“Dear PoPville,
This car in the picture has been parked on our block for over two weeks now. It has never moved and has out of state plates (I looked under the cover).
This morning I saw a parking officer and asked if she could check it out and see if they have a visitors permit or another legal reason to park there. She told me that they are not allowed to remove or lift up car covers for legal reasons… (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user StreetsofWashington
“Dear PoPville,
My wife and I are in the market for an auto upgrade. For various reasons, I’ve never considered leasing a car before. Historically it seems like the less wise financial choice, plus we don’t care all that much about having the latest and greatest. BUT, given the state of flux and rapid change of auto technology (hybrid, electric, autonomus), getting something newer for only a few years without committing through ownership has some new appeal. My question is, is it nuts to lease a car in DC assuming that we’ll be parking it in our alley driveway and on city streets here and there? Can we expect hundreds or thousands of dollars in extra fees for all the miscellaneous dents, dings and scratches that come with urban car ownership? Are the dealers in the area more lenient or is there special insurance for an auto lease?”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Brian Mosley
“Dear PoPville,
I’m wondering if anyone has recs for good garage door companies in the the area that are a reasonable price. What has a new door with a new opener cost people? Has anyone used Pop’s Garage Doors?” Ed. Note: No affiliation.
Photo by PoPville flickr user Erinn Shirley
“Dear PoPville,
I’ve got a crowd source question. There’s an older black gentlemen that I’ve seen a half dozen times sitting in the middle of the lower level of the l’enfant plaza metro station. He’s always working away creating absolutley incredible black and white scetches on a large surface (please forgive my complete lack of knowledge about art related terminology). I have seen small photos of the subject (usually pets or people) in the corner that he uses to create the beautiful sketch. I can only assume he’s down there soliciting from metro riders and creating a custom works of art for a fee.
I’ve been looking for him for a while and found him in his usual spot today, but he had drawn a large crowd and I was in a rush to get home and walk the dog. I did see him hand a business card to a kid so I’m hoping someone out there has his contact information. I’d love to commission a picture or two so if anyone knows how to make that happen without spending all day scouring metro stations I’d really appreciate it! His stuff looks so good I’ve gotten goosebumps looking at somebody else’s dog!”
Thanks to all who messaged us via email, twitter and facebook starting around 5pm yesterday:
Video from Navy Yard, sent by Nick
“They ran over a woman’s dog at 14/P. Just kept driving and disobeying traffic laws. What’s up with this legally? Does the city just shrug their shoulders over it? Highly dangerous. I saw two cop cars trailing them but it’s not like that would stop much.”
Video from Bloomingdale, sent by Matt
“Rhode Island Ave NW at North Capitol Street heading towards Logan Circle. There were at least 100 quads and dirt bikes shooting all around traffic, driving on the wrong side of the street and cutting people off, weaving in and out. Most wearing masks.” (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe Flood
“Dear PoPville,
My fiancé and I are getting married on 10/27 at Carnegie Institue and we are having a hell of a time finding a day of coordinator for our wedding. We are super organized and have most everything already panned out, we are just needing someone to help keep things running smooth the day of. Any recommendations?”
Photo by PoPville flickr user brunofish
“Dear PoPville,
All I wanted was a new front door. Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated. Just a door Home Depot has in stock installed in my DC home.
But here I am, 4 months after taking a seat at their Doors and Windows “service” desk , and I still don’t have a door. What I do have is a story of the worst customer service I have experienced in my 40+ years on the planet. It goes like this:
Pick out a door in the Rhode Island Ave store. Easy. Found one in stock
Wait half 45 minutes to see a Doors and Windows “specialist.” Spend twenty minutes going through details, like brass vs nickel, left hanging, etc for the door I picked out. I point to it again on the display wall.
Wait for call for measurement
Third party installer comes to do the measure.
Week goes by.
Another week goes by.
Call store. They say I haven’t picked out a door yet. I say I have. Can I just give them the SKU? No they say, I have to come into the store to do the design. Um, that’s what I thought I already did. But I want to get this done, so I go back into the store again.
Wait half 45 minutes to see a Doors and Windows “specialist.” Repeat prior experience. Spend twenty minutes going through details, like brass vs nickel, left hanging, etc for the door I picked out. I point to it again on the display wall. The door is hanging just above the “service desk.”
Week goes by. I finally get a call. Can I come in and pick out a door, they ask? I said I’ve already done that, and give the name of the store specialist I spoke with the last time I was in.
Week goes by.
I call.
I email.
I call again. On hold for half hour. Finally I speak to store manager. He says I’ll get a call back. I don’t. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC
“Dear PoPville,
I’m looking to have a very basic living will drawn up. Nothing fancy. I don’t have faith in the online DIY programs, so a suggestion to use one of those is a nonstarter for me. I don’t want to spend a ton of money on it. I’m hoping to keep the whole thing under $500.
Does anyone out there in PoPville have any suggestions for a decent wills & trusts attorney in DC? FWIW, I’ve asked friends for recommendations, and none of them have such documents.”
In addition to recommendations I’d also be curious to know what types of wills folks have? Health, finances, online life?
Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin
“Dear PoPville,
Our yard is quickly becoming Amazonian (minus the spiders of unusual size) (I hope), and we need someone to do some hacking back and help get it under control. It’s mostly out of control weed trees and encroaching vines, although our azaleas need some pruning and shaping as well. We’re in North Cleveland Park. Any recommendations from the PoPvillagers?”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Elvert Barnes
“Dear PoPville,
I am looking for recommendations for quality furniture repair shops. I have a leather rocking chair that is in need of some tlc. A part of the wooden support structure cracked which led to one of the rockers coming loose. I would love to get some recommendations from the community on good repair shops, preferably in the District. Any help is appreciated, thanks!”