Dear PoPville

Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

“Dear PoPville,

I’m looking for a reputable HVAC company, seems the majority of them are plain crooks. I can go into details of my 23k quote replacing my existing AC unit (no labor breakdown, no alternative options, I can go on)”

Photo by PoPville flickr user John Sonderman

“Dear PoPville,

While enjoying a picnic with 3 other friends at Picnic Area 16 in Rock Creek Park on the 4th of July, I witnessed and had a disturbing interaction with U.S. Park Police. First, I watched as two officers pulled up at the picnic grounds next to ours, about 80 yards away, where a Hispanic family was peacefully enjoying the holiday afternoon. The two white officers jumped out of their SUV and immediately started rifling through the bags and coolers of the family (in front of their young children, no less). We watched quietly from our table, troubled but silent. After the officers appeared to take some items from the family and place them in their truck, they then drove quickly across the grass toward the table where we were picnicking.

The officer driving, stepped out of his truck and as he walked toward us, said, “This is my 24th 4th of July spent away from my family.” It was obvious that he intended to let us know that he was in a foul mood and that we were required to have a respectful attitude toward him if we wanted this interaction to end well. He made reference to smelling alcohol in the air (all the more unbelievable since he drove over from a distance of about 80 yards) and said that it was weird that we were drinking out of mason jars on the picnic table. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

“Dear PoPville,

I know fireworks are so yesterday, but can we talk about the increase in popularity of the explosive bomb-like fireworks this year? You know the ones I’m talking about. See attached videos. Is it just me or were there more of these than usual? My front door transom broke after one of these let off near my house. In one video you’ll see a car roll past the device 3 seconds before it explodes while another car waits ten feet from it.

There was a block party in my neighborhood where they kept lighting them off. We tried asking them to stop. The police came 3 times. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC

“Dear PoPville,

I am trying to replace the railing for my front steps and on my front porch. Most of the flips and renovations I see around town have very similar, sturdy looking metal railings, does anyone know where you can order these?”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC

“Dear PoPville,

I am looking for a clinic to receive my weekly allergy shots. I was told by my previous allergist that I could find any willing medical clinic (not necessarily an allergy clinic), but have called around to many places who say I should only be looking for allergy clinics. Do any of your readers have a go-to clinic for weekly injections? I live near 14th and Florida – am looking for a place I can walk to or take a short metro ride to.”

“Dear PoPville,

I had a discussion with a friend after receiving the tab at a restaurant for a to-go order and was wondering:

How would you tip on a to-go check if you saw a taxable $2 to-go fee? I’ve dined-in at the same establishment and received to-go containers for leftovers and was never charged. So I can only assume the fee is for the individual(s) that bag the order…therefore a tip wouldn’t really be needed?? I was conflicted and was wondering how others view to-go fees plus tipping etiquette at restaurants.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Jennifer

“Dear PoPville,

I saw a post years ago about repointing old brick walls with mortar joints that have deteriorated over time. Ed. Note: We’re still working on migrating all the old comments over, will be a few more weeks I’m afraid but they’re coming! What about the bricks themselves? I live in a 1921 row house, and the brick used on the front facade is a much higher quality, wire-cut brick that what’s in the back: sandy, crumbling brick that isn’t wire cut and “sharp.” The result is that over the years, my rear brick wall has taken a beating and has a mixture of cracks, chunks out of corners, ugly mortar joints, etc… It’s not due to any water intrusion or structural issues, just a general aesthetic concern that I’d like addressed. My question is: has anyone had this problem, and what repairs/recommendations have been made?“

Photo by PoPville flickr user kellybdc

“Dear PoPville,

As a non-rent controlled owner of a house in D.C., can I legally sign a lease with a new tenant for greater than a year? I.e. two or more years? This is a residential lease. If so, could someone please cite the statue or regulation as OTA does not know and has not been helpful in this case. Thank you!”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Jim Havard

“Dear PoPville,

I received a summons for Federal grand jury duty and will know in a few weeks if I’m on a panel. I’ve been trying to find online anything about people’s experiences being on a Federal grand jury in DC, and there isn’t much other than the government’s FAQ page and the like. The summons says this service would “generally” be one day a week for twelve months, then elsewhere says it’s twice a week for eighteen months. Either way, this is kind of a big commitment!

Would you be willing to ask your readers if any have been on a Federal grand jury in DC or at least was summoned for consideration, and if so what their experiences were like, please? I searched the archives and saw a few posts about being summoned a few years ago but not much on outcomes and experiences.”