Dear PoPville

Photo by PoPville flickr user Katie Yaeger Rotramel

“Dear PoPville,

Back in the day, the end all be all to sublets and roommate findings was Craigslist. In fact I’ve met some of my best friends as Craigslist strangers turned roommates. I now own, and periodically offer my guest room for rent (long term). But it seems people are migrating away from Craigslist and the multiplicity of options means it’s harder to aggregate searches and adverts.

With Craigslist becoming ever sketchier, and app based housing sites ever more popular, I’m curious what are considered reputable and popular sites for people to find informal housing. I.e roommates and sublets.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

“Dear PoPville,

I contacted someone based on a Craigslist ad for an apartment, and after some emails, learned the apartment is not ready to show till late April. The agent asked for some information about myself (occupation, age, why looking to move, whether current landlord would serve as a reference, etc) and when I provided it, he wrote back the following:

“Your move in date of May 1st is fine, however, due to rush and high demands for apartments, i will advise that you put a hold-on (reserve) the unit and take it off the market now. (more…)

“Dear PoPville,

I have a super sweet golden retriever that is severely mild-mannered and truly an angel. Everyone who meets him asks if he is a therapy dog. I am writing to see if this community knows any resources or groups that might be in search of a therapy dog. It could be in someone’s residence, an elderly home, someone who has a kid learning to read and can read to my dog (I hear this is helpful to build confidence), someone with a chronic illness living at home. He is not licensed so I am almost positive I can’t bring him to hospitals. I am looking into getting him licensed but this is more of a casual ask to see who might benefit with time with the pup. He has a healing presence and I would be happy to share him for a few hours a week if it would be helpful to anyone.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe Flood

“Dear PoPville,

I’ve noticed something strange using Bluetooth headphones on the Mall, and was wondering if you had heard of or experienced anything similar.

On the North side of the Mall, starting infront of the Natural History Museum and lasting to the National Gallery of Art, my Bluetooth headphones experience interference and my Spotify app skips. I use my Bluetooth headphones and the Spotify app regularly and for long periods of time, and only experience this strange interference effect on that stretch of the Mall. (more…)