Dear PoPville – How much does a rolling garage door cost?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ewilfong

“Dear PoPville,

I’m looking for a way to secure my back yard off the alley and also provide access for my car. I see many makes and models online with auto openers for around $1000, but when I’ve contacted people locally, they’re quoting me $5,000. Can anyone make suggestions for affordable but sturdy models and local installers?”

Back in March ’11 we talked about the legality of rolling garage doors. For those who’ve had them installed recently – how much did it cost?

Dear PoPville – Should My Landlord Pay For Hotel or offer other Compensation During Renovations?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoPville:

Due to an ongoing rodent problem in my apartment (in a converted rowhouse in Logan), my landlord is proposing to completely redo our kitchen. This will supposedly seal all the cracks and holes where the mice and rats are getting into the house, and give me a new kitchen to boot. The landlord is also repairing or replacing the roof, which leaks and has caused water damage in the walls. All told, he estimates that there will be about two weeks of work outside and two to three weeks of work inside the house.

The landlord is currently asking for our thoughts on moving forward with the project, including scheduling. Obviously I want to deal with the rodent problem, and a full reno of the kitchen seems like the best way to accomplish this. However, I’m not looking forward to losing my kitchen for several weeks, nor the possibility of having to move out of the apartment. My question to the commentariat is: what should I ask the landlord for in compensation, if anything? I think that if we have to move into a hotel room for any period of time, he should cover that cost. Should we also ask for a rent abatement for the time that the kitchen is unusable? If our rent is close to $2000 a month, how much should we ask for?

Thanks!”

Good Deal or Not? “Bianco Giallo granite” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1018 W St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Look no further! Beautifully remodeled row house steps to U Street! Gourmet Kitchen w/ Bianco Giallo granite and stainless appliances. Two master suites w/ designer bathrooms. Front-loading w/ d on 2nd floor. Eco-friendly bamboo flooring throughout, new windows, private backyard patio and deck. 3 blocks to metro, shops, restaurants and U St. nightlife – city living at its best!”

You can find more info here and photos here.

$599,900 sound right for this 2 bed/2.5 bath?

Dear PoPville – Advice for Treating Pets at the End of Their Life

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Laura_Grageda

“Dear PoPville,

I know this is a bleak topic, but I have a question for the PoP community concerning “end of life” services for pets. I have a dog that’s getting up there in years and while hopefully she’ll be with us for a long time to come, I like to be prepared. Firstly, does anyone know of/ recommend a local veterinarian who makes house calls for euthanization? I found out that the one I had been going to doesn’t and for the sake of continuity of care as well as comfort for my pet I’d like to start going to one that will. Secondly and on the same dreary note, does anyone have any recommendations for cremation services? I’ve dealt with some awful places in the past and don’t want to have to go through that again.
Thank you.”

Gelato Coming to the Corner of Potomac and Pennsylvania Ave, SE (Previously Planned for Annie and Teddy’s)

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in March ’11 we learned that Annie and Teddy’s was no longer coming to the corner of Potomac and Pennsylvania Ave, SE (by the Potomac Ave metro.) I’m happy to finally be able to share news that space has been leased. It is going to become a Gelato shop. I don’t have many details yet but I know the plans are ambitious and will likely include more options that just Gelato eventually. But in the meantime – Gelato is on the way.

I have an email into the owners and hope to share more details soon. For those that live nearby – do you like the addition of a Gelato spot here? I believe if all goes well they hope to open in September.


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Dear PoPville – Paint Stripping old Veneered Doors, Success!

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

OP here, from What Do You Use to Remove Paint?

Some initial results to report. See photos.

Turns out the doors are veneered. Who knew? Heat gun very useful for paint goop stuck in crevices. And for all the areas that the stripper missed. Little wood carving tool, steel brush, and chisel worked well. Clean up with Denatured Alcohol and rags at the end works well. Overall effort way more than $100 to use local dipper shop downtown. Wondering though if the lye dip would have screwed up the veneer. Ah well, on to the next one.”


If anyone else has some home improvement/renovation projects you’d be willing to share – please send some photos (before and after if possible) with a brief description including cost if possible to princeofpetworth(at)gmail

The Pig – New Restaurant from Eatwell DC Group – Coming to 1320 14t St NW in Logan Circle

By Prince Of Petworth

From an Eatwell DC press release:

“Eatwell DC;s David Winer announced the lease for a new restaurant was signed yesterday.

The Pig—located at 1320 14t St NW

The pig will be a pork centric, “Nose to Tail” and “Farm to Table” restaurant, showcasing Eatwell DC’s own farm in La Plata MD, EatWell Natural Farm, and local pork producers, Dorsey Meats in Woodsboro, MD. We will also feature craft cocktails, American Beers and Wines from eco-conscious producers as well as small batch bourbons.

The Pig will be a cozy Logan Circle neighborhood place (2800 s/f), 72 seats and 15 barstools, chef driven operation, that will evoke the feel of old abattoir. “The Pig will be a neighborhood priced, neighborhood driven restaurant,” Eatwell’s president David Winer says. “Our want, goal and desire is serving our neighborhood and surrounding areas with ethically treated and natural products—all local and farm fresh.”

The operators will be David Winer, Josh Hahn, Antonio Oquendo, Andrew Howells and Billy McCormick, Exec Chef, the partners in EatWell DC, owners of Logan Tavern, Grillfish, Commissary and The Heights.

The Pig will initially serve Sat & Sun Brunch as well as Dinner 7 nights a week with lunch to be added eventually.

The Pig is expected to open in early spring of 2012.”

Sweet!!! This is the former Rollin Cycles space that started getting renovated in Sept. ’10.

Random Reader Rant and/or Revel

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour

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. I’ll open this thread every morning at 10am.

Ed. Note: As I mentioned earlier I’m not going to tolerate people insulting each other in the comments. Debate obviously includes many different perspectives and opinions. Certainly, at times, some topics will get rather heated. But you can make your point without calling somebody an asshole, idiot, moron, jerk, douche and worse. So just to be very clear – whenever I catch it – those comments will be deleted immediately. It’s nothing personal. I’m going to attempt to return the comment space into a bit more of a civil place. This is the first step.

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