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Articles
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| Anniversaries, makeovers and temporary digs |
VOICE writes, "Anniversaries, makeovers and temporary digs
By Celeste McCall
Groovy dc, the chic-funky card and gift shop at 428 Eighth St., SE, turns a year old this month. For its anniversary festivities, Dennis Dewees and Manuel Cortes’ recently renovated shop in time for an open house during CHAMPS’s Second Saturday on Sept. 8, made complete with refreshments and specially priced merchandise.
Also turning one is the National Garden at the U.S. Botanic Garden, west of the U.S. Capitol. Although the actual anniversary is not until Sept. 29, the gardens celebrated Sept. 8 with Family Day festivities — which included kids activities, cooking, ikebana and gardening demos and tours.
Authorized by Congress, the National Garden is a public-private venture built with funds raised by citizens, corporations and garden clubs, featuring plants native to the mid-Atlantic region. Nearby is the rose garden, first ladies water garden and a delightful butterfly space.
Located at 100 Maryland Ave. SW, the National Garden is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sept. 30. The U.S. Botanic Garden is open year around. For more information call (202) 225-8333. "
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Grubb’s gets spruced up
Grubb’s Care Pharmacy, 326 East Capitol St., also has a reason to celebrate: The venerable drug store unveiled an “extreme makeover.”
Owner Michael Kim, his wife Joan and their crew totally gutted the 100-year-old plus building, and installed new drywall, spiffy laminate floors, sparkling shelves, new ceilings and an attractive garden out front.
Due to popular demand, Grubb’s soda fountain — which long-time Hill residents remember — is back. “We wanted to return the ice cream counter to the community,” Kim said.
As early as 1867, the building housed a pharmacy, originally called Randall’s. Charles Grubb took over in 1933, and Kim assumed ownership in January 2006.
To mark Grubb’s facelift, customers were treated to an old-fashioned meet-and-greet Sept. 10, complete with free ice cream. Grubb’s offers various flavors of Hershey’s Premium, with freebies for kids 4 and younger. Call (202) 543-4400.
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H Street co-op
Sometime next year folks will be able to buy fresh produce on H Street, NE.
If all goes well, the H Street Community Market, an organization of Washington neighbors, will establish a cooperatively owned grocery in the Northeast corridor. Affiliated with the National Cooperative Grocery Association, the group hopes to bring a wide array of quality, affordable food to the community. Prices will be in line with those of local chain supermarkets, we’re told, with many items grown on nearby farms. An exact target date has not been sat, as organizers are still looking for an exact location. Stay tuned, and for updates call (202) 547-7053.
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Girl power
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 118 Third St., SE, has been busy planning its “Woman to Woman” (W2W) activities.
According to the church’s Web site, the focus will be on “providing opportunities … to enjoy being with one another and to promote personal growth.”
The series opener, “Reaching out into the World,” is set for Oct. 2 in the Parish Hall.
For the kickoff, Betty Foster will describe her incredible service trip to Peru with The Smile Train, a foundation that — among other services — provides corrective surgery to children with cleft palates. Afterwards, the parish discussion will center on how St Mark's female members can support such outreach projects.
For more information, call (202) 543-0053.
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Market pottery shop finds temporary digs
After several months of searching, Eastern Market Pottery has found a new home, if only temporarily. The new address is the rear entrance of 320 Third St., NE.
The potters were displaced when the April 30 fire gutted Eastern Market’s South Hall where their studio was upstairs. Although the space was undamaged, the artists could not access their workspace because of the South Hall’s extensive damage and ongoing restoration work.
The potters‚ new 1,300 square-foot area is larger than its previous digs, with, unfortunately, correspondingly higher rent. However, the Capitol Hill Community Foundation is helping out, and eventually, the potters hope to return to the restored market when it reopens in about two years.
Meanwhile, potters resumed fall classes Sept. 10.
“We are excited and expect to have over 20 former students return to their classes for the first time since April,” said Eastern Market Pottery proprietor Chuck Brome. He added that equipment and materials have been stored in various locations, and bringing everything together in the new studio is an ongoing project.
For more information, call (202) 544-6669.
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Have a tidbit you’d like to share? Drop us a line at hillchatter@voiceofthehill.com.
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Posted on Sep 26, 2007 07:39am.
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