What the Helen of Troy is This

“Dear PoP,

I don’t know that this necessarily qualifies as one of your Helen of Troy but it definitely surprised me when I saw it. The attached pictures are of a wooden sculpture directly across from Sixth and I Synagogue (on I Street) in a parking lot. These were taken yesterday, but I have no idea if it is still there or how long it will be there for or even why it was there. Figured it might interest you though.”

Nice, this is one of the few I (think) I know the answer to. The tip is the last line in the description below – Sukkah City.

It seems to be an artistic interpretation of a sukkah. From Wikipedia:

“A sukkah (Hebrew: סוכה‎, plural, סוכות, sukkot; sukkoth, often translated as “booth”) is a temporary hut constructed for use during the week-long Jewish festival of Sukkot. It is topped with branches and often well decorated with autumnal, harvest or Judaic themes. The Book of Vayyiqra (Leviticus) describes it as a symbolic wilderness shelter, commemorating the time God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness they inhabited after they were freed from slavery in Egypt.[1] It is common for Jews to eat, sleep and otherwise spend time in the sukkah. In Judaism, Sukkot is considered a joyous occasion and is referred to in Hebrew as Yom Simchateinu (the day of our rejoicing) or Z’man Simchateinu (the time of our rejoicing), but the sukkah itself symbolizes the frailty and transience of life and its dependence on God.”

I don’t know if this is a birdhouse village or what but it’s definitely awesome. It’s located in a little park across the street from today’s house of the day on 26th St, NW.

This is from an underpass south of the Eastern Market metro and Barracks Row.

And I found the below curb on Maryland Ave, NE. Anyone know the story behind either?

“Dear PoP,

In my runs around DC, I see these obelisk at random locations – this one is at 15th and Deanfield NW – and I wonder their history. Was DC first settled by ancient Pharaohs or did Romans colonize it later, dragging obelisk here to show their mastery of a new land? And if one has an obelisk in their yard, does it have or transfer value? Can they be removed? Or do they really demarcate the touch points for the galactic spaceship that installed their larger version in the center of our Mall?

Thanks,
Wayan”

Some folks were disappointed with the previous Helen of Troy post (though I still think it was a fair question), anyway, what do you think this is – marking the property boundary? Anyone else seen these around?

This windowless building is seen from I-295 in SE I-395 in SW. Anyone know what it is?

Any guesses on why this photo would be on a tree stump? In gratitute for the tree when it was in full glory? A memorial to Granny D? If the latter, that seems like a bizarre tribute, right? It’s located off 15th St, NW by Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park.