Will bike rentals work in DC? Thanks to a reader for sending the above photo of a bike rental station being built on Rhode Island Ave at 14th Street. I remember reading that bike rentals have been a huge success in Paris, so will it work here in DC? I’m super psyched, it sounds like an awesome idea to me. After the jump read the full email from the reader with some details on the program and a link to a Web site explaining more. (more…)
Why are there so many empty storefronts around the Convention Center? It seems like such prime property. Plus it is so close to the now bustling Chinatown area. I know there are a few spots on 9th St. but 7th St. seems fairly empty. So, why a deadzone around the Convention Center?
Apparently the economy is not doing so well. I think I read something about it a few weeks ago. Or maybe it has been everyday for months. I know it has had a terribly effect on folks around the country. It is actually quite terrifying. But what I’d like to know is if it is affecting folks here in DC. Are you changing your habits because of the grim outlook of the economy? Are you putting off home projects, moving, repairs, driving, buying a home, etc.? Personally, I’ve been hesitating buying a new washer/dryer since November. But otherwise I’m pretty much rolling like I always have. Is DC more immune than the rest of the country? Have you guys made any changes?
I think it is time we finally have a comprehensive discussion a most serious topic. Take out options. We have briefly discussed the issue in the Forum Section but most of the options have been pizza delivery. Now, I love pizza but we need to put together a more comprehensive list. Everyone loves and relies on take out from time to time but very few know who deliver to our various neighborhoods. Since we have regular readers from Petworth, Columbia Heights, U St., Mt. Pleasant and elsewhere when you leave your suggestion please say what neighborhood they deliver to (and if possible a phone number). So the Friday Question of the Day is: What are your favorite take out delivery options?
A reader writes: “I’m actually looking for a restaurant recommendation. Here’s the situation… I want to take this young lady out on a very nice date. She’s the type of girl that’s interested in everything, loves to try new things, etc. So I was wondering if you could recommend any cool places, maybe off the beaten path, an intimate setting is of course very nice… even a place that has some live music and we could make a night out of could be pretty sweet.”
My response after the jump. But for the Friday Question of the Day – What are your favorite date spots in the area? (more…)
One of things I love most about living in Petworth is the diversity. And so I was just thinking the other day that in the five years I’ve lived on my block 9 homes have sold. And that’s just my little block, not multiple blocks on my street, just one little block. And I wondered if Petworth may be losing what I love most. I feared if 9 people moved in just like me we’d probably become rather ordinary. At any rate, 9 homes have sold, and of those nine homes you know who has moved in? White people, black people, gay people, Latinos and other immigrants in just 9 homes on my little block. It is amazing to me how beautiful this neighborhood is and how beautiful it continues to be. So for me, one of the things I love most about living in Petworth and living in the city is the incredible diversity. So the Friday question of the day is: what do you love most about living in your neighborhood? You know we all made choices to live in the city, sometimes we pay more money for our rent or mortgage, we face more obstacles, we pay higher taxes, we don’t have voting representation in the Congress, we have crime etc. So despite all this why did you chose to live where you live?
Furthermore a reader, Steve, would like to raise the question: what had you wish you’d known prior to moving into an urban environment?
I got another great reader submitted Friday question of the day. It is very simple – why is it that most public transportation runs north to south but rarely can one find public transport that runs east to west? Brilliant question. Following is the full question from the reader:
“I have another transportation-related pet peeve. I’ve noticed that almost all the bus lines go north-south, just like the metro routes. The Georgia Ave bus follows almost the identical route as the Green line trains. There are also 14th and 16th St buses but nothing that connects the 16th to 18th St area to eastern Columbia Heights or Petworth. It’s a pain to get from Green Line locations like Petworth or Columbia Heights to places on the red line like Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. Now that all of these restaurants and stores are opening in Columbia Heights, don’t we need an easier way to get between Green Line and Red Line destinations? I would love to see a bus line that links Dupont Circle to U Street and/or Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights and Petworth. It could be an extension of the very popular 42 bus – instead of stopping at Mt Pleasant St & Lamont, couldn’t it continue to Park Rd & 14th and then on to the Petworth metro? Or, is the 42 bus so full already that we need a new route that could follow a more eastern route, starting in Dupont and heading to Logan Circle before heading north. I think that with the opening of the Target there will be a LOT of demand from from Dupont area residents without cars wanting more easy access without having to deal with changing trains. Meanwhile it would be a boon for green line residents who don’t have easy public transportation access to Dupont and Adams Morgan.”
Today’s question is submitted by reader – Reuben. If anyone else has ‘Friday Questions of the Day’ that they’d like to suggest don’t hesitate to email me. So on to the question of the day:
“My friend and I were discussing his theory about dogs and social class-wars and all. He wonders, and again-this is based upon what he -and yours truly-quite frankly-sees as a marked change in the breeds of dog being walked in Brightwood, Petworth to some extent, versus-say, Logan Circle or Dupont, if there is more of an emphasis on dogs as pets (and i guess you have to consider this term metaphorically and literally) in the latter ‘hoods, versus dogs as -what- symbols? expressions of aggression and anger? Obviously, none of this is hard and fast. And like all conversations between friends, it’s, well, too buds shooting the stuff…”
So what do you guys think- do the neighborhoods people live in affect their choice in dog breed? Or do people simply buy dog breeds that they like regardless of neighborhood?
So, it just hit me the other day. I remember being outraged at the anti-war posters that went up over dozens of lampposts all over the city. I was truly outraged – not at the message but at the ugliness of all the posters. And then it recently occurred to me that I have been seeing dozens of band announcements on lamppost all over the city. And I love it! Even when they get a bit old, they make me smile, reminding me of what a cool and vibrant city we live in. So what the hell is that? Isn’t that totally hypocritical of me? Can I support concert posters but not political ones?
What is your favorite monument in DC? This is a monument for Marconi who lived from 1874-1937. You can find this monument off 16th Street and Park Road. I don’t know who Marcon is. I don’t know what he did. What I do know, is that he has the sweetest monument in our nation’s capitol. So what is your favorite monument in our nation’s capitol?