Not quite there yet

In the Washinton Post article they talk about businesses near the Convention Center that haven’t benifited yet from the Center. Part of the problem, I think, is that the are doesn’t look open for business. Even some open business don’t look open with the dirty windows and you can’t see the lights on. Despite the signs, nope, signs can be deceptive. As far as I know, you were open, but closed and never bothered to take down the sign. Also post hours, that’s my pet peeve, no posted hours.

Oh Joy

I was walking on S Street to the Shaw metro, not my usual route, but I had to drop something off at the Post Office on Florida, and saw them. Two wood art deco pieces of furniture, sitting on the sidewalk. I looked at them. They had all their drawers. One was a chest the other was a ….. about 3 ft tall, one drawer on top, a cabinet door… I debated about being late for work, getting a Flexcar and grabbing them and taking them home. I looked at my Palm for the time, I had missed the early train and I’d be 30-1hr late if I went to the R Street side for the car…. So I grabbed the little piece and dragged into the metro system.

It’s here with me at work. Getting it home might be a bitch. Getting it in the building and through security was a new one.

It is so cute. It has a glass door knob. It does have water damage on the top and sections of that wood will need replacing, the paint job is shot too.

But I’m happy.

Important Follow-up Session to Citizen Summit III

Neighbors,

Please be reminded that a follow-up session to Citizen Summit II will

be held tomorrow, Tuesday, February 10, 2004, at Trinity College, 125

Michigan Avenue, N.E., O’Connor Auditorium. This sessions is for residents of

Ward Five. Mayor Anthony Williams is scheduled to be present to tell us

what he learned at Citizen Summit III, as well as to respond to any questions

that residents might have with respect to neighborhood priorities. The

doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and the session is planned to begin at 7:00 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

One for Shaw – 2004-01-26 – Washington Business Journal

Too exciting for words if it were to come true.

They would be in my little 4 block world. Quick explaination, my 4 block world is what is immediately near my house, places I’m willing to venture out to when it is cold and dark. Having a big office, sorry UPO and Africa House don’t count, that would attract eateries beyond the greasy carryout become more of a possiblity when a bunch of offices come around. The negative is they attract people who don’t believe in leaving their cars.

State of the District

Today 7pm Lincoln Theatre, near Ben’s Chili Bowl

Mayor Anthony A. Williams will present the 2004 State of the District Address on Tuesday, February 3, 2004, at 7:00 PM at the Lincoln Theater, 1215 U Street, NW. Admission is free, and no tickets or reservations

are required. Doors open at 6:00 PM.

The theater is across the street from the Green Line METRO’s U Street/Cardozo/African American Civil War Memorial station’s 13th and U Streets entrance.

For more information, contact the Office of Community Outreach at 202-442-8150.

If you experience a power outage in the morning.

Neighbors,

Please find below a message from Pepco’s Ted Trabue re. possible power

outages.

Jim Berry

ANC 5C

“As you know the District of Columbia is expecting inclement weather tomorrow morning. In the event that the weather causes power outages please call our outage line 1(877) 737-2662. This is an automated line that can accept up to 100,000 calls per hour. Customer Service Representatives

can also be reached by calling this number. ”

Best Regards,

Ted Trabue, Pepco

Salt people, salt

Okay neighbors, I know some of you tried but gave up. Of course, some of you didn’t even bother, and for that I curse you.

On the opposite side of the street the old men got together and shoveled an salted. Then they pressed the kids and grandkids into service, shoveling somewhat. So the other side of the street is a sidewalk wonderland. On our side, we suck. M has her sidewalk salted and shoveled, as do I and another. Some of y’all shovelled away the first blast of snow and didn’t address the second wave of icy rain and snow. Your sidewalks are slightly slippery.

Then there are those who, did not bother. Maybe you don’t have shovels, or road salt. People, regular salt can be used. I shoveled a narrow path linking the shoveled sidewalks together, and on the next day sprinkled 1/2 a container of Giant table salt, at $.50 a container that’s a mere quarter, on the path. The path is now slushy.

Please do something about your sidewalks, not for me but for the mailman (actually woman and a nice enough gal). She has to climb your sorry a$$ steps and walk your slippery walkways.

Salt people, salt.

Crime in the City

It’s a big city, guess what there is crime.

I don’t know maybe I have a high tolerance for crime, but I live in the city and I am not afraid of my neighborhood, despite the fact that in the 3 years I have lived here, people have been shot at least 1 block or 2 from my house. I’m even getting comfy with the evil block up, of course the chilling cold weather might have something to do with it as 14F makes it uncomfy to just hang out and kick back a coupla 40s.

When the spirit takes me I post the crime in the area. Please note I am very lazy, full of great ideas, but lazy. What this does for me is comforting, probably giving me false comfort, but comforting none the less. What I see in the stats are a lot of car break ins, which makes me happy I don’t have a car and makes me not want a car. Verbal altercations that end in somebody getting stabbed or shot. I’m not one to get into verbal altercations, not even with Drama Mamma. I say my peace and move on, raised voices not on the menu, sneaky underhanded tricks and anonymous calls to the police, yes, that’s on the menu.

It’s the people getting mugged thing that worries me. I do walk home, late at night from the metro. The 4 block path I know very well, every brick and crack. There are no hiding places and the street is one way and well lit. I know at least one person on the way there well enough to try to seek refuge at her door (this is why getting to know your neighbors is a GOOD thing). Still, some fool could jump out of a car and try something.

But when I seem to talk to others in “safer” “nice” communities they seem to point out the least scary things, to me, as things that make my neighborhood bad. The security gate is a good thing, so are the bars on the windows. The guys hanging out, annoying mostly, which is why I avoid them. I don’t see them as horribly menacing, just very damned annoying, cursing, being gross and loud and drunk. Of course there are crackheads and dealers among the bunch, I would just fear getting in the middle of a business dispute. Graffiti, yup, problem, mainly of homeowner maintenance. Bored kids, most likely. Crack ho’s, a litter/quality of life/just plain ugly problem. Don’t see them often, thank goodness.

I like my block and my neighborhood. Yes, there is a very bad history with crime, people getting shot. Yet, most of the time that scary crime is done by people who know each other…. pick your friends wisely.

Ward Two Neighborhood Citizen Summit Thurs. Feb. 19th, 7:00pm

Mayor Anthony A. Williams

invites you to the

Ward Two Neighborhood Citizen Summit

* Discuss what we learned at Citizen Summit III

* Discuss the long-range vision for the District

* Discuss priorities and initiatives in the proposed fiscal year 2005

budget

* Questions and answers with the Mayor

Thursday February 19th, 2004 7:00pm

Doors open at 6:00pm

Kennedy Recreation Center

7th and P Streets NW

Washington, DC 20001

Metro Green Line to Shaw Howard University or

Metro Green & Yellow Line to Mt. Vernon Sq. 7th Street-Convention Center

For more information call (202)727-2822 or visit citizensummit.dc.gov