A popular Hyattsville musician has rebuilt his Victorian home after a house fire using cutting-edge techniques to reduce its energy use.

Joe Atkins, who started the Zydeco band the Wild Anacostias, was devastated when his historic house in the 4900 block of 42nd Avenue burned down in 2020.

But rather than rebuild in a more contemporary style, he decided to try to recreate the Queen Anne Victorian style, hiring Hyattsville architect Michael Romero.

The new house, dubbed the “Queen of Zero,” was built using high-performance techniques to make it a “net zero” home, such as structurally insulated panels, a Tesla solar roof and high-performance heating and air conditioning.

That’s actually quite appropriate, as Victorian homes incorporated what were then cutting-edge techniques, such as taller double-hung windows to maximize interior air flow and wide porches to reduce heat from direct sun.

The home is already drawing attention in architectural circles, and the DMV Net Zero Coalition is even hosting an open house on Friday, Sept. 20 in which experts will discuss how it was done.

Tickets to the open house are available here. Proceeds go toward the Net Zero Coalition and contractors putting on the open house.

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A North Brentwood arts studio is teaching residents on and around the Route 1 corridor how to build everything from dinnerware to sculptures out of clay.

Located at 4531 Rhode Island Ave., Material Things has offered classes for adults on “hand-building,” the techniques for making shapes out of clay without using a throwing wheel, since 2021.

But last summer, the art studio expanded into the building next door, moving its classrooms to a new space with natural light and a sunset view and allowing it to double its scheduled number of classes.

Students range from those who have never worked with clay to longtime sculptors looking to improve their technical skills, co-owner Erin Lingle told the Hyattsville Wire. They are encouraged to “dream up their own projects” and ask the instructor for advice.

“Teachers will sometimes develop skill-building exercises or teach specific forms and techniques, but students can feel free to follow their own creative paths,” she said.

Courses are taught by Nicole Ponce, studio manager at District Clay Center, who studied in New Mexico and has taught throughout the greater D.C. area.

Material Things is a project of Lingle, Katie Aldworth, and Francisco Rosario.

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Apartments are now for rent at a new high-end complex at University Town Center in Hyattsville.

Located at 6505 Belcrest Rd., next to Safeway, The Devon features studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with move-ins beginning in December.

Monthly rents range from $1,975 to $3,450.

Amenities at the complex include an interior courtyard with a pool, a fitness center, a coworking lounge, two dog parks and a game room.

The Devon is certified LEED Silver, the third-highest level of environmentally conscious designed recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council. It’s also certified by WiredScore, which measures internet access and other technology.

Management stressed the benefits of the location across East-West Highway from the Hyattsville Crossing Metro station and next to a movie theater, mall and grocery store.

“Our strategic location epitomizes urban-suburban living, offering unrivaled convenience and connectivity to shopping, dining, and transit options,” Moira Dhaliwal, director at management company Hines said in a statement.

The complex also includes a 1,238 square foot retail space that is currently available.

The Devon is near another new apartment building, The Residences at the Six, which has 316 apartments and similar amenities. The Residences at the Six is the first apartment complex in Prince George’s County to be certified Gold under the National Green Building Standard.

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A fast-casual national chain restaurant specializing in chicken fingers will soon replace the Nando’s in College Park.

Baton Rouge-based Raising Cane’s will move into the location at 7400 Baltimore Ave., across from city hall.

Started in 1996 near the Louisiana State University campus, the chain has a simple menu focusing on chicken fingers and chicken sandwiches. It also has tailgate specials of up to 100 chicken fingers.

The chain plans to open in College Park, its 10th location in the greater D.C. area, in August or September of next year, according to the Diamondback.

Nando’s Peri-Peri, a South African chain that served spicy grilled chicken, was at the location from 2015 until this summer. Before that, the space was occupied by Ratsie’s pizzeria.

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Popular D.C. pizzeria Menomale is in talks to open a Hyattsville location.

Owner Mariya Rusciano told the Hyattsville Wire that she is looking at a space inside the upcoming Hyattsville Canvas Apartments at 5300 Baltimore Ave., next to the historic Armory building.

“We are negotiating the lease at the moment, but nothing is signed yet,” she said.

Site plans for the apartment and retail complex show two smaller spaces with a little over 2,000 square feet and a large corner space with 5,362 square feet “under negotiation.”

The apartment building’s retail brokers have already signed deals with Mathnasium and an outpost of Akira Ramen & Izakaya.

This would be the third location for Menomale, which started in Brookland and added a second space in NoMa. Following the rules of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, it’s one of a handful of D.C. restaurants that serve authentic Neapolitan pizzas.

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Community Forklift is wrapping up another summer of First Fridays in September.

The nonprofit reuse warehouse in Edmonston will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, wit live music, food and drinks for sale, local artist and vendor booths, and discounts on salvaged and surplus home goods and building materials.

During First Friday events, the warehouse offers discounts on salvaged and surplus home goods and building materials and the material donation drop-off bay remains open.

Along with local artists and vendors, the September event will feature live music from Tritone Jazz Trio, a Seafood Boss food truck and drinks from Clear Skies Meadery.

Located at 4671 Tanglewood Dr., Community Forklift collects donations of new and gently used building materials and home essentials and redistributes them to the community for free through its community giving programs and at below-market prices through its warehouse store.

Event sponsors include Kim Kash of Compass real estate, Vigilante Coffee Company and the Town of Edmonston.

You can RSVP for free on the Community Forklift website here.

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Brentwood’s miXt Food Hall plans to create a new public art display facing Route 1 and is calling for artists’ submissions.

Located at 3809 Rhode Island Ave. next to the Studio 3807 apartment building, the food hall is currently looking for an artist to design, create and install an artwork on the patio facing Rhode Island Avenue.

According to a recent call for submissions put out by the food hall, the artwork can be affixed to the building or railing or mounted in a plant bed. The piece must also be washable and able to withstand the local climate.

The artist who is chosen will receive a $2,000 honorarium and up to $500 worth of supplies.

The deadline for submission is Sept. 15, with the goal of installing the artwork in November. Artists who are considering submitting should include a rough sketch with a descriptive narrative and examples of previous work.

Submissions are limited to three per artist. Any questions and submissions should be sent to Sandy Patterson at spatterson@mixtfoodhall.com.

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