Dear PoPville

Photo of Pulse Index by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, currently at the Hirshhorn Museum, by PoPville flickr user John Goucher

“Dear PoPville,

My family is coming into town for Thanksgiving and I’m looking for a fun thing to do with everyone on Friday. There are six of us, my sister and her boyfriend and my parents. My parents are older and don’t walk very well. We don’t want to spend a ton of time in the car (meaning driving out to VA or MD). Any activities you could recommend for that Friday in DC?”

Also Kirby is looking for a list of taverns serving Thanksgiving night if anyone has any recs?

“Dear PoPville,

This banner is on the Douglas Development building at Massachusetts and 2nd. I live in the neighborhood and I’m incensed to see it. Would love to see how other readers feel about it.”

So – also incensed? Or just an ad?

Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

“Dear PoPville,

Where do people get their Christmas trees and what do they like about their favorite places? Quality of tree? Price? Convenience?

For a number of years we’ve been quite pleased with getting ours really close to home at Old City Farm. We started getting our tree from them back when they were on 9th & O St. (or maybe P St, can’t quite recall) and have continued since they moved to 9th & Rhode Island.

Over these many years we’ve only gotten one or at most two not so great trees from them and living in Bloomingdale you can’t beat the convenience.

But over the last couple of years it seems their prices have gone up a bit and last year for a 8-9 foot Fraser fir tree we spent something like $120. We’d rather not do that again.

I know you can get cheaper trees at Home Depot. But that’s also not quite for us. Who has a go-to place that they swear by for trees? We’d love to find a place that is less than $10/foot in the city but still high quality tree. Or if there is a can’t miss experience not too far outside the city where the price point makes the drive worth it, we’d be willing to do that too. Bonus points for a vendor that starts selling on Thanksgiving weekend.”

Photo of ‘1100 H Street NE Washington DC, 1988’ by the always awesome Michael Horsley

“Dear PoPville,

I’m curious if people have cleaning services to recommend? I live in Capitol Hill (if that matters) and looking for good but affordable cleaners for a one bedroom apartment.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

“Dear PoPville,

I have your garden variety DC rowhouse. I’ve had my front porch and steps painted 3 times over the past 6 years, only to end up with the same peeling, flaking, looks like hell result after only a few months. Yes, I made sure they were using PORCH paint, and yes, they sanded dodgy areas to ensure an even surface. As I ride around the area and observe other front porches and steps, it seems that this issue is a common theme. The only porches that seem to be intact are homes with for sale signs in front so of course they have been freshly painted. Has ANYONE found a certain paint, technique or a contractor they have had longstanding success with? Your input is greatly appreciated!”

via google maps

“Dear PoPville,

It’s a long shot, but I figure it’s worth a try in case someone saw it and has more details about the car.

This morning at 9:45 my husband was turning left from E St NE onto 2nd St NE at a four way stop. When he had almost completed his turn, he felt something hit the rear of his car. When he looked in his rearview mirror, he realized a DC government car had run the stop sign and hit him. It was a white Honda Civic with the DC flag on the door. My husband did not get the license plate. When my husband pulled over, the driver passed him and then sped away. The driver turned right onto Massachusetts and started going through Columbus Circle. My husband tried to follow him for a few blocks but could not catch him. We filed a police report but don’t expect much to come of it without a license plate number.

It’s disappointing that a city employee would be involved in a hit and run in a city vehicle and probably get away with it.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

“Dear PoPville,

I live in a new apartment building in NE. I moved in shortly after the building was opened and was lucky enough to snag a unit that is on the 5th floor with a unbeatable view. Unfortunately, the building’s construction leaves much to be desired and you can hear everything from the apartment above you. About 2 or 3 months ago my upstairs neighbor (who are on the top floor) starting uh…excessively engaging in adult activities.

Trust me, I’m not a prude and really could care less about this person’s sex life, except their bed is right above my bed. AND their mattress, bed frame and box spring sounds like they could have been George Washingtons. Very very creaky and extremely loud. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Miki Jourdan

“Dear PoPville,

What to do with a lost wallet? I thought the correct thing was to take it to the police, but they told me otherwise.

I found a wallet leaving the DC United game last week and immediately tried to take it to police officer. He told me he “doesn’t work in this district” and refused to take it.

There wasn’t a state ID in the wallet, but I was able to find the person on social media and send them a message. Again, I thought the right thing to do was to ask them to identify it, and they started questioning whether I had the wallet and told me to take it to the police. (more…)

“Dear PoPville,

I will preface this post by says I am fully aware that on the list of issues that D.C. needs to address, this likely comes in dead last. Still, I have a gripe that I hope can be addressed…

Nearly 15 months ago, Shaw flooded. As a result of heavy rainfall, several properties on 8th Street NW had runoff water breach their space, including Washington Project for the Arts, Typecase Industries, Foundry Gallery, and the Atlantic Plumbing apartment building. Some of these buildings received damage — the entire lobby floor in the Atlantic Plumbing building had to be replaced. An unfortunate event for all affected. I understand how one would want to take precautions after experiencing something like this, which is why I was not surprised to see that WPA, Typecase, and Foundry laid sandbags in front of their properties soon thereafter after in anticipation of another storm.

Since being placed, however, they have not been moved. (more…)