Veterans SAMs were recognized at the ceremony for enduring and mastering five years of service. They are: Lawrence Caraway, Ethel Frye, Pedro Hernandez, Nickcaro Smith and John Wright.

The 2009 SAM of the Year awards went to Vivian Brooks and Raymond Dantzler. The award is given to two SAMs who best represent what the BID’s clean and safe program is all about. Workers are judged based on their morale, attendance, letters of recommendations and other factors. Here’s a little information about this year’s winners:
 
Vivian Brooks, the Safety and Hospitality SAM of the Year, joined the SAM team in February 2005 and has received extensive positive feedback from visitors throughout the US and abroad. Vivian was born and raised in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and says extending warm southern hospitality to others comes naturally—and those who have benefited from her help on the street would agree. She has won the SAM of the Month award three times. A single mother of five sons and a daughter, Vivian says four of her six children have attended college, and two sons have served in Iraq for the military—at the same time.  “I appreciate all my blessings because I know where they’re coming from,” she says. “Just give your best and the best comes back to you.”

Raymond Dantzler is the Maintenance SAM of the Year. A native Washingtonian, he has been with the SAM Team since March 2007. Like Vivian, he has received high praise for his diligent work ethic and personality from local residents and visitors since day one on the job. No wonder. Raymond says he enjoys getting out and meeting people. When not helping others, he relishes time with his family—a five-month-old son and a 4-year-old daughter—playing cards and watching football and basketball.  Besides the BID, Raymond also works at the Greyhound Bus Terminal part time.  Says he: “I just like to come to work and also spend time with my family shopping and reading the Bible.”
 
Let’s give all the SAMs a well-deserved round of applause!

Save the Date
Next month, the Downtown BID will publish the “State of Downtown Report,” which highlights Downtown BID area growth and economic trends, and how they relate to the larger DC and regional economies. The report provides the best information available on the Downtown economy to BID members, property owners, commercial tenants, developers, investors and policymakers. This year’s theme is “Holding Firm in Uncertain Times.” The report will contain data that shows the Downtown economy is sound fundamentally but not immune to bad financial and economic conditions. 

Mark your calendars. The BID will release the “2008 State of Downtown Report” and hold a public forum with a panel discussion on Downtown's economic future on Tuesday, June 2. The event will take place at the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Avenue) from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Invitations and online registration will be available soon.

Lending a Helping Hand
As the city’s oldest and largest business improvement district, the Downtown BID is called on occasionally to assist visiting delegations from cities across the US. This spring, the BID has met with leaders of Denver’s Downtown organization, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and a diverse group representing San Francisco’s business, city, community and labor leaders. The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce is working to establish a downtown BID in that city.

About 50 delegates with the San Francisco Chamber arrived in DC in March. The Downtown BID convened a panel, “A Safe, Clean Downtown,” and along with DC Superior Court  (500 Indiana Avenue) administrators, participated in the discussions. BID staff Frank Russo, deputy executive director of Programs and Services; Chet Grey, director of Homeless Services; and Hiram Brewton, director of Environmental Services, shared valuable information with the group. They focused on Downtown’s SAMs; homeless strategies used to bring outreach, services, housing and dignity to homeless people; and successful partnerships with property managers, owners and the Community Court.

The Downtown Denver Partnership’s 2009 Urban Exploration program brought about 60 stakeholders and leaders to Downtown DC in April. The delegation met with many city officials and private sector executives over three days to gain knowledge of the city’s most catalytic public and private sector programs, projects and initiatives. Richard H. Bradley, the Downtown BID’s executive director, and Gerry Widdecombe, the economic development director, provided presentations on Downtown DC’s history and increasing housing options, respectively. City officials and BID staff, including Rick Reinhard, the BID’s deputy executive director of planning and development, and Lito Tongson, streetscape manager, conducted a walking tour of Downtown. The Denver participants sought and received timely and relevant information that will help them implement their city’s 2007 Downtown Area Plan, which is designed to create an outstanding pedestrian environment that is safe, comfortable and attractive.
.

Stimulating News
Two government agencies, the General Services Administration (GSA) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), are ready to spread the wealth wrought by the stimulus package. The GSA plans to spend more than $395 million in the Downtown BID area on building projects. Behind the windfall is the recovery Act, signed by President Obama in February to jump-start the economy. GSA, which manages 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings nationwide, plans to spend $1.2 billion of the stimulus funds in DC. That's more than one-fifth of the total $5.6 billion allotted to the agency to help create jobs and restore economic growth across the country. The Downtown BID area stands to gain handsomely: 11 of the 23 DC buildings slated for construction, repairs or retrofitting are located here.

Two of the six DC buildings identified for major green building modernization are the Lafayette Building (Phase I), located at 811 Vermont Avenue, which will receive $128.8 million, and the Herbert C. Hoover Building (Phases II and III), 1401 Constitution Avenue, which is slated to receive $225.6 million. The Hoover building is also known as the US Department of Commerce building.

Nine of the 16 DC buildings chosen for limited green building improvements in the Downtown BID area are:

•	Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue ($16.2 million)
•	US Tax Court, 400 2nd Street ($8.1 million)
•	Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) East, 1201 Constitution Avenue, and EPA West and Connecting Wing, 1301 Constitution Avenue ($4.6 million)
•	Elijah Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, 3rd Street and Constitution Avenue ($3.7 million)
•	601 4th Street ($2.2 million)
•	US Secret Service Headquarters, 950 H Street ($1.6 million)
•	Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Headquarters Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue ($1.5 million)
•	US Department of Veterans Affairs Building, 810 Vermont Avenue ($1.5 million)
•	Ariel Rios Federal Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue ($1.3 million)

For a list of all GSA projects, visit www.gsa.gov/graphics/pbs/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_2009.pdf. For more information on how stimulus monies will be spent, visit www.recovery.gov.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has three of 15 projects that will have a direct impact on the Downtown BID area: streetlight and streetscape projects would receive between $6 million to $9 million; a citywide pavement restoration project would receive $5 million, with a small percentage going to the Downtown BID area; and a SmartBike expansion project to include 40 additional locations (the Downtown BID area currently has four of the city’s existing 10 SmartBike sites) would receive $3 million, with the Downtown BID area getting, perhaps, $300,000 of the total. For more information, visit www.recovery.dc.gov/recovery/lib/recovery/pdf/ddot_arra_road_and_bridge_projects.pdf.

Shining Star
Akridge (601 13th Street) keeps piling up the accolades. Last month, the full-service commercial real estate firm was once again named the national winner of the “A List – Best in the Industry” Award for 2008. The “A List” for real estate excellence is part of the National Real Estate Customer Service Awards Program and honors the best property management companies in the industry for their ability to perform at a higher standard by providing quality customer service across their portfolio. The award is presented by CEL & Associates, a national benchmarking firm. Akridge, whose projects encompass more than 12 million square feet of space and have an overall value of more than $2 billion, has taken the top honor nine times over the past decade. How’s that for dominating the field?

Motor City
Envision a neighborhood gathering spot with an Andy Warhol meets Harley-Davidson sort of ambiance. This is the concept that the owner of the Iron Horse, slated to open by year’s end at 507 7th Street, has in mind. Named for the high-performance, American-made motorcycle, the tavern will use both local and national artists to design the décor. The new establishment will seat 299, occupy more than 5,000 square feet of space and offer darts, billiards, a juke box, a shuffleboard table, sports bar and snacks. Because the tavern will not have a full kitchen, patrons will be allowed to bring their own food. Curt Large, the owner, is a partner in Rocket Bar (714 7th Street), the District Grill (1201 K Street) located in the Sheraton Four Points Hotel, as well as several establishments located outside of the Downtown BID area: Buffalo Billiards, Bedrock Billiards and Mackey’s. 

Royal Steakhouse
Back in March, we informed readers that world-famous chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who touts a couple of New York Times and Michelin stars, will open a new concept in the W Hotel (515 15th Street), former site of the Hotel Washington, in August. Well, the restaurant now has a name: J&G Steakhouse. The steakhouse will mirror one opened by Jean-Georges in Scottsdale, Arizona, last December. The restaurant serves “a mixed grill of fine meats, a variety of fish, seasonal vegetables and classic and new style potatoes, all served with sauces and condiments inspired from around the world.” Sounds yummy? For more information, visit www.culinaryconcepts.com.

Coffee Delight
It’s hard to imagine that a shop named Murky Coffee would attract die-hard coffee fans, but such was the case for the popular establishment formerly located in Arlington, Virginia, and on Capitol Hill, that’s making its way to 475 H Street. The coffee shop, whose baristas were known for whipping up quality, flavorsome brews, now will be called Wrecking Ball Coffee. They sure know how to pick ‘em! The new space, located next door to the Blinded Veterans Association’s national headquarters (477 H Street), is changing from office use and will seat 13. The coffeehouse plans to open this month.

Smooth Operator
Health aficionados and blended fruit-based drink lovers rejoice. Smoothie King plans to open another location in Downtown at the Gallery Place alley kiosk located on 7th and G Streets in early June. The smoothie and health food retailer operates a shop currently in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue), where it has been since January 2003, and plans to open a third DC store once it finds another location. Smoothie King, with nearly 600 locations in the US and Seoul, South Korea, created the original nutritional smoothie—infused with vitamins and protein—in 1973. The franchise company also sells sports beverages, energy bars, healthy snacks and nutritional supplements. Last year, it ranked No. 1 in the Juice Bar category and No. 67 overall among US-based franchise companies in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 30th Annual Franchise 500 Awards. For more information, visit www.smoothieking.com.

Au Revoir, Mon Ami
After five years of fine dining bliss, Le Paradou (678 Indiana Avenue) closed its doors last month. The restaurant was unable to renegotiate its lease because of the dire economy and high rent. The luxe French operator, known for its velvety blanc boudin and roasted lobster with Sauternes, also suffered from a demand for less formal dining. Chef Yannick Cam, who introduced Washington to nouvelle cuisine, hopes to open another restaurant and is scouting for a venue.

Victim of the Times
The French connection seems to be losing its luster in Downtown. Last month, the turn-of-the-century formal dining room at the Willard InterContinental Hotel (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue) switched from offering American cuisine with a French twist to becoming rental space for various venues, including weddings and meetings. The two-story, oak-paneled Willard Room won several awards over the years for outstanding achievement in service, elegance and quality. But like Le Paradou, formerly at 678 Indiana Avenue, the restaurant became a victim of more casual (and non-French) dining—just when Obama and Sarkozy were hitting it off! The room will continue to hold 175 guests and experience only minor alterations, with a new design, lighting and carpeting. The good news for old fans: the elegant spot will still serve Sunday brunch and offer special holiday dining opportunities for hotel guests.

Saluting Fallen Heroes
For the first time in its 21-year history, the annual Candlelight Vigil held at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial (400 block of E Street) will be shown on a free, live videocast on Wednesday, May 13. The ceremony is part of National Police Week, which recognizes the service and sacrifice of America’s federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. Last year, 133 officers were killed. Their names, along with 254 others who died in previous years but whose line-of-duty deaths had been lost to history, were recently engraved on the Memorial’s walls. The names now total 18,661, dating back to the first known death in 1792. US Attorney General Eric Holder will be the keynote speaker at the Candlelight Vigil. Holder, a longtime friend and supporter of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (400 7th Street), NLEOMF, is also a member of the National Honorary Campaign Committee of the National Law Enforcement Museum project.  The newly inscribed officers’ names will be read following the ceremony, one of many events taking place Downtown during National Police Week. For more information and to register for the videocast, visit www.nleomf.org/NPW2009.

On another note, if you plan to visit the NLEOMF Gift Shop during National Police Week, which runs May 10 to May 16, its location will be housed temporarily at 624 E Street, the former location of the Clara Barton Condominium sales office, to accommodate the large number of visitors who are expected to attend the events. 

Touched By Angels
Chinatown residents have invited the Guardian Angels citizen’s watch group to patrol in their neighborhood. Safety patrols began in March, primarily around Gallery Place (7th and H Streets). Between six to 12 red beret-wearing Angels are making the rounds on Saturdays, from 8:00 pm to 11:30 pm, or midnight, and on select Fridays. John Ayala, the mid-Atlantic and DC operations director, said the group is particularly focused on reaching out to young people who congregate around the popular destination. The Guardian Angels work in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and are trained to conduct citizens’ arrests. They also provide escort service, CPR and in-school programs to prevent bullying and violence. The organization has 143 chapters in 14 countries, including Japan, Australia and South Africa. For more information, visit www.guardianangels.org.

Small Business Help
In need of business resources in this uncertain economic climate?  Look no further than the Enhanced Business Information Center (eBIC), located at Martin Luther King Memorial Library (901 G Street). Despite adverse economic conditions that are wreaking havoc on local businesses and shuttering some of the area’s small business assistance centers, eBIC is still going strong and rolling out new classes and initiatives to assist small business owners citywide. A division of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), eBIC is a one-stop shop for business resources, providing support and technical assistance to existing and prospective DC business owners.
 
Helpful classes provide pertinent information on establishing a business, marketing for business success, getting a SBA 7(a) loan, starting a home-based business and more. New May classes are currently available. Specifically, business owners can expect to receive one-on-one business assessments, computer access, business planning software and monthly training courses and workshops to address a broad array of start-up and development issues. To find out more about upcoming courses, to register for courses or to schedule an appointment at the eBIC, call 202.727.2241 or e-mail ebic@dc.gov.
 
Last year, eBIC offered about 120 classes, attracting more than 1,300 attendees. It also assisted nearly 3,400 local entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners.  For more information about DSLBD, which is charged with fostering economic growth and developing emerging DC business enterprises, visit www.dslbd.dc.gov or call 202.727.3900.

Hunting for Clues, or Dates?
The Post Hunt returns this year with a new twist. The Washington Post (1150 15th Street), which sponsors the urban brain teasing safari, has decided to mix things up a bit and is looking for Washington-area singles to send on a Post Hunt blind date—using willing souls who sign up for its  “Date Lab” magazine column, which features blind dates set up by the newspaper’s staffers. The Post Hunt is a family-friendly expedition that sends participants on a wacky search for puzzles placed throughout Downtown DC.  The kids are still welcome. But if you “find mental gymnastics a little bit sexy” and are “game to try a nontraditional date activity for a chance at romance,” e-mail datelab@wash.post.com with your name and phone number. The 2009 Post Hunt will take place on May 17, from noon to 5:00 pm, starting at Freedom Plaza (14th and Pennsylvania Avenue). For more information, visit www.washingtonpost.com/posthunt 

The Beat Goes On
The momentum continues at Destination DC (901 7th Street), the city’s lead marketing arm, as William Hanbury, president and chief executive officer, prepares to depart on July 1 after eight years of service to assume a similar position with the United Way of the National Capital Area. The private, nonprofit organization is launching an aggressive summer marketing campaign to attract tourists. In addition, it is conducting strategic sales efforts to increase the lucrative convention market and partnering with other community organizations to land major events, including the Army-Navy Football Game and the International Gay Games. Meanwhile, the Executive Committee has selected a search firm specializing in hospitality recruitment to conduct a national search to fill Hanbury’s position. Stay tuned.

The Spirit of Chinatown
Renewed activity in Chinatown is all the rage these days. There’s the incessant buzz surrounding the city’s Chinatown Cultural Development Strategy and, less prominent, but equally important, the Chinatown Community Cultural Center’s (CCCC) “Campaign for Culture,” a new publicity campaign to boost the area’s image and attract more visitors. CCCC, located at 616 H Street, kicked off the campaign this year with a walking map of Chinatown, now distributed by Downtown SAMs. The Humanities Council of Washington DC is a partial funder for the maps, available at www.ccccdc.org, which highlight Chinese and Asian-owned and operated businesses. There is talk of revamping them soon to show additional businesses and organizations not currently on the maps.

The next step in the campaign calls for enhancing the streetscape to make it more inviting and lively and marking the area’s boundaries with colorful banners that welcome visitors in both English and Chinese. Enactors in Qing dynasty costumes have hit the streets already and can be found dispensing information and answering visitors’ cultural questions once a week. CCCC also is in the process of creating a new logo for Chinatown and developing a brand identity.

In conjunction with the DC Office of Planning, CCCC is creating documentary-style oral histories of residents, business owners and others in the community that will be aired at regular intervals on the big outdoor screens at AT&T on 7th and H Streets. In addition, the organization is talking with local historian Alice Stewart about conducting Chinatown tours in the fall and working with Cultural Tourism DC (1450 H Street), which is offering free, neighborhood walking tours across DC on May 30 and May 31, including in Chinatown. For more information on Walking Town DC, visit www.culturaltourismdc.org.

And the Winners Are …
Hats off to the five Downtown BID area theater winners who walked away from the 25th Annual Helen Hayes Awards with spiffy trophies last month. The prestigious Washington area theater celebration, which salutes outstanding directors, actresses, actors, set designers, musical choreographers and others, was held at the Warner Theatre (1299 Pennsylvania Avenue). 

The Downtown BID area theater winners are:

•	Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production – Nilaja Sun for No Child, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D Street)
•	Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production – Daniel Conway for Stunning, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
•	Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play – Floyd King for Twelfth Night, Shakespeare Theatre Company (610 F Street) in association with McCarter Theatre Center
•	Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play – Helen Carey for Major Barbara, Shakespeare Theatre Company
•	The Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play – Ted van Griethuysen for Major Barbara, Shakespeare Theatre Company

Congratulations!

Wired Up
Casey Trees (1123 11th Street), the nonprofit organization that restores, enhances and protects the tree canopy in DC, has jumped into super-duper high-tech mode. It now has a redesigned website, a re-launched blog (“Tree Speak”) and new connections on Facebook and Twitter. The beefed up efforts are designed to reach both old and new supporters in novel new ways, 24/7. The tree friendly group will also debut soon on Flickr, the photo sharing and management site. More information is available at www.caseytrees.org.

Comin’ Alive
A huge shout out to the US General Services Administration (GSA) for helping to pump more life onto Pennsylvania Avenue, creating a place that matters on “America’s Main Street.” Every summer since 2000, the agency has sponsored the culturally diverse outdoor concert series Live! On Woodrow Wilson Plaza, which draws several thousand workers, residents and tourists to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue), where they gather to enjoy a shared, pleasurable experience from June through September. In light of Downtown’s continuing transformation as a cultural and entertainment district, this placemaking activity focuses attention on the quality of experience in public areas and spaces. Look for the concert series’ schedule soon at www.itcdc.com. 
 
Meanwhile, a sense of place and festive atmosphere will continue again this year at Aria Fresca, Downtown DC’s largest outdoor patio, also on Woodrow Wilson Plaza. The Downtown BID supports the creative use of public space, and sidewalk cafes along Pennsylvania Avenue help animate the street. From May through September, Aria Fresca offers nightly drink specials Monday through Friday and live entertainment at least once a week. The walk-up window and open-air café at Aria Trattoria restaurant is also open during this five-month stretch, and fans of Capitol Steps, the Washington-based troupe that satirizes members of Congress, performs at the Reagan Building’s Amphitheater every Friday and Saturday evening, luring visitors to Downtown after working hours. For more information, visit www.ariatrattoria.com and www.cap.steps.com.
 
Also invigorating the avenue are newcomers such as the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Avenue), Central Michel Richard restaurant (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue) and Café du Parc (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue). DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton continues to push for redeveloping the Old Post Office Pavilion (1100 Pennsylvania Avenue) and the National Park Service is working on a Pennsylvania Avenue Plan that had been part of an overall proposal to improve the National Mall. More information is available at www.nps.gov/nationalmallplan. 

Greening Downtown
With President Obama and Mayor Adrian Fenty committed to greening the city and the Downtown BID area poised to receive more than $395 million in stimulus funds for green building projects, the Downtown BID is set to guide Downtown’s future by working with local and federal agencies to become an international model and proving ground for sustainability.

Recognized as the first Certifiably Green business in DC, the Downtown BID is leading by example. We’ve improved internal operations in our offices. The Downtown BID’s partnership with the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW) and Eco-Coach has identified companies within Downtown to undergo business assessments and certification. As a result, Washington Gas’ corporate headquarters (101 Constitution Avenue) recently has earned SB NOW’s highest level of certification.

The BID continues to undertake several other initiatives, including promoting enhanced transportation options by expanding alternatives such as the DC Circulator, express buses, streetcars and bike sharing; educating stakeholders about best practices and legislative changes through workshops and training; and developing baselines and establishing benchmarks for Downtown building owners, property managers and tenants.

Measurable success already has been achieved in the Downtown BID area, where companies pledged to reduce CO2 production by 71 million pounds annually last year. In actuality, BID area properties contributed to an 85 million pound decrease in CO2 emissions through Energy Star labeling and rating. Today, the BID uses GIS to map Energy Star and LEED activity on a quarterly basis.

Some other BID accomplishments:

•	Trained more than 50 property managers to use Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager
•	Established, and is meeting, 80% goal for diversion, or recycling, rate for public recycling pilot program
•	Reduced the tree mortality rate from 12% to 7% by working with Casey Trees (1123 11th Street) and District Department of Transportation's (DDOT) Urban Forestry Administration (UFA)

The list will continue to grow as several factors converge to benefit Downtown and DC, including compliance with the DC Clean Energy Bill’s mandatory building ratings, escalating stormwater fees and solar and green roof incentives. All of this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Environmental Stewards
The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) has announced the winners of the first annual Mayor’s Environmental Excellence Awards program, and five Downtown BID area standard bearers made the cut. The competition recognizes outstanding organizations and businesses for their environmental stewardship, innovative best practices, pollution prevention and resource conservation. The categories included Construction/Development, Hotel, Innovation in Green Products or Services, Retail and Partner (for associations and non-profit organizations). Applicants also had the option to apply under a general category, either Small Business or Large Business. Organizations that promote environmental practices on behalf of DC and its residents were eligible to receive a "Partner of the Year" award. 

How BID area champions fared:

•	Outstanding Achievement by a Large Business – Akridge (601 13th Street)
•	Partner of the Year – Casey Trees (1123 11th Street)
•	Outstanding Achievement by a Restaurant - Poste Moderne Brasserie (555 8th Street)
•	Outstanding Achievement by a Hotel – Willard InterContinental Hotel (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue)
•	Outstanding Achievement for Innovation in Green Products or Services – Zipcar (403 8th Street)

Super Trees
Check out the new trees popping up around the city. The District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) kicked off a demonstration project last month to test planting 100 “bare root” trees on streets throughout DC. The trees, which are stored and delivered without soil, are economical, and environmentally friendly. Shipping costs are reduced because the trees require little packaging, a green benefit. Another plus for the environment: bare root trees, which tend to be bigger from the start, have up to 200% more root mass than “balled and burlapped,” or B&B, trees, which come with a burlap-wrapped clump of earth around their roots. The larger root system allows the bare root trees to establish themselves at a faster clip, meaning they can root more quickly into existing soil. UFA will track and observe the trees over the next few years to determine if more should be added to its regular street, tree-planting program. For more information about UFA, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining a full street tree population in DC, visit www.ddot.dc.gov/ufa.

Circular Outreach
Now that the DC Circulator is winding its merry way through more neighborhoods, it has targeted a hip, young crowd on YouTube and Facebook. To reach more passengers and spread the word about its new Union Station-Navy Yard Metro and Woodley Park-Adams Morgan-McPherson Square Metro routes, the bright red bus service has about a dozen short videos currently on YouTube at www.youtube.com/circulatortube. The videos highlight the urban adventures—namely, the businesses and amenities—one can experience in the areas serviced by the new lines. There’s even an “i circulate” music video. Another sure sign of the times: the director’s box on the YouTube page describes the Circulator as “that serviceable, scarlet bus that takes us from ‘hood to ‘hood without stopping too much in between.” Oh, Okay. For more information about the new media campaign, e-mail circulatortube@gmail.com. More information about the new transit lines is available at www.dccirculator.com.

Sprucing Up
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is close to completing sidewalk, curb, gutter and pavement repairs in the Downtown BID area on K Street, between 12th and 16th Streets, and in portions of the Golden Triangle. The work, which began in April and will include milling and paving repairs this month, is taking place primarily during rush hour and is scheduled to end on May 15. Street parking will continue to be restricted in some areas along the major thoroughfare until the work is completed; parking restriction signs will be posted at least 72 hours in advance to serve as a warning. In January, DDOT completed significant brickwork and curb repairs to the medians along K Street, between 14th and 16th Streets, in a collaborative initiative with the Downtown BID.

Wheeling Around Town
Today, more and more cyclists choose to ride for their health and the environment as well as for just plain old-fashioned fun. To ensure that they ride safely, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) has stepped up its effort to teach cyclists about safe cycling behavior by offering free classes to adults. The one-day classes, “Confident City Cycling,” began last month in DC and Virginia and will continue through the fall thanks to local city and county grants. Cyclists will be taught about bike handling, hazard avoidance, traffic laws, proper lane placement, simple bike maintenance, gearing and cadence, nutrition and hydration, bicycle selection and fit and proper accessory use. The classes are being offered at an opportune time. The Washington metropolitan area will celebrate Bike-to-Work Day on May 15. WABA will lead the one-day bike fest, which celebrates cycling and cleaner, healthier living, with 26 regional pit stops where cyclists can meet up, eat breakfast, enjoy entertainment, win prizes and pedal to their destinations, including Freedom Plaza (14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue), the central pit stop. For more information on the classes and Bike-to-Work Day, visit www.waba.org.

On another note, cyclists will be able to park soon at 28 unique, new bike racks that DC will install in various locations citywide, including Chinatown, which will sport dragon-designed racks. The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, in collaboration with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), held a competition last summer for rack designs that incorporated artists' interpretations of the DC experience. Can't wait to see what the artists have created.
 
Metro Ridership
The weekend of Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5, was a busy one for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The National Cherry Blossom Festival® and several professional sports games attracted hundreds of thousands of people, who helped WMATA set the transit agency’s third highest Saturday and fourth highest Sunday ridership days in the rail system’s 33-year-old history.  On Saturday, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade®, the Nationals, Washington Wizards (601 F Street) and DC United games all pushed the ridership number to 713,148—just below the 725,909 tallied for the Christian evangelical ministry’s Promise Keepers event on October 4, 1997, and above the 601,839 recorded for George W. Bush’s Inauguration on January 20, 2001. On Sunday, the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Washington Capitals (601 F Street) hockey game boosted the numbers to 469,751. That’s just below the 505,157 counted for the Fourth of July celebration in 1993, and above the 440,138 count for Reunion America, Bill Clinton’s January 17, 1993 inaugural festival on the National Mall.

Safety in Numbers
With federal stimulus money now jumpstarting thousands of road projects across the country, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is warning drivers about committing traffic offenses that endanger lives—their own, and that of the men and women who work on road projects. So beware. Speeding or committing a traffic infraction will cost you: a $125 ticket will be $250 in a work zone. DDOT will post signs soon about the double fines on major routes and bridges into DC, and on the approaches to road projects. Each year, about 1,000 lives are lost in work zones. Ironically, the majority of those fatalities affect motorists, and not workers.

Patching Holes
Potholepalooza, the District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) novel, month-long campaign to expedite pothole repairs, concluded on April 11. As we reported last month, pedestrians and motorists were encouraged to report craters both small and large, with the promise that the holes would be eliminated within 48 hours. The normal response time is within 72 hours. Well, drum roll, please.  Since the campaign began on March 11, DDOT’s Street and Bridge Maintenance Branch filled a whopping 6,084 potholes within two days, versus three.  Potholepalooza was the first such effort to enlist members of the public as partners by urging them to phone, email, text message and Twitter about pothole complaints.  

Stimulus Guide
Ordinary citizens can track stimulus monies flowing into DC now. To maximize transparency, the city Office of Contracting and Procurement has launched a new website, www.recovery.dc.gov, allowing residents and vendors to keep up with the $409.2 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds designated for DC.  In addition to listing the city agencies that are managing the funds and identifying programs that could receive funding, the site also allows visitors to sign up to receive e-mail alerts whenever stimulus spending affects DC; submit ideas on how stimulus funds should be spent; report waste, fraud or abuse; and click directly to contract procurement sites to receive real-time information on how to get a piece of the action. 

Vetting Process
The deadline for submitting public comments about the National Park Service’s (NPS) preliminary preferred alternative to restore and protect the National Mall has been extended to May 15. NPS, which is seeking broad public input as it seeks to re-establish the Mall’s natural beauty, enhance our national public space and improve visitor experiences, will conduct three two-hour public walking tours to look at proposals in the National Mall Plan preliminary preferred alternative.

The tours are as follows:

•	May 7, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Exploring proposals for the Mall and Union Square
•	May 8, 10:00 am – Noon: Exploring proposals for Constitution Gardens and the DC Memorial/Ash Woods
•	May 8, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Exploring proposals for the Washington Monument rounds and the Tidal Basin

The walking tours will meet on the Mall at the Trust for the National Mall tent near the Smithsonian Metro station at 13th Street and Madison Drive. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. To submit comments, visit www.nps.gov/nationalmallplan. The agency hopes to have the plan completed in 2010.

Framing the Future
The Monumental Core Framework Plan: Connecting New Destinations with the National Mall received unanimous approval from the National Capital Planning Commission (401 9th Street), NCPC, last month. The plan, produced jointly by the NCPC and the US Commission of Fine Arts (401 F Street), CFA, aims to create vibrant and accessible destinations in the federal precincts—Federal Triangle, Northwest Rectangle, Southwest Rectangle and Potomac Park—surrounding the Mall. An early draft was released in July for a 90-day public comment period. The final plan incorporates suggestions and feedback provided by the public and stakeholders and was previously adopted by CFA in March.

The guiding themes and supporting strategies of the Framework Plan are to:

•	Celebrate the city as a symbol
•	Overcome barriers and improve connections
•	Encourage compact, mixed-use destinations
•	Strengthen the public realm
•	Facilitate transit use and public mobility
•	Advance sustainability in the urban environment

For more detailed information about the adopted Framework Plan, visit www.ncpc.gov.

Wednesday, May 6, 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Washington, DC Economic Partnership
PremierePlan Speakers Series: Presenting Your Business Plan to Investors
Venable, LLP
575 7th Street

To help applicants prepare the most competitive application for its PremierPlan business plan competition, the Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) will host this free workshop to teach entrepreneurs and existing business owners what it takes to get financing. Uncover the fine points of sales pitches and learn what financiers look for. Registration is required to attend this workshop.
To register, visit www.wdcep.com/index1.php?pageId=91.
For more information, contact Natalie Cofield at ncofield@wdcep.com.

Friday, May 8, 8:00 am – 2:30 pm
DC Chamber of Commerce
2009 Business Summit & Expo: After the Storm: Emerging Stronger than Before
Renaissance Hotel
999 9th Street

This year’s DC Chamber of Commerce meeting will explore what you should be doing during the recession to position your business for economic recovery. Held in conjunction with the Washington Business Journal, this event offers speakers—including keynote speaker, Jeffrey Lacker, president of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank—and opportunities to exchange ideas and explore business partnerships. Members pay $125, or $85 for the lunch only; nonmembers pay $200, or $125 for the lunch only. To register, visit http://www.dcchamber.org/clientuploads/2009_Business_Summit.pdf. For more information, contact Annette Coram at acoram@dcchamber.org or 202.624-0605

Tuesday, May 12, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Downtown Neighborhood Association
Monthly Meeting
Calvary Baptist Church
755 8th Street

Both residents and workers are invited to this Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) meeting. This month’s featured discussion leader will be Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells. To RSVP, e-mail miles@dcdna.org. For more information, visit www.dcdna.org.

Thursday, May 28, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
District of Columbia Building Industry Association
Annual State of the Housing Market
National Press Club
529 14th Street

Join the District of Columbia Business Industry Association (DCBIA) for a networking breakfast and panel discussion, “DC Housing: New Challenges/New Rules.” Meeting participants will be provided updates on condominiums, affordable housing programs, the legislative and regulatory environment for housing, market-rate rental housing and mortgage financing and investments.  The panelists are Stephen Green, vice president, William C. Smith & Company; Andrew McAlister, executive director, Cushman & Wakefield; Jeffrey Gelman, partner, Saul Ewing, LLP; David Mayhood, president, The Mayhood Company; and James Duncan, regional vice president and operating partner, JPI. Members pay $70; nonmembers pay $95.  To register, visit www.dcbia.org. For more information, e-mail events@dcbia.org or call 202.966.8665.