Tenleytown

Robert the bobwhite quail has been rescued!! For those who have fallen in love with him, unfortunately, he’s not street legal.

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I volunteer at the New York Avenue location of the Humane Rescue Alliance on Sundays and I noticed a familiar face yesterday. A Bobwhite Quail, matching the description of Robert of Tenleytown had been picked up by an animal control officer. I told staff about the PoPville post about Robert, and they confirmed he was indeed found in Tenleytown. They determined that he is too tame to released into the wild so he is under their care and will be adopted out, likely to a rescue. Also, they decided to keep the name Robert.

Some commenters were (rightly) concerned about Robert’s ability to survive alone in the city, so I thought they might want to know that he is safe.

Oh, I forgot to mention–they said it’s illegal to keep Robert as a pet in D.C. so he’ll be adopted out to someone outside of the city.”

And more on the backstory from the Tenleytown listserv:

“The mystery is solved. The bobwhite that many of us have been seeing and interacting with is NOT a wild bird. A couple living on Grant Road ordered quail eggs from a breeder with the objective of having a little covey in their backyard. Four grew to adulthood, but they didn’t stay in the yard and have wandered out into the neighborhood. It’s not clear whether the one we’ve come to call “Robert” is really just one bird, but we do know that only the male makes the loud “bob-white” call. Robert spent a lot of time in my garden on Friday. He’d become bolder with his “herding” behavior, and was rushing at my sandaled feet and pecking my toes–don’t know if he was being friendly or trying to scare me off. I didn’t see or hear him yesterday.”

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.

Meet Robert – Tenleytown’s resident bobwhite quail

By Prince Of Petworth

“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.

Meet the ‘Frequency Apartments’ “a $14 million year-long 36,000 square foot gut renovation”

By Prince Of Petworth


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…)

Suspect Sought in attempted Kidnapping of a Juvenile Girl Walking to School at 8:05am Monday

By Prince Of Petworth


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…)

Cafe Ole Closing at Current Location after almost 20 years January 31st

By Prince Of Petworth


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!”

“Z-Burger Honors Marginalized Nations Following Trump’s Alleged Controversial Remarks” with Free Burgers Friday

By Prince Of Petworth


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…)

Open Letter from American University about Johnson’s Florist and Garden Centers Closing; “Ad Hoc Committee to Save Johnson’s Florist and Garden Center” Formed and announces a protest (Postponed)

By Prince Of Petworth


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…)

Johnson’s Florist & Garden Centers Closing in Tenleytown After 84 Years January 14th

By Prince Of Petworth


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…)

About those Helicopters Last Night – Tenleytown and U Street Editions

By Prince Of Petworth

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.”

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