NoMa Notes: Phase Two Reopening

Now that DC has entered Phase Two, we all look forward to NoMa ReConnected. To ensure everyone’s personal safety and the health and safety of our families, friends and neighbors as NoMa reopens, recovers and reconnects, we must remember the 3 Ws – Wear masks. Wash hands/use hand sanitizer. Watch distance.

Here’s a quick rundown of open, allowable activities during Phase Two:

• Exercise Studios – Yoga NoMa and CycleBar are offering virtual and in-person limited-size, reservation-only classes, and adhering to strict safety and cleaning protocols. NUBOXX continues to teach virtually, as does barre3 and Orangetheory
• Indoor Dining – Offering indoor seating six-feet apart at 50% capacity are CR NoMa, King Street Oyster Bar, Laos in Town, Red Bear Brewing Co., and Sweet Science Coffee
• Outdoor Dining – Socially distanced, patio seating at: Indigo, King Street Oyster Bar, Lily and the Cactus, Laos in Town, Peet’s, Potbelly, Red Bear Brewing Co, Republic Cantina, Roti, Streets Market, The Eleanor and Wunder Garten

The NoMa community has been great in supporting local restaurants and shops by purchasing gift cards and ordering takeout and delivery. Continue to show your support to help NoMa Reopen. Recover. Reconnect.

The fences at Alethia Tanner Park came down this week, as parks were allowed to open for Phase Two. We had hoped to host a grand opening to bring the community together and celebrate the park and its namesake, Alethia Tanner, an enslaved person who bought her freedom and the freedom of others, and became a champion for educational and religious access for blacks in the District.

While those plans must wait until it’s safe for large crowds to gather, now is a great time to order takeout from your favorite NoMa restaurant, sandwich or coffee shop, and go picnic in the park! As you reconnect with neighbors and friends, please wear a mask, watch your distance, observe park rules, and limit your time in the playground or dog park, if others are waiting. The seasonal public restrooms planned for the park have not been added at this time. Dogs are welcome off-leash in the dog park, but not on the lawn.

Be sure to write a note on the playground’s chalkboard when you visit Alethia Tanner Park, then snap a photo & share on Instagram tagging @noma.bid with the hashtag #nomareconnected 

Just because we’re staying apart doesn’t mean we can’t stay connected virtually to enjoy the things we love … like movies! Since we had to cancel NoMa Summer Screen for everyone’s health and safety, we decided to continue the tradition by launching #NoMaMovieNight with Twitter Trivia!

Wednesday nights throughout the summer, we’re partnering with NoMa dining spots to bring you curated drink, dinner and dessert specials to order for takeout and enjoy while we watch a movie together virtually and respond to trivia questions about the film via Twitter.

At the end of the night, we tally up the points and award the winners gift cards we’ve purchased from NoMa restaurants. Movie Nights are a great way to reconnect and help local businesses reopen and recover. Visit our Events page and follow us on Twitter for more details.

If you haven’t tried one of our NoMaFIT free virtual exercise classes yet, there’s still time to sign up! We’ve partnered with two NoMa fitness studios, Yoga NoMa and NUBOXX to bring their great instructors to you via Zoom. Next week’s offerings are:
> NUBOXX HIIT/Boxing on Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30 – 7:30 PM
> Yoga NoMa Gentle Flow & Release on Friday, July 3 from 6:00 – 7:00 PM

After your free workout, stop by our partner Smoothie King at 77 H Street NE or 2350 Washington Place NE and ask for the “NoMaFIT Special” to receive 20% off a 32 oz. or larger smoothie (redeemable everyday except Fridays). Visit our Events page for schedule updates in July & August. Follow us on Twitter @NoMaBID and register here.

As we’re all staying at home, we’re using more electricity to power our work and daily activities. This increased energy usage may not only be impacting your bills, but also contributing to climate change. We can all take simple steps to do good for both our wallets and the environment.

As part of a united effort, more than 20 environmental, business, community groups and the District Department of Energy and Environment have come together to launch a new initiative, #ReduceEnergyUseDC, to educate District residents on ways they can use energy more efficiently, take steps to reduce energy use at home and save money while helping fight climate change.

Join the campaign and take the pledge to use energy more efficiently for your chance to win a $300 credit on your electric bill. Learn more here.