RSS FeedMGM National Harbor Starts Direct Bus Line To Chinatown (7th and H St NW)
Over the weekend we were out for a walk around the neighborhood and were handed the flyer pictured above which advertises a new set of six bus lines called the MGM Lion Line running between the MGM National Harbor Casino and various points around the DC metro area. Two daily round trips are advertised for the line that runs into Chinatown with pickups at 10:15 am and 1 pm and returns leaving the MGM at 3:30 pm and 7 pm. The pickup/dropoff location is at 7th and H St NW and a round trip costs $20 with a little bit of casino credit thrown in as an incentive.
Other lower cost public transportation alternatives exist for getting to the MGM including:
- Taking the Metro Green line to Southern Ave and taking the NH1 bus to the MGM
- Taking the Metro Yellow line to Huntington and taking the NH2 bus the MGM
A more costly but also more scenic alternative is to take the water taxi from the National Mall stop to National Harbor (with one stop in Alexandria). Then, board the National Harbor Circulator bus from National Harbor to the MGM.
GSA Decides To Can The FBI Building Move For Now (935 Pennsylvania Ave NW)
The moving and consolidation of the FBI into a single campus not in the heart of Penn Quarter is to be postponed indefinitely by the GSA today according to this Washington Post article. WaPo also notes the reactions from local officials in this piece and this piece.
The FBI building takes up two full blocks of city space that is locked down tight due to the understandable security required by its workers as is well known by those who live in Penn Quarter. Many we know in the neighborhood were looking forward to the redevelopment of the parcel as it would have resulted in better activation of that part of the neighborhood.
An interesting note we learned when researching this blog post is that the FBI now offers a self-guided tour called The FBI Experience which requires an advance reservation available by contacting your congressional representative. Details can be found here. No tours that we know of were offered for a long time after the building became fully secured.
It looks like residents will have to wait a bit longer for this part of the neighborhood to change.
New Apple Store Is Topic For July Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association Meeting
By e-mail we were notified about the July Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association breakfast meeting which will take place on Tuesday, July 11 at the National Archives. The discussion topic is an exciting one and it is the plans for Apple’s upcoming store to be located in the Carnegie Library on Mt. Vernon Square. For some background information, have a look at this Washington Post story.
There is no cost to attend but an RSVP is requested per below. Please indicate if you heard of this meeting from Penn Quarter Living.
Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association Breakfast Meeting
Tuesday, July 11, 8:30 amLocation
National Archives
Constitution Ave NW – Special Events Entrance
Metro: Archives-Navy Mem’l-Penn QuarterAgenda
Continental Breakfast: 8:30 am – 8:50 am
Brief Announcements: 9 am
Speaker begins after AnnouncementsSpeaker + Topic
Michael Brown, Apple, Inc.
Apple is leasing space for a hallmark store in the former Carnegie Library on Mt. Vernon Square. Michael will show you their plans and describe their plans for this flagship level Apple store and how they will accommodate the Historical Society, its current tenant.RSVP Details
RSVP via email by Noon Friday, July 7 to:
Jo-Ann@PennQuarter.orgInclude the first and last names of all those attending and their affiliations. If you are a neighborhood resident indicate ‘Self’ or your building as your affiliation.
Crimson Diner Now Open To Public In Pod Hotel (627 H St NW)
The Crimson Diner is now certifiably open to the public on the ground floor of the Pod Hotel at 627 H St NW. We stopped by yesterday to get breakfast for dinner and were really quite smitten by the whole thing. The ambience is clean and uncluttered, the food was fantastic and hit the spot, and the menu pricing fill the need for a moderately priced sit down meal in Penn Quarter/Chinatown. Lastly, it wasn’t overrun with patrons meaning it might just remain our own neighborhood secret, at least until the rooftop bar opens in July. The basement Whiskey Bar should open soon thereafter.
Check out the drink and food menu photos below.
