“Dear PoPville,

Our Tenleytown neighborhood has a resident bobwhite quail. He has been heard calling his loud and distinctive bob-WHITE and has been sighted around the area of 38th and 39th streets between Chesapeake and Alton Place for several weeks. Now he’s settled down in my immediate neighborhood and we’ve named him Robert. He’s extremely tame. He follows me around and today was actually trying to “herd” me, running circles around my feet when I walked. So is this normal behavior for a bobwhite quail? Might he be a domesticated bird who has strayed away from his home?”

If you spot a hawk or any interesting wildlife around town, lunching or otherwise, and get a good photo please send in an email where you spotted it to [email protected] and I’ll add it to the queue. Hawks around Town is made possible by a generous grant from the Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.



rendering courtesy UIP

From a press release:

“Urban Investment Partners (UIP) of Washington DC has unveiled Frequency Apartments, a 100-unit luxury apartment community located in a former northwest Washington, DC office building that housed National Public Radio affiliate WAMU.

UIP acquired the building at 4000 Brandywine Street, NW, along with two other properties, from American University in 2016. The company has now completed a $14 million year-long 36,000 square foot gut renovation and a 14,000 SF addition to the building, which is just one block from the Tenleytown-American University station on Metrorail’s Red Line. UIP joined with Tenleytown Main Street to officially open the neighborhood’s newest multifamily residence.

“Frequency is our most contemporary apartment community to date,” said UIP Principal Steve Schwat. “The name is derived from its history as a radio station and recording studio for WAMU/NPR programming, including the syndicated talk shows hosted by Diane Rehm and Kojo Nnamdi. (more…)



via google maps

From MPD:

“Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Kidnapping Squad seek the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect in reference to a Kidnapping offense that occurred on Monday, January 22, 2018, in the 3700 block of Davenport Street, Northwest.

At approximately 8:05 am, a juvenile victim was walking, to school, at the listed location. The suspect approached the victim from behind. The suspect grabbed the victim and lifted her off the ground. After a brief struggle, the victim was able to escape, and fled the scene.

The suspect is described as a white male, 50 to 70 years old, approximately 5’7” in height, skinny with a muscular build. The suspect had a full gray beard. (more…)



4000 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

From an email:

“After almost 20 years in business, Cafe Ole will be closing on January 31st. Fannie Mae is moving downtown and the building is being redeveloped. It has been a great run and we would like to thank all of our customers for making it such a success. Please come by for a last meal and a toast to the future!

Cafe Ole is currently located at 4000 Wisconsin Avenue, NW. We are looking for a new home!”



Available at 4321 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Friday. Courtesy Z-Burger

From a press release:

“Just one week following President Trump’s allegedly uttered and now well-known slur aimed at a few marginalized countries, a DC-based burger eatery will honors those countrymen (and women) and supporters and fans with a special treat. This Friday, January 19th from 11-2pm anyone presenting a passport from El Salvador, Haiti or any African nation, OR anyone with a passport with a stamp showing they’ve visited one of those countries OR anyone simply donning paraphernalia from those countries (like a Haitian soccer jersey, Ghanian flag, traditional El Salvadorean attire etc.-just have fun with it!) will be treated with a complimentary burger. Participants will be able to choose any single burger.

The idea is to show that despite what’s going on down on Pennsylvania Avenue, Z-Burger really welcomes all.

“I came from Iran back as a young kid with big dreams,” says Z-Burger founder Peter Tabibian. (more…)



Wisconsin and Van Ness St, NW

From American University:

“Open Letter from American University about Johnson’s Florist and Garden Centers

We are saddened to lose Johnson’s Florist and Garden Center as a tenant as well as a neighborhood fixture at their Tenleytown location. We have tremendous respect for them as a family and as a local business that has been part of the community fabric.

With a deep understanding of their meaning to the community, American University has worked tirelessly to keep Johnson’s as a tenant, particularly over the last three years. We have made significant concessions over a long period of time that we would not have made for other commercial tenants. (more…)



4200 Wisconsin Avenue, NW via Johnson’s

“Dear PoPville,

I am really sad to see Johnson’s leaving our neighborhood. They have been a great neighbor and having them within walking distance has just cheered me up so many times. What is AU doing with this property? They have let the Firelake Grill space sit dormant… Does this mean that they’re planning to do something more major with the site in general? Are other businesses in that complex (thinking particularly of Sullivan’s) in jeopardy too?”

Thanks to all who passed on from Johnson’s:

“To Our Valued Customers,

We truly regret to inform you that, after more than eighty-four wonderful years serving our community in and around the Tenleytown neighborhood, Johnson’s Florist & Garden Centers is closing our Washington, DC location on or before January 14, 2018.

This closure is a direct result of the significant increase in rent and other related fees of occupancy imposed upon us by the building’s owner. Despite months of earnest negotiation we have been unable to arrive at a mutual understanding with our landlord.

We look forward to continuing to provide you with the full florist and garden services in our Maryland stores that you have come to expect from our DC store. (more…)


Regarding Tenleytown, MPD reported at 9:30pm:

“Robbery (Gun)//2130 hrs//4400 block of Wisconsin Ave, NW. LOF: (2) B/M’s, black hooded sweatshirts, black mask, black backpack, armed with a handgun.”

Alan Henney reported:

“u/d Tenleytown Armed Robbery- Jimmy John’s sounds like the actual target of the robbery. Police are now searching the Wilson Swim Center for gunman.”

Regarding U Street, around 7pm a reader reported:

“There is a helicopter circling on 14th and U, have any others reported the same thing?”

Not 100% sure if related but earlier MPD reported at 6:17pm which could be related to another more violent recent incident:

“Robbery Snatch at 1817 hrs at 15th & U Streets, NW. Lookout for Suspect B/M, teens, light completed, hat, maroon hooded sweatshirt last seen fleeing eastbound on U Street, NW.”


From MPD:

“Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit announced an arrest has been made in a First Degree Sexual Abuse offense which occurred in the 4300 block of Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, on Sunday, November 19, 2017.

At approximately 3:23 am, the victim received a ride, in what she believed was a vehicle for hire, from the suspect. When the suspect arrived at the listed location, he ordered the victim to exit the vehicle and then sexually assaulted her.

On Monday, November 20, 2017, 36 year-old El houcine Jourhdaly of Springfield, Virginia, was placed under arrest and charged with First Degree Sexual Abuse.

Anyone who has had past inappropriate encounters with the suspect or has information regarding this case or others should call police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, information may be submitted to the TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.”


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