Mount Rainier Arts Commission meeting 2/10/20

The Mount Rainier Arts Commission (MRAC) is meeting tonight at 7pm at City Hall to discuss the three finalists for the MRAC's first public art project - a mural on the 3300 block of Route 1. The meeting will also cover internal administration issues, the MRAC's future meeting schedule, and future partnerships with entities in the community. 

All are welcome to attend! 

Please contact the MRAC's chair, Alex Kozen, at ackozen@gmail.com with any questions.

The Kaywood Theater Feasibility Study will be Presented by OTJ Architects (formerly Martinez + Johnson) & Kaywood Theater Project Team.

The Kaywood Theater Feasibility Study will be Presented by OTJ Architects (formerly Martinez + Johnson) & Kaywood Theater Project Team.

***Revised Date*** 

*****Monday, March 11, 2019****

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

At Joe’s Movement Emporium 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Light Refreshments Provided

Join us and learn about the design and function possibilities for the Kaywood Theater.

PGC Zoning Ordinance Rewrite

Just a reminder that Prince George's County is rewriting the Zoning Ordinance for the first time in 50 years. This is a good thing! The new plan will make it a lot easier to get the kind of redevelopment we want and need in older communities like Mount Rainier.

The County Council reconvenes on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 and will begin considering the bills that together make-up the legislation needed to enact the zoning rewrite. The Council must wrap up its business 30 days from the November 6, 2018 election, leaving only about five weeks to get the Zoning Ordinance amended and passed. Resident voices will be needed to get the rewrite over the finish line, so I encourage you to tune in!

Keep up with the progress of the new plan at the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Portal.

Town Hall with Congressman Anthony Brown - April 20, 2017

A local organizing group comprised of Mount Rainier, Brentwood, and North Brentwood residents has worked with Congressman Anthony Brown to put on a Town Hall meeting.

Rep. Anthony Brown Town Hall
Thursday, April 20, 2017, 6:30-8pm
Bunker Hill Firehouse
3716 Rhode Island Ave
Brentwood, MD 20722

Please RSVP - the room is large but a head count really helps!

PGAAMCC’s June Unwind Wednesday

PGAAMCC’s
June Unwind Wednesday

Join Maryland State Delegate
Michael Summers,
District 47

at

PGAAMCC’s
June Unwind Wednesday

June 5, 2013
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
4519 Rhode Island Avenue
North Brentwood, Maryland 20722
301.809.0440

PGAAMCC Members: Free
Non-Members: $10

Complimentary parking, wine, refreshments, and entertainment are
provided. Enjoy networking with community members and leaders.

Updated Street Sense Proposal for 3200 Block Rhode Island Ave Redevelopment

On Thursday, November 8, 2012, the Mount Rainier City Council voted to award the contract for redevelopment of the 3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue to Street Sense and the Neighborhood Development Company. This is a $55 million project featuring 210 Apartments, 18,255 square feet retail, and 250 total parking spaces. Project timeline: land closing 2Q 2013, project delivery 4Q 2014, project stabilization 4Q 2015. See below for the updated visuals for the proposal, but first some additional info from Thursday's meeting that is not reflected in the graphics.

Guy Silverman of Street Sense stated that:

• Based on feedback from residents and council, they plan on at least LEED Gold for this project and are considering Platinum
• With about 18,000 square feet of retail, we can expect small stores and there probably will not be an anchor tenant
• During the design phase they will be sensitive to the needs of Perry Street residents who back up to the 3200 block redevelopment. These concerns were so strong that they are actually incorporated into the Mixed Use Town Center Plan update that was issued in 2010. (The design below reflects a great deal of massing at the rear of the property, creating the potential for looming over and/or shading homes.)
• They will consider expanding the parking garage to add capacity that serves the entire town center area (which some consider underparked because the existing commercial stock dates from streetcar days.)

Open Studios a Big Success Once Again!

This past Saturday, May 12, 2012 was the 8th Annual Gateway Arts District Open Studios Tour. I don't know what the official attendance numbers will show but it seemed like record attendance to me. I stopped by Alan Binstock's home studio, Brewer's Arcade, the various spots at Artists on the Tracks including Red Dirt and Flux Studios, Emily Greene Liddle's home studio, and DC GlassWorks. There were good crowds at each spot and all of the artists seemed to be pleased with the outcome of the day.

I was also really pleased by the turnout at the after party held at the Gateway Arts Center - I would estimate attendance at well over 150 artists and neighbors. It was a great moment for our community!



Alan Binstock's home studio on the Gateway Open Studios Tour:

Funeral Home Mural - Great Press for Better Block Project

Great article about plans to paint a mural on the old funeral home at the corner of Eastern Ave and Rhode Island. This will be a key part of this year's Better Block Project, organized by Joe's Movement Emporium and Gateway CDC to demonstrate the potential of our Rhode Island Avenue corridor.

Photos courtesy of Joe's Movement Emporium, via washingtonpost.com

Route 1 Ride AKA The Bus 17

There's an exciting new initiative to increase connectivity in the Route 1 corridor and get people from parts north down to us in the Gateway Arts District.  Called Route 1 Ride, this is a Prince George's County transit initiative to increase service on The Bus 17 route and hopefully have people trade car trips for bus trips.  Running from Mount Rainier to IKEA for just $1, and free to University of Maryland students, this is a forward thinking initiative to make our county more sustainable, our local economy more healthy, and provide affordable alternative transportation.

Map and stop finder

There is also a plan to "wrap" the buses in an eye catching design to reflect the route's origin in the Gateway Arts District and highlight the unique charm of living in a Route 1 community.  Call for artists to design the wrap is here.

Mount Rainier's own Margaret Boozer, live from New York!

From the good news in the Gateway Arts District department:

My friend Margaret Boozer of Red Dirt Studios has a really cool piece (which I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak of) in a major show in New York City - Swept Away: Dust, Ashes, and Dirt in Contemporary Art and Design.

Margaret has pictures and a great explanation of the piece, Correlation Drawing / Drawing Correlations, up on her website.

Reviews:
W Magazine
Core 77

Welcome Shortcake Bakery!

Just wanted to let everyone know that Shortcake Bakery has opened in the former Rhode Island Red's space on Route 1 at the Northwest Branch trail (4700 Rhode Island Ave, Hyattsville, MD, 20781).

The bakery is run by the friendly (and talented) Cheryl, wife of former Senator David Harrington.  In fact, when I stopped in yesterday Senator Harrington was manning the register and put on a fresh pot of coffee for me.  Service with a smile!

Right now they are in a "soft open" phase and gradually expanding menu offerings and hours.  I can report that the scones, cookies, and Nantucket cranberry cake are excellent.  Today they will start serving the Red's style thin crust pizzas for lunch and bread is coming next week.  I believe the current hours are 6am - 5:30pm on weekdays but that definitely seems to be evolving.

I am very excited that our (greater) neighborhood now has a spot to get coffee and breakfast - perfect for those morning meetings!

Monster's Ball - Gateway CDC Fundraiser 10/29

The Monsters Ball

Gateway Community Development Corporation's Halloween Party Fundraiser.

Where:
The Gateway Arts Center
3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood, MD 20722

When:
Saturday, October 29
8:00 pm 'til the wolves howl!

Ticket Levels

$10: 1 Free drink, food, COSTUME MANDATORY

$45: Free drinks, food, costume optional

$75: Free drinks, food, costume optional, plus $20 in raffle tickets for fabulous prizes

One entrance per ticket.
ID REQUIRED.

Entertainment

        DJ and Dancing- slamming, spooky beats.

        Evil Arts Laboratory- make and take adult art projects lead by Milkweed Studio.

        Joe's Zombie Dancers- reenacting Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video.
        Become a ZOMBIE dancer!

        Ghost Stories by Story League DC.

        Fire Tiki's. See pictures.

        Costume Contest, Raffle and Silent Auction. See prizes.

Purchase Your Ticket

Buy online now or pay by check by visiting the Gateway CDC office

Gateway CDC Membership Meeting - Saturday at Urban Eats

FALL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
AND OPEN HOUSE

AT URBAN EATS

Saturday October 8, 11am-1pm 

 

Come join your fellow Gateway CDC members at Urban Eats, on the traffic circle in Mount Rainier Saturday, October 8 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. 

Find out what's new at Gateway CDC and learn about ways to get involved in economic development in our community. You can renew your membership and be among the first to get your ticket to the Monster's Ball!

Stop in before your Saturday errands. Be sure to invite a friend.

Art Openings Saturday, July 16

This Saturday, July 16 the Gateway Arts District will feature two terrific art openings - conveniently scheduled at 4pm and 7pm so you can attend both!  (If you haven't yet been to an art opening in the Gateway Arts District, I highly recommend it as a great way to see the amazing work being done in our community by our neighbors.  I haven't been to an opening yet that was stuffy or snobby, and generally there is free food and drinks!)

First, Mount Rainier residents Krista Schlyer  and Shahin Shikhaliyev are featured in a new group show in Gateway CDC's 39th Street Gallery at the Gateway Arts Center.  Migrations: Perspectives on an elemental impulse features artistic perspectives on the theme Migrations, featuring photographer Krista Schlyer, painter Shahin Shikhaliyev, photographer Sonia Keiner, and digital artist Favianna Rodriguez.  Krista's contribution builds on the amazing work she started as the leader of ILCP's Borderlands project.  Gateway CDC showed some of the stunning Borderlands imagery at the EZ Storage studios during their first annual Art of Dessert fundraiser.  [Huffington Post story on the Borderlands project]

Possibly my favorite Borderlands image, though the nature & wildlife shots are stunning.

Candidate Night - Watch the Video

Thanks so much to the League of Women Voters for organizing the Mount Rainier Candidate Night this past Wednesday, April 20, 2011 and special thanks to the two dozen or so people who attended.  The audience asked several excellent questions and it is worth your time to watch the video on Mount Rainier Television (MRTV).

Mount Rainier Candidate Night - First Half

Mount Rainier Candidate Night - Second Half

Better Block Project Was Awesome

On Saturday, April 9, 2011, the Better Block Project provided a vision of what our historic 34th Street business district could be - vibrant, beautiful, and the center of our community.  I thought it was very telling that even though it was a chilly day, tons of people were out and about on the street throughout the event (even eating at the outdoor cafe spaces!).  Saturday's turnout shows that there is a lot of pent up demand in our community and I think that the city is at a moment to take proactive steps to really make our town center thrive.

We have several great established businesses like Glut, Nisey's Boutique, and the super delicious Island Style Ice Cream.  Add in shows or classes at Joe's Movement Emporium and a meal at the wonderful new vegan bakery and cafe Sweet and Natural and you begin to realize that locals and visitors alike could spend a happy afternoon in our town center!  The problem is, no one is sharing this message with the world.

I think the city should work closely with the Mount Rainier Business Association (check out the MRBA welcome package) to promote our existing businesses and attract new investment to our town center.  A marketing plan for our existing businesses and for the historic business district as a whole would establish a sense of place and show the world what Mount Rainier has to offer.  Thousands of cars drive through town every day on Route 1 - imagine if we captured even a fraction of that traffic for a trip up 34th Street to our historic business district.

The excellent Mount Rainier, Maryland blog has great photos and videos from Better Block.

Stay tuned for more video of the Mount Rainier Better Block event

Better Block Project

Sunday I participated in "Elbow Grease Weekend" for the Better Block Project in Mount Rainier, a collaborative community-driven project to invigorate our historic 34th Street business district.  The idea is to show the potential of the Mount Rainier Town Center by showing off our "Main Street" at its best for one day - a new coat of paint on old buildings, revitalized storefronts for existing businesses, and "pop-up" art and businesses in vacant storefronts.  I encourage everyone to come out on Saturday, April 9 from noon to 6pm at 34th St and Bunker Hill Road and support this kind of creative thinking about revitalizing our community.

Painting the Odd Even Thrift Shop at 34th and Rhode Island