weather

Dear PoP – Snow Shoveling Props and Shame

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I was so proud of my neighbors on 20th St, NW for shoveling this morning, I just had to take a picture. Our entire block was clear and safe this morning. But that warm and fuzzy feeling dissipated as soon as I hit Connecticut Avenue, where few shop owners bother to shovel. Some did and some didn’t, so I had to get a picture to show the contrast. City staff were busy clearing Dupont Circle, the scene of another snowball fight last night. Roads are clear, but the medians between lanes were still treacherous for pedestrians.”

Every year we have heroes and villains. If you’d like to give props or nominate businesses for shoveling shame, you can do so here.

I have to give props to two of my neighbors who fixed a downed cable wire for me this morning.

Yup, It Snowed – DC Gov’t and Schools Closed, Feds Open 2 Hrs Late but for the lucky ones Meridian Pint Open and Breakfast All Day at Kramerbooks

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Columbia Heights Climber

So what’s the verdict?  Have you guys experienced many trees down, wires down, power outages etc?

For those that have to work – how was your commute?

For those that don’t – how are you gonna take advantage of your snow day?

Following are a few emails from DC Gov’t and agencies.

From MPD:

In addition to, at least, $375 in fines for being towed from Snow Emergency Routes, Channel 4 is also reporting $100 fines for cars parked in Rush Hour Routes between the hours of 7am and 930am today and the evening Rush Hour of 4pm and 630pm.

Again: Avoid Snow Emergency Routes & Rush Hour Parking!

If your car is towed, call: 202-541-6083

Locate Towed Vehicle: here.

Snow Emergency Towing Policy:
here.

WMATA writes:

“Metrorail service will open at its usual time and Metrobuses will begin the day on snow emergency routes, with plans to return to as many neighborhood streets as possible as those roads are plowed and conditions improve to the point that it is safe to travel.”

From Meridian Pint (11th and Park Rd, NW):

“In celebration of this wonderful snow day, Meridian Pint will open at 10am with an amazing surprise line up of beers that include 15 beers over 10% and 4 beers over 9%. I know it’s irresponsible of us but c’mon, it’s a snow day in DC. We had originally been planning our opening around the Federal Governments opening/closing but when they let us down by opening 2 hours late, we decided to cut them out of the deal. Beer Director Sam has been in since 7am prepping the beer lines. WE OPEN TODAY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27 AT 10am!”

From Kramerbooks (1517 Conn. Avenue, NW):

“Thurs., Jan. 27, we will be serving these Snow Day Breakfast Specials all day:

Banana French Toast
Pan-fried Italian bread soaked in egg batter
stuffed w/sliced banana
w/scrambled eggs & hickory bacon
warmed walnut syrup; fruit compote

Café Corned Beef Hash & Eggs
Café corned beef hash crusted under the broiler
(corned beef, onions, potatoes)
topped w/2 eggs – almost any style
finished w/hollandaise; Café potatoes & fresh fruit

Café Croque Madame – A Variation
(May add jumbo lump crab meat, or add lobster meat)
shaved ham, gruyere cheese, hollandaise
on grilled Café bread; fired under the broiler
w/two eggs — almost any style
Café potatoes, fresh fruit”


Photo by PoPville flickr user ianseanlivingston

Happy Early Snow Day – Stay Safe, Have Fun!

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

If we do get a good snow and a day off tomorrow – be sure to send me (princeofpetworth (at) gmail) or upload some good snow photos to the pool.

Submit your photos to the PoPville flickr pool here. Follow PoPville on twitter here.

I’ll be sure to post/tweet if a snow emergency goes into effect (you’ll have to make sure you’re not parked on a snow emergency route!). You can find a map of snow emergency routes here.

A few recent snow related tweets:

If Fed Gov. Closed tomorrow – Meridian Pint will open at 10am!

From Taylor Gourmet Deli: “Snowmergncy Survival Kit” from Taylor Gourmet NOW! 2 hoagies, 2 chips, 2 drinks,1 fritto – for $20.11″

From Blue Banana on Georgia Ave: “Happy Hour is from 6pm – 8pm with $3 Rails and $5 Beers. Post HH will have Snow Day Shot Specials!”

And of course a snowball fight has already been scheduled for Dupont Circle tonight, Wednesday, January 26 · 8:00pm – 11:00pm. Let me know if you hear of any others tomorrow!

Unfortunately at my house it’s still raining…


Photo by PoPville flickr user Faucetini

Update: It’s now snowing…a lot.

Dear PoP – It’s Gonna Snow!

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user K’s Clicks

“Dear PoP,

I’m finding that no one but me (and the hardcore weather geeks) are talking about this yet. Six to ten inches! Squee!

from dcstorms.com:

**Major Winter Storm Will Impact Washington & Baltimore**
Wednesday: Periods of snow mixed with rain becoming a steady, heavy, wet snow during the afternoon. Morning highs near 35 falling to 30 by 2PM. Heavy wet snow accumulations of 6 to 10″. Chance of snow 100%.”

What do you guys think – is this gonna be our first real snowstorm of the year?

Dear PoP – Snow Removal Recs?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

My mid-sized condo building is looking for a reliable snow removal company. Would you mind asking the community if they have any recommendations?”

Dear PoP – Why all the Water Main Breaks Recently?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I’ve been getting a slew of ‘Alert DC’ notifications about water main breaks the past few weeks. While the weather has been getting cold, even dropping below freezing now, surely it’s not cold enough for these breaks to be caused by freezing water bursting the pipes. I’d be curious if any PoP readers know why we’re seeing all of these water main breaks.”

When I posted about a recent one in Mt. Pleasant a representative of DC Water gave an explanation:

“PoP Readers,

Across the country, a water main breaks every two minutes on average. Here in the District of Columbia, we average slightly more than one a day, but far more in the early winter months. The median age of a water main in the District is 75 years, with a good number installed during the Civil War era. As you probably know from the extensive media coverage this week, the combination of old pipes and quickly changing air temperature makes water main breaks more likely.

In the budget and rate structure approved by our Board to begin this past October, DC Water is set to replace 1 percent – or approximately 11 miles – of the District’s cast-iron water mains each year. This is not as fast as we would like, but it is triple the previous replacement rate and twice the national average. It will also mean many, many more torn-up streets than before.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

DC Building a Levee to Protect SW and SE Neighborhoods

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

From a Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton Press Release:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will make opening remarks today at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Levee Groundbreaking at 10:00 a.m. at 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, after securing $5.8 million for construction of the levee. Recently, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated its 1985 Flood Insurance Rate Map, which identifies Special Flood Hazard Areas in the District of Columbia and throughout the U.S. The map outlines potential flood zones in the SE and SW areas of the District, surrounding the U.S. Capitol and monuments, and required residents within the 100-year flood zones to obtain flood insurance, temporarily, until a portable levee is constructed in the area around 17th Street and Constitution Avenue.”

DDOT says, “District Bracing for More Storms” – Dear PoP: What will 4 Sandbags Do?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Jess J

“Dear PoP,

Anticipating today’s rain, the dept of public works was handing out sandbags last night. However, each household was limited to 4, yes FOUR sandbags…Four sandbags would do what, exactly?…!?!?!

The District Department of Public Works will once again be handing out sandbags Wednesday. D.C. residents may pick up sandbags up to four per household at its New Jersey Avenue and K Street, SE site. (The entrance is on New Jersey at I Street, SE.) The sandbags, which weigh between 40 and 50 lbs, can be picked up until 8 p.m. Residents will need to load them into their vehicles.”

Has anyone gotten the sandbags? If you only get four where should you place them for greatest effect?

From a press release:

Heavy rains caused flooding, road closures and other problems this morning, and weather forecasts are predicting more wet weather could hit the District during this evening’s rush hour. The National Weather service says heavy rainfall is possible and a flood watch remains in effect.

Residents and commuters are reminded to use caution in storm conditions. Flash floods from small creeks and streams can inundate highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots. Please do not drive through high water; turn around and find a safer route.

Flooding was the major problem reported across the region this morning. In the District, standing water forced the temporary closure of several roadways including Canal Road, which remains closed at this time between Foxhall Road and Arizona Avenue. Fortunately, only a handful of traffic signals lost power and only a few downed trees were reported. Please continue to call 311 to report storm-related damage.

For frequent updates on road conditions in the District, please follow us on Twitter @DDOTDC.

Dear PoP – rain/flooding question

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from last week’s flood in Bloomingdale

“Dear PoP,

Question for your readers: The deluge of rain lately has caused some minor flooding in our basement for the first time since we moved in a year ago. We don’t know where to start: gutters, the slope of the ground leading up to the house, the structure itself… Any tips? Any contractors or companies to recommend who could take a look?”

I learned the hard way that you always have to check and clean your gutters. Some gutter recommendations were made here.

What else should be done to prevent flooding in your basement?

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