The subject of todays photo is not the ubiquitous golden arches that permeate the American landscape, but rather the beige arches of the Hospitality Community Federal Credit Union (HCFCU). This distinct facade can be found on the 1100 Block of H St NE, next to Taylor Deli in the burgeoning Atlas District. Unlike most of the (relative) newcomers to the block, which mostly consist of bars, theaters, trendy restaurants, and art galleries, HCFCU has been focused on growing wealth from within the NE community since its establishment in 1965. This is not to take anything away from the entertainment aspect of H Street – don’t get me wrong, I throughly enjoy the new options – it is just that bars and restaurants have a tendency to deplete my savings rather than help to grow them.
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depressioning
April 14th, 2009
This picture makes me think of depression era dust bowl farm houses that have been beaten and worn by the relentless weather around them. Fortunately, I did not have to take a trip in time/space to get the shot as it is actually a carriage house in Dupont Circle. I love that the shutters are so worn that the paint and upper layers of wood have been wiped away exposing the warmer colored wood core underneath. The only portion of the shutter spared the beating looks to be the upper third which has gained some protection from the overhanging eave. Sloppy painting on the mullions and scrawny vines that cling to the wooden lap siding are fitting for this desperate scene. That being said, a steady rain must sound amazing as its drops pelt the tired tin roof.
murals to zora – albus cavus – eatonville
March 12th, 2009
albus cavus (who we have written about before and is generaly awesome) is doing the painting of Eatonville, the yet to be opened restaurant on 14th St….
…Eatonville is owned by Andy Shallal of Busboys & Poets fame. B&P is named after Langston Hughes (the “busboy poet” from his time at the Wardman Park Hotel in the 1930’s). Eatonville is named after renouned author Zora Neale Hurston (Eatonville was the Florida city where she grew up). Hurston is a graduate of Howard University and is best known for “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”…
…various artists (w/the occasional little kid spray paint helper) are busy completing all of the artworks that will adorn Eatonville’s walls…
…artists are working in a variety of styles…using stencils w/hand detailing for what looks to be a Warholesque series,…
…some with ladders in precarious positions….
…HERE is a site about the events that they are hosting this weekend in the space (party on Friday and public viewing on Saturday). Check it out!
nothing like ribs from a converted school bus…
May 11th, 2008
This morning I fought off my hangover with an hour and a half photo walk-about in NoMA. This developing neighborhood gave me plenty of “urban decay” fodder. The favorite thing that I came across this morning was this converted school bus that now serves as a mobile ribs stand. This was parked in a liquor store (which also has a very funny sign) parking lot right next to the Metro/AMTRAK tracks and I have a feeling that this must be delicious. The bottom right corner of the sign says “I’m as good as the best and better than the rest”. It is on the sign so it must be true. My job site is just on the other side of these tracks so once I get the courage up I’m going to give it a shot. I’ll be sure to report back, this might just be the next big thing in…ummm…food that is served in a ghetto rigged yellow school bus…or something.
Long weekend trip took us out to the Windy City! (hence the posting delay/gap)
Above are the iconic Marina City towers, at their time these towers were both the tallest residential buildings and tallest reinforced concrete structures in the world. Topping out at 60 stories, these towers have since been relieved of these distinctions. Designed by Bertrand Goldberg in 1959, Marina City was the first high-rise mixed-use urban structure built in the United States after WWII. It has been credited as being a major player in the rebirth of the American inner city… which is pretty awesome.
1,000’s of good uses for shopping carts
March 9th, 2008
Smashed Events (Society of Mature Adults Seeking to Help, Entertain and Donate) held the 2008 running of the DC Idiotarod. This years event started at Frontpage in Dupont and ran down towards Union Station. The Idiotarod is a lot like the storied Iditarod with a few key differences:
1) it is not in Alaska, nor is there any snow
2) no sleds are involved (see point 1 – no snow) instead participants used decorated, moderated, and otherwise pimped out shopping carts
3) no dogs are used for pulling. The Idiotarod is run by having 5 drunk, costumed 20 and 30 somethings tied or otherwise connected to the shopping cart and 1 person riding on or in the the cart.
This was probably the most interesting charity event that I have ever witnessed. All of the money raised goes towards Miriam’s Kitchen, a charity that provides meals, case management, mental health and addiction services, therapeutic groups, and transitional and permanent housing support to DC’s chronically homeless men and women.
The real excitement picked up at 3 o’clock when the race kicked off. In about the time of 30 seconds some 50+ teams (my estimate) all headed off in about every direction possible. It was a truly chaotic and entertaining scene. The faces of the innocent bystanders coming up out of the metro were priceless. Other highlights from the event include a Super Mario Brothers team, various iterations of Tom Cruise, honkey tonks, a mobile stripper pole (complete with dancers), and naughty nurses.
Quite an event, I will certainly try to check it out next year….don’t know about entering a team though. Not really my style.
…and I thought getting to play softball at the base of the Washington Monument, or playing kickball in the shadow of the Smithsonian Castle was pretty sweet. Street hockey in front of the White House/Old Exec Office Building has to take the cake for bad @ss recreational DC sports.
On a related note, A.O. put a whooping on the Bruins tonight by scoring 5 of the Caps 10 goals (against a measly 2 points by the Bostonians). The 3rd of Ovechkin’s 5 goals but him in the esteemed 50 goals in a season club, again.
…post Valentine’s Day Chocolate hangover is in full effect.
Everyone with a sweet tooth: do not pass go, do not collect $200 dollars (though you may need it) and go directly to Biagio Fine Chocolate. This fine little independent chocolate shop is located in the Dupont/Adams Morgan/U Street area on 18th St. a little way north of Lauriol Plaza down in an english basement storefront. According to their website they are having a sale on all V-Day chocolate.
I was like a little kid in a candy store (obviously). The staff is very attentive and knowledgeable about the myriad of chocolate varieties that they have. The flavors range from cinnamon, to banana mate, to pineapple pepper, to wasabi, to scotch, to bacon. That’s right they have BACON FLAVORED CHOCOLATE.
