Author: Prince Of Petworth

Post’s Answerman Solves The Mystery of the Garden We Looked at on Florida Ave, NW just west of 16th Street

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to a reader for sending the Post’s Answerman column that answers the same question a reader sent in a few weeks ago.

The Answerman writes:

“Dr. Johnson died in 1941, a year after the Washington House apartments were built where his garden had been. His house is now the embassy of Angola. All that remains of his garden are four crumbling columns. Why were they left untouched? That wall might be attached to the rowhouse at 1618 Florida Ave., making it more trouble than it’s worth to remove.”

Read the full article and see a photo of the spot back in the day here.

No Freaking Way – Chia Obama!?!?!

By Prince Of Petworth

Maybe I’ve been under a rock and everyone’s already heard about this (as the youtube clip above is 6 months old). But I was watching tv tonight and this commercial came on and I kept expecting it to turn into a Sat. Night Live or something like that. Sadly, this is apparently for real. You can see the Web site where it’s for sale here. Is this the most ridiculous, absurd, f’d up thing you’ve ever seen?

Another Giraffe

By Prince Of Petworth

There was a great giraffe that I’ve posted before from 1st Street, NW and one off 16th Street, NW but I can’t seem to find them at the moment. Anyway, I have to add this one is from Capitol Hill to the collection.

House of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

Here’s a interesting rowhouse in Bloomingdale. There’s a similar one on T Street, NW if memory serves. Truth be told, I think I like the traditional ones a bit better.

New Consignment Store, POSH, Set to Open October 24, 2009

By Prince Of Petworth

POSH, will be opening above Ansonia Wines at 1828 18th Street, NW on the second floor on Oct. 24th pending a couple more inspections.  I inadvertantly gave the wrong location when I first learned of their imminent arrival so I wanted to make sure folks new it will be located at 1828 18th Street, NW.  I’ll be sure to post photos soon.  Still no word on when Ansonia Wines will be opening…

Weekend News – Metro Delays and An Opportunity to get Sweet Halloween Costumes

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user Bogotron

Columbus Day/Weekend Metro Track Work

The Waterfront-SEU and Archives-Navy Mem’l-Penn Quarter Metrorail stations will be closed, and the Green Line also will be closed at the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station from 10:30 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 9, through Monday, Oct. 12, with no service at these stations for three consecutive days. The Blue and Orange Line at the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station will not be affected. Service will resume at all Metrorail stations on Tuesday, Oct. 13

The Green Line will be closed between the Navy Yard and Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail stations. The Waterfront-SEU and Archives-Navy Mem’l-Penn Quarter Metrorail stations will be closed. There will be no Green Line service at the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station.

The Green Line will operate in two segments — between the Branch Avenue and Navy Yard Metrorail stations and between the Greenbelt and Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail stations.

On Friday, Oct. 9, from 10:30 p.m. through closing (3 a.m.), the Yellow Line will operate between the Huntington and Pentagon Metrorail stations. However, from Saturday, Oct. 10 to Monday, Oct. 12, the Yellow Line will be rerouted and will run between the Huntington and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations.

From Saturday, Oct. 10, to Monday, Oct. 12, all Green and Yellow Line trains will operate every 12 to 15 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes after 9:30 p.m.

Get Your Halloween Costumes Sunday

The Shakespeare Theatre is having a costume sale (with some props).

This Sunday 1-6

Sydney Harman Hall

610 F Street NW

http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/details.aspx?id=197&source=l

Dear PoP – Controversy around the City Council rejecting the confirmation of Dr. Ximena Hartsock as Director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from DC DPR biography

“Dear PoP,

I noticed you hadn’t mentioned the latest controversy around the City Council rejecting the confirmation of Dr. Ximena Hartsock as Director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. Many are decrying this action of the Council to be a slight against Mayor Fenty and not Dr. Hartsock, who has worked tirelessly to improve DPR’s services during the summer.. She was appointed by the Mayor in late April during the peak of the busy summer season and an outstanding job by most accounts, including many of the Councilmembers who voted against her (see Washington Post editorial on vote here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/06/AR2009100603070.html).

During her confirmation hearing, she was subjected to extremely harsh treatment from Councilmembers Harry Thomas, Jr. and Marion Barry that included several sexist remarks suggesting she would not be able to understand sports administration as a female and was told by Barry that she could not “understand black and brown culture” of DC, particularly in Ward 7 and 8 because she is a Latina. They also suggested that she was unfit because she has no qualifying experience in recreation (see Washington Post editorial on the hearing here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/05/AR2009100503182.html).

Many folks are outraged by this because Dr. Hartsock has been a dedicated public servant to this city for 15 years. She served as a Parent Coordinator, Assistant Principal and Principal at DCPS and went on to lead the DCPS Office of Out-of-School Time (managing all of the after-school, Saturday, and summer programs for DCPS) as a key member of Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s transition team.

I could go on and on about her as could the many residents and CBO leaders who voiced their support for her on Friday, but I would love it if you could post something about this travesty to see if others feel the same way. I think the comments about DC culture are especially damaging to the progression of this city.”

Has anyone followed this controversy? Do you support the Council’s decision in this case?

Dear PoP – Post Reports on Brookland Development Plans

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: This is one of my favorite homes in Brookland… But this is exciting news!

Thanks to a reader for send this Post article – Abdo Sets Sights on Revival in Brookland:

“Abdo’s plan includes a public square and clock tower that would be similar to piazzas in Europe with cobblestones, cafes and restaurants; an arts walk that would provide artists’ work space; an arts building that would offer room for recitals and artists’ demonstrations; and a college main street that would be filled with eclectic mom-and-pop shops.”

Sounds awesome, yeah? Read the full story here.

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