From an email:

“Caracara is having a Post-Halloween show this Saturday, November 1, at Dahlak’s Eritrean restaurant! Here’s the scoop:

Dahlak’s Eritrean
1771 U St., NW
9pm, 21+
$5 for 5 bands!

Come in cognito for a night you will not soon forget. Five local bands – Caracara, Boo and Boo Too, Roma Condor, Tut Tut, and Kalem Jones – all showing off their musical grandeur. Costumes and drinks a’plenty means this show is bound to be a post-Halloween blast! 21+ only please. Thanks!”

And from an email for tonight:

“Just wanted to give a heads up that milkmachine (www.milkmachine.org) will be playing a “spooktacular” show at Solly’s (located at 11th and U Street, NW) this Friday, Halloween. Show starts at 8, we’ll be done by 10, so people can stop by for some accordion-based oompah rock on their way to the next Halloween party. Costumes aren’t mandatory, but we might try to trick people not dressed up, or at the least won’t give them any of the free cookie and candy treats we’ll have on hand.”

Does anyone know if Duke’s City Restaurant has closed for renovations or permanently? Were there any fans out there? Duke’s was/is located on U Street between 12th and 13th Streets.

From Jessica:

“Here is my costume of Marie Antoinette! I made the dress myself, I am a fashion design major, and that is my real hair! I used a base to help with the height but the surround is all my real hair, not a wig. I hope you enjoy!”

Costume entries will be accepted all next week but be sure to submit by next Friday.

The flier for this home at 947 Shepherd Street, NW says:

“Great home in the heart of Columbia Heights. This home is in good condition and simply needs a little TLC. With three levels of living, 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths and an in-law suite in the basement there is adequate living space. Separate dining room and living room with fireplace. Decks extend of of each level of the rear of the house with nice flat fenced in back yard. Close to downtown & metro.”

Find more info and tons of photos here.

Does this seem like a good deal at $375,000? Ed. Note: If you have a particular home you’d like to see featured as a “good deal or not” please email me the address and I’ll post as a separate entry.

You can talk about whatever is on your mind – quality of life issues, a beautiful tree you spotted, scuttlebutt, or any random questions/thoughts you may have. I’ll open this thread every Friday. So anything good happen to you this week?

A friend of mine had a big kitchen renovation where he and his wife had a wall knocked out and a bathroom removed to create an awesome open kitchen. He writes:

“As you remember our kitchen was about 4 by 6 with a nice bathroom between the kitchen and dining room. We decided to open up the entire floor and took out a wall that separated the dining room from the living room. That wall became the biggest issue because it was a load bearing wall and also had HVAC ducts in the wall which need to be moved. We closed in two windows – the bathroom and side of the house kitchen window — and then placed a bigger window on the back wall. We decided on recessed lights and a smaller set of pendant light because we felt it would overwelm the room. We also decided on white cabinets because we wanted to make the kitchen as light as possible to make it appear bigger. The granite we chose was called green galaxy and a mixture of green with white and dark brown streaks.

Our contractor was Harry Braswell and we liked them alot. they were middle of the road on price but we seemed most comfortable with them.”

I’m not just saying this because they are my friends but I think it turned out great. I suspect there may be some debate about taking out a half bath but in their case it was essential to create an open space.

After the jump check out the before pictures. If you’ve had renovations done in any room of your house please send photos to princeofpetworth@gmail.com (more…)

I wondered if the Verizon Center had any self respect.

The cycle of violence continued.

I admired the mural at the Rosario School.

07.24.08, originally uploaded by Atomic Citrocity.

Well, a number of folks have been waiting all week for this question. On Monday we learned that metro will begin randomly searching bags. The Washington Post has a full article here. They say:

“Metro officials yesterday announced plans to immediately begin random searches of backpacks, purses and other bags in a move they say will protect riders and also guard their privacy and minimize delays.

The program is modeled after one begun three years ago in New York that has withstood legal challenges. However, experts said it is difficult to measure the effectiveness of such searches, beyond assuring the public that police are being vigilant. New York officials declined to say what they have found in their searches; none of the other transit systems conducting random searches have found any explosives, officials said.

Metro officials said the program was not in response to a specific threat but prompted by increased security concerns before next week’s election and the inauguration as well as by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and later bombings of commuter trains in Madrid, London and elsewhere.”

So do you believe this is a good security measure or a violation of your privacy? For those who feel it is a violation of your privacy will you refuse a search?

DSCN3905, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

I know tons of people who love this place. This is of course the Irish Bar in the hotel off Dupont Circle. I think it’s a fine place for a pint but I don’t understand why some folks are obsessed with it. I used to be a Nanny O’Brien’s devotee but since they have new ownership I’ve pretty much given up on “Irish” bars. Any fans of Biddy’s out there? Where you gonna go during renovations?

DSCN3328, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

From anonymous:

“Hey, Summer. Would it got against everything we stand for if I turned my guitar case around?”

Congrats to Eric for being selected as a Washingtonian Favorite. My favorite part was:

“Must-have item at all times:
Um, my feet and hands? They’re kinda essential. Of course, now I’ll get an e-mail from an advocacy group informing me that hands and feet are not, in fact, essential. So instead I’ll say pants. I think everyone can agree that having pants at all times is a good thing. I fear I’ve permanently damaged my karma with this answer, like I’ll end up in a terrible accident in a few months where I’ll lose my hands, feet, and pants.”

Read the full interview here.

DSCN3935, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

I imagine you’d hardly feel like you were in the city up there.

DSCN3676, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

I’ve only seen one other weather vane as cool as this one.

DSCN3768, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

Sometimes less is more…

DSCN3798, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

This one home from a whole row on Florida Avenue that looks pretty similar. I particularly liked this one because of the metallic front. None of the others looked like this. Gives it a kinda cool retro/modern feel. Can I say retro/modern?