July 26, 2007
Morning Roundup: A.V. Ending Imminent Edition
Good morning, Washington. Have you gotten your last meal at A.V. Ristorante yet? If not, you'd better hurry — today's Post has a fond reminiscence about the place, noting that its last meal will be served on Saturday evening. It's admittedly not the finest Italian food in the city, but there's something weird and distinctive about A.V. We'll be sorry to see it go.
It's Hot And Dry Out There: It sounds like we could use some rain. NBC4 tells us that Stafford County is asking residents to implement water-saving measures; WTOP says that Governor O'Malley is asking the federal government to declare a drought emergency. And, as you may have seen, the heat is also bringing an elevated risk of flashers. There you go: a reason for everyone to look forward to those Friday showers.
Area Looks To Add Electrical Capacity: Via the Examiner the AP brings word that Charles County could be getting a new natural gas-fired power plant. The facility would add about 600,000 homes' worth of capacity to the grid. And WUSA tells us that Dominion is looking to build a new high-voltage line. It may run through the same route as an existing lower-voltage line, or it may take a new, cheaper route through more scenic surroundings. Local activists are lining up to oppose the line, including actor Robert Duvall.
Briefly Noted: Fairfax man charged with impersonating police officer... Md. moves to remove judge who dismissed case against alleged sex offender... D.C. cabbie sentenced for attending terrorist training camp... Glen Burnie teacher accused of sexual abuse of student...
This Day In DCist: One year ago today we were wondering how many officers the District could use and (cough) expressing optimism over a voting rights bill.
Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user SweetJen34
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Candey's Hardware Store is folding as well. Get used to more locally owned small businesses folding as their property tax rates go through the roof.
My only consolation is that they're not replacing AV with a TGI McFunsters or yet-another-tapas-place. I'd make them an offer for the neon sign out front, but my extortionist's kid got accepted into Sarah Lawrence College.
That sucks about Candey's, but it's not entirely surprising. The thing is, that's never been a great location for a hardware store. If it had been about 4 or 5 blocks north, it would be more in a residential neighborhood, and probably would see more foot traffic like you see at the True Value on 17th.
At least the District True Value found a new home. I'm still bummed about Virginia Hardware closing, most of all because it was replaced by a crappy chain "irish" "pub" to comply with Arlington's mandatory one irish-themed crappy bar-per-block ordinance.
Ate at AV last night. It was insanely crowded. Originally I was going to go back on Saturday night but after yesterday’s two hour wait…not so much.
Over the last couple of months family members have been subbing in for the regular employees. The bartender in the back room, who’s an extremely nice relative, was totally overwhelmed by a rush of about 50 customers in ten minutes. It didn't help that they all seemed to want mixed drinks. So if you go and decide to wait in the bar, my advice is to be patient, pay with cash, and order something easy like beer or a bottle of wine.
And, as you may have seen, the heat is also bringing an elevated risk of flashers.
Nice choice of words!
BORF stole his first can of spraypaint from Virginia Hardware.
Thanks for the tip, Guest #3. Maybe I'll try to visit AV at an off time, like between lunch and dinner?
That DOES suck about Candey's, but at least there's still True Value (on 17th), Logan Hardware (on P St), and District Hardware (now at its new location... 24th and L, maybe?).
There are still plenty of great independent businesses in DC, they are just not going to be found in the overpriced sanitized ``downtown'' anymore. AV had a good run and the owners are rightfully taking the money and retiring. Though, quite frankly I found the food a bit blah, and the service almost nonexistent. Im sure that brand spanking new office building will have a TGI McFunsters at ground level. Cross your fingers monkeyrotica
There used to be a dozen Italian places like AV in the neighborhood back in the '50s, but that was when the neighborhood was full of Italian immigrants. Once AV goes, the only thing close that's left downtown would be Famous Luigi's, and that really lacks the seediness of AV. I wish someone like Joe Englert would buy all the seediness, the neon, and the juke and move it all to H Street NE, but he's probably got his hands full already.
If this is anything like Jemal's other office cubes, the only ground floor retail will be a miniscule deli and soda shop that closes at 5.
Don't forget about Brookland Hardware, on 12th St. NW...they have everything there, and the staff is very friendly. It looks like they've been in that old Masonic Lodge forever.
Pfieffer's Hardware on Mt. Pleasant Street. Thanks be to Mt Pleasant for not being overrun with TGI-McClusterfuck... yet.
Guest #3 again...
There are a few vestiges of the old Italian neighborhood left. Catania’s Bakery on North Capitol Street still churns out terrific crusty bread every day. A. Litteri on Morse Street, which like A.V. is a third generation business, has the best deli this side of South Philly. And of course you can always pray at Holy Rosary Church or go to its annual Italian festival.
And Mangialardo's is still selling their G-Man subs. I wonder how much longer they can hold out. Us eye-talians gotta stick together!
BTW, Frager's Hardware on Capitol Hill continues to amaze. In a space roughly 1/50th the size of the Home Depot on Rhode Island, I've had 50x more success in finding what I need. (or finding out what I need - the staff is all like 5,000 year old one eyed merchant marines or tattooed bike messenger art car type girls who can actually provide useful, even insightful, recommendations and guidance.)
I'll second WOV's hat tip to Fragers.
I started out in DC living on Cap Hill about a block away from the store, but now go there all the way from Woodley when I have a hardware problem. Unlike the run-down Home Depot on brentwood (and it's only 5 years old?) Fragers is generally well-organized (or the staff will find stuff for you), the garden supplies and plants amazing, and the staff is helpful, knowledgable and generally polite.
Plus, they have the greatest nut and bolt room in town....if you need any miscellaneous hardware they are the best bet to actually have it.
re: flashers.
I was disappointed that the ABC 7 article omitted the number 1 reason for increased flasher incidents:
During January, it's mighty hard to shock and offend when one's Johnson length is affected by shrinkage.
Just sayin.
Oh God the bolt room. It really is like the bolt room on a Russian icebreaker. Or the wand store in Harry Potter. Wheeled library ladders.