Events @ TheARC this Summer!

Summer Dance Auditions at The Washington Ballet @ THEARC

June 23 to July 19, 2014

Interested in dance? Audition for The Washington Ballet @ THEARC’s Summer Dance Program! It’s a four week program and a total of 75 students will be accepted (25 students per level). There are three levels: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. Students age 7 and up are eligible for the program. Students must either audition for our program or have completed level 1A.

Who Cares? and Green Eggs & Ham

May 17-18, 2014

Set to the music of George Gershwin, Who Cares? captures the best of Broadway! The stage comes alive with balletic adaptations of Green Eggs & Ham and Aladdinalong with a sneak preview of Lucy Bowen McCauley's world premiere, Eight. Exuberant stories and ballet  for the whole family to enjoy.

Whole Foods in Congress Heights

Art of War Concept: Those who use the military skillfully do not raise troops twice and do not provide food three times.

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Last week I got an email about the Whole Foods Market coming to the Pavilion at the St. Elizabeths East Campus. When initially reading the email I was kinda of skeptical about the announcement. I was not sure what to expect. This past Saturday I visited the market and let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised! Whole Foods actually set up a mini store where there were plenty of fruits, vegetables, fresh fish, shrimp and other items that you would normally find at their store. And as an added bonus, the prices were competitive with the Giant and Safeway food store. Whoever idea this was really needs a pat on the back!

If you missed this Saturday, don’t worry they will be back. Make sure you stop by every 1^st Saturday of the month from 12-5pm. I included some photos below to give you an idea as to how awesome it was! 

Mayor Gray is hopeful they will set up shop permanently. Lets see...

Onions!

All the veggies you need...

Green, green and more green!

Loads of veggies and fruits

You need it? They got it here!

Coconut Water anyone?

More and more fruit

Wow..oysters!

Did someone say shrimp!

Chicken, Sausage and more...

Another happy customer!

Commissioner Fuller and Watson talking with the store owner

Ms. Carter from Bellevue stopped by to stock up the frig

Mr. Morgan and Ms. Lawson sharing a good laugh!

Neighborhood kids having a good time!

Any veggie burger fans out there?

12 Year Old Lady DJ...Awesome!

They even had smoothies!

Happy Customers...

The Banks family had a great time!

Will you still love Me (Ward 8) after the election?

Art of War Concept: All warfare is based on deception
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Some neighbors and I were talking the other day about how much attention Ward 8 receives during city-wide election season. Seems every candidate wants to use Ward 8 as a backdrop for their campaign -- only willing to cross the river to get votes. Well lets see what happens after the "silly season" (aka election time) is over and how many of those same candidates will continue to give us all this lovely attention.

Congress Heights Retail Visioning Event

Last night I had the opportunity to participate in the Congress Heights Retail Vision Session with Vibrant Streets and the Office of Planning. With all the attention Anacostia receives when it comes to economic development, it was refreshing to know the conversation is expanding to Congress Heights! I hope Bellevue is next in line! Here are some photos of the event below.

Thurgood Marshall Academy Celebrates “Nawlins’ Style”

Contact: Giselle Pole

Cell: 202-905-1290
Email: gpole@tmapchs.org

Media Advisory for February 1, 2014, 11:00 am

Thurgood Marshall Academy Celebrates “Nawlins’ Style” with Black history Month event; Dupont Brass Leads Procession along MLK, Jr. Ave SE

What: Celebrating Our Roots is Thurgood Marshall Academy (TMA)’s annual Black History Month Program showcasing a unique aspect of African and African-American culture through visual and performing art. This free event aims to educate TMA students and the local community using art, music, dance and spoken word in an exciting and interactive cultural format. This year celebrates the origins of the rich history and cultural influences of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Who: DuPont Brass Band, Janice the Griot, StarMakers Academy of Dance, and visual art students and Band members of Thurgood Marshall Academy.

When: Saturday, February 1^st 11 a.m.

Where: Thurgood Marshall Academy, 2427 MLK, Jr. Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20020

Best Visual: Mardi-Gras style processional along MLK, Jr. Avenue with popular local band DuPont Brass leading the parade.

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Thurgood Marshall Academy is a public charter high school in Anacostia serving 400 students grades 9-12. As the highest-performing open-enrollment school in the district, TMA’s mission is to prepare students to succeed in college and to actively participate in our democratic society.
Connect with us: www.thurgoodmarshallacademy.org, facebook/thurgoodmarshallacademy, @TMAtalks

REIMAGINE MLK’ A TEMPORARY URBANISM EVENT

You see, it is not all about Anacostia. Congress Heights is also on the Rise!

The DC Office of Planning (OP) in partnership with the Congress Heights Vibrant Retail Street project team,  invite you to participate in ‘Reimagine MLK,’ a temporary urbanism event on. This pop-up event on the 3100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE will activate the sidewalk with café furniture, planters and lighting, providing a ‘3D’ example of its potential to become a more vibrant commercial district. The afternoon will also include refreshments, entertainment and retail survey games. Please come and invite friends and family to enjoy this unique experience and opportunity to be a part of Congress Heights’ future! This event is part of the DC Vibrant Retail Streets Toolkit initiative (see below).  For more information, please contact Chelsea Liedstrand or Evelyn Kasongo with the DC Office of Planning at 202 442 7600.

Application Denied!

Art of War Concept: What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations
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Here is some GOOD NEWS to begin the New Year.

Back in September, I notified the community that a local convenience store on Good Hope Rd was in the process of applying for a "Class A" liquor license. Of course, the community was opposed to the application due to there already being two existing liquor stores on Good Hope Rd AND this would make the second located within 500 feet of Ketcham Elementary School. Anyone in their right mind knows this would be a bad idea!

Thanks to letters written by residents in addition to the hard work by Advisory Neighborhood

Commission 8A, Ketcham Elementary School Administration and the 7D Police Department, the applicant decided to withdrawal their application. They knew due to the overwhelming community response they were going to lose!

A special thanks to many of the ANC 8A Commissioners for attending four hearings held during the work day to protest the license. I certainly hope the recent legislation introduced by Councilmember Marion Barry to place a moratorium on "Class A & B" liquor licenses in Ward 8 will prevent any of this madness from happening in the future.

The work of ANC is never done...on to the next challenge!