Columbia Heights

Stabbing by Grand China Carryout 3306 11th St, NW Tues. Night

By Prince Of Petworth


Grand China Carryout 3306 11th St, NW courtesy of PoPville twitter follower adrian_parsons

Ed. Note: When breaking news occurs I usually post about it on twitter before the site here. You can follow PoPville on twitter here. You can also always send tips and photos to princeofpetworth(at)gmail.com. Thanks to all, especially HH57, for providing updates on last night’s terrible incident.

Per above, around 11pm a reader tweets, “police tape and cop cars out on 11th in between Park and Lamont. Rumors of a stabbing outside Chinese takeout place.”

A few moments later via email a reader writes, “Just walked out my front door to discover a stabbing right in front of the Grand China Carryout on the corner of 11th and Lamont NW 20 feet from the dog park.”

On twitter I was sent the horrible evidence (below) from HH57. It was noted that this particular area has been known as a hot spot for crime. (Personally I saw an arrest there last week at around 3pm in the afternoon.)

MPD tells me:

“We had a Latino male who was inside carryout and went outside carryout and saw two Latino males he began to argue with … he then went back into the carryout and the two males came in and one stabbed the victim..they then fled out the carryout SB on 11th ST … unknown motive”

More info as it becomes available.


Blood stained sidewalk after likely stabbing on 11th St outside of Grand China in Columbia Heights courtesy of PoPville twitter follower HH57

Dear PoPville – Has El Salvadoreño closed?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

El Salvadoreño on 14th and Parkwood Pl, NW. Is it closed? Please? Lights have been off and there hasn’t been any traffic there in a couple weeks. Police in the neighborhood said “shady” things would go on there in there so maybe they finally cracked down? Would love to see Panam expand or that great space get turned into something nicer.”

I’ve actually heard some rumors that the Panam International Supermarket was thinking about expanding but I had heard they were going to expand up. Does anyone shop at Panam?

Anyone else happen to notice if El Salvadoreño has closed?

I’ll be sure to update as details emerge.

Holy Awesome – Video: President Harding attends the unveiling of a statue of Jeanne d’Arc at Meridian Hill Park in 1922

By Prince Of Petworth

Well this is freaking awesome. The Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association has a new initiative – they write:

“I wanted to let you know about a new MHNA initiative this year- an online compilation of neighborhood history. It’s just a start, but we’ve already unearthed some cool things: 1922 video footage of President Harding unveiling the Joan of Arc sculpture, a documentary on the New School of African American Thought (once at 2208 14th St), a full historic review of the 1300 block of Florida Ave, etc. In the coming month 3 graduate students from Georgetown will be interviewing some of the neighborhood’s older residents, writing up transcripts and posting them on our new site. We also hope to add more old photos too.

If you (or your readers) have old photos/videos/articles about the neighborhood, we’d love to scan & post them.”

But what got me super psyched is this 1922 video footage they found. Even though there is no sound the footage is mesmerizing. You can watch the video here. The explanation says:

“1922, January 6. Ceremony of unveiling a statue of Jeanne d’Arc in Meridian Park. Crowd assembled for the ceremony. President and Mrs Warren G Harding arrive at ceremony. Officials speak at stand. Unveiling of Jeanne d’Arc statue. Flags on poles. Man places bouquet and flowers in front of the statue. Secretary of War, John W Weeks speaks. Side view of statue. Various officials speak at ceremony.”


Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

History Made – DC Now Has Its Own Beer – DC Brau Successfully Launched Fri. Night

By Prince Of Petworth

DC Brau successfully launched at Meridian Pint in Columbia Heights on Friday night. The lines started building around 4pm and by 5pm they were down the block. The folks from DC Brau write:

We would like to give a warm thanks to everyone who has supported us thus far. We could not have had such a successful launch of a product made in DC, for DC, by residents of DC, if it wasn’t for the fine people OF the Washington DC area that came out to show their support.

Starting the week of April 18th, our products will be available all over the Washington DC area!

In the next few weeks, we will be releasing a DC Brau Finder, which should help you find our craft-brewed beverages, both in cans, kegs, and on-tap, in and around the Washington DC area. This will include both Maryland and Virginia. We also have plans to allow for searching from GPS-enabled mobile devices.

Nice. Did anyone have a chance to get a taste? If so – what’d you think?

I’m told we’ll start seeing cans around the first week of May.


DC Brau President and Head Brewer Jeff Hancock left and DC Brau CEO Brandon Skall right

Tons of pictures after the jump. (more…)

(Was it a) Good Deal or Not? “Penthouse unit in a classic townhouse” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This condo is located at 1207 Girard St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Stunning 2BR/2.5BA Penthouse unit in a classic townhouse. Amazing outdoor spaces. Open floor plan on main level stretches 65′ with 10’+ ceilings. Gourmet Kitchen offers custom Euro cabinetry, 10′ long island, gorgeous marble counters, superior SS appliances. Upper level: owner’s suite with 2nd deck, 2nd BR, marble baths. Front attic storage space. Secured parking!”

You can find more info here and a mouse on house tour here.

I know people feel strongly about row houses that get divided into condos – so I was curious what you thought about this one. I thought it was particularly interesting that it went under contract so quickly. My goal is to get invited over to see that deck in person…

This 2 bed/2.5 bath was going for $739,900 ($212 condo fee).

Good Deal or Not? “regal living room w/ gorgeous stone fireplace” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 3573 10th St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Historic charm meets modern luxury-high ceilings, ornate woodwork, & fabulous pocket door! Features: regal living room w/ gorgeous stone fireplace, formal dining room, new custom kitchen & the master suite of your dreams w/ stunning bath-Jacuzzi tub & double vanity! Fully Finished basement opens to a grassy yard and rear parking. Perfect location just a short walk to restaurants, shops & Metro!”

You can find more info here and photos here.

A bit odd that they don’t show photos of the bedrooms but what do you think of the photos that they do share? Does $659,900 sound realistic for this 4 bed/3 bath?

IHOP Soon Offering Delivery to Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

IHOP located on the 1400 block of Irving St, NW in DC USA announced some pretty sweet news for Columbia Heights residents:

“@IHOPDCUSA now delivers to Highland Park Apts. Soon we will be expanding our range to include the entire Columbia Heights neighborhood!”

I’ll be curious if they are able to keep to the food warm but if they are this is a very very sweet option.

What do you guys think – will IHOP make for a good delivery option?

Dear PoP – Requested update of former Horse’s Ass Award nominee – Old Alliance of Concerned Men (11th and Harvard St, NW)

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

A while back I wrote to nominate the old Alliance of Concerned Men at 11th and Harvard St NW that burned down for the Horse’s Ass award. At the time it looked like there was some hope that it would be converted to an “old person’s home.” Apparently the city or some developer had taken over the building after the AOCM had abandoned it after the fire.

Well, since then nothing seems to have happened. There are permits on the door but I haven’t seen a soul do any work on the property and I live across the street so I see it daily. The windows are still boarded up but some of the boards are loose or have come off allowing entrance into the abandoned structure. You can see sunlight coming through the roof which means the inside must be a mess now that the weather has gotten to it. I’m afraid that now it’s possible to get inside through the unboarded windows, it will become a magnet for ilicit activity in the neighborhood.

I would love it if you could get an update on what’s going on and why the progress has ground to a halt and also who or what I need to do to get the person(s) responsible to secure the building.”

Ward One Council Member Jim Graham writes:

“2905 11th St., the former Men’s Alliance building, was issued construction permits on 4/8/11 for renovations. DCHA has considered several options. Let me now ask Director Todman for their latest plan.

I am always available to provide updates, but DCRA also makes this information available here.”

Hopefully Director Todman will share some good news soon. I’m afraid the original reader is right that the area could become a nuisance property in its current state. When I went to check on the property last weekend I saw a discarded briefcase, possibly dumped after a robbery, (I called the police and they took it) as well as a door that was unlocked, not to mention the broken windows.

Whatever priority this building once had, I’d say it’s high time it moved up the list.


Unlocked door on first floor


Discarded briefcase behind front stairwell


False promises…?

Dear PoP – Gun pulled at Columbia Heights Metro Escalator

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Aziz .

“Dear PoP,

Someone pulled a gun while chasing a guy up the escalator at Columbia Heights Metro – I think the guy stole his backpack. A bystander claims that it was a cop, but he didn’t identify himself. About 5 minutes later there were a ton of sirens that sounded as if they were a couple of blocks away. Have you heard anything about it or an arrest?”

Haven’t heard anything yet. Will be sure to do so if/when I do.

This email was received about 7:30 pm Mon. evening. This follows the recent trouble at the Columbia Heights metro Friday morning.

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