What the Helen of Troy is This

“I’m wondering if anyone can explain why the defunct Shaw Junior High building recently received a pretty good sized (and very loud) diesel generator?”

By Prince Of Petworth

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925 Rhode Island Ave, NW

“Dear PoPville,

I’m wondering if anyone can explain why the defunct Shaw Junior High (Garnet-patterson) building recently received a pretty good sized (and very loud) diesel generator? The school has been closed for years. Maybe it’s pumping power into the grid at a weak spot, but I’m certainly not an electric grid expert. (Frankly, I don’t even know if grids have weak spots) I have no idea why it’s there and I’m not sure anyone else is as curious as me.

Sincerely,
Curious Shaw dog park enthusiast”

“Why does this exist on 9th St NW?”

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

There is a rubber gasket and significant gap running down 9th street next to the convention center. I believe it extends from N to New York Ave. What is this and why is it here? My best guess is that rather than digging a tunnel for the metro here they essentially built a big platform on top of it for the road and the convention center, so this functions as an expansion joint like you’d see on a bridge. The gap is wide enough for a bike tire to slip into it, which I was unfortunate enough to experience while changing lanes recently.”

Been a while since we’ve talked about these:

“They are expansion joints. Due to changes in weather, hot and cold, materials expand or contract. You will most commonly see these on bridges. The reason why the convention center has these is because of the sky walks over the streets. The expansion joints allow the entire building to move together and prevents cracking.”

More Massive Lines in Adams Morgan – Free Marijuana Seeds (and more) Day Part Two

By Prince Of Petworth

free seeds
2435 18th Street, NW

Back in March we saw lines like this and readers again say it’s free marijuana seeds. One reader writes:

“It wraps around the corner into the alleyway (just south of Amsterdam Falafel). They are giving away seeds, actual female seedling plants, smoking supplies, hemp products, and growing tutorial info. Hundreds out there. This is organized by DC Norml. The giveaway is happening at Libertine restaurant. ”

“Does anyone know anything about this wall?”

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

Does anyone know anything about this wall on H Street (I believe around 9th St. NE)? I was fascinated by all of the documents, images and papers stapled to the wall. Many of them deal with a man named Mark Franklin and his police reports, complaints filed about doctors and nurses and other related documents.”

“Large red glowing structure on top of NW office building?”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Raymond Bryson

“Dear PoPville,

I was at a reception on the rooftop just south of the W Hotel. From that vantage point we saw a huge red glowing structure on top of an office (?) building. It looked like it was probably on 16th or 17th and a few blocks north of the White House, but it was hard to tell. It was a cube, probably two or three stories high, and the whole thing was glowing bright red. It looked like it was probably a translucent glass structure with minimal metal structuring on the outside to keep it all together.

My friend and I asked everyone but couldn’t get an answer. Do you know what it is?”

“Awesome tag, but is it street legal?” Vol. 2

By Prince Of Petworth

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A reader spots in Friendship Heights:

“Awesome tag, but is it street legal? The front numbers matched the numbers on the back plate – it was the regular DC flag tag. Love that it’s a euro-style tag on a decidedly un-European car!”

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