Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1
“Dear PoPville,
I’m wondering if those who have had visitors in town over the 4th could help with suggestions for fun things to do? There will be three kids and two adults with us. We’re planning to hit the museums and monuments, and we’d love to see the fireworks but not get caught in the mayhem. Any suggestions from PoPville?”
And for those watching fireworks (either neighborhood ones or the official ones) where will you watch them from?
Every time there is a big sporting event, I get emails and we see comments lamenting the District’s sports bar scene. So I’d like to ask a few questions for today. First, why do you think it seems that DC doesn’t have any good sports bars? Is DC more of a place where bars happen to show sports rather than proper sports bars? For you, what are the elements that make up an awesome sports bar? Where is your favorite bar to watch sports in DC? Favorite one to watch your home team? Favorite one to watch big events like World Cup, NBA Finals, World Series etc.?
Back in the day, I always had a good time at Mister Days in the alley off 19th Street between L and M. I can’t believe how long ago that was, closed back in Jan. 2001. What do you think comes closest to Mister Days today? [A sorta no frills, no pretensions, decent enough food, decent enough beer options and prices, a place where big groups of friends could meet up – basically a regular sports bar with tons of tvs and tons of passionate sports fans.] Rhino Bar in Georgetown? But, I hate the fact they are the “home” to so many non DC teams, though I recognize that almost all DC sports bars are also “home” to non DC teams. I guess it’d be interesting to note how many people in PoPville support DC teams vs other teams. Hell, let’s poll it:
Earlier in the week The Daily Meal released their 2013 list of 101 best food trucks in America. They explain their methodology here. DC trucks that made the list were:
#78 Rito Loco
#72 DC Slices
#66 Red Hook Lobster Pound
#45 Pepe Food Truck
#32 Basil Thyme
#3 Fojol Brothers
So it’s been a couple years since we looked at our favorite trucks and lots of new ones have hit the streets since then. So I’m curious what are your favorites for 2013? (If possible please include roughly how expensive a meal at your favorite costs.) Anyone have a favorite that is no longer on the road in 2013?
Frederick Douglass Museum & Caring Hall of Fame – 320 A Street, NE
A reader sends in this one:
My parents are visiting in October, and we’re looking to expand from the normal tourist-y things. I showed my mom the post on the Hillwood Estate, and she’s really excited to check it out. Do you (or my fellow PoPville denizens) have any other suggestions? We like things that are off the beaten path, and I’m looking forward to seeing new parts of DC.
We looked at some favorite museums back in 2010. And in 2011 we looked at some favorite off the beaten track activities. So for today which museums and/or off the beaten track activities would be most fun for visiting parents?
Photo by PoPville flickr user caroline.angelo
Dear PoPville,
We’re young newlyweds buried with work but looking to meet new friends in the city. What would be great venues or events to do it?
Memorial Day Weekend brings us officially into grilling season. Admittedly I am a rank amateur when it comes to grilling so I thought it’d be a fun Friday question of the day – what are your favorite meals to grill? If possible and you have them, please include a recipe or just a basic description of how to do it properly. Also, I’m curious about what folks like to grill besides hamburgers and hotdogs – what’s your favorite non traditional item to grill?
Click to enlarge New Rendering via Ellis Development
From a press release:
MRP Realty and Ellis Development Group have teamed with Fundrise, a local, online platform that uses technology to create a new model for real estate investment centered on crowdsourcing, to offer the public the opportunity to invest in their next development, The Griffith, located at 965 Florida Ave, NW. The Griffith is a mixed-use development consisting of approximately 370,000 square feet, including 40,000 square feet of ground floor retail and residential units above. The Griffith title is in homage to the old Griffith Stadium that was located between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street from 1911 – 1965. The development parcel is currently being sold through the District of Columbia Deputy Mayor’s office, and MRP’s proposal has been selected to be in the best and final round.
Ground floor retail of the development will include Griffith Market, designed as an indoor farmers’ market that allows small and independent grocers, operators, and retail entrepreneurs to set up inside the building and serve the general public in a creative and affordable manner, thereby creating an urban village that is authentic to the culture of Shaw and LeDroit Park. It is intended to compliment, not diminish, the high end, large scale grocery store planned for the Howard Town Center. More importantly, Griffith Market is intended to provide food and retail options that serve the immediate neighborhoods of the community while also serving as a destination for residents throughout the City.
Ed. Note: In late April we looked at the Ellis and competing JBG proposals for 965 Florida Ave, NW. A winner has not yet been selected.
I’m curious what folks think about the proposed Griffith Market. Do you think it will work well in that location? Do you think it can serve the public in an “affordable manner”? Would you invest in something like that?
Photo by PoPville flickr user llahood
Two years ago I asked readers where they planned to send their children to school in DC. It was roughly evenly split (sorta) between public, private and charter schools. To oversimplify, back in the day, lots of folks I knew either moved when they had kids or moved when their kids finished elementary school. Today, I’m seeing more and more of my friends staying in the district after they have kids.
However, last week reports came out that DC’s charter school waitlists had hit 22,000. And talking to friends who have gone through the process, it sounds brutal. So I thought (especially since I have a kid now) I’d see what folks are doing now and what folks plan to do in the future. For those who have kids that have reached school age – where did you end up sending them? How did the process work for you? For those who have kids not yet of age – what are your plans?
Photo by PoPville flickr user rockcreek
I’m not necessarily talking about Taco Bell, though of course that could be an answer, I’m more talking about where to grab quick, good lunches. While I really love Greek Deli on 19th St, NW I can’t stand waiting on line. So it got me thinking about what are the best lunch options around town where you don’t have to wait on line forever? Where’s your favorite fastest food?
Photo via @GarberDC
On Thursday The House Subcommittee on Government Operations had a hearing to address the future of 49 L Street SE. The Half Street Market blog wrote:
The hearing is being called to discuss “the costs to the taxpayer of underperforming or vacant Federal assets and, in particular, the status of the vacant GSA Warehouse located on L Street in southeast Washington, D.C.” The committee has invited representatives from the GSA, GAO, and Ward 6 Council to testify on possible uses of the warehouse. Councilmember Tommy Wells (Ward 6) and Ed Kaminski (ANC 6D02) have been invited to testify.
ANC Rep and Half Street Market Supporter @GarberDC tweeted:
“@HalfStMarket hearing went really well. Congress & GSA very aware of community interest. …What a great building”
However Washington Post reporter @TimCraigPost wondered:
“Has anyone considered some won’t want to spend $19 million to build another Union Market, which many in DC can’t afford?”
Post reporter @OConnellPostbiz also wondered:
“We already have @EasternMarketDC and @UnionMarketDC — hard to see a third this close being best economic use.”
So what do you guys think – should DC buy the vacant L St, SE warehouse for $19 million and convert it into a new Market? If not, what do you think should become of the old warehouse?