This is the alley taken a week after our big clean up. It is absolutely filthy. I dare say it is dirtier now than before we cleaned it. WTF? I hope there is a special place in hell for…alright It’s not that bad but it sure pisses me off. For real, you got to be kidding me. Is there no decency left? So what do you think: Is it even worth cleaning the alley if it is just going to get super filthy within the week of cleaning it?
I was reading in Washington Post’s Sleuth’s column about a massive surge in the rat population on Capitol Hill as a result of Eastern Market burning down thus causing a rat exodus of massive proportions. Well, it got me thinking about my own little problem in Petworth. Thank God it is not a rat problem but the rat’s slightly less ugly cousin the mouse. I’ve heard, as a result of our close proximity to the Old Soldier’s Home, many houses are afflicted with this plague. I had been in denial for quite a while.
A quick side note. When I lived in an apartment in Cleveland Park, right next to the zoo, I was once visited by a four legged creature. I woke up one night hearing a terrible rustling. It was so loud that it woke me from a dead sleep. When my eyes could finally focus I realized it was a “baby squirrel”. Or at least that is what I told my girlfriend at the time. In fact it was a rat. So I did what any insane person would do. I got dressed in my finest track suit, put on winter gloves and grabbed a huge pot from the kitchen and pursued the vermin. As you can surely guess I had gained a new roomate for the rest of my time in that apartment.
So you can imagine how upset I was at discovering a mouse. I didn’t shriek, fortunately, I simply jumped up on my couch with a golf club ready to attack the intruder. Again, I was unsuccessful. So I laid out a bunch of traps and probably caught about three or four. But damn, these mice get smart. I had continued to see droppings but I couldn’t catch anymore. So what did I do? Fortunately I did not attempt a track suit and cooking pot redux. I called a trapper who charged me about 300 bucks to tell me that they were coming from outside. Gee, thanks.
Now I should mention here that I am a dog person. But, I was pushed to my limit and I adopted a cat from the rescue league. Long story, less long, I haven’t seen any more mice. That it is I haven’t seen anymore mice dead or alive. But I did gain a nice pet. It is almost worth getting made fun of mercilessly by my friends.
So am I the only one who has/had mice? Maybe we can form a support group.
As many in the neighborhood know, as soon as it warms up these damn mini bikes come out and terrorize the neighborhood. They zip up and down the block often going the wrong way on one way streets. I’m not looking forward to it.
But damn, this is the sweetest mini bike I’ve ever seen. Makes me want to take it for a ride…
Some graffiti just north of the Petworth metro.
There is something that brings you back to an idyllic small town when you see laundry drying in the fresh spring air.
The poor people at habitat for humanity have to put up with so much. They were one of the few businesses to move to Upshur St. and they are continually rewarded with grafitti. Insert a very long string of explicatives here. Let’s hope they catch this thug soon.
Incidentally, not using curse words is pretty funny because I curse all the time in real life. Yet I seem to have taken on a more polite blog personality. How bizarre.
Um, who the hell is walking down the street and stops and says I’m going to spray paint some grafitti here? Then he says, I wonder what I’ll write, maybe – gang letters, or a sports team I like, or a girl I dig, no I think I’ll write Pear.
Well who doesn’t like pears? I just would love to know the thought process that went into this graffiti. Anyway, I’m going to eat a pear now – so maybe we can see it like a public service announcement…
A commentor left a post earlier today saying that Petworth was “raggedy” and was planning on leaving the neighborhood. And it got me thinking. I’ll complain from time to time, particularly if I think it is funny but this is my neighborhood, this is my home, and I love it. So I’d like to list the top ten reasons to have Petworth Pride:
10. Ample parking
As previously noted we have great parking, period. For those who have lived in more congested areas they realize just how much of a pain in the ass that can be. For those who don’t drive we have the metro now serviced my Green and (sometimes) Yellow lines.
9. Local Politicians
We have terrific ANC leaders (for the most part). For example my new ANC leader Kevin Hummons just distributed one badass newsletter. And based on all the interviews I’ve been doing, I’m pretty confident whoever wins is going to represent Petworth properly in the city council.
8. Trees
We have awesome residents who love trees and have planted Cherry blossom trees and others in the local parks. We also have that awesome tree in the middle of Grant circle.
7. Location
Petworth is like a suburb in the city, we can enjoy the insanity of the city and then retire to our calm homes and maybe sip a beer on our porches. We are spitting distance (sometimes literally) from Columbia Heights, Wonderland Ballroom and all the development there. We are a stone’s throw from the awesome U Street corridor. Or if you dig the Maryland thing we’re not far from Maryland. To the west we are an apple’s throw to Rock Creek Park and awesome hikes, and a little further west to the lovely Cleveland Park neighborhood. And if you dig the Hill we have North Capitol street to cruise on down to that neck of the woods.
6. Petworth News
Bill Crandall of Petworth News has done a terrific job keeping us up to date with all the goings on in Petworth. It looks like the Grant Circular is going to be a terrific addition in that vein as well.
5. Temperance Hall
One real sweet bar with whiskey and one hell of a vibe.
4. Positive Development
I for one am psyched about the development coming on Georgia Ave. And of course I can’t wait for the Mocha hut.
3. Old Soldiers and Sailors Home
Great golf and great people.
2. Domku
No list about Petworth would be complete without Domku. Domku and its owner Kera have been true trailblazers. They have brought us borscht and much more. They have brought us good eats, pool, darts, spectacular music and of course the passion to make a restaurant succeed on Upshur St. as well as having the perserverance and courage to continue to strive for its improvement.
1. The People
Petworth would be nothing without its people. Without sounding too sappy this means all its people. Its long term residents who could teach us a thing or two about Petworth, its new comers, and of course its children. Petworth may be “raggedy” but it is real. We don’t have to be Georgetown. Hell, we don’t want to be Georgetown. We are Petworth and those of us who live here knows exactly what that means.
So I’ll continue to pick up garbage and bitch from time to time but please know that this complaining comes from love of the neighborhood. When I get in a bad mood I’ll post the top ten worst reasons…
I’m afraid I have some disappointing news to report from the Petworth front. I was walking home from the metro last week going north on New Hampshire Ave and I see this gentleman standing next to a wall in front of one of the rowhouses. Well, nothing wrong with that expect I notice he is taking a leak against the wall. Now I should mention it was like 6:30 at night and only a few houses down from the church. Ok that is pretty bad but then I see that he walks right into one of the rowhouses next to the church. Now what the hell is up with that? Are there no bathrooms in that house? I mean for real, this is one of the little things that is infuriating. Why piss right on the street, when you either live right there or are visiting someone right there? This guy was not homeless either. He was probably in his 50s fairly well dressed. I just can’t for the life of me understand it. Can anyone help me understand this?
A very large pitbull roaming without a leash just attacked a lovely dog on a leash and that dog and its owner are now seeking shelter at the Columbia Heights coffee house. This is another joy of living in the Columbia Heights/Petworth area, the damn dogs that roam without leashes. To be honest it is not a very large problem but those few times it does happen is quite startling to witness.