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Walking the streets of PQ after a heavy rain can be a treacherous outing. While the threat of oversized umbrellas has subsided, there still exists a weapon of stealth to deal with: the sidewalk mine. Those slabs of slate, brick, or asphalt tile that make up PQ’s sidewalks are for the most part smooth and comfortable. But on every block there is at least one tile that has broken free and pivots slightly when walked on. Not a problem during a dry spell, but hit one just right after it rains and the sidewalk around you will erupt like a muddy-water geyser.
We know were several of these loose tiles are located (11th & F–6 up, 3 over) but don’t know them all. We always try to avoid seersucker or whites after a storm (some of you may think we should avoid seersucker altogether); because unlike in the movies, these suckers don’t make a click before they blow.
Penn Quarter Sports Tavern Has Caps Spirit
The Washington Capitals can put away the Montreal Canadiens tonight with a victory at the Bell Centre in Montreal and advance to the next round of the National Hockey League playoffs. We’re not so sure that three one goal games with two of them going into overtime is what we had in mind from a series that matches the President’s Cup winner with a team that barely made the playoffs. But, it seems like Ovechkin now has his shooting stick back after leaving it behind in the first game against the Habs – this is a good sign.
We walked by the Penn Quarter Sports Tavern (639 Indiana Ave NW) yesterday and see that they have the hometown spirit by flying the red Caps flag proudly. We’ve been in the PQST on and off since they opened in October of 2007 and can say that they’ve made some nice improvements in the sports bar experience since their opening like adding lots of big screen TVs (including a few that face the covered, heated seating area) and incorporating outdoor seating (see photo above). They improved their menu and their online presence has been bettered too by an improved website and sponsoring Joe Beninati’s blog (play-by-play announcer on Comcast SportsNet).
All we can say for today is “Let’s go Caps!”
Cribs XIV: Deluxe On Mass Ave
Empty no longer, the condo formerly known as the Dumont Condos was purchased by Equity Residential, a real estate investment trust, for $167M that wasted no time getting it ready for leasing to tenants as 425 Mass (425 Massachusetts Ave NW). The leasing website is up so we decided to dig into the numbers.
By looking at the monthly prices for the most common configurations posted on the website today, we see studios ($1785 to $2046), 1BRs ($2385 to $2700) and 2 BR/2 BAs ($3685 to $4428) for rent. If we exclude the penthouse apartments and throw out the single lowest and highest per square foot cost, we get a range of $2.73 per square foot per month to $3.68 per square foot per month. For 1 BRs, this is in line with another recently opened super deluxe apartment building in the area. As expected, the studios cost the most and the 2BR/2BAs cost the least per square foot per month. We checked the Rentometer which pulls listings from various sources in the surrounding area, centered the search at 7th and H St NW and received the following median results: studio ($1350), 1 BR ($2100) and 2BR ($2720). Your results may vary depending on the search centerpoint.
Want to get a look inside? We suggest checking out The Triangle’s nicely assembled photo tour and their “extra facts” post. Combine this building’s opening with Buddha Bar’s imminent opening in early May and we’re looking forward to that part of Massachusetts Avenue not being such a ghost town during our evening walks.
Photo credit: flipperman75
Smithsonian Gets Courtyard Roof Washing
Yesterday morning, we spotted workers cleaning the courtyard roof of the Smithsonian Reynolds Center (AKA the building housing the American Art Museum & Portrait Gallery). No doubt, days will seem much brighter in the courtyard this summer! We just wish the Courtyard Cafe and Portico Cafe were open later than the 6:30pm and 5pm closing times, respectively.
Update (4/29/2010): We have received word from the Smithsonian that the Portico Cafe is no longer in operation now that the Courtyard Cafe is open.