February 9, 2006
Morning Roundup: Starting Young Edition
When I was 14, I was a bit of a troublemaker. I'd vandalize, start small fires, throw water balloons at my neighbors -- the usual. Apparently the bar for youthful rebellion has been set a little higher these days. NBC 4 is reporting that a 14-year-old robbed a Chevy Chase Bank in Bethesda yesterday by passing a teller a note hinting that he had a gun. He was caught shortly thereafter. Well, if there is a positive spin to the situation it's that he may learn early on that crime isn't his strongest skill.
MLB Expresses Concerns With Stadium Lease: Our celebratory mood yesterday may have been a little premature, reports the Post. MLB hasn't yet had a chance to review the document, and through a spokesperson expressed concern over some of what the heard during the day-long debate on Tuesday. Even some council-members aren't sure what was in the final document, spare the $611 million price-cap that paved the way for the legislation's approval. Council-member Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6) was quoted during the debate as saying, "I'm not sure what's in there. Hopefully, it's not a mess." We hope so too.
Clarendon Residents Complain of Popularity's Impact: It seems that some Clarendon residents are learning the hard way what being a popular neighborhood means. NBC 4 writes that the area's residents are slowly growing tired of the noise, trash, and anti-social behavior that comes with the many bars, restaurants, and shops that crowd Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards. But until they get their own Jumbo Slice, they've got nothing on Adams Morgan.
Baby Porcupine...Cute?: Ok, so the genderless baby porcupine is no Butterstick (who is?), but it's still enough to make you go "Awwww!" Kind of. Even though it was only born yesterday, it is already on display at the National Zoo's small mammal house, notes NBC 4. Will merchandise follow?
Briefly Noted: Metro considers longer off-peak trains ... Annual pillow fight to be held in Dupont Circle next Tuesday ... Minuteman, protestors clash outside meeting ... Virginia residents fight to save WO&D trail ... Georgetown University students express concern over crime.
Picture snapped by EXB-WDC.
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Did anyone else see the article in District section of WaPo with Rees in it? I know he is he-who-is-not-named around here, but it's damn funny. Read to the end:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/08/AR2006020800989.html
I lived along the Wilson Blvd. corridor from 99 to 03, before moving into the District. I definitely noticed a change in character to the Clarendon neighborhood over that time. It's gotten even more pronounced since I moved. It used to have more of a local feeling, but as condos moved down from Ballston, and the Fresh Fields Biodome grew, the area has lost it somewhat. There are still some of the local favorites around (Lazy Sundae, Common Grounds (under new name and management but still many of the same faces), and the asian places right on Clarendon) but many have gone (I was especially sad to see the hardware store go).
I realize that the area had changed significantly before I even got there, but I think they've gotten a little out of control in their goal to be another Bethesda.
A lot of District dwellers dismiss Clarendon as a jock fest, and there is an element of that, but there was (and still is) a strong community there as well, full of a lot of really interesting people. I just hope they don't screw up that community by closing too many stores like the hardware store or by building too many 700k 2 bedroom condos or luxury furniture stores.
"jock fest"...that's classic. Totally agree about the transformation, though. I used to live in Georgetown before moving to the other side of the park, and I enjoyed the refuge from yups & jocks on the other side of the river (this was a decade+ ago). The Malt Shop, Whiteys, Pho 75, Thai House, etc etc...it was nice over there back in the day. Totally lame and fake nowadays, so fuck it, I'll stay in DC.
If Metro wasn’t under so much pressure from the Georgetown ANC and residents to pick on students, maybe they could devote more resources to solving some of these muggings. These residents don’t care if Georgetown students are getting shot or stabbed. They would rather express their outrage over students celebrating the win over Duke or the university’s plans to build a new boathouse.
did you expect MLB to release the photos of them drinking champagne and smoking cigars lit by burning $100 bills? They need to maintain their high standards for the next city they sucker - so they will say they are making concessions, and that D.C. residents should be thankful for their generosity.
Maybe they can get Williams to name a street after them.
Wait, can we discuss further this pillow fight? Where can we find out more information about it?
Rather than LONGER trains during off-hours, how about shorter, more frequent trains? Sure, numbers are rising, but I kinda doubt those trains are standing room only. Surely more frequent off hour trains are needed more than longer trains.