Richard is a staff accountant responsible for producing BID tax invoices, reconciling payments and receivables, and handling client billing questions and concerns. He conducts similar responsibilities for the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District (CID), an affiliated non-profit organization. Prior to joining the BID, Richard worked as an accountant at various entities in the DC area, including RapidAdvance in Bethesda, Maryland, and Arqiva in DC. He is a graduate of American Intercontinental University, where he earned his dual master’s degrees in business administration and management and accounting.

Andrea is working as a year-long intern with Richard T. Reinhard, the BID’s deputy executive director, juggling several pressing projects, including an operational procedures manual, parks management research, and creating a public space usage guide. A rising third-year law student at the Georgetown University Law Center (600 New Jersey Avenue), she has been an intern at several organizations, including the DC Department of Housing and Community Development, the Philadelphia Center City District's Community Court, and the Advancement Project (1220 L Street), committed to racial justice. Andrea has lived in Delhi, India, where she took urban studies courses and worked at ActionAid International. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Brown University, where she majored in urban studies and English literature.  

Each year, SYEP interns join the DowntownDC BID as project assistants as part of a cooperative arrangement with DOES. While we provide them critical real-world skills and allow them to gain valuable workplace experience, they provide much-needed project support to our various departments compiling data, working on databases, and assisting with special projects and surveys. The interns are all DC residents. This is the first time that some have stepped into the workplace. Others are enrolled as students at Yale, Virginia State, Bowie State, Evergreen State College and Lafayette College. They are:

Share Your Events on the BID Calendar
By now, you’ve probably seen all the great stuff that you can do on our Downtown Events Calendar. The events appear in the blue boxes posted all over our website. There are featured events at the bottom of our home page and a separate Events Calendar page that lets users find events by type, name, or date. But best of all, whenever you select "Places to: Eat, Shop, Visit, Stay or Get Service" from our yellow "Neighborhood Information" menu, you'll get a specialized map accompanied by a blue calendar box featuring only events related to points on that map. The further you drill down, the more specific the events and map points become. Cool, right?

So how does all that great stuff get there? It’s submitted by business people, event coordinators, and publicists. Here's how: from any of our top-level pages, find the maroon bar just beneath our logo and click on the "Submit an Event" button on the far right. This will get you to an easy to use form. Rules for how your submission will be used are right on the page. Remember, these events must take place within the DowntownDC BID and listings should be in the form of public announcements. They are not meant to be ad copy, so please remove all superlatives or comparisons to similar businesses: the BID does not play favorites. The Submit an Event form is the absolute best and fastest way for you to get your events posted on our site. So what are you waiting for?

Time Out
Ah, those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. With so many readers scrambling to leave DC in August to go on vacation and beat the oppressive heat and humidity, there will be no August edition of the Downtown Update. The newsletter will return in September following a brief summer hiatus. To stay abreast of events and newsy tidbits, visit our website at www.downtowndc.org, or follow us at www.twitter.com/DowntownDCBID.

Recent Standouts
The June SAM of the Month meeting convened at the National Aquarium (1400 Constitution Avenue), located in the Department of Commerce Building. Aquarium Marketing Coordinator Emma Connor hosted the monthly event and relayed how the nation’s oldest aquarium is open daily, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and underwent a major renovation in 2008.

Richard H. Bradley, the DowntownDC BID’s executive director, introduced the SAMs to David K. Kamperin, the former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) First Patrol District Commander, now director of public space management at the BID.

	SAM Supervisor Kerney Jones-Bey introduces supervisors Dion Simmons, Robert Crowe, Michael Creed and Lawrence Alston.

Four new SAM supervisors were recognized at the meeting: Dion Simmons, Robert Crowe, Michael Creed, and Lawrence Alston. Afterwards, Jeannette Chapman, the BID’s Economic Development research assistant, briefed the SAMs on recent Downtown developments—the new 901 Restaurant & Bar (901 9th Street), Luke’s Lobster (624 E Street), and the positive attention heaped on the CityCenterDC mixed-use project at May’s International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) conference in Las Vegas.

The SAM of the Month meetings recognize individual SAMs for their stellar performance and informs all SAMs of new developments in the DowntownDC BID area by enhancing their understanding of Downtown institutions, thus enabling them to better assist visitors, workers and residents.

National Aquarium Marketing Coordinator Emma Connors awards a proud De'Marco as SAM Supervisor Teresa Savoy looks on.

During the meeting, Maintenance Team Member De’Marco Head and Safety/Hospitality Team Member Oliver Pugh III were recognized as the May SAMs of the Month.

De’Marco Head joined the SAMs nearly two and a half years ago. This is his first SAM of the Month recognition. According to his supervisor, it’s well deserved because he worked hard to reach new heights. Head enjoys working as a SAM because he gets to meet lots of people, visit great museums, and see something new everyday.

	SAM of the Month Oliver Pugh III

The H.D. Woodson High School graduate is a “gadget guy” who’s fond of computers and electronics. He can usually be found with a smile on his face, whether in a room filled with people or laid back listening to music on his headset.

Oliver Pugh III graduated from the SAM Program the same year as Head. The former security guard and military veteran (he served in the US Army and Marines) brings professionalism, a great attitude, and excellent customer service to the job. The Monroe, Louisiana, native is unfazed working year-round outdoors. Says he: “I used to do construction, grew up on a farm, and spent long hours outdoors while in the military. ” Undoubtedly, he’s equipped to be a SAM. The father of two adult children enjoys writing poetry and songs in his free time as well as reading and exercising.  

Delectable Alliance
What could be a dandier combination than frozen yogurt and gourmet cupcakes? Ask Yogen Fruz (825 14th Street) and Red Velvet Cupcakery (675 E Street). Both partnered earlier this year to have Red Velvet’s cupcakes sold inside the recently renovated Yogen Fruz shop, which now touts the Red Velvet signage on its window and will also soon include a separate display counter for the cupcakes. Talk about double indulgence!

Say It Ain’t So
After flourishing as a popular destination restaurant for 11 years, TenPehn (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue), the Asian fusion restaurant, bade farewell to Downtown last month after losing its lease. Owner Passion Food Hospitality will focus its time and energy on two new independent concepts—District Commons and Burger, Tap & Shake—located across town at the 2200 Pennsylvania Avenue project developed recently near George Washington University on Washington Circle. Passion Food still has its arms wrapped firmly around its three other Downtown restaurants— DC Coast (1401 K Street), Ceiba (701 14th Street), and Acadiana (901 New York Avenue).

Not So Reserved
The Reserve (1426 L Street) tapas restaurant and bar was forced to close after being evicted last month. The upscale eatery, which featured a lounge, outdoor seating, and an extensive wine bar, opened in late 2009. It occupied space formerly leased by Ollie’s Trolley.

Powerful Places
With the dietary dominance of Barack Obama, the nation’s 44th president, in mind, Washington City Paper has identified an equal number of DC-based centers of food power, and 15 Downtown restaurants made the list. No surprise there. With 143 destination restaurants, it’s hard for the DowntownDC BID area not to represent—although not all making the power list are four or five star establishments. But we digress. The superstars that reportedly “flex their muscles in ways ranging from culinary influence to market supremacy to televisual ubiquity” are as follows:
 

Gastronomic Superstars
Kudos to the Downtown restaurants and industry stars who received top honors at the recent Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) RAMMY Awards. Five DowntownDC BID area heavyweights were recognized at the annual awards gala often dubbed the “Oscars of Washington, DC Area Restaurants.” The 2011 winners took the top prize in five of 16 categories, including two chosen by the public. They are:

The Source has been recognized for two consecutive years. Last year, its executive chef, Scott Drewno, was crowned Chef of the Year. The RAMMY Awards, now in its 29th year, salute the best and brightest in the local restaurant industry. For more information and a complete list of winners, visit www.ramw.org.

Starting Out on the Right Foot
The Fairfield Inn & Suites (500 H Street) opened on March 29 just in time for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, capturing lots of visitors who helped boost its occupancy rates. Thus, the smoke-free hotel, which replaced the Red Roof Inn, opened to two strong months, exceeding its budgeted occupancy rate by 5% in April, its average daily rate (ADR) by $21 in May, and its budgeted revenues by an undisclosed amount in both months. Among the services and amenities that it offers: an expanded complimentary continental breakfast; free Wi-Fi and high speed Internet access; plug-in-panels in all rooms; the Irish Channel Restaurant, which offers room service; a fitness  and business center with 24-hour accessibility; and concierge service. After receiving an opening inspection, the hotel nabbed a three diamond AAA rating. Not bad.


Literacy Advocates
Hyatt Regency Washington (400 New Jersey Avenue) employees are to be commended for collecting more than 2,300 books and donating them to DC Public Schools (DCPS) following a month-long book drive in May. Lucky students at three schools—Marshall Elementary School, Hart Middle School, and Ballou Senior High School—will be able to enjoy the books in the comfort of their school libraries. That’s hospitality with a different twist.

Get Your Sweat On

Exotic Outlets
Acacia Fine Gifts and Flowers (1427 H Street) is no more. It closed on June 30. No word on why or what might occupy the space. Meanwhile, something we do know: Artifactory (641 Indiana Avenue), the eclectic African and Asian art shop which has been a Downtown mainstay since 1972, will close in mid-August to make way for The Grand Trunk, a new Pakistani restaurant. Shop owner Dominick Cardella also owns the historic, 1817 building, one of the oldest commercial properties still standing from Pierre L’Enfant’s original design for DC. After running the shop for nearly 40 years, Cardella’s looking forward to a little R&R. Until then, he can be reached at 202.393.2727. 

On the Edge

Oh, did we say to keep an eye out for the BID’s own Wayne Nicolosi, our information resource manager? He is directing, co-producing, and acting in David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize winning play Glengarry Glen Ross. Break a leg, Wayne!

What’s in a Name?
The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (801 Mount Vernon Place) has changed its name and brand to Events DC. The switch reflects an ongoing campaign to attract more events, thus boosting the city’s economic development efforts, and fusing citywide marketing projects. This is the second name change for the organization in two years. In 2009, the Washington Convention and Sports Authority emerged when the Washington Convention Center Authority and the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission combined.
 
Pay to Stay
Unzip those wallets: the National Building Museum (401 F Street) now charges a fee to peruse its exhibits. Federal budgetary cuts and recessionary woes are behind the new $8 charge for adults and $5 cost for youth, most senior citizens, and students (there’s also a $3 fee for the hands-on area for kids). The good news is that members will continue to receive free admission, as will visitors to the Museum’s three family festivals. Military personnel and their families will be admitted free of charge through Labor Day. For more information, click here.

While the Museum has added admission fees, the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Avenue) is now offering free admission for visitors 18 and under—through Labor Day that is. This amounts to a savings of $12.95 per young person, up to 10, when accompanied by an adult. Adults and seniors still must pay $21.95 and $17.95, respectively. For more information, click here.

Generosity Has its Place
Several Downtown companies made the Washington Business Journal’s Corporate Philanthropists list recently. When ranked by 2010 metro-area volunteer hours, four BID area companies placed in the Top 25. They are, by volunteer hours and ranking:

Those ranked by 2010 local giving include 10 Downtown companies out of 50 in the region. They are:

Meals on Wheels
Okay, okay, we know. Mobile food trucks continue to make their way into Downtown, offering alternative lunchtime options for workers, visitors and residents. The latest arrivals: Tasty Kabob, serving up Middle-eastern cuisine replete with chicken and lamb served over rice, as a salad, or on pita or a gyro; Stix, offering grilled meats, veggies, fruits, and cake—on sticks; Feelin’ Crabby, putting forth fresh lump crabmeat mixed with mayo, diced peppers, parsley, and Old Bay; Basil Thyme, serving fresh, cooked-to-order pasta; and Rolling Ficelle, offering a variety of foot long sandwiches.

Free Lawyerly Advice
At a time when many law firms are cutting staff, consolidating or closing, it’s nice to know that many still do generous pro bono work. The Washington Business Journal recently ranked the Top 25 firms by local pro bono hours, and Downtown companies represented, making up nearly 50% of the list. They are:

Big Wheels Keep on Turnin’

Just a Phone Call Away
Beginning this month, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will offer a new citywide pay-by-phone program for mobile phone users. Convenience is the order of the day as residents, workers, and visitors will be able to pay for parking at all of the approximately 17,000 on-street metered spaces in DC without using cash or a credit card. A small fee—32-cents—will be charged for each transaction. Previously, the city piloted two pay-by-phone programs. One ended last month and covered parking in areas such as Downtown on K and I Streets and New York Avenue. Parkmobile, the other pilot program operator, will launch the citywide effort. Drivers can sign up at www.parkmobile.com, where they also can download a mobile app.