This is the free bike clinic offered now at Qualia Coffee at 3917 Georgia Ave. NW.

I stopped by last weekend and there was a very friendly vibe going on. It’s just a super cool event that you can get your bike fixed this way. An organizer sent some photos.

“Dear PoP,

I’ve attached a few photos from theBikeHouse bike clinic. We are holding them behind Qualia Coffee on Georgia Avenue on Saturdays between 12 and 3 PM. If you have a problem with your bike, need something installed, or just have a question about your ride, you can come to us and we will walk you through how to fix it. Our goal is to empower you to have the confidence and know-how to successfully perform your own work. At this stage, we do not have parts for sale, so bring any parts you have and we will help you install them for free (although a 5-7 dollar per hour donation is welcomed and encouraged, it is by no means required, ever.)

For more information, please visit www.thebikehouse.org”


I feel like this might be a re-PoP but man I love this house. Such a sweet porch and I’m digging the fence.


“Dear PoP,

I noticed this morning the construction next to Eat More Fried Chicken. Do you know what is happening there?”

The location next to Eat More Fried Chicken, is going to become a hair salon.

And perhaps in more exciting news:

I chatted with a worker at the space being renovated at 3501 Georgia Ave., NW. He told me it was going to become a coffee shop! He didn’t have any more details but I promise to keep a close eye on this one.


I received the following email Sunday evening:

“I was informed by the Yes staff in Brookland that the Yes store in Petworth opens tomorrow Monday!!!! Yeahhhhhhhhhhh!”

Sadly, the celebration may be a bit premature. I took some photos on Sat. and it looks like they’re close to opening but not just yet. A job fair is always a good sign though!


Tons of readers wrote in on Friday about the possible Post Office closings in DC (photo above of Le Droit Park). We spoke of the Petworth post office back in March. The news of the potential closings were first reported in the Post’s Federal Eye blog. They wrote:

“The Postal Service has marked 677 post offices nationwide for possible closure or consolidation, according to a document given today to a House subcommittee holding a hearing on the future of American mail delivery. Among them are 10 post offices in the District and three in the Maryland suburbs of Hyattsville, Rockville and Silver Spring.”

Well, I for one think this is horrible. I use the post office from time to time to mail out t-shirts so it’s really convenient for me to have one in my neighborhood. But then again, I don’t really use the post office that frequently. So what do you guys think – should most neighborhoods in DC have their own post offices? Or have post offices really become a thing of the past?


“Dear PoP,

I’m an avid reader of your blog and a neighbor from Shepherd St. You may have noticed some beautiful gardens in public space around the intersection of 4th and Shepherd–a big one in the triangle park as well as some smaller areas around trees and in little patches of grass.

They are planted and maintained by a group of really sweet and hardworking older women who are out nearly every morning between 8:45 and 10:30 weeding, watering and adding tiny little gardens up and down the street. If they are interested, I’d love to see them and their hard work featured your blog–they are really doing something wonderful for the neighborhood.”

For sure this is super beautiful and their work is most definitely appreciated!


In real life, hipchickindc is licensed as a real estate broker in the District of Columbia and Virginia, and as a real estate salesperson in Maryland.  Unless specifically noted, neither she nor the company that she is affiliated with represented any of the parties or were directly involved in the transaction reported below.  Unless otherwise noted, the source of information is Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS), which is the local multiple listing system.  Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 3822 10th St NW

Original List Price: $595,000.

List Price at Contract: $595,000.

List Date: 2/19/2009

Days on Market: 76

Settled Sales Price: $585,000.

Settlement Date:  06/19/2009

Seller Subsidy:  $10,000.

Bank Owned?: No. 

Type Of Financing: FHA with 3.5% down payment

Listing History: See below for listing history information

Original GDoN Post is: Here

Recent Listing is:  Here. To see more pics, click the arrows on the main picture.

Last week, a reader had asked if I might profile this property, so here you go!  Comments for the original Good Deal or Not (GDoN) post were overwhelmingly positive, with praise for both the home and location, as well as a few shout outs from the neighbors. 

Back during the craziness that was the 2004 DC real estate frenzy, the property went on the market for $225,000.  The listing agent noted, “GREAT POTENTIAL ABOUND IN THIS PROPERTY”.  The winning bid was $321,500. in cash.  Settlement occurred on April 30th, 2004, and it was back on the market in renovated condition on the 17th of November, 2004.  List price was $525,000.  It was on the market for 18 days and sold at full price with no seller subsidy.  The financing was conventional and the buyers at the time made a substantial down payment.

In contrast to the GDoN-R home located in Petworth that was profiled a week ago, which was last purchased around the same timeframe, this home showed a gain in market value from late 2004.  Considering the $10,000. paid toward closing costs, the net sales price was $575,000., which was at least enough to cover the Seller’s closing expenses.

On another note, for anybody who had read my posts about the renovation of Mark and Charles’ home, or is interested in properties to renovate, the Saturday real estate section in The Washington Post (I believe for this weekend) will feature Mark and Charles’ house in LeDroit Park/Bloomingdale.


This home is located at 1340 Randolph Street, NW:


View Larger Map

The flier says:

“ONE LIFE TO LIVE!!!So start enjoying it now. A 3br, 1 1/2+ 1/4 bath colonial in Col. heights, just mins from tennis, golf and downtown DC. This has a delightful ft porch, spacious dining, off st parking and large rooms. Definitely a happy home at a price to make you smile.”

More info found here and but sadly no inside photos.

I like how they point out “just mins from tennis, golf…” I’ve never seen that as a huge selling point (though I love both sports). I know it’s a bit hard to say without inside photos (they psyched me out with a virtual tour of the outside). But does $380,000 sound reasonable? Particularly if you only have one life to live…?


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