“Dear PoPville,
Has anyone else noticed the weird snake tiles on the traffic barriers blocking the service lane in Cleveland Park where Connecticut meets Ordway? Is it some sort of intricate street art or are they supposed to be there?”
What the Helen of Troy is This
Thanks to Emily for sending from Lamond Riggs: “I found a freshly-emerged periodical cicada in the yard last night. Imagine waiting almost two decades for the orgy, only to oversleep and show up a year late. Poor lonely little guy!”
The Post reported last week:
“Gene Kritsky calls them “stragglers.” (more…)
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Update: OP has called 911.
“The police have come and gone. They said that it definitely was an old projectile. A specialist came and x-rayed it to see if there was anything inside the pipe, but it was empty and not live. So, thank goodness that all is well and safe! Thanks to you and everyone who commented!
Unfortunately, I don’t have any insight into how it got there, just seemingly discarded, not even buried, under the porch. I have lived here for 3 years and the prior owners would be in their 80s, but I don’t know anything about them. It could be a “souvenir” that a vet brought back (the police said they find a lot of grenades). But one cop who is about to retire after 28 years on the force said he’s never seen anything like this before!”
“Dear PoPville,
I found this thing that looks like either some kind of lawn ornament or a missile! I found it only slightly buried underneath my front porch in the Kingman Park neighborhood. I have no idea what it is! It’s fairly heavy and made of metal. One of the pics has my hand in it for scale.” (more…)
Thanks to Mohsen for sending from “the Theodore Roosevelt bridge last night around 10:30. I was shocked by how close and low it got.”
To the video: (more…)
Jenny asks us: “Any idea what this creature hanging out in an AdMo alley is? I have so many questions.”
Back in 2013 there was an anti GMO campaign and this was mounted on top of a car to draw attention to the issue: (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
I found this metal object (with quarter for scale) in my backyard when planting a scrub – Logan Circle area. It is the original shape and the second picture shows 2 openings where it connected to something. Any guesses are welcome!” (more…)
Thanks to Sean for sending:
“Spotted at the Wisconsin Ave TJs on Sunday afternoon. I parked next to this van from NY and didn’t even noticed the Saran Wrap until I was loading my groceries in my trunk!
Also, TJs have gorgeous artichokes in stock right now for $2.50! I’ve never seen such beautiful artichokes in DC, really big!” (more…)
photo by Austin Graff
“Dear PoPville,
On Thursday, mural being painted on New York Avenue near the overpass. I think it was once a bell tower?”
We used to get this question like clockwork but were last asked back in 2019. We’ve previously learned that this is a ventilation shaft for the 395 highway tunnel below. The artist responsible for the awesome mural, Val E. Lewton, passed away in 2015.
Others have commented that: “It’s been known unofficially for years as the Nixon Memorial.”
The flip side: (more…)
photos by Mark Lyon
Mark asks: “What are these boxes on Vermont north of K ST NW?” (more…)
5th and Massachusetts Ave, NW photo by DC Foodie Girl
“Dear PoPville,
Bike Parade on Mass Ave?? I live in Chinatown at the corner of Mass and 5th Ave NW and Wednesday night hundreds (thousands??) of people bikes paraded down Mass with music playing and lights and all kinds of excitement. Any idea what that was about?”
From DC Bike Party: (more…)