heaping bushels of peaches, heirloom tomatoes, kiwis, and avocados. It's shockingly awesome to see the colors and the freshness light up the displays.



Because Yes! Organic is committed to only serving fresh produce, it was the last to arrive and will not be completely stocked until just hours before tomorrow's grand opening.









You won't find Skippy on these shelves - the peanut butters are natural, and the bread comes in more colors than white. And check out the cheese selection!





I'm a huge fan of Naked brand juice, so this got me pretty stoked. They also have President Obama's favorite Honest Teas well stocked.







Like most grocery stores, this one carries more than just food - things like toiletries, paper goods, soaps and lotions. And yes, even great quality pet foods.





The refrigerated and freezer aisles are located towards the back of the store, and seriously people, this store has it all: soy milks (and almond, rice, cow, etc) galore, Ciao Bella sorbets and gelatos (and shelf upon shelf of other dairy treats), and tons of yogurt.







Tofurkey.



One of the coolest features of this market is the bulk foods section: flax seed, dried beans, dried fruit, lentils, rice, and even candy. I found owner-in-training Jodie making sure that each of the machines was properly working.







One of the key items missing east of the river is good quality snack food. There are a countless number of places to grab a bag of cheetos and a bottle of blue juice, but this adds something new: whole grains, gluten free options, and stuff that tastes good but is a few steps healthier.





Located at the foot of Pennsylvania Avenue's rise into Wards 7 & 8, the Fairlawn Yes! Organic Market will be a very welcome addition to the greater neighborhood. Grand Opening and ribbon cutting is scheduled for tomorrow, August 31, from 2:30-5:30PM. The store will have its first full day on Wednesday, September 1st.

Vivid Solutions = Awesomeness

So you've heard of Vivid Solutions, the crazy awesome digital print lab and photo gallery on MLK, right? Well, now you have.



Located at 2208 MLK Ave SE, Vivid Solutions is one of the businesses / art spaces that is pushing Anacostia into the cool category, and in a very legitimate way.

Here's a video about Vivid that DC Arts & Humanities put together:



Seriously, if you are a photographer or just a shmoe like me (who just had some iPhone photos printed there), check this place out.

From their website:

It is the only lab in the U.S. to offer the “Digigraphie” printing process created by EPSON in France. Digigraphie is a unique, authentic printing technique which sets a standard for precise color management of prints and reproductive works, currently used by many European photographers, galleries, and museums.

The lab achieves the highest technical performance from its Epson printers which utilize UltraChrome pigment inks combined with Epson fine art papers. Ultrachrome inks offer optimum print quality for beautiful, eye-catching archival photographs guaranteed for 80+ years.

Vivid Solutions is friendly, its tech is crazy up-to-date, and it's a beacon for what the neighborhood is evolving into.

Follow Vivid on twitter: @VividPrintLab

Hours:

Tuesday - Friday noon to 5PM
Saturdays 11AM – 5PM

Contact:

Andrea Hope, Director of Digital Production
Email - ahopearchdc@gmail.com
Phone - (202) 758-0339

just get on the list already

Media? Politician? Restaurateur? Common Everyday Citizen? Then get on the list.



Even I don't know what's going down September 10! (ok that's not true). But seriously, email bigreveal@thecostia.com to get on the mailing list and to learn more about this ultra awesome, ultra hush hush unveiling.

Check it: Summer Youth Produced an Awesome Documentary on Anacostia

Just got the link to this amazing - and at under ten minutes totally accessible - documentary feature on what Anacostia is about and the businesses that bring it to life.

Good Hope: Anacostia from chris keener on Vimeo.

Produced by Chris Keener, DC Commission on Arts & Humanities, and some truly awesome teenagers with the Summer Youth Employment Program's media program, this video is a great way to learn about some of the businesses and people that make up the neighborhood. [I do have a small role in the video but as you will see that is not why I think the video is cool. ha]

Good Thing: Another New House

I don't think Martha has picked up this piece of news just yet, but ... new houses in Anacostia? It's A Good Thing. (that is, unless the builder does a slapped-together job, then it's a bad thing)



District Properties has been snatching up vacant parcels in the neighborhood over the past couple years and has been turning out some good additions to the hood. Their interest came at about the same time as the creation of the Historic Anacostia Design Review Committee, so the houses have been required to meet a more stringent building code than in years past.



This house is on 14th Street just across from the über-lovely Frederick Douglass estate. To it's right is another house done by the same company, although it's original facade was preserved during the process.

[editor / design review co-chair's note: clearly both of these houses are completely white. blah. their next house on W Street will have some color.]

Interested in checking it out? It's for sale for $265,000.

Walkin' on Sunshine (and don't it feel good!)

Sometimes, to spruce up a neighborhood, all you've gotta do is plant a flower or two.


big sunny sunflowers on V Street

(yes, clearly I got an iPhone)

Thinking About Running for ANC?

[cross-posted with permission from Frozen Tropics, the great blog covering neighborhoods surrounding H Street NE]



Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners are the lowest level of elected government official in the District of Columbia. They are also its most direct link to the citizenry. Commissioners are unpaid, and range in quality from the harmful obstructionist, to the apathetic, to the committed individual working hard to make his/her community the best it can be. One thing's for sure, we need more of the latter group. When you get a commission composed mostly of the latter sort it really can make all the difference.

So, if you have an interest in helping out your neighbors and neighborhood, consider running for ANC. Most ANC seats are uncontested, and that's a shame because competition can bring us more, and better candidates. It can also force us to step up our game. If you want to run, here's what you've got to do:

1. Head down to the Board of Elections and Ethics and pick up a nominating petition;
2. Get it signed by 25 registered voters who live in your SMD (you get extras in case some turn out to be invalid);
3. Turn in your petition by September 3rd.

You should probably also spread the news, and get feedback on which issues are important to your neighbors. Attend community meetings (hopefully you already do this). Talk to people in your community about their concerns. You should probably make up some flyers outlining your platform, and introducing yourself. You can distribute them door to door, and outside of polling places on election day.

photo by Mr. T in DC on flickr

Art Shows Opening Friday! Be there.

East of the River: 4th Annual Juried Exhibit
Honfleur Gallery (1241 Good Hope Rd SE)

Eleven artists are included in the exhibition; BK Adams, Nigil Brice, Ralston Cyrus, Melani Douglass, Matthew Mann, Samuel Mercer, Marlon Normon, Luis Peralta, Amanda Stephenson, Deborah Terry and Renee Woodward.

Capturing the Spirit
upstairs at the Honfleur Gallery

Photographs by local talent Bruce McNeil examining the Anacostia River, using the mythic spirit Mami Wata as inspiration.

Anacostia: Never Far From Home
The Gallery at Vivid Solutions (2208 Martin Luther King Jr SE)

Past and present look at Anacostia with help from local bloggers Nikki Peele, Fred Joiner and David Garber.

*Starting on July 30th, bring your own photographs to be included in this exhibit. Any photograph taken in the area: family, friends, houses, schools, church, etc. All photographs will be returned at the end of the exhibit. We need your help to share the story of our neighborhood. Questions or to drop off photographs, call Beth @ 202-365-8392*

Student exhibit: TREEts & TREEties
ARCH Training Center (1231 Good Hope Road SE)

Student exhibit includes works by James Holiday, Joseph Roberson, Brittany Jackson, and Audrea Blackwell are the final product of a digital photography class sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.



graphics courtesy of ARCH Development Corp

DHCD Buys Big in Anacostia

There are few properties in Historic Anacostia more derelict than those at the corner of MLK & Good Hope and the 4 buildings on the Big K Liquor block. Both sites reek of greedy, out of touch landlords and a complete failure to protect the fragility of the buildings on them.

And, in the past five months, both have been bought by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the DC agency now headquartered in the neighborhood.


corner of MLK Avenue and Good Hope Road

The MLK & Good Hope site is the first thing people see when entering the neighborhood from the 11th Street Bridge, and has long been home to absolutely nothing. The site once housed an awesomely art deco People's Drug store, which has since fallen into itself and is now a faded and dangerous barricade of blue plywood.

DHCD is currently working with some really great artists and the Summer Youth Employment Program to put a mural on the corner. I know the folks in charge of this at DCHD, and they are working hard to make this corner better. The mural will be in place only temporarily while the agency works to either sell the property or find a development solution for it on their own.


the Big K Liquor site, spanning MLK at intersection with Chicago

The Big K Liquor site, above, is home to the liquor store, a rowhouse, and two very sad yet very incredible estate homes. Earlier this year the block was listed as one of DCs most endangered historic places (pdf).

The news that DHCD was purchasing buildings on the block came on Wednesday as I was preparing to testify on behalf of their preservation. While it isn't clear if the sale is final, the move certainly turns the DC government into a major landowner in the neighborhood (as if they wasn't already). I look forward to seeing something positive come out of these sales.

Meet the Anacostia Library

The Anacostia Library at Good Hope and 18th opened up almost two months ago now and it has become an awesome gathering spot.



Most can agree that, regardless of design preference, the building is a great addition to the neighborhood (yes, even though it is technically in Fairlawn, it's just across the street).


the two iconic features of the building are its beacon tower and its overhanging roof

I will say that the only element that leaves me wondering is the vast expanse of concrete in the front of the building. I know that they expect to use it to host tents and such at events like Anacostia Day, but for the other 364 days of the year it is kind of a windswept wasteland.


some landscaping and tables could have extended the life of the library outdoors


bikers and skaters have already discovered it

Indoors, the library is awesome. People everywhere, different zones for different age groups and uses, and tons of natural light. The kids sections is in the front of the building. The brightly colored square to the left is a teaser for a new translucent mural to go on the glass partition.


so awesome seeing kids use the library ... very inspiring

All of the sections of the library are situated off of the main hallway/thoroughfare. The checkout is staffed, but also has a few self-checkout stations.



Looking for a cookbook? There's a shelf featuring tons of great cookbooks, many of which highlight organic and healthy eating ... something that we need more of (and more access to) east of the Anacostia River.


any cooking artists out there looking for a muse?

The back half of the building has the stacks, the computer area, a great sitting room, and a few private conference rooms. Again, natural light everywhere and enough bright green to keep you energized no matter how long your study period.


the stacks are made of recycled shredded paper in some sort of plastic


the reading room has some great lounge chairs


the conference rooms are really well-appointed and professional. Anyone can book them for meetings or study groups


a view of the computer area (these are the PCs, the Macs are in the reading/lounge area)

Outside along the 18th Street side is a massive rain garden that is still under construction. Of course, these 100 degree temps aren't ideal for new planting, but it's encouraging to see efforts made to make this an environment-enriching site.


to the left you can see the shade of a large oak that was saved during construction of the new library

In all, pretty exciting to see this new addition to the general neighborhood. It's awesome seeing people use it every day and that there's a place for neighborhood folks to be and gather that's new, nice, and constructive.