Welcome to the new Adams Morgan Partnership BID Newsletter!

We've redesigned the newsletter to make it more compact and easier to read -- please let Brian (bbarrie@adamsmorganonline.org) know what you think and if you have any suggestions. Enjoy!

May 6, 2016

Neighborhood News

N otice Of Public Hearing on recertification Application For Adams Morgan Partnership Inc.
At the March 8th, 2016 AMPBID Board meeting, the board voted affirmatively (13 yes, 1 no and 1 abstention) to approve the 5 Year Business Plan for 2017 through 2021.
The 5 Year Plan was sent on Wednesday March 9th to the Mayor and Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) with a resolution that requests that the Adams Morgan Partnership BID be reauthorized for another 5 year term. Our current term is set to expire on September 30, 2016.
We received the following notice on May 6:
Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to section 6 of the Business Improvement Districts Act of 1996 (“Act”), D.C. Official Code § 2-1215.06, the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) will hold a public hearing on the recertification application of the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District.
The public hearing will be held at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2016 in Suite 805S, 441 4th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
On Tuesday, April 19, 2016, the DSLBD Director Ana R. Harvey sent a letter to the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District, announcing her preliminary determination that the filing criteria set forth in D.C. Official Code § 2-1215.04 have been met and that the application is otherwise in conformity with the Act.
The public hearing will determine whether the BID plan meets the purposes of the Act, the definition of BID activity set forth in D.C. Official Code § 2-1215.02, and all other BID application requirements.
The BID application is available for review by the public during normal business hours on weekdays at 1640 Columbia Road, N.W., in the offices of the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District; at 441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 850N, in the offices of DSLBD; and on http://www.adamsmorganonline.org/about/documents and http://dslbd.dc.gov/AMPBID.
DSLBD invites the public to testify at the public hearing.  Witnesses should bring a copy of their written testimony to the public hearing.  Additional written statements are encouraged and will be made part of the official record, if received before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2016.  Written statements may be submitted by e-mail to lincoln.lashley@dc.gov or mailed to: Lincoln Lashley, DSLBD, 441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 850N, Washington, DC 20001.
The public hearing record will close five business days following the conclusion of the hearing, or Tuesday, June 28, 2016.  Persons submitting written statements for the record should observe this deadline.
A dams Morgan Summer Concerts continue on Saturday May 14th. #AdMoSummerConcerts

Our first concert of the season last week was a great success -- be sure to join us most Saturdays in May and June to see some great live music.
The remaining dates are May 14th, 21st, June 4th, 11th and 25th.
Here is the lineup:
Hollertown - May 14th
Hollertown is a bluegrass and old-time music band that has played in and around Washington, DC, for nearly ten years.Playing everything from haunting (and haunted) originals, to old-timey standards, to tunes by Mötley Crüe, Bob Marley, and the Texas Tornados, Hollertown has been known to inspire spontaneous dancing, questionable public displays of affection, and glossolalia.
Oxymorons – May 21st
The Oxymorons take the stage with a mix of the hottest new songs, the best of the old, and their award-winning originals, giving audiences a night of hip-shaking New Orleans funk, soulful blues, Americana roots, and jam-band rock.  This seriously-fun eight-piece band has been playing the DC area for more than 25 years, reeling off favorite party tunes spanning four decades and witty, well-crafted originals.
Jelly Roll Mortals – June 4
Acoustic, electric, eclectic. Jelly Roll Mortals is a pop-rock-country-folk-R&B band; a group of seasoned musicians who play a deep catalog of originals and cover tunes. The band performs around the Washington, DC area as anything from a two-piece to five-piece, acoustic or full-on electric. Band members have played together in various combinations going back as long as 40 years. As songwriters they have had their songs played by several other bands. Cover tunes span the years from the early 20th century to the early 21st century. Individually, members of Jelly Roll Mortals have won several Washington Area Music Awards and been nominated for many more.
Going Going Gone – June 11
They're back! Goin' Goin' Gone has returned to fill your heads with their unique take on roots-rock. With a combination of rockin' original songs and well-chosen gems of tunes that have been hiding for decades, a splendid time is guaranteed by all. GGG was a mainstay on the DC music-scene for over 25 years. Vocalist Russ Beeker and guitarist David Goodfriend met and began performing together in England. Also known as The Beverly Brothers, they have been making music together for decades, producing a unique sense of style and tone all their own.
Dave Ihmels and Friends - June 25th
Dave Ihmels is a performing singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who writes experimental folk-rock music featuring idiosyncratic characters and sonic goodies. Ihmels is fresh off his new album – “The Severe Angels.”  Dave’s originals are varied and fun, but plays some great covers as well.  Dave will be joined by guitarist Jeff Stapleton and Celeste Starchild.
Looking forward to another fantastic music series! We will have hula hoops and bubbles for kids of all ages to play with and also the wrist band discount program returns.
WRIST BAND DISCOUNTS
As you may remember, the neighborhood is full of visitors the days of the concerts so this translates to an opportunity for businesses to expand their customer base. We’d like to give them an extra incentive to walk in your door. People who attend the concerts will be provided with distinctive red  paper bracelet and we would love to have your participation in offering them any kind of discount or promotion that you think would be the best way for them to get to love you, some examples could be: 15% off purchases that day, a free appetizer with entrée purchased, 2 for 1 promotions, etc…
Wear the bracelet. Get the discounts. Only on the day of the concerts!
Also on May 21st, there will be a large neighborhood-wide yard sale – the “Mother of All Yard Sales” according to the organizers. We have partnered with them again this year so that eveyone who shows a yard sale map will also be eligible to participate in the daily discounts. This should double the number the people who could walk in your door!
If you'd like to participate or have any questions regarding the concert series or the wrist band discounts, please contact Brian Barrie at bbarrie@adamsmorganonline.org as soon as possible. Thanks!

A dams Morgan Movie Nights begin May 17th #AdMoMovieNights
Adams Morgan Movie Nights kicks off on Tuesday, May 17th.

We will show 5 films on consecutive Tuesday evenings at the Marie Reed School soccer field  at 18th and California Streets, NW — which happens to be perfect for throwing a picnic blanket down before the film starts. The first film is always a family friendly animated film as a nod to the Marie Reed School and their PTA, which graciously share their grounds with us.
BicycleSPACE will be providing Bike Valet services for Tuesday's opening night film.
The movie titles have been announced! Here is the line up:
May 17th - Inside Out (was the overwhelming winner in the poll in Popville)
** as an added feature we will also show a Pixar Short Films Collection
this night **
May 24th - Selma
May 31st - Rebel Without a Cause
June 7th - School of Rock
June 14th - Pretty in Pink
June 21st - rain date if necessary
WHERE : 18th and California NW (soccer field at Marie Reed)
WHEN : 30 mins after sunset.
WHY : Because experiencing free films on a huge screen under the stars is one of best “accessible for all” community cultural events left in the city.
BUSINESSES and Non-Profits in Adams Morgan:
We want you to be involved in the movie nights. There are many ways to do that. Here are some ideas:
  1. Offer brown bag dinners where people call ahead and pick up food and bring to the field;
  2. Sell dry goods from a table at the field before the movie (you need to bring your own tables, goods and staff for this)
  3. Distribute a free snack or other promotional item before the movie begins
Please contact Brian Barrie, our Operations Manager, at: bbarrie@adamsmorganonline.org  if you would like to participate. We will manage how many businesses are at each movie night and make sure there is a variety of types of businesses at each. We also hope the PTA will be selling refreshments most nights.

R equest from Decent Workshop (an Adams Morgan small business)
Decent Workshop at 1800 Wyoming Avenue, NW (above Skynear Designs) would like your feedback!
They have created a short 5-minute survey about your business and how you market yourself day-to-day. Your responses will help them create workshops that will best suit the needs of businesses in Adams Morgan.
For more information about the survey or Decent Workshop please contact Julia Dann:
Julia Dann
Digital Marketing & Editorial Manager
p:  202.417.7938  | w: www.decentworkshop.com
a: 1800 Wyoming Ave., Suite 2 Washington, DC 20009

More News

Bike to Work Day - May 20th - Registration is OPEN!

The 2016 Bike to Work Day web site is now live and open for registration!

Bike to Work Day: The Best Thing on Two Wheels

One of nation’s largest Bike to Work Day celebrations is on Friday, May 20th brought to you by Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) . Ride with thousands of cyclists, new and experienced, and enjoy a healthy commute that helps improve traffic congestion and air quality in the metropolitan Washington region. There will be free T-shirts, food, beverages and prizes for registrants who attend.


A record-breaking number of cyclists are expected to participate again this year so register soon here: www.biketoworkmetrodc.org . The first 15,000 commuters who register receive free T-shirts (cut off date= May 12th) and are automatically entered into a chance to win one of many bikes donated by REI and BicycleSPACE.


The Adams Morgan Partnership BID is pleased to partner with CityBikes , BicycleSPACE and Tryst to host a pit stop in Unity Park at Columbia/Champlain and Euclid Streets from 7:30 to 9:30 am.

Say hello to our staff and volunteers who will be greeting commuters. Cyclists must register for one pit stop but are welcome to visit any of the 82 pit stops in the DC Metro region along their way to work.

All Adams Morgan businesses are welcome to offer free food and give-away items. Please contact Kristen at kbarden@adamsmorganonline.org if you would like to participate on May 20th.


As part of a regional Employer Challenge, the top five companies with the most employees registered for Bike to Work Day will be placed into a raffle for a free catered lunch! The luncheon is exclusive to employees who participate in this event. When registering, your employees are also invited to enter for a chance to win a free installed bike rack for your office.


See you May 20!

Commuter Connections

(800) 745-RIDE

http://www.commuterconnections.org

Parking Meter Rate Increase on June 1

Metered parking adjusts to $2.30 an hour in all zones

(Washington, DC ) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduled to implement adjusted parking meter rates as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Support Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2015. The new rate structure was ordered by the Council of the District of Columbia last year, and establishes parking meter rates at $2.30 an hour for commercial and passenger vehicles citywide.

Approximately 14,850 parking meters across the District will be reprogrammed over the next several weeks. DDOT and the city’s pay-by-phone vendor will update software to accommodate the new rate structure, which takes effect June 1, 2016.

Following are the new rates:

  • Premium Demand Zones
    $2.00 to $2.30 an hour
  • Normal Demand Zones
    $.75 to $2.30 an hour
  • Commercial Loading Zones
    $2.00 to $2.30 an hour

Commercial vehicle operators have the option of purchasing annual passes for $323, day passes at $25, or pay-by-cell for loading zone use. Information on the loading zone program can be found at www.godcgo.com/freight.

Motorcycle Parking

$0.25 an hour citywide

More information on parking meters can be found on DDOT's website.

Free Farm Visit Day and CSAs available

Mark Your Calendars For Our Farm Visit Day at Licking Creek Bend Farm
(the farm from the Adams Morgan Farmers Market)

SUNDAY May 22, at 11am.

  • Come and meet each other, meet our amazing staff
  • tour the farm, see our equipment, plant, harvest
  • plant or pick your Christmas tree
  • share a veggie pot luck
  • swim in the creek, and
  • enjoy a day in the country

More details will come closer to the date.  (If you want to pick your Christmas tree for next Christmas, bring a plastic luggage name tag that can withstand any weather and tag your tree!)  Hope to see you then.

DOES A CSA FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE?

A CSA is not for everyone.  Our demanding lifestyles, eating habits, etc., may not make it feasible for your family in its different stages.  But, as you can glean from the attached comments we’ve collected from our members, they come to appreciate:

  • the hands on approach to their food,
  • the challenge of discovering new food and new ways of preparing the food and somehow find the time in their busy schedules to do so.
  • discovering cooking as meditative.
  • a wonderful way to bond with their children, partners and friends.
  • But mostly, it is an assurance that we have a relationship with the people who grow our food, that our food is grown without chemical pesticides and that the soil is not polluted with herbicides.

Also, a CSA does not provide all the food needs for a week .

  • It provides fresh, sustainably grown produce to include in your meals for the week and beyond.
  • Often not all of the week’s produce is consumed, so we will try to provide ideas on what to do when there is a lot of one item.
  • We’d also appreciate your suggestions that we can share with our members.
  • We suggest you think like a squirrel and during the season preserve some of the yield for the winter.
  • We also will be increasing the amount of fruit in season.

So, as we are about to enter the 2016 farm season, we hope you will want to be a part of our CSA, visit our farm to see where your food is grown, and be a part of the voices speaking out to preserve healthily grown local food and cherish access to the wonders our earth produces.

More information at: http://www.lickingcreekbendfarm.com/

The Best Brand You Ever Had

Speaker: Akia (Garnett) Ashmond Brew, MBA

No need to admire the brands of others any longer. It’s time to take action to create and master the brand your company deserves.  In this one hour workshop, led by marketing and branding expert, Akia (Garnett) Ashmond Brew, she’ll teach you what big and small businesses do to maintain relevance, the classic and contemporary concepts for promoting your products and service, and how to build and sustain a media relations system so that as your brand expands, so too will your reach.

You’ll walk away with the tools to:

-Immediately build a simple marketing plan

-Immediately build a content calendar

-Immediately build a press campaign that works


Every small business owner and entrepreneur can benefit from an enhanced marketing and branding capability.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

10AM, ET

Howard University, School of Business

2600 6th Street, NW

Room 418

Washington, DC 20059

​Lucretia Freeman-Buster, MBA

Associate Director

D.C. Small Business Development Center Network

Etsy Wholesale is hosting a social media event

Hey DC area brick and mortars! Etsy Wholesale , Etsy's marketplace for retailers to buy unique goods, is hosting a morning event focused on social media and community building and would love your participation.

Event Details:

May 24, 2016 from 9:00AM to 11:00AM

Lab1270 @ Union Market, 1276 5th St NE, Washington, DC

Guest speaker Morgan West will present on A Creative DC and Made in DC, platforms that are shifting perceptions of DC creative culture, and share tools and tricks for making the most out of social media to grow your business. Morgan's talk will be followed by a panel discussion on the city's burgeoning independent retail community and will include perspectives from Shara Gibson of DSLBD and Amanda McClements of Salt & Sundy. Learn how to tap into local resources for support and get inspired by what these movers and shakers are doing.

Light breakfast will be served and Etsy sellers, Typecase Industries will be letterpressing goodies to take home. The first 50 retailers to sign up will also receive a sample bag with products from Etsy Wholesale.

To register for this free event, please do the following:

1. Register for an Etsy Wholesale account if you don't already have one, then

2. Register for the April 26 event at Ink Block through Eventbrite .  Registration is free and super quick!


Help Us Help You With Social Media

Being successful on social media is all about getting your message in front of as many eyeballs as possible, and the best way to do that is to have your posts shared by others to reach people who have yet to find you on their own. Please follow our AMPBID social media accounts (below) and if you tag us in your Adams Morgan specific posts, we'll do our best to like and retweet them to our followers. Contact Brian (bbarrie@adamsmorganonline.org) for more info.