RSS FeedThere Are Many Like It But This One Is Mine
We’ve been car-share members for a long time. First with FlexCar, and then later ZipCar when the two companies merged. For years and years we loved trying out fun cars (“let’s get a Mini convertible today!”), or the newest space-age fuel efficient cars (“let’s try one of those hybrids today!”), or a fast, luxurious car (“let’s get the BMW today!”).
But something has happened in the last few years, we’ve only been reserving one car. Not one type of car, not one make and model of car. One exact car. Our car.
If our car isn’t available for the time we need it, we often don’t rent a car at all. When we get in our car we’re always disappointed, sometimes angry, to find out someone has adjusted the seats and mirrors or changed our preset stations.
We know this is crazy, it’s a car share system and the beauty of it should be that you can get a car near you at almost any time. If one car isn’t available, there are usually dozens of others to choose from. But human nature is a funny thing (at least we hope it’s human nature and not just us) and after a while you just don’t want to share. You want that nice car to stay nice because you take care of it, even if other people don’t (alright, most people do take care of the cars… but not as good as we do!).
That’s not to say we’re giving up ZipCar, we’re still members and we use the service all the time. But only when our car is available.
Just for Laughs
This Friday and Saturday at Riot Act Comedy Club (801 E Street NW) you can beat the winter doldrums with some belly laughs. Shows will feature films from previous DC Shorts Film Festivals and live, local comedy acts highlighting themes like Work Sucks, Family Dysfunction, Superheroes Sexual Adventures, Payback Is Hell and A Very DC Moment.
Click here for more information and tickets.
DC Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood
Follow PQ Living via Facebook here and Twitter here. Our Flickr tag is pqliving.
Here’s what we were reading recently about neighborhood news in DC. Have something to add? Leave it in the comments!
Ed. Note (2/1): The ANC2C meeting (as opposed to the full ANC) is this evening at 6:30 pm, per Urbaniste’s comments (thanks!)
Penn Quarter - The Verizon Center signage bill is back but the proposal has been modified. There is a special ANC6 public space hearing being held on the proposed bill at Calvary Baptist Church, 755 8th St NW, tonight at 7 pm. This is where the DNA normally holds its public meetings. The Transportation and Public Space Committee will hear from the Verizon Center about changes to the proposed bill, and citizens will be given a chance to ask questions. At the hearing, the committee will vote to support or oppose this bill, and make its recommendation to the full ANC. At its next meeting on February 8, the ANC will vote whether to accept the committee’s recommendation, and in turn report its support or opposition to the City Council. [DC Downtown Neighborhood Association] & [Mock up of revised signage proposal (PDF)]
Mount Vernon Triangle – District Crossfit will be hosting the Mid-Atlantic Open. [The Triangle]
Downtown - The K Street Fuel Pizza opens and if you want hot wings, they got ‘em. Here’s a Young and Hungry review. [Washington CityPaper]
Penn Quarter – Want to know more about the best way to get a table at Rasika? This interview with their General Manager might help. [Eater - DC]
Chinese New Year Parade Roundup *video*
We don’t think we’ve seen as many people at Washington DC’s Chinese Lunar New Year parade as we did yesterday, but we were disappointed that the local network TV news outlets filed no video stories that we could find. In addition to VOA’s piece above, the Washington Post and the Washington Times filed stories along with this Chinese outlet. Perhaps this is a commentary on what carries the news of the day or perhaps it’s a commentary on our Chinatown. Regardless, it was a nice day to be out and about enjoying the Year of the Dragon!
Plans And Timeline For Old YWCA Building (9th & G St NW)
Photo courtesy of Rockpoint Group website
DCMud broke the news that the YWCA building at the southwest corner of 9th & G St NW will be demolished sometime around June 2012. In its place, a 112,000 square foot LEED-GOLD certified building will be built. It is uncertain how the planned construction will affect the residents of the 50-unit Mather Studios condominium which is adjacent to the future construction site. Also, adjacent to the future construction site is the only alley entrance for most buildings on the same block.
The project will bring an updated design to the corner of 9th & G St NW in the way of a mostly glass facade and 9 foot ceilings for floors 2-7 and 10 foot ceilings for the 2 penthouse levels.
Year of the Dragon
Monday marked the beginning of the Chinese New Year. Following are a few ways you can celebrate the Year of the Dragon – considered to be the luckiest year in the zodiac.
Sunday, January 29 @ 2 pm
6th and I Sts. NW and throughout Chinatown
The Source (575 Pennsylvania Ave., NW)
Wolfgang Puck will be on-site for a special Feb. 3 dinner, which is five courses for $125 per person ($175 with wine pairings). The Year of the Dragon menu will also be available daily beginning on Jan. 23.
Ping Pong Dim Sum (900 Seventh St., NW)
A “Green Dragon Party Brunch” on Jan. 29th and Feb. 5th — wear something green and get 15 percent off your entire bill
“Lady Dragon Night” on Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 — ladies get a free glass of Champagne
“Red Dragon Party” on Jan. 28 and Feb. 4. — from 10 p.m. until midnight, those dressed in red get a complimentary martini from the Ping Pong After Dark menu
Asia Nine (915 E St., NW)
Four-course feast for $35
CORRECTED & UPDATED: Local Vine Cellar Coming To PQ
Correction & Update: Apparently we need to visit our Optometrist because the soon to open wine & spirits store is called “The Local Vine Cellar” not wine cellar. Our apologies to the owner!
Armed with that info we found their website which lists an opening in February, as well as this Prince of Petworth post from July of 2011 noting the possibility of this establishment coming to the space.
Originally Published 1/20/2012: We just noticed that the old Ritz Camera store front on the 400 block of 11th St NW will soon become “The Local Wine Cellar, Wine & Spirits” (425 11th St NW, we believe). The permit to begin interior work was granted 10 days ago, so we probably have quite a while before this place opens. Still it’s nice to see another vacant space gaining a new retailer. With the recent opening of Elisir, this block of 11th Street is really starting to pick up.
DC Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood
Follow PQ Living via Facebook here and Twitter here. Our Flickr tag is pqliving.
Here’s what we were reading recently about neighborhood news in DC. Have something to add? Leave it in the comments!
Mount Vernon Triangle – BicycleSpace announces their new location on 7th Street NW and still in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood [The Triangle]
Penn Quarter – One Medical wrote in to point out that their new approach to delivering family practice medicine is available at 10th and G Streets NW and at 16th and Eye Streets NW. [One Medical]
Downtown – Fuel Pizza opens on K Street NW between 16th and 17th Street NW in the former Burger King space. [Urban Daddy]
Mount Vernon Triangle -The Hoagie House at 4th and N Streets NW has a new owner and will become apartments. [Life in Mount Vernon Square]
Downtown – W. Curtis Draper, the cigar store, has restricted smoking at the store to non-office hours until they can work out some ventilation issues. Discounts ensue. [W. Curtis Draper website]
Shaw – The Jefferson Apartment Group is moving forward with the Jefferson at Market Place near the O Street Market development on 7th Street NW. [Washington Business Journal]
All Over DC – A funny look at “stuff” people in DC say. This is not safe for work, by the way. [Social Studies - Living Social's blog]
West End – The founder of the now shut down Blackie’s House of Beef and Lulu’s, Lulu Auger, passes away. Blackie’s was a legendary Washington restaurant that ran between 1952 and 2005 and Lulu’s was a mammoth bar/nightclub on M Street in the West End. [WaPo Obituaries]
Chinatown - DC’s Chinatown gets a shoutout in this Wall Street Journal article about the shrinking of urban Chinatowns around the United States. [WSJ]
Foodie Find: Alice Waters
This weekend there are three exclusive opportunities to get to know to the Godmother of good food, Alice Waters, and enjoy the talents of some of our area’s most recognized chefs.
Discussion with Alice Waters and Jose Andres
Reception honoring Alice Waters featuring local chefs
Friday, January 20 at the National Portrait Gallery (8th and F Sts NW)
Click here for more information and tickets.
Saturday Night Sips
Saturday, January 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at The Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW)
Click here for tickets and more information. Benefits Martha’s Table and DC Central Kitchen.
A cocktail reception celebrating the contribution young people are making to feeding their community. Special guests will include Jose Andres, Joan Nathan and Alice Waters and speakers from Martha’s Table and DC Central Kitchen.
A bevy of DC favorites including Penn Quarter Chefs Dennis Marron of Poste and Kevin Villalovos of Cure.
Sunday Suppers
Sunday, January 22 at various private residences in DC.
Click here for tickets and more information. Benefits Martha’s Table and DC Central Kitchen.
Jose Andres, Joan Nathan and Alice Waters are hosting twenty intimate dinners in Washington, DC homes featuring outstanding Chefs from around the country.
A Rock Star list of Chefs from around the Country and Penn Quarter Chefs Scott Drewno of The Source, Haidar Karoum of Proof Nick Stefanelli of Bibiana, Vikram Sunderam of Rasika, and Paul Yeck of America Eats Tavern.
Threat Of Penn Quarter Light Pollution Looms Large
Ed. Note: The hearing referenced below scheduled for Monday, January 23 has been canceled.
It’s happening again. A business in Penn Quarter is thinking that bigger, brighter, and bolder is better for the neighborhood. Normally, this might be true but in this case allowing for lit displays unrestricted in size and subjectively regulated in brightness could result in areas surrounding the Verizon Center lit up like an over-the-top Christmas lawn display. Except that it might not just be during Christmas…it could be all year long. And, it wouldn’t be limited to a front lawn…it might be on the walls of the Verizon Center facing 7th Street, F Street, and 6th Street NW.
We’ve seen this story before in the spring of 2010 when a media company wanted to erect electronic signs on the side of a 7th Street condominium placing residents in a similar untenable situation where light pollution would demonstrably affect the quality of their homes and businesses. Direct sightlines exist from the Verizon Center into a number of condominiums, apartments, and historic buildings – for example, the Phone Booth can be seen directly from the U.S. Treasury building at 15th and G Street NW, almost one mile away. We’re not the only ones thinking that legislation coming before the D.C. Council [PDF] next Monday, January 23, allowing for large lit displays spells trouble for the character of the neighborhood.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) released this e-mail summarizing the situation.
Councilmember Yvette Alexander has introduced a bill that will allow the Verizon Center to install up to nine lighted and animated exterior jumbotron billboards of any size and at any location on the Verizon Center, and exempt these billboards from the regulations that apply to all other billboards in the city.
The struggle to regulate and control billboards in the District has been going on since 1931, and most recently last year. There’s an ongoing effort to see that we have a reasonable, consistent, equitable, comprehensive, and citywide policy. There are also some who continue to look for (or create) loopholes to meet their specific, personal needs, regardless of the concerns of the community.
The District’s billboard policy must reflect the city’s unique status and character, and properly balance our historic and contemporary elements. It needs to be addressed by all of the stakeholders, not established unilaterally by the Verizon Center for its profit.
A growing number of organizations and individuals are concerned that this is bad legislation and a frightening precedent. Under this legislation, signs of any size and in any location (now and in the future) would only need a DCRA permit, and DCRA has a documented track record of not always properly handling such reviews and issuing of permits. A proper process must be followed to establish a sane and sensible citywide policy, and see it enforced.
