RSS FeedOn The Corner Of 10th & Frustration
A Rare, Quiet Moment On The 500 Block Of 10th Street
Traffic, construction, tour buses, and tourists. On their own each of these may be a nuisance (although not the tourists dollars, we love those); but when combined with a one-way street, partially closed sidewalk, souvenir row, Hard Rock, and Ford’s Theatre you have entered the most miserable block in Penn Quarter.
We dubbed this stretch of PQ Tourists Alley back in 2007, and that certainly hasn’t changed. Only mildly annoying in the winter, this street has become impassable at times now that the tourists are in full bloom.
Of course unless you want to eat at Bistro D’OC or Lincoln’s Waffle Shop, or maybe see a show at Ford’s, this is an easy block to avoid. And as noted above this is a small price to pay for the money generated by all those visiting our fair city. But every so often we get lost in our thoughts on the way to the office in the morning and turn the corner onto 10th. When we make that mistake we get a quick reminder on why it is always smarter to continue on to 11th.
Megaphone Male Broadcasts The Good News
Our downtown neighborhood has its share of pedestrian actors and all lots in life traverse our shared sidewalks. In one way or another we’ve come to appreciate them all, and all the world’s indeed a stage and we are merely players. The three that come to mind most easily are Exercise Man, Take 5 Guy, and the less observed but more recently arrived Barbell Dude. We’d like to add another person to the roster and he is the guy who broadcasts his religious convictions to passers by via a handheld electronic megaphone (click the photo to zoom in). Usually found near or on the east steps of the American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery, how do you know it’s him? Easy. He mouths the reverb and echo sound effects himself, elongating words with an unmistakable tenor. Yesterday he was checking to see if we all had attended church or not. Are there any others who should be up for consideration?
Cribs XX: 2,210 Square Feet Not For Sale
Our last featured crib at The Ventana is still for sale and our regular perusal of Redfin didn’t yield any really amazing new homes to feature. Fortunately, there is a home worth mentioning, but unfortunately for prospective buyers, it is not for sale.
We’re talking about the 2,210 square foot, three condos turned into one, crib owned by the Mahoney family in the 601 Pennsylvania Avenue condo (entrance on Indiana Ave NW). The Washington Post offers up a full photo spread in addition to a description of the process by which three adjoining condos were assembled into one fantastic space. We checked the PQ Living Cribs archives, and we found a 2,950 square foot joint but it was a blank slate. In a quest for more space, we’ve also thought about following a similar process by making an offer for the place next door to ours in our building, and working a little construction magic.
Know any other downtown condos where a “multiple” has been created?
PAUL Bakery To Open May 2 (801 Penn Ave NW)
C’est vrai, c’est vrai! It’s true that PAUL Bakery (801 Pennsylvania Ave NW) will open in Market Square on May 2 in time for summer lingering and coffee drinking on our neighborhood’s own “Place Memorial Marine.” A slice of Europe coming to our very own neighborhood? Perhaps, but we’re more excited about the prospect of being within short walking distance of retrieving fresh bread made daily, sipping coffee while watching the Navy Memorial’s fountains, or eating warm croissants while noodling over a Sunday newspaper.
This is DC’s flagship bakery-cafe from the France based business, and the 3,220 square foot location will offer seating inside for fifty at cafe tables and booths. Outdoor terrace seating will also be available. A family operated business for over one hundred years, PAUL’s recipes for bread, viennoiserie, and patisserie have been handed down through the family since 1889.
We’re told PAUL will offer traditional and specialty breads, which will be made by hand every day. The breads are made from an organic, locally sourced flour milled exclusively for PAUL, are naturally fermented, and are made without additives or preservatives. The viennoiserie will offer up croissants, pain au chocolat, escargot aux raisins (raisin Danish), turnovers and macaroons, all prepared daily along with seasonal cakes and tarts.
C’est bon et nous sommes ravis!
Website: www.paul-usa.com
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