Mount Pleasant

A Reader Provides Some Info About Fiesta DC in Mt. Pleasant

By Prince Of Petworth

It seems the issue will be addressed at ANC 1 meeting Tuesday. Do you think the festival should be on Mt. Pleasant Street, 14th St. or elsewhere?

The reader writes:

“Fiesta DC wanted to move the festival to 14th Street. The fire department would not let them block off the street and so now they’re in a bind and want to return to Mt. Pleasant. The reaction seems generally negative, but it’s hard to tell if that’s just who is speaking up about it all. The concerns are:

— Road closures. Apparently in years past the festival blocked off a lot of streets, including Irving, which caused a huge cluster for the residents. There was also little notice about what roads were going to be closed, which added to the frustration.

— Safety. Apparently security has been an issue in the past.

— Clean up. Last year there wasn’t good clean up and the Mt. Pleasant residents/businesses were left to deal with this.

— Size. From the forums on this, it seems like a lot of people are concerned with how large the festival has gotten and the fact that it’s a city-wide Latino festival. There’s no Mt. Pleasant draw/relationship to it and no benefit to the neighborhood. Several people on the boards are suggesting the festival move to some place like RFK as there is no Mt. Pleasant tie and that the neighborhood put together their own festival.

— There seems to be some issue about money in all of this. They are a registered 501(c)3 charity, but at a meeting yesterday someone said they were a for-profit venture. That is causing some dustup and there’s concern about transparency.

The whole thing will be resolved on Tuesday at an early ANC 1 meeting.”

Judging New Homes

By Prince Of Petworth

We’ve looked at this home in Mt. Pleasant in the past before it was fully completed. Initially I thought the partial brown top looked a bit odd. But I took a look this weekend and I think it actually came out looking pretty good. The place is gigantic, not sure if the photo conveys that. I assume it has got to be a multi family residence, yeah? Also a pretty big garage in the back. What do you think now that it’s completed – thumbs up or down?

It’s True, Burritos Fast for Sale in Mount Pleasant

By Prince Of Petworth

A commenter noted the for sale sign in the window and I went to check it out this weekend. Sadly it is true. Burritos Fast which Tina checked out a while back, located at 3213 Mount Pleasant St NW, is for sale. Unfortunately the woman at the store who I spoke with couldn’t speak English and I can’t speak Spanish. I don’t know if this happens to you but my foreign language is French so when someone can’t speak English I automatically revert to French. Though I spoke it with a Spanish accent. Anyway, when I asked why the store was closing, the best answer I could get was “dinero”. This is pretty sad news. I know there were a lot of fans out there so you should stop by soon before they are sold.

An Update on the Building Gutted by Fire at 3145 Mt. Pleasant Street

By Prince Of Petworth

Council Member Jim Graham sent an update via email last week:

“Dear Friends, below is the latest status report from the Tenants Organization at 3145 Mt Pleasant, the apt building that was the source of the 5 alarm fire a little more than a year ago. We have been meeting regularly in my office. This is a troubling and difficult situation. But this report helps understand what is happening.”

Jim — I appreciate your note below, and the strong, unequivocal support that you have given to the residents of the Deauville during the past many years. Arnold & Porter LLP is counsel to the tenants

Garden of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

Again, not exactly a proper garden but I love the way this looked cascading over the retaining wall. This whole row of retaining walls on Adams Mill Road looks pretty sweet.

Dear PoP – Support Your Local Hardware Stores

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP

You’ve posted on local hardware stores in general and Pfeiffer’s Hardware in Mt Pleasant in particular. So I thought you might be interested in this below (from the Mt Pleasant Forum).

I shop there all the time – a world apart from the hell that is Home Depot. I hope others will show their support and spend their money at Pfeiffers (and other local businesses).

Dear Mt. Pleasant Friends and Neighbors,

Times are tight for all of us, and I wanted to let you know how Pfeiffer’s is coping.

First, we are doing everything we can to give you good reason to buy from us. We have been doing that since we opened, but we have redoubled our efforts of late. Our new manager, William Hester, has been a phenomenal help and has so much more experience managing people and stuff than I ever had. Please feel free to stop by and introduce yourself at your leisure.

Our new assistant manager, Kyla Dickson, who was promoted from clerk, has also been tremendously helpful with her instinctive ability to get things done and to manage inventory. And then there are the usual suspects: John, Josh, Richard, Roberto, Rodney and Wing. All are there to help you find what you need, or to give you their opinion on the health care debate. Our previous manager Megan Crowley, left at the end of June to pursue her dream of opening her antique tavern in West Virginia.

I am also writing to ask for your continued support. The economy is hurting most of us, I’m sure, but the fact is, without an increase in sales, our store may become yet another empty storefront on Mt. Pleasant Street. No one wants that. So, if you need a widget or a doohickey, please remember us and the value of convenience and connection and helpfulness and friendliness that we bring to your shopping at our store.

Many other businesses on Mt. Pleasant Street are struggling. If you don’t want to see them close their doors, please remember to shop locally when you can.

Thank you for your support in the past and whatever support you can afford in the future.

I will be at the store this Sunday through Wednesday and will be available for conversation at Marx Cafe in the evenings from at least 4-6pm Sunday through Tuesday. If any of you would like to chat about the store, our current situation, suggestions, possible contractors to woo, or just to chat about all things Mount Pleasant or the Pfeiffer clan, please stop by. If you would rather meet one on one, please email me at [email address removed – log in to view].

In my next posting, I will give you an update on the possible sale of the store, some new policies, our new items, and the restructuring of our rental department.

Hugs and Hardware,

Old Man Pfeiffer”

Tina visited this great hardware store back in June of 2008. And last March I wondered if local hardware stores are doomed? It saddens me to hear about Pfeiffer’s tough times. They truly are a gem in Mt. Pleasant.

Tree Box Memorial Marker in Mt. Pleasant

By Prince Of Petworth

A friend of mine had been telling me about a “grave marker” in Mt. Pleasant for a couple of weeks but I was finally able to check it out on Sunday. It is located on the 1700 block of Kilbourne Street, NW. I was able to speak to some neighbors who said that it was just a memorial. It is very small and very easy to walk by without noticing it. I think it is a touching tribute, though definitely the first memorial like this I’ve ever seen on a residential street.

Best Spot for a Morning Cup of Coffee? (Reader Nominated)

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I wanted to nominate my neighbor in Mount Pleasant, whose garage deck I admire from my window every day. They have a detached garage on top of which they have built an amazing deck/cabana/outdoor space that really must be seen!

To check out the most spectacular and ingenuous spot they have created, you have to come through the alley behind the house, which is accessible by 19th St between Lamont St. and Kenyon.”

I hope this is the one. I was wandering up and down the alley and this was the coolest detached garage set up I saw. Definitely a sweet morning coffee spot.

Judging Restaurants – Ercilia’s

By Prince Of Petworth

Ercilia’s is located at 3070 Mount Pleasant St, NW. Those on Yelp are big fans of the pupusas. What do you guys think – thumbs up or down? Is it better as a carry out or eat in? Any other notable dishes besides the pupusas?

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