Brookland

Note of Caution to Brookland Drivers

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Barbara.K

From the Brookland listserv:

I wanted to take this opportunity to give a word of caution to women/and men drivers in the neighborhood. Last night when I was pulling out of our parking lot and onto Monroe St. (near the metro tracks), a man in a beat up red van frantically motioned me to roll my window down. He said my font tire was extremely wobbly and that I should pull over immediately. He offered to fix it for me if I pulled over. I turned down his offer, but he proceeded to try and convince me that I would never make it home with my tire in that condition. Nervous about my tire I turned down his offers and slowly drove home.

My husband checked my tire at home and announced that nothing was wrong with it. This was the SECOND time that this has happened to me in the last few months. I don’t know if it was the same man, or a different man, but both times I thought it smarter to keep driving. I don’t know what this man’s intent was if I were to have pulled over and gotten out of my car. I am sharing this story though, so that the neighborhood drivers can be aware that this kind of thing happening. Please be careful!

Round House Nominated for a DC landmark status in Brookland

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Lalaroo

Some interesting info from the Brookland listserv on this oft nominated House of the Day:

Working with John Feeley, I have researched the history of the Round House (1001 Irving) and nominated it as a DC landmark building. The nomination was filed by the DC Preservation League. The building is protected from major changes (to the exterior only — the nomination is only for the exterior of the building) until the city’s Historic Preservation Review Board actually hears the case, and at that time the protection becomes permanent or disappears. Some cases are heard fairly soon and some wait for years. The owner, a local developer who has begun a good restoration of the building anyway, and the ANC, all are consulted before the hearing, naturally, but the Board will base its decision largely on the historical and artistic aspects of the building itself. The building permits already issued to the owner remain in force, because they were validly issued. Visiting the place recently, the developer seems to be maintaining not only the exterior as it was but also the interior. (There were three rooms surrounding a central spiral staircase that goes to the second floor. A skylight tops the house.

The house was built in 1901 by a prominent Brookland builder, John C. Louthan, who lived in another house he himself built at 12th and Irving (now gone). His architect was a very busy designer of modest houses in the city, Edward Woltz. This was one of only a handful of larger buildings Woltz designed. Over its life the house has seen only four owners; Mrs. McKinney, who died last year, had lived there since about 1950. There is no information about why Woltz and Louthan chose the odd shape for their house — octagon and round houses were a short fad in the US in the 1850s but had stopped being built by the Civil War and revivals of this style are rare. Nonetheless, that is what Woltz seems to have done. There are no other round houses in Washington.

Good Deal or Not? “renovated into a palace” take 2 edition (reader request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1001 Otis St, NE:


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The flier says:

“This is a spectacular home that has been renovated into a palace. Originally it was a standard Bungalow but the owner has bumped it out into include a huge master bedroom suite. The main level has been renovated with a new kitchen, renovated rec room, rear patio/barbecue pit and parking for 4 cars.”

You can find more info here and previous photos here.

Back in May ’11 this was one of the most discussed GDoN houses ever listed. A reader let’s me know that it’s back on the market. In May ’11 it was going for $1,500,000. Today this 5 bed/3 bath is listed at $1,200,000.

A Special Place in Hell Vol. 3 – Carjacking an 85-year-old on the way to Church

By Prince Of Petworth


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From the Brookland Listserv:

On Friday morning at 7:45 two young guys parked on the 1900 block of Shepherd Street [NE] in a car described as “orange/gold.” My lovely 85-year-old neighbor was scraping the frost of the windshield of her car, getting ready to pick up her passengers and go to early church as she does every weekday. One of the guys got out of the car and headed toward her, reached into her car and took her purse. As she was distracted by him and trying to get her purse back, the guy knocked her down and got back into the gold car while the other guy jumped into her car and drove off.

My understanding is that the police woman who responded to the call knows of the gold car and of this crew of young guys–identified as late teens.

Please be on the lookout for an orange/gold car with young guys in it. Many things are disturbing about this incident, not the least of which is that it happened so early in the morning.

Chocolate City Beer Now Selling Growlers

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo via Chocolate City Beer

“Dear PoPville,

I just happened to pass by Chocolate City Beer at 2801 8th Street NE a little while ago, and they are now open selling growlers and glassware to the public. They plan to do this every Saturday. I bought their first growler!”

From Chocolate City Beer:

At The Chocolate City Beer Brewery
2801 8th Street NE, Washington DC, 20017

Growler: $6
Growler/Filled: $16
Fill your Own Growler: $10
One of a kind CCB 20oz Glassware: $5

On Tap: Cornerstone Copper Ale”

Sweet! Chocolate City Beer now joins DC Brau selling growlers on Saturdays.

The 5pm Post – “Gather with host and Brooks’ descendant Molly Murray Ruppert and many other descendants for an afternoon of Brookland history”

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

“Join us Sunday, November 13th 4 – 6 p.m. for

The BROOKS Family in BROOKland at 1021 – 7th St. NW at the WAREHOUSE THEATER

Gather with host and Brooks’ descendant Molly Murray Ruppert and many other descendants for an afternoon of Brookland history. Featured will be new photos discovered since the recent release of the Brookland book, as well as artifacts from Ann Queen & Jehiel Brooks, including the Colonel’s pocket watch and signet ring, family heirlooms and more. Broad array of presenters, including the authors of Brookland, Rosie Dempsey & John Feeley, as well as Laura Henley Dean, author of “Our Past Before Us, A History of Northeastern Washington Co.” F R E E”

Brookland Artspace Lofts grand opening Tuesday, Oct. 25

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

“Entertainment, refreshments, studio tours, and dedication of the Victor L. Selman Community Gallery will be part of the festive grand opening celebration of the Brookland Artspace Lofts on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Located at 3305 Eighth Street N.E. in the Brookland neighborhood, Brookland Artspace Lofts is a mixed-use arts facility developed by Artspace Projects, the nation’s leading developer of space for artists and arts organizations.

The $13.2 million project contains 39 affordable rental units, each with both residential and studio space, for artists and their families. It also has a rehearsal studio, classroom, and office space designed to serve Dance Place, which occupies the building next door; a community gallery on the main floor; and a full green roof installed and maintained by DC Greenworks. Tuesday’s event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a Drum Call and Gathering performed by the Cuban salsa dance troupe DC Casineros. The formal program will begin at 6:15 p.m. with a welcome by the Honorable Mayor Vincent Gray. Artspace Director of Properties Heidi Kurtze will host the evening. The event will also include a performance by Coyaba Dance Theater, a West African dance company will.”

Do you like the way the building turned out? We judged the rendering back in Sept. ’10.

Shootings in H St, NE, Truxton Circle and Brookland

By Prince Of Petworth


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From MPD:

“At about 4:50 a.m. MPD units responded to 11 & H Streets NE for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival they discovered an adult male gunshot victim, who was transported to the hospital and admitted in critical condition. As more releaseable information becomes available we will post it to the list serve. As always. we are seeking assistance from the community concerning this offense.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099 or

1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746).”


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From DCAlerts:

“SHOOTING\\\0304 HOURS\\\200 Q STREET, NW\\\ NO LOOKOUT GIVEN DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911”

From MPD:

“Three adult male victims one shot to ankle one to the hip and one to the foot. The suspects were only described as 2 black males wearing all black clothing who fled from the scene on foot after the shooting toward the 200 block of R Street, NW. No detailed lookout provided. There were no life-threatening injuries.

This will be a Fifth District detectives’ case.”


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From DCAlerts:

“SHOOTING///0048HOURS///700 QUINCY STREET, NE///NO LOOKOUT DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911”

Ricky’s Cuban-American Restaurant Coming to Brookland

By Prince Of Petworth


3522 12th Street, NE (Tropicana Eatery) Via Google Street View

A recent liquor license application says that the former Tropicana Eatery space at 3522 12th St, NE is going to become Ricky’s Cuban-American Restaurant:

“Cuban-American Restaurant with full service bar with a seating capacity for 35 people and a total occupancy load of 50.”


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And while we’re in Brookland, further up 12th St, NE The Brookland cafe has also applied for liquor license an expansion at 3740 12th St, NE.

“Expansion of the dining room seating in quest room next to current seating area to add 30 seats (no construction).

Add Summer Garden with 25 seats.

Add Sidewalk Café with 20 seats.”

You can see their menu here.

Judging Restaurants – Island Jim’s

By Prince Of Petworth

Island Jim’s is located next to Colonel Brooks at 901 Monroe St NE in Brookland. I was surprised to see them open last Friday (I think they close during the winter). Is this a fun place to eat crabs? Any fans?

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