VNMS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, APRIL 14th, 2021 |
Viet Chopsticks' welcoming interior, Sfoglina soft-serve, Patio season at Tesoro Trattoria Pizzeria, Wine Club selections at Uptown Market, Pizza night at Italian Pizza Kitchen, Spring blooms at the Streatery, Deliciousness at Sugar Fox, Bee People at Politics and Prose, Kojo's big decision at Bread Furst! |
Last Week! VNMS Spring NOW
Connecticut Avenue Beautification Fundraiser
Last weekend, volunteers joined Master Gardener Kathy Sykes to plant colorful flowers in front of Acacia Food and Wine and near the Rosemary Bistro - I'm Eddie Cano Streatery to continue our month-long Spring NOW pollinator planting project. (photos below) Please sign up and join us for our final weekend, this Saturday and Sunday!
Our Spring NOW campaign will allow us to transform 61 tree boxes within our commercial corridor by planting beautiful wildflowers to attract bees, monarch butterflies and other pollinators, creating attractive, natural habitats that will benefit the environment and the community. However, like last year, our budget does not provide funds for this year's event due to the ongoing public health crisis, so we're once again turning to our supportive community in hopes of receiving enough donations to make this project possible.
Here are ways you can become involved!
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Tree Box Sponsor. Suggested donation $100. Sponsor one of our 61 tree boxes. We'll place a sign of thanks in your plot! Come out to plant your plot or leave it to our volunteers. Contribute here.
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Wildflower Sponsor. Suggested donation $50. Each $50 donation allows us to purchase wildflower seeds. Contribute here.
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Butterfly Power Sponsor. Suggested donation $25. Small donations add up to making this project possible! Contribute here.
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Walking Master Gardener Tours. Join Master Gardener Kathy Sykes on a 75-minute walk exploring the street gardens along Connecticut Ave. Learn more about this terrific opportunity below.
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Socially Distanced On-site Volunteers from 1-4 pm. Saturdays and Sundays through April 18. This activity is perfect for volunteers of all ages. Sign up here.
This project is great for all ages. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Planting supplies will be provided but please bring your own gardening gloves, a bottle of water and favorite gardening tools if you have them. This event takes place outside. Masks must be worn at all times. Thank you!
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Virtual Wine Tasting with Calvert Woodley
Malbec World Day is this Saturday, April 17th and Calvert Woodley has a terrific event lined up so you can celebrate the day the Argentine way! Join their virtual tasting where you'll try four Malbec wines at home while enjoying a presentation by four of Argentina’s best winemakers via Zoom.
This event is hosted in collaboration with the Embassy of Argentina in the United States and Wines of Argentina. Tasting packs featuring four wines with cheese and crackers are available to order online, or for in store pick-up. Order your tasting pack here, while they last.
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Nantucket Clam Shack Re-Opens Tomorrow
Last year, Nantucket Clam Shack - a ghost kitchen by the creators of I'm Eddie Cano - was a big hit! If you miss their fresh, delicious seafood and sides, then you're in luck. The ghost kitchen reopens tomorrow, Thursday, April 15th and pre-orders are now open. And, don't miss their opening week special: Take 10% off online pre-orders placed today with promo code THESHACKISBACK.
*Enter the code at the online check-out.
*Discount is not available for phone-in orders.
*The discount only applies to pre-orders placed today online.
5014 Connecticut Ave, NW
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Friday Flight Night at Uptown Market
Join Uptown Market for their first exclusive seated wine tasting, Friday Flight Night on April 23rd, 6pm-8pm. You'll 'fly' to Europe to taste three Austrian wines, and one wine from Spain. The tasting doesn't end there! It also includes a local touch featuring a woman-created Maryland wine. Certified sommelier Andrew Stover will be pouring the five wines to guests on the patio (weather permitting).
Flight Night is FREE to current wine club members. Non-members may purchase tickets for $20 each. Guests may order from Uptown Market's new Tapas menu while they're tasting wine, for a separate fee. Purchase tickets and learn more here: uptownmarketdc.com/flightnight
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Walking Master Gardener Tours with Kathy Sykes
Join Master Gardener Kathy Sykes on a 75-minute walk exploring the street gardens along Connecticut Ave. Learn the names and unique features of some of our native and perennial plants. You will also learn about "keystone plants" that provide tremendous benefits to our environment. You can easily translate this knowledge to your gardens and balconies!
Suggested donation: $30-adults; $15-children under 16. Proceeds benefit Van Ness Main Street.
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Washington Post reports on the Connecticut Ave. reversible lanes; Deadlines for comments on the DDOT study - via Forest Hills Connection
In case you missed it: The Washington Post published an article last weekend over the Connecticut Avenue reversible lanes and bike lanes proposals.
The Post article includes some details of the safety study and a small business perspective that we have not covered in our own stories about the DDOT study:
- Adding protected bike lanes is projected to cost $4.6 million and is likely four years away, if approved.
- DDOT also proposes lowering the speed limit to 25 miles per hour.
- “While about 300 bicyclists use the corridor daily, more than 3,000 bike trips would be made on the route after a bike lane opens, according to city estimates.”
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And the owner of Baked by Yael in Woodley Park wonders how many of the thousands of drivers passing through each day are actually stopping to shop.
“‘The commuters who are going down there at 50 miles per hour, they don’t even see my business because they are moving too fast to get through it,’ said [Yael] Krigman, who also is a member of Woodley Park Main Street. ‘So I’m very pleased with the prospect of slowing down Connecticut Avenue.’”
DDOT has posted the presentations from its March 30th and April 1st public meetings on the concepts being studied, and we have until May 1st to submit comments to Conn-Ave-revstudy@dc.gov. And area ANCs are considering resolutions on the DDOT study. ANC 3F is collecting comments from constituents on its draft resolution, which is in support of removing the reversible lanes, adding protected bike lanes, and instituting other safety measures proposed by DDOT. Contact ANC 3F at commissioners@anc3f.com before its April 20th meeting.
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April 20:
April 22:
April 24:
May 1:
May 5th:
May 7th:
May 16th:
Celebrate the Heart of Van Ness Main Street during National Small Business Month! 1-4pm. Save the date to stroll Van Ness, Wakefield and Forest Hills to enjoy food and drink specials, a Selfie Scavenger Hunt, sidewalk chalk art (for all ages), Barks & Brews, our new Spring NOW plantings and more! Stay tuned for our event page and map of activities.
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