4340 Connecticut Avenue, NW

From Washingtoniana:

“Since moving out of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in March 2017, Washingtoniana has been ensconced at the Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square (our original home) and at the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue,

Our third and final location (until MLK reopens in 2020) is in a former bank. The space we occupy at 4340 Connecticut Avenue NW was originally Columbia Federal Savings, which opened on January 17, 1977.

But even earlier than 1977…going back almost half a century…the space that our collections occupy was the parking lot for the legendary Connecticut Avenue Hot Shoppes. (more…)



5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW

OK then, looks like we got another neighborhood name battle on our hands. I LIVE FOR THIS. Thanks to Amy for getting the ball rolling by objecting to Chevy Chase (D.C.) as the neighborhood for that new Italian restaurant coming across the street from the original Politics and Prose. So let’s settle this once and for all. hahaha just kidding, but let’s do our best to get a consensus. Now I don’t consider google the arbiter of neighborhood boundaries but I will note that they consider this Chevy Chase. I asked earlier today on twitter and folks seem pretty split between Van Ness and Forest Hills. Originally I was firmly in the Chevy Chase camp but now I’m honestly undecided. What say you?



This rental is located at 30th St NW at Brandywine. The Craigslist ad says:

“$1450 / 1br – IDEAL “Secret Garden” Apartment near Van Ness Metro

Newly renovated 1 bedroom English-basement apartment in single family home located in a diverse, safe, family-friendly neighborhood blocks from Van Ness metro station and Conn. Ave. restaurants and shops. Abundant street parking. Private, garden entrance. (more…)



4200 Wisconsin Avenue, NW at Van Ness Street

The long vacant Firelake Grill (OG Ruby Tuesday and once planned for Guapo’s and Five Guys) will finally have a new tenant – Surfside!! Eater DC reports:

“Ten years after Surfside first brought its gourmet tacos and margaritas to D.C., restaurateur Bo Blair is ramping up expansion plans by opening at least two more locations next spring.

Blair recently signed a lease for a new Tenleytown spot at 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, he tells Eater. Another deal is close to being closed at the Wharf across from the historic Maine Avenue Fish Market.”

In an email Bo shares a few more details with me:

“We are going to do a 24 taco stand, like Dupont. It will be fast casual with no waiter service. We will be serving Margaritas, beers and specialty cocktails. We are shooting for an April 1, 2019 opening. The outdoor patio will be killer.”

Check out their menus here and STAY TUNED.


God bless my neighbor for sending this from the North Cleveland Park Nextdoor message board.

The accompanying text said:

“Did any of you leave a potato in the garden of my apartment building? Why would someone do this?”

Yes, why? WHY would someone do this indeed. And with this a new bar has been set. So keep your flower thief messages on hold but keep your eyes peeled for more potatoes please.


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