3417 Connecticut Ave NW

From a press release:

Fans of Ripple’s inspired dinner menu can now enjoy the restaurant’s delectable dishes for brunch. Executive chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley and pastry chef Alison Reed work in tandem to create mouth-watering breakfast traditions with a twist. Farm fresh eggs, locally-sourced proteins and vegetables, complemented with house-made pastries can now be found on Ripple’s brunch menu, served Sundays 11:30am to 2:30pm.

The RAMMY nominated duo have collaborated to create inventive brunch dishes, including chicken fried pork belly with sausage gravy, fried egg and cheddar cheese, atop a homemade biscuit, aka The Codester. Meek-Bradley makes her own pastrami for the smoked hash served with potatoes, onions and sunny eggs and Reed’s oatmeal brancakes served with seasonal fruit are much more than just vessels for transporting maple syrup from plate to mouth. Roasted striped bass on a bed of organic greens with artichokes, olives, tomatoes, and lemon vinaigrette provides a filling dish for the diner in search of lunch, but many choose breakfast and the popular sally’s bennie with Maryland blue crab cakes on top of a housemade english muffin. Meek-Bradley offers some lighter fare as well including house-made gravlax with capers, onion, lemon, hard-boiled egg and pretzel chips. Reed applies her signature pastry technique to create cinnamon rolls served in a hot skillet, addictive pecan sticky buns, muffins made with seasonal fruit, scones, fresh breads and assorted pastries.

Known for their reputable wine program, Ripple’s general manager and wine expert, Danny Fisher, opts for the perfect champagne to stock their bubbly bar with a choice of grapefruit, orange, peach or strawberry juice. Ripple also offers a bloody mary bar and unique breakfast cocktails such as the subtle yet complete Colorblind which starts with cucumber infused vodka mixed with rhubarb-tarragon soda and finishes with lime.

The newly designed private dining room at the front, serves as the perfect sun-filled room to people-watch without sweating the heat.

Ed. Note: Wow, I hadn’t realized Sugar Magnolia had closed…

From a press release:

Mayor Vincent C. Gray joined officials from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and DC Water today to mark a major step in an ongoing flood-mitigation project in the Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods, and to urge residents to take preventative steps to protect their property in advance of summer storms that may cause flooding.

“Today is another step forward for the Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods, which historically have suffered through significant flooding during large storms,” Mayor Gray said. “We have already implemented several immediate efforts to mitigate the flooding, and are implementing longer-term solutions to ensure that these neighborhoods do not continue experiencing repeated street flooding and property damage due to heavy rainstorms.”

Next week DDOT will begin a construction project to install a five-foot-wide storm sewer line in the median of the 100 block of Rhode Island Avenue NW. This project, which will last three months, will help remove stormwater from the roadway and store it before slowly releasing it into the sewer system.

“When it rains, community members in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park have historically had to worry about flooding,” said DDOT Director Terry Bellamy. “Today we’re taking a major step forward in addressing this problem.”

Throughout the last century, the historic Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods have experienced occasional street flooding and sewer backups during intense rain storms. Last year, however, four major thunderstorms caused repeated flooding and prompted officials to take a closer look at what District agencies and property owners could do to protect property. Mayor Gray appointed a task force last August to study the problem and recommend solutions.

“Last summer we had more intense rainstorms with flooding than in the previous 10 years combined,” noted DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. “We began investigating right away and joined the city task force to investigate creative solutions. This year we want to be sure everyone is aware of both what we are doing and what property owners can do to minimize flooding during heavy rains.”

City Administrator and DC Water Board Chair Allen Y. Lew added, “The ultimate engineering fix is coming in 2022 with the massive Clean Rivers Project, but in the meantime we identified a number of actions that can help these neighborhoods.”

The Mayor’s Task Force on the Prevention of Flooding in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park issued a final report earlier this year. It found that these neighborhoods, which were developed at the turn of the 20th century when sewage conveyance was a relatively new concept and the population was less dense, were suffering from a sewer system that was simply too small to accommodate today’s needs. The report included 25 recommendations to mitigate flooding, including short-, medium- and long-term solutions in the following categories: engineering, regulatory, code revision and operation and maintenance components.

Short-Term Solutions

Continues after the jump. (more…)

A reader sends in this Craislist ad – and wonders if this the “Greatest Craigslist Personal Post Ever”?

One Man Needs Date to a Wedding – 28 (Northwest DC)

Due to a last minute cancellation (we do not speak of her name) I’m resorting to the powers of Craigslist to help me find a date for a wedding this weekend in Lexington, VA (i had to google it as well). If you’re still reading here are the facts and why you should come:

- you only yolo once
- you get to wear a dress
- open bar & food all night
- you get to pop n lock it w me on the dance floor (see pic 2)
- I can fly (see pic 3)
- I tend to ride a lion on top of horse (see pic 4)

more fun facts about your potential date:
- I have a degree
- I have a job
- I am a clean man
- I have never been arrested
- I don’t like murder

Looking for a well-rounded young lady that is educated, can dance, and is at least 21.

if interested you should please provide:
- a selfie
- brief resume
- your favorite color

Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe in DC

Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe in DC

Hipchickindc is a licensed real estate broker. She is the founder of 10 Square Team and is affiliated with Keller Williams Capital Properties. 10 Square Team is a popville.com advertiser. Unless specifically noted, neither she nor the company that she is affiliated with represented any of the parties or were directly involved in the transaction reported below. Unless otherwise noted, the source of information is Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS), which is the local multiple listing system. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 1842 California St NW #8B
Legal Subdivision: Kalorama
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Kalorama
Bedrooms: 1 Baths: 1
Condo fee: $171/month
Living Area Square Footage per Tax Record: 398
Original List Price for most recent listing: $299,000.
List Price at Contract: $299,000.
List Date: 3/2/2013
Days on Market: 46
Settled Sales Price: $290,000.
Seller Subsidy: $0
Settled Price per Square Foot: $729.
Settlement Date: 05/13/2013
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Original GDoN post is: here.
The listing can be seen: here. To see pics, open the link above and click on the camera icon to scroll through pics.

There are records of property listings for this condo building that go back as far as 1995 (the current multiple listing service has only been in existence since the mid-1990’s). Back in the day, nearly two decades ago, units in this building were pricing around $150. per square foot, which would put a unit this size at close to $60,000. Interest rates at that time were averaging around 7.85% for a 30year fixed, so a monthly PITI (principal, interest taxes, and insurance) payment (with 20% down) would have been around $276. (or, adjusted for inflation, about $421.00 in 2013 dollars)

At the current pricing, with 20% down and an interest rate more than 4 percentage points lower (Zillow’s mortgage calculator is currently quoting 3.48%), the monthly PITI would run approximately $1269. The listing reports that this unit has a monthly condo fee of $171.

At the pivotal height of the real estate bubble in 2005, this particular unit sold for $295,000. Interest rates at that time were averaging around 5.75%. At that rate, with 20% down, the monthly PITI would look more like $1632.

These numbers are approximate and are from online mortgage calculators. Taxes have been adjusted for the current DC property tax rate. Interest rates are subject to fluctuation and relate to the borrower’s overall credit picture. Different loan products (such as a lower down payment) may require additional costs, such as mortgage insurance. A good place to start if you’re thinking about buying is to have a conversation with a mortgage professional about options.

The listing agents were Edward Poutier and Stewart Coleman of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Fleur Howgill of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty represented the buyer.

1707 L Street, NW

Back in Dec. 2012 we noted another Quiznos would soon bite the dust – this one at 1707 L St, NW just off Connecticut Ave. An Italian Gourmet Deli will be taking over that space.

Photo by PoPville flickr user brunofish

You can talk about whatever is on your mind – quality of life issues, a beautiful tree you spotted, scuttlebutt, or any random questions/thoughts you may have. But please no personal attacks and no need to correct people’s grammar. This is a place to vent and/or celebrate things about daily life in DC.

Click to enlarge New Rendering via Ellis Development

From a press release:

MRP Realty and Ellis Development Group have teamed with Fundrise, a local, online platform that uses technology to create a new model for real estate investment centered on crowdsourcing, to offer the public the opportunity to invest in their next development, The Griffith, located at 965 Florida Ave, NW. The Griffith is a mixed-use development consisting of approximately 370,000 square feet, including 40,000 square feet of ground floor retail and residential units above. The Griffith title is in homage to the old Griffith Stadium that was located between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street from 1911 – 1965. The development parcel is currently being sold through the District of Columbia Deputy Mayor’s office, and MRP’s proposal has been selected to be in the best and final round.

Ground floor retail of the development will include Griffith Market, designed as an indoor farmers’ market that allows small and independent grocers, operators, and retail entrepreneurs to set up inside the building and serve the general public in a creative and affordable manner, thereby creating an urban village that is authentic to the culture of Shaw and LeDroit Park. It is intended to compliment, not diminish, the high end, large scale grocery store planned for the Howard Town Center. More importantly, Griffith Market is intended to provide food and retail options that serve the immediate neighborhoods of the community while also serving as a destination for residents throughout the City.

Ed. Note: In late April we looked at the Ellis and competing JBG proposals for 965 Florida Ave, NW. A winner has not yet been selected.

I’m curious what folks think about the proposed Griffith Market. Do you think it will work well in that location? Do you think it can serve the public in an “affordable manner”? Would you invest in something like that?

Photo by PoPville flickr user johnmcochran2012

Congrats to PoPville pick MtPGal with:

“DC’s Shadow Senator enjoys all the respect his office is afforded.”

Congrats to PoP pick linalex with:

“Um, sorry, I ate your paperwork.”

Winners please email me at princeofpetworth(at)gmail for your shirts.

“Madurai, India at the Meenakshi Amman Temple”

And per a reader’s request – please enjoy some 99 luftballons:

I’m digging the colorful row houses of 12th Place, NW:

Celebrate Memorial Day at President Lincoln’s Cottage, and enjoy the rare opportunities to take a free guided historical tour of the USSAH National Cemetery and to picnic on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home!

President Lincoln’s Cottage will host an array of activities on Memorial Day, May 27th 2013, to honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. Family-friendly activities include guided tours of the first National Cemetery, commemorative ceremonies honoring veterans at multiple locations, picnicking opportunities on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home, and tours of President Lincoln’s Cottage, the seasonal residence of the Lincoln family during the Civil War.

Registrations requested; visit www.LincolnCottage.org/MemorialDay2013 to register and learn more information. The wreath-laying ceremony, cemetery tours, and access to picnic grounds are free of charge. Regular fees apply for tours of President Lincoln’s Cottage.

Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe in DC

Thanks to all who’ve sent emails about the Dunkin Donuts coming to the former Mixt Greens space at 17th/Connecticut and K Street, NW. Sounds like the buildout is rapidly progressing.

A reader sends word (and the photo above) that the cicadas have arrived in Petworth. I haven’t seen any yet. Have others spotted them too? I guess we’ll be hearing them soon enough…