V.w.verweij

Working long hours is sometimes a necessary evil, but if you're doing it regularly as a salaried employee, you're basically working for nothing. Jason James writes on We Are a Mammoth the many ways working long hours is just plain bad.

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Winter Blues!

It’s been tough going from perpetual sunny Florida to a dark Pacific NW Winter and it hit me hard! Winter Depression is no fun! 

Lessons from the Heritage Cananda/ National Trust Convention on how old buildings are not only green but can be healthy, too.

Take a look inside one of the newest trends to hit Tokyo's streets -- the owl-themed café.

Unfortunately they don't realize that there's more to healthy eating than just having the perfect ratio of nutrients.

4700 Wisconsin Ave, NW

“Dear PoPville,

I heard from employees there that it will be closing for up to two years as the building is razed & rebuilt (along with two adjoining buildings). This is a neighborhood institution, a 24-hour dive diner that’s been there for decades. Big deal for Tenleytown. The employees said it was initially supposed to close in November but that they recently got word it has been delayed until January 2014.”

I called the store but they were unable to give firm timelines and the owner was not at the store. So it is not clear if they will close this January or next January. But it is clear at some point it’s looking like Steak ‘n Egg will be closing for extensive renovations. In June a Raze permit was issued for 4700 Wisconsin Ave, NW. At that time CityPaper reported:

“Developer Frank Economides, who owns the property and filed the permit application, says Steak ‘n Egg isn’t disappearing. The raze permit application was an early step in the process of a potential expansion of the restaurant.”

It now seems, while Steak ‘n Egg won’t disappear completely, they are likely to take an extensive hiatus during renovations. Stay tuned for more info on the timeline as it becomes available. For the moment they remain open. You can check out their menu here.

Corner of Chesapeake and Wisconsin Ave, NW

In a recent riff for the New York Times Magazine inspired by Woody Allen’s movie Blue Jasmine—which was itself inspired by Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire, so we’re layers within layers here, people—Lisa Schwarzbaum writes that her secret fear is that she will end up a bag lady. And the fear does not just belong to her; nay, it belongs to a generation. Or, really, a gender:

This is true of so many women I know. We can intuit Jasmine’s fate because ending up a bag lady is our darkest and clammiest fear. The possibility of falling into bag-ladydom is a terror so deep, so longstanding, so embarrassing to admit yet so matter of fact that we accept it as simply a part of being a woman.

For over 20 years, Schwarzbaum wrote film reviews for Entertainment Weekly. If she and her friends are scared of spending their retirements as penniless scavengers, surely those of us without the kind of cache necessary to appear in the Times Magazine should be terrified of our own apocalyptic end days. I surveyed a number of women—different races/ethnicities, ages, martial statuses, and locations around the world—to see whether Schwarzbaum’s terror resonated with them.

Along the way, I hoped to address a larger question, one hinted at by Schwarzbaum’s piece: Are women more scared of money than they should be?
Read the rest at The Billfold.

The post Are We Really Afraid of Becoming Bag Ladies? appeared first on The Awl.

From the Museum of Science Fiction:

“In spring 2013, Executive Director Greg Viggiano began speaking with people about creating a museum for science fiction in Washington, DC. The response has been very enthusiastic. Greg quickly found science fiction fans of all stripes that were willing to share their professional talents and time to move the project forward.

Within six short months, a diverse team of 38 volunteers has accomplished key first milestones and worked on a long-term plan for making the museum a reality—making significant progress on everything from curatorial aspects such as gallery design and visitor experience to the non-profit management areas of development, project management, education, information technology, public relations, marketing, finance, accounting, and legal compliance.

We are unified by a shared vision. We want to build a museum, an experience that does justice to the breadth and richness of science fiction history, where we preserve that history in perpetuity and inspire visitors to embrace the genre and its ideas. As a first step, we are developing a 3,000-square-foot preview museum where we can test exhibit concepts and new interactive technologies to share a real-time look into this grassroots effort. We have begun our site selection process. We expect to open the full-scale facility within 24 to 36 months.”

You can see a fundraiser page for the Museum of Science Fiction: Preview Location here.

3224-3226 11th Street, NW

A couple of months ago we learned a Filipino restaurant from one of the owners of Room 11 was going to take over the former El Rinconcito Deportivo space a few storefronts down from Room 11 at 3226 11th Street, NW. Walking by the other day I noticed there was some action at the vacant space next door at 3224 11th Street so I inquired with owner Nick Pimentel who tells me that he holds the lease for both spaces and is still figuring out whether to double the Filipino restaurant’s space or open a completely new concept there. Either way this is awesome news!

For those that don’t recall – plans for the Filipino restaurant are to:

“serve a range of iconic Filipino dishes, snacks and comfort food alongside a thoughtfully curated beverage program.”

Updates as construction progresses.

11th Street looking north towards Lamont and Room 11

If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please shoot me an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and your neighborhood. Your photos will go into the queue (usually 3-4 weeks wait) and will be posted in the order I receive them. If you’ve already entered your pet and would like to do so again – that’s no problem – just space the entries out a bit.

“Beau from Columbia Heights, enjoying going for a car ride down 95.”

“Leo, of Mt. Pleasant, objects to any further book purchases.”

“Name of pet: Serge
Neighborhood: Logan Circle

Caption: “Serge goes shopping at Mitchell Gold on 14th Street and likes what he sees.”

This tiny chick is held by a researcher, who will band it to keep track of it as it grows up. Snowy plovers are an endangered species, so this newly hatched chick is an important little ball of fluff.

Why should a stair just be a stair?

If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please shoot me an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and your neighborhood. Your photos will go into the queue (usually 3-4 weeks wait) and will be posted in the order I receive them. If you’ve already entered your pet and would like to do so again – that’s no problem – just space the entries out a bit.

“Sienna of Douglass, SE”

“My new cat, Mugs, who came from a shelter in WVa. He grabs for everything with his paws, which results in a lot of fake selfies.”

“Jack with my giant dog Kipling”

Thanks to a reader for sending from 2nd and Gallatin Street, NW.

If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please shoot me an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and your neighborhood. Your photos will go into the queue (usually 3-4 weeks wait) and will be posted in the order I receive them. If you’ve already entered your pet and would like to do so again – that’s no problem – just space the entries out a bit.

“Bruno. He is an English bulldog and we live in Columbia Heights. He is not so happy about his bee costume!”

“This is Lucy from Adams Morgan with her new friend.”

“Happy Halloween from Preston (left, Bert) and Dawson (right, Ernie)! Dawson is from Washington Animal Rescue League.”

Lots more pets after the jump.

“Isabella in her geisha costume.(Shaw)”

“This is Fiona of, Park View, getting ready for Halloween.”

“Latte – in Chevy chase, MD”

“Isabelle and her Halloween costume in Shaw.”

“Becky from Crestwood, was a two-time winner at The Jack Russell Terrier Races in St. Michaels, MD”

If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please shoot me an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and your neighborhood. Your photos will go into the queue (usually 3-4 weeks wait) and will be posted in the order I receive them. If you’ve already entered your pet and would like to do so again – that’s no problem – just space the entries out a bit.

“Anna, help, there’s a Turkish Bassador in my bed!”

And thus begins “Downtown Abbey: The Adams Morgan Years” where Freddie, of dubious Bassett/Lab/etc. lineage, claims the estate for himself.”

“Dog: Cyrus Chihuahua Boy
Neighborhood: Shaw”

“14th and T.

This is miss HoneyBella all dressed up in her party dress for her first birthday!”

3118 Georgia Avenue, NW

I had high hopes for Ma Ma’s Southern Cuisine when they were looking to stay open 24 hours and serve breakfast all day. Alas, they were rarely open when I walked by. Hopefully someone solid takes over the space.

Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

Your captions in the comments and winners (free PoP t-shirts) picked Friday. If you find a caption particularly funny be sure to let me know in the comments so I can select a reader pick too.

In a recently-released map of DC entitled “WASHINGTON, D.C. NEIGHBORHOODS REVEALED: BEYOND POLITICS,” Urbane, Inc. relies on old, lazy stereotypes and doesn’t even bother with much east of the Anacostia River, simply labeling the entire section “Zone of Perceived Danger.”

In our area, they labeled Trinidad as “Former Gun Checkpoint,” which isn’t even accurate. The short-lived checkpoints in 2008 weren’t focused on recovering weapons, but rather aimed to limit neighborhood access to only residents and guests. For a short time, Trinidad was a gated community with taxpayers footing the bill.

Other local areas include Carver/Langston labeled as “Bad Times,” Capitol Hill as “Restored Brownstones” (also not exactly accurate), and the Hill East neighborhood as “NIMBY! NIMBY!”.

We’re a bit disappointed in this map, and it’s overall very lazy. According to the map, the sources for the neighborhood labels included “Washington City Paper” and “D.C. Local Interviews.”

For $29.99, you can own a copy of the map, which allegedly shows “DC isn’t just about those folks on C-SPAN Capitol Hill…It’s your fixie bike and pandas, too.”

UPDATE: After we published this post, it now looks like Urbane has removed the DC map from their online store. We’ve reached out to them via Twitter.

If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please shoot me an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and your neighborhood. Your photos will go into the queue (usually 3-4 weeks wait) and will be posted in the order I receive them. If you’ve already entered your pet and would like to do so again – that’s no problem – just space the entries out a bit.

“Paul Jr. At the arboretum. We offered him wine, but was holding out for more cheese.”

“Dalì is a French expat and now enjoying the life in Bloomingdale. She did not enjoy the voyage, but she had never before seen a squirrel, so she’s probably forgotten all about it by now.”

“D’Chickashaw Ferguson and Egglantine of Takoma Park.”

If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please shoot me an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and your neighborhood. Your photos will go into the queue (usually 3-4 weeks wait) and will be posted in the order I receive them. If you’ve already entered your pet and would like to do so again – that’s no problem – just space the entries out a bit.

“Poppy, the original PoPville rescue (named for the blog) gets ready to move to California with her mom and her sister, Moneypenny, after 8 years in Columbia Heights.”

“Hewson working on his upward facing cat in Ellicott City.”

“orgi owners from DC/MD/VA met up in Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown”

These photos are all part of the Frances Benjamin Johnston at the Library of Congress and were taken in 1899. They depict women exercising at Western High School, which no longer exists, but the building now houses the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, located at 3500 R St. NW.

Frances Benjamin Johnston was one of the earliest American female photographers and journalists.

More pictures we dug up here.

Western High School has some famous alumni including Gloria Steinem, the social justice activist who became famous for being a leader of the women’s liberation movement, and David Scott, an astronaut who walked on the moon. Here’s a list of more accomplished Western alumni.

Here is what used to be Western High School and is now the Duke Ellington School of the Arts:

Source: Library of Congress, Western High School

The post Exercising at Western High School appeared first on Ghosts of DC.

Photo by PoPville flickr user dullshick

“Dear PoPville,

I am a female professional in my mid-20′s who just moved to Columbia Heights (around 14th and Newton) and I love it so far but have heard conflicting things about the safety of the surrounding blocks and my area in general (even during broad daylight). Do you have any tips for young women living in the area in terms of safety? And areas/blocks to avoid in particular?”

Living anywhere in the city, it is important to have general street smarts. MPD (police) remind us over and over again not to use our smartphones distractedly (or even at all in public or on metro). But definitely don’t walk with your head down while texting etc. Also, don’t walk home by yourself, especially if you’ve been drinking, late at night. Basically try not to make yourself a target – be confident, be aware of your surroundings and you will be fine. Crime happens all over the District and it can happen even if you are aware of your surroundings but it is not likely. I also think it is important not to obsess over it either. Be smart and you’ll be fine. Have fun and enjoy the great neighborhood!

Do any women who live in the area have other advice to offer?

If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please shoot me an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and your neighborhood. Your photos will go into the queue (usually 3-4 weeks wait) and will be posted in the order I receive them. If you’ve already entered your pet and would like to do so again – that’s no problem – just space the entries out a bit.

“Georgie! Lives in Adams Morgan but works on the Hill.”

“This is Damon that live in Columbia Heights, celebrating his first birthday.”

“Ms. Penny Paws Carroll of east Capitol Hill diligently patrols her hood for squirrel-Qaeda but has time to bask in the glow of the Capitol on a fall morning run.”

Photo courtesy of the National Zoo

From the National Zoo:

“The cub has has another growth spurt since last week! She’s gained almost an entire pound since Friday, October 18. At her veterinary exam this morning she weighed in at 6.73 pounds (3.06 kilograms), and received her first vaccine.

Veterinarians reported that the cub is very healthy, and despite receiving a vaccine she rested comfortably through much of the exam. She is 16.5 inches (42 centimeters) around her belly and 19.29 inches (49 centimeters) long.

The cub has started crawling and can often be seen testing her new motor skills in the den on the panda cams, sponsored in part by the Ford Motor Company Fund. Visitors to the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat may see the cub’s mother, Mei Xiang (may-SHONG), outside in the mornings around 8 a.m. She has been leaving the den and the cub for increasingly longer periods to go outside and to eat. This morning she was outside for a little more than an hour.”

Photo by Abby Wood, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

I was going to post about some upcoming book / event stuff, but I wanted to take a few minutes out to discuss something that really bothered me....... I woke up this morning to a text that my best friend...

Heavy Seas Alehouse, a brewpub affiliated with the popular Baltimore brewery, is expected to open in Rosslyn this December.

The alehouse is currently under construction at the corner of N. Oak Street and 18th Street N. and Director of Operations Vince Cassino said it will open in December “if all goes well.”

The restaurant is 6,000 square feet with capacity for 160 patrons inside, and will have outdoor seating for up to 40 customers, Cassino said. There will also be a private event room with space for 60 people.

The bar will have 15 taps rotating primarily with Heavy Seas beers, but Cassino said there could be beers from other local breweries on occasion. The alehouse will open daily for lunch at 11:00 a.m. and will be able to fill growlers for customers. A Sunday brunch may eventually be offered as well, Cassino said.

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Taliah, a two-year-old pit bull mix who’s being fostered in Arlington while she awaits a loving, adoptive home.

Originally from Philadelphia, Taliah is apparently not a fan of that city’s professional football team. Here’s Taliah in her own words, as relayed by her foster mom, Sarah.

Hi there! My name is Taliah and I am a two year old pit bull mix available for adoption from Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation. My foster parents sprang me loose from a Philadelphia shelter a few weeks ago and since then I have been living the life of luxury here in Arlington.

I am probably the laziest pit bull you will ever meet. I love snuggling up on human’s laps and I am content to spend hour after hour curled up on my dog bed watching the world go by. My other favorite things include peanut butter, rawhides & squeaker toys, carrots and my foster brother Copper (a very barky hound mix). Even though I am originally from Philly, I am a big New York Giants football fan (as you can see by the blue harness & leash combo in my pictures). My least favorite things are squirrels, bananas, cats and the Philadelphia Eagles.

My foster mom sometimes calls me Radar because I have these crazy ears that stand straight up. And when I get really excited my whole body wiggles (I just can’t help it). My foster parents suspect that I had a family before ending up in the shelter because I am “house ready” (whatever that means). I love my crate, often heading in there for afternoon naps and I know that all business is done in the great outdoors.

Oh and I am also an avid blogger, follow me on my road to adoption here: adopttaliah.blogspot.com

The Arlington Pet of the Week is sponsored by Dogma Bakery, which has locations at The Village at Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) and the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (2445 N. Harrison Street).

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email office@arlnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a $25 Dogma gift card.

If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please shoot me an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and your neighborhood. Your photos will go into the queue (usually 3-4 weeks wait) and will be posted in the order I receive them. If you’ve already entered your pet and would like to do so again – that’s no problem – just space the entries out a bit.

“Cheto and he is a 2 year old Bengal cat that is potty trained.”

“Papa and Scarlett’s first winter in DC. Papa can barely contain his joy. He LOVED snow. He is deeply missed.”

“This is Mish-mish of Columbia Heights, practicing for winter hibernation.”