The North Columbia Heights Civic Association is
committed to fostering community involvement and
improving the quality of life for residents in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC.
826DC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Our services are structured around our understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
With the new year, 826DC is making a big push to deepen our volunteer base. With only one full-time employee, we are almost entirely volunteer-run, and need lots of help serving the more than 1,500 young people we tutor in our center (located inside “The Museum of Unnatural History”) and in partnership with teachers throughout the district.
We have no minimum time commitment, and volunteers do not need to have previous experience writing, tutoring or teaching to help out. Interested? Sign up here to learn more or email volunteer@826dc.org!
826DC asked us to pass along this message. For a comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities in the neighborhood, check our Community Service page.
Lots of new and soon-to-open local restaurants have been in the news lately. Keep an eye on our local business page, which we will continually update with new web addresses. Here is a summary of some of the tremendous culinary diversity soon to grace Columbia Heights:
Maple, a new Italian restaurant, soon open on 11th Street, between Park and Monroe. Prince of Petworth and New Columbia Heights provide more information.
Coffy Cafe, a coffee shop and crepery, will open in early 2012 on 14th Street, just north of Park Road. Keep updated on its progress via its Facebook page.
A new 24 hour diner / bar / lounge from the owner of The Diner and Tryst is currently under construction, and slated to open on 11th Street between Park and Monroe in April.
Z-Burger’s build-out is nearly complete, and they will open in February.
The Pinch will serve contemporary American cuisine at 14th and Parkwood, beginning in the Spring.
Construction is also underway at Jackie Greenbaum’s future taqueria on 11th Street.
Le Caprice D.C., a french bakery, will open within a few weeks on 14th Street, in the Allegro condominium building.
The National Symphony Orchestra will be in residence in Columbia Heights from January 3-9! Check out the packed schedule of great events here (courtesy of New Columbia Heights blog).
A few events require (free) tickets, be sure to sign up here so you can attend those.
Come out for a day of outdoor fun, food, and activities on Saturday, November 5th, from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the North Columbia Heights Green, located at the alley off of 11th ST. NW, between Park and Lamont St. Meet Washington Parks and People Green Corps, and learn about the work they are doing around the city. Join in and plant an herb in our medicinal herb garden, and stay to view a few short documentaries about the Washington Parks and People Green Corps. This event is free and open to the whole community! Please contact us at www.washingtonparks.net or 202-462-7275 for further information.
I am sure that many of you noticed the recent graffiti explosion around the 11th Street area. It is important to paint over / remove graffiti as soon as it appears, to send a message that it will not remain visible for very long in our community. The city will remove graffiti from your property if you contact them at this link:
NCHCA has a packed schedule of upcoming events. We hope to see you at one, two, or all of the following:
Saturday, October 22, 9:30-12:30, we will be tabling at the Columbia Heights Community Marketplace. Drop by to learn more about our organization, sign up as a volunteer, buy a t-shirt (only sizes left are XL and XXL, alas), pick up a copy of our community service booklet, or just to say hi.
Monday, October 31, 5:00-6:30, we are organizing an 11th Street Halloween Extravaganza. Click here for details.
Wednesday, November 2, 5:30-7:00, we are meeting at Bloombars. At 5:30 we will discuss NCHCA business, including new officers. At 6:00, Laine Cidlowski from the Office of Planning will be discussing sustainability initiatives in D.C. Finally, during the last few minutes of the meeting, we will discuss the formation of a Friends group for the 11th and Monroe Park currently being reconstructed.
Saturday, November 5, 9:30-10:30, we are organizing a neighborhood clean-up. Meet at 9:30 near Columbia Heights Coffee on 11th Street. Following the clean-up, volunteers are invited to a discounted brunch at Meridian Pint.
One other neighborhood event we want to point out: on Saturday, November 5, from 3:00-7:00, the North Columbia Heights Green will we’ll hosting a greening and green job fair (and screening of urban greening films such as Meridian Hill Pictures’s award-winning Community Harvest film and some new ones done by our job trainees). Among other things, they will be giving unemployed residents a chance to apply for the DC Green Corps, which is one of the country’s largest gateway urban forestry and greening job training programs.
NCHCA, in conjunction with local residents, is currently planning a Halloween event for 11th Street between Kenyon and Monroe, between 5-7 P.M. on October 31st. Our goal is to have a costume parade featuring neighborhood kids, fun events / giveaways for kids at local businesses, and perhaps a dog costume event at the dog park if users are interested. If you are interested in participating, publicizing, or organizing this event, or just want to share ideas, please reach out to us at jeff.zeeman@northcolumbiaheights.org. Thanks!
Other aspects of our 2011-12 agenda include working (with folks already making headway on this) on establishing and publicizing a Friends group for the 11th and Monroe Park, so that it is up and running when the park reopens, working on neighborhood parking issues, and improving neighborhood tree boxes / green space.
Finally, as folks have noted on the Columbia Heights Listserve, rats are becoming a bigger and bigger neighborhood problem. If folks have ideas for good speakers / strategies re: combating rats, please share them. Some suggestions I have heard include (1) soaking rags in ammonia and leaving them where rat dropping appears, (2) making sure all trash cans and dumpsters on or near your property remain closed, (3) sealing holes in fences, (4) contacting a pest control company to fill rat holes / dens with poison, and (5) keeping your yard clear of piles of leaves and weeds. If you notice a rat infestation in your area, definitely contact Gerard Brown at gerard.brown@dc.gov or 202-535-2636, who can help direct city resources towards abatement. Most of all, we need to encourage our neighbors to be responsible regarding trash and litter in order for this problem to be resolved in the longer term. Here is a helpful webpage with more rat control tips:
Several North Columbia Heights businesses are nominated for the Express Night Out Best of 2011 awards. Be sure to express your neighborhood pride and vote for Pho 14, Taqueria Distrito Federal, Sticky Fingers, Redrocks, Room 11, and Dan Searing!
The National Symphony Orchestra will collaborate with community organizations to present a number of performances and educational activities in Columbia Heights January 3-8, 2012. The NSO is accepting requests for activities from organizations and venues in and around Columbia Heights. The deadline for submissions is Friday, September 23.
For more information and to submit a request, visit http://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/community/NSO_iyn.cfm or email Warren Williams at wgwilliams@kennedy-center.org. Please spread the word!
Programs Offered:
* Chamber Music Performances: Small groups of NSO musicians perform classical music for adults and/or family audiences.
* Night Clubs: Classical music can be enjoyed everywhere. NSO musicians perform in relaxed night clubs or other small venues for intimate musical experiences.
* “In-School” Ensembles: A small group of musicians perform and demonstrate their instruments for a school program. Best for grades 1-8.
* Community Service Performances: NSO musicians perform at various community venues (churches, businesses, etc.).
* Conducting: NSO conductors or musicians work with and conduct college or high school small ensembles, orchestras, or bands.
* Sectionals/Coachings: Musicians work with a group of students who play the same instrument on current repertoire (e.g. the NSO clarinetist would work with the clarinet section of your ensemble).
* Clinics: NSO members coach groups on musical topics (intonations, reed making, etc.).
* Master Classes: Individual students perform for an NSO musician who then critiques the performance and offers constructive advice for an audience of other students and teachers.
* Pre-Concert Events: NSO members hold lectures and panel discussions before NSO concerts for audience members.
* Method Workshops: Popular workshops include Suzuki string classes or Alexander Technique.
* Artistic Exchanges: Explore the diverse forms of music native to your cultural heritage and how it has influenced classical music (Native American drumming, Mariachi bands, etc.).
* Music Appreciation Classes: NSO members introduce students to classical music in fun and interactive classes.
* Instrument “Petting Zoos”: Children get a hands-on experience with the various orchestral instruments.
* Speakers Bureau: NSO members and staff speak at public events, at board meetings, with music teachers and principals, or at other special gatherings.
* Arts Professionals Round Table: NSO staff members meet with other arts professionals to discuss topics of mutual interests and to share ideas.
* Create Your Own: Have something else in mind? Come up with an idea or event and let us know! We will work to develop a program that suits your needs.
Warm regards,
Warren
Warren G. Williams, III
Manager of Community Relations
National Symphony Orchestra
The John F. Kennedy Center
Washington D.C. 20566-0001
(202) 416.8112 phone
(202) 416.8105 FAX
wgwilliams@kennedy-center.org
