Friday Question of the Day

Back in July ’11 we learned that a 7-11 was coming to the retail space in the Shell Gas Station at Georgia and Shepherd St, NW. At the time not everyone was thrilled but after seeing it open, I think it’s a great improvement. Of course I would’ve preferred a Fast Gourmet Sandwich Shop but since that didn’t happen, the 7-11 is actually a huge improvement over the previous store. And I’m not talking about the access to Big Gulps and Slurpees – they took down the bullet proof glass partition. I can’t quite express how much more of a pleasant experience it is to enter a store without bullet proof glass. So it leads me to today’s Friday Question of the Day – when will some of our neighborhoods (mostly) east of the park start seeing their bullet proof glass removed?

I know the answer can be simple – when the neighborhoods get safer, the bullet proof glass will come down. Though we often debate this topic – I think many of these neighborhoods are way safer now than they were when the bullet proof partitions first went up. So let’s just speculate – when do you think our neighborhoods will be bullet proof/glass partition free? For example, I’m always surprised to still a glass partition up at the corner store at 11th and T St, NW. Or do you think partitions are here to stay for the foreseeable future?

Photo by PoPville flickr user maria jpeg

Lately, I’ve been getting this question a lot so since it’s August – I’ll throw a few polls up for today’s Friday Question of the Day. Generically PoPville is anywhere readers live but many people want to know – what neighborhood you live in (it’s actually the first question I ask folks when I meet them in person), how old are we, are we male or female and are we black, white, hispanic or other. When I meet readers in person I’m always happily surprised to see a big diversity in all those categories above. I’ll be curious to see if they mirror the polls below.

Ed. Note: Unfortunately the poll would be too large to list every neighborhood so I’ve had to split it by quadrant.

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

As the first Friday in August I’m gonna take the opportunity to ask a question I always love asking – do you have any good summer reading recommendations? What’s the last great book you read? It doesn’t have to be literature, it can simply be a good fun read.

It’s a few years old but I just finished and highly recommend A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz.

Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

“Dear PoPville,

I think NIMBYism is getting a bad rap!

At one time, people celebrated the ability of local people to join together to pursue the good of the community. It’s said that we’ve loss this sense of community, that people are selfish, self-centered, and uninterested in the lives of others around them.

But most cases of NIMBYism are active residents fighting big, powerful corporations, developers or City Hall who are looking for short-sighted, quick profit, or political gain at the expense of unorganized, politically weak communities. Most NIMBY fights are against things you really shouldn’t want in your back yard – liquor stores, demolition of historic properties, strip clubs, and dumping of pollution, noise, etc. It’s like people forgot the concept of zoning!?!”

Do you think NIMBYism is getting a bad rap? If so why and what will it take to allow for “local people to join together to pursue the good of the community”?

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

Yesterday, the Rickey was named DC’s official cocktail. According to Wikipedia:

The Rickey is a category of mixed drinks closely resembling a highball made from a base spirit, half of a lime squeezed and dropped in the glass, and carbonated water. Little or no sugar is added to the Rickey. Originally created with bourbon whiskey in Washington, D.C. at Shoomaker’s bar by bartender George A. Williamson in the 1880s, purportedly in collaboration with Democratic lobbyist, Colonel Joe Rickey, it became a worldwide sensation when mixed with gin a decade later.

When I was away on vacation and Eric the LoP took over I loved reading about the perfect song for DC. And while I personally like a Gin Rickey and the history is cool – I’m curious to hear if you guys have better suggestions.

So for a fun summer Friday Question of the Day – what should DC’s official cocktail be?

Photo by Flickr user paix120

WTOP reported on Thursday:

The D.C. chief of police said Friday that Walmart could be one of the solutions to the city’s current void for residents who wish to register handguns.

A defacto ban exists for gun registration in the District, after the sole licensed firearms dealer went out of business earlier this year.

A retailer like Walmart filling that void “makes a lot of sense,” the chief said on WTOP’s “Ask the Chief” program with Mark Segraves.

The Friday Question of the Day is a simple one – do you think Walmart is an appropriate place to sell handguns in DC? And whether or not you think they should – at the end of the day – do you think Walmart will sell guns? If it were easier to buy a gun – will you buy one?

“Dear PoPville,

It finally happened – after 10 years of a leaking building collapsing around them, Ruff ‘N Ready finally has to move from 14th & T St, NW. They finally got a 3 month notice a couple of weeks ago. I would love to see them come to Columbia Heights or Petworth! For those 2 or 3 people unfamiliar – this is the most fun, funky second hand/treasure/junk shop anywhere. When they moved from Adams Morgan to 14th St. many years ago, they completely pioneered and revitalized that corner – easing the way for Saint Ex and all the other development in that area.

I know that after 25+ years, the owner isn’t really interested in trailblazing another tough neighborhood, but a second-hand shop also needs decently low rent, plenty of space, and a place for trucks to unload.

Any ideas?”

Back in the beginning of June we learned that a Taylor’s Gourmet would be opening a fifth location at 1910 14th St, NW. At that time the fact that Ruff N Ready would be moving/closing got lost in the excitement.

Some have already expressed sadness about the impending departure of Ruff N Ready from 14th and T St, NW but we never discussed if it will close for good or look for a new location. So for the Friday Question of the Day – per the OP’s letter above – where do you think Ruff N Ready can realistically move to where the rent will be cheap but they’ll still be able to attract enough customers (currently they are only open Sat-Sun 11 am – 6 pm)? Do you think Ruff N Ready should look for a new location?