Author: Prince Of Petworth

Columbia Heights – Highland Park Building Going from Condo to Rental! Plus lots of new dining option announced.

By Prince Of Petworth

You just can’t force the market… But very interesting news on the restaurant front. This location is at 14th and Irving right above the Columbia Heights Metro on the southwest corner. From the press release we can look forward to:

Hank’s Oyster Bar founder Jamie Leeds plans a fine-dining restaurant with an eclectic but accessible and affordable menu. Hank’s was nominated for “Best New Restaurant” in 2006 and “Best Neighborhood Restaurant” in 2007 by The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries, started in 1986 just a few miles away in Arlington, since expanded into a franchise operation covering 16 states and the District of Columbia. Nothing but great burgers and fries; voted Washingtonian magazine’s “#1 Burger” seven years in a row.

Pete’s Apizza, bringing New Haven-style “apizza” to Washington, in addition to fresh pastas, panini, soups, antipasto, salads and gelato, as well as a selection of domestic and Italian wines and beers. Fast casual service model, contemporary Tuscan-inspired décor
Potbelly Sandwich Works, offering sandwiches made to order, salads, soups, smoothies and various sweets; a popular casual dining destination with over 150 stores in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
Zinnia, a locally owned sit-down restaurant serving an exotic menu of Caribbean foods and drinks, tapas-style, in a comfortable lounge environment. Open from breakfast time through late evening cocktails; dine-in, take-out or delivery.

I am unbelievably excited about this, lots more discussion to come next week. Full press release after the jump. (more…)

Friday Question of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

Should single family town homes and single family homes be placed on the endangered species list in DC? I see all the construction going on over the city and it just makes me wonder. I see all many row homes being converted into condos. Given the height limit on new construction and the strong job market in DC coupled with natural population growth, is it possible to maintain single family homes? I’m not talking in five years but in 25 years? 50 years? Will they change the height restriction first? It just seems like the trend is to convert everything to condos or apartments…what do you think?

Furthermore, should we all buy stock in Tyvek?  It seems like they have a monopoly on new construction…

Dear PoP

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear PoP,
I live on 13th Street, at the northern edge of Columbia Heights and Petworth.  I rent a small basement apartment.  In our alley, which is shared with 11th St (there is no 12th) there has been repeated dumping of material by a contractor doing work in our alley.  The latest included a series of mattress, tires, and a 15×10 huge piece of plywood (which looks exactly like the plywood that fronts up their garage, it is very clear that the mess comes from the house across the alley)

My trash can lies on the other side of the alley.  Periodically, because of the garbagemen or people using our trashcan for their own purposes, our trashcan ends up on other places in the alley.  I had a cardboard box that was tucked behind my can, and it had my address on it.  This blew over to the mess.

DPW came through the alley, saw the huge mess, saw the box with my name on it, and gave me a $1000 fine for illegal dumping (!).  I got a fine sheet with about 5-6 photographs attached. I have a hearing scheduled (sometime in the next 2-4 months, they said), but I’m not quite sure what to do to prove my innocence and make sure that I don’t get stuck with a ridiculous fine.

Could your readers give me some advice?  Should I try to contact Councilmember Graham? (I live just inside the boundaries of Ward 1).  I love DC, but this is the sort of thing that makes me want to move out.

Frustrated

Dear Frustrated,
Absolutely fight this.  It is absurd.  I have a friend who faced a similar circumstance and  fought it successfully.  I believe should the appropriate authorities know your story they will quickly drop the charges.  There is no harm in contacting Councilman Graham but I doubt it will be necessary.  So my advice is, appeal, appeal, appeal.

You guys have any other advice?

Vinoteca, So Very Dissapointing

By Prince Of Petworth

I went to the new wine bar, Vinoteca, located next to Solly’s on 11th and U Street the other night. I am sorry to report that the experience was less than optimal. First off the decor seemed very conflicted. The lights were too bright yet they were trying to display a “classy” feel. Additionally, with a chill wine bar, why do you have ESPN playing over the bar? Don’t get me wrong, I like ESPN at Solly’s but it doesn’t work at a wine bar. Furthermore, the red tiling made the place have a bit of diner feel. On a positive note the server was very friendly despite extraordinarily long waits for the drinks to arrive. In their defense they did comp us a free round after a 20 minute wait for our last drinks. Hopefully these are just new restaurant growing pains but it was not a delightful first experience.

Close up of Mural in U Street Metro

By Prince Of Petworth

Have you ever taken a really close look at the U Street metro mural? It is freaky as hell. For many of the drawings they have inserted photos of real human body parts. In this photo you can see some freaky lips. There are also some freaky ears, etc. Check it out next time you are walking through. I don’t dig it.  You?

A Pelecanos Question

By Prince Of Petworth

I love George Pelecanos.  He writes about Petworth, Columbia Heights, and Park View with love and grit.  In his latest Drama City on page 43 he writes:  “Dealers all over the city did the same thing, [Ed. note: set up shops to launder drug money], beauty and nail parlors, variety stores, an such.  White dealers, moving cocaine, mostly, did it too, at those antique shops in Adams Morgan and at boutiques on the western edge of the new Shaw.”  I know this is a work of fiction but do you really think the antique shops in Adams Morgan are fronts for laundering money?

Care to Speculate?

By Prince Of Petworth

What is going to go in right next to the Wendy’s on Georgia Ave.? It certainly looks like a prime location…

New Forum Topics

By Prince Of Petworth

Recommend a “beautiful romantic restaurant with excellent views and a large menu with vegetarian options” for someone visiting the US for the first time.

Help someone find a “heating/cooling” guy.

Still looking for volunteer opportunities.

Someone can answer your questions about FHA loans.

Incidentally, I found this quote on the forum “Have to say, I’m really frustrated from all the calls we made to people on the Checkbook list – most were just busy, and that’s ok, but some of them didn’t want to work in Petworth. I am not pleased with that.” Have you encountered contractors unwilling to go to Petworth or Columbia Heights or where ever you live?

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