Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour

When I first moved to Washington back in the summer of ’97 I really didn’t know anything about the city. I ended up living in Woodley Park and Cleveland Park and spent a lot of time in Adams Morgan (which I loved) only because I wanted to be on the metro’s red line. In 2003 I moved to Petworth and fell in love it with it rather quickly. I loved my house and yard. I loved the proximity to U St and Columbia Heights, I loved the people, the porches, Grant Circle and more. Over the last 4 or 5 years I’ve really started falling in love with many other parts of the city as well. Capitol Hill for one is an area that I completely ignored when I first moved to the city and I have become absolutely enamored with many of its neighborhoods today. There are also parts of Brookland, Bloomingdale, Shaw, Mt. Vernon Square, Mt. Pleasant, Dupont and yes even Georgetown that I have fallen in love with. All this is a preface to say – if I moved to the city tomorrow and had to pick a place to live – I’d have no idea where to pick. (Obviously buying a home vs renting a place could make a big difference.)

So let’s make this a two part question – if you were to move to the city tomorrow knowing what you know now – what neighborhood would you choose to live in and why? And for the second part, if you were to buy a house or condo tomorrow what neighborhood would be your first choice? And prices should be included into the equation, I’d love to buy a house in Cleveland Park or Logan Circle but there is no way I could afford one so I’m sticking with my Petworth bungalow! I also really like Petworth because it is easy for me to get to other neighborhoods that I like. But if I were looking for a place to rent I’d look for a roomate/group house (I’d also be 22 years old again) and pick either the U St area or near Eastern Market. What about you guys?

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

Congrats to Mr. T in DC with:

“I fart in your general direction!”

Runner up to MJ with:

“That silly alligator will never find us now!”

Runner up to Eckingtonite with:

“Judging Pop-ups: Reflecting Pool Edition”

Only fitting that Mr. T in DC wins with his own photo! Awesome. All the winners please email me directly so I can get you t-shirts.

For those not familiar with Mr. T in DC’s Monty Python reference:

The longest I was able to look at this album cover without laughing and/or smiling was six seconds.

The most frequently requested door of the day (from Dupont) gets painted. So awesome.

Incredible building from Embassy row. The details always stop me dead in my tracks, though as has been noted before, it can use an upgrade to central air.

From an email:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dance4Peace, the D.C. non-profit offering youth empowerment and peace education through movement and dance, will host a Brunch4Peace event this Sunday to kick-off their new conflict resolution initiative in the DC Public Schools.

WHO: Dance4Peace

WHAT: Brunch4Peace Kick-Off Event

http://brunch4peace.eventbrite.com/

WHEN: Sunday, October 3
12:30 – 3:00 pm

WHERE: Hudson
2030 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

WHY: To raise awareness for Dance4Peace, a D.C. non-profit dedicated to developing tolerance, cultural understanding, anger management, and mediation skills through innovative movement classes and workshops in DC and global classrooms.

This event is open to the press and the public. In addition to a delicious three-course brunch for $28, there will be a silent auction and 50-50 raffle to benefit Dance4Peace. To join us this Sunday, please RSVP at brunch4peace.eventbrite.com.

For more information on Dance4Peace, please visit our website at www.dance4peace.org.

Late last week the GW Hatchet shared the good news:

“Sweetgreen, a popular salad chain, is one of three new leases confirmed to be part of The Avenue development lot across from GW Hospital.

Boston Properties, the developer of the mixed-use property at 2200 Pennsylvania Ave., – formerly known as Square 54 – has also signed leases with Citibank and a restaurant called Roti.”

I wonder if Roti is the same place that recently opened at 1747 Pennsylvania Ave, NW.

We’ve also learned that 2200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW will be home to a Whole Foods and District Table/District Burger, a “new Restaurant serving American brasserie fine dining menu with casual burger and shake menu.”

The retail space seems to be filling out nicely.

The McMillan Reservoir is located by Howard University and this building is at 5th St, NW near Howard Pl. Anyone know why the building was built so tall? What the function is?

I’m also still not sure ‘what the helen of troy’ the structure below in the reservoir is supposed to do:

If you have any fun or interesting animal/pet photos or news please shoot me an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title or upload to the PoPville flickr pool.

“It’s a Pug off…. Wally and Miley might run U street, but Brady owns Adam’s Morgan”

“Dear PoP,

I am the Pastor of the Church that has the door that you referenced as Door of the Day on July 20, 2010. The door you note is a picture of St. Francis — the Saint who loved and blessed animals.

I wanted to let you know that Saturday at 3pm. in front of this door, on the front of the building of Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Ave. NW, on Thomas Circle, we will be holding a pet blessing.

The hosts of the pet blessing are my beagle Sparky and pug puppy Oliver. They will offer human and animal snacks as well as bandannas for all critters who come out.”

Photo of ‘special delivery, Kito in a box’ by PoPville flickr user laurier111

This rental is located at 418 Q St., NW:

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The Craigslist ad says:

”
This walk-down basement studio in historic Shaw will be available Nov 13. It’s a bargain priced to move, and it may not last long. The $950 rent INCLUDES electricity and gas. This unit will be shown this Saturday and Sunday, from 2pm until 4pm – confirm an appointment time (i.e., 2:45pm Saturday) with a reply by Friday afternoon.

Big Features: Washer/Dryer In Unit!! Recently Renovated!! Common Outdoor Space!!!!

The unit also features, a gas stove, track lighting, a full bath, and two separate entrances. The rear entrance walks up to a shared deck and patio. The neighborhood and the neighbors are terrific; Metro (Shaw/Howard) as well as the 24-hour Giant are a 5-7 minute walk away. Street parking is usually plentiful.”

Does $950 sound reasonable for this “walk-down” studio?

Photo by flickr user kenneoh

“Dear PoP,

Can you ask your readers if clothes lines (outdoor) are legal in Washington, DC? I thought they were illegal, but I can’t seem to find the correct answer…”

Wow, I’ve seen lots of clothes lines around DC. I just assumed, of course, it was legal. Why would it be illegal? Like a blight or something? Maybe there are rules like clothes can only be hung on a line for like 6 hours or something? Anyone know if there are any rules on this?

Personally I like clothes lines when they are in people’s back/side yards or fire escapes. But I suppose if everyone had one in their front yards it could look a bit odd…

Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

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Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

Photo by PoPville flickr user christopher.poole

Metro writes:

“This weekend (October 1-3) Metro will install a track switch and upgrade its track, platforms and aerial structures on the Yellow, Green and Red lines to improve long-term reliability and service. The track switch is work that was recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board. As a result of this work, which is critical to maintain the railroad in a state of good repair, riders can expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

Yellow and Green Line Track Switch Replacement and New Rail Installation

Metrorail customers traveling between the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center and U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel times while Metro officials will install a new track switch to improve rail system safety and weld new rail outside the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station. The track switch replacement is work that has been recommended by the NTSB. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 1, to closing on Sunday, October 3.

On Saturday, October 2, and Sunday, October 3, all Green and Yellow Line trains will operate approximately every 15 minutes from the ends of each rail line from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and approximately every 20 minutes after 9:30 p.m. Throughout the weekend, all Yellow Line trains will operate between the Huntington and Fort Totten Metrorail stations.”

Red Line info after the jump. (more…)

This house is located at 1111 V St, NW:

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The flier says:

“Welcome to this spectacular renovated home with grand open spaces. The living room has a beautiful bay window and a gas FP, separate dining area, wonderful gourmet kitchen with SS appl. , granite counter tops and a small breakfast area. There is a master bedroom suite, a 2nd bedroom/office with a Murphy bed and a W/ D. It has been freshly painted inside & out and new carpet just installed.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

I’m an admitted sucker for bay windows but what do you think of the house itself? It was originally going for $639,900 but is now on the market for $599,900. Does that sound reasonable for this 2 bed/2 bath?

Perhaps because I’m a bit masochistic I’ve always enjoyed reading people’s opinions on whether or not the park is called Malcolm X or Meridian Hill. Basically the national park service calls it Meridian Hill (which is the technical official name because NPS owns the land) but long time residents as well as the city have generally referred to it as Malcolm X park. The debate has gotten rather contentious and heated at times. As a result I have always referred to it as the Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park. I nearly fell over when I saw the above city sign city sign on U St, NW. At long last, a compromise!

By the by the park (between 15th and 16th St, NW and Euclid and W/Florida Ave) is looking beautiful. Fountains stay on until mid-Nov.