Dear PoPville

$6.99 – Going Rate or Ripoff?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

The other day I stopped by Union Kitchen Grocery near 3rd and F St NE. I usually stop here for some local products and home essentials. It’s convenient and they offer some great products. I noticed they now offer pizza alongside their sandwiches, so I ordered a regular wild mushroom pizza for $6.99. I assumed it was a personal size pizza given the size of the box, but when I arrived home and opened the box I could not believe what I received. A seemingly microwaved pizza smaller than my hand with 3-4 small pieces of mushroom. Capitol Hill folks beware!”


“Does D.C. Recycle?!”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Kate Conradt

“Dear PoPville,

This week the trash truck came down our street today in Park View and clearly emptied both the trash and recycling bins into the same trash truck. When they went around the corner I got a video of it – as I didn’t want to ask/confront them about it in front of my house for obvious reasons.

My neigbor and I were/are both bummed about it, as we are avid recyclers. Some people do not recycle because they think that it all ends up getting mixed up and thrown away anyhow. I know that happened years ago and the city caught heat for it, but I figured they had it all sorted (pun intended) by now. (more…)

“Does anyone have suggestions for middle eastern catering at a reasonable price?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

“Dear PoPville,

My coworker’s retirement party is coming up next week and my office hoped to get several trays of middle eastern appetizers catered (hummus and pita, grape leaves, fettoosh, falafel, etc. — nothing too fancy). We estimate we’ll have between 100-150 guests and about $300 (possibly a little more) to spend on food.

Unfortunately, the place we hoped to get these trays from claims it’ll be $10-$15 per person. Which is ridiculous — we aren’t looking for a full meal, just some afternoon bites.

Does anyone have suggestions for middle eastern catering at a reasonable price?”

Plumber Recommendations?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user hipchickindc

“Dear PoPville,

I was hoping to ask for general recs for a plumber. The shower head in my guest bathroom (where there is no faucet, water just goes straight to the shower head) quit working. It worked fine and then when I had a guess in town about a month after the last use it wasn’t working. Water just dribbles out. Any recommendations?”

“I don’t see anything that indicates they’re closed, but I guess at this point I have to assume that they are? Does anybody else have any intel?”

By Prince Of Petworth


25 Florida Ave, NW via Fiddleheads

“Dear PoPville,

Got a query I’m hoping someone else knows something about!

I’ve been getting my hair cut at a Fiddleheads, which specializes in curly hair, for about a year now. I’ve been calling them for over a week now to try to schedule an appointment, but nobody answers and the phone now goes to a prerecorded message saying something like ‘Welcome to your Verizon mailbox…’ (more…)

“She seems to be blowing me off.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Maryland Route 5

“Dear PoPville,

“I have attempted to work with a neighbor on several occasions over the period of six weeks to get a time that is convenient for her to allow me about twenty minutes of access to her property to parge a small portion of a brick wall (part of my house) that is only accessible through her property. I’ve spoken to her, tried texting (her suggestion not mine), attempted to call and also stop by in person. (more…)

“I’m really intrigued by the idea of buying a mixed use property – rent to a business below, and live upstairs.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Josh

“Dear PoPville,

I’m slowly saving up a down payment to buy my first property. I really do not want to buy a condo, so will probably be looking for a small rowhouse. However I’m also really intrigued by the idea of buying a mixed use property – rent to a business below, and live upstairs. But I know nobody who has done a similar thing and that this is a small pool of properties within DC. I would love to hear from folks who have bought/own/manage mixed use properties.“

“DC Parks and Rec appears to have moved out of their space in the 1300 block of S Street, Now What?”

By Prince Of Petworth


1300 block of Street, NW

“Dear PoPville,

DC Parks and Rec appears to have moved out of their space in the 1300 block of S Street. I’m concerned about what happens next with this space. I recall Studio Theatre and other local businesses have pushed for a parking structure in the past. Of course, it’s a great space to develop, but at what cost to the existing traffic and neighbors? A large building would completely block sun from all of the yards along T St and 13th.

Any intel on what the city plans to do? And what kind of input can neighbors have?”

Another reader passes on some scuttlebutt from a group email: (more…)

“if we leave our cars in spaces will they be towed?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I received the attached letter in the mail this week about the alley improvement project hitting my alley this week.

I live 2 blocks from both Nats Park and Audi Field and both of those stadiums have events during the time covered. When Bowser announced that the State of Emergency yesterday I remembered the letter said “weather dependent” and I called DDOT to confirm no work would be done due to that state of emergency.

The woman I encountered was rude and unhelpful. I won’t post her name here, but she basically said “The letter said weather permitting, so if you had read it you would know the answer and wouldn’t have to call.” (more…)

“Seems the scammers are out trying to get in their scams in before the hurricane.”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Seems the scammers are out trying to get in their scams in before the hurricane. We got a knock at the door last night from three people posing as PEPCO workers asking to see our bill to see if we are “running at green efficiency,” which may be the new “there seems to be excessive charges in your neighborhood” method of scamming information. (more…)

View More Stories