Random

1923 12th Street, NW

Good Deal or Not? No Photos but Great Location and Unusual House Edition

The flier says:

“MAJESTIC WONDER ON THE AVENUE! Older rehab of large home only steps to U St. Large & one of a kind! Definite fixer upper but worth it! Large rooms with open flr plan, sizable expandable yard with parking! this is the opportunity to own unique property for homeowner! Acquistion/Rehab money available! Property sold “as is” and seller may refuse all offers.”

More info found here.

Normally I don’t like to post homes without pictures but I think this one deserves an exception. It is a really unusual home in a great location. Obviously, it’s going to need a lot of work but I’m curious what you think about the price. It says it was assessed for $917,000 in 2008. The asking price is $775,000. Do you think that seems like a good deal given all the work it likely needs? Think it will be bought and divided into condos?

14th and U Street, NW

Reports of Snowball Fight Gone Bad at 14th and U Streets

A reader writes in about the snowball fight at 14th and U. Word on the street is that apparently it started in good fun but then someone hit a Hummer driving by belonging to a police officer and then the reader says multiple patrol cars responded. Anyone else witness this around 3pm Sat.?

Photo by PoPville flickr user MJWein

Anyone Else See the Naked Dude “totally hairless and covered in tattoos” Jogging through Columbia Heights?

“Dear PoPville,

I saw this guy Sunday night and can’t really get it out of my mind and want to know if others saw him/if this is a repeat offender… I was in my car, making a left onto 14th street from Irving, directly across from the CH metro, when I glanced out the driver’s side window and saw a completely naked man jogging down the sidewalk and turning onto Irving. Not only was he naked, but he was totally hairless and covered (as in, all over) in tattoos. The most disturbing part was that literally nobody else on the crowded sidewalk seemed to notice him and/or care. Was I hallucinating?”

Photo of ‘the stingrays and fish in the Amazonia House’ by PoPville flickr user Lauren PM

Friday Question of the Day – What’s Your Favorite “off-the-beaten-path” Activity in DC? (Reader Request)

“Dear PoP,

What are some different, off-the-beaten-path, or other things to do in DC other than the usual monuments or museums? list can include free, paid, tours, restaurants, delis, wineries in the area, etc.”

Wow that’s a general question! But I like it. I like it because one person’s “off the beaten path” activity my be obvious to some but not to all. So I hope this will be a good repository for the fun not so obvious things to do around town. So the picture I chose above may seem obvious to some – the National Zoo is not exactly off the beaten path but I know tons of people who’ve never visited the Amazonia House – which is my favorite part of the zoo. Back in July ’09 we also had a general discussion of fun things to do – but I’d say we’re do for a refresh.

So for the Friday Question of the Day – let’s say – what are your top three not so obvious favorite things to do/eat/see in DC?

I’ll say Franciscan Monastery in Brookland, Capital City Market in Near Northeast and Deli City Restaurant is located at 2200 Bladensburg Road NE.

What are your top 3 favorite “off the beaten path” activities in the DC area?

PoP Profile: Monkeyrotica – Blog Commenter Extraordinaire

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing DC’s most prolific blog commenter – Monkeyrotica. Anyone who is a regular reader of DCist or many of DC neighborhood blogs will surely be familiar with this nom de plume. He was even featured in the City Paper’s mock lawsuit against City Paper readers. Those who are familiar with his comments will know that he is iconoclastic and irreverent to say the least. Based on his comments I was fairly certain I was going to meet someone from the fringes of society. I couldn’t have been more wrong. You know most people think that prolific blog commenters live in their mother’s basements and haven’t had a date or any social interaction in years. Well with Monkeyrotica this couldn’t be further from the truth. When I entered Duffy’s for the interview I spotted an all American family and slapped my face a few times in disbelief. Who would’ve guessed? Monkeyrotica is a family man!

I actually found Monkeyrotica through his wife’s blog, Nylonthread. Pictured above are Monkeyrotica, 41, his wife Nylonthread, 38, daughter Rosie, 6, and son Dash, 3. Ed. note: I have to add that throughout the entire interview I was regaled by Dash’s recollections of recent movies he had seen, particularly the Lord of the Rings trilogy. His knowledge was amazing.

Monkeyrotica is a lifelong DC area resident. He has lived in Capitol Hill, Mt. Pleasant, and Shaw though since 2003 the family has lived in Alexandria, VA. He explained his love/hate relationship with DC as such: “I love the city but she’s expensive and needs to clean her shit up, but you know she never will, but you still love her even if you want to punch her in the face from time to time.” Did I mention that some people find him offensive? (more…)

“Ernie the flying hot dog from Columbia Heights!”

and from Jan. 20, 2012 the first known pics of Ernie (around 5 or 6 weeks.):

The original 11th street chicken when spotted back in 2008

More Chicken Troubles in Columbia Heights

“Dear PoPville,

I live in a row house within Ward 1 in Columbia Heights. We have a next door neighbor whom we share an adjacent wall/fence with who has recently (approximately sometime in the the last few months) been housing a very loud rooster and we think a few hens in the backyard. Notwithstanding the noise complaint, what are the regulations in this area permitting or prohibiting raising domestic fowl? Usually a running joke, the 5:30 am rooster wake up call has not always been equally as pleasant (not to mention the welfare of a rooster who seemingly survived the elements of this horrid winter!)

I know that their was a petition to amend the regulations sometime in the recent past but the coding is hard to decipher if you are new to the area and were never “officially” informed of your neighbor’s previous arrangements.”

Ed. Note: The bill stalled and it is still not legal to have chickens/roosters in your backyard in DC.

“A woman running quickly towards looked me in the face, said “head’s up”, then purposely body slammed me”

“Dear PoPville,

Head’s up about a potentially dangerous runner in Dupont – Today (9/21) I was walking around 17 and S St. NW at 11 AM when I was assaulted by a jogger. A woman running quickly towards looked me in the face, said “head’s up”, then purposely body slammed me in the shoulder with a lot of force. I yelled loudly but she continued and was gone before we figured out what just happened. It was clearly intentional and she really hurt my shoulder. She was about 5’4″, Caucasian, athletic, mid-30s, with mid length brown hair. The whole experience was bizarre, but clearly an unprovoked assault on a stranger that she will probably repeat.”

Good Deal or Not? “offers every modern amenity” edition (Reader Request)

This home is located at 1911 2nd Street, NW. The flier says:

“Complete custom design renovation of 4BR/4.5 BA hm. Dramatic main floor entry w/ soaring ceilings, utilizing the finest materials and smart technology throughout, offers every modern amenity with creative custom finishes. gourmet cooks kitchen and breakfast room dining area features a dramatic two level ceiling and glass block mosaic wall all leading to deck and two car parking below Au-paire suite”

You can find a virtual tour here.

What do you think of that staircase? Wow, this is definitely a wild one, thanks to a Bloomingdale resident for sending it in. Do you think this 4 bed/4.5 bath is a good deal for $1,075,000?

14th and P Street, NW

Update on Former Mid City Deli Space at 14th and P St, NW – Dolcezza Gelato and Coffee Coming?

We previously have heard that another restaurant from the owners of Taylor Gourmet (though not necessarily a Taylor Gourmet Deli) would be coming to the former Mid City Deli space at the corner of 14th and P St, NW. A permit had been applied for under the name Taylor Gourmet. We learned this back in Dec. 2012. Now a very good source tells me that he hears a Dolcezza Gelato and coffee shop could actually be taking over the space instead. I’m trying to get confirmation from Dolcezza and will update when I hear back from them.