I’m starting to freak out a bit…

I think these new signs look great. Though the one at the bottom of the neighborhood has a bit of an unfortunate location. I’ve always been saddened by the state of Holy Rood cemetery.

But the signs really do look great.

I swear I’m not judging, I was just mesmerized by the sight…

Phenomenal details on this one from Georgetown.

Photo courtesy of Dance Institute of Washington

“Dear PoP,

Should be a great show! Please spread the word. These kids are really talented!”

The Dance Institute of Washington says:

DIW’s Annual Kwanzaa Celebration Concerts present a captivating pageant of dance, poetry and song in honor of the African American holiday of Kwanzaa.

DIW’s Annual Kwanzaa Celebration Concerts
at GALA Hispanic Theatre
3333 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC
Event Dates: Dec 29, 2010-Dec 30, 2010
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/140444

All tickets are $15 – general admission

THE DANCE INSTITUTE OF WASHINGTON
Fabian Barnes, Founder and Artistic Director
PRESENTS
DIW’s Annual Kwanzaa Celebration Concerts
at GALA Hispanic Theatre

Wednesday, December 29th:
Opening Night Performance, 7pm start; doors 6:30pm
&
Thursday, December 30th:
Afternoon Show, 2pm start; doors 1:30pm
Evening Show, 7pm start; doors 6:30pm

About the Concerts: The Dance Institute of Washington’s Annual Kwanzaa Celebration Concerts present a “shake-the-rafters, rattle-the-floorboards, unabashedly uplifting” (The Washington Post) pageant of dance, poetry and song in honor of the African American holiday. The seven principles of Kwanzaa come alive as never before through passionate performances by DIW’s professional dancers Washington Reflections Dance Company, youth ensemble, students and special guest artists: master drummer G.H. Abasi Johnson; Ghanaian artist Michael Kweku Owusu; and the African Continuum Theater Company’s Off the Cicuit Performance Ensemble. Don’t miss this wonderful holiday favorite.

About the Dance Institute of Washington: The Dance Institute of Washington is a dance education institution committed to providing children and youth the opportunity to develop artistically, socially, emotionally and intellectually through the discipline of dance. DIW operates a studio school, education outreach program, youth ensemble and professional company, granting young people from diverse backgrounds the chance to experience the performing arts and develop important skills needed for a successful future–in dance and beyond.

While the storefront, in the old Starbucks space at 3420 Connecticut Ave, NW, remains on their Web site phone calls go unanswered. For the last few weeks every time I try to peek my head inside the doors have been locked.

Given the discussions we have had about a store selling cereal, well, the fact that they appear to have closed isn’t terribly surprising…

Photo by PoPville flickr user ewilfong

If you have any fun or interesting animal/pet photos or news please shoot me an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say what neighborhood you’re from or upload to the PoPville flickr pool. I can’t guarantee I’ll get them all posted but I’ll do my best.  I’m aware not everyone loves pets.  But they bring me (and others) a lot of pleasure.  It’s cool, hold tight, a new post is coming in a half hour, you can make it!

“Buddy has the Christmas spirit in Petworth.”

This rental is located at 1106 7th Street, NE:

View Larger Map

The Craigslist ad says:

“Clean 1 BR English basement apartment in the heart of the Atlas District. Two blocks from Galludet U. Perfect student housing. Separate entrance, front and back. Street Parking. $1075 plus utils. 2 year lease preferred, minimum 1 year lease required. Available now. Washer/Dryer, dishwasher, central air. Walk to Metro. Pets discouraged, but will consider on case by case basis.”

Does $1075 sound reasonable for this 1 bedroom English basement apartment?

Photo by flickr user Hysterical Bertha

“Dear PoP,

A friend and I are wracking our brains trying to determine whether there are any bars/restaurants/public spaces (anything really) with an outdoor fireplace/pit. I love winter, and would dearly like to sit outside by a fire on a sunny afternoon, but sadly my search to find one in the city has proven fruitless.”

This is an awesome question. I can’t think of any off the top of my head – do you guys know of any?

Photo by PoPville flickr user slgdc1433

Submit your photos to the PoPville flickr pool here. Follow PoPville on twitter here.

Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

From a press release:

In an article praising the innovative civic buildings opened in 2010, The Wall Street Journal named the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library as one of the year’s best.

The article listed the library along with the MIT Media Lab and Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Journal noted that the library’s architecture is part of national trend that, “says much about the priorities and the programs going on inside libraries, where media-related services, community meeting spaces and teen rooms are becoming the norm as the former safe havens for books and bookworms turn themselves into interactive civic centers.”

Designed by the architect firm of Davis Brody Bond Aedas, the new Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library is approximately 22,000 square feet and features space for 80,000 books, DVDs, CDs and other library materials; 32 public access computers with free Wi-Fi Internet access; comfortable seating for 200 customers; a large programming room for up to 100 people; two conference rooms; and a vending area.

This home is located at 3615 Warder St, NW:

View Larger Map

The flier says:

“STUNNING RENOVATION IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS/PETWORTH. BLOCKS TO THE METRO. ELEMENTS OF ORIGINAL CHARM MAINTAINED IN TRANSOMS/DOOR HANDLES ETC. OTHER THAN THAT, NEW TOP TO BOTTOM. END UNIT WITH A GARAGE AND SIDE YARD. STUNNING BRAZILIAN CHERRY FLOORS. SS APPLIANCES AND GRANITE KITCHEN. MARBLE BATHS. THIS HOUSE IS PERFECT FOR YOUR PICKIEST CLIENTS. FINISHED ATTIC AND BASEMENT.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

Does $549,000 sound reasonable for this 5 bed/3.5 bath house?

Photo by PoPville flickr user Brandon Kopp

Sorry to go on a bit of a rant but man this week is dead. So…I like many others have signed up for DC Alerts to deal with severe weather, crime, terrorism (God forbid) and I’ve been noticing that they are seriously abusing the use of “Breaking News”. For example just yesterday they sent one out saying:

“Breaking News from Alert DC: EAST COAST SNOWSTORM NARROWLY MISSES THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – RESIDENTS ARE REMINDED TO BE PREPARED”

This is breaking news a full day after the storm missed us? And the storm missing us isn’t exactly breaking news. “Breaking news: Everything is perfectly normal!” I also got a “Breaking News” alert saying a preparedness flier (or something like that) was going to be printed in Spanish. I think that’s great, but hardly breaking news.

Alright, sorry for the rant, it’s just been driving me crazy. Plus I’ve been drinking…

Furin’s is located at 2805 M St, NW in Georgetown. Their Web site says:

“FURIN’S OF GEORGETOWN, offering full service catering, a cafe, and a bakery with a local neighborhood charm…

Focusing on attention and care of each entree,salad, business lunch and most importantly our decadent, moist cakes. With over 42 years of catering experience, a perfect catered affair is Guaranteed.”

You can see their lunch menu here.

Any fans? Any must order sandwiches?

Last week I shared the good word that Mt. Pleasant had been awarded a grant to open a Temporium at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. for Jan. and Feb.

As part of the city’s new Temporary Urbanism initiative, the DC Office of Planning (OP) has awarded Mount Pleasant Main Street (MPMS) a grant to establish a “Temporium” in an unoccupied retail space at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. A Temporium is a temporary, pop-up retail space for local artisans to exhibit and sell their work. The Mt. Pleasant Temporium is scheduled to open for 24 dates between late January and February.

The Mt. Pleasant Temporium, scheduled to open for 24 dates beginning in late January 2011, will feature handmade goods for sale from 20 local, independent crafters and artists, as well as special programming that includes autobiographical and theatrical storytelling, trunk shows, educational panels, and live music.

The Temporium will be developed in partnership with Mount Pleasant Main Street, SpeakeasyDC, Hello Craft, Radio CPR, Partners for Livable Communities, the DC Office of Planning, and several neighborhood-based community groups.

At the time a reader noticed that this is the space that Nana is moving into. I spoke with the owner of Nana’s clothing boutique and she confirms that it is indeed the same space. She assured me that Nana will still be moving into that space when the Temporium closes. Good news all around!