It was downtown, close to all the things that the city had to offer - yet it was nestled in next to Rock Creek Park which provided the sense of nature that I was afraid of leaving behind.

And the people - the people of Mount Pleasant were wonderful. I loved the fact that you could find a mix of well known figures of Washington Society living peacefully next to a group house of people gearing up to change the world. People of all races and backgrounds. That diversity wasn't forced upon this neighborhood, but that it happened here. And when I describe Mount Pleasant to people who are new, I often call it 'the activist hub of DC'.

Well - deciding to move to Mount Pleasant, and finding the right home were too different things. Luckily my real estate agent and I both endured the nine months it would take for me to find the house that would become my home. And in January 2004, I became a Mount Pleasant resident and home owner.

Starting Hear Mount Pleasant

Before I even lived here I was active on the mailing lists and neighborhood web sites. I had claimed Mount Pleasant as my home. I wanted to be an active resident in my community, but I did notice quite a bit of neighborhood politics that I at first thought best to stay out of. There were various issues, and their various knights behind them - but sometimes it was hard to discern the issue through all of the bickering.

But some issues came through very clear, as did their champions. One such issue for me was the ban on live music in our neighborhood. Being a fan of live music from even my pre-teen years, the issue sparked a lot of interest initially with me. And once I realized that the leaders of the group that instituted these bans was not willing to discuss these issues with the neighborhood - I realized that something had to be done so that the community had their input on issues such as these that affected all of us.

In the words of Laurie Collins, "They say, 'You didn't ask us.' Well, we didn't have to ask anyone. " And while I believe that Laurie Collins, and the MPNA have done a lot of good for the neighborhood, I do not agree with their policy that they shall deem was is good and what is bad for Mount Pleasant.

I conducted a online poll to discern how the residents felt about live music in our neighborhood in November of 2006 and between the clear vote for live music, and the various calls and emails that I received I decided to create "Hear Mount Pleasant" in order to bring together all the champions of live music that already existing within our neighborhood.

Bo Diddley's House!

Going back to that home of mine in Mount Pleasant...some time after starting Hear Mount Pleasant I realized that home that I purchased wasn't just any home. It was a special home...

As you probably know, the Mount Pleasant Heritage Trail does a wonderful job of showing how music was an integral part of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood in the past. One morning in March of 2007 my house mate urged me to go and read the plaque on our block next to Bancroft Elementary School.

And what I learned gave me just a little more inspiration and belief that bringing live music back to Mount Pleasant is important for our cultural growth. I was honored to know that Bo Diddley called my house home during the summer of 1962.

[From the plaque]
"In the summer of 1962, R & B star Bo Diddley lied with his wife Kay and baby Terri in an apartment at 1724 Newton Street, across from Bancroft School. The neighborhood's central location, affordable rents, and nearby music clubs on Mount Pleasant and 14th Streets attracted artists and rising performers.

Diddley connected with some neighborhood teenagers when he'd heard "singing on the corner - at least we thought we were singing" recalled former area resident Arthur Wang. "He encouraged and invited the boys to talk music and occasionally ride in his convertible. It was an experience they never forgot.

Village in the City
Mount Pleasant Heritage Trail
Plaque 7
(18th and Newton)

Places That are Gone

Did you catch WTOP's series the first week in January 2007: Places That are Gone?

Here is an excerpt:

"Everybody has them: musical moments -- memories of seeing a particular band in a particular club. All this week I'll revisit some of D.C.'s memorable venues and people who changed music here and in some cases, the world."

http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=1018175&nid=226&pid=0

Washington DC has had many musical moments in the past. Help us make sure that it has even more in the future.

Washington's Famous Musicians

From band composer John Phillip Sousa to jazz legends Duke Ellington and singer Roberta Flack, DC has played an important role in shaping the music that we know and love.

There are literally dozens of famous musicians that have ties to our city from Marvin Gay to Peter Tork of the Monkees. Billy Steward. Patsy Cline, Charlie Byrd. Dave Grohl. DC resident Ahmet Ertegun even went on to found Atlantic Records. Fugazi, and Minor Threat got their start here. Dischord records was started right here in our City. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Washington,_D.C. to see the DC influecen on music from Blues, Soul, Bluegrass, Folk, Disco, Hardcore, and Post-punk.

Many of these musicians have helped define our city, but with the current ban on live music in our neighborhood - the number of musical moments is like to decrease. Mount Pleasant has had a long history of music as can be seen by reading the placards that make up our new Heritage Trail. Help make sure that there is a musical history in Mount Pleasant once again!

How is Live Music Banned in Mount Pleasant?

There is an effort going on to get live music back in Mount Pleasant. Live music is currently banned via "Voluntary Agreements" between Mount Pleasant establishments that serve alcohol and the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Alliance in order for them to get their ABC license.

The Voluntary Agreements prohibit

• Live Music
• Dancing
• Charging a cover charge of any kind
• Advertising outside of the neighborhood

Remind you of 1984....and the movie Footloose by chance?

Some of us would like to see this changed. We welcome all neighborhood residents to come and share their opinion.

David Sachdev, is a young profesional who moved to Mt. Pleasant in 2003. He owns a house on the 1700 Block of Newton Street and is the founder of Hear Mount Pleasant.

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