It Ain't Not Easy Being Green

Can you deal with that double-negative?

If you're interested in decreasing your carbon footprint - and who isn't? - the DC Government will help subsidize the cost of installing renewable energy sources. From an email blast I received today:

The District of Columbia Renewable Energy Demonstration Project (REDP) provides qualified applicants up to 50% of the costs associated with installing a mechanism to produce electricity using a renewable source of fuel. Eligible projects include District residences, hospitals, and commercial or institutional buildings where construction has not begun. Projects may include, but are not limited to, installing photovoltaic arrays, fuel cells, biomass-fired CHP systems, and small wind turbines.

Project proposals must be mailed or delivered to The District Department of the Environment's Energy Division, 2000 14th Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009. Proposals can also be faxed to 202-673-6725 Attention: LaKeisha Estep. Proposals must be submitted by April 2, 2007.

For more information, call the District Department of the Environment's Energy Hotline at(202) 673-6750, or visit: http://dceo.dc.gov/dceo/frames.asp?doc=/dceo/lib/dceo/REDPGrant3.pdf to obtain project proposal requirements.

So now you have no excuse. Go make Al proud.

Post on Playbill

This particular blogger, his wife, and Jennifer happened to be visiting 1409 Playbill Cafe on one of the evenings Post writer Ellen McCarthy was researching her piece, At Playbill, All the Cafe's a Stage. That's not to say it's either surprising or serendipity; anybody who knows Jennifer, Heather, or me can tell you we are, as they say, regulars. We weren't quoted or anything, not that we had much to offer beyond semi-adolescent gushing about how much we love Sayed's cooking, Sayed's restaurant, and Sayed. Still, it was exciting to know that our favorite neighborhood place was getting some well-deserved print to go with its cred.

Nice job!

Police Service Survey - Input Wanted

From our friends at MPD:

The Metropolitan Police Department is conducting a survey to gauge the community's opinion about police service and solicit suggestions on ways to improve. Information from the survey will be used to help understand the specific needs of the community and determine which programs have been successful and those that may need additional attention. Residents and business owners, visitors, and commuters to the city are welcome to participate. The survey may be completed in several ways:- by completing the printed form available at all DC Public Libraries and police district stations and substations and dropping it in the collection box- by visiting the MPDC website and downloading the PDF version of the form- by filling the survey out online at SurveyMonkey (easiest)

You can learn more about the survey at www.mpdc.dc.gov/communitysurvey. The survey period closes March 14, 2007. We ask that hard copy forms be mailed by that time and the online survey will close then.If you have questions about the survey, please contact Annie Russell, Director of the Policing for Prevention Division, at (202) 727-1585 or e-mail her at annie.russell@dc.gov.Here is a link to the survey:https://outlook.dc.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?A=178268280E43037 (Visitors to the MPDC landing page are directed to this link to complete the survey online).

Thanks for your participation,
Kevin Palmer
Office of Corporate Communications
Metropolitan Police Department
(202) 727-4731 / kevin.palmer@dc.gov

Vigil and Rally at Reeves Center

An email blast to several of the neighborhood lists tips us off to an upcoming rally against violence to be held at the Reeves Center at 14th and U NW this Friday. The event also includes a vigil for Damon Ward, who - if you haven't been paying attention - was an innocent bystander shot on U Street recently. Speakers are to include Mayor Fenty, Chief Lanier, and Councilman Graham.

The event starts at 12:30, so if you're home from work or off on lunch, make sure to stop by!

Logan Circle Community Association Diversity Dinner

LCCA's first membership meeting of the year will be our annual Diversity Dinner on Thursday, February 15, 2007 at 7 PM at the Washington Plaza Hotel. (Please note the date change from or regular schedule.) Most of you will remember our dinner last year, which was a huge success. As with last year, we'll have lots of great food donated from area restaurants, and are honored to have DC Council Chair, Vincent Gray and DC Office of Human Rights Director Gustavo Velasquez as our guest speakers. We look forward to seeing you there, and have attached some additional info to the end of this email for you to help us spread the word. For more information please contact Desi Deschaine at desi.deschaine@logancircle.org.

Diversity Reception:
Celebrating the Lives of Logan Circle

Thursday, February 15, 2007
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Washington Plaza Hotel
10 Thomas Circle, NW


Guests of Honor:

Vincent Gray
Chair, DC Council

Gustavo Velasquez
Director, DC Office of Human Rights


Sponsored by:

Logan Circle Community Association

Do You Walk In DC?

If you answered "No," then you are probably confined to a wheelchair, and I'm sorry; but read on regardless!

As reported in the Post, the District is crafting its first-ever Pedestrian Master Plan. And they would like our input. On the Pedestrian Master Plan site, you can find a short survey (about ten minutes) about your walking opinions and habits. Hurry, though, it's only online until tomorrow!

Luxury Hotel on 14th Street

I attended the ANC 2F meeting last night. It ran quite long due to an appearance by MPD Chief Lanier. I am crafting a lengthier wrap-up, and I'll post it later. However, as requested, here is some information on the planned luxury hotel on 14th Street.

The hotel is located on 14th Street, just north of P Street, primarily in the parking lot adjacent to Viridian. As you can see from the concept drawing, it also extends over the top of the existing restaurant building.

The building was intended for thirty condo units, but (as we all know) the condo market softened greatly during the protracted two-year battle for building permits. The extravagant architecture pushed the cost per square foot beyond what the market could reasonably bear for condominiums, and thus they changed their plans. They are in talks with several national hotel companies, mostly of the boutique variety.

Personally, I love the look of the building. It might be necessary, though, to pressure our ANC to craft a voluntary agreement requiring the Jetsons theme to play on continual loop outside on the sidewalk.