Not as cool as vol. 1 but still a pretty rare one. Think it’s new or old? I’m hoping by the historic house marker that it could be another old one.
Random
I hope it’s the one on the left…
Photo by PoPville flickr user Tyrannous
Every year around this time we get ‘Dear PoPville’ emails asking about water/shower tasting/smelling like chlorine. You’re not losing it! From DC Water:
“From March 17 through April 28, 2014, the disinfectant in drinking water will temporarily switch from chloramine to chlorine.
The annual switch in water disinfection is part of a routine program to clean and maintain drinking water systems in the District of Columbia, Arlington County and the northeastern portion of Fairfax County. During the temporary switch to chlorine, local water authorities will also conduct system-wide flushing to enhance water quality. This program is a common practice for many U.S. water systems that use chloramine during the majority of the year. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user streetamatic
Earlier this week the Washingon CityPaper’s Jessica Sidman revealed This Secret Document Helps D.C. Restaurants Keep Tabs on Food Writers. It revealed a number of names including her own:
Jessica Sidman:
Jessica Sidman rarely reviews restaurants, but is eagle eyed when it comes to finding information about restaurants and writing about trends in the industry. The ultimate beat reporter, she is engaging and funny but can be unforgiving if not impressed. A seasoned journalist, her current post at the City Paper brings out the snark more often than any other outlet. Her writing leans more towards food culture than about the food itself.
Position: Food Editor at Washington City Paper
Writing Level: Expert
Food & Beverage Knowledge: Intermediate
Likes: Innovative menus, asking tough questions, insight into the “why” of a dish or concept
Dislikes: Novelty for the sake of novelty, overpriced dishes, obvious or condescending menu descriptions
Seat With: Most enthusiastic/knowledgable server
I’ve been a little shy about my own discovery but I figure I better take this opportunity to share it as well. I had the following translated by renowned linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt.
Dan Silverman:
Dan Silverman rarely eats in restaurants, but his knowledge of who resided in the space before the current tenant is unmatched. While he lacks an extensive vocabulary, he has the eyesight of a young Ted Williams and can occasionally spot a typo faster than Arvind Mahankali. It is well known that Silverman sports one of the finest haberdashery collections on the east coast so do not ask him to remove his hat. Having said that he drinks with the passion of a John Riggins and will occasionally misplace his hat. Have a hat spotter at all times. Though Silverman boasts the maturity of a young Tom Sherwood – please don’t use any double entendres when explaining menu items. It is very likely Silverman will have forgotten the name of the restaurant he is visiting so be sure to send him a press release that he can cut and paste.
Position: Prince of Petworth
Writing Level: Not too bad for one with a public education
Food & Beverage Knowledge: Advanced beginner with the exception of Iced Teas
Likes: Iced Tea, onions, small words, brown and clear liquors, obvious menu descriptions and beer.
Dislikes: capers
Seat With: Most patient server
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Photo by PoPville flickr user ep_jhu
Now I hate when people tell others to move to the suburbs if they don’t like something about living in DC but if you don’t enjoy at least a few of the following things below, it’s not time to move to the suburbs, it’s time to move to a completely new city. I kicked a box of wine by myself coming up with this list:
13. The Mall and Monuments – an easy one but if you haven’t been in a while you forget just how beautiful they really are.
12. Admittedly, not for my conservative cousins but despite being known for the stalemate often seen in Congress with national politics – our local politics are pretty progressive.
11. Row Houses – we have some damn beautiful row house lined streets.
10. Walkability – You can, particularly when the weather gets nicer, walk end to end. Pretty far anyway.
9. History – big props to the Cultural Tourism folks and their African American Heritage Trail as well all the other great history everywhere you turn.
8. Libraries – most of our neighborhood libraries now kick ass. Not to mention the Library of Congress.
7. The 9:30 Club – best small(ish) live performance spot I’ve ever been to.
6. Weather – we can complain a lot but taking a step back overall we have a pretty moderate climate – we get some snow but not too much and our Autumns and Springs are among the best in the world.
5. The Nationals – finally a sports team that can unite nearly the entire District as we saw in 2012 – just wait till this year.
4. The Cherry Blossoms blooming – if you don’t take at least one second to admire them (even just regular blooming trees in our neighborhoods) then I’m sorry – you have no soul.
3. Our Museums – and many of them are free which is really an amazing thing when you drop $30 or more in other cities.
2. Our Revival – the District was devastated after the riots and fires of ’68. To live here now while our avenues get reborn is seriously an amazing thing to witness and be a part of.
1. The People – Something we can take far too easily for granted – DC is filled with some of the smartest and most passionate people in the country. Our conversations are not dull. You can meet people knowledgeable about pretty much anything and everything. As one who comes from a long line of folks who like to bullshit, argue and debate – it makes for good times.
Photo by PoPville flickr user zoeicaimages
From a press release:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today wrote a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) following an incident in which D.C. resident Ashley Brandt was initially prevented from boarding a flight because a TSA agent wrongfully believed that a District of Columbia-issued license was an invalid form of identification. The letter requests that TSA Administrator John Pistole ensure that all TSA employees are informed now and in their training that official identification issued by D.C. must be treated the same as state-issued identification, and to remind them that D.C. residents are American citizens and deserve to be treated as such. The letter urges the same for residents of the five U.S. territories.
Norton, in her letter, wrote, “I have since called Ms. Brandt to apologize that a U.S. government employee would question the right of a resident of the nation’s capital to board an airplane… This incident involving Ms. Brandt was so bizarre and ludicrous that it has captured press attention and reflects poorly on the management of TSA.”
Norton’s statement on the incident, released yesterday, is online, here.
And don’t forget the problems with the temporary paper licenses too…
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Photo by PoPville flickr user ep_jhu
Finished off a bottle of tums while coming up with this list:
13. Hopslam/DC Brau/Craft Beer in general – yes it is more expensive than Budweiser but it is delicious.
12. The Washington Post – I don’t really get all the hate – I learn something new, interesting from them at least once a week if not once a day.
11. DC USA/Target – I like the ability to conveniently buy tube socks and toilet paper.
10. The Police Department – Like any organization there are good workers and bad workers – while some in the department are obviously an embarrassment, there are many many good hard working people doing very dangerous work to protect us.
9. Bike Lanes – The separation of bikes and cars is a good thing.
8. Hilton Brothers Restaurants/Bars (Marvin, Gibson, Chez Billy etc.) – These guys have taken over dilapidated spaces and transformed them into restaurants and bars that improve the blocks and neighborhoods in which they are located.
7. Pizza – the pizza really isn’t that bad these days. I’ll give you that the bagel scene still sucks, but I’m cool with the pizza.
6. Douglas Development – They’ve got a lot of historic properties. I get frustrated at how long it takes to develop some of them but I’m happy they are saved and not torn down.
5. Council Member Marion Barry – of today not the 90s – he represents many and reminds us that not everyone feels that the District is all roses and rainbows today.
4. Metro – As others have said too – whenever I visit my folks in NYC I come to seriously appreciate our metro despite its flaws.
3. Dunkin Donuts (and some other chains) – I love Dunkin Donuts what can I say. And I know a lot of others do too.
2. Real Estate – As we talked about last week, there are lots of good places to look, you may just have to go outside your comfort zone.
1. PoPville and our Commenters – Some of us, myself included, can be a serious pain in the ass (and worse) from time to time. Though the real pieces of work are not part of the community at all. They can be quite prolific but they are in no way representative of the real community. The real PoPville community that has slowly evolved over time are some of the most resourceful, helpful and supportive people I’ve ever read (even some and often especially some of the anonymous folks.)
“Dear PoPville,
Just passing along a strange sight in Columbia Heights yesterday…Evil Frosty in Columbia Heights. A person in a snowman costume posed like a statue outside the DCUSA center yesterday evening and then randomly lunged towards passersby trying to scare them. There were many screams and laughs!”
I’ve never seen anything like this before. I don’t know what the hell it is but after serious delibration – I’ve decided I like it. From Dupont.
From Shaw.
Ed. Note: This is not really a new feature.
Ed. Note #2: Actually, I may make this a regular feature because now that I think about it, I really do enjoy finding unusual fonts around town.
In addition to the fantastic font – check out the cool/eerie sculpture above it:
