1100 block of 16th Street, NW
Thanks to a reader for sending:
“DC Council is also looking to adopt the Durbin bill, which renames a street near the Russian Ambassador’s residence after Alexei Navalny.”
Stay tuned for a possible more permanent sign…
Reuben Jackson via Alan Squire Publishing
Thanks to Katie for sharing the super sad news about Reuben Jackson’s recent passing earlier this month.
On a personal note I have to say that this news has hit my very hard. Most people don’t know this but Reuben was a reader, supporter and occasional contributor to PoPville from the very early Prince of Petworth days. And when I say supporter I mean Reuben gave me strength in the very early days when I was filled with doubts. Reuben always gave me words of encouragement and urged me to keep doing what I was doing. Simply, Reuben was the best. He reached out to me after the pandemic to say hi, and I said hi. But I wish I had said so much more. Don’t we always. I’ll say it now – thank you Reuben. Thank you for your words, your voice and your friendship. You will be missed.
About Reuben’s words. Here’s what he wrote to us back in 2009:
“I am not sure I would call these “haiku”. In fact, I would not. They are 17 syllable “poems” looking at a side of this city (Washington, DC) which increasingly nags at me (to say the least). I am trying to do something with the very “Southern” aspects of life here-aspects which so-called home rule (etc.) has not changed. Finally, they are the -ahem-ahem- “musings” of a middle aged black man trying to come to grips with the tension, changes, what have you in what my Mom accurately dubbed a “big-small Southern town”.
I.
Spanish music plays
in buildings where James Brown ruled
Throbbing stereos.
II.
Followed in bookstores
Mocked by gangsta wannabees
Where do I fit in?
III.
Why would you leave here?
A childhood friend inquired
Through a toothless smile.
IV.
Men I’ve known since birth
Baby sit ragged corners
Under served by life.
V.
Girl with Whole Foods bag
Receives suspicious glances
“She must think she white.!”
VI.
Disdainful glances
Hurled at a new white neighbor.
Soon there will be more.
VII.
Parents left me here.
Is it too late to get out?
Dream on the down-low.
VIII.
Politicians flock
Like self important peacocks.
Shopping mall- at last!
IX.
Take a crosstown bus
If you dream of salad bars
And sit-down cafes.”
Katie and felow poets say that “his Trayvon Martin poem, For Trayvon Martin, is one of his best”: Read More
1800 Rhode Island Ave, NE
Thanks to Aaron for sharing:
“Ronnie, the proprietor of Ronnie’s Transmission on Rhode Island Ave NE, DC, recently passed away. A skilled technician and a cornerstone of the neighborhood for decades, Ronnie not only excelled in his small business but also served as a repository of local oral history and a trusted friend to neighbors for decades.
Ronnie’s impact on me and everyone fortunate enough to have crossed paths with him was immense. Working tirelessly in his namesake small business, he was not just a skilled technician underneath his hydraulic lift or inside one of his interior garages; he was a cornerstone of the neighborhood on US Route 1. In his front office, Ronnie thrived professionally and also served as a carrier of local oral history and a trusted friend to the NE D.C. community for decades.
Almost every day, except for his one day off on Sundays, Ronnie would take notice of friends and neighbors passing by. Read More
Super sad news from Capitol Hill Books:
“We are sad to share that Jim Toole, owner of Capitol Hill Books from 1995 – 2018, has passed away.
Jim, AKA The Admiral, was still an active employee of Capitol Hill Books & will be dearly missed. He was one of a kind.” Read More
Remembering Iraj Askarinam in Adams Morgan: Read More
From The White House last night:
“The White House is lit up blue and white tonight as a symbol of the United States’ enduring support and solidarity with the people of Israel in the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas.”
And locally, statements from Mayor Bowser and AG Schwalb: Read More
The memorial is on Sheridan Circle near Embassy Row and Massachusetts Ave, NW. From Wikipedia:
“On September 21, 1976, Orlando Letelier and Ronni Karpen Moffitt were killed by a car bomb in the circle. Letelier had been foreign minister in the ousted Allende government of Chile. Read More
Ed. Note: You can also find a GoFundMe for District Dogs flood survivors here.
A reader sends from the 1700 block of Kilbourne Place, NW. I almost positive we had a post on this many years ago but I can’t seem to find it (do you remember that? Textdoc?) Read More
Matteo Catalani
“Dear PoPville,
We are organizing a special event to honor the memory of our beloved friend, Matteo Catalani.
On August 13, 2023, we will be holding an informal memorial service at Retrobottega (2435 18th Street, NW), starting at 9:00pm. This occasion marks the first anniversary of Matteo’s passing, and it serves as an opportunity for all those who knew and loved him to come together, reminisce, and celebrate his life. Read More
