Can you play and instrument or sing? Local arts space Bloombars is putting together the music for the market, and they’re looking for musicians and singers to perform at the Columbia Heights Community Marketplace. To apply or to recommend somebody, email gowri@bloombars.com with subject line “Columbia Heights Marketplace.”

Looks like we’ll be getting some lights in our neighborhood. I wrote last week about all the turned off lights around 14th from Irving to Park, and DDOT said they were waiting for the contractors to come and turn them on. Yesterday I saw some electrical contractors out working on them, so maybe we’ll have…

Park construction Originally uploaded by squidpantsSpotted this the other day, the oft-under construction 14th & Girard Park is closed again. The sign outside says they’re installing some things to provide shade, which doesn’t sound too bad this summer. Let’s hope it reopens soon.

There’s a cool piece on DCist today with a map showing July pedestrian traffic accidents around the city, and there’s a fair amount in our area — specifically on Irving Street around 14th and then around Georgia. This isn’t every crash in the city, just the ones that DC Fire & EMS Twittered about, but…

Yesterday was neighborhood institution Wonderland’s sixth anniversary party. I wasn’t able to make it unfortunately, but it reminded me to write about it. When it opened, the Wonderland Ballroom was maybe the only place to get a beer in the area: I have friends who lived here before then, and the closest spot for them…

Something I’ve noticed is that this summer, people on the street in the neighborhood seem friendlier. More random people are saying hello to each other, having little chats in line or waiting for the bus, and so on. Maybe it’s the hot weather letting people commiserate, maybe people are just happier, or to be optimistic,…