I don't know what people 'expect' but if a 5'11" black lady showed up at my cash register in Cleveland Park with Secret Service in tow, I'd sure as heck take notice, no matter what kind of dog she had. I can't help but think she's doing some damage control after all of the accusations that the photos of her at an Alexandria Target were staged.

But if we take Obama at her word, note that she says she also hits up Chipotle on occasion. So now that we do know where to expect her, just be cool, you guys.

Photo by tedeytan via Flickr/Creative Commons Attribution Generic 2.0 License

Not the Bees! Not the…Oh, Wait, They Aren’t Bees: As previously noted, Chevy Chase parents have voiced concerns about a proliferation of bees terrorizing their toddlers at a sandbox in Lafayette Park. But one reader on the neighborhood email list says the situation could be even more dire than they thought: “the problem in the sandbox is wasps burrowing into the sand and then emerging to buzz around in a menacing manner and, as pointed out in a previous post, stinging nearby children/adults. IMHO they need to be removed by someone knowledgeable in such matters. Until that happens, the sandbox is unusable.” Indeed, another reader posits that the strategic ambushers aren’t bees at all but “cicada-eating wasps,” and that “the appropriate oversight agency had been notified & [is] planning to investigate.”

Can’t Argue with a Camera, Can You?: ANC 3C Commissioner Nancy MacWood warns unknowing Cleveland Park drivers about an unsympathetic traffic camera: “The sign prohibiting right-on-red from Connecticut Avenue southbound to Porter Street westbound is missing. Some drivers are unaware that right-on-red is not allowed and when they make the turn the red light camera is photographing them and tickets are being issued. DDOT is aware that sign must be replaced but in meantime please be aware that there is no right-on-red at this intersection.”

Burglars Don’t Keep the Girly Stuff, Right?: “Maggie” has a request for her neighbors on the Hill East email list: “My friend's apartment at 10th and South Carolina SE was broken into yesterday sometime during the day. The thief took some electronics (we're not expecting to see those again) along with a few other things that we're thinking won't be of any value to him and likely stuffed everything inside a tote bag. If anyone is in the area and happens to find a large tote bag with pink embroidered initials, a plastic garment bag with a dress inside, an empty jewelry box, or all of the above, please let me know.”

Well-Dressed Puppies in Trouble: Someone on the canine-centric Hill Hounds email list is despondent over a dog that went missing on June 14, but waited to reach out to neighbors until yesterday morning: “She was lost around the Capitol Hill Area in SE, DC. She was wearing a yellow juicy couture collar. She is a small black and grey Yorkie/Shih Tzu mix. Her hair was trimmed when she went missing, but it probably has grown out by now. She is also a very frendly [sic] dog. Please help me find her. There is a reward for her return and it would be GREATLY appreciated.”

Page three photos are now available in a weekly updated gallery.

Columbia Heights: Not a Bean Field: A New Columbia Heights reader sent in notice of an utterly incorrect portrayal of the neighborhood by the TV show Bones: "FYI:  On Thursday's episode, lead FBI agent Booth says, 'A white man in Columbia Heights? He’d stand out like an onion in a bean field!' The characters then review CH ATM footage and zero in on the five white males. What?????!!!!   So silly that the writers of a show supposedly set in DC have never set foot in DC." New Columbia Heights writes, "True that, as anybody who has ever walked around here will tell you. Or just look at the Census data, where the white population has grown by up to 300% since 2000 in some parts of the neighborhood." Commenters agree that Bones is totally incorrect, and on more accounts than just demographics: "Bones and NCIS might be the worst offenders... on Bones, at least they sometimes reference real streets, but it's clear that none of them have ever been to DC before in their lives. (The episode where a key scene takes place on a subway car—which (a) references fake stops, and (b) is a New York subway car—is a particularly egregious offender.) On NCIS they're smart enough to avoid geographic markers for the most part (except the obvious military ones like the Navy Yard and Quantico), but they seem to think there are a lot of used car lots in DC that have slightly smog-obscured mountains in the background. (Hint to NCIS writers: None of them do.) I'm thinking of hiring myself out as a story consultant for DC-based shows, to tell them (a) when they're completely and totally wrong about something DC-related, or (b) which exterior locations in LA actually look like they could be in DC."

Blame WalMart: On the Petworth email list, one member asks, "There is a rumor circulating along Georgia Ave. that this year's Caribbean day  parade has been canceled because of construction issues. I hope this isn't the case, but would welcome some clarity. Does anyone know whether these rumors are true?" Another, who identifies as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, answers, "For all you Wal-Mart fans, thanks for the reminder. We just completed an economic impact study on the proposed W4 Wal-Mart and forgot to reinsert the Festival's information in our final report to ANC Comm. 4B. Our report has to include a WM effect on the longstanding festival activities which start at —– you guessed it, GA & MO!!! Now what????" But this one might not be Sam Walton's fault, despite the coincidental appearance. A third member adds, "I read a couple of weeks ago that the parade route was shortened because the financially- strapped city is charging the Carnival a little more for its services. The Carnival simply does not have enough funds to support the full route this year. Blame the economy. This one is not Wal-Mart's fault."

When the Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Disappear'd, UPDATE: The Cleveland Park email list's focus on the neighborhood "lilac thief" has died down in recent weeks. But there's a revived campaign to catch the offender: "Several recent Listserv postings alerted us about a neighborhood flower thief and provided a description of a possible suspect – a short, white male, about 60 years old with wavy salt and pepper hair. Someone, perhaps the same individual, made his/her annual visit to the Newark Street Community Garden in the past two days, stealing some 50 peony stems from several garden plots, stripping bushes clean of all stems with flowers and or buds. It is difficult to understand how this person goes unnoticed, walking thru the gardens located between the 2nd District Police Station and the Newark Street dog park, a children's playground, and across the street from the McLean Gardens condos, where people are out and about at all hours, especially early in the morning walking their dogs — which is when we suspect the thief appears. One McLean Gardens resident has seen a man fitting the given description leaving the community garden, arms loaded with flowers. The previous Listserv postings sited the same man in various neighborhood locations including the Glover Park trail behind McLean Gardens, walking with armloads of unwrapped flowers in the early morning hours, and even cutting hydrangeas from people's home gardens, then quickly walking away.  Let's protect our properties and catch this thief. If you see someone fitting this description who looks suspicious e.g. walking with an armload of unwrapped flowers, especially in the early morning hours in or near the Community Garden, please call 911 and take a picture of the suspect if you can." Armed with that extensive description, Cleveland Park lilac aficionados may now go forth in pursuit.

Takoma, ISO: "An artist friend who is doing a series of military portraits of the WW II generation is going to start working in public regularly at Arlington Cemetery. He told me he was going to buy a wooden easel that  would be easier to transport and use onsite than his usual metal easel," writes one member of the Takoma email list. Before he does I thought I'd ask first if anyone would like to pass along a wooden standard-sized easel that is not being used. I used to have one. They tend to get in the way or take up space in the closet."

Save the Newel Post!: Park View D.C. ponders a single-family home renovation that has progressed quite oddly: "According to the permits on the front it still looks like the house is intended to be a single family home with a rental in the basement. I think this is good. On the other hand, I think it’s sad, but not unexpected, that the debris pile in the back yard contains the original hardwood pocket doors, newel post, and stair railing." Commenters are also distressed by the stripping of the home's original features. One says, "It is so sad to see that stuff thrown away. It seems like our neighborhood has extremes – really good renovations that incorporate the charm of our old houses and ones that just destroy it. You wonder if these flippers really know what people want in houses today. It seems like this has the potential to be a disaster. I’m also thinking of the house on Newton across from the school which had such promise and now is looking quite fugly and is now boarded up again," while another ruminates, "I agree, that just hurts. I’ve seen so many houses in our neighborhood now with all the old baseboards, flooring, doors, walls, etc. removed and replaced with cheap junk materials. They don’t have the same craftsmanship or style. And you know that, one of these days, the whole “open floor plan” fad, where the entire downstairs has no walls, will go out of style…"

I Can Haz?: "Any suggestions/advise on what to do when you realize water is entering your basement from the bottom up? At this point its only a small puddle. I told a co-worker about this and all he said was, 'Welcome to DC,'" writes a member of the Brookland email list. But the thread title takes on the parlance of the Internet: It's entitled "Halp! Water in the basement."

Bright Ideas: One member of the Adams Morgan email list asks, "Does anyone have a place they recommend for lamp repair? I have two fairly new lamps that need repairs to the electrical wiring. I called Annapolis Lighting and they said it takes a minimum of two weeks to have a lamp repaired, even if the repair is simple. I was hoping for something more like a few days or a week at longest." But members of the list well-versed in the delicate business of soliciting a lamp repair shop offer other suggestions: "In all of DC, I think there are a total of two places. One is way up Connecticut Avenue. The other is right here in Adams Morgan, the Brass Knob. They charge an arm and a leg. They repaired a lamp of mine, and I'm fairly satisfied, except for the price which was over the top, but I needed it done. I think they are faster than Annapolis," says one. Another adds, "I have had fast, polite, and effective service at Artisan Lamps in Cleveland Park. They've repaired electrical and structural issues for me and they re-wired a lamp to add an additional bulb and a new kind of switch."

Cleveland Park, ISO: Under a thread titled "ISO Occasional Weekend Dog Walker," one member of the Cleveland Park listserv requests, "We're looking for an occasional weekend dog walker for our 70 lb black lab. Can be a neighborhood high schooler or professional. We need a visit this Saturday. Please contact me offlist." There is no mention of what "occasional" might constitute.

Burning Up: Over the past week, a flurry of letters between the Bloomingdale Civic Association and the would-be manager of the supposedly forthcoming Engine Company 12 have been exchanged—predominately via local blogs. We Love DC has a very apt summary of the correspondence: "This past Friday, the General Manager Stephen May Jr. of Engine Company 12 wrote an open letter to lambast the local civic association for dragging its feet in supporting the restaurant publicly with a letter of support, which would help them through the process of obtaining an ABRA license that would allow them to serve alcoholic beverages. On Sunday, the Civic Association responded.  Late yesterday, Curbed published another response from Mr. May." The blog also reflects on what it all means: "Liquor licenses are especially contentious things. One need only look at the kerfuffle around Big Bear Café in Bloomingdale last year to see that this is a community that, in the parlance of the Internet, feels ways about things. Knowing that much, working with the BCA management more than just a few days ahead of a meeting would seem to be a wise event, even if you’re doing a lot of community outreach, which to their credit, Engine Company 12 has done." One commenter thinks the neighborhood is particularly wary of getting burned by yet another promise for this property. "It’s worth noting that multiple other business plans for the space have come and gone in the last five years, and it’s safe to say a lot of people in the neighborhood got tired of being burned by promises that never materialized. I think it’s been a safe position for Bloomingdale and Eckington to take a wait-and-see approach on things regarding the old firehouse," they write.

Keep It Clean: The Takoma email list has been in hot debate over the various aspects of Walmart. The usual topics—wages, insurance, and whether or not the neighborhood wants "that kind" of retail"—have abounded, so much so that a referee needed to step in. In a thread titled "PLEASE TRIM YOUR TAILS," the email list moderator writes, "The messages are flying so fast and furious that I can't get a reminder in edgewise. I've been sending this message to people privately but I just can't keep up. PLEASE TRIM OFF THE EXTRA MESSAGES AT THE END OF YOUR POSTS. Only repeat the few lines to which you are responding. I won't approve any more messages today that have a string of old messages included. I will return them to you to revise and resend. So if you want people to see your messages in a timely way, trim your tails. The digest of today's messages is going to be three miles long and most of it just repeated messages. No problem, just a reminder."

A Historic Designation in the Making: 14th & You picks up on City Paper's Lydia DePillis' reporting that yet another condo building will be erected on 14th Street NW. The blog observes that the architecture is rather uninspiring, but commenters don't mince words and lambast the plan. "This building is hideous and unoriginal. Do they think we LIKE this sort of crap being built? What the hell does it CONTRIBUTE?" writes one. Another blames the architect: "That's because Eric Colbert is one boring unimaginative architect. He has always been and has only gotten more mediocre over the years. I do not understand why DC's developers can't find someone with true style and creativity to design buildings. DC is becoming more and more ugly by the day." But 14th & You raises a question more critical than mere aesthetics: "No matter–progress is progress, right? A potentially greater issue than mundane architecture was raised on the Twitters today: namely, is DC starting to run out of Yums? With the loss of this location, and the anticipated loss of the one between Rhode Island and P street when that section of the block gets redeveloped, one does have to wonder: have we reached Peak Yums, and are venturing along the beginnings of a downhill slide from which we may never recover? Heaven help us."

Cleveland Park, ISO: One member of the Cleveland Park email list will be jaunting off to Switzerland shortly, but needs an extra hand to plan their trip. They write, "I am looking for a travel agent who specializes or really knows Switzerland. It's a bit overwhelming and hoping I can find someone that can really help make the most of my trip. I'd also take anyone's suggestions on where to stay and things to do. Thank you."

The Adams Morgan Bogeyman: It didn't look like an easy road for the redevelopment of the old post office building at 14th and T streets NW to be turned into a restaurant—with a proposed outdoor patio, no less. But the over-the-top rhetoric about neighborhood destruction has begun sooner rather than later. A flyer on the structure proclaims, "URGENT! A New York investor plans to turn the Old Post Office building on T Street into a destination, special events venue under the guise of a "restaurant"! DO NOT BE FOOLED!" 14th & You wryly notes, "That's right! The four block stretch along 18th Street notorious for its late night bars, nightclubs and restaurants has packed up shop and relocated south, to a commercial space near the corner of 14th and T streets. Adams-Morgan will henceforth be known as the Post Office Bistro, and will be reborn as a casual restaurant serving an extensive weekend brunch with a patio and summer garden. The neighborhood/restaurant will also be owned by someone with ties to New York, which unfortunately does not coincide with the arrival of a decent bagel shop"; also noteworthy is that the flyer "was put together by Elwyn Ferris, partner of ANC2B commissioner Ramon Estrada, and another neighborhood resident." The extreme language inspired a lengthy comment thread on Prince of Petworth, and it's likely that the flyer's appearance on the Internet turned out significantly more supporters for the proposed restaurant at last night's ANC 2B meeting.

One-Stop Shopping for Prescriptions and Vermin: Brookland Avenue confirms a Twitter report that the CVS on 12th Street NE has been shut down due to health concerns; the D.C. Department of Health apparently found it to be operating "with gross unsanitary occurrence or condition" including "heavy infestation of vermin" and failing "to minimize the presence of insects, rodents, and other pests." Commenters, appropriately, find this disgusting. Writes one, "I find this CVS horrible in the customer service realm, and the manager is consistently rude to both his staff and customers, so I’m not surprised at all. My household fills its pharmacy needs at the stores near our work. The best thing possible for this CVS is for a Walgreens to open up at the RI Ave development."

Out of Our Pond, And Take Your Burgers With You: In a People's District interview, celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn made the mistake of uttering the following: "With time, I have really come to love this city. New York is over saturated with too many concepts. You may be popular for two weeks, and then there is a new trend. Here, I opened one restaurant, Good Stuff, that developed my entire career. It is nice to be in a second-tier city where you can be a big fish in a small pond." The Hill is Home, based in Capitol Hill near the aforementioned Good Stuff Eatery, took substantial offense to the "big fish" business, writing in a post titled "Get Over Yourself, Mr. Mendelsohn" that "Your burgers aren’t that good and your fries are but nubbins. They’re fine, but Michael Landrum’s Hellburger blows your “Good” stuff out of the water. The same goes for Frank Ruta’s burger at Palena. Ditto, BGR and even Five Guys and they’re (gasp!) CHAINS! The biggest issue I have with Good Stuff burgers is that they’re not cooked to order. I don’t enjoy well-done or even medium burgers, and if you’re going to consider yourself a big fish – more on that in a moment – you should be cooking your burgers to order like the actual big (burger) fish in town." Commenters have gone on to discuss whether or not they prefer Spike's burgers, in much less heated rhetoric.

Cleveland Park, ISO: "I'm getting ready to sell my house and find myself overwhelmed with all the stuff I have collected. I would like to hire someone who helps people organize/pack up their homes. Would be grateful for any recommendations," writes one member of the Cleveland Park email list. They're not alone in their plight; another member writes, "I have just become the keeper of generations of family photos, albums, letters, greeting cards, autograph albums, scrapbooks, school yearbooks, cookbooks, diaries, postcards and other miscellaneous printed and hand-written materials dating back as far as 1888. There are 17 cartons and it's overwhelming. I am desperately searching for someone to help me with this process, figuring out what to keep, what to throw out and what to digitally archive."

Get Off My Lawn—And Your Dog, Too!: One member of the Crestwood email list is none too pleased with their neighbors and their neighbors' canine pals. "My yard is not a dog park. Please do not stand in the middle of my yard, talking loudly on your cell phone while your dog runs free in my yard (sometimes digging up bare spots in a lawn that I have spent a lot of money and time making attractive). Please do not leave dog poop in my lawn. Please do not put your dog poop in my garbage can," they write. If you're a Crestwood resident unsure of how to behave around this neighbor, they go on to provide a handy list of appropriate actions: "I humbly suggest three things: 1. Let your dog run freely thru your home yard. 2. Let your dog leave poop in your home yard. 3. Put your dog poop in your home garbage can. Thanks in advance neighbor for your neighborly consideration."

Runnin' Scared: The Brightwoodian has, diligently, been all over the conversation surrounding the Georgia Avenue NW Walmart. Three neighborhood urban planners came out against the project at a meeting held by two ANC 4B commissioners: Along with the usual concerns of the destruction of small businesses and developer Foulger-Pratt's plan for a single-use site, it was pointed out that the plan totally ignores adjacent Missouri Avenue NW and focuses only on activating one rather small section of Georgia Avenue. In another post, the blog analyzes a Walmart mailer—which looks as if "they're conducting an ill-fated political campaign."

On Tap: Shaw's favorite sit-down restaurant (and possessor of punniest name) Beau Thai has secured its liquor license, reports RenewShaw. The sit-down Thai spot now has a full bar, and will apply next for outdoor seating. A few blocks to the west, the old post office building at 14th & T Streets NW is being considered for a restaurant, reports Borderstan. But the blog writes that it might not be an easy path from empty building to flourishing dining establishment: "Two small buildings at 1407-1409 T Street NW could become a new restaurant in the 14th Street corridor — but the path may not be simple. One of them is a former U.S. Post Office that has long been used as an annex for storing furniture for Ruff & Ready. The other has been renovated and sits empty. The two buildings are zoned commercial and while they face the Room and Board store across the street, everything else on the 1400 block of  T Street is residential, and close by at that. LoopNet lists the property as 1407-1409 and shows the two buildings joined by a two-story addition."

Cleveland Park, ISO: "We are seeking an already-crate- trained or mostly crate-trained cockapoo or cavapoo to adopt ASAP. If you have, or know someone who has, a young (older puppy to 3 year old) cockapoo or cavapoo that you would like to place in a loving, attentive home, please contact me! We have two teens, a small fenced-in back yard and will take good care of him/her," writes one member of the Cleveland Park email list. Retrievers, Cocker spaniels, and Weimaraners need not apply.

Cleveland Park Problems: "We live in McLean Gardens and we are having such a difficult time with out 900 Mhz baby monitor. We get a sporadic, static popping noise that forces us to turn it off in the middle of the night. We have confirmed that no other devices in our house run at this frequency and we've turned off our cell phones, but we can not get a single night pop-free! We also bought another monitor and have the same problem, so it's not a device defect. Has anyone else encountered this problem? Does anyone have a suggestion?" inquires one member of the Cleveland Park email list. At this time, no one has offered any suggestions, though perhaps it's appropriate to blame the excessive rumbling of trucks in nearby Tenleytown.

Parakeets of Palisades: A thread on the Palisades email list, entitled "parakeet found after fleeing airplane noise!" details the story of one small bird who alighted to the east. A Craigslist posting brought the pet home—"He made it all the way to Columbia Heights and landed on a friendly shoulder. Our posting on craigslist took care of the rest. He's tired and hungry but otherwise fine. Thanks for your help!" writes, presumably, the bird's owner—but one neighborhood resident is on a mission to eradicate the overwhelming airplane noise (it's probably a quality-of-life issue for humans, too): "And if the sensitive parakeet was fleeing aircraft noise in the Palisades; relief may be on the way. Stay tuned for developments."

We Won't Go II: JDLand has the most comprehensive review to date of Near Southeast's fight to stay in Ward 6 following a meeting of residents. Councilmember Tommy Wells was present with a list of things the neighborhood could do to lobby for its continued existence in Ward 6, which included: "...Arguments against a move to Ward 8 move should not center on 'personalities.' That concept was not really expanded upon but, if you've read the comments on my post last week on this issue, you might infer it to mean 'don't rant about how you don't want Marion Barry as your councilmember.' Wells also said to not mention not being able to park elsewhere in Ward 6 as a reason for opposition, which did seem to come up an awful lot at last week's hearings, to the dismay of many in the DC Twitterverse. 'This is about how you view your community.'" Commenters have a very hard time staying away from those "personalities," though. Writes one, "I know its an argument that Wells and Garber told us to shy away from – but I find it extremely suspect that the man who says he wants to 'stop gentrification' and "keep the city black" is attempting to take over one of the fastest-gentrifying, fastest-whitening precincts in the District... and choke it in its crib." Stay tuned for updates from last night's formal meeting on redistricting.

Mount Vernon Archives: A reader of The Triangle digs up an undated "Year 2000 Neighborhood Map originally created by Jonathan Passonneau and Partners" for the blog. A commenter points out some differences since the map was created, observing "interesting! A few of the changes I note are: 1. There’s no office building at the NW corner of 7th and I, thus exposing the tech world plaza. 2. The building between 5th and 6th across from where CityVista is now is no more. 3. Former street grid where the convention center is now… and so on and so forth. very cool!" The reader who initially submitted the map adds, "Yeah, it was like finding a little treasure as I was cleaning out my office. It’s not just our neighborhood either – the entire NOMA, Shaw and NE SE areas are comprised of just empty blocks. Quite stark."

The Great Eradication of Nero: Though Park View D.C. reported some success in cleaning up graffiti in the neighborhood the other day, a member of the MPD 3D email list living in Adams Morgan has questions about a specific tagger: "Does MPD have any leads on who 'Nero' is? Has he/she been seen? Obviously they have not been caught yet? 'Nero' caused a lot of destruction of property in Adams Morgan and we continue to clean up after him on a regular basis. Would be great if MPD could get this person off the streets." Nero was previously troublesome in Park View, too.

Chronically Judging: The Crestwood email list continues to debate the correctness of smoking marijuana after an initial charge that unknown teens were smoking, inside of a blue Prius, outside someone's house. A particularly vocal commenter is advocating for the right to smoke, anywhere, including behind the wheel: "More likely someone would be driving too cautious and drive a bit too slowly.  I'm not saying everybody should smoke dope, just saying its not for anyone to pass judgment on how we like our coffee, how much T.V. We let our kids watch, or whether to drink or smoke or whatever. Legally? Are you the police now?  What about morally?  Should you or the guy on blagden terrace really be the arbiters of right and wrong?  And does it help to parent others kids?  Or project on another, of any age, our personal slanted belief systems? I say we all need to let go of the tendency to control others, and projecting our 'stuff' on to them." In response to that rant, another member writes, "Dude, you shouldn't drive a car stoned.  End of story."

Bring On the Burritos: Though it appeared yesterday that Cleveland Park residents were opposed to Chipotle's opening because it would erode the neighborhood's character and charm, a slew of email list members have vocalized their support for the—gasp!—chain restaurant. Some even believe that it will succeed, despite the nearby presence of California Tortilla. Though there are still a few naysayers, one writes, "I support it. The neighborhood has plenty of charm and variety, and it seems that only chains or restaurants can compete in that location with the rents as they are. Given the nail and tanning salons next door, I think it will actually make that strip more attractive." Another says, "I think it would be a great addition to Cleveland Park. The Chipotle near the Woodley Park metro is usually quite busy during meal 'rush hours' and Chipotle's exterior design is not gaudy or flashy, I think it will not detract away from the neighborhood charm. I also would love for their to be more options for "fast food" (though this is hardly the typical fast food "joint") in the neighborhood. California Tortilla is fine, but I would love to see Chipotle join the neighborhood."

Everything's Coming Up 14th Street: There's many an update on 14th Street NW storefronts filling up. U Street Girl reports that Peregrine's second location, at 14th between R and S Streets NW is close to opening. Borderstan says that the ground floor of the View 14 condo building at 14th Street and Florida Avenue NW will be home to the YWCA and Beta Academy, a mixed martial arts center relocating from Columbia Heights. And 14th & You takes away from a recent ANC meeting that PN Hoffman's renovation of the Verizon building on 14th and R Streets NW will "have room for one ground-level commercial tenant, most likely a restaurant. (The developer has plans for the eventual installation of some kind of sidewalk seating.) The building will have four levels of residences, including a penthouse level with private rooftop decks/gardens for each unit, along with a communal rooftop area. The penthouse structure will very closely resemble the rooftop structure at the top of the Room and Board building at 14th and T streets."

O Bikeshare, Where Art Thou? With the news of the expansion of Capital Bikeshare, The Hill is Home has asked readers where they might like to see a station—if the neighborhood is lucky enough to snag one or more of the 25 that will be sprinkled around the city. Two noted a station by Results Gym would be well-used, while one says that a station by Stanton Park or the Southeast Branch Library would be helpful. Another points out that the downside to CaBi's increased use isn't just empty racks: "15th St. SE and Independence is much needed. Just last night I tried to leave bike at Lincoln park, but full, then Safeway, but full, then claimed final spot all the way at Stadium Armory. Cabi is a fantastic concept, but needs 1) more locations and 2) more spaces for bikes if they continue to grow in memberships." (Bloomingdale also asked for feedback on a potential station, at First Street and Rhode Island Avenue NW, but has not yet received any comments.)

Tag, You're It II: Park View D.C. has an update on graffiti removal in the neighborhood. It might not be top-down, coming from the authorities, but residents of Park View are getting it done: "One thing I’m encouraged by is the amount of community activism I’ve seen assisting the City try to get on top of this issue. I’ve been documenting as much tagging as possible and passing along information to assist with removal and there is a very active group of neighbors on Irving Street doing much the same along that part of the community. In several cases, residents have taken it upon themselves to remove tagging after they’ve documented it." Unfortunately, though one piece of graffiti skewed more toward street art, the neighborhood's diligence quickly gave the axe: "One victim, if you will, of the recent graffiti removal efforts was the more artistic graphic below [click through] which didn’t quite survive a day before it was removed. Sadly, it was actually the one I liked the best."

What's Worse than The Cereal Bowl? On the Cleveland Park email list, it's been suggested that a Chipotle might open in the space formerly occupied by the very short-lived (and shame-inflicting) Cereal Bowl. Chipotle could easily be seen as an upgrade from the rather gimmicky make-your-own-cereal shop, and some neighbors are definitely interested; one list member writes, "I think it would be a nice addition. It's an inexpensive place to dine." But others feel it has the potential to devastate the neighborhood's quality and character: "Cleveland Park already has a California Tortilla at 3501 Connecticut (across the street from the proposed Chipotle). A second fast food Mexican-type chain restaurant will detract from the charm and variety of the neighborhood." For now, we'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it's the "chain" part, not the "Mexican" part, they were objecting to.

Palisades, ISO: A member of the Palisades email list is planning quite the party and has asked for some neighborly loans in a thread entitled "ISO Alice in Wonderland tea/croquet unbirthday party props tomorrow:

"Hey we are having a Wonderland tea and croquet party for my 8 YO daughter, and bought some props online etc but need more–if you have any of the following to loan/sell /give away, please let me know!

-fake flamingos (or hedgehogs) for a flamingos and hedgehogs croquet match
(or an old croquet set–we have a pristine one on loan, but the flagstone patio could destroy it)
-chinese lanterns–any lit/not lit, single/strung, paper/fabric/ plastic, size/shape/color
-teapots cups and saucers worthy of the mad hatter tea party (have not had luck at local op shops)
-oversized tophat or clock/pocketwatch prop
-several clear drink/food-safe bottles–either former beer/sodas to be capped by a beer capper or vial-like ones, for "drink me" drinks–can vary.

Any other random things you may have, like a large mushroom and caterpillar (we have a hooka prop) , signs that say "this way" and "that way" or best of all, astroturf for croquet match–are appreciated also.

If anyone has ideas on how to create an exploding cake, let me know! Thanks!!"

Though the "unbirthday" scene is a famous one in romp that Lewis Carroll's Alice takes through Wonderland, one has to ask, as it's not made clear: Is this list member planning a birthday for their 8-year-old daughter...or an unbirthday? If it's the latter, it'll be an unbirthday the likes of Palisades probably have never seen.

For the Birds, III: Last week in Brookland, it was hummingbirds. This week, the neighborhood email list is chattering about robins—and, more specifically, how to kindly relocate them, without displacing them entirely. (Perhaps a metaphor for D.C.'s demographic growing pains can be found amongst its fauna.) Writes one member, "So, we had two robin families nest in our yard last year. They were a joy to watch. This year, they have decided to nest directly outside our french doors going onto the deck on top of flood lights. It's just a lousy place for them and I fear that they will get quite edgy once the eggs are there with all the in and out from the door. I've already pulled the hay down once, but it's back again. Any nice way to make that spot not so attractive to them? Would hate for them to go away completely, but it's just the worst spot for them and us." Insofar, neighbors only have words of support: "We had a similar siuation with birds nesting in our porch at the tops of brick columns. 'Cute' was our initial reaction, too, until the poop started dripping down the columns... : ( It was really hard to clean off, too."

All Clear for Capitalism: JDLand reports that the Historic Preservation Review Board has recommended that the Market Deli in Near Southeast not be designated historic by the board, or by the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination of the building, aided by ANC 6D07 commissioner David Garber, was not favorably received by the neighborhood, and commenters have cheered the HPRB's decision. One snarks, "So....anyone have any guesses or rumors as to which 'landmark' will be next in line to try and be saved? Will it be the former theater (taxi repair shop on Half St) or the transfer station/stacks?" More congratulatory is another, who says, "Well this is a pleasant surprise. I thought there was a good chance that HPRB was going to support the designation based on some past decisions (ie the old, dilapidated wood shack in perpetual existence at 12th & E SE – sorry I mean 'shotgun' house). Thank goodness the Capitol Hill Restoration Society has no interest in our neighborhood." And, finally: "I fully support the destruction of the Market Deli to advance the bottom line of real estate and surrounding property value."

Beware the Umbrellas: A thread on the Palisades email list is rife with warnings of a potential door-to-door scam. Writes one member, "I had 2 young women soliciting saying they were from UVA doing a communications gig and turns out it is magazines they are selling. Very pushy. They don't want you to buy magazines for them but for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. Very suspect." Another describes potential tactics of the alleged scammers, adding, "Same here – the two guys who came to my door claimed they'd send the magazines to Veterans' hospitals and gave me a grimy list of hospitals. Set off my suspicions too. They also asked for an umbrella – the police officer who attended later said he'd seen around five people gathered together nearby, whom he thought responsible for the door knocking, all already had umbrellas – he thought the request for an umbrella was simply to get the front door open further to check out the place."

Cleveland Park Problems: Writes one member of the Cleveland Park email list, "Our water has had a smell like burning plastic since yesterday. It is removed by our Brita filter, but still worrisome. Is anyone else experiencing this?" Another adds, "Yes, we smell it too. Our showers stink." No answer to this mystery has been established.

More Than the Sum of Tom-Tom: The Very Cherry AdMo Pop-Up Shop sprung up to fill the empty space on 18th Street left by Uptowner Deli, but members of the Ward 1 email list are crediting it with more than merely activating a storefront. "We bought several items, but we liked that they sent us to other local retail stores. They sent us to Tora Mata, the art of Peru, when we said we needed a religious themed item for a friend and we bought also at the Tibet Shop and Crooked Beat records which we did not know was in Adams Morgan. Also did not know before about Planet Pet either," writes one. Another reports a similar experience, saying "Yes, we also learned much from the Adamsmorgan Mainstreet about the local businesses right here in Adams Morgan. They gave us the information on many more of the true restaurants are here than we knew. We had made the mistake to think that Brassknob was a bar, and learned they have wonderful things. Then went to the AMWine Shop to make the purchases and a special trip to Meeps Vintage." Who knew the strip responsible for the phrase "Adams Morgan Effect"—deployed by ANC commissioners hoping to quash the rapid spread of bars in their own neighborhoods—could be so charming?

Airing of Grievances: Tenleytown email list members feel the city is unfairly targeting their cars and residences in order to generate revenue. Prompts one, "Let's count the ways that the city is sticking it to us lately..."—and a list was born! Though the slew of annoyances is bound to grow, here's what Tenleytown residents feel are costing them too much money, at present:

1. Ticket for Bulk Trash with confirmation number
Then failing to pick up for 3 weeks.
2. Ticket for personal property inside fenced yard.
3. Ticket for speeding in a car we have never seen.
4. Ticket for trash cans in the alley.
5. Tickets for displaying a parking pass that has not yet expired.
6. Ticket for turning right on red after stop at Fessenden St.
7. Ticket for tree branches overhanging an alley.
8. Refusal to produce public records relating to the District's plans to develop the Tenley-Friendship Library/Janney E.S. site.

No Laundry Here: 14th & You checks in on the status of the "Shirt Laundry" building on 14th and Q streets NW—which many expected to be under construction to become a restaurant by now—but doesn't have great news to share: "Plans for the restaurant have...been shelved. Last month, the Whisk Group announced that they were pulling out of the project because of unexpectedly high cleanup costs. (Dry cleaners tend to leave a lot of mess in their wake.) This now leaves an open question as to what might end up there, if not a food-serving establishment? Several ideas have been floating around (it's been a poorly kept secret that Walgreen's would like to set up shop in the neighborhood, for instance) but nothing has been announced at this point." A commenter is hoping the former is still a go, noting, "I'd love to see a place to grab something casual and healthy. Teaism would be perfect. I love all the upscale restaurants, but if you want something quick or without reservations/a long wait, burgers seem to be the only option."

When The Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Disappear'd, UPDATE: Cleveland Park's infamous lilac thief has been spotted! One member of the neighborhood email list reports, "He was walking northbound along the Glover-Archbold Park stream valley path this morning about 6:45am in full flower. He was carrying a large armful of lilacs."

For the Birds, II: Brookland is all about bird-watching these days. After a discussion over the weekend on what plants might best attract hummingbirds, a member of the neighborhood email list notes, "We have a bunch of brown headed cowbirds in our backyard. This is the first time we have had them." Brown-headed cowbirds are unremarkable-looking (despite their very silly name), but according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, they're quite the moochers: "Females forgo building nests and instead put all their energy into producing eggs, sometimes more than three dozen a summer. These they lay in the nests of other birds, abandoning their young to foster parents, usually at the expense of at least some of the host’s own chicks." That's not very neighborly.

Public Service Announcement: New Columbia Heights reminds readers that Columbia Heights' newest (and perhaps only) sports bar, Lou's City Bar, didn't actually replace Commonwealth Gastropub. The most notable dish at Jamie Leeds'—of Hank's Oyster Bar fame—restaurant seemed to be the Scotch eggs; inevitably, New Columbia Heights' post has tipped off a wishlist from commenters of what they'd like to see in the neighborhood. Two suggestions include "a Kebab/Mediterranean joint like the ones they have in Adams Morgan. On a day when I don't feel like making the trek– a Shwarma King or Astor Mediterranean close by would be heaven" and "a cupcake joint with a liquor license."

In Brightwood, Business is Booming: There's been lots of movement on and nearby upper Georgia Avenue recently. Last week, The Brightwoodian noted that Baltimore-based Red Tree would be opening a D.C. shop, Trohv. Over the the past week, Washington Deli has had its soft opening and should move to regular hours soon. There's a general consensus that Washington Deli's pizza and subs—which include vegan options—will be good for the neighborhood. Writes one commenter, "SO GLAD they've finally opened! I've been a fan of their vegan sandwiches and slices at the downtown location for some time–nice to have them in the neighborhood!" A new Brightwood blog, Almost Undefined, gives it a thumbs-up, too.

Best in the Business: Speaking of local businesses, there's quite an ode to Cathedral Pharmacy on the Cleveland Park email list. After Walgreen's and CVS both failed to secure a particular skin care product for a neighborhood resident, Cathedral Pharmacy was able to do so—by the next day—with little trouble. This prompted the resident to write, "The chains offer certain useful services; I do give them my business. For me, however, independents remain the leaders in what can only be referred to as good customer service when it comes to the diversity products they offer and the willingness to take the extra step for (even infrequent, such as me) customers. Our community has a few independent retailers –such as Cathedral Pharmacy– who go out of their way to serve this neighborhood. If we hope to keep them here, and to benefit from the services they offer, we need to remember that they count on us, and patronize their stores." As budgets for Main Street improvement programs get slashed, that's probably a good thing to remember.

More Like Bladensburg Parkway: Frozen Tropics reports that Denny's will open its second D.C. location at 17th Street NE and Bladensburg Road (its first is on Benning Road in Deanwood). Commenters aren't completely convinced that the chain should be welcomed with open arms. "I would only ever go to this Denny's if the Capitol City Diner was closed, like on a late weeknight. It's good to see some jobs coming to this area, but I hope it doesn't crush the existing diner, which is THE GREATEST," writes one. "Yea. Sort of conflicted by this. On one hand it's great that this area can attract a national chain, but I'm all about supporting local businesses," agrees another Capital City Diner fan. But a vocal supporter of Denny's expansion plan says, "yeah, if you're a 20something urban cool kid, this kind of sucks. but if you are a vested resident of this city interested in our economic revitalization, this is great news! people saying, oh i would rather go to the capitol city diner never say the same thing when a new bar opens. you don't have to personally go there to reap the benefits. it's more options people! it's more activity. Denny's will attract families and non- bar crowds. things like this may also help KEEP families from moving. this is amazing to see bladensburg avenue popping!" Unfortunately, in their enthusiasm for neighborhood growth, the commenter wrote Bladensburg Avenue... not Road.

For the Birds: "Has anyone had any luck with humming birds in brookland ?" writes one member of the neighborhood email list. Responses indicate that Brookland is indeed a safe space for hummingbirds, and several list members offered suggestions of the best plant to lure the speedy avians: pineapple salvia, "which has  beautiful electric green leaves and tubular red flowers, perfect for  hummingbirds" and "Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) bushes" are the most outstanding. For those seeking diversity in their fauna, another member adds, "I've had really good luck with goldfinches (black thistle seed, once I had thirteen) and  woodpeckers (suet)."

Not In My Former Grocery Store: The Tenleytown email list is discussing extensively the forthcoming closure of Superfresh. Most are upset that the neighborhood will be losing a standby for grocery shopping ("speaking with staff at SuperFresh they will be open for another 60 days - that sucks," "That is just awful! They have been a wonderful store and I have been going there since I was three now I am 45!"), but one list member advises, "lets hope another store takes over and AU doesn't change its mind about moving the law school and creates a third campus on the site."

When the Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Disappear'd: In a thread on the Cleveland Park email list titled "Lilac thief on the prowl?" a member writes, "I just looked out the window in the 3100 block of 34th Street and saw a man  walking briskly southward carrying a large bunch of lilacs. They weren't wrapped  but loose. I believe I have seen this same man in past years walking away from  the Cathedral Close bearing large branches of flowering shrubs. I am sorry if  your shrub has been stripped." It wasn't an isolated incident. Other members quickly chimed in. One said, "This is probably the same individual who comes into the Newark Street Community Garden and helps himself to everyone's peonies," while another careful observer notes: "If this man is about 60 years old, of short stature, Caucasian, and with wavy, salt-and-pepper hair, I believe I have seen him in past years helping himself to big armfuls of hydrangeas in the summer, from multiple homes. Each time I've seen him, he's walking away from the denuded bushes very quickly."