I’m not sure if this will show up properly in the photo but I have recently seen a gigantic crack in my living room wall. Advice please!
Author: Prince Of Petworth
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I have recently been contacted by a number of new folks who are moving into the neighborhood. They have requested some tips from me as well as from you guys based on our experiences. So I’ll take first crack then you the readers should post your advice that you wish you had received before moving to the neighborhood.
Back in the day I posted my top 10 reasons I love Petworth. That all still applies. First of all congratulations to you all. You have made a truly smart decision. So my advice to new Petworth residents is as follows:
1. Go to Domku and Temperance Hall. They are fantastic restaurant/bars that are wonderful additions to the neighborhood. Domku located on the 800 block of Upshur is a wonderful place to get brunch, dinner or just a cup of coffee. Domku also offers free Wifi for your internet needs. Also, it now has outdoor seating which is quite pleasant. Temperance Hall is the perfect place to get a bite to eat and a beer after work. The atmosphere is terrific and there are tons of locals who are regulars and the bartenders are the best. Temperance also has a fantastic back deck. It is located on Georgia Ave, just south of the metro, the cross street is Princeton.
2. Introduce yourself to your neighbors on the whole block. People in Petworth are among the nicest I have ever met in my ten years here in DC. It is essential that you integrate into the block. But you have to take the initiative. Don’t simply hide in your homes. Make the effort to say hello to all the new faces you encounter. 9 times out of 10 you will be greeted with kindness and ultimately friendship. The people are by far one of the biggest benefits of the neighborhood. Here in Petworth neighbors gladly and always watch each other’s backs.
3. Take advantage of our proximity to Columbia Heights and U Street. Petworth is a wonderful neighborhood but it is still developing. You are not going to find every store that you desire. Columbia Heights has the terrific Giant supermarket on Park Road. I highly recommend it. There is also a terrific coffee shop in Columbia Heights on 11th and Park aptly called Columbia Heights Coffee. Columbia Heights is also home to Wonderland Ballroom on 11th and Kenyon which is one of the greatest bars in the city with an outdoor beer garden. Of course everyone knows the Target and other development is coming to CH. So take advantage of it.
4. Realize that you are not moving to Cleveland Park or Georgetown. And for the most part that is a good thing. But there are also some negative aspects. One, which I often complain about, is the garbage. You are going to encounter garbage on the streets. This will not change. But you can do something about it. Always keep the area in front of your house clean. If it means picking up garbage every morning, then pick up garbage every morning. If many people do this we will make a dent.
5. Get to know your local ANC representative. 9 times out of 10 they are fantastic. Talk to them about your neighborhood questions and concerns. They are very responsive.
6. Crime exists but it is not as bad as the press makes it seem. Everyone has there own comfort level. You will learn yours based on your own experiences and your own walks around the neighborhood. Certain crime issues affect people differently depending upon what block they live on. There is drug dealing in Petworth. But for the most part, this will not affect you. If you see it happening call 311 and register a complaint with the police. Occasional there is violence between gangs especially in the Summer. But this usually occurs late at night. So my advice to folks is don’t walk around the neighborhood after midnight. Obviously, you all will have your own comfort level. Personally, I don’t walk home from the metro after 10 pm during the week. I know folks who don’t walk home after 8 pm but I also know folks who walk home at all hours of the night without incident. So you’ll have determine your own comfort level. But again, if you encounter issues don’t hesitate to call 311 or 911 in an emergency. By in large I think crime is a far bigger problem in Adams Morgan than it is in Petworth.
7. Plant flowers in front of your house. It adds to the overall beauty of the neighborhood and as you are working outside you’ll have more opportunities to meet your neighbors.
8. Try all the new local businesses as they open. Lots of development is coming to Petworth. We have had to new Latino restaurants open: El Limeno and El Torgoroz. Check em out, they are delicious. El Limeno is on Upshur across from another local bar called the Hitching Post across from the Old Soldiers home. El Torgoroz is around the corner from Domku. I’ll be updating you with new ones as they open.
9. Some days are better than others. Realize that some days you will encounter lots of garbage, lots of kids yelling, and maybe read about some crime. Other days, you will see beautiful flowers, talk to interesting neighbors, and have a great drink at one of the local haunts. Not every day is the same. Remember the positive and don’t stew on the negative ones.
10. Send me your tips and questions. I am constantly updating PoP and your experiences are helpful to others. So share them with me. Please. Don’t hesitate to contact me with specific questions at [email protected].
So now it is your turn. What advice do you have about living in Petworth? What have I left out? Flip it bakery? Colorado Kitchen?
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I saw this on the door of a bodega across the street from Wonderland. Well if my gun is not welcome then I’ll take my business elsewhere thank you very much.
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Welcome to another new feature here at the PoP. I’m going to feature photos of a number of new stores/businesses that are coming to the neighborhood and we are going to speculate as to what type of business is coming. Volume one features a storefront on Georgia Ave, a few stores down from Temperance Hall. The windows and doors seem to be brand new and I am encouraged by the brown paper covering the windows, which usually signals construction inside, as opposed to just being plain old boarded up. So does anyone know what is coming? Care to speculate?
Back in January we had a discussion about Kilroy Cleaners. At the time there was a split between people who were fed up with Kilroy cleaners on Upshur St. and those who wanted to continue supporting them as they are a local neighborhood business. Well, I have noticed on the Petworth Yahoo group that not much has changed. Apparently the service is still terrible. Now, I am dreading dropping off my dry cleaning. It has been since January though so that is not a bad run for avoiding the dry cleaners. Anyway, my question is: clearly their service is terrible and many people have complained, so how come nothing has changed? This, to me, seems like rule number one in running a small business, placate your customers. Didn’t they used to teach – “the customer is always right”? So what the hell is going on here? Recommendations for a good alternative dry cleaner are accepted. I think I may try the new place across from the Giant grocery store.
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Well, the sign has gone up and it looks awesome. Now it is important that when you say Pizzeria you pronounce it “Pitz-ah-ree-ah”, it has a real nice ring to it when you say it that way. I’ve sent out some feelers to my sources to find out when it will finally open but then I realized that I don’t have sources. Sorry, I’ve been drinking. Anyway, it looks great and I can’t wait to dig into that first piece of pitzah.
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This is the alley taken a week after our big clean up. It is absolutely filthy. I dare say it is dirtier now than before we cleaned it. WTF? I hope there is a special place in hell for…alright It’s not that bad but it sure pisses me off. For real, you got to be kidding me. Is there no decency left? So what do you think: Is it even worth cleaning the alley if it is just going to get super filthy within the week of cleaning it?
I can’t vouch for the music but it sounds pretty damn cool. A member of the band, Patrick, writes:
Formed in the dismal and rainy spring of 2007, Ra Ra Rasputin refuse to be bound by the conventions and parochial scene standards that have trapped so many groups in a corner. Rather than stick to one style or sound, Anna, Brock, Ken and Patrick are taking a more adventurous path. You know, a little post-punk scratchiness here, some folkie moaning there, a little Afro-Cuban funkiness and just the right hint of pop friendliness. Armed with a keen sense of style and poise, Ra Ra Rasputin hope to remind Washingtonians that seeing a band play is a novel and exciting experience.
Besides, it beats sitting around at another second rate DJ night, doesn’t it?
The Husbands are a punk-folk duo that write songs in the spirit of shoegaze and neo-psychadelic bands of yesteryear. Some similar bands are: Beat Happening, Mazzy Star, Lou Reed and the Velvets, the Primitives, Velocity Girl.
They are Haley Baptiste and Andrew Bucket. Their first E.P is called Shoes and it cost absolutely nothing to record.
MORE INFORMATION:
RA RA RASPUTIN:www.ra-ra-ra-ra.blogspot.com
THE HUSBANDS: www.myspace.com/fuckthehusbands
WONDERLAND: www.myspace.com/thewonderlandballroom
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Welcome to a new feature from PoP. Neat neighborhood finds will feature some less popular, and some lesser known neighborhood stores. Volume One is proud to feature Mom and Pop Antiques located on the corner of Otis and Georgia Ave. This is a fantastic store that looks a lot like a deranged person’s house or at the very least someone with a very serious obsessive compulsive disorder. It is jam packed with every conceivable tshotke. As you can see from the photo, my favorite is the Cutty Sark lamp. They have everything from mirrors, to chairs, to cabinets, to records to you name it. It is fantastic and certainly worth checking out. If you have a neighborhood find that you think should be featured please email me at [email protected].
Great news from Wayan over at Metroblogging. Wayan, has seen a stop work order at the monstrosity going up at New Hampshire and Upshur. Good eye Wayan.