We have to say that this is one of the more creative sidewalk ads we’ve seen in a while. In fact, most people miss it when walking by. These circular ads have been adhered to the tops of man-hole covers around the 7th & H St NW intersection. The fact that the ads are subtle and don’t contain obnoxious text or colors have made us fans of this particular ad style.

The writers at Penn Quarter Living wish everyone a happy 4th of July! Send us your photos of your day and we’ll add them to this post.

Here are some things going on in the ‘hood:

US Navy Memorial (7th & Penn Ave)
Bell Ringing Ceremony at 2 pm

Smithsonian American Art Museum (8th & F St)
Local Color: Washington Painting at Midcentury - Opens today, 11:30 am - 7 pm

Reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Constitution Ave steps of the Archives, including guests Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, and Hector. 10 am

42nd Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on The Mall
11 am to 5:30 pm

Independence Day Parade - Constitution Ave starting at 7th Street leading to 17th Street
11:45 am to 2 pm

Independence Day Concert - SW portion of Wash Monument grounds by US Air Force Bank and Gatlin Brothers
6 pm

Capitol Fourth Concert - west lawn of Capitol Building - Huey Lews & the News, Taylor Hicks, Jerry Lee Lewis and the National Symphony Orchestra
8 pm to 9:30 pm

Fireworks - launch point is the Reflecting Pool
9:10 pm to 9:27 pm

Please remember that there is a security perimeter surrounding the entire Mall including the Ellipse in front of the White House with designated entry checkpoints. WaPo has a great graphical timeline and map showing events taking place today, locations for different events, road closures, security perimeter entry points and Metro hours.

Happy 4th of July!!!

10:32 am, Archives Steps:

User-contributed fireworks pics:

Thanks CZ!

Thanks to JAG for sending us a pic of a notice posted on the neighboring retail space to Co Co Sala (927 F St NW). It details an expansion of 57 additional seats in the space to the right of the existing establishment. Business must be good!

This blogger was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy a preview of Nando’s Peri-Peri Restaurant (819 7th St NW) on Tuesday. We will definitely vouch for the quality and freshness of the food, but will refrain from any nit picks because we’re sure management will be making some adjustments before the grand opening.

The main courses are pretty reasonably priced, but once you start adding an appetizer, sides, and a drink, you’re looking at a hefty bill (around $20) for a fresh-casual restaurant. However, Nando’s will thrive in the neighborhood because of its spacious seating and laid back atmosphere. Think of it as a lower volume sit down restaurant, rather than a high volume conveyor belt lunch shop.

Edit: There is much speculation that Nando’s will open to the public tomorrow.

Nice decor, casual laid back atmosphere

Chicken Breast Wrap with lemon grass sauce + Olives appetizer

Butternut Squash and Couscous Salad + Fries side

1200 G ST NW, the former location of Cafe 1200 (we loved their tarragon chicken salad sandwiches!) which has been empty for quite some time, is being remodeled now to open as the next Chop’t Salad. It will be interesting to see if this Chop’t location keeps the same hours as the one on 7th ST. If the 1200 G ST Chop’t is open late and on weekends, maybe that will drive more people towards the Western edge of the PQ, where things are usually pretty quiet at those times.

Thanks to everyone for voting in our last poll. The new poll drives a little deeper asking about the zip code from which you check out PQ Living. Don’t worry…we’re not spying on you but we did want to get a better feel for where our audience is close in to downtown. All you FBI and DOJ HQ readers (and we know you’re out there) should select 20004. Please cast your vote in the new poll box along the right hand column.

For the last poll, we asked our reader community “Why do you read PQ Living?” and here are the results from the 283 votes cast:

(1) I live here and want to know what’s up - 197 votes - 69.6%

(2) I work here and want to be in the know - 53 votes - 18.7%

(3) None of the above - 18 votes - 6.4%

(4) It’s an entertaining read - 12 votes - 4.2%

(5) Am planning a visit downtown - 3 votes - 1.1%

It looks like the majority of readers live here or work here. Thanks for voting and for reading. We’ll see you around the ‘hood!!!

We like the summer…a lot…because the days are long, the nights are short and the weather is warm. With summer thunderstorms wading in and out of the area due to unstable air masses, the sky makes for fabulous sunsets and this unaltered shot taken on June 22, one day after the summer solstice, is no exception. For reference, the two peaks in the middle are One Franklin Square at 13th and K Streets, NW. This is essentially as far north as you’ll see the sun set over the PQ.

A look at news from around the globe featuring parts of the Penn Quarter.

First, the San Francisco Chronicle has an article about the Old Post Office revitalization efforts, spurred on by a bill sponsored by our Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (the bill passed the House and has been sent to the Senate).  The revitalization could even include residences, what a cool address that would be!  But we wonder, would you have to go through security each time you entered your abode?

Next up we have the Leader-Post (Canada) article on Washington tourism, with the fantastic title of “Washington.  A proud and generous city.”  This short piece discusses many of the great sites we get to enjoy in our downtown neighborhood (as well as a few other spots in the city).

Finally we point you towards this Detroit Free Press article on bike sharing in DC, which has been the subject of more than a few comments on PQLiving as well.  We’re curious to see if this service will catch on the way Flexcar & Zipcar eventually did.

Mrs. Columbo and I were enjoying Jazz in the Garden Friday night, when a little rain started to fall.  Not a big deal, Mrs. Columbo was prepared with an umbrella and we stayed huddled underneath nursing our beers.  Well that little bit of rain started falling harder & harder. 

30 minutes later we saw some lightning & decided to head home.  As we passed the cafe in the garden a (sewer?) line suddenly erupted, sending people running in all directions.  We snapped this photo before many figured out what filth it was coming up from the ground.  At least it looked like filth, and those laying on that part of the ground were complaining (yelling) about being covered in refuse.

Thanks to Maisha for tipping us off to today’s WaBizJo article that discusses Douglas Development’s plans for reviving the Balducci’s deal on 7th (between D and E St) and bringing Anthropologie to the 900 block of F St!

Things sound very preliminary as none of the retailers or Douglas Development are saying much.  But, the DC Council is expected to vote on emergency legislation on July 2nd that would essentially re-authorize the original Balducci’s TIF financing.

But, what will the hot topic of this blog be if the Penn Quarter finally gains a grocery store and all of our retail dreams are realized?  I dunno, how about a gun shop?