Friday Question of the Day

FQotD: Dear PoP – Where to watch the fireworks BESIDES on the mall?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I would really like to watch the fireworks displayed on the mall this year, but i don’t want to wait around on the mall for hours and hours in order to have a nice view. I’m a little more interested in a bar that has view of the 4th of July fireworks. Any ideas? I know there are some roof top bars which are most likely stuffy, like the W, but are there any recommendations where to watch other than the mall?”

In July 2008 I wrote:

Without a doubt the best place farthest north would be at 13th and Clifton, NW by Cardozo High School. I mean this view is unbelievable everyday when there are no fireworks. You can imagine how sick it is with fireworks mixed in. I usually start off on my porch and just walk block to block. Others have written me about great local shows that can be seen at Grant and Sherman circles. However, Cardozo also has the benefit of being a stones throw from many of the great bars along U Street. So you can get some drinks along U Street first and then head up 13th, NW to Cardozo HS or vice versa.

We discussed where to take children to watch fireworks here.

And we talked about other good spots to watch last year, here.

You can see a video of what street fireworks look like in Petworth here.

So for the Friday Question of the Day: Where do you guys recommend to watch the fireworks not on the Mall? Specifically, if anyone has any favorite roof deck recommendations please mention those as well.

Friday Question of the Day – Metro, Movies, Retail and Books

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user jsmjr

A WMATA press release says:

Metro riders looking to pick up a movie on their way home will not have to go very far as the video store is coming to a Metrorail station as early as this fall.

Metro’s Board of Directors today (June 24) approved a license agreement with NCR/Blockbuster and Movie Solution to place DVD rental machines in stations and to allow Old Town Trolley Tours to sell tickets for its familiar green and orange trolley buses that provide sightseeing tours of Washington’s monuments and other points of interest.

In exchange for use of the Metrorail system for the rental of movies and sale of tour tickets, Metro will receive an estimated $928,000 over an eight-year period with guaranteed revenue of $116,000 in the first year.

NCR/Blockbuster will have DVD rental machines at three stations: the Gallery Pl-Chinatown (Verizon Center entrance), Metro Center and Pentagon City Metrorail stations. Movie Solution will have DVD rental machines located at 10 stations: the Farragut North (K Street entrance), Farragut West (17th Street entrance), Foggy Bottom, L’Enfant Plaza, Metro Center, Union Station (1st Street entrance), Bethesda, New Carrollton, Shady Grove and Rosslyn Metrorail stations. Old Town Trolley Tours will place ticket sales and information booths at both entrances of the Smithsonian Metrorail station.

“Retail services in stations will be good for riders and Metro, especially right now in this economy,” said Jim Graham, Chairperson of Metro’s Board Joint Development and Real Estate Committee.

Do you think the ability to rent movies at metro stations is a good idea?  For those looking for good movie rentals, we spoke about our favorites here. What other retail options do you think should be available in metro stations?


Photo by PoPville Flickr user D©Bloom

And completely unrelated – I’m looking for a good fun fiction book for next weekend if anyone has any recommendations. We spoke about favorite books back in Sept. ’08 but I’m looking for some current recommendations, if you have any good ones.

FQotD: Dear PoP – Restaurant Grades

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoP,

Per attached, NYC is getting set to enact a restaurant letter grading system reflecting the sanitary conditions at restaurants and are requiring to be posted prominently in a front window, or on a door or wall that can be seen immediately as diners enter.

I lived in LA for years and the grading system was very helpful in determining restaurants to be avoided for lack of sanitary facilities. as evidenced by a daily examiner (i think) article a few months ago, there is just no way for a consumer to know whether a restaurant is up to code, somewhat sanitary, or god forbid varmint infested.

any idea whether a similar grading system is being considered in dc? while the restaurateurs in NYC may fight the new rule, it would seem an opportunity for restaurants to embrace the system and use it to their advantage.”

So for the Friday Question of the Day: What do you guys think – would this be a good idea for DC?

Friday Question of the Day – Does Hearing About Violent Crime Affect Where You’ll Visit?

By Prince Of Petworth

Last night I saw the smallest message from MPD:

“MPD is working a shooting at 8th and V St NW.”

Then a reader sent the following from The Washington Post:

“Three young men were shot and seriously wounded Wednesday night in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest Washington, D.C. police said.

Several off-duty officers near the 9:30 club, a popular music venue, heard gunshots about 7:40 p.m., said assistant police chief Diane Groomes. The off-duty officers then ran about two blocks to Eighth and V streets, where they found two victims, Groomes said. The third wounded man, who had also been shot around Eighth and V, ran a few blocks to a nearby McDonald’s.”

I have to admit, hearing about a triple shooting doesn’t have the same effect on me as it used to. Sadly. I’ve become a bit emotionally numb to stories about violence like this. It still upsets me terribly initially but then before I even realize it, I sorta shrug it off. Sadly. But since this one was near 9:30 Club it got me wondering if/how it affects others.

Whether folks like it or not, from time to time there is violence all over the city, on U St, in other parts of Shaw, Columbia Heights, Chinatown, Petworth, Park View, Mt. Vernon Square, Mt. Pleasant, Adams Morgan, H St, NE, Hill East even Georgetown and Cleveland Park etc etc. Nearly all neighborhoods in DC experience violence at one time or another. Sadly.

But my question is – when you read about events like this does it ever stop you from going somewhere like a particular neighborhood? Is there a cumulative effect?  When you hear about fights/violence and/or shootings in a neighborhood are you less likely to visit that neighborhood? (I’m not even talking about moving to, I’m just talking about visiting.) Does reading about violent incidents in the city make you change your behavior at all? Or do you sorta shake your head in disgust and sadness and carry on? And what if you happen to live in that neighborhood, how do you cope with hearing about violence like this?

FQotD: Scuttlebutt that makes yesterday’s Ellwood Thompson’s news look like another hot dog cart is opening

By Prince Of Petworth

My friend, Sean, shared some scuttlebutt with me that is so sweet that I had to make it the Friday Question of the Day. First the scuttlebutt: he writes, “I was at Trader Joes and I asked the manager when they would open up another DC location and she said they were actively seeking a space near 14th and U (Streets, NW).”

Holy cow.

So for the Friday Question of the Day, at the risk of shattering my dream, what are the odds of this happening? Do you think there is an appropriate space/lot near 14th and U that could host a Trader Joes?

If one did open at 14th and U (for those that live relatively nearby) would you ever shop at Giant or Safeway again? How much parking do you think would be necessary for a Trader Joes? If they were able to open up at 14th and U – from how far away would this attract people. I know living up in Petworth I’d definitely patronize the store.

Friday Question of the Day – Will Metro Fare Increases Affect Your Commute?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr users ericandkatherine

WMATA releases word on what is looking like the inevitable, a substantial fare increase:

Metro’s Board of Directors provided guidance to Metro staff today, May 27, to begin to work on a number of fare adjustments in the transit agency’s FY2011 operating budget, subject to final Board approval on June 24. The fare changes are expected to be enacted system wide on June 27. The new fares will generate $108.7 million to help close a $189 million shortfall and build a sound budget for the new fiscal year.

During the public comment period on the budget, the overwhelming majority of riders said that they preferred fare increases instead of service reductions and no service reductions are planned.

Beginning June 27, Metrorail fares will increase 18 percent, with the peak period boarding charge increasing from $1.65 to $1.95. The maximum peak period Metrorail fare will increase from $4.50 to $5 for customers who pay with SmarTrip® and from $4.50 to $5.25 for customers who pay with cash.

Metrobus fares will increase 20 percent, from $1.25 to $1.50 for customers who pay with SmarTrip® and from $1.35 to $1.70 for customers who pay with cash. The price of a Metrobus ride remains lower than bus fares in most major Metropolitan areas. New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle each charge $2 or more for a bus ride.

In addition to Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess fare changes, the following changes also will take effect June 27:
• The Metrorail-to-Metrobus and Metrobus-to-Metrorail transfer period will decrease from three to two hours;
• Reserved parking fees will increase from $55 to $65. All other parking fees will remain unchanged; and
• The annual fee for renting a bicycle locker at Metrorail stations will increase from $70 to $200. It is the first increase in locker fees since the inception of the program in 1978. A reserved, secure place to store a bicycle is only 55 cents a day.

The Board of Directors is expected to vote on the final FY2011 budget at its June 24 meeting.

Will this affect your decision to use metro or metrobus to commute to work? With the increase will anyone consider driving instead of taking metro? Do you still support the fare increase over service cuts?

Friday Question of the Day – Reader Request

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

I was gonna ask another tax question about the D.C. Council considering commuter income tax but I’m sorta tired of tax discussions. Though I am intrigued about a commuter tax…

But since it’s Friday and a reader wrote in and I am obsessed with pizza…here we go:

“Dear PoP,

I live in Adams Morgan and last week I found a menu from Many and Olga in my house mail box. In the evening I tried to order the special $15. For 5 toppings, sounds great deal, when the pizza arrived the receipt was $17.80 or so, because tax $1.50 and $1.25 delivery, I know it is not much, but I rather give the delivery guy a 25% tip and not cut him short because he works hard, but I end up give him less, because I did not know of the the delivery charge. Do you know if is only pizza places that do this?”

Hmm, I think most of the big chains do this but I’m not 100% sure. Do you guys think that a delivery fee is reasonable or does it just end up hurting the tip the driver will get in the end?

And now for the Friday question of the day and a topic I will never ever get tired of discussing – pizza. Who delivers the best pizza in DC? I know there are some places where I really like the pizza in the restaurant but when they deliver it’s a bit disappointing. So let’s make this a two part question – who do you think is the best chain pizza delivery and who is the best brick oven delivery?

Friday Question of the Day – Soda Tax?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user gc-dc

I know we’ve been talking a lot about taxes lately but given the budget it looks like a lot of ideas are gonna be debated. I just received an email about a group called Support the D.C. Healthy Schools Act. They say:

The Healthy Schools Act is a landmark bill that will:

* substantially improve health, wellness, and nutrition in our schools
* raise the nutritional standards and improve the quality of school meals
* bring more fresh, local fruits and vegetables to schools
* triple the amount of and vegetables to schools
* triple the amount of physical and health education by adopting national standards
* create school gardens and support other environmental initiatives
* expand school-based health and wellness programs

The proposed Healthy Schools Revenue Act would fund this initiative by:

* adding a one-cent-per-ounce tax to sugar-sweetened beverages to fight obesity
* the tax WOULD NOT include diet soda, non-caloric beverages, juices, milk, and water
* the soda tax would be imposed on distributors – NOT our small, local businesses. It would not apply to concentrated syrup, which is primarily sold to restaurants and bars

Apparently there is some serious lobbying against this act. Given the fact that obesity is such a problem in DC’s schools (and the budget deficit) do you support a soda tax?

Friday Question of the Day – Should Businesses be in a tax free zone during streetscape construction?

By Prince Of Petworth

Above is a photo of what Sticky Fingers endured during the Park Road Streetscape improvement (across from the Giant Grocery store in Columbia Heights.) And of course many businesses on H St, NE are enduring similar sights while the streetcar rails are installed.

Here is some legislation being considered:

Streetscape Construction Small Business Relief

Do you think this is a reasonable request from Small Business owners given the current financial situation the city is in?

Friday Question of the Day – What is your Dream Food Truck? Is it worth Dreaming of Food Trucks?

By Prince Of Petworth

I’m not gonna lie to ya, when I found out that DC was getting a lobster roll truck in June I nearly cried with joy. Lobster rolls are among my favorite foods in the world. Yes, I’m aware I’m a bad Jew but that’s neither here nor there. Anyway it got me thinking of what food truck I’d most like to see next. Personally, I’d love to see a really good Gyro truck. But then it got me thinking, should I be this excited about food trucks anyway? Because a restaurant that has a good Gyro will always be there and I can find it whenever I want. But with a food truck you have to get a bit lucky, lucky in the sense that it comes relatively close to where you are. Or do you think it is worth hunting down the food trucks as they are pretty easy to find on Twitter?

I guess this is a two part question – first, what type of food truck would you most like to see come to DC? And second, do you think food trucks are over-rated? When you find one you like how easy is it for you to actually get food from them? Do you find them convenient or a tease?

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