Dear PoPville

“BEWARE the ‘I’m-from-Dubai-and-need-gas-money’ scam”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Andrew Pasko-Reader

“Dear PoPville,

I was walking my dog on the 5800 block of Colorado Ave when a speeding car pulled over quickly to a stop near me. My spider senses tingled because you just don’t pull up to someone like that…unless you know the person or it’s a beat down. The car was a silver Maxima with NY license plates. There were four occupants inside: male driver (~30 years old), male passenger (~35 years old), two teen aged girls in the back. All looked to be of Middle Eastern descent. Here’s what went down.

MALE PASSENGER: Excuse me brother.
ME: [Silent]
MP: Assalam-alaikum brother. How are you?
ME: Hey.
MP: Please come here brother.
ME: [Hesitantly walk up to the car]
MP: Brother, I’m from Dubai where are you from? (more…)

“I was attacked by my roommate, who lunged at me three times and finally hitting me on the third time.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mark Andre

“Dear PoPville,

I was attacked by my roommate, who lunged at me three times and finally hitting me on the third time. She shoved me, knocking me on top of a glass framed painting, which cut my arm. She continued attacking me, punching me in my face. I kicked her off of me as an act of self defense. A third party who was present, acted as a mediator, separating us and pulling her off of me to do so. The third party was finally able to pull her off of me and block her. She grabbed a bottle and tried to attack me again, at which point I went to my bedroom and locked the door. (more…)

“After 16 years in DC, today I truly feel like a Washingtonian.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Erinn Shirley

“Dear PoPville,

Same scam, different day. I was approached by the “$20 for two $10s” scammer today in the Pret on Farragut Square. Thanks to all of the previous posts on PoPville, I was ready for him and refused his offer. In a way, I feel like this is a rite of passage. After 16 years in DC, today I truly feel like a Washingtonian.”

“At the end of the meal, we asked for a doggy bag but were refused.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user laurabl

“Dear PoPville,

Got back from happy hour with a friend at Thai Chef on Connecticut Avenue in Dupont. We were pretty hungry when we first got there, so we ordered way too much sushi. At the end of the meal, we asked for a doggy bag but were refused. “Oh, we can’t during happy hour.” We were flabbergasted. Is that legal?! Has anyone heard of other restaurants doing this? My friend ended up wrapping the rest of the sushi in napkins from her purse, and we left after paying, a sour taste in our mouths.”

“Looking for a bar or an event space (like a party hall where we can bring in booze/food) for a birthday party.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley

“Dear PoPville,

Looking for a bar (where we can guarantee a reasonable bar tab) or an event space (like a party hall where we can bring in booze/food) for a birthday party. A place that would hold up to 75 people, where we can set up a DJ/Karaoke, put up some decorations, and just have a good time. Do people have suggestions on bars or event venues that won’t break the bank in DC?”

“How many people can legally live in one home?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Peter Hershey

“Dear PoPville,

We live in a nice neighborhood where rent is high. All our neighbors in our house (rowhome) are responsible professionals. Our neighbors have around 10 people living in one house and they are constantly having outrageous parties that go till 5 am with screaming people outside and the house is literally shaking from the music.

We have tried to talk to them repeatedly and they don’t stop. (more…)

Thoughts on Living in a “Rental house with an owner-occupied unit in the basement?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Jim Havard

“Dear PoPville,

I have rented out my 4-5 bedroom house to families for the last decade. It is in a very sought-after neighborhood. Since I am an absentee landlord, I mostly staying with friends when I spend time in DC. But I am getting tired of being a guest and am considering converting about half of my house’s large english basement into a small unit that I could occupy when I am in town a few months a year. It has a separate entrance and I would figure out a way to separate utilities or work out a cost-sharing deal with the tenants. The house is solidly built and I doubt they would ever be aware of me, and vice-versa. I have no interest in annoying or snooping on my tenants! I am curious if your readers would find such an arrangement acceptable if the house otherwise were what they are looking for and the price were right?“

“A stranger on the Metro AirDropped a photo to me”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

“Dear PoPville,

Yesterday afternoon I was riding the Red Line from Takoma to Dupont Circle. I was reading a book on my iPhone, which is what I typically do on the Metro, when suddenly an unknown image appeared on my screen and a message asked if I wanted to accept the image from someone I didn’t know. I believe this was the AirDrop functionality that I had recently enabled to send some photos to a friend and forgot to turn off. (more…)

View More Stories