Partners for Livable Communities announces its partnership in creating Washington, DC’s own temporary urbanism project: The Mount Pleasant Temporium. The Mount Pleasant Temporium is a temporary, pop-up retailer coming to Mt. Pleasant St. NW, for 24 consecutive dates from February 18 to March 13. Located at 3068 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, the Mt. Pleasant Temporium is the second of the District’s new Temporary Urbanism initiative project grantees—the first opened its doors in the Summer 2010 and was directed by the Pink Line Project , a hub for DC arts and culture.

The Mt. Pleasant Temporium is led by Mount Pleasant Main Street, in partnership with SpeakeasyDC, Hello Craft, Radio CPR, Partners for Livable Communities, and the DC Office of Planning. This project is supported by the DC Office of Planning’s Temporary Urbanism grant, and has received media sponsorship by the Washington City Paper.

The Mt. Pleasant Temporium features handmade goods for sale from 30 local, independent crafters and artists and has a special events schedule to include autobiographical and theatrical storytelling, crafting, book readings, and live music. All events are free and open to the public. Opening weekend included a reception on Friday, Feb. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m.

The theme of the Mt. Pleasant Temporium is storytelling, which is woven throughout the retail aspect of the shop to give visitors a truly engaging experience with the products for sale and the stories behind the artists who made them. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the theme by leaving their own handwritten stories in the Temporium’s storefront window installation, created by local artists Sean Hennessey and Rania Hassan.

Visitors are highly encouraged to explore the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood and its businesses. During the 24-day run of the project, several Mt. Pleasant businesses will feature their own stories in storefront displays and offer specials to Temporium customers.

The Temporium helps meet several objectives established by the District of Columbia through the Creative DC Action Agenda and the Retail Action Roadmap. They include supporting creative entrepreneurs, activating commercial corridors and highlighting their retail potential, providing residents with unique services and activities, and promoting neighborhoods.