February’s book was ‘The Gargoyle’ by Andrew Davidson. We chose the read for its romantic nature, and really, who doesn’t love a little love in February?!? The Gargoyle tells the story of a man at the height of his not-so-moral life who loses it all in a sudden car crash. From the first chapter, you get sucked into the story, following the man though his graphic burn treatments, to the vivid tales that his new friend, a psych ward beauty and stone carver extraordinaire, shares with him about their past life together. The book club gave ‘The Gargoyle’ 4 out of 5 frogs. Pick it up next time you’re at your local library…you won’t be disappointed!
Our next book is a work by Irish dramatist Martin McDonagh, titled ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Other Plays’. It’s sure to be a great read, so grab it, and enjoy it with a pint, then be sure to join us for our next meetings in March- Monday 3/2 at 7:00pm at the Red Derby, and Monday 3/23 at 7:00pm at the Petworth Library.
Final note – We previously read ‘The Watchmen’ with the intention of getting together for dinner and a movie when it came out in theatres, which will be the first weekend of March. We will be setting a time and date for our PoPville Book Club field trip at our next Red Derby meeting (3/2, 7:00pm) so be there!
Ed. Note: The following was written by Robyn. I’d also like to make this the FQoTD – Do you take advantage of restaurant week? If so, how are your experiences? Any restaurants you’d recommend that really do it right?
First course: Caramelized Gnocchi. Followed by Crab Cakes with house-made tartar sauce. And for desert: Dark Chocolate Soufflé. All enjoyed in a mod, architecturally-lit main room at a fine dining establishment frequented by DC political powerhouses and socialites alike. Sounds exquisite, right? Well not if the gnocchi came out cold, you have to eat around the shells in the crab cakes, and it’s all washed down with a glass of mediocre chardonnay – just one because your lethargic waiter never notices your empty glass to ask for a refill. Welcome to DC Restaurant Week, a week of lunch and dinner specials that lures you in with enticing bargains at fine dining establishments….then chews you up and spits you out feeling unsatisfied with a lighter wallet. For someone who’s admittedly gullible, Restaurant Week gets me every time. Lunch is just over 20 dollars, dinner just over 35 – a steal when most restaurants can charge double that 50 weeks out of the year. So twice annually, I pack my week with at least two Famous Chef restaurants, one Pretentious place, one C-List Celebrity Visited Here During Inauguration, and at least one who claims that Obama has visited or expressed interest in visiting (however mildly). A flurry of texts are exchanged (HAVE ONE SPOT OPEN CEIBA 8PM HEAR BRAISED PORK GOOD) and I look forward to a week of very good eats at places I couldn’t normally afford. Except for the most part, the service and the ambiance is…well, bad. And as a self-confessed Ruby Tuesday fan, I don’t expect much.
Because I’m younger, I don’t own Gucci heels (actually I don’t own a single pair of heels – I think 5 foot 9 is tall enough), and I tend to have a my wide-eyed why-are-there-so-many-forks nature, it’s obvious that I’m there for the specials. Due to this, I feel subject to what I call Restaurant Week Discrimination (RWD). It’s that rushed, indifferent demeanor of the wait staff, the unapologetic plate auctioning (Who got the scallops? Anyone? No one? Sigh…), and the general mechanical nature of the staff as they quite visibly just want to get over catering to us common folk. Sometimes I want to play the part, put on my best Southern twang and exclaim “Oh mah gawd Bernie! Sayz here they serve thar tuna rawr! It ain’t cooked!”
Except I don’t have a friend named Bernie. Any Bernie’s out there want to be my friend?
I get it. It’s a week that attracts us 5-figured salary types and I shouldn’t expect to be treated as royalty. But Restaurants, can you at least humor me? You don’t have to treat me as if I was the First Lady, but maybe like one of her aides? Now I won’t name names, except the most extreme exception to RWD (Rasika), but in general, I’m not a fan.
Now if you excuse me I have reservations at a place where apparently Obama will be taking Malia for her report card. Or so I’ve been told. I said I was gullible.
Any Restaurant Weekers feel my pain? Or want to add to it? Bernie, you out there?
Of course, as with all scuttlebutt, the following is not 100% confirmed. This comes from a very trusted source and I’m going to standby my record of previous scuttlebutt that has turned out to be true. Ok, you ready?
The folks behind the highly successful restaurant/bar, Marvin, located on 14th Street just north of U, are planing to open up another spot. In Petworth!!! I wasn’t able to confirm the exact location but suffice it to say it will be near the metro (not in the Park Place building above the metro). But likely on Georgia Avenue.
Given that this is still in the scuttlebutt phase I don’t want to get too excited but I’ll say I’m super optimistic about the prospects. Now, I know some folks are going to say that it is too expensive. And believe me, I’m an aspiring full time blogger that will surely be eating a lot of ramen noodles when it opens but I still think this is a phenomenal addition to Petworth. If you told me a place like this would open up on Georgia Ave in Petworth 5 years ago, I would’ve looked at you like you were absolutely crazy. Now, it makes perfect sense to me. This is going to be a great sit down dining option and bar that will surely signal Georgia Ave’s return to greatness. Ok, great, now I’m crying. Tears of joy but still…
Update: I can now say the location is 3815 Georgia Avenue, NW.
In real life, hipchickindc is licensed as a real estate broker in the District of Columbia and Virginia, and as a real estate salesperson in Maryland. Unless specifically noted, neither she nor the company that she is affiliated with represented any of the parties or were directly involved in the transaction reported below. Unless otherwise noted, the source of information is Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS), which is the local multiple listing system. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Before I go into the specifics of this sale, I wanted to mention that this property was listed by Connie Maffin, with Coldwell Banker, and was probably her last sale. Connie passed away on the 16th of February 2009 and is mourned by the many people whose lives she touched. She was Past President of the Washington DC Association of REALTORS (WDCAR), WDCAR’s 2007 REALTOR of the Year, and Chairperson of the Real Estate Board of the District of Columbia. Connie was a member of the Committee of 100, the city’s oldest planning organization and citizens’ lobby, a member of Lambda Alpha, an international land economics society, a longtime member and officer of the Logan Circle Community Association, and served as a trustee of the DC Preservation League.
Featured Property: 1417 Swann St NW
General PoP reader commentary applauded the block (although the Gingko Tree issue was noted). Readers had mixed views on the benefit of the home having been built as recently as 1989, and many felt that the property was too small to justify the price.
The results show that the location called for a settled sales price over $700,000., Gingko Trees notwithstanding.
Original List Price: $789,500.
List Price at Contract: $735,500.
List Date: 08/15/2008
Days on Market: 143
Settled Sales Price: $735,000.
Settlement Date: 02/17/2009
Seller Subsidy: $17,050.
Bank Owned?: No
Recent Purchase and Re-Sale: No. Last reported transaction was in 1995 for $233,500.
I knew this week’s entries were going to be tough to chose from. It was so tough I have to pick a winner with a couple of honorable mentions. Please email me directly so I can get you PoP t-shirts.
Winner from KB:
“… and on the drums, Chief Red Eagle!”
Honorable mention from Sully:
“Did you hear the one about the Indian, the Grim Reaper, Mary, Jesus, St. Michael, John the Baptist, Queen Elizabeth, and Charlie Chaplin?”
Honorable mention from mtpopfan:
“I know their methods are unorthodox…but they’re the best damn super hero team this city’s got!”
Props, of course, go to Som Records on 14th Street.
Ed. Note: Som Records is an advertiser on PoP. The selection of album cover of the week is in no way influenced by their advertising. I simply love their selection of album covers. As always reader submitted album covers are not only accepted they are encouraged.
This one is located at the 1400 block of Rhode Island Ave, NW. This one is a bit different from the others in that it only has one curb cut. Do you like this example any better than the past ones?
Here is the one from Mt. Pleasant. (Incidentally, I think someone mentioned earlier in the week that one of them is for sale. If someone can find the sales listing I’d appreciate it.)
