Sydney 2008 New Year Fireworks 1, originally uploaded by silverlily.

If you’re looking for last minute options you can check some options I posted earlier in the week. I hope everyone has a happy and safe celebration.

So speaking of – if you’ve drank too much please don’t drive. From an email:

“The holiday season is a time of celebration and revelry. Drinking and driving is a danger to everyone on the road. Anyone with a BAC of .08 or higher is in violation of DC law and may go to jail. Remember that the risk isn’t worth it–if you choose to drink alcohol at a party, don’t drive. Take a cab, use public transportation or a designated driver, or call SoberRide® (800-200-TAXI), a free cab service in DC and the surrounding area active from the middle of December through January 1. Have fun, but remember to celebrate responsibly.”

Catch y’all on Friday. I look forward to hearing some good stories in Friday’s Rant or Revel!

This may look rather ordinary but I’m a huge fan of these old liquor signs. You can see it looks like there were originally some lightbulbs meant to illuminate the sign. It’d be sweet if they were able to refurbish it. You’ll see these all over DC but this one was found on Mt. Pleasant Street.

I think this one is pretty sweet with a nice porch and big windows up top as well as an unusual small window on the side. Can’t really tell from the photo but the small window is actually stained glass:

So what do you think about the back – thumbs up or down?

A long time ago I posted this sculpture located on Georgia Ave just north of Upshur but there was no plaque at the time. I finally spotted the (new?) plaque. Sadly it has already been defaced but I’m super glad to know a little bit more about this amazing sculpture.

This home is located at 1674 Irving Street, NW.

View Larger Map

The flier says:

“This property is in good condition and has great Tenants. Walking distance to the Metro at 14th and Irving St and all the new shops there. Two of the Tenants are on month to month leases the other 4 are in various stages of a year lease. The expenses don’t include management in that a Purchaser may want to do self management. (current owner lives in NYC). All units recently upgraded.”

More info but sadly no photos can be found here.

I’m curious if there are folks out there who would consider an investment property like this? What if you wanted to live in the home itself, how are the tenant laws in DC? What would it take for this to be a good investment? Cause the price ain’t cheap – $1,125,000.

Casa Oaxaca is located at 2106 18th St, NW in Adams Morgan. I’ve never eaten here before but I recall there was some good buzz when they opened up. So what’s the word? How’s the food? (Prices can be found with a menu on their Web site. The ambiance?

24 hr Laundromat in downtown DC, originally uploaded by Batty aka Photobat.

“I’m sure there are still folks out there who use laundromats, maybe only occasionally (such as when you renovate a basement??). Or even some folks who don’t have laundry in their condo/apartment?

I’ll be without in house laundry for about 6 weeks, so it would be super helpful to know which, if any, of the Laundromats in the area are reliable and maybe even comfortable.”

Hmm, thankfully I haven’t had to deal with this situation in a number of years.  Though I have been pining for a new washer/dryer for quite a while…damn my frugal ways.  Anyway, I’m counting on you guys to give some good advice.  I’d imagine proximity would be more important than comfort.  I know there are a few on Georgia Ave, a relatively new one on Upshur near El Limeno and of course there’s the big one on the corner of 11th and Lamont as well as one on 14th Street across from the Black Cat.  But this particular reader is looking for suggestions near Petworth and Columbia Heights.   So any laundromat users out there?  If there are particularly good ones please list them even if they fall outside the Petworth/CH area.  What makes a good laundromat anyway?  Machines?  TVs?  Vending machines?

Guarding the Cube – Apple Store, NYC, originally uploaded by sfophoto.

City Paper shared the news (from The Current) that “You will not be able to visit an Apple Store in the District of Columbia anytime soon!” City Paper continued gave this explanation:

“Earlier this month, both bodies rejected Apple’s design—the third the company had submitted for the property at 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW, a Georgetown storefront the company has owned for more than a year—because, as the Current’s Carol Buckley puts it, it “would not fit into Georgetown.””

Greater Greater Washington followed up on the story today, suggesting that Apple “Just propose a Federal style store already”.

I have recently become a huge fan of Apple so I’m really saddened by this news. I actually think the modern style of Apple’s buildings look pretty fresh. But I also understand Georgetown wanting to maintain the integrity of its historic blocks. But damn I want an Apple store in DC. Hmm, quite a conundrum. Of course I’d love to see an Apple store in Columbia Heights or Penn Quarter but let’s just assume that the Georgetown space is the only one they are willing to consider. So my question to you is – who’s being ridiculous here? Should Apple conform to Georgetown’s architectural requirements or should Georgetown lighten up a bit and realize what a great addition an Apple store would be?

It kinda looks a bit surreal, right? So what do you think of the building? This is the spot where the YES! Organic Market will go into. Not sure on the exact date of their opening though. I seem to recall folks took issue with the “tower” on previous buildings I’ve shown. Overall do you dig the look of the building?

I feel like this one of those messages from back in the Middle Ages when they cut someone’s head off and put it on a pike as a warning. I guess this is saying “Don’t frack with our porch furniture!”.

Rhyl’s Biggest Receiver of Stolen Goods, originally uploaded by Gareth Hacking.

From an email:

Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced today that hundreds of items of stolen property will be posted online for owners to view and retrieve.

In January 2008, members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Burglary & Pawn Unit worked jointly with members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and discovered a large-scale fencing operation at Rosemar Liquors in the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE.  The stolen merchandise is valued at more than $200,000.

In an effort to return the property to its rightful owners, the members of the MPD Burglary & Pawn Unit have coordinated with the DC Armory for owners to physically view the stolen property.  The property will be displayed at the DC Armory from January 5, 2009 to January 7, 2009.  The Armory is located at 2001 East Capital Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003.  The hours for the public viewing will be from 12 pm to 7 pm on January 5th and 6th, and 10 am to 5 pm on January 7th. Continues after the jump. (more…)

Tina found this one “in an alley in Adams Morgan. When you cut through to 18th from Champlain, by that big public garage.”

Can’t say I’ve ever seen a Dragon mural before…

Thanks to a reader for sending Emma Goldman. First two poster in this series can be found here.

Here’s another related poster I found on 14th Street just south of T.

I have to admit, while I’m no anarchist, I totally dig these posters.

Too bad they had to put the dang ADT sticker on it… I’m not sure if I’ve showed this home before but it’s pretty incredible as well.

This house really struck me because in addition to it be a cool house it also has a huge side yard that I was thought was unusual on a block jammed packed with rowhouses. I wonder how some homes like this have side yards. It is a very rare sight.