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A reader sends in these frightening photos of the Discovery building saying:

“Cops with shields and guns staking out the building. Guns drawn at discovery building!”

NPR is reporting:

“Montgomery police spokesman Cpl. Dan Friz told WUSA-TV that a report came in about 1 pm of a gunman who entered the building in Silver Spring, Md. The 911 call reported that shots had been fired, according to the Washington Post.

There are some reports that the gunman may have an explosive device but the police spokesman said that hadn’t been confirmed.”

More as the situation develops.

Update: 5pm Gunman shot, hostages released, none injured according to reports on twitter.

Photo by PoPville flickr user christopher.poole

“Dear PoP,

I was wondering if you have heard any reports of gas being stolen from cars. I live at the 900 block of Spring Rd., NW and I was out of town last week. I came back to find that my 3/4 full gas tank was 100% EMPTY. My gas tank can be accessed easily, since there is a tab on the panel to opening, and it does not require flipping a level on this inside of my car to open it. The car was parked behind the house where it is generally dark and quite at night, and there is a good covering of vines and such on the fence that would make it easy for someone stooped by my car to go unnoticed.

I have heard of this in other cities, but not yet in DC. There is no other explanation for my empty tank.

Wondering if I have to find a way to lock my gas cap!?”

Yikes, this is the first I’m hearing of an incident like this. Has anyone else heard of or had gas stolen from them? Is it easy to add a locking gas cap?

Back in the day, I was once lucky enough to be invited over for a “best spot for a morning cup of coffee” coffee at this Columbia Heights home. I recently walked by it again (near today’s GDoN home) and I had to pause to appreciate how sweet it is again. Thought you guys would like it too.

Photo by PoPville flickr user JosephLeonardo

Following is a new guest column by Jessica Bonness of JGB Interiors. Jennifer will answer PoP reader questions about decorating and design. If you have a question send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com and write ‘design question’ in the title.

“Dear PoP,

Following up on your posting about Design Within Reach, I’m wondering if your readers know of good places to buy furniture without breaking the bank. I’ve recently bought a new house, and I’m trying to find a dining room set, sofa, etc., but not looking to shell out $3,000+ for a sofa while still looking to get some quality furniture.”

Jessica responds:

I’ll share a couple of things you need to know about buying sofas, the most important of which is this: you don’t need a $5,000 couch any more than you need a $50 cheeseburger. Sure, there are huge differences in the craftsmanship of a $250 loveseat and a $17,000 Italian sectional. And yes, the loveseat will probably start to creak and get torn up by your girlfriend’s cat while the expensive sofa will last 100 years. The thing is, you probably don’t even want a sofa to last that long. Luckily there are tons of pieces in the $800 – $2,000 range that are durable, great looking, and available right here in DC.

I always advocate mixing pieces from several stores and price ranges, and think it’s great to have some Ikea bookcases mixed in with a Mitchell Gold couch, thrift store coffee table, lamps from your mom’s house, and $600 painting you fell in love with on vacation.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Faucetini

Even better than the Georgetown mall is the Petworth Free Store #2. From an email:

“Petworth Free Store #2
like a yard sale but everything’s FREE!
Saturday 28 August 2010
8am-11am
@intersection of Rock Creek Church rd, 4th st, Randolph st & Illinois ave, nw
email: [email protected]
facebook: Petworth Free Store
twitter: @petworthfree
post your donations & wants on Facebook and Twitter
volunteers can email, friend or tweet the times they’re available or
just stop by Saturday btw 7:30am & 11:30am.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user fromcaliw/love

“Dear PoP,

I live in Columbia Heights and have been using Comcast for internet but would like to switch. I’m really surprised that other large providers like RCN and Verizon don’t cover the area. I was wondering if you or any of your readers have had a positive experience with another internet provider in the area.”

Back in March ’08 we debated RCN, Verizon, and Comcast. I know that Columbia Heights is slated to get FIOS soon so I’d probably hold out for that. What do you guys think – hold out for FIOS or go with someone else?

“Dear PoP,

I live off 16th and Spring NW, and this morning there were two cars (at least that I saw) on the east side of 16th between Oak and Spring that looked like their engines had been set on fire, then almost directly across the street on the west side of 16th, there were two scooters that were burned down completely to the frame. Needless to say, it slowed the commute down 16th Street significantly.

Any word on what might have happened?”

Another reader snapped a couple of photos and writes:

“I came across this scene this morning while running on 16th St just south of the Piney Branch Bridge (~6:30am).
Total destruction = 2 cars and 2 mopeds.”

According to DCAlerts, this section of 16th St between Arkansas Ave and Oak street NW were shut to traffic for a few hours but has reopened.”

What do you guys think – random arson? Insurance fraud? Targeted vandalism?

As Chidogo comes closer to opening at 1936 14th Street, NW the old Seafood & Crab sign has come down. Let’s take a moment to reflect.

The sidewalk is dotted with people pushing carts full of furniture, carrying dusty suitcases, or gingerly walking with paintings slung under their arms. I’m sitting at the corner of 9th and Massachusetts on the granite blocks outside the Convention Center. Sitting to my immediate left is a rusted model of a 1920s bus inside a circle of people I’m assuming contains its owner. To my right is a duo of women babysitting a largish discolored piece of wood wrapped in a leather purse. They are all here for the final leg of the 2010 season of the Antiques Roadshow, the popular PBS program that’s billed as “part adventure, part history lesson, part treasure hunt,” which came to the Washington Convention Center on August 21.

I head inside, and am greeted by Mary Stewart, a volunteer for WETA, and my media escort for the day. Security is relatively tight and I am not permitted to go anywhere without her. We chat for a bit about the show, and I learn some interesting factoids (it’s highest rated prime-time PBS series, appraisers see over 1,400 objects an hour) as we ride the elevator down into the lower level, a sprawling, spartan hangar of a room. From the escalator, I see a line snaking its way back toward us. A projector silently plays a faded episode of the series on the back wall of the gargantuan room. The episode is explaining the finer points of a 19th century kewpie doll to no one in particular. The attendees in the long line are waiting to be triaged, which means their items are reviewed by type and then told to stand in line at one of the various booths. Mary said that attendees typically wait three hours to have their items appraised, but that wait depends on the items. Paintings and jewelry have the longest lines. Sports memorabilia, on the other hand, is almost deserted.

The booths themselves form a giant ring facing inward, and attendees mill about under the studio lights in the center. One man carelessly drags a small, dark curio chest on a rug behind him. I don’t have the heart to ask if he’s had it appraised yet.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

If you have an event, fundraiser or happy hour you’d like featured on the 5pm Post, please send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com

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“Dear PoP,

I was wondering if you could post an announcement about the Walter Reed redevelopment meeting, so that a diverse group attends. This is an important meeting where the public will get to weigh in on what they want to see on the site. The details are as follows:

Preferred Option & Implementation Public Workshop

Stakeholders will review recommendations from the Team about a preferred plan (“Preferred Option”) which will be developed based upon the Visioning Goals and Stakeholder and LRA Committee feedback on the Options and prior assessments and information. The Preferred Option will be discussed in the context of the Visioning Goals and measured in its success (as possible) in meeting or exceeding those Visioning Goals. A Strategy and Fiscal Impact summary will also be presented for the Preferred Option. Stakeholders will be asked to comment on or rate the success of the Preferred Option in addressing the Visioning Goals. The rating will be an unofficial measure of Stakeholder response to the Preferred Option as the Preferred Option will need to be approved officially by the LRA Committee.

Thursday, August 19, 2010 7:00 PM-9:30 PM.

St. George Ballroom- 4335 16th Street NW”

Photo by PoPville flickr user hellomarkers!

Friday Aug. 20th starting at 6pm at Rock and Roll Hotel (1353 H Street NE) Nerd Nite presents:

“Beer Director Greg Engert of Birch & Barley / ChurchKey, Founder & Brewer Brian Strumke of Stillwater Artisanal Ales, Belgian Beer Connoisseur Chuck Cook, and Tracy Jill Doty from the NIH.

Live Music by:
Cobra Collective, The Torches, New Rock Church of Fire, and special guests Imperial China!

6:00 pm doors / 6:30 pm – The History, Artistry, and Science of Beer
presentations, band, and of course…beer

10:00 pm – Rock and Barley
concert with especially tailored music & craft beer pairings

Tickets are $10 for either event or $16 for both”

Detailed description of the presentations after the jump. (more…)