Support

New Series: Ask Me Anything. Vol. 1 “What is a typical day like for you?”

dan silverman
Photo by Hugh Clarke

Ed. Note: If you have a personal question you’ve been dying to ask me – fire away! You can ask in the comments (which I’ll go back to and pull from) or just send an email with your question to [email protected] with “Ask me Anything” in the title.

“Dear PoPville,

I always wonder what a typical day is like for you.

-Do you plan your walkabouts in advance? With a map?

-When you go on walkabouts, do you bike to a starting location or just start walking from wherever you are?

-Do you ride your own bike or are you a bikeshare member?

-What kind of camera do you use and do you ever feel strange photographing someone’s house? (especially the close-ups)?

-When was the last time you held a typical “day job”?”

So, a misconception that some folks have is that I do a big walkabout every day. I wish my friends, I wish. Back in the day, I did go on more mini walkabouts during the week but I’m actually in front of the computer far more often than some realize. These days I have day care drop offs and pick ups and when I’ve completed them I am usually at the computer non-stop from 9am-3pm. During that time I pre-load posts through the whole day as well as that evening’s posts. I will then juggle posts around as breaking news/interesting reader notes/tips come through. Then I usually do the dishes from last night that I’ve left sitting in the sink. Then I’ll crack a beer. Usually a delicious delicious Dogfish Head 60 minute or an RAR Nanticoke Nectar. If I just want a lager I’ll have a Devil’s Backbone Gold Leaf Lager or a Bikini Blonde Lager from Maui brewing. But I digress

Big walkabouts are actually only once a week. But they are big. They range from 10-12 miles on the low end to 16-18 miles on the high end. I’ve had some 20+ mile days but they are rare and they hurt. I do not use a map. I usually have some points of interest that I want to check out like a restaurant opening or a some reader tips. I’ll then zig zag my way around to hit them all. As I’m zig zagging I usually remember spots that I need to check up on. So I do that every week for months and months at a time before a restaurant opens. Fortunately I love walking just for the sake of walking.

A common walkabout for me is – Van Ness to Cleveland Park to Adams Morgan to Dupont Circle to Downtown to Chinatown to H Street, NE and then I’ll take a metro home. Or I’ll go through the park to Crestwood or Petworth and go all the way down Georgia to U Street to Shaw to NoMa. Or I’ll start through Georgetown and zig zag my way downtown and east. When I plan my walkabouts I like to mix up what neighborhoods I’ve most recently been to ie if I haven’t been to H Street, NE, Capitol Hill or Navy Yard in a while I’ll make sure that happens. I’ll soon throw SW Waterfront into that mix as the massive Wharf development progresses.

I used to go to more events during the week but like I said that is harder and harder to do with young children’s schedules. But I do try to go to some from time to time. For example, I went to the Colada Shop’s opening the other week. When I do go to an event like that, I usually walk there and take photos along the way.

I was an original bikeshare member – I even have the original red t-shirts they gave out as a perk. But then after a couple years I let the membership lapse after I bought my own bike. While I do enjoy riding when the weather is nice, I don’t like riding a bike for the blog because I miss out on all the little details I love so much, like stained glass, a cool tree etc. When my hips or knees totally shit the bed I may get an electric bike one day.

As for cameras, I use a Canon G15 after my Canon G11 died on me. But I am strongly considering just switching to an iphone camera if I ever upgrade my phone because the quality has improved so much. I don’t feel strange photographing houses for houses of the day because 99/100 I am posting those photos in a complimentary way. I genuinely love something about the houses of the day I post. Of course there have been a few occasions when owners have come out and asked me “what the fuck am I doing?”, more or less, and I explain myself. These days most people are familiar with Prince of Petworth/PoPville and they just laugh. In 10+ years, I’ve only had 1 person ask me not to post the photo.

The last time I held a day job was September 2009. I was a consultant doing work for Homeland Security. Since then it’s just been Dingo (my cat) and me. I don’t work in an office share space so there are plenty of pros and cons to working alone. To work without any colleagues coming on 8 years can drive you crazy from time to time, make no mistake, especially if dealing with trolls. But in the end I still love it. And now you’ve inspired me to go take a walk.

So for those who haven’t been bored to tears – if you have a question you’ve always been wondering about it – have at it.

-Dan Silverman: Citizen of the District of Columbia

Recent Stories

509 7th Street, NW Earlier this month we broke the news that District Chophouse abruptly closed after 25 years. And now we know who’s taking over the space. The liquor…

Thanks to G. for sending. Insomnia Cookies will join a Van Leeuwen’s Ice Cream also coming soon to Union Station. Stay tuned.

3910 14th Street, NW “Dear PoPville, Anejo at 14th and Randolph now has a window doing breakfast tacos and burritos. I ordered the platanitos and bacon tacos and they were…

This week’s question is inspired by Ryan, who wrote: “I knew Yellow was popular but not wait in a line 20 deep popular” There’s always lines at La Tejena in…

Calling all bookworms, thrill-seekers, supporters of the arts, and ping-pongers at all skill levels! Sign up for Paddlestar Galactica, the ping-pong tournament supporting 826DC’s youth writing programs.

826DC is a local nonprofit that offers free writing programs, homework help, and publishing opportunities for DC students ages 6-18, in our Columbia Heights writing center and in learning spaces across the city.

Paddlestar Galactica helps keep writing education 100% free and accessible for all of our students! It’s also extremely fun.

This year’s games will be Saturday, April 27th, 1 PM to 4 PM at SPIN DC. It’ll be a chaotic afternoon of ping-pong, costumes, terrible Battlestar Galactica puns, and good cheer. We’d love to have you join us!

Read More

Submit your own Announcement here.

Well-Paid Maids, the only certified living-wage cleaning service in the DMV, has added a new service to its online booking menu: office and building cleanings.

This includes offices, building lobbies, shared amenity spaces and more throughout D.C., Arlington, Alexandria and more.

Unlike so many other cleaning services, you can feel good booking Well-Paid Maids to clean your office or building. Cleaners get paid a starting wage of $24 an hour. Plus, all employees are offered health, dental, vision and life insurance; 24 paid days off per year; 100% employer-paid commuting costs; and more.

Read More

Submit your own Announcement here.

Vakili Band at Pie Shop!

Three band rock n rolll lineup at DC’s Pie Shop! Vakili Band with “if you know, you know” DC rockers, Lot 18, and the many minds and songs of artist Kind of Christine.

“If you love Vakili Band like we

×

Subscribe to our mailing list