What the Helen of Troy is This

“Dear PoPville,

Question for the PoPville hive mind: On a few houses in DC I’ve seen these red lights. I’ve never seen them lit up. They’re usually the height of a second-floor window near the front door. I polled friends and one suggested it’s an old fire alarm, another that it’s an old security system. Google is letting me down, though maybe it’s a completely obvious thing I’m missing.

I’ve never seen them in another city.”

Ed. Note: I always assumed they were part of an old fire alarm alert system, right?

“Dear PoPville,

Two colorful, square flags were left behind by at Be Here Now Yoga a few months ago. Since no one has returned to claim it, I was hoping to crowd-source the answer to 1) who owns this? and 2) what is it!?

If anyone knows what this mysterious flag is and what for, I’m dying to know. And if this is your flag, please feel free to stop by and retrieve!”

Courtesy Ice Cream Jubilee

From a press release:

“Ice Cream Jubilee is excited to offer a sneak peek of our adventurous new flavors for summer. Ice Cream Jubilee serves super-premium ice cream made from all natural, 18% butterfat cream from grass-fed cows at South Mountain Creamery. Each flavor is made by hand in small batches in northeast Washington, DC, inspired by international flavors, boozy cocktails, and childhood treats.

The following flavors will be available to the public in a sneak peek tasting flight at both locations on June 16-June 19. Tickets are available here for $16, which includes a flight of seven new flavors and a pint or regular scoop to take home.

Everything Bagel – You’ll be surprised how much you like this unique flavor! Our original coriander ice cream is sprinkled with sesame and poppy seeds to create a one-of-a kind herbaceous flavor.

Blueberry Pie (more…)

Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

“Dear PoPville,

For years I have seen multiple cars pulled over on the side of the road on 395 south- always in between the bridge after the East Potomac exit and the Pentagon exits. If I see one, I see at least 10. It has always driven me nutso that I don’t know why, because the drivers clearly all have a reason. This week I saw at least 20 one night. I noticed it was about five minutes to six pm, which made me wonder if it has something to do with when the HOV lane opens and if they are waiting for that?

Any ideas? Anyone else notice this over the years? Inquiring minds are going loco!

Thank you!”

Thanks to Ken for sending the shot above:

“Taken from my office, facing west over 19th Street.”

And Josh sends from the 600 block of T Street, NW below:

Our first sighting of the imaging balloon was back in October 2009. Last year we learned “The balloon was launched by Digital Design and Imaging Inc. to take aerial photos of the District’s skyline as part of the joint Height Master Plan the DC Office of Planning and the National Capital Planning Commission are conducting in response to a Congressional request.”

Though I wonder if the explanation is still accurate. Why is the survey taking so long or maybe this is a new survey?