Current SMS News

The fourth annual Shaw Main Streets Development Forum held on Thursday, September 27, 2007, presented speakers providing information on their development plans for sites in central Shaw. Several have provided PowerPoint and video presentations that can be viewed by clicking the links below.

Broadcast Center One

Center City (Old Convention Center)

Howard Theatre

Free Prizes, Food, Beverages: SMS Night Upper Ninth Street Open House, 06/14/07

Shaw Main Streets and the businesses in Little Ethiopia and adjacent blocks invited visitors to participate in a free open house event on Thursday, June 14, 2007, 6:30-8:30 PM, featuring free prizes, food, and beverages.

Shaw Main Streets Night’s Upper Ninth Street Open House highlighted 14 businesses, some of which had only been open for a few months.

Participants picked up their Shaw Main Streets Night passports at either Etete Restaurant, 1942 9th Street, NW, or Grape Legs, 1905 9th Street, NW, and joined the fun as businesses on the 1900 block of 9th Street and 700 block of T Street, NW, opened their doors for this event. Those that got their passports stamped at each of the participating businesses in order were eligible for a drawing for a prize from each business, drawn at the end of the event. Participating businesses included:

Abiti Restaurant, 1909 9th Street, NW

Chaudre Custom Clothiers, 721 9th Street, NW

Cheryl A. Lofton & Associates, 719 T Street, NW

Chez Hareg, 1915 9th Street, NW

Convention Floral, 1920 9th Street, NW

Etete Restaurant, 1942 9th Street, NW

Expo Restaurant, 1928 9th Street, NW

Grape Legs, 1905 9th Street, NW

La Carbonara Italian Restaurant, 1926 9th Street, NW

Lettie Gooch Boutique, 1911 9th Street, NW

Ras Dashen Restaurant, 1914 9th Street, NW

Salon Revive, 1942 9th Street, NW

Serv-U Liquors, 1935 9th Street, NW

Zula Restaurant, 1933 9th Street, NW

Shaw Main Streets Night events highlight businesses on Shaw’s 7th and 9th Street commercial corridors. For more information, contact Shaw Main Streets at 202-265-SHAW or email info@shawmainstreets.com.

FOOD AND ART FEATURED AT TASTE OF SHAW EVENT, 05/05/07

The second Taste of Shaw, a progressive dining and art event along lower 9th Street, NW, near the Washington Convention Center, was held on Saturday, May 5, 2007, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The event featured samples of a variety of dishes, beers, and cocktails from venues along five blocks, from L to Q Streets. Stops on the Taste of Shaw included Old Dominion Brewhouse, Vegetate Restaurant and Lounge, Be Bar, Long View Gallery, Azi's Cafe, Queen of Sheba Restaurant, Breakwell's Coffee + Tea, Ninth Street Gallery, TG Cigars, and Modern Liquors. Two businesses scheduled to open later this year, D'Vine Cravings Bakery and EuroMarket Cafe, previewed their offerings. The first Taste of Shaw was held in Little Ethiopia, the 1900 block of 9th Street, NW, in 2004.

Tickets entitled participants to a sample of food or beverage at each of the participating venues. The tickets cost $20 in advance, and $25 on the day of the event. Advance sale tickets became available on April 27, 2007, at the following retail locations:

Azi’s Café, 1336 9^th Street, NW

Breakwell’s Coffee + Tea, 900 M Street, NW

Modern Liquors, 1200 9^th Street, NW

Long View Gallery, 1302 9^th Street, NW

Old Dominion Brewhouse, 1219 9^th Street, NW

SHAW'S ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES CELEBRATED DURING NATIONAL PRESERVATION MONTH, MAY 2007

The first-ever Shaw Architectural Treasure Hunt took place during National Preservation Month, May 2007. The Treasure Hunt form featured photographs of 15 striking architectural elements on buildings along 7th and 9th Streets, NW, between K Street and Florida Avenue.

Participants walked along Shaw's commercial streets and identified the buildings represented by the clues, writing the address of each building on the forms. They then returned the forms to one of the locations listed on the form in order to be entered in a drawing for prizes donated by neighborhood businesses. The drawing was held at the Historical Society of Washington, DC on May 31, 2007.

Full color posters featuring vividly color enhanced images of Shaw's architectural gems were printed and distributed through neighborhood businesses and other institutions.

Posters are available at the following locations, while supplies last:

Azi's Cafe, 1336 9th Street, NW

Breakwell's Coffee + Tea, 900 M Street, NW

Capital Business Center, 1020 7th Street, NW

Chaudre Custom Clothiers, 721 T Street, NW

Cheryl A. Lofton & Associates, 719 T Street, NW

Cuttin' Up Barber Shop, 1206 9th Street, NW

Dan the Man's Teriyaki & Subs, 1936 9th Street, WN

Grape Legs, 1905 9th Street, NW

Heavenly Salon & Spa, 705 Florida Avenue, NW

Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street, NW

Lettie Gooch Boutique, 1911 9th Street, NW

Lincoln Westmoreland Community Center, 1709 8th Street, NW

Long View Gallery, 1302 9th Street, NW

Lumsden Insurance Agency, 1525 9th Street, NW

Miller Copying Service, 1123 7th Street, NW

Potomac Real Estate, 1731 7th Street, NW

UPO Shaw Community Service Center, 1726 7th Street, NW

Wagtime Pet Spa and Boutique, 1332 9th Street, NW

Warehouse Theater, Cafe & Bar, 1021 7th Street, NW

This project has been funded in part by a U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund grant administered by the District of Columbia's Historic Preservation Office.

FREE SHAW WALKING TOURS, 04/22/07

As part of Cultural Tourism DC's WalkingTown, DC, event on Sunday April 22, 2007, Shaw Main Streets presented two free walking tours of Shaw, led by SMS Executive Director Alexander M. Padro.

WalkingTown, DC Fall Edition is a weekend of free neighborhood walking tours encouraging residents and visitors alike to discover Washington – the cultural capital with vibrant street life and many little-known historic treasures.

These free tours focus primarily on historical events, buildings, and personalities, but also include the character of the area and more recent developments.

The two Shaw tours presented were as follows:

Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part I
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Started at the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Mount Vernon Place, NW.
Since its earliest days, Shaw has always been a commercial, intellectual, and cultural crossroads. Today, the southern half of central Shaw's historic commercial district is best known for the new Washington Convention Center. But at one time, it consisted of woods, a few farms, and orchards. Originally a streetcar suburb, many notable historic figures have lived, worked, and worshipped in lower central Shaw, including explorer John Wesley Powell, African American US Senator Blanche K. Bruce, and historian Carter G. Woodson. Participants learned about these leaders and visited dramatic new spaces inside restored Victorian exteriors. Led by Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.

Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part II
12:30 PM- 2:30 PM
Started at the west corner of Seventh and R streets and Rhode Island Avenue, NW.
Entertainment in all its forms has long been the focus of the northern half of Shaw's central commercial district - from the Howard Theater, where every star in the Black entertainment pantheon performed to the pool hall where Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington decided to become a musician. This tour of places associated with entertainment legends included a newly renovated movie theater building and the city's first African American YWCA. Led by Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.

VOLUNTEERS HELP SHAW SHINE ON KEEP SHAW BEAUTIFUL DAY, 04/21/07

The third annual Keep Shaw Beautiful Day cleanup and greenup event took place on Saturday, April 21, 2007, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Volunteers met at Shaw Junior High School, 925 Rhode Island Avenue to pick up their tools and supplies and move to locations throughout central Shaw to weed, plant, and mulch treeboxes, pick up trash, and remove and paint over graffiti. Afterwards, food and refreshments were be provided at Shaw JHS. Neighborhood groups participating in this year's event, organized by Shaw Main Streets, included the Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association, Mount Vernon Square Business Alliance, the French Street Neighbors Association, and the Westminster Neighborhood Association.

MPD LIEUTENANT, SHAW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, BEST NEW BUSINESSES HONORED AT SHAW MAIN STREETS ANNUAL MEETING

Shaw Main Streets' fourth annual meeting, held on March 20, 2007, at Shaw Junior High School, was highlighted by the presentation of the annual Best New Business awards and presentation of two Shaw Champion awards. The event was kicked off by a performance by the Shaw JHS Band, followed by remarks from Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, who noted that many of the major developments taking place in Shaw Main Streets' service area are located in his ward, including Broadcast Center One and the Howard Theatre.

The Best New Shaw Business of 2006, as selected in a neighborhood poll, was Cheryl A. Lofton & Associates, a tailor and alterations shop at 719 T Street, NW. Votes were cast for the 19 retail businesses that opened in Shaw Main Streets service area during 2006. First runner up was Long View Gallery, which presents paintings, sculpture, and photography at 1302 9th Street, NW. Second runner up was Breakwell's Coffee + Tea, a coffee, pastry, and sandwich shop at 900 M Street, NW. Each winner received a framed certificate for display in their business.

Metropolitan Police Department Lieutenant Michael A. Smith, a 25-year veteran of the force and a Shaw resident, was presented with an etched glass Shaw Champion trophy for his long and dedicated service to protecting Shaw residents and businesses alike. Smith, 50, has for many years led Police Service Areas in central Shaw, including his current posting, PSA 307, which covers the area from 9th Street to the west. He has consistently attended many Shaw community organizations' meetings and participated in their events, swiftly, aggressively, and effectively addressed public safety issues, and has been highly responsive to the concerns of neighborhood business owners.

Shaw Junior High School also received a Shaw Champion Award, accepted by Principal Gregory Thomas and Band Director Wesley Hoover. The school, which gave the neighborhood is name in 1966, has consistently supported Shaw Main Streets' commercial revitalization and historic preservation efforts by making its facilities available for meetings and activities, providing the school's marching band to play at groundbreaking and cherry tree planting ceremonies and Keep Shaw Beautiful Day, among other events, and providing student volunteers for a variety of activities. This was the first time that an institution, rather than an individual, received a Shaw Champion Award. Previous recipients were DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and developer Douglas Jemal. The awardees are selected by the Shaw Main Streets Board of Directors.

The event concluded with presentation of certificates of recognition to over 60 Shaw Main Streets volunteers, and a reception featuring food from a number of Shaw restaurants and coffee shops.

FREE PROGRAM ON HOWARD THEATER HISTORY AND REDEVELOPMENT, 02/24/07

After decades of neglect, the District of Columbia government is finalizing a lease with a developer to restore the historic Howard Theater at 620 T Street, NW. The legendary theater’s stage was graced by every major African American performer during the heyday of Washington’s Black Broadway.

In observance of Black History Month, the Historical Society of Washington, DC, Howard Theatre Restoration, National Music Center, Shaw Main Streets, and WPFW will present “The Howard Theatre: Yesterday and Tomorrow, ” a free event celebrating the Howard’s legendary past and bright future. On Saturday, February 24, 2007, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM, at The Carnegie at Mount Vernon Square, 801 K Street, NW (enter on K Street), this event will feature live jazz performances, a presentation about the theater’s history, reminiscences from performers who played the Howard, an appearance by “Duke” Ellington’s daughter, Mercedes Ellington, audience members sharing Howard Theatre memories, and a presentation about the plans for the theater’s revitalization.

The public is encouraged to bring Howard Theatre memorabilia and will be invited to have their recollections videotaped for a documentary on the Howard. Refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested. RSVP: 202-383-1837.

WOODSON HOUSE UPDATE CLOSES OUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH, 02/28/07

Now that the National Park Service controls 1538-1542 9th Street, NW, and the first brown, black, and white NPS sign has gone up in front of the Carter G. Woodson Home, what comes next? Come hear about the remaining steps in the process for the development of the National Historic Site dedicated to the father of Black History on Wednesday, February 28, 2007, at 6:30 PM at the Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street, NW.

Representatives from the National Park Service will be on hand to discuss the work that has been done to date and upcoming activities; the Association for the Study of African American Life and History will discuss their role in the project; and a Shaw resident will present a personal tribute to Dr Woodson. This event is free and open to the public, and no reservations are required.

FREE SHAW WALKING TOURS, 09/30/06

As part of Cultural Tourism DC's WalkingTown, DC, event on Saturday, September 30, 2006, Shaw Main Streets will present two free walking tours of Shaw, led by SMS Executive Director Alexander M. Padro.

These free tours focus primarily on historical events, buildings, and personalities, but also include the character of the area and more recent developments.

The two Shaw tours to be presented are as follows:

Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part I
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Starts at the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Mount Vernon Place, NW.
Since its earliest days, Shaw has always been a commercial, intellectual, and cultural crossroads. Today, the southern half of central Shaw's historic commercial district is best known for the new Washington Convention Center. But at one time, it consisted of woods, a few farms, and orchards. Originally a streetcar suburb, many notable historic figures have lived, worked, and worshipped in lower central Shaw, including explorer John Wesley Powell, African American US Senator Blanche K. Bruce, and historian Carter G. Woodson. Participants learned about these leaders and visited dramatic new spaces inside restored Victorian exteriors. Led by Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.

Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part II
12:30 PM- 2:30 PM
Starts at the west corner of Seventh and R streets and Rhode Island Avenue, NW.
Entertainment in all its forms has long been the focus of the northern half of Shaw's central commercial district - from the Howard Theater, where every star in the Black entertainment pantheon performed to the pool hall where Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington decided to become a musician. This tour of places associated with entertainment legends included a newly renovated movie theater building and the city's first African American YWCA. Led by Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.

FREE PRIZES AND REFRESHMENTS AT SHAW MAIN STREETS NIGHT’S LOWER 9TH STREET OPEN HOUSE, 06/29/06

On Thursday, June 29, 2006, from 6:00-9:00 PM, participants in Shaw Main Streets Night picked up passport at either TG Cigars, 1118 9th Street, NW, or the Ninth Street Gallery, 1306 9th Street, NW, and visited businesses on the 1100 through 1300 blocks of 9th Street as they opened their doors for the first ever SMS Night Open House. Those participants that got their passports stamped at each of the participating businesses were entered in a drawing for prizes from each business. Participating businesses included:

Ninth Street Gallery, 1306 9th Street, NW
Long View Gallery, 1302 9th Street, NW
Wagtime Pet Spa and Boutique, 1232 9th Street, NW
The Flats at Blagden Alley, 1212 9th Street, NW
Squares Fashions, 1208 9th Street, NW
Modern Liquors, 1200 9th Street, NW
Breakwell’s Coffee + Tea, 900 M Street, NW
TG Cigars, 1118 9th Street, NW

Several of these businesses opened in the past two months. No purchase was necessary to win. Contest rules appeared on the back of the passport.

Shaw Main Streets Night events highlight new businesses on Shaw’s 7th and 9th Street commercial corridors. For more information, contact Shaw Main Streets at 202-265-SHAW or email info@shawmainstreets.com.

Shaw Main Streets Night at A Taste of Carolina and Lettie Gooch, 05/25/06

The next Shaw Main Streets Night event on Thursday, May 25, 2006, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, will highlight A Taste of Carolina Southern Cuisine at 1930 9th Street, NW and Lettie Gooch Boutique at 1911 9th Street, NW. Both businesses opened in April. This event is free, and no reservations are required.

Come savor samples of A Taste of Carolina's signature dishes named for places in the Carolinas, such as Orangeburg Fried Chicken, Myrtle Beach Whiting, and Spartanburg Barbeque Ribs. Gracious Southern hospitality and a space decorated with original paintings depicting scenes of Charleston and the Low Country, along with full bar and a variety of fine wines, complete the experience. For more information on A Taste of Carolina, call 202-232-3566.

Lettie Gooch offers women's fashions and accessories in a space that was once one of the legendary Black millionaire Madame C.J. Walker's beauty schools. Items range from premium jeans by Beyonce Knowles' House of Dereon and Ecoist handbags made from recycled Mexican candy wrappers to Commando thongs and Low Beams nipple concealers. Enjoy refreshments and see new items from owner Theresa Watts' latest West Coast buying trip. For more information, visit www.lettiegooch.com or call 202-332-4242.

For more information on Shaw Main Streets Night events, go to www.shawmainstreets.com or call 202-265-SHAW.

SHAW HERITAGE TRAIL DEBUTS WITH COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE, 05/06/06

After years in development, the Shaw Heritage Trail, consisting of 17 poster-sized, permanent street signs that combine history with photographs, has been installed and was officially unveiled at a ceremony at the Kennedy Recreation Center on Saturday, May 6, 2006. Following the kickoff, which featured performances by the Shiloh Baptist Church Choir and the United house of Prayer Royal Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, approximately 400 neighborhood residents and visitors from throughout the city and the metropolitan area were among the first to walk our heritage trail.

In celebration of the trail's debut, dozens of Shaw businesses and institutions welcomed visitors in for refreshments and samples of their offerings as part of Shaw Open House, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Free trail booklets, available in English and Spanish, were available, as was a moon bounce at the Kennedy Recreation Center for kids' enjoyment. A map and list of participating open house sites was distributed at the Kennedy Recreation Center. The list of participants included:

Warehouse Theater Café and Bar, 1021 7th Street, NW

Breakwell’s Coffee, 900 M Street, NW

The Whitman, 910 M Street, NW

Modern Liquors, 1200 9th Street, NW

Wagtime Pet Spa, 1232 9th Street, NW

International Lifestyles Boutique, 1300 9th Street, NW

Azi’s Café, 1336 9th Street, NW

DC Guest House, 1337 10th Street, NW

Emmaus Services for the Aging, 1426 9th Street, NW

Queen of Sheba Restaurant, 1503 9th Street, NW

Lumsden Insurance Agency, 1525 9th Street, NW

Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, 901 Rhode Island Avenue, NW

Shaw Junior High School, 925 Rhode Island Avenue, NW

Abiti Ethiopian Cuisine, 1909 9th Street, NW

Lettie Gooch Boutique, 1911 9th Street, NW

Habesha Market & Carryout, 1919 9th Street, NW

A Taste of Carolina Southern Cuisine, 1930 9th Street, NW

Dan the Man’s Teriyaki & Subs, 1936 9th Street, NW

Salon Revive, 1942 9th Street, NW

Brown Sugar Southern Cuisine, 928 U Street, NW

Wanda’s Hair Studio, 1851 7th Street, NW

Potomac Real Estate, 1731 7th Street, NW

United Planning Organization Shaw Community Service Center, 1726 7th Street, NW

Simply Fit Fitness and Pilates Studio, 1539 7th Street, NW

Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street, NW

United House of Prayer for All People/Saints Paradise Cafeteria, 601 M Street, NW

Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, 474 Ridge Street, NW

Miller Copying Service, 1723 7th Street, NW

All events were free and open to the public.

Presented by Cultural Tourism DC, the Washington Convention Center Authority, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Shaw Main Streets.

The Shaw Heritage Trail is a project of Cultural Tourism DC, in collaboration with the Shaw Heritage Trail Working Group. Design is by Karol A. Keane Design & Communications based on an original design by side view/Hannah Smotrich. The citywide system is made possible by local and federal highway funds through the DC Department of Transportation, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and U.S. Department of Transportation. Support was provided by Washington Convention Center Authority’s Historic Preservation Fund, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Shaw Main Streets.

Cultural Tourism DC (CTdc) strengthens the image and economy of Washington, DC, neighborhood by neighborhood, by linking more than 175 DC cultural and neighborhood member organizations with partners in tourism, hospitality, government, and business. CTdc offers an innovative model for maximizing the economic impact of cultural tourism in urban neighborhoods and helps residents and tourists discover and experience Washington's authentic arts and culture. For more information, visit www.CulturalTourismDC.org or call 202-661-7581.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to protect the irreplaceable places that tell America’s story. Staff at the Washington, D.C., headquarters, six regional offices and 28 historic sites work with the Trust’s 270,000 members and thousands of preservation groups in all 50 states.

Shaw Main Streets is the nonprofit commercial revitalization and historic preservation organization that is guiding the renaissance of 7th and 9th Streets immediately north of Downtown. A wide array of volunteers representing community residents and other stakeholders work together to attract and support the types of businesses the community has asked for, train residents as entrepreneurs, improve the neighborhood’s appearance, ensure the preservation of the historic buildings in the area, promote Shaw’s vibrant history, and bring visitors to the neighborhood to enjoy everything Shaw has to offer. The organization’s mission is to help make Shaw a better place to live, work, shop, play, and pray.

Shaw Main Streets Night Features TWO New Restaurants, 04/27/06

Due to the large number of new businesses opening in central Shaw, Shaw Main Streets' popular Shaw Main Streets Night events will begin featuring two businesses at a time.

On Thursday, April 27, 2006, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, participants in this free event were invited to sample the vegetarian and vegan cuisine at Vegetate, 1414 9th Street, NW, and the Ethiopian/Italian/American fare at Queen of Sheba Restaurant, 1503 9th Street, NW. Conveniently located half a block away from each other, the two restaurants provided samples of a number of their popular dishes and an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere, decor, and entertainment offered by these recent additions to the burgeoning 9th Street restaurant scene. The Washington Business Journal's OnSite real estate supplement calls 9th Street the place restaurants are headed next.

KEEP SHAW BEAUTIFUL DAY, 04/22/06

Rain held down the turnout at the second annual Keep Shaw Beautiful Day, a neighborhood-wide clean up and green up event, but diehard volunteers from civic and business organizations participated in an effort to spruce up the neighborhood. Plants, mulch, tools, trash bags, and much more were provided to participants, including members of the Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association, French Street Neighbors Association, Mount Vernon Square Business Alliance, Americorps NCCC, and others.

Zucchini squash and kale greens were distributed, courtesy of the MidAtlantic Gleaning Network. Thanks to the United Planning Organization Shaw Community Service Center for their assistance in distributing this produce.

FREE SHAW WALKING TOURS, 04/23/06

As part of Cultural Tourism DC's WalkingTown, DC, event on Sunday, April 23, 2006, Shaw Main Streets presented two free walking tours of Shaw, led by SMS Executive Director Alexander M. Padro.

WalkingTown, DC Spring Edition was a weekend of free neighborhood walking tours encouraging residents and visitors alike to discover Washington – the cultural capital with vibrant street life and many little-known historic treasures.

These free tours focused primarily on historical events, buildings, and personalities, but also included the character of the area and more recent developments.

The two Shaw tours presented were as follows:

Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part II
1:00 PM- 3:00 PM
Starts at the west corner of Seventh and R streets and Rhode Island Avenue, NW.
Entertainment in all its forms has long been the focus of the northern half of Shaw's central commercial district - from the Howard Theater, where every star in the Black entertainment pantheon performed to the pool hall where Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington decided to become a musician. This tour of places associated with entertainment legends included a newly renovated movie theater building and the city's first African American YWCA. Led by Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.

AZI'S CAFE, VEGETATE, DAN THE MAN'S VOTED BEST NEW SHAW BUSINESSES OF 2005

The winners in Shaw Main Streets' Best New Shaw Business of 2005 contest were announced at the organization's annual meeting on Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

SMS Economic Revitalization Committee Co-chairs Rodney Green and Barry Lumsden announced the winners and presented framed award certificates to the three businesses that received the highest vote talleys from the Shaw community. All three businesses are dining establishments, and all three are located along 9th Street, the burgeoning restaurant destination that the Washington Business Journal's OnSite real estate supplement predicts is where restaurants are headed next.

The winner of the title Best New Shaw Business of 2005 was Azi's Cafe, 1336 9th Street, NW, the neighborhood's long-anticipated first coffee shop, which opened in April 2005. Owner Azeb Desta, nicknamed Azi, has become a part of countless Shaw residents' everyday lives. The shop's coffees, pastries, sandwiches and salads have drawn the attention of the Washington Post, DC North, and other publications. The cafe's opening created a new center of gravity for the neighborhood, a meeting place where community newspapers and literature are available, a 'third place' where people spend time other than home and work.

Coming in a close second with under 10 votes less the Azi's Cafe is the first runner up, Vegetate Restaurant and Lounge at 1414 9th Street, NW, the city's first all vegetarian fine dining establishment, which opened in October 2005. Vegetate has quickly become the place where Shaw residents take friends and visitors, both for the outstanding 'who needs meat?' cuisine that even carnivores enjoy, and the great art and ambiance. Owners Jennifer and Dominic Redd's vision of creating a modern, attractive place to enjoy great meat-free dishes represents a dream come true for Shaw residents, who have been waiting for a sit www.shawmainstreets.com and reading their quarterly newsletter, Shaw Main Streets News. down restaurant in central Shaw for many years. Vegetate has earned coverage in the Washington Post, Washingtonian, DC North, Hill Rag, East of the River, Washington Examiner, and Washington City Paper.

Second runner up was Dan the Man's Teriyaki and Subs at 1936 9th Street, NW, which opened in April 2006. Best known for their 'best I ever had' teriyaki ribs, Dan's continues to expand its menu to include other Japanese and Korean specialties, and has even made tofu tasty. Chef Deni Jung and the restaurant's namesake Daniel Jung have brought diversity to Little Ethiopia, as the 1900 block of 9th Street, NW, is colloquially known. The subs aren't bad either, but it's the tasty, inexpensive teriyaki that keep folks coming back to dine in, take out, and call for free delivery. Some customers refer to Dan the Man's as 'Shaw's best kept secret,' but the word is out.

Shaw Main Streets will conduct another poll in March 2007 to select the Best New Shaw Business of 2006. In the meantime, make sure to see all Shaw has to offer by visiting the organization's website at www.shawmainstreets.com.

Shaw Main Streets Annual Meeting, 03/21/06

Shaw Main Streets' Third Annual Meeting took place on Tuesday, March 21, 2006, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

As is the custom, this year's annual meeting was held in a historic building in the Shaw Main Streets service area, this time one that is about to undergo a complete renovation as part of new adjacent development. Built in 1917, the marble porticoed church at the southwest corner of 9th Street and Massachusetts Avenue was built to house a congregation that was first formed in 1850. Tours of the historic sanctuary were offered before the meeting, which was held in the Players Theater on the ground floor.

In addition to remarks from DC Council Chair Linda Cropp, and a review of accomplishments during Shaw Main Streets second program year, highlights of the event included a performance of excerpts from "Where Eagles Fly," the Shaw history musical which will be returning to the Lincoln Theater this spring; a presentation by Pasto Donna Claycomb on the redevelopment of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church's education buildings, which will begin later this year; presentation of the Shaw Champion Award to Douglas Development Corporation's Douglas Jemal; announcement of the businesses voted Best New Shaw Business of 2005, as chosen by the community; and election of members of the SMS Board of Directors. An informal reception featuring food and beverages from neighborhood businesses concluded the evening.

AFRICAN AMERICAN TEA CEREMONY HONORed CARTER G. WOODSON AT THIS YEAR’S SHAW MAIN STREETS BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION, 02/18/06

Shaw Main Streets honored Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History, with an African American Tea Ceremony on Saturday, February 18, 2006, at 1:00 PM at Shiloh Baptist Church’s Henry C. Gregory, III Family Life Center, 1510 9^th Street, NW.

The tea ceremony engaged participants to share what they knew about Dr. Woodson and how his work affected their lives. Participants will then enjoy tea. The ceremony was led by African American Tea Praises founder Johnetta Bagby.

News about other efforts to honor Dr. Woodson in Shaw was also presented. Each pre-registered participant received a special souvenir of the event.

Shaw Main Streets to HoST Screening of Short Documentaries on Shaw and LeDROIT PArk, 01/12/06

On Thursday, January 12, 2006, at 7:00 PM at Shaw Junior High School’s Percy L. Ellis, Jr. Auditorium,

WETA Channel 26, the Washington, DC metropolitan area’s PBS television station, presented five new short documentaries on Shaw and LeDroit Park as the first neighborhoods to be profiled in the WETA Neighborhoods series.

The short documentaries were broadcast on WETA throughout the month of January. But since there was not a published schedule of when they will appear, this screening was an opportunity to see them all at one time. The segments can also be viewed online at WETA’s website. For more information on the series, visit www.weta.org/community/neighborhoods.

Shaw Main Streets holiday Party HighlightED Neighborhood Restaurants, 12/06/05

The Shaw Main Streets annual holiday party was held on Tuesday, December 6, 2005, at Warehouse Café/Bar, 1021 7th Street, NW. Food was provided by neighborhood restaurants, including Dan the Man’s Teriyaki, Tobago’s Café and Catering, Vegetate, Habesha Market and Carryout, Etete Ethiopian Restaurant, Abiti Ethiopian Restaurant, and Azi’s Café. Beverages were provided by Log Cabin Liquors, Modern Liquors, and Serv-U Liquors. Wagtime Pet Spa provided holiday dog treats for canine companions that were left at home.

The bar area at Warehouse was filled to capacity with a diverse crowd of neighborhood residents, people who work in the neighborhood, and visitors attracted by this free event, which was featured on the DC government’s website that morning. Free copies of a limited edition poster celebrating the Shaw neighborhood’s history and renaissance were distributed to attendees. The posters were donated by Manna Community Development Corporation.

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE EXCHANGE, 12/01/05

Shaw Main Streets held a groundbreaking ceremony for The Exchange, a new mixed-use (retail/office/residential) development at 1301-1309 9th Street, NW, on Thursday, December 1, 2005, at 11:00 AM. This long-awaited development of a corner immediately adjacent to the new Washington Convention Center is finally ready to move forward after over two years of zoning and historic preservation approvals.

Highlights of the event included remarks by Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans; the blessing of the project and construction workers by Father James Watkins of Immaculate Conception Church; music by the Shaw Junior High School Marching Band; and coffee, hot chocolate, and pastries from Azi’s Café.

The project includes renovation of some of the oldest buildings in Shaw, with new construction at the rear. This project is an important one not just because it is adjacent to the convention center and will help continue the revitalization of 9th Street, but because it is an example of the commitment by Douglas Development to preserving our history. The buildings incorporated into the project were in such poor condition that an ordinary developer would have stayed away from them because of historic preservation restrictions. Only a developer with a passion for our heritage would undertake a project as expensive as this one and with such severe constraints.

For leasing information, visit www.douglasdevelopment.com or call Norman or Blake at 202-638-6300.

O STREET MARKET, MORE AT SMS COMMUNITY FORUM ON NEW DEVELOPMENT, 09/28/05

Shaw Main Streets’ Annual Community Forum on New Development Projects was held on Wednesday, September 28, 2005, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Immaculate Conception School, 711 N Street, NW.

Shaw residents heard what is proposed to rise from the rubble of the collapse of the historic O Street Market’s roof. At long last, a plan has been developed that the developers who control the property have begun to present to the community. This was only one of the many exciting new projects that were discussed at this year’s Shaw Main Streets Community Forum on New Development Projects, including development of long vacant lots along 7th, 8th, and 9th Streets; the redevelopment of the DC Housing Finance Agency headquarters at 815 Florida Avenue, NW; streetscape improvement projects in the neighborhood; and much more.

FREE SHAW WALKING TOURS, 10/01/05

As part of Cultural Tourism DC's WalkingTown, DC, event on Saturday, October 1, 2005, Shaw Main Streets presented two free walking tours of Shaw, led by SMS Executive Director Alexander M. Padro.

WalkingTown, DC FALL EDITION was a day of free neighborhood walking tours encouraging residents and visitors alike to discover Washington – the cultural capital with vibrant street life and many little-known historic treasures.

The tours were free, and no reservations were not required. These tours focused primarily on historical events, buildings, and personalities, but also included the character of the area and more recent developments.

The two Shaw tours presented were as follows:

Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part I
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Started at