From Curbed (now sponsored by nytimes.com/realestate …), we learn that New York City will be soon trumping the nation’s capital on yet another thing of cultural importance: a large Chinese arch.

D.C.’s Chinese Friendship Gate, which arches over H Street at Seventh Street NW, is said to be the largest such arch on earth. But through the Daily News, we learn that the proposed New York arch will be the largest anywhere. And since New York “will spend $250k on the arch — the price of a closet in adjacent tenements — you know this is gonna be one classy creation.”

Over at Curbed, Lockhart uses photos of such arches in Philadelphia, Boston and San Francisco, but neglects to give a shout-out to D.C., but we don’t blame him. When your Chinatown has more Irish pubs, burrito joints and Hooters with Chinese characters, you know that the old neighborhood’s authenticity is slowly waning.

(Photo from the archives of Drew McDermott, who snapped this photo of H and Seventh streets NW sometime in December 2004)