Maryland

Museum Minute Vol. 7 – National Children’s Museum

By Prince Of Petworth

Nat'l Children's Museum

Museum Minute is written by Elle O’Flaherty. Elle lives in Mt. Pleasant and previously wrote about the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

I was pretty excited to take my kid to the National Children’s Museum at National Harbor, but after going once I won’t be in a hurry to return.  For starters, entrance for two adults and one kid over 12 months will run you $30.  That’s a lot of dough in the city of mostly free museums.  Once we got in and poked around we realized the museum is really small without all that much to it.  It kind of reminded me of a large, fancy daycare.  They’re trying to give the “exhibits” an educational spin, but really they’re run of the mill children’s activities.  For instance, one exhibit is about what people wear around the world, but it’s just pictures of kimonos, saris, and the like with cheap cotton kimonos, etc. the kids can try on.  The next area over features what people eat which is, again, just pictures and a few puzzles of international food along with a kitchen play area.  It felt chintzy and way overpriced, like paying to hang out at that one friend’s house whose parents bought too many toys.

elmo tunnel

I should say that the kids all seemed to be having a good time and my daughter, who was probably a bit young for it at just under ten months, enjoyed the outing.  However, if you’re looking for an incredible children’s museum and don’t mind a drive, I highly recommend the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond instead.  Now that is an awesome museum which, for about the same price, is huge and has real educational exhibits as well as a nice IMAX theater.  In contrast, the National Children’s Museum (much like everything at National Harbor, as far as I can tell) was just designed to part you from your money.

Hannah Emily Upp Missing from Kensington – UPDATE – Located

By Prince Of Petworth

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From Montgomery County Police Department:

“Detectives from the 4th District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a woman missing from the Kensington area.

Hannah Emily Upp, age 28, of the 3000 block of Upton Drive in Kensington was last seen this morning at approximately 7:45 a.m. near Kemp Mill Road and Glenallan Avenue.

She is described as a white female, 5’7″ tall, and weighing approximately 160 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Ms. Upp was last seen wearing a black shirt and brown pants.

Police and family are concerned for Upp’s welfare and her mental well being. Upp has been reported missing before and, when located, she required medical attention. Some of her belongings were found on a foot path near Wheaton Plaza. It is likely that she does not have any identification with her.

Anyone with information regarding Ms. Upp’s whereabouts is asked to contact 4th District detectives at 240-773-5530, or the Montgomery County Police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.”

UPDATE from Montgomery County Police:

“Hannah Emily Upp, age 28, of the 3000 block of Upton Drive in Kensington has been located unharmed. She made contact with her family at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday night and was found in the area of Georgia Avenue and Shorefield Road in Wheaton. Detectives have met with her and will continue their investigation later today.”

Metro Transit Police Giving Away Free U Locks

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user ³²¹

Last week we learned Metro Transit Police recommends you use two u locks when locking up your bike. If you pass through College Park tomorrow morning you can get one of them for free.

From WMATA:

“As part of their ongoing effort to reduce bike theft, Metro Transit Police (MTPD) will host a special outreach event tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at UMD-College Park Station where riders who register their bike with MTPD will receive a free U-Lock.

Last month, Metro Transit Police (MTPD) launched a free online registration program for riders who park their bikes at Metro facilities. Riders can visit wmata.com/registerbike to submit a registration with their bike’s make, model, serial number, color and frame size.

“Registering your bike is the best way to help police recover it in the event that it is lost or stolen,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik.  “I encourage anyone who parks their bike at a Metro facility to take advantage of this new free service.”

Transit Police encourage bicyclists to use U-Lock devices to better protect their property.  U-Locks are sturdier than conventional wire or chain locks, thereby making them much harder for a thief to overcome.

MTPD will distribute the free U-locks to riders who register on the spot at UMD-College Park Metrorail Station between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. In addition, representatives from Metro’s parking office will be on hand to provide tours and information about the station’s new state-of-the-art “Bike & Ride” facility. The Bike & Ride—a first of its kind for Metro—is a 2,400-square foot, secure, enclosed parking structure on the first level of the College Park station parking garage. The facility features bright LED lighting, security cameras, an emergency callbox and card-controlled access. Metro also installed a bike repair stand outside of the garage equipped with a variety of tools for the convenience of riders who may need to make quick bicycle repairs. [More info about the Bike & Ride]

Bike security tips (more…)

Cats are Cheap in Anne Arundel County

By Prince Of Petworth

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If anyone is looking for a bulk purchase in cats… A reader writes:

“Just thought you would enjoy this snapshot from Anne Arundel Co. Animal Control. I guess the going rate for cats is at an all time low?”

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Likely Homicide/Suicide after Two Found Dead in Takoma Park, MD early Sunday

By Prince Of Petworth


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Thanks to a reader for sending the Takoma Park Police’s press release:

At approximately 1:42 a.m., Takoma Park Police received a call for shots fired in the area of Flower Avenue. Shortly after, they received another call for the report of two white males lying in a driveway in the 7300 block of Flower Avenue. Officers responded out and confirmed both males deceased suffering from gunshot wounds. They were located in one of the deceased person’s driveway located in the 7300 block of Flower Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland. At this time, investigators do not believe that there were any other individuals involved in the incident. Until the autopsies are completed tomorrow by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, the exact cause and mechanism of death has yet to be determined.

Preliminarily, investigators believe that the two men were friends and were coworkers at a special education school in the District of Columbia. It is premature to determine what circumstances led to or why this shooting occurred. There was no indication of hostility prior to the shooting. All initial information leads to the belief that this was a Homicide/Suicide. We would ask that respect and privacy be given to the families of both men.

The individuals are identified as:

David Draa, 30, of Takoma Park, Maryland; and

Steven Kyle Hickman, 30, of Washington, DC.

Grant Avenue Market Coming to Takoma Park in Spring 2013

By Prince Of Petworth


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From a press release:

The organizer of the hugely successful Fenton Street Market, in conjunction with the Old Takoma Business Association, will be bringing a new market to historic Takoma Park, MD in Spring 2013. The new Grant Avenue Market will showcase antiques, collectibles and other funky finds and will take place on one block of Grant Avenue in the Takoma Junction neighborhood in Takoma Park. Market goers can expect to find the same winning format as the Fenton Street Market – vendor booths, music and food – adding yet another activity to the busy Sunday line-up in Old Takoma which already offers the popular Takoma Park Farmers Market from 10am-2pm.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Jeff Black Opening “modern American restaurant” in Takoma Park

By Prince Of Petworth


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Thanks to everyone who sent links for this huge news coming to Takoma Park. A new restaurant from Jeff Black (owner of Logan Circle’s Pearl Dive and Black Jack among many others) is coming to 6937-6939 Laurel Ave not far from the Takoma metro in Takoma Park, MD. The Post’s Tom Sietsema reports:

Still to be named, their modern American restaurant will embrace a dining room, two spots for drinking, a patio, live entertainment a couple times a week and — to absolutely no one’s surprise given Black’s multiple seafood-themed establishments — a raw bar.

A few weeks ago we also learned that a Busboys and Poets is also likely coming to Takoma.

Remembering – “The Mayor” of Silver Spring, Norman Lane

By Prince Of Petworth

What an awesome sculpture/tribute from up in Silver Spring. The dedication says:

The unofficial “Mayor” of Silver Spring was a homeless man who collected hand-outs of money and food. Norman Lane walked the streets of Silver Spring for almost 25 years, doing odd jobs around the neighborhoods and handing out flowers to women on the street picked out of the Bell Flowers dumpster. Norman Lane was a mainstay in the community, and his enjoyment of life has been immortalized in a bronze bust created by artist and friend, Fred Folsom. The plaque beneath Norman Lane’s likeness reads, “Remembering the Caring Kindhearted Forbearance of the People of Silver Spring.” This is a tribute, not only to this local legend, but to the citizens of Silver Spring like Robert Phillips, owner of the Silver Spring Auto Body Shop, who kept a cot and a hot plate in the garage as a permanent home for Lane.

Piratz Tavern Becomes ‘Corporate Bar and Grill’

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo via Piratz Tavern facebook

Thanks to a few people for sending this update from the Washington Post:

Piratz Tavern in Silver Spring headed to Davy Jones’s locker, as they say, this week after the Spike TV reality show “Bar Rescue” chose the bar for one of its Season Two episodes.

The bar reopened the night of Feb. 18 as Corporate Bar and Grill with a menu serving gourmet burgers, tuna steaks and shrimp ceviche.


Photo via Piratz Tavern facebook

Piratz tavern was located at 8402 Georgia Avenue.

Corporate Bar and Grill is, uh, not the most creative name… I’m sure many people would hope that Piratz tavern, like their Website says, was still open!

Journeys Outside DC – Trap and Skeet Shooting in PG County

By Prince Of Petworth

It’s funny, as one who was born in New York City and grew up in Long Island folks are always surprised that I love to shoot. I grew up going to summer camp in New Hampshire where I became addicted to target shooting (and hiking). Anyway, over the past few years I’ve been a semi-regular at Prince George’s Trap and Skeet located at 10400 Good Luck Road in Glenn Dale, MD. Since I sold my car I took a quick 15 minute metro ride up to College Park and a friend picked me up at the station, five more minutes by car and we were at the range.

Trap shooting reminds me a lot of golf. You are competing with your friends but also really competing with your self. Each ticket costs $5.50 and you get 25 shots at a clay target. After every five rounds you rotate a spot. You simply say “pull” and a target is launched. After everyone has shot five times you move one position over.

If you don’t own your own shotgun you can rent one at the range for $8 and it costs $7 for a box of 25 shotgun shells. It’s a ton of fun, but be careful it’s very addictive!

You can find more info including directions on their Web site here.