Since January, 2003
 

September 19, 2004

February 26, 2012
3rd at K, Looking South (see more)

With the Nats just a few days away from starting play at their stadium, it was time for the annual Nationals Park media tour for the ink-stained newspaper wretches (plus their cohorts, the blow-dried TV folks and the Cheetos-munching bloggers), to highlight what's new at the ballpark and what fans should know in trying to arrive for the first two games of 2010.
Knowing that there will be a number of news stories tonight listing all the changes, I concentrated more on taking photos, which you can see in this gallery. The splashiest change is the complete renovation of the PNC Diamond Club, which has exchanged its former sports bar/take me out to the ballgame motif for a much sleeker feel. (The new bar is pictured above.) They've also tweaked the Red Porch and Red Loft, adding two more rows of tables and chairs on the field side of the Porch while removing the seating on the balcony of the Loft and adding in drink rails.
The Scoreboard Walk now has lounge furniture (so you can pretend you're in South Beach rather than Near Southeast), and the "Party Nights" with music, $5 pre-game beers, games, and other entertainment will now be at all Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night games, with the gates opening 2 1/2 hours before first pitch. (It'll all be running on Opening Day, too.)
There's also all sorts of new food offerings, starting with the new "Triple Play Grill" next to Hard Times Cafe in the Center Field Plaza, offering shrimp po boy and crab cake sandwiches, and a "Florida Foot Long SeaDog," which is actually a cod sandwich. They've also reworked the "Taste of the Majors" offerings, creating five foot-long hot dogs for the National League East teams. A new outlet called Change Up Chicken, in Section 130, will have a chicken and waffle sandwich, along with other chicken specialties and waffle fries. The Dupont Deli in Section 227 will have a triple-decker grilled cheese sandwich on Texas Toast, along with grilled Italian, and turkey sandwiches. There's also going to be three Flippin' Pizza outlets (sections 115, 214, and 311), and a Healthy Plate Cart in Section 110. And, if I may say so, if you're lucky enough to happen upon the red velvet cupcakes (at the Red Porch), don't pass them up.
As for Opening Day, the team is of course very excited that President Obama will be throwing out the first pitch, but they are reminding fans that a presidential visit plus a sellout crowd will make for long lines to get in, which is why the gates will be opened at 10 am for a 1:05 pm start. (But if you're one of the first 20,000 fans who try to beat the rush, you'll get a replica batting practice hat.) And there was talk of the new parking options for 2010 (no more Nats Express and the new economy lots). Read my earlier entry today for more on that. But, if you're a season ticket holder, at least you'll have your own red-carpet line to stand in at the Center Field Gate--for all games after Opening Day.
Having *still* never really gotten warm again after the damp cold Opening Day of 2008, I have my fingers crossed that the weather on Saturday and Monday will be about what it was like today (warmer, actually). It almost felt like spring out there!
Check back for links to additional media coverage.
UPDATE: Here's stories from Fox5 and WJLA. (Though points deducted from WJLA for saying that one of the economy parking lots is at 6th and M *SW*. Sigh.)
UPDATE II: NBC 4, a slew of Tweets from MASN's Kristen Hudak, and Nats320.
Comments (0)
More posts: Nationals Park
 

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Comments

Pat says: (3/31/10 6:24 PM)
God, give me a break. It wasn't THAT cold last year. You women will complain about anything that's not above 65 degrees.

JD says: (3/31/10 6:27 PM)
TWO years ago! The first opening day at the new stadium! 40 and mist at gametime!

(and, believe me, I am not normally someone who complains about being cold)


Sophia Monster says: (3/31/10 6:30 PM)
Five-foot long hot dogs! Sign me up for one of those and the 2 lb. pretzel!

MJM says: (3/31/10 11:00 PM)
Also all that free parking around L St and K St / 1st St is gone. The signs are up indicating parking restrictions on game day!

The Nats are gonna make some fans a little bigger come Sep. Can't wait for 5 Apr (and 3 Apr)

Jay says: (4/1/10 7:12 AM)
Weather forecast looks great -- sunny high 70s.

With the First Tosser there (Selig too, but who cares, right??), the defending NL champs, those improvements in food and entertainment, and the somewhat improved team, this promises to be a great Opening Day.

Dang you, JD, I'm hungry now :-)

Jen says: (4/1/10 9:10 AM)
I'm super excited for Opening Day! And I will back JD up on how incredibly cold it was the night Nats Park opened.

rjm says: (4/1/10 9:14 AM)
LOL about the frigid (yes, it was frigid), I think you could even subtract up to another 10 degrees from the field temp the higher you sat in the stadium. I don't think my Dad has warmed up yet either. He was definitely suffering from the first stages of hypothermia and began to get delirious by the 8th inning, so we left the game early, only to miss one of the greatest finishes in Nats history.

Ray N Rockville says: (4/1/10 9:18 AM)
I had season tickets for 4 years. The 2008 pre-season game and opener were the first time I could ever remember leaving a game beforeit finished. Lets hope this spring wil be a warm spring to start a season that will be better than we've seen in the past,

JD says: (4/1/10 9:18 AM)
I was running on fumes anyway after the crazy run-up to getting the stadium opened, and I gave out by the 5th inning. (And was sick for at least a week afterward.) But at least we got home in plenty of time to see the finish on TV.


G St says: (4/1/10 9:57 AM)
Excellent post and pix from JD.

Our beloved (?) Nat's are picked to finish last (again), so there will be plenty of time to wander the stadium in search of good eats. (-:

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City Government Data for Near Southeast
Records added or updated recently displayed here; click the "archive" links to see additional detail and older records. All data from DC Government databases and RSS feeds. JDLand takes no responsibility for errors, omissions, etc. (read CapStat disclaimer). Data is retrieved daily.

Recent Crime Incidents Archive  
1100 B/O HALF ST SE   THEFT /  05/17/13
M ST SE AND 11TH ST SE   THEFT /  05/15/13
300 B/O VIRGINIA AVE SE   BURGLARY /  05/13/13
L ST SE AND 5TH ST SE   MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT /  05/08/13
900 B/O 5TH ST SE   MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT /  05/03/13
1000 B/O 3RD PLACE SE   MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT /  05/01/13
1500 B/O SOUTH CAPITOL ST   MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT /  05/01/13
1000 B/O 5TH ST SE   THEFT /  05/01/13
1500 B/O SOUTH CAPITOL ST   MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT /  05/01/13
900 B/O 4TH ST SE   MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT /  04/29/13
UNIT B/O M ST SE   THEFT /  04/27/13
700 B/O L ST SE   THEFT /  04/26/13

Active Public Space Permits Archive  
1011 1ST ST SE    COLIN CLARK 
Pending
excavation; new  
 03/03/14
to
05/01/14
815 4TH ST SE    Comcast Cable 
Assigned
excavation  
 05/06/13
to
07/05/13
1101 4TH ST SE    Comcast Cable 
Assigned
excavation  
 05/06/13
to
07/05/13
1200 - 1299 BLOCK HALF ST SE    Washington Nationals 
Issued
streetfixture; new  
 08/24/12
to
08/15/13
200 - 299 BLOCK TINGEY ST SE    Northeast Remsco Construction Incorporated 
Pending
paving; excavation; new  
 01/01/13
to
12/31/13
200 - 299 BLOCK VIRGINIA AVE SE    Phil Sheridan 
Issued
excavation; new  
 05/20/13
to
07/18/13
909 HALF ST SE    Ruben Companies Ruben Companies 
Pending Document
excavation  
 03/01/13
to
09/01/13
23 I ST SE    23 I LLC c/o Ruben Companies 
Pending
paving; new  
 11/30/12
to
11/29/13
200 I ST SE    Todd Stone 
Pending
streetfixture; new  
 11/21/12
to
11/22/13
17 M ST SE    1015 HALF STREET SE LLC 
Pending
excavation; new  
 07/23/12
to
07/22/13
100 M ST SE    Gordon Biersch Restaurant And Brewery 
Pending
new  
 01/07/13
to
06/30/13
    WASHINGTON GAS 
Issued
excavation; new  
 05/06/13
to
07/04/13
    WASHINGTON GAS 
Assigned
excavation  
 04/23/13
to
04/22/14
202 M ST SE    canal park business assoc 
Issued
paving; new  
 04/29/13
to
05/31/13
401 M ST SE    cris FLACK 
Issued
excavation; new  
 04/22/13
to
06/20/13
770 M ST SE    Wash Gas & Light Co. 
Pending
excavation; new  
 12/10/12
to
05/31/13
900 M ST SE    Corman Construction 
Issued
excavation; new  
 09/11/12
to
09/10/13
922 M ST SE    Wash Gas & Light Co. 
Issued
excavation; new  
 04/30/13
to
06/28/13
1201 M ST SE    Michael Manoski 
Pending Document
excavation  
 05/06/13
to
05/05/14
1333 M ST SE    WASHINGTON GAS 
Assigned
excavation  
 05/01/13
to
04/30/14
1500 M ST SE    DC Water 
Pending
excavation; new  
 02/15/13
to
07/30/13
125 O ST SE    TRAYLOR/SLANSKA/JAY DEE JOINT VENTURE(DAMIAN RUPPERT) 
Issued
paving; streetfixture; new  
 12/24/12
to
12/23/13
300 TINGEY ST SE    Northeast Remsco Construction Incorporated 
Pending
paving; excavation; new  
 12/14/12
to
12/13/13
301 TINGEY ST SE    Potbelly Sandwich Works LLC 
Issued
new  
 03/21/12
to
11/27/14
401 TINGEY ST SE    Northeast Remsco Construction Incorporated 
Pending
new  
 02/18/13
to
08/31/13
601 VIRGINIA AVE SE    Wash Gas & Light Co. 
Issued
excavation; new  
 04/30/13
to
06/28/13
301 WATER ST SE    Wash Gas & Light Co. 
Assigned
excavation  
 04/19/13
to
11/30/13

Recent Issued Building Permits Archive  
1263 1ST ST SE   
05/10/13 
CAPITAL RIVERFRONT HOTEL LLC / CAPITAL RIVERFRONT HOTEL LLC; WESTON SOLUTIONS INC.
SB1300204 / CONSTRUCTION
INSTALL FIVE MONITORING WELLS ON ADJOINING PARCELS ON SQUARE 701 LOT 818 821 825 826 827 TO EVALUATE SOIL AND GROUNDWATER ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION PRIOR TO SITE DEVELOPMENT. SITE IS CURRENTLY VACANT AND USED FOR PARKING.
1013 4TH ST SE   
05/13/13 
EVA WALTER / RALPH E JACKSON
P1304928 / SUPPLEMENTAL
1212 4TH ST SE   
05/10/13 
FOREST CITY / FVI 2020
FD1300032 / CONSTRUCTION
REVISION TO FOUNDATION TO GRADE REF: PERMIT FD1109003
70 I ST SE   
05/08/13 
NA NA NA
EHOP1390413 / HOME OCCUPATION
80 M ST SE   
05/10/13 
WELLS REIT II 80 M STREET LLC / SCOTT BROADBENT; WELLS REIT II 80 M STREET LLC; SCOTT BROADBENT
E35382167 / SUPPLEMENTAL
   
05/15/13 
WELLS RELT II 80 M STREET LLC WELLS RELT II 80 M STREET LLC / ASHLEY MANGAN; WELLS RELT II 8 WELLS RELT II 80 M STREET LLC; DAVID RAINE
FS87326044 / SUPPLEMENTAL
300 M ST SE   
05/15/13 
FEDERAL CENTER LP / MARK A. PELUSO
E1305320 / SUPPLEMENTAL
100 M ST SE   
05/17/13 
KEN MERZELLIO / THOMAS HUMMEL; KEN MERZELLIO; THOMAS HUMMEL
E61670509 / SUPPLEMENTAL
1201 M ST SE   
05/08/13 
CARLTON RAY / MICHAEL MANOSKI
AH1300561 / CONSTRUCTION
PERFORM TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES.
   
05/08/13 
WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO. WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO. / THOMAS NIEMANN; WASHINGTON GAS WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO.; JOE ISAAC
AR66926931 / SUPPLEMENTAL
   
05/15/13 
WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO / JEFFREY KNIGHT; WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO; JOHN WEEKS
E20855539 / SUPPLEMENTAL
880 NEW JERSEY AVE SE   
05/14/13 
880 NEW JERSEY AVENUE LLC / LEONARD J. MCNULTY
P1304963 / SUPPLEMENTAL
   
05/14/13 
880 NEW JERSEY AVENUE LLC / ALBERT J. PEARCE
M1301714 / SUPPLEMENTAL
1500 SOUTH CAPITOL ST SE   
05/10/13 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA / GUARDIAN FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES
B1306662 / CONSTRUCTION
INSTALL ANSUL R-102 1.5-GALLON COMMERCIAL KITCHEN HOOD FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM TO PROTECT NEW SMOKER OVEN IN CLUB LEVEL KITCHEN - WASHINGTON NATIONALS STADIUM
300 TINGEY ST SE   
05/16/13 
FC BOILERMAKER LLC /
P1305030 / SUPPLEMENTAL
101 TINGEY ST SE   
05/17/13 
HILL COUNTRY BBQ MARKET / ALEX CRAWFORD
TN1300200 / CONSTRUCTION
OUTDOOR VENUE WITH FENCE AND TENTS FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE SALES WITH LIVE MUSIC
300 TINGEY ST SE   
05/10/13 
FOREST CITY WASHINGTON / JOE SPINELLI RESTAURANT CONSULTANTS
B1303626 / CONSTRUCTION
INTERIOR ALTERATION OF AN EXISTING BUILDING OF A TOTAL GFA = 2750 SQ.FT. ON 1ST FLOOR TO BE A NEW T / L 84-SEAT & 94 OCCUPANCY LOAD RESTAURANT. WORK TO INCLUDE NEW WALLS CEILINGS FLOORS AND LIGHTING. NEW HVAC HOOD SYSTEM ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL PLUMBING.
   
05/10/13 
FC BOILERMAKER LLC /
P1304906 / SUPPLEMENTAL
   
05/15/13 
FC BOILERMAKER LLC / DOMINIC E TOTARO
M1301731 / SUPPLEMENTAL
   
05/15/13 
FC BOILERMAKER LLC / DOMINIC E TOTARO
P1305012 / SUPPLEMENTAL
301 TINGEY ST SE   
05/14/13 
SEFC 160 LLC / JEFFREY KNIGHT; SEFC 160 LLC; JOHN WEEKS
E83248440 / SUPPLEMENTAL
301 WATER ST SE   
05/07/13 
FC LUMBER SHED LLC / DENNIS R. WOODE
E1305113 / SUPPLEMENTAL
   
05/07/13 
FOREST CITY / FVI 2020
B1304901 / CONSTRUCTION
INSTILLATION OF PREFAB MECHANICAL STORAGE PLATFORM OF APPROX 622 SQ FT AREA STRUCTURE OF STEEL FRAMING WITH COMPOSITE DECK WITH TUBE STEEL COLUMNS ON FOOTINGS
   
05/08/13 
TOUR DE FAT / PAUL GRUBER
TN1300155 / CONSTRUCTION
SPECIAL EVENT TOUR DE FAT 1 36X24 STAGE 2 20X20 TENTS 3 10X10 TENTS
AH = After Hours; B = Alteration & Repair; D = Demolition; E = Electrical; FB = Boiler; M = Mechanical; P = Plumbing and Gas; PC = Post Card; R = Raze; SG = Sign; TL = Tenant Layout; TN = Tent; RW = Retaining Wall;

Real Property Sales Archive  
1263 1ST ST SE   03/14/13
$ 5,435,680
CAPITAL RIVERFRONT HOTEL LLC
 
0084 N ST SE   03/14/13
$ 5,435,680
CAPITAL RIVERFRONT HOTEL LLC
 
0086 N ST SE   03/14/13
$ 5,435,680
CAPITAL RIVERFRONT HOTEL LLC
 
0086 N ST SE   03/14/13
$ 5,435,680
CAPITAL RIVERFRONT HOTEL LLC
 
1265 1ST ST   03/14/13
$ 5,435,680
CAPITAL RIVERFRONT HOTEL LLC
 
N ST SE   03/05/13
$ 7,525,000
MR BALLPARK 2 LLC LEHMAN BROS HOLDINGS INC FL 39
 
N ST SE   03/05/13
$ 7,525,000
MR BALLPARK 2 LLC LEHMAN BROS HOLDINGS INC FL 39
 
N ST SE   03/05/13
$ 7,525,000
MR BALLPARK 2 LLC LEHMAN BROS HOLDINGS INC FL 39
 
1244 SOUTH CAPITOL ST SE   03/05/13
$ 7,525,000
MR BALLPARK 2 LLC LEHMAN BROS HOLDINGS INC FL 39
 
1236 SOUTH CAPITOL ST SE   03/05/13
$ 7,525,000
MR BALLPARK 2 LLC LEHMAN BROS HOLDINGS INC FL 39
 
N ST SE   03/05/13
$ 7,525,000
MR BALLPARK 2 LLC LEHMAN BROS HOLDINGS INC FL 39
 
0050 M ST   03/05/13
$ 5,125,000
MR BALLPARK 6 LLC LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC
 


Projects Underway
Boilermaker Shops
Twelve12/Yards
Lumber Shed
Park Chelsea 
  
Nationals Park
Visiting Nats Park
What's New Around the 'Hood
Food Options Map
Parking/Transportation
Ballpark Construction Photos
Stadium Event Photos
In the Pipeline
Akridge/Half Street
Virginia Ave. Tunnel
Square 701
Monument/Half Street
1111 New Jersey
Nat'l Comm. Church
Capper Apartments
Square 882
250 M Street
New SoCap Bridge
Florida Rock
23 I Street
Congressional Square
1000 South Capitol
SC1100
New Marine Barracks
Factory 202/Yards
Completed
Canal Park ('12)
Capitol Quarter ('12)
225 Virginia/200 I ('12)
Foundry Lofts/Yards ('12)
1015 Half Street ('10)
Yards Park ('10)
Velocity Condos ('09)
Teague Park ('09)
909 NJ Ave. ('09)
55 M ('09)
100 M ('08)
Onyx ('08)
Nationals Park ('08)
70/100 I ('08)
Seniors Bldg Dem. ('07)
400 M ('07)
SoCap Bridge Fix ('07)
US DOT HQ ('07)
20 M ('07)
Capper Seniors 1 ('06)
Capitol Hill Tower ('06)
Courtyard/Marriott ('06)
Overviews
Capper/Carrollsburg
Ballpark District
New Jersey Ave.
M Street
South Capitol St.
WASA
The Yards
Lower 8th Street
East M Street
Boathouse Row


Links of Interest

JDLand.com Wins 2008 Knight-Batten Citizen Media Award
As part of the Knight-Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism, JDLand was given the 2008 Citizen Media Award. Read all about it.

Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District
Covering Near Southeast & Buzzard Point.

Studies/Initiatives/Government Documents:
11th Street Bridges EIS
South Capitol St. Bridge EIS
South Capitol Gateway Corridor/Anacostia Access Study
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
NCPC's New Vision for South Capitol Street (2005 Update)
Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (2005)
Near Southeast Draft Urban Design Framework (2003)
Urban Land Institute South Capitol Street Corridor Report (2003)
Neighborhood Strategic Action Plan (2002)
DC Streetcars (may run down M Street SE someday)

Capitol Gateway and Southeast Federal Center Zoning Overlays
Two documents that spell out in extreme detail exactly what the requirements are for developments along South Capitol, M, in the Ballpark District, and at "The Yards". Read also my short explanatory treatise on these two overlays.

Pre-Redevelopment Media Overviews:
A Transformed Neighborhood Awaits Stadium (WP, 8/15/05)
      includes huge map of development plans
The Morphing of a Forgotten Neighborhood (WP, 9/2/2004)
      A brilliant take on the neighborhood!
Betting Big on Near Southeast (WP, 7/15/04)
Hope for the Waterfront (WBJ, 01)
Seeking a Better View On the Waterfront (WP, 3/8/98)
 

DC Government
Mayor's Office
Planning/Economic Development
   Office of Planning
DC Consumer & Regulatory Agency
DC Office of Zoning
DC Municipal Regulations | Zoning
DC Dept. of Transportation

DC City Council
Tommy Wells

ANCs: 6D | 6B
David Garber (6D07)
Kirsten Oldenburg (6B04)
Police: MPD-1D | PSA 105

Other Organizations
National Capital Planning Commission
Earth Conservation Corps
Capitol Hill Restoration Society
Barracks Row Main Street
Marines Community Integrated Master Plan
 

 

News Publications
The Hill Rag
The Southwester

Other DC Neighborhood/City Blogs
SW DC - The Little Quadrant That Could
The Hill is Home
Congress Heights on the Rise
Greater Greater Washington
WashCycle
Penn Quarter Living
Frozen Tropics
The Triangle
14th and You
The 42
Beyond DC
Richard Layman
 




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