Month: October 2005

Last night I went to a function, but apparently the wrong one, and ran into [Bush cabinet member] and spouse. I met [Bush cabinet member] on my way out, after seeing through the window that folks were going into the other building to the other function that I had intended to go to. But before I could leave I had to ditch my wine glass, so I had to head back into the crowd, and then [Bush cabinet member] introduced himself, his wife and friend. He’s a charming gentleman. Thank goodness for name tags because, I was looking at his tag before and thinking “that name, that face, they look familiar.” Anyway what did I and one of the nation’s top mover and shaker talk about? Dogs and charitable giving.
I’m hoping that one day I’ll wander into a function and chat up George Clooney about fresh basil and simple pasta dishes.

RE: Queen of Sheba and Vegetate

Some neighbors are trying to get together to support economic development on 9th Street. Particularly, to maybe make contact with Shiloh Baptist Church to see if we can all work together as neighbors. According to last week’s City Paper Shiloh has been quite active in opposing the liquor licenses of the Queen of Sheba and Vegetate.
Personally, I can’t really get behind Queen of Sheba (too close to the day care) but I think we really do need an upscale, smoke-free veggie restaurant on 9th. Anyway, if you want to try to see what you can possibly do as a Shaw resident contact Rachel Cornwell @ 604 Q St by Tuesday. She has a letter of petition (see below) for folks to sign. Or you can draft your own letter, which is what I’m going to do.
If you do draft a letter keep this in mind, Shiloh is a Baptist church. As a part of being Baptist they are to refrain from the selling, distribution or promotion of alcohol. The best that we can ask for is that they just not fight neighborhood efforts of economic development. Also, in this case please be respectful, I’d like us to work with Shiloh and not make it an us vs them battle.

Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith
Senior Pastor
Shiloh Baptist Church
9th and P Streets NW
Washington, DC 20001

Dear Rev. Smith,

We are residents of the historic Shaw neighborhood where your church is located, and we have read the articles about the conflict between your church and the proprietors of Queen of Sheba and Vegetate restaurants. We are truly grateful for the presence of Shiloh Baptist Church in Shaw, your concerns for this neighborhood, and your long-standing outreach ministry to Shaw residents. We share your concern for this neighborhood and its development. We view Shiloh Baptist Church as a partner in the redevelopment of Shaw.

However, we are excited to see new businesses coming to the neighborhood, especially sit-down restaurants. We view these restaurants not as negative influences on the neighborhood, but as gathering places where community can be fostered. In our view, they are a great improvement over abandoned buildings.

We respect your church’s long history in this neighborhood. Therefore, we request that a representative group from our neighborhood have the chance to meet with you, to hear your concerns about these restaurants, and to hear your vision for the future of Shaw. We would also like to share with you our concerns and hopes for this place we call home. Please contact Rachel Cornwell at 202-***-**** (604 Q Street NW) to make arrangements for a meeting that suits your schedule.

Sincerely,

Comments are closed. If you want to comment email me.

BACA meeting
There was a Bates Area Civic Assoc meeting, but I wasn’t there. Anyone care to tell me the highlights?

If this keeps up I’m changing the title and posting less…
Okay I have not seen the office of the firm Crack, Smak, & Hoe set up on the corner lately. Before the Summer they would have the corner, with associates sitting on chairs and milk crates conducting their pharmaceutical business. I sort of suspect that they have moved their operation a bit off the corner to the middle of the block where I don’t see them. Or they are just more mobile, because I sense a drug dealing element. Am I wrong?

Speaking of Crack
We haven’t seen our block’s resident crackhead in about a month. But I have faith that if she has left, Gemma (evil lawyer/landlady) will put in another Section 8’er with issues. In this I hope I am wrong. I hope she rents out the place to a nice little old couple or a hard working mother and elementary aged kid. Would Gemma sell instead? I wish.

Barry
Marion on taxes. I can totally support him as a candidate with his ‘no taxation without representation’ platform.

TC will be having a happy hour (no discounts on booze) Friday. Click here for more info (you must be registered to Truxton Circle.Org).

From an e-mail

Hello All,

This is as serious campaign effort. We need 1,000 people to sign-up as soon as possible– especially since Jim Graham is holding a hearing on October 11th to strengthen rent control and to introduce the “Right of Tenants to Organize Act. Ask five to 10 of your friends who rent in the District to visit www.tenac.org and pass this e-mail along. Signing-up to support this campaign is urgent between now and October 11th and we need your help. There’s power in numbers. For those of you who are getting this message again, I apologize, but we need your support!

Thanks,

Jacqueline

Earlier, before Tony announced that he was not going to run I noticed a lot of green Fenty signs in people’s yards. Time passed, Cropp threw her hat in the ring, and the mayor elected not to run a 3rd term. Now I’m seeing a fair number of red Linda Cropp signs (way better than the stupid black “Think Cropp” signs). What’s funny though is that I’ve noticed that some of the yards in Shaw that once sported Fenty green have gone Cropp red.
Regardless, it is still way too early for all of this.