How do you chose what neighborhood to live in? I’ve been thinking about this a bit lately, wondering how people chose to live in Bloomingdale vs. Petworth or H Street, NE or Mt. Pleasant vs. Columbia Heights or Adams Morgan etc. For me, it came to down price. I was able to get a much nicer place in Petworth than in Columbia Heights where I was originally looking. What sealed the deal for me was that the neighborhood was so close to Columbia Heights, U Street and my place of work at the time. I then discovered all the great attributes of Petworth. So what are the most important issues to you when choosing a neighborhood – proximity to work, nearby friends, close to nightlife, safety, schools, rent/mortgage costs and/or quality of housing stock?
Friday Question of the Day
Well, I’m still in a pretty good mood from the Obama victory (despite what you’ll read below). So it got me thinking about times when I’ve been super happy. Then I started thinking about great gifts I’ve received in my life and I was trying to think about the gift that made me happiest. And I thought damn, that’d be a good FQOTD. Ed. Note: Yes, I’ve had a few beers. So I’ve been lucky enough to have received lots of great gifts in my life. Some of the simplest have made me super happy like mix cds. But when it comes down to the gift that just took me over the top – it was 1983 or 84 and my brother and I got the Atari 2600 for Hanukkah. Holy shit, I could have gotten a million dollars and wouldn’t have been as happy.
So the FQOTD is – what is the greatest gift you’ve ever received or what was the singular most joyous moment in your life so far?
|
Well, a number of folks have been waiting all week for this question. On Monday we learned that metro will begin randomly searching bags. The Washington Post has a full article here. They say:
“Metro officials yesterday announced plans to immediately begin random searches of backpacks, purses and other bags in a move they say will protect riders and also guard their privacy and minimize delays.
The program is modeled after one begun three years ago in New York that has withstood legal challenges. However, experts said it is difficult to measure the effectiveness of such searches, beyond assuring the public that police are being vigilant. New York officials declined to say what they have found in their searches; none of the other transit systems conducting random searches have found any explosives, officials said.
Metro officials said the program was not in response to a specific threat but prompted by increased security concerns before next week’s election and the inauguration as well as by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and later bombings of commuter trains in Madrid, London and elsewhere.”
So do you believe this is a good security measure or a violation of your privacy? For those who feel it is a violation of your privacy will you refuse a search?
|
“Was wondering if you could please check around to see what Halloween parties/activities are going on locally next week. Anything going on at the local bars? Any parties your readers could crash? I have a pretty hot costume this year and I would like to get my money’s worth! Thanks!”
Ok, let’s see – Wonderland is having a Gothic Halloween Party this Saturday.
Looking Glass Lounge is having a DJ next Friday, Halloween proper.
Washingtonian has a traditional wrap up of events around town.
I know there are a ton of house parties but I’m not sure they want me to invite all of PoPville…
So I guess the FQOTD is – what are you doing for Halloween? Know of any good parties? Anyone going to a particular bar? What was the best Halloween you had in DC and where? What are you dressing up as? If you do dress up don’t forget to take a photo for the PoP Halloween costume contest…
|
photo by sean dreilinger.
Continuing the random theme for the Friday question – I’m wondering what piece of technology has had the biggest effect on you in your lifetime. I suspect we’ll learn people’s ages here a bit. I remember my Dad telling me how crazy it was when ball point pens arrived and you didn’t have to dip a pen in an ink well. I’m 33 and spent my formative years without the internet or cell phones. Despite being a blogger and all, I think for me the cell phone has had the biggest impact. It has become a part of me just like my keys. It is insane because I didn’t get a cell phone until 1999. So what technological innovation has had the biggest impact on your life?
Following the theme of purely random FQOTD, I’m curious to know what your most profound sports memory is? Mine is the 1996 New Yankees World Series Championship. That third out of game six is burned into my brain.
Although a closer runner up is when the Yankees beat the Red Sox in the ALCS, 2003 I was brought to tears. As a matter of fact it was the year I got engaged to my ex-fiance and at a dinner party over New Years that year we went around the table and recounted our most memorable moments. Instead of saying the greatest moment was getting engaged, I said my greatest moment from 2003 was the Yankees beating the Red Sox in the ALCS. Yeah, that didn’t go over so well…
Oops.
So what’s your most profound sports memory?
|
Since last Friday’s favorite book FQOTD was so popular I feel obliged to ask the natural follow up. This post will be invaluable to me as I’m about to set up a netflix account for the very first time. So the Friday Question of the Day is: What is your all time favorite movie. (Please limit your responses to three).
Mine are (in no particular order) Cool Hand Luke, Empire of the Sun, Big Lebowski.
Your turn.
|
In honor of the National Book Festival this weekend I thought I’d ask a totally random FQOTD similar to when I asked what was your first concert. So anyway I’m a fairly voracious reader and I’m always looking for good recommendations. So the FQOTD is what is your all time favorite book (fiction or non fiction limit 3)? Also what’s the last great book you’ve read?
My all time favorite book is nearly impossible to pick but since I asked the question I’ll go with Cannery Row by Steinbeck, although I also was blown away by You Can’t Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe. Currently I am reading a phenomenal book called The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. If you’re looking for a well written, smart page turner I highly recommend it.
Your turn.
|
photo by pat padua
By now most people have heard of the Columbia Heights Metro closing on Tuesday due to a “suspicious package”. And of course the suspicious package was a stuffed “homeless” polar bear. And we learned that it was actually a Greenpeace/Mark Jenkins Collaborative art project.
The quote by Jenkins from Fox 5 says:
“My intention with this project was to leverage my street installations to promote awareness about the issue of global warming and the plight of the polar bear,” said Jenkins. “It was our shared goal that the public would develop empathy for the polar bear as they have for the homeless which we see as two connected issues.”
So the FQOD is: do artists/organizations involved with public art displays have a responsibility to alert the authorities of such displays? Or did the authorities irrationally overreact? Obviously there is hindsight now, but who knows what threats they may receive on a daily basis. Also, do you think this particular display is an effective one?
|
I’m very interested in this question which comes from a reader:
“Can you give us an update on the street car initiative for Georgia Avenue? Even though there are two metros in close proximity, even on this very site have been complaining that the metros are too far away. So it’d be really great for the people and businesses of Georgia Avenue, columbia Heights, Parkview and/or Pleasant Plains to get some more public transpo options. Can you let us know how we can mobilize and push this through?”
On a related transit note a reader also writes:
“Greater Greater Washington writes about an express circulator-type bus line that would center in Columbia Heights, branching west to its next stop in Adams Morgan, then again in Woodley Park, and branching south bound down 14th street, stopping at U St, then at Logan Circle, then finally at McPhearson Square. Jim Graham brought it up in a meeting last night for discussion.”
So does anyone know the status of the street car initiative? If a street were to come to Georgia Ave, would you be likely to use it or would you stick with metro/buses?