Locals will have a chance to discuss the future of events at RFK stadium next week.
EventsDC is set to hold scheduled a quarterly meeting for the community to talk about happenings at RFK Stadium on the 4th floor of the arena (2400 E Capitol St. SE) Monday at 7 p.m.
The meeting should cover past, current and future events at the stadium, Pete Kirschner, Director of Communications and Marketing at EventsDC, said.
“We are always open to and encourage residents to provide feedback,” Kirschner added.
One topic that may be on the agenda is the stadium’s Summer Cinema Series, since Kirschner mentioned it might be a popular topic among residents.
Photo via Wikimedia/Ben Schumin
An annual race will bring screeching tires and revving engine to the RFK Stadium grounds next month.
The Red Bull Global Rallycross is slated to come back for its second annual race at RFK Stadium (2400 E Capitol St. SE) July 29 and 30.
More information on the race from its organizers:
Created to produce the fastest and most exciting racing in motorsports, Red Bull Global Rallycross pits small production-based cars driven by star drivers against each other in door-to-door racing featuring dirt, asphalt, and table-top jumps. With enhanced engineering and safety features, the cars produce 600 horsepower and can accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in less than two seconds, and can also withstand 70-foot jumps and other vehicle contact.
The race usually features cars tearing down and drifting on a partially paved track. Race fans can purchase tickets online.
Image and video via YouTube/Red Bull Global Rallycross
Two local organizations are looking for help to spruce up the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail next week.
Events DC and the Anacostia Watershed Society are seeking helpers to remove litter along the path Monday evening. Volunteers should register online and meet at RFK Stadium’s Parking Lot 6 (575 Oklahoma Ave. NE) at 5:30 p.m. The cleanup ends at 7 p.m.
“The area surrounding RFK stadium sees a lot of use by members of our community,” a webpage on the cleanup says. “By volunteering with us you’ll be a vital part of restoring, maintaining, and cleaning up the beautiful Anacostia Riverwalk Trail.”
Organizers require volunteers to wear closed-toe shoes. They also recommend long pants to avoid poison ivy contact and insect bites. Water coolers will be available for helpers with reusable bottles.
Photo via Twitter/Anacostia Watershed
“Space Jam,” “The Sandlot” and other flicks are scheduled to get alfresco showings on the RFK Stadium campus this summer.
Washington City Paper and Events DC are set to host an outdoor movie series with five films on the D.C. Armory mall (2001 East Capitol St. SE) from June 30 to July 28, according to a representative for the organizers. The free screenings will begin at dusk.
The movies include:
- “Creed” on June 30.
- “Space Jam” on July 7.
- “Cool Runnings” on July 14.
- “The Sandlot” on July 21.
- “Bring It On” on July 28.
Image via Wikimedia/20th Century Fox
Trucks. Trucks! Trucks!!
Trucks of all types and sizes will park at RFK Stadium’s Lot 7 next Saturday morning as part of the D.C. Department of Public Works (DPW) annual Truck Touch event.
Attendees will be able to blast the horn behind the wheel of nearly 30 different vehicles used by the city to clean and repair streets, collect trash, clear snow and provide emergency services. Kids and teens under 18 will also receive a free box lunch during the event.
This is the DPW’s 9th consecutive Truck Touch. Last year’s event attracted thousands of truck-loving locals.
Photo via flickr/DCDPW
The organization managing the RFK Stadium campus wants members of the public to weigh in on two plans to redevelop the site.
That organization, Events DC, has put out the call for feedback on its website, as first reported by WTOP.
The organization managing the RFK Stadium campus last night officially revealed what it might do with the property in the coming years.
Events DC announced it has three general ideas for the 190-acre site:
- Build a 65,000-seat National Football League stadium for the Redskins.
Another anchor scenario 4 Stitch concept w NFL stadium w flexible community serving amenities #RFKCampusFuture pic.twitter.com/VgQTcOsTYS
— Events DC (@ConventionsDC) April 4, 2016
- Build a 20,000-seat sports arena that could host the Wizards and Capitals, replacing the Verizon Center.
Closer look at N-S concept that features 20K arena anchor w supporting multipurpose programming #RFKCampusFuture pic.twitter.com/e6BVYjxYUH
— Events DC (@ConventionsDC) April 4, 2016
- Build no professional sports facilities, but construct a concert hall, aquarium or other cultural attractions.
Which redevelopment plan do you support? You can weigh in through the poll and in the comments.
Photo via Wikimedia/MSGT KEN HAMMOND
The RFK Stadium campus could have recreational spaces and multiple “anchor facilities,” the District’s events authority announced today ahead of a meeting to reveal plans for the area’s redevelopment.
Events DC is slated to release “preliminary concepts” for the RFK grounds during a community gathering next month, according to a news release from the organization, which oversees the stadium, the D.C. Armory and the surrounding land.
The proposals include “anchor facilities, recreational spaces and connectivity across the 190 acre site, creating a sense of place for the Campus that resonates with the surrounding community and across the District,” the news release adds.
The announcement didn’t say whether a National Football League stadium was one of the proposed anchor facilities.
Locals have blasted talk of the Redskins returning to the RFK campus and have pushed for more green space within the property in the future. Last year, some residents also launched an online petition that called on the D.C. government to “focus on District-wide priorities, not football.”
Pete Kirschner, an Events DC spokesman, declined to elaborate on the proposed designs ahead of the meeting.
The unveiling of the plans is scheduled for Monday, April 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Place NW).
Developers of The Bard in Southwest File Plans for Seven Story Building in Southwest, Neighbors Protest — Developers behind The Bard, a mixed-use high-rise planned for 501 I Street SW, have submitted plans, but some neighbors say they haven’t taken their complaints seriously. [Hill Rag]
Actress Margaret Colin Talks About ‘The City of Conversation,’ Now Playing at Arena Stage — Margaret Colin, the star of “The City of Conversation,” a play currently showing at Arena Stage, sat down with WTOP’s Jason Fraley to chat about the play. [WTOP]
RFK Parking Lot Still Full of Very Dirty Snow From Blizzard — DC Water posted photos on Tuesday of snow that was moved to an RFK Stadium parking lot after the recent blizzard, showing how pollutants are collected along with the snow. [Washington Post]
A Look Inside the Senate Subway System — Untapped Cities got a special tour of the private subway system that connects the U.S. Capitol to Senate office buildings. [Untapped Cities]
Federal Parks on Capitol Hill Remain Unshoveled — Capitol Hill residents and Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen called on the National Park Service to shovel sidewalks in and around parks owned by the federal agency around Capitol Hill, many of which remain covered in snow. [Hill Rag]
All Metrobus Routes Running, Trash Pickup to Resume — The Capitol Hill area is slowly returning to normal after last weekend’s blizzard. Metro announced that all bus lines will run today, though some will experience detours. Trash collection will also resume. Those who usually have Thursday or Friday trash/recycling collection should leave cans out over the weekend, as the District Department of Public Works will be attempting to make all collections. On Monday, normally scheduled trash and recycling collection resumes. [Washington Post, D.C. DPW]
Photos: Snow Piles Up at RFK Parking Lot — WTOP has pictures from RFK Stadium’s parking lot 7, where snow plows and trucks are dumping snow from around the district, with snow reaching up to 20 feet high in some areas. [WTOP]
Developer Submits Plans for Mixed-Use Buildings Near Stadium-Armory Metro Station — Donatelli Development last week submitted its plans to redevelop a parking lot near the Stadium-Armory Metro station into two mixed-use buildings. [Washington Business Journal]
Hill East Resident Documents Years of Change on His Block — Hill East resident John Cochran shared photos he’s taken over the past five years which document recent changes to the area around 15th Street SE and Pennsylvania Avenue SE. [The Hill Is Home]
Photo via Twitter/ CharlesAllenW6
Metro Opens On Most Lines With Regular Fares in Effect — Metrorail stations opened at 5 a.m. this morning with service on all lines except the Silver Line and the Orange Line between Vienna and Ballston. Trains will run every 12 minutes. Metro buses are on a “severe” snow service plan, with 81 bus routes operating. [WMATA]
‘Snow Dragon’ to Melt Snow at RFK Stadium Lots — A borrowed “snow dragon” truck will be used to melt snow that has been dumped at parking lots around RFK Stadium. [WUSA9]
Few People Take Advantage of Hot Meals at D.C. Schools Yesterday — Yesterday, several schools across the District, including Eastern High School and Jefferson Academy Middle School, offered free breakfast and lunch for students and their families, but few people showed up to take advantage of the offer. The schools will offer free meals again today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. [WUSA9]
Capitol Hill Home of Early 70s Lesbian Feminist Group Could Become Historic Landmark — A rowhome at 219 11th St. SE could be designated a historic landmark because it was the headquarters of a lesbian feminist separatist group called the Furies Collective in the early 1970s. [Washington Blade]
Thanks to reader Cynthia Wei for sending the photo above of her snow-covered car masquerading as a storm trooper on Sunday. Email or tweet us your best snow pictures as we continue to dig out!
Events DC, the group that operated the RFK Stadium campus, will hold its third citywide meeting on the future of the stadium campus this evening near the Benning Road Metro Station in Ward 7.
The meeting, which will be held at St. Luke Center at 4923 50th St. SE from 6:30-8:30 p.m., will follow the same format as previous meetings at the Convention Center and St. Coletta of Greater Washington.
Representatives from Events DC will explain the planning process for the site before giving residents an opportunity to say what they would like to see at the site.
“We’re going to provide an opportunity for residents to give us feedback and look at the 190-acre Stadium-Armory campus as a blank slate and let us know what they would like to see,” Events DC’s Director of Communications and Marketing Pete Kirschner said. “Ideas we’ve heard already are anything from amphitheaters to access to the river.”
Today’s meeting will be the first meeting on the RFK Stadium campus to be held East of the River, though residents from any part of the D.C. area are welcome to attend.
“This area is not just for one part of the city,” Kirschner said. “The way we’re approaching this is by engaging various user groups from all across the region and looking at this very holistically.”
Those interested in attending the meeting can RSVP online or go online to watch videos from previous meetings on the RFK campus.
Photo via Wikimedia/MSGT KEN HAMMOND
Back on October 16, I said that the weekend forecast might have meant that cold weather was here to stay. But with today being the hottest Nov. 6 ever recorded in the District, I think it’s time to abandon any long-term weather predictions and leave it up to the professionals.
The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang predict that a cold front tonight will bring more normal temperatures in the 50s and 60s on Saturday and Sunday, with showers possible on Saturday.
With the cold front comes a long list of events scheduled for this weekend, offering plenty of chances to enjoy the relatively normal weather while it lasts. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this weekend in the Capitol Hill area:
Events
Trouble Makers: The Struggle
Gallery O on H (1354 H St. NE)
Friday 7-10 p.m.
The H Street gallery will hold a reception tonight for the opening of their new exhibit Trouble Makers: The Struggle, featuring visual artist Lusi Peralta Del Valle and musician W. Ellington Felton.
Prudential 4.01K Race
Stadium-Armory campus
Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Prudential 4.01K race is set to begin at 10 a.m. from the Stadium-Armory campus. After the race there will be a post-race festival open to the public with food trucks, games and a surprise concert sponsored by Pandora.
DC Beer Festival
Nationals Park (1500 S Capitol St. SE)
Saturday 12-3 p.m. or 5-8 p.m.
Craft breweries, DJs, food trucks and lawn games will come together at Nationals Park this weekend for the DC Beer Festival. Guests can choose to attend one of two sessions. Tickets include unlimited beer tasting and access to other event activities which will set up shop throughout the ballpark. Admission is $40 per person and available online.
2015 Hilly Awards
St. Marks Episcopal Church (301 A St. SE)
Saturday 6 – 10 p.m.
The tradition of honoring Capitol Hill area business returns this weekend. The formal event will have food and live music to bring together local businesses and their loyal customers. Gala tickets for the general public are $75, but prices vary for Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce members. They can be purchased online.
Side Yards
Yards Park (355 Water St. SE)
Saturday 6-10 p.m.
A carnival complete with magicians, fire breathers and contortionists is coming to Navy Yard. A collection of East Coast sideshow performers,many from the traveling Circus of Wonders, will put their quirky talents on display for guests. A burlesque show is also planned for one of three performances stages, a new feature to this year’s event. There will be live music, food available for purchase and a beer garden by Due South, which opened near Yards Park in August.
Taste of H
Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St. NE)
Sunday 6-10 p.m.
The annual Taste of H fundraiser for J.O. Wilson Elementary school will feature food and drinks from 15 area restaurants in addition to silent and live auctions.
Looking for a new home in the Capitol Hill area or just want to see what your neighbors’ houses look like inside? We’ve highlighted a few open houses this weekend to get you started. But be sure to check out our real estate section for a full listing.
Metrorail
Five of the six Metro lines will undergo maintenance this weekend
- Red Line trains will operate every 18 minutes
- Orange, Silver and Blue line trains will operate every 20 minutes
- Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square only
Metrobus
On Saturday, buses will detour around the National Mall and L’Enfant Plaza from 6-11 a.m. for the American Heart Association Heart Walk. Affected bus lines are : 30N, 30S, 32, 34, 36, 52, 54, 74 and P6
Analysts Say New Stadium at RFK Site Would Come at the Expense of Public Services — Analysts from the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, a group that conducts research on budget and tax issues, told Hill East residents that a new stadium at the RFK site would cost money that could be better used on schools, transportation and healthcare. [Capitol Hill Corner]
Advocates Hope Development Along Anacostia River Will Spur More Interest in Conservation — New development in Navy Yard and Southwest is bringing a lot more people in touch with the Anacostia River, which conservationists hope will lead to more interest in clean-up efforts. [District Source]
Photos: Inside Navy Yard’s New Pacers Running and Upcoming Hugh & Crye — JDLand took a look inside the Boilermaker Shops in Navy Yard, including the newly-opened specialty running store Pacers and the soon-to-be-open menswear store Hugh & Crye. [JDLand]
Metro Stands By Decision to Limit Service to Stadium-Armory Station During Construction — The interim general manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Jack Requa, defended the decision to limit Orange and Silver line service to the Stadium-Armory Metro Station in a letter to ANC 6B commissioners. [Hill Now]
The District government brought out their snow plows today for a practice run before snow season, but they won’t be needing the trucks anytime soon. Aside from possible rain on Sunday morning, this weekend is expected to be dry and sunny with temperatures in the 60s.
The ideal fall weather makes it a perfect time to check out some events across the Capitol Hill area or to start celebrating Halloween a week early. On Wednesday, we published a guide to every early Halloween and fall-themed celebration happening around the area this weekend. Here’s everything else you need to know to make the most of this weekend in the Capitol Hill area:
Events
Home Movie Day
Southwest Library (900 Wesley Place SW)
Saturday 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Southwest residents can bring their home movies to the Southwest library at 900 Wesley Place SW on Saturday for preservation tips and to emphasize the importance of home footage in underrepresented communities.
Hot Cider Hustle 5K/15K
RFK Stadium (2400 East Capitol St. SE)
Saturday 9 a.m.
Capitol Hill-area runners can participated in one of two fall-themed races around RFK Stadium along the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Both races start at 9 a.m. in Lot 7. Hot apple cider and caramel apples will wait for participants as they cross the finish line. Registration is still open for both races, but the price will increase tonight at 9 p.m.
Haunted Harvest
Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan (215 G St. NE)
Saturday 6-9 p.m.
This fall festival is for families to celebrate Halloween a little early. The event will have several activities, including a haunted house, spooky pumpkin painting, mad science experiments and a zombie dance party. Costumes are encouraged for all attendees. A chili cook-off contest will take place from 6 – 7:30 p.m. for $1 per taste. Dinners of chili or hotdogs will be served from 6 – 8 p.m. and cost $5 each. A $20 donation per family is recommended.
More Events
For more Halloween and fall events over the weekend, check out How to Start Celebrating Halloween a Week Early
There are several events scheduled to address recent crime on and around Capitol Hill. More on those events is available here.
If you’re looking for a new home in the Capitol Hill area or just want to see what your neighbors’ houses look like, check out some of these open houses in the area this weekend.
Metrorail
- Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. on Sunday for the Marine Corps Marathon
- Between 10 p.m. tonight and the end of service on Saturday, there is scheduled track maintenance on five of the six metro lines:
- Red Line trains will operate every 18 minutes
- Yellow Line trains will only operate between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square. Trains will keep regular weekend schedules
- Green Line trains will operate every 16 minutes
- Orange, Silver, and Blue Line trains will operate every 26 minutes
Metrobus
- Several bus lines will reroute on Saturday for the HIV Walk downtown and Sunday for the Marine Corps Marathon, but there are no scheduled detours or disruptions in the Capitol Hill area
Road Closures
- On Sunday morning, several roads around the National Mall in upper Southwest will be closed for the Marine Corps Marathon