Hyattsville, MD—DC’s largest arts organization featuring over 1,800 members will open their new studio and gallery space this weekend. This is the second DC-area space operated by ArtDC.org (Fine Art Ventures). Artists can pay a nominal monthly fee to hold membership to the space and workshops will be available to community residents soon.

What:
Grand Opening Reception

Who:
ArtDC in Hyattsville

When:
Saturday, March 14, 2009
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Preview
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Refreshments

Where:
The Lustine Center
5710 Baltimore Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20781

In the 1950’s, historic downtown Hyattsville was a booming commercial destination for DC-area car shoppers.  Automobile dealers lined Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue) with gleaming showrooms and acres of new automobiles. 

Today, Route 1 in Hyattsville is DC’s newest arts destination, thriving with artist studios, galleries, workshops, boutiques, eclectic restaurants, and new four-level townhomes with arts-inspired architecture. The original 1950’s Lustine Automobile Showroom has been preserved and converted into a community center, which will be the home of ArtDC.org’s new gallery space.

The 25-acre neighborhood by EYA known as Arts District Hyattsville is the destination’s anchor location—with retailers such as Busboys and Poets and Tara Thai coming soon. Already, several studios and retailers have opened their doors and hold weekly events and workshops:

Artists on the Avenue
Glass and jewelry making workshops and gift shop
www.ArtistsOnTheAvenue.com  

Book Nook Bookstore 
Boutique book store and gift shop
www.BookNookBookstore.com

Café Azul
Latin-American inspired cuisine and Mayorga coffee
www.CafeAzul.biz

Design Studio Art Gallery
Visual arts gallery with monthly exhibits
www.DesignStudioArtGallery.com

Visual Solutions Unlimited
Full service creative design and marketing firm
www.VSUnlimited.com

About:
Arts District Hyattsville features new four-level townhomes from $365,000 to $498,000, live-work retail spaces, shops, restaurants, fitness center, galleries, and more. The community, named Best Urban Smart Growth Neighborhood by Professional Builder magazine, is located just two miles from DC and within one mile of two Metro stations. A limited number of gallery spaces are still available.