9 minute read
Shaw Streets • Pleasant Mann
Shaw Streets
by Pleasant Mann
The New Shaw 11th Street Clean and Safe Team with Career Path DC managers. Photo: Pleasant Mann
Shaw Works to Protect Seaton Students
Shaw Clean and Safe Team Expands
e Shaw Clean and Safe Team, which keeps the neighborhood’s commercial corridors tidy, has expanded. At the beginning of the new DC scal year, the team gained the responsibility of managing 11th Street NW, along with its previous territory along the Seventh and Ninth Street corridors.
Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto was able to identify funding in the FY2023 budget to bring these services to 11th Street, between Massachusetts Avenue and S Street NW. e Shaw Clean and Safe Team is managed by Shaw Main Streets, with a Commercial Clean Team grant from the Department of Small and Local Business Development. Funds from developers’ Planned Unit Development amenities packages supplement the DSLBD grant.
Each team sweeps curbs, collects trash, recyclables and leaves, maintains tree boxes, abates gra ti in public space and serves as public safety “eyes and ears” in their service areas. Contractor Career Path DC hires returning citizens and others in need to serve as team members. Crew members are provided with intensive life skills and job readiness training, focusing on obtaining and maintaining employment, acceptable workplace behaviors, overcoming barriers, tree care and other skills. Team members receive ongoing supportive services to assist them with achieving the ultimate goals of self-su ciency and enhanced career opportunities. e two new members of the Shaw Clean and Safe Team, Demetrius and Dajon, hope that their work on 11th Street will encourage residents and visitors to also help keep Shaw’s commercial corridors clean by properly disposing of trash.
After a parent and student were recently hit by a car while walking to Seaton Elementary School, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Alex Lopez called together community stakeholders to help identify solutions to pedestrian safety challenges along a common walk-to-school route. A group of about 40 students and parents assembled at the intersection of Q and Sixth Streets on the morning of October 11, including Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Seaton Principal Veronica Torres, Seaton Parent/Teacher Organization President Adam Taylor, Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander Padro and three team members from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), including its Ward 2 Coordinator.
As the group moved down Q Street, they pointed out potential hazards for pedestrians and possible solutions. e speed of automobile tra c was a major concern. Commissioner Lopez suggested establishing a turn hardening crosswalk at the intersection of Q and Sixth. Making 10th Street on eastbound Rhode Island Avenue “No Turn on Red” was another proposal. ere were also calls for building a raised crosswalk at Q and Rhode Island or even closing Q Street in front of Seaton Elementary. e DDOT representatives ended the walk by promising to review and respond to all the group’s observations and to come up with recommended solutions to the problems identi ed in the Seaton walkthrough.
Shaw Still Pretty Gay
While the Washington Blade newspaper no longer gives out awards for Best Gayborhood, the results of its most recent reader’s poll for the Best of LGBTQ DC Awards show that Shaw is still pretty Gay. In the all-important categories involving drinking, Shaw establishments ruled, with Uproar getting the award for Best Outdoor Drinking on its third- oor deck, Dacha Beer Garden declared best LGBTQ Friendly Bar, and Kiki winning the title of Best ABSOLUT Happy Hour in its rst year of operation. Next door, the Dirty Goose won the Blade’s Editor’s Choice for Best Neighborhood Bar. e award for Best Pizza went to Andy’s Pizza, Compass Co ee won the reader’s poll for the fth consecutive year for Best Co ee Shop and Shaw’s Tavern became an Editor’s Choice for Best Outdoor Dining. e nationally renowned 9:30 Club won the award for Best Live Music in DC, while the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, DC was declared the Best House of Worship in the poll.
New Shaw Businesses on the Way
Progress continues on the Shaw business development front. A new outpost of national chain Blank Street Co ee has already opened at 1847 Seventh Street NW. e small storefront’s selling point is o ering craft co ee drinks at a lower price than competitors, along with faster service.
A much bigger deal is the opening of a Shaw branch of Ambar, the popular and well-regarded local restaurants o ering Balkan cuisine. e new restaurant, at 1547 Seventh Street NW, will revitalize a long-su ering corner of the intersection. e Ambar in Shaw plans to open in early November, with seating on two oors, an area for prepared items like spreads, meats and baked goods, and even a window to handle takeout orders. Eventually, they will have an outdoor dining area. Ivan Iricanin, head of Ambar’s parent company Street Guys Hospitality, told the Washington Business Journal, “Shaw, I knew, was going to be a hot spot nine years ago, and
Full-Service Landscape Design & Maintenance
Thomas Landscapes
OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN CAPITOL HILL
Redefining Beauty One Client at a Time!
• Installation, arbors, retaining walls, walkways, lighting, water features • Patios, roof top gardens, townhomes, single family homes • Trees & shrubs, formal & informal gardens • Custom Masonry, Fencing and Iron work • Restoration and Enhancement
Fall Garden Special
EXP 11/30/2022
10% OFF
NEW CLIENTS
15% OFF
ANY DESIGN
10% OFF
ON ANY NEW INSTALLATION
Derek Thomas / Principal
Certified Professional Horticulturist | Member of MD Nursery Landscape and Greenhouse Association 301.642.5182 | 202.322.2322 (Office) thomaslandscapes.com
WIDE SHOE OUTLET
Men’s and Women’s sizes up to 15 EE
Savings in store and online simplywide.com
Brands: Naturalizer • Soft Spots • Ros Hommerson • Propet Walking • Cradles • Easy Street
$10off
All Sales
Limited Time simplywide.com
Lots & Lots
Wide Width Shoes All Day Comfort
4279 Branch Avenue Marlow Heights, MD 20748 301-702 1401
President Biden spoke from the stage of Shaw’s historic Howard Theatre. Photo courtesy Democratic National Committee
I wanted to be the rst one coming in. Now, I’m the last one, but I still believe in the area.” e Logan Circle Laundromat at 11th and Rhode Island closed at the end of October. Rumors are that the site may be developed as a new restaurant.
And the years-long question “Is the 7-Eleven going to reopen?” nally has an answer. e 7-Eleven Corporation has announced that they are reopening the store on the corner of Seventh Street and Rhode Island Avenue. Neighbors had wondered if the 7-Eleven, which had been closed following a re, was ever coming back.
Mr. Biden Goes to the Howard
On October 18th, President Joseph R. Biden came to Shaw to deliver an address on protecting reproductive freedom. From the stage of the Howard eatre, surrounded by American ags and women holding red, white and blue “Defend Choice” and “Restore Roe” signs, the president exhorted the crowd to ”vote, vote, vote” so that an expanded Congressional majority could send legislation codifying the recently overturned Roe v. Wade decision to his desk for signature, restoring a right that Americans had enjoyed for half a century. Footage and photographs of POTUS and the cheering crowd appeared on network television for weeks afterward. ◆
(Continued from page 17) tle of wine with your friends and share a board of cheese and charcuterie.”
Mori aims to keep the cafe authentic—casual and “unpretentious,” like the ones she loved in Paris. e menu centers around three things: cheese, meats and wine. About 80% of the cheese selection is French, and all of the wines are from France, while other menu items are locally sourced from the DMV region.
A second location at Union Market also o ers a cheese club membership, which allows customers to pick up a monthly selection of cheeses and a small gift. e shop currently o ers one-, three- and sixmonth memberships.
“It’s a great way to discover new cheeses,” Mori said. “We de nitely do not stick to French. Even though there will be a lot of French cheeses, we try to showcase cheeses from around the world.”
Mori emphasized that the authenticity of La Jambe is not limited to the menu, but is also found in the experience. She said she chose Shaw because of its neighborhood and community feel. She has worked hard to make the cafe feel like home for her customers.
“Some people consider it as their second living room, which makes a lot of sense now. When I created this space, I never thought we would be able to attain that. Having people feeling so strongly and connected to this place is extremely rewarding.”
La Jambe is open Wednesday through ursday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. e restaurant features happy hour Wednesday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. e Union Market location (1309 5th Street NE) is open daily.
Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@ hillrag.com. ◆
#dineinshaw #drinkinshaw #shopinshaw #loveshaw
•VAPE & HOOKAH ACCESSORIES •CIGARS •CBD
1314 9TH STREET, NW I (202) 618-4441
1701 6th Street, NW 202.481.2266 DCShawarma.com
DINE IN • TAKE OUT • DELIVERY
STORE #7175
1835 7TH STREET, NW (202) 804-4338
SHIPPING • PRINTING • MAILBOXES • SHREDDING • NOTARY Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
Like Us on Facebook
PLAY • LESSONS • EVENTS
901 New York Avenue, NW, Suite E110 (202) 902-0983 Cityswingdc.com
@cityswingdc @cityswing
1250 9TH STREET, NW • (202) 827-5237
GHOSTBURGERDC.COM @GHOSTBURGERDC
Shaw Main Streets is a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor.
