photo by jdcdc
I was searching around flickr to see if anyone had posted some neat Petworth pictures when I came across this photo taken at the old soldier’s home national cemetary on Memorial Day by “jdcdc”.
Whatever our feelings are on the war we should remember those who are making the real sacrifices.
Remember those unarmed delivery men that were shot by the Prince George’s police officer while they were just doing their job? Read the horrifying update from Marc Fisher.
Now is your chance to tell the Metropolitan Police Department if they are doing a good job. The Washington Post has a small article on the survey and you can take it here. The survey asks you to agree or disagree with 20 statements. By far my favorite statement is:
16. The Police Keep Their Vehicles Clean
Closely followed by:
13. The Police dress appropriately while on Duty.
Anyway, take the survey to let them know how you think they are serving Petworth.
once said the great Homer Simpson. Well the Post gives us an update for Ward 4 on the sales of single beers in its district briefing:
“A bill that would ban the sale of single cans and bottles of beer in parts of Northwest Washington got new life yesterday.”
Apparently a federal appellate panel ruled in favor of the DC government against two businesses wishing to sell single beers. The bill was passed by the councilman Fenty in 2004 but never took effect because of the court case, reports Elissa Silverman of the Washington Post.
The ban should affect 73 liquor stores in Ward 4. It is not clear to me when it will be applied. I say the sooner the better!
The envelopes have arrived. Is it good news or bad news? Well the Prince of Petworth has the homestead deduction so it doesn’t really change things too much. That’s right, the 2008 property assesments are in! And they went up although not as insanely as in past years. According to the Washington Post today District assessments for Petworth went up 16.72% from 2007. I thought the market has cooled, no? At least we are not Brentwood which saw a 46.60% increase from 2007. So how did everyone make out?
I sometimes live vicariously through Columbia Heights. Columbia Heights News reports they are getting an upscale wine shop and a fed ex/kinkos. I found this out reading the great food blog metrocurean. The wine store will be called d’vines and will feature over 1000 varieties. Sweet. You can pick up some wine on your way to the bed and breakfast in Petworth! My prediction was pretty damn close.
Good luck. Although it used to be a lot worse. I remember some years ago when I would get into a cab in Adams Morgan and tell them that I was going to Petworth and they would actually laugh at me. Things have gotten much better now. There was a time when cab drivers were terrified of Petworth. Even if they hadn’t driven there before, they told me that Petworth was a “wild west” and they wouldn’t go there. I would usually curl into the fetal position and refuse to exit the cab until they took me. I was stunned at the time and it was quite a pain in the ass having to beg cab drivers for a ride home. I have to say it has gotten a lot better today. Not only do cab drivers not laugh anymore they usually know exactly how to get to my house without any directions. Progress, slowly, slowly but progress indeed.
Now if we could just catch a cab from Petworth…
[Ed. note: disclaimer, I realize not all cab drivers behaved this way, I realize I am generalizing, but for the most part based on my personal experiences it used to be a real pain in the ass catching a cab to Petworth and it is nearly impossible to catch one from Petworth.]
I’m sorry to write about films for just a second but I feel obligated. The Departed was an entertaining film but it reminded me of a film from the late 80s early 90s called “State of Grace” starring Sean Penn. Also a a neighborhood gangster flic about the gangsters being infiltrated by undercover cop of their own. So check out State of Grace. One of the greatest films of this genre of all time. I can’t believe none of the movie buffs have made this comparison before. Kudos to Scorcese but State of Grace is far superior.
This is a problem. I’m sorry to air our dirty laundry. But this is a real problem. In Petworth, I have learned that people are able to park their cars anywhere they like. I know this is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but it really pisses me off. This double parking is common along New Hampshire Ave outside Sweet Mango cafe and the little bodega nearby, outside Upshur street and really anytime some of our regal residents want to run into a store. Now correct me if I’m wrong but I was brought up that when you want to run into a store even for just five minutes you park your car in a legal spot. Is that just a New York thing? No, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen people park legally in California too. Now that I think about it, people also park legally in Cleveland Park right here in DC. So what makes us so special in Petworth that we think we can double park in rush hour on a major road just because we need to get a soda? What is this freaking sense of entitlement and where does it come from? It is such a blatant disrepect that it shocks me everytime. I don’t dare honk because, well… I’ve already documented my cowardice. But, I’ll tell you what, I think very bad thoughts about those drivers. I think I’m begining to place too much faith in karma.
Ward 4 candidate Muriel Bowser was going door to door in Petworth. I said hello and she remembered our interview, which shocked me. I’ve got to say she was very friendly. Well, I’m not really sure where I am going with this. Sometimes when you type things you realize that they are not actually all that interesting.