Rhode Island Insider

Archive Page 2

Apr

Calling Ward 5 Home

Categories: Redevelopment

Woodridge makes it in the news again. This time, in the Washington Post. Here are some exciting excerpts:

Just a few doors down from Lace, two eateries are scheduled to open this summer: D.C. Chocolate Bar & Bakery and Oliver Friendly’s Eat & Smile. They are a part of a small but growing group of restaurants that will soon call Ward 5 home. Merchants hope their arrival will further a transformation already under way, and provide the kind of synergy that turns retail deserts into destinations.

The RIA Insider was the first to report on Oliver Friendly’s and DC Chocolate Bar & Bakery. Click here and here to check them out.

To read more of the Post article, click here.

Apr

Benefits of Living Along RIA NE

By rhodeislandinsider 10 Comments

Categories: Life on RIA
Tags: bicycle, Bike washington, DC, district of columbia, foria, friends of rhode island avenue, northeast, rhode island avenue, RIA, washington

by Greg Roberts

Yesterday, members of the DC Bicycle Advisory Group met up with local neighbors to ride along RIA from Logan Circle to Eastern Avenue to record the conditions for bicyclists along the Avenue. More to come on this from Kyle Todd, FoRIA member and part of the group that surveyed the Avenue, but as he stated, “the goal of the ride was to look at ways to improve the cycling infrastructure along RIA to make it safer for cyclists, pedestrians, AND cars”. In addition, last month, Chairman Kwame Brown announced that he was directing Capital Bike Share to install a Bike Share station at the Woodridge Library. We also have the option to use the Metropolitan Branch Trail that cuts right behind the Brentwood Shopping Center and RIA Metro station. All of this is great news for those that like to hit the road or trails on two wheels or run or take a nice walk.

But there is also some nearby hidden gems right up the street (albeit, on the other side of the border with MD) that makes for a beautiful bike ride, walk, or jog during the day. This morning, my partner and I biked the NE Branch Trail (seen to the right) and we love the quiet of the morning ride and the scenery, especially around Lake Artemesia (which is next to the University of Maryland). This trail runs next to the brooks and through the woods, up next to a baseball fields, and the trail also boasts some workout equipment if you are feeling extra spunky on a Sunday morning (I decided I would pass on the equipment so early). The path also gives you opportunities to rest along it at places like the Denis Wolf Rest Stop. Now, the trail we took this morning isn’t the only one and the good thing about all of these trails is that they are interconnected for the most part so you can get around pretty easily. More information about this and the other trails is available at Bike Washington.

Another thing that you can do just north of us if you like to skate board or have children that do, is visit the newly constructed skate board park located at Melrose Park along Rhode Island Avenue.

So, get out there and enjoy the fact that we live so close to so many things like the Anacostia Tributary Trails.

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Apr

FoRIA Street Clean Up

By rhodeislandinsider Leave a Comment

Categories: Redevelopment

The time has come to step up for our community once again! The Friends of RIA (FoRIA) are at it again! Come out and help us clean up the Avenue!!

It may be chilly and rainy outside now, but Saturday’s forecast is nothin’ but
sunshine and warmer temperatures – perfect weather for coming together with your
neighbors to polish up Rhode Island Avenue, the backbone of our community!

Last time we targeted 18th Street to South Dakota, and this time we’ll be taking
on 14th Street to 18th Street. Please reach out to your neighbors, your church,
or anyone else with an interest in Ward 5. The more hands we have involved, the
faster we’ll see permanent, positive changes in Ward 5 and Rhode Island Avenue.

WHEN: Saturday, April 14, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Meet at the northeast corner of 1600 Rhode Island Ave NE (across 16th
Street from Flip It)

DETAILS: General trash pick-up – PLUS – a great opportunity to meet neighbors
and show your support for our neighborhood!

T-SHIRTS!!: We’ll have a limited number of FoRIA t-shirts for sale at the event
- $15 each.

We will have a limited amount of tools (brooms, etc.), plus bags provided by
DC-DPW, so bring your work gloves and comfortable clothes.

I’m looking forward to seeing everybody again on April 14th!

Apr

Why We Do What We Do

By rhodeislandinsider 3 Comments

Categories: Life on RIA and Redevelopment
Tags: foria, friends of ria, Redevelopment, rhode island ave, rhode island row, RIA

by Greg Roberts

I started this blog over four years ago as a means to show the rest of the world why I chose to move to a neighborhood off of Rhode Island Avenue. I saw the potential of a DC street that sees over 30,000 car trips daily in and out of the District, wide sidewalks along Main Street type of corridors, and wonderful people. Over the last year, the Insider grew to include more contributors who wanted to share their experiences and insight in this area. In addition, the readers of this blog used it as a means to connect and form a community group called Friends of RIA (FoRIA) to take our neighborhood to another level. None of us get paid for what we do…heck, we barely have time given our full time lives. So why do we do it?

The answer to that is in the email below that I received to a new RIA resident and neighbor:

Greg,

Hi- I have to thank you so much for your awesome blog. My friends (future roommates) and I have been in DC for a few years. I lived on H Street for two years and currently live on the Hill, the other two attended Catholic in undergrad and now live in NoVA (No! terrible! haha) but none of us ever considered Rhode Island Ave. We stumbled across the Rhode Island Row apartments, really loved the proximity to the metro and also the individual units, but we were concerned about the neighborhood. Honestly, after reading your blog we were completely sold on the area. It’s obvious that so many people care and are trying to make it better all the time. I really just wanted to compliment you on the high quality of the blog, it’s clearly a labor of love on the part of all your talented contributors and that’s unique. There are other good neighborhood blogs (PoP obviously) but more often than not they’re all posts clamoring for a LuLuLemon or something equally obnoxious. I like that you’re as focused on what the neighbors can do to improve their neighborhood as you are “when are we getting a Starbucks?” Anyway, keep up the good work- we’re really enjoying all the info!

We’ll be moving in during May.

Thanks to all of our readers, those who comment, and those that volunteer your time… the message is for all of you. We all make a difference.

Apr

Drinks, Food, and Neighbors

By rhodeislandinsider 1 Comment

Categories: Life on RIA
Tags: brookland, DC, happy hour, Lace, rhode island ave ne, RIA, washington

Although the Insider will not be posting notices like this constantly, we did want to make sure that all of our readers knew that Jennifer Parker does a really good job putting together these monthly Happy Hours and since this one is at a local business on RIA, we thought we would share it. These events are usually a great time and you get to meet your neighbors. To stay up to date on when the Happy Hours and other Ward 5 events are, go to the Ward 5 Calendar.

Meet Your Neighbors – Support Local

Share a Few Laughs – Why Not?

Thursday, April 5

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (ish)

Lace on the Avenue

2214 Rhode Island Avenue NE

(202) 832-3888

The chef is cooking up some special foods for us!

Happy Hour drink specials!

We love to support this place and they love us!

Hope to see you there!

Mar

And Another Community Partner….

By rhodeislandinsider 2 Comments

Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: DC, greater washington hispanic chamber of commerce, rhode island ave, RIA, wacif

Yesterday, we reported that the Friends of RIA (FoRIA) has partnered up with the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF). Today, the group has announced that they are also partnering with the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC). Check out FoRIA’s website to help connect potential business owners with resources and training by clicking here.

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