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Thanks to everyone who sent emails about this horrifying incident. I apologize for the delay in posting.

From MPD Jan. 27th:

There was a burglary last in the 500 block of T Street, Northwest, at approximately 3:30 am.

A female knocked on the victim’s front door and acted as if she was crying. When the victim opened the door 2 male suspects forced their way in to the house.

Please be aware of any suspicious activity in your neighborhood. Don’t answer the door for anyone you do not know especially at late night, early morning hours.

The lookout for the suspects is as follows:

Black female, 17-18 years of age, 5’00″, slim approximately 120 lbs, dark complexion, wearing eyeglasses, hair at shoulder length and in a pony tail with bangs that come down to the eyes and wearing dark colored clothes.

Black male, 20′s years of age, round nose, round face, 5’07″-5’08″, 160 lbs, medium – dark complexion, short curly style hair, dark clothes and armed with a black in color semi automatic handgun.

Black Male 30′s years of age, 509″-5’10″, 165 lbs, brown complexion with very bad black acne, shoulder length dreads wearing black clothes and armed with a black in color semi automatic handgun.

From WJLA7:

“Elizabeth Samuel’s eye is bloody, her face is swollen, her head aches all over. She doesn’t even know how many times she was hit with a gun.

Her wrists and ankles are covered in bruises from where she was tied up and kept hostage in her own home.”

From Fox5:

“After enduring a half-hour of terror, her husband came home and fought the attackers who were armed with pistols. He took on the attackers armed with a wine bottle. Unfortunately he was pistol whipped from behind knocking him to the ground rendering him out of commission.

The suspects spent the next 30 minutes drinking and smoking inside the house before leaving with numerous items.”

This rental is located at 1838 4th St, NW:

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The listing says:

“SPACIOUS 1BR 1 BA Basement apt. w/oversize rooms in LeDroit Park. W/W carpet, eff. Kitchen, walk-in closet in BR. Laundry room in hallway. Close to everything, walk to Metro, “U” Street Coridore, Howard Univ. Plenty of restaurants & Night Life. Local food market next block. PETS: if accepted increase rent & sec deposit. $25.00 per month per animal. All funds must be certified funds.”

This 1 bed/1 bath is going for $900/Mo.

A couple of weeks ago we learned that SnitchEye Wine Bar was negotiating a lease at 3rd and Florida Ave, NW. Thanks to a twitter follower BlasianSays for alerting me to their new facebook update:

“The not so good news… negotiations are not looking so great for the property we had in mind and we have started looking at other properties in the case that this one does not work out. We need your input. Where would you like SnitchEye Wine Bar to be located? Do you know of any properties for lease or sale for retail use?”

Yesterday a couple readers wrote in with a quick update on Bistro Bohem coming to 6th and Florida Ave, NW. Lots more great info and photos can be found on their Facebook page:

And their Website says:

Introducing the dining experience you’ve been waiting for! Bistro Bohem, Washington, DC’s newest and most lively hangout, is located in the Historic U Street Shaw Neighborhood, just a mile north of the White House. We’re unique to the area, offering flavorful Eastern European small plates in a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere.

Relax in our charming restaurant and chat with friends (or make new ones) while enjoying mouthwatering meats, delectable sides and irresistible desserts. From sausages to beer, you’ll love the modern twists we’ve added to these traditional Old World favorites. To complement your meal, indulge in our full bar, including beer, wine and specialty drinks.

Whether you’re a regular or just visiting, Bistro Bohem offers outstanding food and an enticing atmosphere that brings you back again and again.

Team:

Bistro Bohem is owned and operated by Jarek Mika and his team of friends. The Bistro Bohem crew all present a passion for food, design and desire to create a uniquely comfortable hangout to the U St Area. Bistro Bohem reflects Jarek’s, Czechoslovakian heritage, his culinary experience, and his strong sense of commitment to the community.

Awesome!

“Dear PoPville,

Any news on the new bistro at 6th and Florida NW? I took a picture tonight (above), they have changed the door frame and added a few flags, looks like US, Euro, and DC. Anything you can tell us would be great! Shaw’s Tavern is across 6th Street.”

Back in April 2011 we learned that Bistro Bohem would be taking over the space. Their liquor license application said:

“New Restaurant serving European Bistro full range of full meals and light fare. Background music will be provided, no live entertainment. With a Sidewalk Café. Seating – 50, Total Occupancy Load – 65, Sidewalk Café – 24.”

Another reader writes:

“Walking home today, I saw renovations at 600 Florida, right across the street from Shaw’s Tavern. There’s going to be a new restaurant/bar there called Bistro Bohem. I spoke with one of the guys in the photo below, Daniel, who turned out to be one of the operators of the place. He said he hoped it would be up and running by the end of Feb.”

Awesome! I’ll be sure to update when an exact opening date is announced. And as a PoPville twitter follower asked – who do you think will open first – Shaw’s Tavern or Bistro Bohem? I’m now taking bets.

Dear PoP,

This building at the intersection of New Jersey Ave and Florida Ave NW, quietly went from looking like the other houses on this block to having a glass front window and over the weekend an awning proclaiming Pizarro. Sure looks like a restaurant inside, fingers crossed! Any ideas on the who/what/when/where of this spot?

I actually stopped by Sat. afternoon before the awning went up at 467 Florida Ave, NW:

It’s funny – I received a tip that this space was going to become a cafe over a year ago. I kept my eye on it and just thought it was mistaken info. Then, like you said, all of a sudden massive progress was made. (Thanks to others who sent emails as well that something was going on.) I spoke with one of the residents of the building who said that the landlord told them a cafe with pizza could be coming. At first I thought it was going to more of a coffee cafe but with the name Pizzarro, clearly, there will be a bigger pizza angle. Stay tuned for more info when it becomes available.

This rental is located at 163 Adams Street NW:

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The listing says:

“Vacant*Fully remodeled modern 2 bedroom english basement unit near Howard University*Separate Electricity and $30/mo for water*Secure storage area for bikes, etc. under porch”

This 2 bed/1 bath is going for $1,500/Mo.

Photo via SnitchEye’s Facebook page

This awesome news comes from the In Shaw blog:

“We came in late to the BACA meeting, but just in time to hear of a proposed wine bar to come to 3rd and Florida. So if everything works perfectly there could be a new wine bar by the end of Spring, or sometime in Summer 2012.”

SnitchEye’s Facebook page says:

“SnitchEye Wine Bar is an original concept bar that hopes to open its doors in 2012. We hope to cater to the the tee shirt and jeans crowd who seek to enjoy good and affordable wines in a non stuffy setting. Stay tuned for updates. SEE YOU AT THE SNITCHEYE!”

More info as it becomes available.

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This home is located at 127 U St, NW:

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The flier says:

“Elegantly restored Victorian feat: 3-BR, 2.5BA, formal LR, DR & Parlor, , hrwd flrs. , french doors, orig. gas FP mantel, skylight, wainscoting , deep floor plan, MBR w/ walk in cedar closet, exposed brick, new kit with granite counter. In Law suite w/ sep kit, , 7ft. ceilings, front & rear entrances. This is a must see! Too many features to list!”

You can find more info here and photos here.

This 3 bed/2.5 bath is going for $712,000.

City Paper shares the goods this morning:

“The previous owner couldn’t handle it, so I’m taking over,” says Siya Sadeghi, introducing himself as the new face of embattled booze-less boîte Shaw’s Tavern during a meeting of the local ANC2c on Wednesday night…

Sadeghi rattled off a number of prior eateries that he’s worked on in D.C., primarily as a builder, including Tabaq on U Street and Haydee’s in Mount Pleasant. But only one he’s ever owned: the former Axis on U.

You can follow the saga of Shaw’s Tavern, located at 520 Florida Ave, NW which closed in Aug. 11, here.

Were there any fans of the former Axis? Axis was located at 1340 U St, NW and is now the home to Bistro La Bonne.

“Dear PoPville,

Ken’s Carryout now offers Bulgogi. Not traditional Bulgogi, but good price, ingredients seem fresh and the rice was perfectly cooked.”

Back in Aug. ’11 we learned that Ken’s Carryout was becoming an Arthur Treacher’s at 400 Florida Ave, NW. Anyone try the Bulgogi?

“Dear PoPville,

Apologies for the terrible picture, I was stopped at a red light, in the dark, at a distance. This is the property right at 4th & Florida NW, just off Rhode Island Ave that was recently renovated, but then nothing happened to it for the last 18 plus months, give or take. It’s kind of a neat property on a triangle corner that I’ve always thought had a lot of potential. Last night (Thurs Nov 17) I saw lights on on the second floor and bodies moving around. I walk or drive by that property every day and cannot ever recall seeing movement or lights on since the renovation was done. Do you or readers have any idea what might be happening to with that place? From what I could tell in my brief 34 seconds to get a glimpse that second floor was just white walls and empty space, nothing fancy.”

Anyone know if folks have started moving in? You can see what it looked like when the scaffolding came down in March 2010 here.

Photo by PoPville flickr user FrenchTwistDC

“Dear PoPville,

My husband and I are seriously considering purchasing a home in Ledroit Park. We love the houses, the neighborhood feel, the new dog park and playground. Last night we looked up crime statistics on the DC gov page and found a significant spike in crime comparing this year to last year, particularly robbery and theft. It seems the new park on Elm street is attracting drug dealers and late night party-ers or loiterers. What a shame for the new neighborhood asset to quickly become a magnet for this activity. (There is interest in putting up a fence, but it does not exist yet.)

I wonder if that’s part of the crime story? Considering the pace of gentrification in this area I was surprised. Do you have any insight or thoughts on this? Is this an upward trend for Ledroit? What is being done to address growing crime?”

This rental is located at 5th and Florida Ave, NW:

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The Craigslist ad says:

“This is a great find….2 bedroom/2 bath top floor flat…only 3 units in the building. 2 blocks to the metro in the cool LeDroit Park area. Flat features central air; jet bathtubs in both baths; granite counter tops; modern appliances; washer/dryer in the unit; and a great open living space floor plan. Will be available November 1 for move-in. If you would like to come to the open house please contact me for exact location.”

$2050 for this 2 bed/2 bath sound right?

This rental is located at 155 U St NW:

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The Craigslist ad says:

“Beautiful, renovated 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom Victorian townhouse for rent in Ledroit Park. Main level has exposed brick wall, hardwood floors, central air-conditioning. Kitchen with brand new stainless-steel appliances (washer/dryer, gas range, built-in microwave, fridge, garbage disposal, dishwasher), corian countertops, and ceramic floor. Nice deck in backyard. Close to Children’s Hospital, Howard University, U Street-Cardozo, Capitol Hill. Parking on street readily available, 6 blocks to Shaw-Howard University metro station, and 1 block to bus stop (G2,G8,80).

Next door to new Parker Flats at Gage School condos!

$2,750/mo plus utilities. Available November 1.
-No smokers or pets
-Deposit is one month of rent. 7 month lease
-Utilities consist of: electricity (own account), gas and water (2/3 of total bill).”

$2,750/mo plus utilities sound right for this 3 bed/1.5 bath?