History

“The chef-owner of Pesce in Dupont Circle, Andrew La Porta, suddenly passed away on Friday, Feb 5th.” Fundraiser for Family Launched

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

The chef-owner of Pesce in Dupont Circle, Andrew La Porta, suddenly passed away on Friday, Feb 5th. He is survived by his wife and two small children. It seems they’re closing the restaurant according to a report. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family. I wonder if you can post something to let the community know and support his family? Thank you very much.”


via GoFundMe

From the GoFundMe:

“Andrew La Porta passed away of natural causes on Friday, February 5th, 2021. He was only 48 years old. (more…)

Blues Alley Building Reportedly For Sale, Business May Not Reopen in Georgetown

By Prince Of Petworth


1073 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (alley)

Potentially painful news from NBC Washington:

“One of the most iconic music venues in the world and a landmark in Washington, D.C., that has been closed due to the pandemic is unlikely to reopen at its original site.

The owner of the building, Snyder Properties, says the building is now for sale.

The owner of the property and the owner of the business said talks between the two sides have stalled.”

Blues Alley’s website says:

“2021 marks the 56th continuous year that we have been serving the jazz population of our Nation’s Capital (more…)

“‘Temporary’ War Department Buildings”

By Prince Of Petworth

Oscar asked: “Watching a doc and this video popped up. What are those building?”

and Captanne shares another cool photo:

From the National Park Service:

“Built for “temporary” service during WWI two enormous buildings occupied the land between Constitution Avenue and the reflecting basin. Construction of the four-story steel- and-concrete buildings took less than six months. The buildings were known as the Main Navy Building and the Munitions Building. They were erected under the auspices of assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt to accommodate a rapidly expanding war-time military bureaucracy. Little did anyone know that the buildings would survive through Roosevelt’s four terms as president and well beyond.”

and others add: (more…)

“Mayor Bowser Celebrates Frederick Douglass’ Birthday by Announcing October 1 as Opening Date for His Namesake Bridge”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Airbus777

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Ahead of Frederick Douglass’ birthday on February 14, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that the District’s new bridge bearing his name is expected to open October 1, 2021. DDOT further honors Frederick Douglass and Black History Month with the release of Frederick Douglass Builds a Bridge, an interactive video for school-aged children that explains the process of building a bridge. (more…)

A Photo Farewell to The Big Hunt, now listed as “permanently closed” on Facebook, One Last Look at One of the Best Bars in Town

By Prince Of Petworth


1345 Connecticut Ave, NW

In late December Barredindc reported that “The Big Hunt Has Terminated Its Lease. Building for Sale/Rent”. I’ve been waiting for official word to come out but after spotting this dreaded sticker, I can be in denial no more:

For those not familiar:

“The Big Hunt is a one-of-a-kind dive bar and comedy venue in a sea of trendy clubs in the Dupont Circle area of Washington DC.

Open since 1992, The Big Hunt is one of DC’s oldest beer bars and has been serving quality craft beers on draft since long before the craft movement became mainstream”

The Big Hunt’s website is no longer live, their phone number has been disconnected and their last Facebook post is a tribute to their founder Joe Englert (RIP) and the page lists that they have “Permanently Closed”.

There’s much that can be said about The Big Hunt. It had it’s ups and downs like all spots do that have been open for so many years. At the end of the day all I can say is that I spent many many hours here, had many many good times here and met many many great people here. This Big Hunt was a great bar. (more…)

Today in Hawks* around Town – The Owls

By Prince Of Petworth


Greg sends last night from “Petworth. Right on the stop sign!”

*If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife and get a good photo please send in an email where you spotted it to [email protected]. Thanks! Hawks around Town is made possible by a generous grant from the Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.

Yesterday Dianne shared her great owl photo from Chevy Chase and of course last week we saw the great shot from Heather at a Home Depot. Turns out these are boom times for owls.

Tommy sends from Mount Pleasant: (more…)

What was the last movie you saw in a theater?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Margaret Knudsen

Margaret shared with us the other day: “RIP Potomac Yard Movie Theater” and it got me thinking about movies. So harking back to our ‘Friday* Question of the Day’ series from the before times – I’m just curious – what was the last movie you saw in an actual theater? The last one I saw was 1917 at the Uptown (RIP).

*I realize it’s Wednesday but we can all admit that everyday is the same day these days.

“Mrs. Henderson worked with architects Paul J. Pelz and Jules T. Crow to propose the construction of a large mansion for the chief executive atop Meridian Hill in 1898.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Image Credit: Library of Congress

I keep forgetting to post this bit of awesome from The White House Historical Association:

“It’s hard to imagine the White House at any address other than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW–but at the turn of the twentieth century, Washington, D.C. socialite and activist Mary Foote Henderson proposed a new home for the president. (more…)

“JAN 28, 1922 – Knickerbocker Storm: Washington D.C.’s biggest snowfall caused a disaster when the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre collapsed, killing almost 100 people.”

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to Ron for sending the reminder (and the really good video above) about the anniversary of the tragic Knickerbocker storm disaster. The Washington Post reported:

“By the end of that day…, 98 people lay dead, crushed beneath the fallen timbers and concrete of the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre. Structurally unsound, it had caved in under the weight of nearly two feet of snow.

Because the streets were nearly impassable, the moviegoers had mostly trudged on foot to the theater at Columbia Road and 18th Street NW. The crowd, which had been snowbound for days, was young and festive. There were many, many children.”

TEDx Talk about Gentrification in Petworth by Professor Tanya Golash-Boza (who grew up there)

By Prince Of Petworth

“Tanya Golash-Boza is a Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Merced, the Founder of the Racism, Capitalism, and the Law Lab, and the author of several books. Her scholarship helps us understand how racism and capitalism structure our lives and what we need to do to change this country and the world. Tanya shares her experiences and takes a close look at racist housing policies in the mid-twentieth century to see how they can help us understand gentrification patterns today. Tanya Golash-Boza is a Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Merced, the Founder of the Racism, Capitalism, and the Law Lab, and the author of several books. Her scholarship helps us understand how racism and capitalism structure our lives and what we need to do to change this country and the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.”

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