From an email:

PORTRAITS AFTER 5: THE ART OF LOVE

February 14 (Tues.) @ 5pm in the Kogod Courtyard

Courtyard Café

Art and love make the perfect pair this Valentine’s Day
at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s Courtyard Café,
with an event designed to bring new meaning to the term
“art lover” for singles and couples alike.

Bring your observation skills and your imagination,
curiosity, and creativity to this event as we welcome you to:

· Listen to a unique mix of love songs from Smithsonian Folkways
· View images of iconic relationships from our collections
· Play ‘The Debate Game’ and test your knowledge of your partner, best friend, or family member
· Recite a poem inspired by our collections
· Try speed dating*, organized by Professionals in the City
· Participate in a love-themed, museum scavenger hunt
· Compose a handwritten love letter to your sweetheart, inspired by love letters presented by staff from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum (or anonymously boost the morale of someone in the U.S. armed forces)
· Learn romantic facts about other Smithsonian exhibits, such as the Butterfly Pavilion at the National Museum of Natural History
· Win a specially designed “art of love” bracelet, created by designer Scosha Wasserman or ‘dinner for two’ from Jaleo restaurant
· Visit the Courtyard Café for specialty drinks and treats – made with love

*To participate in the speed dating, please RSVP to: artoflove@si.edu

National Portrait Gallery
Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard
8th and G Streets NW

From a Douglas Development press release:

“Dangerously Delicious Pies will occupy 500 square feet at 901 7th Street, NW. This will be the Baltimore-based pie shop’s second DC location, and is expected to open in April 2012.”

Dangerously Delicious Pies also is located at 1339 H St, NE. You can see their menu here.

9th and I St, NW

We talk about a lot of places that I hear are coming to retail spaces. Sometimes they open up right away, often times they open up after significant delays, and sometimes they don’t open up at all. Danger Watch is a new series that will check back on spaces where there has been little visible progress. If you have a nomination for Danger Watch please send in an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail

Back in September 2011 we learned that Daikaya a new ramen shop was coming to the vacant lot at 705 6th St, NW next to Graffiato. At the time the liquor license said:

“This is a tavern that has a ramen shop on the ground level. Diners will be able to order bowls with a variety of fresh toppings. The second level will serve as a bar & restaurant with a Japanese menu.”

I’ve now noticed that the liquor license has been cut out (see photo above) and there has been little progress on construction. Perhaps it’s just because it’s winter but I’m putting Daikaya on Danger Watch. I hope I’m wrong.

UPDATE: Just in from a Douglas Development Press Release:

“Daikaya will occupy 5,400 square feet next to Graffiato (another Douglas Development tenant), made up of three levels: main (4,200 square feet), top (400 square feet), and lower (800 square feet) at 705 6th Street, NW. The restaurant, under Sushiko co-owner Daisuke Utagawa, will serve authentic ramen bowls amongst other Asian-influenced dishes and will tentatively open in late spring/early summer 2012.”

Freshii has opened up in the former Gifford’s ice cream store space at 555 11th St, NW next to E Street Cinema. This is their third location in DC and you can see their menu here. Any fans?

This rental is located at 631 D St, NW:

View Larger Map

The listing says:

“Immediately available! This large, 2-level condo in the luxurious Lafayette is close to everything & lives like a row-home! Featuring an updated kitchen, Main level half bath, 2 generous brs, 2 full ba’ s, master suite with large walk-in closets and same level W/D, this unit a renter’s dream! Building amenities include 24 hr desk attendant, gym, rooftop pool, media room & more! Welcome home!”

Well that’s one hell of a lobby… This 2 bed/2.5 bath is going for $3,500/Mo.

From DC Record Fair:

“DC’s best (only) record show returns to a new (great) venue in Penn Quarter [Riot Act Comedy Theater 801 E St, NW]. Free street parking (Sunday) and easy Metro access (Gallery Place). Add over 40 record dealers from all over the East Coast, great lighting, DJs, bloody marys, and food, and you have a great place to spend a (most likely) cold February afternoon!
11-12 Noon – $5 Early Bird Admission
12-4:30PM – $2 Admission”

From Chinese Parade DC:

On January 29, 2012, the Chinese community of the greater Washington metropolitan area is going to celebrate the “Chinese Lunar New Year 4710″ in Washington, DC Chinatown.

The Chinese consolidated Benevolent Association, an umbrella organization representing thirty Chinese-American organizations throughout the Greater Washington area will host the event. Over 40,000 are expected in attendance. The parade will also be televised to 40 million nationwide*.

DATE
January 29, 2012

START TIME
2:00 p.m.

ROUTE START
6th & I st. NW

ROUTE END
6th & H st. NW

From the Downtown BID:

Here is a schedule of special events in the DowntownDC BID area:

12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival
Chinatown Community Cultural Center
616 H Street, NW

Programs and activities will include: live music and dance performances, traditional Chinese calligraphy, children’s crafts, face painting, tai chi and kung fu demonstrations, lion dancing, poetry readings, film screenings, art and photo exhibits, raffle prizes, New Year souvenirs, free giveaways, and much more. Special guest performances by: Wong People and students of Yu Ying Public Charter School.

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Chinese New Year Parade and Festival
H Street, NW, between 6th and 8th Streets

Each year a parade is held in Chinatown to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The event features the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, Kung Fu demonstrations and live musical entertainment with a giant firecracker set off at 3:45 pm

Asia Nine is located at 915 E Street NW. From an email:

Asia Nine Presents
The Kiss of the Dragon
Chinese New Year Celebration
Four-Course Prix-Fixe Dragon Menu

Begins January 23, 2012, $35 per person

First Course:

Egg Drop Soup with Crispy Noodles

Choice of Second Course:

Crispy Taro
with Seasoned Crispy Fried Shrimp and Sweet Sesame Sauce

Steamed Chicken Tofu
with Sesame-Ginger Glaze, Seaweed, Baby Corn & Marinated Shiitake Mushrooms

Chinese Salmon Sashimi
with Sesame Ginger Soy Sauce

Choice of Third Course:

Wok-Fired Seafood “Dragon”
Seafood, Vegetables & Chinese Herbs Stir-Fry with Crispy Chinese Egg Noodles

Asia Nine’s Lemon Chicken
Lightly Battered, Fried Lemon Garlic Chicken with Baby Bok Choy and Jasmine Rice

The Red Lantern
Four Fresh Fish Nigiri, Red Ika Créme Cup, and Red Lantern Special Sushi Roll

Choice of Dessert:

Chinese Custard
Light Flaky Pastry with Sweet Custard Filling

Ginko Sesame Balls
Puff Rice Balls with Sweet Ginko Sesame Filling

From an email by the Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association:

The DC Department of Transportation distributed information from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) about the road closures for the March for Life Rally on Monday, January 23.

Only street closures in or near Penn Quarter follow.

11:30am – 12:30pm
The following streets will be closed so that participants at the Verizon Center Prayer Session can join the March for Life Rally on the National Mall

Cross streets will also be temporarily closed

F Street, NW beginning at 7th Street and ending at 12th Street

12th Street, NW beginning at F Street and ending at Constitution Avenue, NW

12:30pm
The march heads toward the Supreme Court then circles back to Pennsylvania Avenue at 6th Street, NW

Cross streets will be temporarily closed

Constitution Avenue, NW from 3rd Street to 9th Street, NW

Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to First Street, NE

3rd Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW

6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

This is precisely what I received; I have no idea if any portion of 6th Street north of Pennsylvania Avenue will be closed

Eastbound traffic on Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues will be diverted at 7th Street, NW

It’s a good week for cycling studio news. The Art of SpYn is coming to 950 F St, NW. From an email:

The Art of SpYn features two studios, a patron’s lounge, high-end men’s and women’s locker facilities and a lifestyle retail boutique in over 4,000 square feet of space. The state of the art cycling studio and tranquil yoga studio create the perfect combination for the latest in fitness in a beautiful, modern setting.

The team at The Art of SpYn is committed to innovation and creation of forward-thinking classes that combine the best practices from different disciplines to give you the most effective workout.