Brookland Avenue

Woke up this morning to a crazy storm rolling through Brookland DC The DMV.

It seemed to pass through the area pretty quickly after leaving a trail of lightning and destruction. Twitter is abuzz with reports of metro outages including:

• Silver Spring single tracking it because of a tree on one of the tracks
• Foggy Bottom has flooding
• Forest Glen is closed with no power
• Cleveland Park is closed because of flooding

Pepco is reporting 76,398 power outages so far.

Lots of trees down, and localized flooding throughout the area including on Rhode Island Avenue which is closed between 5th Street and 9th Street NE with cars stranded.

Follow DC Fire and EMS on Twitter and your local news for more info.

Be careful out there.

Not Year of the Dragon

The Chinese New Year Parade this past Sunday was crowded and fun. The Year of the Tiger brought folks out to view the parade as it went around Chinatown Chinablock. Kids and parents were enjoying themselves with silly string, flags, and tiger costumes. The lighting of the firecrackers happened early but at least there wasn’t any gas leaks this year. Even though my view was obscured for the fireworks display I was still able to get a couple of shots.

Snow Storm at the Shrine

Major snow storm coming to area which looks like it will drop14-20 inches in the area when all is said and done. Even though we had a small storm a few weeks ago its the first time that a storm of this size has be predicated.

I for one welcome our new snowman overloads.

Mayor Walter E Washington is Coming to Brookland

Douglas Willinger has been posting a lot of great information on his great blog A Trip Within the Beltway about the infamous 1-95 freeway that was to cut through Brookland and DC in the 1970s. Douglas’s posts containing images, posters, and other information from the Emergency Committee on the Transportation Crisis give an historical picture of local opposition to unwanted freeways cutting through the urban landscape and neighborhoods of Washington DC.

The above poster announcing “Mayor Walter E. Washington is Coming to Brookand” was likely for a 1968 or 1969 meeting against the freeway. It was sponsored by Brookland members of the Emergency Committee on the Transportation Crisis and the Brookland Civic Association. This poster is a great find, the original version can be seen along with other ECTC creations on on A Trip Within the Beltway

Also check out the DC Library’s Guide to the Records of the Emergency Committee on the Transportation Crisis, ca. 1960-1978 for more information. Plus there are a number of other Freeway Fights and Revolts from around the country for an even broader view.

Lloyd Wolf a local DC area photographer has a very poignant and moving site called Washington’s Other Monuments. This site contains photographs and write-ups memorializing some of the most violent crime in the city. These memorials are erected and maintained by family and friends to remember and honor victims of throughout the city.

Washington’s Other Monuments has documented some of the recent tragedies in Northeast DC, including crimes in Brookland and Edgewood.

Shrine to Goldean Hawkins, 1900 Newton St NE

Shrine to Goldean Hawkins, 1900 Newton St NE

Abdullah Fuller- in a quiet way

Abdullah Fuller- in a quiet way

Sad eyes for Kenyetta Nicholson-Stanley

Sad eyes for Kenyetta Nicholson-Stanley

Lloyd’s site and photography has been featured in other media over the last few years including an NPR discussion and multiple news sites including the Washington Post and Washington City Paper among a few others.

By documenting these curbside tributes to violent tragedies , Lloyd help us to remember lives cut short are not soon forgotten.

Lloyd’s photography can be seen LloydWolf.com and LloydWolfPhoto.Blogspot.com and he be reached by email at LloydWolf@LloydWolf.com

The Bloomingdale house tour that was originally scheduled for today Saturday 10/24/2009 has been moved to tomorrow Sunday 10/25/2009 because of the rain. It’s a good opportunity to see a few gorgeous victorian rowhouses near Brookland.

Its also a great excuse to check the Big Bear Cafe for great coffee, read about Big Bear’s commitment to sustainability. Also its this is a good opportunity to check out the always fantastic Bloomingdale Sunday Farmers Market, which I have to say is still my favorite farmers market in DC, others tend to agree.

Below is the tour’s logistics.

The Bloomingdale Civic Association Presents “Victorian Secrets”
A Fund Raising House Tour

Sunday, October 25, 2009
1 – 5:00 PM

This tour features 10 private homes in the Bloomingdale neighborhood – from a home that once housed nuns, to a home with an incredible garden oasis, to a North Capitol Main Street board member’s lovely abode, to the best rooftop view in DC! Afterwards, join the end-of-the-tour party at the Anna J Cooper house and enjoy fantastic food & the smooth sounds of jazz artist, and Bloomingdale resident, Maurice Lyles.

This is a fund raiser to benefit the Bloomingdale Civic Association’s cooperative work and commitment to the citizens of this community.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of the tour (children 7-12 ½ price, under 7 free) and can be purchased at Bloomingdale Wine & Spirits, 1st and Rhode Island Ave., NW, Mon-Fri and at Big Bear Cafe on the day of the event.

You may also contact J.C. Blount, 202/986- 2772, J.C. Bond, 202/328- 3068 or Laurie Choice, 202/797- 7407 for additional information or to volunteer.

Meet and Great with the elected leadership of the Ward 5 Democrats at the official “First Official Meeting” Reception Fundraiser
Honorees: Past Chairs of the Ward 5 Democrats

When: Friday October 2, 2009, 7-9 pm
Where: Holiday Inn Express, 1917 Bladensburg Road NE, Washington DC

Donation: $10 Light food & win will be served

Invited Guests:

• Ward 5 ANC Commissioners
• Mayor Adrian M. Fenty
• Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr
• Councilmember Vincent C. Gray
• Councilmember Kwame Brown
• Councilmember Michael Brown
• Councilmember Phil Mendelson
• Marc Jones, School Board Rep

For additional information, please contact: Ward 5 Dems Chair Angel Alston on
202-315-6057 or at angel.alston@yahoo.com or visit the Ward 5 Democrats at http://www.ward5democrats.org

This morning Commander Greene of MPD 5th District posted a message to the MPD-5D listserv about a homicide on the 1300 block of Perry St NE. According to the email; Sunday September 20th at about 5am MPD were called to 14th and Perry Street NE. When they arrived the found the unconscious victim lying in the street in the 1300 block of Perry St and was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, the victim was later pronounced dead.

MPD is requesting that if anyone has information related to the homicide to call 202-727-9099 immediately.

Below is the complete email from Commander Greene.

The Homicide Branch of the Criminal Investigations Division is currently investigating a homicide that occurred in the Fifth District.

On Sunday, September 20, 2009, at 0508 hours, members of the Fifth District were dispatched to 1400 Perry St., NE for the sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they located the decedent lying in the street in the 1300 block of Perry St., NE. The victim was unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced dead.

If anyone has information relative to this shooting please call MPD at 202 727 9099 immediately.

New Graffiti at McMillan

It looks like over the past weekend a number of Graffiti tags were painted on at least 3 silos at the McMillan Sand Filtration Plant. Whether or not you think the silos are an eyesore ( I don’t and I am actually quite fond of them) its a still a pretty deliberately destructive act done to a location that has a lot of history.

Silo Graffiti at McMillan

It looks like the silos that were clear of vines (or partly clear of vines) were targeted for the graffiti, probably easier than removing them, and provided a flat(ish) surface. Some of the tags are pretty high on the silo like those from “Jake” and “Che”.

Che and KGB Graffiti at McMillan

I believe KGB is/was a old Washington DC graffiti crew, is this the same folks or someone else?

Jake's Graffiti at McMillan

I hope the paint can be sandblasted or powerwashed off. It would be a shame to have to paint over the silos to clean up the graffiti.