CUA Community and Youth Night

  Looking for a something to do tomorrow night with the kids, or not?  Well CUA might have just the thing for you.  Tomorrow night CUA will be hosting their first annual Community and Youth Night.  Youth and Community Night is open to all of the surrounding neighbood residents.  Any youth athlete wearing their jersey or league t-shirt will receive a snack, drink, and be able to participate in a half-time activity weather permitting.  Best of all it is free to residents of Brookland, Edgewood, Michigan park, North Michigan Park, and Ft. Totten (with ID)!

Rhode Island Avenue Fall Fest

And now for something completely different...
  It has been announced that Friends of RIA NE (a local organization focused on the development of RIA NE) will be hosting the First Annual (hopefully) Rhode Island Avenue Fall Fest on Saturday September 22, 2012, Noon – 4pm at the intersection of Rhode Island and South Dakota Ave's NE.  This festival will provide local neighborhoods a chance to celebrate the coming fall with some Rita's, art demonstrations with Art Enables, lunch with DC BRau at Lace on The Avenue, games, and more!  Admission is free, and the whole family is encouraged to attend.

DC Farmers Market Transformation To Union Market District

  Many residents of NE, especially Brookland, Ivy City, Michigan Park, NOMA and surrounding areas, are familiar with the DC Farmers Market located on 5th St NE aross from Gallaudet University. The location of a vibarant urban market place in the 1800's, gave way to the meat packing and produce district in the early-mid 1900's, and now on to an underutilized and often unknown area of the city. With the exception of a few hidden gems, like A. Litteri's italian market and the Weekend Flee Market, most of the area laid unknown to a majority of the city's everyday residents.  All of that will soon be changing however, with the market scheduled to re-open (unbeknownst to us) this coming June with an all new look and feel.
  This past October an electrical fire broke out at the market, devastating the structure and closing it indefinitely.  However,  from the ashes risese a bright new future.  The owners of the marlet have long had plans for redevelopment of the property, and it looks as though these plans are moving along quicker than anticipated.  The below video is from the Washington Post provides an overview of the redesign of the market, as well as a glimpse of things to come at the new Union Market!



Below is the advertising video provided by EDENS, who owns the market site, showcasing some of the market's history and their vision for the future.



  To celebrate the reopening of the market, EDENS is holding a "Sunday Supper" on Jun 3rd, to benifit the FoodCorps of DC.  While the ticket price is a little steep at $240 a pop, the quality of Chef talent is second to none!  One thing is for sure, and that is it will be nice to have a fresh food market and entertainment sight so close to our part of DC.

Youth Breakfast Fundraiser for Boystown

Boys Town DC will be hosting their "Spirit of Youth Breakfast Fundraiser" September 22nd at the Ritz Carlton on 22nd St in the District.  The nationwide organization, which has it's DC location in the Michigan Park area is dedicated to assisting the city's at-risk youth by providing them various services form housing, to mentorship and trianing.  Not only is the organization selling tickets for the event, they are also looking for sponsors!  Details can be found on the Boys Town DC Website or by contacting Tosha Roundtree, Boys Town Washington, D.C. Development Director at 202-650-6313 or tosha.roundtree@boystown.org.

                         Date:  Thursday, September 22
                         Time: Networking 7:30 a.m., Program 8:30 - 10 a.m.
                         Location:  The Ritz Carlton
                                           1150 22nd St, NW

                                           Washington, D.C. 20037

                             Buy Tickets or Sponsor The Eevent Here!

Ward 5 Easter Egg Roll

Now that spring time has arrived, we are all looking for better ways to get out and enjoy our community a little bit more.  This coming Monday, Ward 5 Councilmember Harry "Tommy" Thomas Jr. is giving us that chance.  The Councilmember will be hosting the  "Ward 5 Easter Egg Roll" on Monday, April 25th at Ft. Circle Park on South Dakota Avenue from Noon until 4:00 PM.  
View Easter Egg Roll in a larger map
The event will be a great chance to not only meet with your Ward 5 Councilmember, but also to meet some of your neighbors and enjoy the food, fun and giveways for the kiddies!  More information can be obtained by contacting Councilmember's Office or by visiting his website here.

Action Packed Weekend in 20017

  On this first beautiful weekend of October, there is surely no shortage of things to take up your time in the wonderful neighborhoods of 20017!  First get your weekend started off with the unveiling of the newest addition to the Brookland Neighborhood Street-scape.  In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Brookland Cafe will be  unveiling Joel Bergners latest mural.  The event, sponsored by DASH(District Alliance for Safe Housing) and Lovebus Events, will feature free food and Live Performances at the Brookland Cafe from 4-6 PM. 

  On Sunday,Oct 3rd, a fundraising 5k will be taking place around North Michigan Park, Brookland and CUA to benifit the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute.The Office of Disability Support Services is hosting a 5K to raise money for the Kennedy Institute's Infant and    Toddler Program. This program serves three to six year olds, with and without development delays, in an inclusive setting. The race will take place on October 3, 2010 at the Dufour Center, with check-in beginning at 9:30am. Registration is $15.00 per person for CUA and Kennedy Institute Affiliates ($17.00 day of the race) and $20 for the general population ($25 day of the race). The race will be followed by a fun fair at the Dufour Center fields. To sign up to walk or run, please visit the Disability Support Services website (dss.cua.edu) and follow the link for the registration website.The 5K Fun-Fair from10:00am until 2:00pm on Sunday, October 3, there will be a will feature carnival games with prizes, a moon bounce, and food courtsey of DC Slices Pizza, Red, Hot, and Blue BBQ and Rita's Water Ice.  There will be a "donation fee" of $5 to enter the fair.  The race and fair will also impact those of you who choose not to participate, through the closing of several local streets for a period in the morning. 

  If you are more of a pet person, then we have something for you as well!  The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, located at 1400 Quincy St NE, will hold its annual Blessing of the Animals as part of the celebration of the Feast of St. Francis this Sunday at 1:30 pm.  The event is open to all, and is always a very festive and entertaining event!

The Great Brookland Yardsale This Saturday

  The annual Great Brookland Yard Sale is finally here.  The yearly neighborhood tradition was started three years ago, and is ready for it's largest group of participants yet (over 50 houses!!!).  The GBYS will begin at 10 AM this Saturday (May 8th) and run until 2 PM.  Attending the GBYS is free of course, and made easier by a much more organized effort than in previous years.  The easiest way to traverse the massive coalition of sellers, is to utilize one of the free maps found at any Sale Participants Table or by stopping by The Menkiti Group's office (official sponser of the GBYS) on the corner of 12th and Evarts Ave NE. The below Google Map can also be used to help direct you from sale to sale (it is the most recent list of all participants)!!  If there is rain the date will shift to Sunday, May 9th. This is a great opportunity to show off our community and the amazing and diverse people who make events like this possible.
Also, if you need a break from your haggling and antique hunting, be sure to stop by Channing St. NE and give a cheer for the Menkiti Group's renovation project for Rebuilding Together of Washington, DC. 


View Great Brookland Yard Sale 2010 in a larger map

Met Branch Trail Open: Bike Brookland to Union Station

D-DOT, in conjunction with the Rails to Trail conservancy, cut the ribbon this morning opening the newest section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail Bicycle Path.  It is now possible to bike from Brookland all the way to Union Station on a dedicated bike path.  City construction crews and CaseyTrees will be planting trees, installing benches and completing other finishing touches during the coming weeks.  Another celebration of the trail opening is scheduled for Saturday June 5th as part of National Trails Day.  So get out there and sport your tightest outfit and get peddling to celebrate National Bike Month!!!  MBT Trail updates can be found Here (Click Me).


View MBT: Metropolitan Branch Trail in a larger map

DC Blogger Skeeball Tournement

  Come out tonight, April 22nd, and support The Totten Life as we "roll over" the competition in the First Annual DC Neighborhood Blogger Skeeball  Tournament.  The festivities kickoff at 7 PM at The H St. Country Club, and it's $5 at the door for drink and food specials. Hope to see you all there...to cheer The Totten Life Racoons on to Victory!!!!!
---Leave a comment below if you want to join the team, we have a few spots left!!!---