When people discuss D.C.’s nightlife back in the day, they usually only think as far back as the original 930 Club on F Street.  D.C. filmmaker Jeff Krulik is digging deeper.  Inspired by the late Emil Press‘ photos of Washington streetscapes, and by stories collected from area residents, Krulik has organized a panel discussion and presentation entitled “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in 1950-‘60s DC” for this year’s “36th Annual Conference on Washington, D.C. Historical Studies.” (Opens tonight.)  The event runs through Saturday; Krulik’s program will take place Friday afternoon.

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D.C. Historic Review officials have approved Ellis Development’s plans to rehab the historic Howard Theater in Shaw. This is good news of course since the 98-year-old building served as the hub for black entertainers in the ’50s and ’60s and became a model for other theaters across the country. It was right up there with the Apollo in terms of status. It closed as a consistent entertainment venue in the early ’70s. It was ressurected briefly as a go-go venue. In recent years, it only came to life in the memories of old people and remember-when stories. (I spent a lot of time talking to Mingering Mike about the Howard).

So this is good news.