| Capitol Riverfront Summer Concert Series  The Yards Park is open, spring is just around the corner, and the performers for this year's summer concert series have been selected! As you may know, this summer we pulling together both an evening and a lunchtime concert series.
The Yards Park Concerts will attract a regional audience looking for a place to relax and unwind, spend time with friends and family, and enjoy the river and outdoors. Similar to the successful Friday evening concerts at the Sculpture Garden, the Yards Parks concerts will be a weekly Friday destination for a wide audience, with the added attraction of unique river views, open green space and a variety of live bands. The Friday evening summer concert series, produced by the Capitol Riverfront BID, is a free 15-week series from May until August at the Yards Park. Music will range from jazz and blues to rock and reggae each Friday from 6pm to 8pm. Sponsorship is available here. The performers will appear as follows: Evening Concerts (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm) May 13, 2011 - Kelly Bell (Phat Blues) www.phatblues.com May 20, 2011 - Monster Band (Dance) www.themonsterband.com May 27, 2011 - Sin Miedo (Salsa) www.sinmiedo.com June 3, 2011 - Special Occasion (R&B) June 10, 2011 - Sam 'O (Caribbean) www.myspace.com/samosings2008 June 17, 2011 - The Congress (Pop) www.thecongressband.com June 24, 2011 - Jimi Smooth (Motown) www.jimismoothandhittime.com July 1, 2011 - Framewerk (R&B, Funk) www.framewerkband.com July 8, 2011 - Jah Works (Reggae) July 15, 2011 - Cazhmiere (Top-40) www.cazhmiere.net July 22, 2011 - Dr. FU (Variety Rock) www.drfu.com July 29, 2011 - Signature (R&B/Funk) www.signaturelive.com August 5, 2011 - Chris Collat (Soul, Funk, Blues) www.chriscollatband.com August 12, 2011 - Quiet Fire (Soul) www.quietfiremusic.com August 19, 2011 - Monster Band (Dance) www.themonsterband.com Lunch Time Concerts (11:30 am - 1:30 pm) May 11, 2011 - The Jewels (Doo Wop) May 18, 2011 - 8 Ohms (Funk Horn Band) www.8ohmsband.com May 25, 2011 - Cazhmiere (Top-40) www.cazhmiere.net June 1, 2011 - Smooth Sensations (R&B) June 8, 2011 - Lloyd Dobler Effect (Party Pop Rock) www.lloyddoblereffect.com June 15, 2011 - Jah Works (Reggae) www.jahworks.com June 22, 2011 - Signature (R&B/Funk) www.signaturelive.com June 29, 2011 - Kelly Bell (Phat Blues) www.phatblues.com300.00 July 6, 2011 - Quiet Fire (Soul) www.quietfiremusic.com July 13, 2011 - Monster Band (Dance) www.themonsterband.com July 20, 2011 - The Congress (Pop) www.thecongressband.com July 27, 2011 - Sam 'O (Caribbean) www.myspace.com/samosings2008 August 3, 2011 - Sin Miedo (Salsa) www.sinmiedo.com August 10, 2011 - Annie Sidley (Pop R&B) www.anniesidley.com August 17, 2011 - Cazhmiere (Top-40) www.cazhmiere.net Don't forget that we still have days available for events in the park. If you are interested in using this beautiful waterfront space for your corporate picnics, family reunions, weddings, or other events be sure to contact Kathleen Kruczlnicki our Manager of Park Programming and Marketing. |
Canal Park Construction Has Begun!  Canal Park is preparing to break ground and should deliver by the second quarter of 2012. Streets and sidewalks have been closed off and work is underway. This three acre park will feature open lawns for concerts and movies, a children's play area, fountains and ice skating in winter.
Canal Park has been in the planning and design stages for several years. In the late 1990s, the WC Smith Company envisioned a new vibrant community and proposed to the city's Office of Planning that the Canal Blocks be turned into a new park replete with water features and activities recalling the canal's heritage. Since then, the company helped form a non-profit entity, the Canal Park Development Association to raise funds and facilitate construction of the new park. For more information about the Canal Park Development Association, check out their website. |
Development Update: Courtyard Marriott Purchased & Harry's Reserve Opens  Chesapeake Lodging Trust has agreed to buy the Courtyard Washington Capitol Hill/Navy Yard hotel in the Capitol Riverfront. for $68 million, or $330,000 per room. This Annapolis-based company will fund acquisition of this hotel by assuming approximately $37.7 million of existing mortgage debt and by borrowing under its revolving credit facility. The company will look to a third-party manager and continue to operate the hotel under its current franchise flag.
In other news, the much anticipated Harry's Reserve has opened. Be sure to visit the store, and check out their libations, on the ground floor of 909 New Jersey Ave., SE. |
DDOT Circulator Public Forum to Address Potential Service Changes  The District Department of Transportation's (DDOT) Progressive Transportation Services Administration (PTSA) is hosting the first semi-annual public forum for the DC Circulator on Thursday, March 17 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm to give passengers an opportunity to participate in discussions about current and future bus service.
The forum will take place at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel (Washington Capitol Hill/Navy Yard), at 140 L Street. It will cover a range of topics including potential changes to the span of the Union Station-Navy Yard route, a proposal to end service on the Smithsonian-National Gallery of Art route, and changes to the Convention Center-SW Waterfront route to accommodate the pending closure of Water Street, SW. Please consider attending this forum, and contribute to the dialogue that will define the future of bus service in our neighborhood. For more information please contact: Sandy Castor at sandys.castor@dc.gov |
Yards Park Family Fun Day During the National Cherry Blossom Festival  This April 2nd, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will feature the Yards Park Family Fun Day. Some of the fun activities will include: lantern making, Trapeze School demonstrations and performances, and kids activities including boat making kits and a moonbounce. For the adults, there will also be sake tasting and Japanese beer garden by Mie N Yu, as well as a variety of sushi and Japanese cuisine from Nooshi Sushi.
The Capitol Riverfront is looking for volunteers to assist with lantern making on the day of the event between 11:00 - 2:00 pm and 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt, so if you are interested, contact Kathleen Kruczlnicki. |
Metro DASH, The USA's Premier Obstacle Race is Coming to the Riverfront  Metro Dash, the country's premier obstacle race series, will be in Washington D.C. on Saturday, July 9 at the Capitol Riverfront. Last year, more than 2,200 people competed in the inaugural Metro Dash race series which are unique fitness events held in 13 major cities with courses designed by former Navy SEALs.
The D.C. Metro Dash will be at the Capitol Riverfront at the intersection of 4th and Water St., SE. The challenging course will feature 30 obstacles, such as tire flips, rope swings, 15-foot cargo net climbs, wall jumps, monkey bars and the strongman shuffle. All obstacles are based on functional fitness principles long familiar to pro athletes and military forces - terrain no other urban race has tackled. Metro Dash is the only race that offers a level-playing field for athletes who want a solid gauge of the effectiveness of their training.
Discounted early registration is available through May 2: $45 per individual and $160 per team. To pre-register for an upcoming 2011 Metro Dash race, go to their website. |
Marcâtus Creative Market Coming to the Yards Park on Sundays this Summer  Marcâtus, a creative market, will be a multidimensional event different than any other to reach the District and it is coming to Yards Park. Marcâtus invites you to come out for a day to enjoy the sounds of live music, smells of exotic foods, eye candy of art, to hunt for creative treasures, or simply to relax on the Great Lawn and take in the picturesque views of the Anacostia River.
Marcâtus will feature numerous artists, produce vendors, food and drink vendors, and artisans. At Marcâtus, music will be an integral part of each Sunday. This year's premiere opening on Sunday, April 3rd will host the FORWARD Festival's Closing-Day Party. Entering its 4th year in the DC Area, the FORWARD Festival is a 5 day celebration of electronic creative culture featuring music, educational workshops and digital art installations. On Sunday, April 3rd the festival, along with presenting partners LilSoSo, will curate 2 sound systems of music featuring local and national DJ's and Live electronic talent. Marcâtus will take place in the Yards Park on the first Sunday of every month (Except July, which will be second Sunday): April 3rd, May 1st, June 5th, July 10th, Aug 7th. Marcatus will be open from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm, and is free and open to the public. |
Rail-Volution Conference Coming to Washington, D.C. this October  Rail-Volution is coming to DC October 16-19! Mark your calendars now for the premier conference on transit and livable communities. Join us at Rail-Volution 2011 as they showcase what's happening around the region - from streetcars to the Capital Bikeshare, the Silver Line to the Purple Line, Tyson's Corner to Silver Spring. Learn from your peers around the nation, and join in the movement that will take the dream of livable communities to the next level.
Rail-Volution 2011 is also seeking speakers: They want the people who will lead the movement - people who can best share the stories that will educate, provoke and inspire conference attendees through toolbox sessions, panel presentations, and workshops. They are calling on a wide range of speakers whose work supports and furthers the mission of building livable communities with transit. Visit www.railvolution.com before March 31, 2011 to read the full Call for Speakers description and submit a proposal to speak! |
Van Ness Elementary Announcement Made by DC Public Schools  In late July, DCPS agreed to conduct a feasibility study to determine whether our neighborhood would have sufficient enrollment to reopen and sustain Van Ness as an elementary school. A feasibility study considered the following data/information: Population estimates (including school age children), birth rates, housing information; Enrollment trends and building capacity at area schools; Capital expenditure required to retrofit the building for a school program.
While population and development data indicate that there are many new families and homes in the Capitol Riverfront, it was not enough to warrant and sustain opening a new school before SY14-15. The data shows that there will be significant investment in additional homes over the next few years, with a peak between 2015 and 2017. DCPS has developed various indicators that should be met in order to justify the reopening of Van Ness. If these indicators are met, DCPS will be prepared to open Van Ness. Given current data, they project opening in SY15-16. DCPS is currently exploring the option to provide families living within the old Bowen boundary a proximity preference for Tyler ES. They will have to make this decision by Fall 2011 in order to implement this in SY12-13. To request copies of any of the reports used or for questions, please contact Claudia Lujan at claudia.lujan@dc.gov. |
Shop for Art and Help the Anacostia Watershed Society  The Anacostia Watershed Society is hosting their Artists for the Anacostia event on Wednesday, March 23 at Eastern Market's North Hall from 6:00 pm till 10:00pm. 30% of proceeds will benefit AWS! Click here for more information. The Anacostia Watershed Society partners with the Capitol Riverfront BID in the production of our annual Anacostia River Business Summit.
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|  Chris VanArsdale is the Executive Director of the Canal Park Development Association and has been a part of the Capitol Riverfront Community since 2008. Canal Park is underway, and Chris is excited about how our neighborhood is growing and changing, because "being close to all the change happening here is exciting-- you can see it happening week by week. A whole new part of the city is being stitched together before our eyes."
Chris said his favorite thing about the community is "Canal Park, of course, especially since the school buses departed!" Chris also thinks that The Yards Park is a great new addition to the neighborhood and that Cornercopia makes a great sandwich. He chose to come to the Capitol Riverfront community because working with a great company
 like William C Smith provides a opportunity to help create a vibrant new neighborhood.
For the future of the Capitol Riverfront, Chris is anxious to see the completion of Canal Park, along with all of the new "residential, office, and retail, art gallery, coffee shops, grocery store, restaurants, etc. that are planned directly adjacent to the park." Because of Chris' efforts at William C. Smith, and the Canal Park Development Association, the Riverfront is just getting better and better.
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