Archive for the 'Life on RIA' Category



23
Oct
12

RIA Dream Team: Insider Endorsements for ANC

I think we can all agree that we know who’s running for President on November 6 but do you know who is running to represent you on the most local level that you can get? The Advisory Neighborhood Commission elections are also on the ballot on November 6. If you don’t know what an ANC is, click here before proceeding and take special note of the new ANC lines in Ward 5…you may not be in the same ANC next year as you are today.

So, now you know that your ANC Commissioner represents you on the most intimate details of your neighborhood and this ANC election is one that will impact you the most. Since these elections will allow us to select Commissioners within the newly drawn boundaries and several of these new ANC districts will be focused on the future of RIA NE, the Rhode Island Insider is proud to make the following endorsements. Each of these candidates have a firm commitment to a livable, walkable, and revitalized Rhode Island Ave NE and they represent a key section of RIA that needs strong and thoughtful leadership.

 

For ANC 5C01: The Insider endorses Antonette Russell.

Antonette Russell is a native Washingtonian who is dedicated to improving her neighborhood and being a committed public servant for the residents of the District of Columbia. Antonette is a former resident of Ward 6 where she served as an ANC Commissioner for the neighborhood that includes Barney Circle and Hill East (ANC 6B09). She began her community service as the Secretary of the Barney Circle Neighborhood Watch Association and then she became the President of the neighborhood group.

For more information, go to Antonette’s website here.

 

For ANC 5C02: The Insider endorses Karla Butler.

Karla Butler is a proud Ward 5 resident and homeowner in the Woodridge (Langdon) community.  Since purchasing her home in 2011, Karla has been extremely active in the community.  She believes everyone, new and old residents, carries the same vision for living in a vibrant area.  Not only has Karla attended meetings to voice concerns regarding issues in the Langdon community, she created a community newsletter, Hello! Neighbor, to inform residents on emerging and current events throughout Ward 5.

More information on Karla, go to her website here


For ANC 5C07: The Insider endorses Nolan Treadway.

ANC-5C07

Nolan Treadway is a lifelong Democrat who has lived within 3 blocks of Rhode Island Avenue since moving to DC to attend graduate school at American University. Since then, Nolan, and his wife, Joan, a PG County native and product of public schools, have become homeowners in the Woodridge neighborhood of Ward 5.

You can find more information about Nolan at his website here.

 

 

The candidates at their recent Meet and Greet at Lace on the Avenue

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25
Sep
12

Taylor Gourmet. Rustik. Hell Yeah.

Remember back, more than a year ago, when the Rhode Island Insider first reported that 1811 Rhode Island Ave NE was suspected to be a new location for Taylor Gourmet? Well, a local circular confirmed recently that Taylor Gourmet is, in fact, coming to the exact location that we first reported.

“It’s kind of top secret what we are planning to put in there, but there are definitely plans,” [Mazza] said.

At first, David Mazza, one of the owners of Taylor Gourmet, reported to the Insider that the location was going to be just a bakery where it could produce its bread for its DC sandwich locations. Now it seems, they are coming with a full blown store. More on this story later….

What? You want more good news?

Ok. Here’s some more. Rustik Tavern celebrated its second anniversary in Bloomingdale yesterday. The Insider tweeted that they hope that we could all celebrate its second anniversary next year at its new Woodridge location along RIA. Their response is below.

As you remember, the Friends of RIA hosted a “Rhode Trip” there last month to convince them to come to the NE end of RIA.

Are you as excited as I am?

24
Sep
12

RIA’s Inaugural Fall Fest

The Friends of RIA (FoRIA) inaugural Fall Fest seemed to have been a smashing success. The Fest was crowded and residents were abundant. We even were treated to a nice dance demonstration from a local RIA dance/karate studio. Here are some quotes from people who attended the event:

Kudos to everyone for such a great event!

I am so excited about the future of Rhode Island Ave! Great job everyone!

It was so cool to see so many people out on the Avenue and kind of imagine a time where it could look like that all the time!

Awesome job everyone and awesome turnout!

For being the main planner for this event, Joan Shipps deserves a HUGE thank you! If you missed the event, don’t worry. I am told that next year’s will be bigger and even better! Special thanks also goes out to the numerous local RIA businesses that had booths at the event!

Here are some photos from the event:

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Stay tuned…video coming soon!

 

29
Aug
12

Time to Celebrate

The Friends of RIA (FoRIA), along with the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the DC Dept of Housing and Community Development, will be hosting a FALL FEST later this September. The group would like to make the Fest to be an annual event that brings residents in the area to Rhode Island Ave NE and interact, meet, and spend time getting to know their neighbors and area businesses. In addition, the Fall Fest has the potential to show other small business owners who are considering a move to RIA that residents will come if they build their business here (and believe me for now…there are several small business owners considering a move… more on that later).  Many local businesses are already signing on to participate including DC Brau, Rita’s, and Art Enables.

See the flyer below regarding the event, but here are the basics:

WHAT: Fall Fest, A Day to Celebrate the Avenue

WHEN: Saturday, September 22nd, 2012, from Noon – 4 PM

WHERE: Rhode Island Avenue NE, between South Dakota Avenue NE and 20th St NE

28
Aug
12

Woodridge Library Meeting on New Design

Last night, the Friends of the Woodridge Library held a meeting to review the draft model of the new Woodridge Library design and solicit feedback. Nolan Treadway, candidate for ANC, FoRIA Boardmember, and contributor to the Insider, was present and kept some good notes and pictures via his Twitter feed of the meeting… check out his notes here.

27
Jul
12

“It’s not enough for people to just want something”

If you missed it, the Friends of Rhode Island Ave (FoRIA) hosted their inaugural “Rhode Trip” last week at Boundary Stone DC. It was a complete success and has garnered some attention. Check out the article from Urban Turf that sums it up pretty well. Here are some excerpts from the article:

 

Last Wednesday at 5:30pm, 15 residents of DC’s Woodridge neighborhood entered the Bloomingdale bar Boundary Stone wearing t-shirts that read “Friends of Rhode Island Avenue.” They chatted with the bartenders, spent money, and left calling cards that said “If you build it, we will come.”

The purpose? Convincing the owner to open up shop in Woodridge, which has a dusty commercial strip a couple miles away on Rhode Island Avenue.

While Woodridge’s housing stock has been attracting DC residents on the hunt for a reasonably-priced home for some time, the retail options are essentially non-existent. Friends of Rhode Island Avenue (FoRIA), a community group from the neighborhood, believes that their so-called “Rhode Trips” will be a good way to convince appealing retailers around the District to move up their way. The trip to Boundary Stone was the group’s first attempt.

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“It’s not enough for people to just want something,” said Ben Miller, the founder of Popularise, a website that allows residents to vote and comment on what businesses should occupy available addresses around DC. “Other factors need to be brought into the equation, like money and the quality of the operator. The most popular idea isn’t always the best operator.”

However, Miller believes that the sort of engagement that FoRIA is generating amongst its residents is powerful if it can be properly communicated to the right entrepreneurs, landlords and developers. Often, entrepreneurs don’t know exactly where the demand is, he said. “Can we make the demand more explicit by partnering with a neighborhood and giving them an online platform?” wondered Miller.

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In addition to planning Rhode Trips, FoRIA is eager to attract businesses with other efforts, like their upcoming fall festival in September. The scant businesses that exist, like Rita’s Italian Ice and Art Enables, will open their doors, vendors and artists will fill the strip, and FoRIA hopes that entrepreneurs will come to check out the vacancies. The organization also has ties to the Greater Washington Chamber of Commerce and the Washington Area Community Investment Firm and is building a Board with experience in revitalization.

 

What do you think?




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