Photo by PoPville flickr user Vileinist

“Dear PoPville,

I’m hoping you or your readers can help with a fairly basic question. So far I have spent my entire adult life working for the federal government and it might be time to move on. The problem is that I have only ever job hunted in the federal government and I’m not sure how to go about looking in the private sector. I’m not even sure where exactly to look for job postings. Is there an equivalent to USAjobs? Does anyone use Monster, etc? I’m clearly at a loss and any help would be much appreciated. Thank you!”

Ed. Note: We recently spoke about temporary employment here.

Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

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Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

From Rock Creek Church Cemetery:

From Capitol Hill:

This condo is located at 2716 Ordway St, NW:

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The flier says:

“Unbelievably top-floor, open & bright 2BR with a kitchen that’s better than those in most houses! Parking included! Granite/Stainless table space kitchen with peninsula & upgraded cabinets. Washer/Dryer in unit. Windows on 3 exposures, new hardwood floors, ceramic tile bath. Walk to Cleveland Park Metro, shops, grocery, Uptown Theater, Zoo and so much more! Cats welcome.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

$439,900 ($381 monthly fee) sound right for this 2 bed/1 bath?

Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

“Dear PoPville,

I (unfortunately) work out in Tysons Corner. But something awesome happened recently- Fresh Market opened nearby, in Vienna, VA. It’s something akin to a mix between Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, and it’s absolutely awesome. Fresh Market would be an even better fit than that other store that we shall not name that was supposed to open in DCUSA. The fresh produce, meat, fish, and prepared foods are great, and much more affordable than WF. I think Jim Graham and the citizens of Columbia Heights should lobby Fresh Market to see if they’d be willing to locate in DCUSA. Fresh Market seems to be aggressively trying to open more stores in the DC area. Their stores have a smaller footprint than traditional grocery stores, so I think it could work.”

Anyone else familiar with them? Would you guys like to see a Fresh Market at DC USA in Columbia Heights?

There’s already been a lot of buzz about America Eats Tavern located in the former Cafe Atlantico space at 405 8th St, NW. Their Web site says:

At AMERICA EATS TAVERN, opened July 4th 2011, José Andrés applies his innovative style to an American restaurant…

America Eats offers a new take on American classics and celebrate native ingredients and some long forgotten dishes, from burgoo to oysters Rockefeller. With recipes and stories collected through extensive research, and with help from the National Archives and a culinary advisory council of chefs and scholars, the menu showcases the fascinating history of our nation one plate at a time, whether it’s the origins of New England clam chowder or the introduction of grapefruit to America. A casual tavern menu is offered on the ground floor, while a more refined and elegant menu will be featured on the second and third floors.

America Eats is also be a six-month “benefit” destination in support the National Archives Experience exhibition program. Profits gained from the restaurant during the run of the What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam? exhibit will be donated to The Foundation for the National Archives.

You can see all their menus here. Anyone check them out yet?

“Dear PoPville,

I wanted to share with you the master bathroom remodel we recently finished on our rowhome in Capitol Hill. I attached a few photographs of the original bathroom that was “remodeled” by the previous owners about 7 years ago very poorly. We did some of the work ourselves, but unfortunately ran into a streak of bad luck with contractors whose work we ended up having to fix ourselves and by hiring a carpenter who ended up being great.

Our main goal in the remodel was to keep the bathroom historically accurate, but also incorporating modern elements. We installed one inch hex tile on the floor, 2×6 subway tiles on the walls, and used plumbing fixtures with crossbar handles to keep the historic charm. We had a soapstone shower pan fabricated and surrounded it with marble tiles and a frameless glass enclosure to bring some modern elements into the space. It was important to us to keep original details intact so we stripped all of the original woodwork, cut it to accommodate the new space, and then repainted it. We saved the original claw foot tub that was in the bathroom and will using it in a new bathroom we are creating elsewhere in the house.

The overall cost was around $8,000 with the soapstone showerpan and the glass enclosure being the most expensive. Looking back one thing I would change would have been to do the hex floor in a carrera marble as the white tile gets dingy very easily. While the bathroom has a small footprint, the improvements have made the space much more enjoyable.”

If anyone else has a renovation project they’d be willing to share send a few before and after photos to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com and if you’d be willing please share a rough cost estimate and what contractors/materials were used.

Before shots after the jump. (more…)

Michael D. Crossett, District AM Delivery, mixed media on canvas, 30″ x 40″. Image courtesy Gallery Plan B.

Local Color
The new exhibition at Gallery Plan B, which opens tonight, offers refreshing visions of Washington’s more quotidian scenery. Several contemporary artists tackle the city’s rowhouses, monuments and news boxes in their own distinctive mediums, from digital photography to printmaking to photorealistic oil painting. While some of the results fall flat, others, like Stephen Stichter’s handmade woodblock prints, serve as loving tributes to local moments and spaces we may take for granted.
Where: Gallery Plan B (Metro: Dupont Circle or U Street-Cardozo)
When: July 28 to Aug. 28. Opening reception with the artists on July 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.
How Much: Free

Asia After Dark: 1001 Nights
Experience the convergence of ancient Islamic arts with the contemporary Arab world this evening at the Freer. Works from the ongoing exhibition Arts of the Islamic World will be on view. You can also enjoy performances, specialty cocktails and Arab cuisine to the tune of Egyptian DJ Turbo Tabla. (If you’re seeking a more reflective encounter with Quranic calligraphy and Middle Eastern ceramics, I suggest you visit during regular hours.) This event is ages 21+.
Where: Freer Gallery of Art (Metro: Smithsonian or L’Enfant Plaza)
When: July 28 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
How Much: $22 in advance and $25 at the door (cash only) for non-members; $18 in advance and $20 at the door for Silk Road Society members. A ticket includes one free drink.

Annie Albagli, Greetings From Paradise
Silver Spring-based artist Annie Albagli brings her enchanting screen prints to Pleasant Plains in this exploration of “personal paradise.” Albagli’s works, particularly those from her Pyramid series, are expressive, multilayered pseudo-landscapes, populated by ambiguous organic forms and geometry. The exhibition will include a site-specific window installation and will prompt visitors to share their own conception of paradise.
Where: Pleasant Plains Workshop (Metro: Columbia Heights or Metrobus: 70/71)
When: July 29 to Aug. 27. Opening reception on July 29 from 6 to 9 p.m.
How Much: Free

you make me nostalgic for a place I’ve never known and Trace
Organized by artist Janell Olah and local curator/Phillips Collection educator Amanda Jirón-Murphy, you make me nostalgic is one of two new exhibitions at Flashpoint that aim to fully exploit and reorient the gallery space. Olah’s installation diverts the gallery’s electricity, air flow and ducts to bring to life her glowing, tree-like vinyl constructions. Interspersed with her work and populating not only the gallery, but also its hallways and offices, will be artist Nicole Herbert’s multimedia conceptual play on the overlooked features of an interior, like cables, outlets and windows.
Where: Flashpoint (Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown or Metro Center)
When: July 30 to Aug. 27. Opening reception on July 30 from 6 to 8 p.m.
How Much: Free

W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist was located nearby at 640 14th Street NW. They’re going to be filling a prime retail space by the White House at 15th and G St, NW. It is located right next to the White House gift shop which apparently got an extra awning leading to this humorous sight:

Photo by PoPville flickr user jsmjr

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 morning at 10am.

“Dear PoPville,

Can you help me? I phoned 311 about this fire hydrant on my street and was transfered to water and sewerage (or something like that) and reported that someone had run over this fire hydrant and no water was coming out of it-fine, they’d someone out. But as of 530pm today they hadn’t dealt with this issue.

Any recommendations, or perhaps asking your readers to call and ask the city to take action? Also… Shouldn’t there water gushing out of this hydrant?

The hydrant us on Wyoming avenue, NW, between 18th and 19th Street. In Adams Morgan.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.”

Well this is disturbing. If 311 didn’t work – who do you think the reader should call? His Council member? DC Water? The Fire Department.

While I’ve never seen a sight like the one above before, unfortunately, the one below is not terribly uncommon:

Back in Jan. ’10 we first heard rumblings of a new neighborhood bar for Bloomingdale to be called Rustik Neighborhood Tavern. At that time Rustik was looking to open at 1832 1st St, NW (across from it’s current location at 1st and T St, NW.) Well the space has been vacant all that time. I’ve finally heard some potentially exciting scuttlebutt – apparently a Thai restaurant is interested in the space. At this point I don’t know how far negotiations have progressed but as soon (if) a lease is signed I’ll be sure to update.

If true, do you like the idea of Thai restaurant here?

This week a gotta couple of fixer uppers and one sweet sweet ride.

Sweetest ride of all after the jump. (more…)

This beauty is from GW university. I know it’s some sorta document in his hand but I choose to believe he is hoisting a beer which is what it looks like from a distance.

Bloomingdale rocks the patios just as well as it does roof decks.