Author: PoP Sponsor (a)

When you manage a business you deal with your fair share of unexpected callouts and short-staffed shifts. You’ve probably even filled in and covered shifts yourself (a.k.a. the last thing you ever want to do).

That’s where Snag Work comes in. It’s a service that connects D.C. businesses (DCity Smokehouse, Ivy & Coney, Das Ethiopian, Avila Catering and much more!) with quality on-demand workers, while helping the DMV’s underemployed pick up the shifts they need to supplement their incomes.

With Snag Work you get instant access to fully vetted workers who fill shifts and get your schedule back on track. Everything’s covered from background checks and recruiting to workers’ comp and liability insurance. Simply post your shift and get back to business — we’ll handle the rest.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Shift Posted — We share your shifts with our network of trained workers.
2. Shift Filled — The average shift is filled within minutes.
3. Shift Covered — We handle everything — including worker pay.

Snag Work is powering restaurant, retail and hospitality businesses throughout D.C. It’s time to for you to get back to business and join the growing network of companies who are filling their shifts with Snag Work.

Previous Image 1/10 Next Image

Lydian + Lyric, beautiful sister residences located at 4th and K Streets NW in the heart of Downtown D.C., welcome three new high-end merchants to their ground floor:

• la BETTY is a new concept in comfort food from the owners of Georgetown’s legendary Baked & Wired café and Mount Vernon Triangle’s A Baked Joint.
• Joe & The Juice is an anything-but-ordinary juice bar and coffee shop that also serves up healthy lunch bites.
• Varnish Lane is a DC-based luxury nail care destination specializing in waterless nail treatments.

These merchants join A Baked Joint, a large and airy café known for its gourmet coffee and handcrafted breads and BicycleSPACE, a community-oriented bike shop.

In this convenient, walkable neighborhood, it only takes minutes to get anywhere you want to go — from major employment hubs to quaint boutiques. Also in easy walking distance are NoMa, the 14th Street Corridor, Shaw and Chinatown, as well as two Metro Stations. And access to 395 is just two blocks away.

All-new Lydian is now leasing — and quickly.

Besides its premier location, residents love its stylish studio to two-bedroom units with floor-to-ceiling windows and designer kitchens, its thoughtful amenity spaces including rooftop retreat with resort-style pool, state-of-the-art fitness center with Peloton bikes and WellBeats virtual trainer and its convenient services such as a 24/7 concierge, gated underground parking, bike storage and pet walking.

For more information about Lydian + Lyric, visit here or contact the leasing team at 202-777-0740. Developed by Quadrangle Development and The Wilkes Company.

This column is written by Metro DC Houses, a local real estate team serving DC, MD, VA made up of Colin Johnson, the immediate past President for the D.C. Association of Realtors and Christopher Suranna, the current President for the D.C. Association of Realtors.

One of my favorite books growing up is Shel Silverstein’s book “Where the Sidewalk Ends” and it’s iconic front cover of kids looking under this thin ledge only to find that much of the ground is already gone.

I have been noticing for years the softening of the rental market especially in Class B type units B (typically slightly lower quality and less amenities). This was especially evident when I had a client tell me that government-reimbursed programs were compensating him more than what he could get on the open market. This piece in Bloomberg highlights how Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Portland and D.C. market rent rates have cooled.

Rental markets are hard to track in my opinion because landlords don’t routinely market through consistent mediums. Not all rentals are on Zillow, Craigslist nor the regional Multiple Listing Service (MLS); where MLS tends to have more than 90% of sales.

Rental markets are driven by supply and affordability. If consumers have more to choose from, they will feel empowered to negotiate or look for less expensive units. If the “rent is too damn high,” people will not be able to qualify or simply cannot afford to pay the rent.

We looked at a few neighborhoods to see if the rental market is down and since when. We exported every transaction that was recorded in the MLS since January 1, 2009 for one and two bedroom rentals in zip codes that roughly correspond to neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, the Connecticut Avenue corridor, Petworth, Anacostia and Dupont Circle.

Rental prices for 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units show a gradual increase from 2009 through 2017 in all of the zip codes that we looked at. So far, in 2018 the increase in rent prices across the city has experienced a slowdown for 1-bedroom units, while 2-bedroom rents are still rising.

(more…)

By Criminal Defense Attorney Seth Okin of Price Benowitz LLP

A decision by a U.S. District Judge has led the company that pioneered the 3-D printable, single-use handgun to begin distributing plans for those weapons to “paying customers” under a pay-what-you-want offering of the plans.

The company, known as Defense Distributed, claims to have already received 400 orders for the plans, which for the time being will be mailed to purchasers on USB thumb drives.

Earlier in August, it was revealed that the U.S. State Department had settled a lawsuit with the company that would have allowed the company to offer the plans on its website for download, free of charge.

However, lawsuits filed by numerous state attorney generals and gun control advocacy groups led to the issuance of an injunction by the district judge, which halted Defense Distributed’s posting of the plans online. It did, however, allow for other types of transmission — leading to the company’s decision to offer plans for sale.

“The State of Maryland is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit in question, which is not surprising considering the state’s approach to guns and gun crimes,” said Seth Okin, a Maryland Gun Crimes Attorney with the law firm of Price Benowitz, LLP.

Gun crimes in Maryland are taken very seriously, and there are many laws regulating their use and possession. The new frontier of 3-D printed weapons, however, opens up the possibility that any individual, regardless of age, motivation, criminal history or mental health issues, with access to a 3-D printer will be able to obtain a handgun without subjecting themselves to Maryland’s laws on handgun purchases.

Individuals who possess these firearms without the proper documentation will undoubtedly face prosecution under the laws that prohibit ownership of handguns without a permit.

However, because 3-D printed weapons do not have serial numbers, it will be nearly impossible to trace the handgun to the source issuer, if the person in possession obtained it from someone else.

The dangers of 3-D printed handguns are apparent, as they create an unregulated access point for individuals who would otherwise be denied the right to possess handguns. It does not mean, however, that you cannot be prosecuted for unlawful possession of one of these weapons.

If you have downloaded plans for printing one of these weapons and intend to do so, contact a Maryland Gun Crimes Attorney to be sure that you do avoid creating legal jeopardy for yourself.

Previous Image 1/6 Next Image

At The Bower, you’ll never run out of things to do and explore. Eclectic dining, live music, nights at the ball game, vibrant community events — it’s all here at The Yards, waiting to welcome you home.

Dine at local hot spots including Chloe, District Winery and Osteria Morini. Shop local favorites from Steadfast Supply to Willow and stock up on the essentials at Harris Teeter located just one block away from The Bower.

With a buzzing nightlife, a humming social scene, outdoor concerts, the riverfront and more — it’s a city within a city, a world within a world and, for those buying a condo in D.C., it’s the place to find everything you need.

From studios and one-bedroom condos all the way up to penthouses, The Bower offers a variety of layouts to suit your lifestyle. These thoughtfully designed condos feature 9′ ceilings, wide-plank hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling glass, Bosch electric appliances and Italian cabinetry.

The Bower includes inviting community spaces from a rooftop residents’ lounge and terrace with wet bar and wine storage to a fitness studio. With the ideal mix of energy, convenience, and style, The Bower is the perfect transition from the energy of The Yards to the peace of home.

With over 50% of residences sold at The Bower. Now is your opportunity to call The yards home. To learn more visit thebowerdc.com or call 202-869-5233.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/285487202

Get ready for Uptown Main Street’s first walking food tour, featuring more than a dozen restaurants from Upper 14th Street and Kennedy Street NW.

This event is in a unique neighborhood that boasts independent businesses with authentic cuisines from around the world — perfect for food lovers!

Taste of Uptown is taking place on September 26 from 4-10 p.m.

For only $20, participants can visit five participating restaurants for food or drink samples, while soaking up the last days of outdoor drinking, catching up with neighborhood bartenders and meeting new friends.

For the adventurous foodie you can gain an all access pass for $40 or if time is not on your side enjoy one taste for $5. While attendees are encouraged to purchase their tasting passes in advance, you can register the day of by visiting a check in station (denoted with a * below).

How This Works

Pick up your tasting pass at one of our five conveniently located check in stations, head to a participating restaurant for your taste and enjoy your food or drink before heading to the next restaurant!

Getting Around
Get around by one of four free pedicabs reserved for the event. The corridor is also well-serviced by Capital Bikeshare, has ample bike parking and numerous bus stops. Guests are also invited to work off some calories by walking the corridor!

Participating Restaurants:

• Andrene’s Soul Food & Caribbean Café
• ANXO Cidery & Tasting Room*
• Cheesemonster (a new cheese studio coming to Kennedy Street)
• Highlands Café*
• Jackie Lee’s*
• JJ’s Restaurant
• Las Placitas Restaurant
• Little Coco’s
• Little Havana
• Lyman’s Tavern*
• Mezcalero Cocina Mexicana
• Moreland’s Tavern*
• Red Derby
• Salt & Pepper Grill
• Soup Up

Supports a Great Cause

All ticket sales support Uptown Main Street; a group that helps our small and local businesses community thrive. Learn more about this organization on Facebook and be sure to purchase your tasting pass on Eventbrite or at the 14th & Kennedy Street Market or Petworth Community Market this Saturday!

By Criminal Defense Attorney Kush Arora of Price Benowitz LLP

The opioid epidemic continues to ravage the United States, and Maryland has been hit particularly hard. Research recently released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 812 of Maryland’s 1,821 deaths in 2016 were a result of a prescription opioid overdose — representing nearly 50 percent of all deaths.

With this spike in drug usage comes a focus from law enforcement on combating the presence of these drugs that are available for sale illegally, and with an increased focus comes a higher likelihood that an individual will be charged with possession of a controlled substance.

“The severity of punishment for possession of certain drugs depends upon what classification schedule that drug is listed on,” said Kush Arora, a Maryland Drug Crimes Attorney with the law firm of Price Benowitz, LLP.

With the dramatic increase in the availability of prescription opioids on the street, it falls to law enforcement to properly classify the drugs found in a person’s possession. Improper classification can lead to incorrectly charging an individual with a drug that is a much higher level of crime than is correct.

In a scenario where you are charged with possession of a controlled substance, it is incredibly important that your rights are protected. A Maryland Drug Crimes Attorney can make sure of the following:

• That your Fourth Amendment right to be free of illegal searches and seizures has not been violated. Many people incorrectly believe that law enforcement can conduct searches however they please. In order for the search of an individual’s person (body, clothes, and bags) to be legal, the police officer must have probable cause to believe that the person has committed a crime. If an officer is unable to show that they had probable cause to conduct the search, the evidence seized may be inadmissible.
• That the drugs found in your possession have been properly classified. All drugs are not equal in the eyes of the law. If an officer arrests you and charges you with possession of a Schedule I substance when you actually were in possession of a Schedule III substance, you could be facing an additional 16 years in prison.
• That the prosecution meets its burden in proving that a crime was committed. Being arrested and charged does not mean that law enforcement has satisfied its requirements for a conviction. On the contrary, the prosecutor handling the case still must be able to prove that the elements of the crime in question — possession — are present. Failure to do so means a conviction is not possible.

The opioid epidemic is a danger to anyone who uses controlled substances in a manner other than as prescribed. However, it does not mean that the rule of law should be abandoned. Everyone has rights that should be protected, and a Maryland Drug Crimes Attorney can do just that.

Happy Monday! The following is a list of featured events for the upcoming week, as submitted to our event calendar.

The Punk Rock Type w/ Roman Mars and Beauty Pill
Friday, September 14 from 6-9 p.m.
The Howard Theatre, 620 T Street NW

Join a live conversation with Roman Mars (of 99% Invisible and Radiotopia) and Bill Barbot (formerly of DC bands Jawbox and Burning Airlines and owner of local creative agency Threespot) as they discuss DC punk’s mission and history, and how its voice is relevant more than ever.

Stick around after the talk to listen to one of DC’s coolest bands and newest sounds, Beauty Pill.