For those sticking around and for those planning on it, where do you plan on watching the fireworks this year? Official or neighborhood style? For those going neighborhood style – can you recommend any good corners/viewing spots?
And for those curious you can ID the illegal ones here.
Bloomingdale- Handsy Creep at 3rd and Rhode Island:
“In the interest of protecting other local ladies, I wanted to raise awareness of a potential creep in the neighborhood. Those who live in the area are familiar with the spot on Rhode Island Avenue, between 2nd and 3rd street across from the gas station, where a group of men (and sometimes women) sit and hang out. I’ve walked by this spot more times than I can count, however, while passing the ledge last night, a man (one of three present) made an attempt to grab my backside.
I calmly turned around, told him no, and walked away. He quickly backed off. I would not have interpreted this to be an aggressive situation, but the advance was unwanted. I told a friend today about the interaction and she said something similar happened to a female friend of hers while she was waiting at the Shaw Metro. Regardless if the two incidences are related, I felt this was worth sharing. For those that frequently cross this hang out spot, I’d advise crossing the street if you’re passing after dark.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user ep_jhu
Because a few folks sent me links to this travesty of a listicle – allow me to retort – they write on Vice.com: Here are a few reasons why DC is the Petri dish for the virus infecting America:
“Washington, DC, Is a Celebration of Itself
Washington is basically an open-air museum of America. There are monuments, historical sites, and gift shops dedicated to patriotic tchotchkes everywhere.”
What, you don’t like 10 shirts for 10 dollars? 10 shirts for 10 dollars – that’s a good deal!! Also, you nimrods, the National Mall, which is awesome, does not define the District.
Finally, stop slouching and have some pride.
“Marion Barry
During a 1990 joint FBI/DC police sting operation, Barry was captured on videotape with his former girlfriend using crack cocaine.”
The man has his flaws no doubt about it. The man also cares for and fights for another item on your list below. The man is passionate. Are you the same people you were 25 years ago? What happened in 1990 was absolutely an embarrassment but in fairness does not define his entire life.
“Taxation Without Representation
More than 646,000 Americans live within the legal boundaries of the District of Columbia. They are all required to pay federal taxes. None of them have a representative in Congress with voting rights.”
Good one and this should be on your listicle of why Congress sucks, you jackwagons.
“Summer Is Hell
It’s so hot in Washington this year that the Department of Public Works announced they’d be picking up trash an hour earlier than normal this week”
Yeah because it doesn’t get hot in New York City over the summers. Your beef is with the rotation and tilt of the earth not the District of Columbia – you neanderthals.
“The Poverty Rate Is Out of Control
US Census information that revealed that 18 percent of Washington residents live below the poverty line”
Yes and that same data will tell you that the poverty rate in San Francisco is at 23 percent. This is a national problem you, if I may borrow a phrase, myopic twits.
“Where You Went to School or Where You Work Determines Your Social Class
Like most cities where there’s a dominant industry and a surplus of competition, it’s common to believe that your career or alma mater makes you a better person”
Nobody cares where you went to school. Seriously, nobody cares. And if you’re hanging out with those kind of people well then that’s on you – not us.
Washington DC Is Just Los Angeles for Ugly People
The same rules of status, image, and networking apply here as in LA.
What a novel critique, I’ve never heard that one before!! Damn it – Look at that photo above and tell me I’m ugly. I was once told (possibly by my mom but nevermind that!) that is the face of a middle aged Paul Newman – and there are plenty of us out there you superficial wannabees.
The Redskins
Today, the US Patent Office canceled the trademark registration for the Washington Redskins football team.
The Redskins name is most definitely offensive to many. And that lies at the feet of their owner. The team (not even mentioning their super bowl victories) is an integral part of the fabric of DC. For many years and even today it remains one of the unifying forces in the District – fandom bridges income, race, age etc. Hell, even the DC rivalry with DC based Dallas fans is mostly good natured and also bridges divides. Wait till next year fools.
What to do I say to poop pickin’ haters?
“There is a dog poop problem in my neighborhood. It is so bad that people have even hung signs encouraging people to pick up their dog poop.
Anyways, I have two lovely adoptees and a third, a mastiff, that was abandoned at the house that we purchased — we call him the most expensive dog we ever purchased, because he came with the house. We take care of our pups — vet, groomer for the hairy one, glucosamine for the older ones, and special diets for each.
More importantly, we pick up our dog poop. We pick up so much poop that we order poop bags from Amazon by the thousand. We pick up so much poop that we have a designated poop can to throw the poop in. We pick up so much poop that sometimes when there is another dog’s poop next to our dogs poop, we pick up that poop — because it is the neighborly thing to do. I even offered to share my poop in a package for someone having package thief problems to act as a “Trojan package”.
There are some people that have yelled at me while my dog is pooping on the frontage. Most recently, while my dog was mid-poop and I already had a poop bag on my hand, a neighbor, who has not been very neighborly at all since we moved in, opened her second story window and yelled, “You better pick up that up.”
So, I want your suggestions — How can I say back that is entertaining to me or the people witnessing to keep the mood light when someone is so angry they they need to yell at me before my dog is even finished pooping?”
Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend
“Dear PoPville,
This weekend I heard about something that happened to a friend of mine a few weeks back. He was exiting Coffy Cafe (14th street and Park rd) at about 8 pm on a Friday night and trying to catch a cab when three teenagers blocked his way and started asking him for bus fare (he couldn’t quite make out what they said but thinks it was something about a bus fare). When he ignored them and tried to move on, they kept blocking him and verbally threatening him. My friend then turned back and went back inside the coffee shop, and they followed him inside. He ordered a cab on his phone from inside the coffee shop, and the teens hanged around the coffee shop for a few minutes and left.
I’m not really sure what the goal was here on their part, and I know harassment happens, but what surprised/alarmed me personally about this is that it happened in the middle of a busy street. I’m new to DC and I try to be aware of my surroundings and avoid secluded areas at night but I’m wondering what to do if harassed like this in the middle of a busy place.”
@ExistentialMG tweets us:
“dude chewed and spit out sunflower seeds my whole commute.”
I guess of all the disgusting things we’ve seen this isn’t the worst but c’mon!!
“Dear PoPville,
We live in Chinatown near 4th and Mass and recently received notice from the 3rd Street Tunnel Project that night work would begin occasionally starting May 27th and through the end of the 14 month project.
Last night we were woken up by jack hammering at the corner of 4th and Mass in a heavily residential corner at 12:45 AM and were awake through at least 3 AM with amazingly loud noise. We were told by the police and the construction crew, that as long as they have a permit that there is nothing we can do. Is that true? Please help, I can’t spend 14 months not sleeping!!!”
“Dear PoPville,
I’m writing after a long night of itching and anxiety. My house recently became infested with bedbugs. This is something I’ve NEVER experienced before until recently when my upstairs roommate complained that they were in her room. She called the landlord, and a he sent a guy over to spray and inspect. Just a few days later, they’re in my room and I’m getting bit. I’m trying to do all the right things — isolate my bed, double/triple wash and dry my clothes, purchasing natural remedies — but online research isn’t making me feel optimistic. I’ve complained to my landlord again, but he doesn’t seem to have any sense of urgency about this situation. I’m just getting really sad and anxious that this is going to go on for a long time, and I’ll have to stay covered up this summer so that people don’t see my bites.
Have you heard of any success stories or remedies that worked PERMANENTLY for people in DC getting rid of bed bugs?”
Ed. Note: We first spoke about one reader’s experience with bed bugs in 2010 and Tony’s battle with them shortly thereafter. We spoke about them here in 2011 and most recently last summer.
Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99
“Dear PoPville,
As I was driving into work this morning from Brookland, I smelled a terrible smell. It lasted all the way down North Capitol Street, nearly to the Capitol. It smelled like a trash can had dumped over somewhere and the stench was covering a huge part of the city. My husband said he could smell it at the NoMa metro. Anyone else notice this or know what’s going on?”
This is one of at least a half dozen I’ve received since last week. A reader sends this one from an alley in Shaw.