We Love DC alerted us to Afro Blue, an a cappella group at Howard University, that recently competed on NBC’s The Sing Off.

Afro Blue sang Corinne Bailey Ray’s 2006 song “Put Your Records On“:

Photo by M.V. Jantzen on Flickr

Come for drinks, appetizers, and chat with your neighbors tonight from 6 to 8 at Nellie’s (9th & U Streets NW).  The LeDroit Park Civic Association has started organizing monthly happy hours at Nellie’s, whose owner, a LeDroit resident, has kindly donated appetizers and space at the upstairs bar.

The civic association has reached out via Twitter to residents in Bloomingdale and Shaw to join us.

Bloomingdale resident Snorre Wik has produced this video of the shuttered McMillan Sand Filtration Site.

Several months ago the city decided to reset development plans for the site and do part of the preliminary traffic and groundwater studies itself.  We will keep you posted as development plans for the site inch along.

We’ve been really busy lately and we have a big post reviewing Howard University’s campus plan in the works.

In the meantime, have a look at this Post video of Ben Taylor, a U Street photographer.

The state of LeDroit-British relations is strong!  On Tuesday, Charles, Prince of Wales, will visit the Common Good City Farm here in LeDroit Park.  The purpose of his visit is sustainable agriculture and after lecturing on the subject at Georgetown University, he will tour the farm from 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm.

Please note that because of the farm’s limited size, the farm will only permit a small delegation of residents to tour the farm with him. Residents are welcome to observe from just beyond the fence; it’s easy to see in, after all.

After the prince departs, Common Good City Farm will host a fundraiser at 6 pm at Big Bear Cafe. Please consider donating to this worthy local resource that educates children and low-income families on gardening and the importance of proper nutrition.

What were you doing on Sunday, August 29, 2010? If you were outside shortly after 1 pm, chances are Google Maps caught you on camera from a satellite.

Google recently updated its satellite imagery of the Washington area and the new photos illustrate just how much the region has changed. The most noticeable difference in LeDroit Park is the disappearance of the Gage-Eckington School and the establishment of the Common Good City Farm.

For a listing of other notable changes visible from the sky, have a look at our article at Greater Greater Washington.

Zee’s Restaurant has opened up on Florida Avenue at Sixth Street. The Trinidadian restaurant is family-run and serves goat curry, potatoes, chickpeas, callaloo soup, and roti, among other things. The reviews, including an unpublished review from a newspaper food critic, are highly positive.

The liquor license is pending.

Only recently did I notice the roof terrace atop this building at the northwest corner of Florida and Georgia Avenues NW. It would make an excellent spot for restaurant seating.

Check out these photos of the new neon sculpture outside the new Shaw Library.

Photos by M.V. Jantzen

The LeDroit Park Civic Association will meet on Tuesday, September 28 at 7pm in the basement of the Florida Avenue Baptist Church (623 Florida Avenue NW – enter on U St). All neighbors are welcome and encouraged to attend.

During first week of September, we saw groundbreaking ceremonies for both the park and the Howard Theatre. Construction managers for both projects will present at the Civic Association meeting to detail the construction timeline, address neighborhood questions, and discuss job opportunities for residents.

Also learn about the upcoming LeDroit Park Community Day and the Howard University Homecoming, both set for late October.

Don’t forget to renew your annual membership (or join for the first time) if you haven’t already. Dues are $15 per household ($5 for seniors). You can even pay online!