Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour

This is one of the rare occasions where I actually hope my scuttlebutt is wrong. Unfortunately I’ve heard it from a very good source as well as some other folks who’ve started to hear rumblings. Word on the street is that Capital City Diner will be closing soon at 1050 Bladensburg Road, NE. Capital City Diner opened back in Feb. 2010 after a long journey journey from upstate NY. In May 2011 their back patio opened and things were looking great. I’m not sure if it is the Denny’s that opened nearby at 1250 Bladensberg Rd, NE but I hear that could be part of the problem.

Anyway, I know many many folks really love Capital City Diner so I wanted to share the news as soon as possible. But like I said, in this particular case, I hope I’m wrong.

Update: Sadly, confirmed. From owner Matt Ashburn:

Friends,

We sincerely appreciate your support, patronage, and– most of all– friendship over the past two years. You’re more than customers; you’re our friends and neighbors.

Although we received positive response to our recent improvements, we also encountered rising costs, a declining economy, and a national chain “diner” restaurant opening almost a stone’s throw away. Now, we must refocus and reformat our restaurant to move forward.

This weekend, we’ll open from 7am until 6pm on Saturday and Sunday so that we can meet up one last time to say good-bye before we close to reformat and improve our concept.

Again, thank you for your support and encouragement, we’d love to see you one last time at the old diner to say good-bye this weekend.

Sincerely,
Matt & the Capital City Diner crew

Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

This rental is located at Florida Avenue NE at 12th Street:

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The Craigslist ad says:

Three level furnished (also available unfurnished) townhouse completely renovated with stainless steel appliances, modern fixtures, and rich hardwood floors. There are three bedrooms and three full bathrooms. Just steps from the hub of the very happening H Street and a fifteen minute walk to the New York Avenue Metro stop (Red Line). Multiple bus lines picking up literally at the front doorstep with the X1 providing 30 minute express service to downtown. Utilities included. The virtual tour is available here. Please do not contact me through the virtual tour website.

UPPER LEVEL
Spacious master bedroom with high ceilings, two closets, queen bed; desk; en-suite bath with porcelain tiled shower, dual vessel sinks.
Second bedroom with full bed, desk, closet; hallway bath with tub and shower.
Stacked washer/dryer closet in upstairs hallway.

MAIN LEVEL
Open floorplan with hardwood floors and lots of natural light
Living area furnished with West Elm sectional sofa and 46″ LCD TV
Modern style fully equipped kitchen with custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, microwave, dishwasher, gas range, and side-by-side refrigerator.

BASEMENT LEVEL
Third bedroom with queen bed, desk and shelving
Bathroom with tiled stand up shower
Open middle area could be used as den, office or 4th bedroom
Storage Area
Rear entrance

MISCELLANEOUS
Easy street parking, no dedicated spot
Short term and unfurnished options are also available
Blocks to Safeway grocery, CVS, Rite Aid and bars/restaurants on H Street
Zipcar and Capital Bikeshare locations are a block away

$3800 sound right?

This condo is located at 1205 Morse St, NE:

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The flier says:

“Open house 12/11 1-4 pm. Amazing space: new, big, open, fabulous! Look at the pics! Hardwood, stainless, granite, designer tile finishes. 2-level living with access to private rooftop ready for finishing. Close to Gallaudet Univ. , NY Ave. metro, Harris Teeter. H Street corridor re-development just 2 blocks away. Parking available for purchase. Three smaller, less expensive units also availble.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

This 2 bed/2.5 bath is going for $525,000 ($363 monthly condo fee.)

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From MPD:

“Last night (this morning) about 12:37 am, two men were shot in front of a convenience store in the 1200 block of Mt. Olivet St. NE, near the intersection of West Virginia Avenue.

One of the victims, an 18 year old, died of his wounds. The second victim survived.

This morning at about 10:25 am, a 22 year old man was shot and killed near an alley in the 700 block of 19th St., NE, just off Benning Road.

There is no other information available to the public at this time. Detectives are investigating both cases.

If there is anyone in the community who has any information on either incident we ask that you call 727-9099 and report it.”

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Thanks to a reader for sending the photo above. Any Denny’s fans? Do you think this is better, worse or the same as an IHOP?

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This rental is located at 1114 Florida Ave NE:

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The Craigslist ad says:

“I have a one bedroom apartment for rent as of July 1st, 2011. The apt is in a three until bulding. It’s in a safe and friendly neighbourhood, close to Gallaudet University, New York/Florida Metro Station, and the trendy H Street. The apartment has a washer and dryer in the unit. There is also tenant parking in the back. The two tenants in the bulding have cats and dogs so pets are welcome!

If you like the apt you sign a month-to-month, 6 months, or a yearly lease. There is NO application fee or pet fee.”

$1095 sound right for this 1 bedroom?

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From MPD:

Two young men were shot tonight [Monday] at about 10:15 pm near New Jersey and P St, NW.
One of the victims has been pronounced dead. The other is being treated for gunshot wounds.

If anyone has any information we ask that you call 727-9099 to help the investigation into this event.

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From MPD:

At about 3:55am, on May 30, 2011 officers responded to the 1400 block of Morse street for sounds of gun fire. Found on the scene was a young adult male suffering from multiple gun shots to his body. He was transported to hospital were he passed due to his injuries. Anyone having information please call 911 or 202-727-9099.

“Dear PoPville,

I attended the opening of Capital City Diner’s back patio/bar area Friday night (1050 Bladensburg Road, NE), and thought I’d pass on a few photos– the place is awesome! It’s honestly worth a trip just to see the unique bar top (made from wood, with broken glass, bottle caps, leaves, and other miscellaneous stuff thrown in– see pic). Also, fyi, the fried mac n’ cheese is life-changing…”

Awesome. Looking forward to checking it out!

Photo by PoPville flickr user sciascia

“Dear PoP,

Wanted to pass along a word of warning to your readers about “pop-up” restaurants in DC.

Last night we went to the “elusive” Orange Arrow dinner. The Washington Post featured an article on these dinners last spring and we were looking forward to an avant garde dinner in a secret location. We had already purchased non-refundable tickets ($60PP) and were excited to try the seasonal menu we were promised.

After arriving to the address on the ticket (Georgetown), we receive an “update” that the dinner is in fact in the H Street Corridor! We show up to an art gallery in Trinidad and find a few other dinners lined-up.

Once we enter we find a cash bar (meal was sold as all inclusive…) where they are selling in essence two buck chuck and beer left over from St. Patrick’s day (Harp Lager in St. Patrick’s day bottling)…

The first course comes and with no explanation we are served what in essence is bar garnishes and mozzerala from Costco.

Second course was undercooked pork (still raw in the center).

Third course were brownie bites (again clearly from costco) with the paper still on the bottom.

Needless to say, we walked out after this, realizing that this was a clear swindle and there was no way to get a refund. Unfortunately this is a great concept, that could be very cool, but is being exploited by what amount to scam artists.”

Reviews on Yelp are equally underwhelming. Has anyone else had a bad experience? Has anyone had a good experience? Are there other pop up restaurants worth trying out?

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DC Alerts reported:

“Shooting 0021 hours 100 b/o Irving St NW, No lookout”

From The Post:

Kevin Andre Washington, of Northwest, was killed in the 100 block of Irving Street, and was found lying in the street just after midnight with apparent gunshot wounds, police said.

Officers had received a call about a struck pedestrian in the Park View neighborhood.

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Earlier in the night DC Alerts also reported:

“DCRSAN 5D IS WORKING A SHOOTING AT MOUNT OLIVET AND MONTELLO AVE NE @ 1915HRS.”

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Sorry to hear about this disturbing news. From the MPD listserv:

A resident wrote, “I didn’t see a mention of my vandalized car and that it was a targeted hate crime. I think our community should know about this and be vigilant, especially in the area of the intersection of Trinidad Ave. and Morse St. NE. Thanks to the officers who responded so promptly to my call last Friday morning.”

MPD Chief Groomes responded:

“thank you for asking about your crime… for on January 21st , the 5th District and GLU unit came out to your block and did take a destruction of property report for the damage to your car and also classified it as a Bias motivated destruction of property due to the words spray painted on your car…… the GLU unit will be conducting the follow up along with the 5d detectives office. We ask that if anyone has information on this crime to contact us 1888 919-CRIME or at GLUU”

and

“regarding this offense our victim who recently moved to the Trinidad area came outside to find his car spraypainted with the word, “fag” … thus he contacted us to report such ..however we have done a door to door canvass and it has not lead to any leads/tips to this act… there has been no other acts of this nature in this area.”

“Dear PoP,

Any idea what is being built next to Capital City Diner (1050 Bladensburg Road, NE)? Its been over a month and its coming up fast. I asked around but no-one seems to know, even the people building it.”

Matt from the Diner tells me:

“City-funded (multi-million dollar, I think, through a city grant) 4-story 15-unit apartment building, I believe. Supposed to be finished early next year.”

And nearby across the street a bit closer to H St, NE there is a huge project called the “Flats at Atlas District” under way:

“Clark Realty Capital is developing The Flats at Atlas District, a multifamily luxury apartment community located near the H Street, Atlas, Trinidad, and Rosedale communities in the Northeast quadrant of Washington, DC, a short walk from the many restaurants, shops, and bars on H Street as well as the historic Atlas Theater.”

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“Dear PoP,

There was a homicide in the alley between 11&12th st. and M&N streets NW today. Seems like there isn’t a lot of information as of now. My girlfriends building backs up to this alley and there was a note on the building advising residents not to use the back door. This brief article was posted on the Washington Post website.”

An MPD press release went out yesterday:

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating the fatal stabbing which occurred in the 1200 block of 11th Street, NW.

On Monday, November 8, 2010, at approximately 4:00 pm, Units from the Third District responded to the 1200 block of 11th Street, NW for the report of an unconscious person. Upon arriving, they discovered an unresponsive victim suffering from stab wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived and did not find any signs consistent with life.

The decedent is identified as 54 year-old Miguel Ventura of Lanham, Maryland.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746).

Ed. Note: The Post this morning also has the tragic story of the teen killed in Trinidad Monday referenced in the newsbrief above.

A horrible tweet was sent out by @Capcitydiner Sunday:

“Kids robbed waiter after shift last night & shot him 2 blks away. We closed a few hours, & some dirtbag broke in. Waiter is ok.”

Wishing the waiter a speedy recovery and wishing both the waiter and Capital City Diner much strength and perseverance.

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Featured Property: 1224 Orren St NE
Original List Price: $299,000.
List Price at Contract: $299,000.
List Date: 07/10/2010
Days on Market: 3
Settled Sales Price: $320,000.
Settlement Date: 09/16/2010
Seller Subsidy: $5000.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Conventional

Original GDoN is: here.

The Listing can be seen: here. To see pics, after opening the listing link, click on the main pic and scroll through.

At only three days on the market and substantially over list price, clearly somebody saw the value of an entire updated house with a basement and parking. Given that the property sold over list, it is likely that there was more than one interested party.

I was happy to profile this property simply because this is one of those areas that has not been visited much in the course of Good Deal or Not (GDoN). Over the years, I’ve owned a property in Trinidad and represented clients for more than ten four-unit buildings in the neighborhood. Just like many other parts of the city, Trinidad has seen values head up and then back down, but it has generally not returned to early 2000 prices of sub-$100k.

While I haven’t personally lived in Trinidad, I have definitely had the experience of living in a gritty urban neighborhood because I could get the kind of space I wanted for what I could afford at the time. When people say that there are no affordable neighborhoods left in DC, they are often keeping their options somewhat limited.

For those who might be curious about what is currently available for sale in Trinidad, here are residential listings and here are multi-unit buildings.