Friday Question of the Day

Friday Question of the Day – Are “online gambling ‘hot spots’ in hotels, bars, clubs and other venues across the city” a Good Idea? (reader request)

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user yostinator

The Washington Post reports:

D.C. officials said they are planning to set up 20 to 30 online gambling “hot spots” in hotels, bars, clubs and other venues across the city by around Sept. 1, marking a major step in a bid to turn the nation’s capital into a haven for Texas hold ’em and other potentially lucrative Internet-based games.

We talked about online gambling in general back in Dec. ’10 but this sounds like a pretty different beast to me (even it is only an interim step). So the Friday Question of the Day is another simple one – do you think setting up these “hot spots” in hotels, bars and other spots around town is a good idea?

Should DC just host straight up casinos (if Congress would let us)?

Friday Question of the Day – Will DC Ever Have Something as cool as the Former Arcade in Columbia Heights?

By Prince Of Petworth

The Columbia Heights Heritage Trail has some great info but I was especially struck by the info on 14th and Kenyon St, NW by The Heights about the old Arcade (where DC USA/Target is today) – it had a movie theater, pool hall, dancing, sports arena, skating rink cafe and more:

Do you think DC will ever have a structure as cool as the Arcade? Perhaps one day if the Uline Arena is ever redeveloped? When the Old Post Office Pavilion is redeveloped?

It’s funny how we’ve come full circle. The Arcade which rocked Columbia Heights in 1925, I think, could be a huge success today. We’ve speculated before about the possibility of Columbia Heights ever sustaining a movie theater today. Do you think any neighborhood in DC could support a new movie theater and/or bowling alley? What about somewhere like in a “new” neighborhoods such as NoMa?

Friday Question of the Day – Where are the Best Post 7pm Happy Hour Deals?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Vileinist

“Dear PoP,

I have a very important question for your readers. What restaurants/bars in DC have happy hour specials that extend beyond the usual 4-7pm M-F timeframes? I tend to work until 6:30 or 7pm on most weeknights and end up missing happy hour entirely at most places. It’s such a bummer. I know that H St. Country Club runs their happy hour until 8pm, 1905 until 7:30 and The Heights offers their specials from 4-7 on the weekends as well. Are there other options as well?”

If you have recommendations please say what neighborhood the bar is in as well. Are there any post 8pm happy hours? Who has the latest happy hour in town?

Also are there any really good happy hours that go beyond $1 off drafts and wine? Who has the really good deals in general? I’m thinking like back when Lucky Bar has $1 Bud specials on Thursdays. Also does anyone know of any good food happy hour specials as well.


Photo by PoPville flickr user mosley.brian

Friday Question of the Day – Who Should the City Give Tax Breaks to?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour

Thursday afternoon WBJ’s Michael Neibauer wrote a story titled, Tax break eyed for Capital City Diner:

Citing its economic and social impact on the surrounding community, [Ward 5 Council Member] Thomas has introduced legislation that would exempt Capital City Diner from property taxes through Jan. 1, 2016. The diner is assessed by the city at $320,340. The exemption amounts to a $5,000-plus annual tax break.

The article also quotes Ed Lazere of the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, who says:

“While the Capital City Diner is located in a neighborhood without many sit-down restaurant options, it is unclear why a restaurant that currently is operating needs a further incentive to continue its business,” Lazere said. “There are a number of restaurants that have opened in recent years on nearby H Street NE, none of which has received this kind of assistance to our knowledge.”

So the FQotD is a simple one – what businesses do you think should receive tax breaks? And how long should tax breaks given – 1 year, 5, years, 10 years? I know that developers also commonly receive tax breaks – who else does? Who else should? Do you know of any other restaurants that receive tax breaks?

FQotD: How Many Liquor Stores Does One Neighborhood Need?

By Prince Of Petworth

A couple days ago a received an email titled, “Alcohol Saturation in Bloomingdale”. It linked to some really cool maps by a Bloomingdale resident “stereojam”.

Below is one he put together of Class A + B stores (A sells wine, beer and spirits while B sells wine and beer).

You can see more detailed maps here.

So for today’s Friday Question of the Day – at what point does a neighborhood have too many liquor stores? Now I’m wondering if there is a historical component here – as many liquor stores also function as corner stores/bodegas. I assume they proliferated for convenience and perhaps a lack of access to proper grocery stores? But in 2011 given the state of our neighborhood’s access to grocery stores and the existing corner stores – at what point are there too many liquor stores? Should there be moratorium? Or should capitalism work this problem out?

I know in Petworth we have a lot as well but to be honest it doesn’t feel like we have too many. I mostly class B that only sells wine and beer and to be honest, I rather like the convenience of where they are located. But as I look at Stereojam’s maps again vis a vis Bloomingdale – I can’t help but think that perhaps the saturation point has been reached.

What about your neighborhoods? Do you think your neighborhood has too many liquor stores? Do too many liquor stores affect your quality of life?

Ed. Note: On a future Friday I will make a part 2 out of this question and substitute bars for liquor stores.

Friday Question of the Day – What’s the best Advice You’ve Ever Received?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user christopher.poole

At the end of the day on Thurs. commenter bloom wrote a very thoughtful note in response to the post by Danny Harris titled, ‘Erica on How School Really Is’. The post seemed to hit a nerve with some commenters and after 120 comments bloom wrote:

Dear Erica,

You are an open and honest young woman, very sweet and interesting too. I’m glad your family is so strong.

My one wish for you is to stay with school/classes even when its boring. It is true school feels boring sometimes. Really you have no choice about attending school when you’re a kid/young person so at times, it feels not only boring but like prison. Yes, I remember that too, and I am very different from you, but in that regard, we’re the same… and I was normally the type of student who loved school.

Sometimes when you have a job, there are moments like that too. The trick is to try to find a job where you experience that “boring/prison” feeling as little as possible!

Nowadays, things even more boring, more often sometimes because we want to be online, on phones, etc.

Here are some ideas for being less bored.
#1, Know it’s the middle of the year — this is a hard time for everyone. Just keep going to class and stay with it. The end will come very soon. Keep focused on the conversation.

#2, There is nothing more boring than a class where the teacher does all the talking. Contribute to your classes. If you have opinions and you share them, you will model for others to do this. Classes where students share opinions (thoughtful ones on the subject) are great. I have a hard time believing your history or government classes are that boring, truly? In this city?

Keep reading and studying so you can speak up (as you did so nicely here) and continue to share.

#3, Know it’s okay to be bored from time to time.

If it’s extremely boring try reading a book in class. The teacher will get the picture, and you can’t be accused of anything!

#4, Find one friend, even if just for one class who you can rely on. Be helpful to each other with the class. A friend can make a class much less boring too. Study together.

#5, Know some teachers really do care about you, even though it isn’t always obvious. Notice how many students they work with and the jobs that they have. When you see a crappy teacher, see what you can learn on your own anyway. Those teachers exist. They don’t have the right to take away a subject from you.

#6, Try to find one class or just one subject that interests you especially, and enjoy pursuing it a little more. It will help you take your mind off of other things when you’re upset.

#7 H.S. is extremely social. All your social relationships will come and go. They are fun. If you learn anything, it will stay with you and be useful. Don’t sell yourself short and let your days be ruined by social crap.

#8, Work. (job) Start to go after what you want right away. You will see how the school stuff will apply and some of it will become more meaningful. You will see what you can and can’t get without education.

#9 It’s going to be over really soon. All of it.

But still you’ve got time.

You’ve got a lot of friends who care on here. They want the best for you too. Don’t worry too much about the grammar right now. You will probably have to work on that, and it doesn’t have to be too hard. Right now, just focus on making it through school, each day, finding some days to enjoy.

I thought this was very good advice – and it made me think it could be a fun FQotD: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received in general?

Some of the best advice I’ve ever received is very simple – read at least a book a month. Doesn’t have to be literature, can be any book at all, fiction or nonfiction.

Friday Question of the Day – What Should Become of the Old Post Office Pavilion?

By Prince Of Petworth

The Old Post Office Pavilion located at 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW is one of my favorite buildings in DC. Though, I always seem to forget that it even exists until the next time I pass it on a walkabout, when I find myself marveling at it’s beauty again. (We judged it back in May ’09) So I was very excited to see some potential news from the Downtown BID:

All eyes are on the Old Post Office Pavilion (1100 Pennsylvania Avenue), the 112-year-old historic landmark that soon could see a new use in the days ahead. The General Services Administration (GSA) is seeking a private partner to restore the 400,000 square foot (SF) property and the adjacent vacant pavilion. GSA plans to issue a request for information soon. Several possible uses have been discussed over the past few years, including turning the seven-story building into a hotel. The building currently houses the National Endowment for the Arts , the National Park Service (NPS), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and several hundred office workers. In addition, there is 15,000 SF to 20,000 SF of food outlets and tourist retail. The NPS runs the observation facility that provides programming for, and access to, the bell tower, a great place to take in excellent views of Downtown Washington, DC, and the National Mall.

A more active use than an office building could help reinvigorate Pennsylvania Avenue, much as the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Avenue), Central Michel Richard restaurant (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue) and Café du Parc (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue) have. Several members of Congress, including DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton—a longtime champion of the project’s redevelopment—are anxious to push the project forward. And with good reason: it is reported that the property loses more than $5 million annually due to underutilized space, low retail rents and high operating costs.

So what do you think would be the best use for this amazing building – a hotel? Combination hotel and restaurants? A museum? A movie theater? A Trader Joe’s? (I’m just kidding.) What do you think would be the best (combination of) use(s) for developing this amazing space?


Photo by PoPville flickr user JosephLeonardo

Friday Question of the Day – Should all Restaurants be Kid Friendly?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I took both my girls for their birthday dinner at Palena Cafe (the new part) yesterday. One daughter turned one, the other turned seven – it was the seven year olds choice (she loves it.) Anyway, I guess we usually don’t take the one year old so I was surprised when I asked for a high chair, they said they didn’t carry them. So I guess that’s a blatant message that they don’t really want kids eating there. Which is strange because the staff has always been very nice to our kids. The other thing I noticed is that the new cafe part was pretty empty but they tried to seat us in the old area – I said I wanted to be seated in the new area and they obliged but I still left feeling a little like the unwanted guest. On a positive note, they gave both girls lovely desserts and the works but that again leads me back to why they wouldn’t be more kid friendly with the high chairs. And the fact that they really weren’t that packed seems like it would be a nice option for all the young families around (who trust me – eat on the early side and wouldn’t really interfere with the dinner crowd.)”

Hmm, this is an interesting question I’ll throw out to everyone for the Friday Question of the Day – should all restaurants be kid friendly? What exactly does kid friendly mean? Do you think it is ok to bring young kids to a nice restaurant if it is before 8pm? Or should young kids not go to “nice” restaurants no matter the time? Are there different expectations with a “white table cloth” restaurant and a cafe? At what age is it ok take kids to “nice” restaurants? I know we’ve spoken before about folks who’ve been irritated by crying babies in bars – what’s the proper etiquette for restaurants?

In Defense of Columbia Heights, the Real Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth


Room 11 wine bar, 11th and Lamont St, NW

Lately some Twitter users and especially Washington City Paper contributor @jasoncherkis have been kicking around Columbia Heights. Cherkis tweets:

“Columbia Heights has got to be the ugliest gentrified neighborhood in D.C.”

“What’s the difference between Columbia Heights and Silver Spring? Silver Spring has two movie theaters. CH just has the chain stores.”

“w/ Panera, IHOP, and Panda Express, Columbia Heights is turning into a food court or an airport.”

While I don’t even live in Columbia Heights I will not deny the fact that I love it – warts and all. I found the above tweets emblematic of how some people misjudge Columbia Heights.

At the risk of being oversensitive and since it’s Friday, please indulge me and allow me to address a few of the above claims.

Number 1: Columbia Heights is not DC USA. It is commonly accepted that Columbia Heights’ boundaries are 16th Street to the west; Spring Road to the north; Georgia Avenue to the east; and Florida Avenue to the south. DC USA is the mall that is located on 14th St, NW between Irving and Park Rd. And the fact that a mall has chain stores – I know is shocking and appalling to some – but it is a freaking mall. Stunning, stunning revelation.

Number 2: Mr. Cherkis – if you actually walk around Columbia Heights you will find some beautiful architecture, sculptures, parks and even independent shops, bars and restaurants (particularly on 11th St, NW). Looks are of course in the eye of the beholder but to call the neighborhood ugly, well as Bob Marley sang – “in the abundance of water the fool is thirsty.”

Number 3: Columbia Heights is not filled with only chain stores and the chain stores it does have are not evil. Oh all you super cool guys and girls who scoff at IHOP and Chipotle… You who purport to be advocates of the disenfranchised, well, the fact that you can’t see how a Chipotle and IHOP serve the residents of Columbia Heights is obnoxious and condescending to say the least. I dare you to walk by either space and not see the most diverse of clienteles representing the entire neighborhood.


IHOP on 1400 block of Irving St, NW in photo from left to right – white, hispanic and black patrons

Number 4: In the last 10-15 years Columbia Heights (like many of DC’s neighborhoods) has become a more beautiful and perhaps more importantly a much safer place to live and visit.

Number 5: I like Silver Spring.

Number 6: DC USA and its shops have made Columbia Heights a more convenient and livable neighborhood.

Number 7: Of course many who live in and visit Columbia Heights would like an independent bookstore and movie theater. But since those stores are failing all over the city, unless a philanthropic angel who doesn’t care about profit – comes to Columbia Heights it ain’t gonna happen.

Number 8: Columbia Heights is still defining itself and getting better and better. Like all neighborhoods it will continue to evolve over the coming years. I already alluded to the many great businesses of 11th St, NW. Well many many more are en route. For just one example – the new endeavor from the folks behind Tryst and the Diner chose Columbia Heights for a reason – because they were looking for a real community. And it didn’t take them long to realize that had found just that in Columbia Heights.

So my friends – for the Friday Question of the Day – Do you think Columbia Heights is defined entirely by DC USA and 14th St, NW between Irving and Park Rd – or is there more to the neighborhood?


Greater First Baptist Church, 2701 13th Street, NW

Friday Question of the Day – How Important is the Yellow Line Service to Ft. Totten to you?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user D©Bloom

Yesterday we spoke about the possibility of metro reducing weekend hours to midnight from 3am. My ANC commissioner Rob Mandle sent a note with even more potential bad news:

“The WMATA Board is considering cutting late night service hours as well as yellow line off-peak service to Fort Totten. I’d like to hear from constituents on this issue. I personally am against both service cuts, but the offpeak service reductions concern me the most.”

Is the continuation of the yellow line service to Ft. Totten important to you?

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