by David Jonas Bardin A major landmark in our neighborhood is the University of the District of Columbia’s main campus. But UDC’s roots were spread throughout the city, and sprouted before the Civil War. In 1975, a brand new DC Council compelled three rival and independent-minded public institutions to join together under one governing UDC […]
In 1930, a Hot Shoppe arrived in the neighborhood and drew the young and rowdy. Its neighbors weren’t pleased.
by Ann Kessler On July 2nd, 1930, a new restaurant opened on Connecticut Avenue at Yuma Street NW. The grand opening was quite the affair, with a brass band playing and coupons for free root beer being passed around the crowd. It was the fifth of the Hot Shoppes chain of restaurants. Founded by J. […]
See a “Defining Father” through a UDC-based institute’s lens
by Marlene Berlin This historic Election Day could see the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first person of South Asian descent ascend to the presidency. On this day, we take a moment to remember another defining figure in our nation’s history: Frederick Douglass. The UDC-based Institute of Politics, Policy and History (IPPH) […]
July 4th flashback: When the Embassy of the Netherlands celebrated U.S. independence
Happy 4th, everyone! In 1919, the Embassy of the Netherlands entered this float in the National Independence Day Parade. It looks almost real enough to set sail on the Potomac. Alas, these seafarers had just half a ship. The Netherlands is one of the oldest United States allies, with ties dating back to the American […]
One block, nine decades: From Piggly Wiggly to Bread Furst, and the “auto laundry” that has stood through it all
by Ann Kessler On the Flagship Car Wash at 4432 Connecticut Avenue there’s a sign that says “Since 1941.” It’s off by a decade. The car wash was actually built in 1931, and has stood watch over decades of change along this block south of Albemarle Street. 4434 Connecticut The current home of Bread Furst, […]
The neighborhood history in a piece of wrought iron railing
Jerry McCoy, a special collections archivist and librarian at the DC Public Library, is retiring after 24 years. The news, reported by NBC4, got our attention because McCoy was posted at the Washingtoniana Collection’s interim Van Ness location in 2018, during the renovation of the MLK Library. We knew that because, shortly after Washingtoniana moved […]
Business in Brief: Bread Furst and Politics and Prose anniversaries, and a neighborhood border incursion
Two neighborhood businesses are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year: Bread Furst and Politics and Prose. For Bread Furst, it’s been ten years since the bakery opened its doors. Bread Furst’s debut on May 6th, 2014 marked the return of renowned baker and Marvelous Market founder Mark Furstenberg to the neighborhood, and local foodies were practically […]
Avalon Theatre’s May 5 gala celebrates history of film scores, and supports film education for DC schools
The Avalon Theatre’s gala on Sunday, May 5th will celebrate 90 years of Oscar-winning film scores. The next day, the theater will screen a documentary for a special audience that’s another focus of the annual fundraising event. Cinema Classroom at the Avalon began in 2013 and is a free program for DC students in 6th […]
“Undesign the Redline” exhibit views and teaches the history of Ward 3 neighborhoods (including ours) through a different lens
by Joy Bates Boyle “Undesign the Redline” (not about the Metro!) is an interactive, traveling exhibit that explores the history of explicit race-based exclusion, specifically in upper Northwest DC. It presents the policies that created structural racism and inequality, the systems that resulted, and how we can come together in an intentional way to “undesign” […]
Lost Forest Hills: The Rose Hill quarry
by Ann Kessler The first people who lived here left their mark here. Archaeologists believe that the first inhabitants of the Washington, DC area arrived around 13,000 years ago. According to a 2008 archaeologists’ report on Rock Creek Park for the National Park Service, these ancient people built villages and left many artifacts along the […]