Photo by dheur via flickr

Tonight I left my gym (13th and F NW) and hurried down the street to catch my bus home. I was walking and texting, and I noticed a uniformed guard standing outside a building up ahead. As I passed, he said loudly, “Hey yo, can I get a text too?” I kept my head down and ignored him; I had a long day at work and I was tired. I always feel somewhat defeated when someone in uniform (guard, police officer) says something or leers at me. I suppose it’s because they’re supposed to protect us and make us feel safe.

Submitted by Anonymous on 11/10/2009

Location: 13th and F NW

Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment you would like to submit? Just click here and fill out the online submission form. All submissions are posted anonymously unless you specify.

In the 1940s, there were approximately 50 Little Taverns operating in and around Washington D.C. In 1988, 22 locations were still operating. In 1991, the number was 20. The last one closed last year. This is what I’ve been able to piece together of locations which once existed.

If anyone has pictures especially from when they were still operating as Little Taverns, I’d love to see them. And if you’d just like to add a story or reminiscence, I’d love to hear it as well.

And if anyone has a location to add, please leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list.

1. 1344 G street northwest Washington DC
Torn Down, but the outline of the building is still visible on the wall of the building next door. Built 1931.

2. 2628 Connecticut avenue northwest Washington DC
Torn Down – Now the site of the Woodley Park-Zoo / Adams Morgan metro station

3. 1110 H St. Northwest Washington DC
Torn Down Now the site of the Capitol City Brewing Company downtown location?

4. 3701 New Hampshire Ave. NW Washington DC
Torn Down. Now the site of the Sweet Mango Cafe.

5. 5100 Georgia Ave. NW Washington DC
Torn Down. Now a used car lot.

6. 1309 New York Avenue, N.E. Washington DC
Moved to 1251 New York Ave.

7. 1251 New York Avenue, N.E. Washington DC
Torn Down. Now a school bus parking lot.

8. 628-632 North Capitol Street, N.W. Washington DC
Torn Down.

9. 2716 Good Hope Road S.E., Washington, D.C.
Torn Down. Now a strip mall.

10. 718 H Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
Converted. Now Super Nails.

11. 3968 Minnesota Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C.
Torn Down. Now strip mall featuring “Rainbow” and “Downtown Locker Room”. Next door to former Senator Theatre, built 1942.

12. 2537 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C.
Converted. Now Continental Construction Next door to the former Highland Theatre.

13. 6th Street and Morse Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
Converted Now Subway.

14. 504 13th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.
Torn Down

15. 828 North Washington Street, Alexandria, Virginia
Converted Now Chinese Restaurant. Photo taken during Little Tavern days.

16. Wisconsin Avenue and Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland
Converted. Now Golden House Chinese Food.

17. 135 Main Street, Annapolis, Maryland
Closed/Torn Down Nothing left at the site.

18. 11143 Viers Mill Road and Grandview Avenue, Wheaton, Maryland
Torn Down , Though sign-frame is still there, advertising Chuck Levin’s. Site Plan. Painting.

19. 6414 Holabird Ave Baltimore, MD 21224
Closed. Picture.

20. 3515 Eastern Ave Baltimore, MD 21224
Closed. Picture.

21. Greenmount Ave, 32nd St. Baltimore, MD
Converted. Now Sea Blue. Formerly Kennedy Fried Chicken.

22. S. Conkling Street, Baltimore, MD – South of Eastern Ave
Torn Down. Picture.

23. 519 East 25th Street Baltimore MD
Converted. Now Pizza Deal.
24. Belvedere Ave. Baltimore, MD- East of Park Heights

25. 10 Park Ave Baltimore, MD
Converted – now Lighthouse Pub

26. 7413 Baltimore Ave College Park, MD 20740
Converted Photo – Now JD’s Roadhouse?

27. 8230 Georgia Ave Silver Spring, MD
Torn Down Read full story here and here.

28. Corner of Fenton St. and Wayne Ave. Silver Spring, MD
Torn Down Picture as Chinese Restaurant . Pictures as an operating Little Tavern.

29. 3333 M. Street NW Washington DC -
Converted Now Sweetgreen

30. 1303 Wisconsin Ave NW. Washington DC -
Converted Now Paolo’s

31. 655 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E. Washington, DC 20003
Converted Now Little Pub

32. 3125 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA
Converted Now Goody’s

33. Rt. 1 Laurel, MD -
Converted Now Laurel Tavern Donuts Blog Post.

34. 7801 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, Maryland
Gone/Converted (Seasonal)

35. 1221 U Street, NW – The Hamburger Grill
Gone. Storefront? Run by Little Tavern Shops. Referenced in 1933 “The Afro American” And here.

Proposed dry cleaners hearing

I’m sure many have noticed that the retail space on the corner of 13th and Florida has long had a sign saying that a dry cleaners was coming soon. Yet, there has been no movement at all in the building in, what feels like about 2 years. I remember that the business used to be a barber shop, that never seemed open. Well there is a notice on the storefront now for a hearing regarding granting a “Special exception to allow a change of nonconforming use from a barber shop to a pick up dry cleaners” in November. So, it looks like there might finally be movement on this storefront, which will be nice.

According to MPD, there was a shooting at 13th and W where a victim was wounded in the leg. There really is no more information than this, like when it happened or anything. The information was posted on Saturday morning so I would assume it happened sometime Friday. This location always feels very safe to me (and I often walk it alone at night) so it’s a little disturbing that someone was shot on this block.

Premieres on Austar and Foxtel November 15, 2009. Channel number yet to be finalised.

On 13th STREET, there’s a murder mystery to solve every hour of the day.

13th STREET encourages you to use your own powers of observation to solve the crime at the same time as the detective you see on screen.

13th STREET predominantly targets women viewers aged 35+.

I normally don’t walk alone at night — I tend to drive or ride my bike, but I sold my car a week prior and my bike had a flat tire.

I walked to a friend’s house at about 8:20 pm on a Saturday night. I was walking past the block of 13th and Columbia, when I heard a rustling and naturally turned around to see what was behind me, and it was a person, possibly walking from the front of a yard. By the time I crossed 13th and Irving, I turned around again and I could see the man behind me more clearly because he was now under the street light in the intersection. I made a point to make eye contact so he knew that I was aware of his presence. I may have turned around once more, to make the point again.

Before I go on with the rest of the story, let me say that the scenario thus far, me simply walking in DC, seeing an untrusting man and trying to maintain awareness of the situation, occurs everytime I walk somewhere. So there wasn’t too much of a difference in this situation that would tell me that this guy was necessarily up to something. So I walked another block, and didn’t think about it too much.

By the time I reached 13th and Lamont, I stopped for a second, then realized he was directly behind me. I shuffled myself for a second, then he put his hand up my skirt, and reached my upper thigh. I got really annoyed and said “you fucking asshole.” He tried to get away from me, but I started chasing after him, because I was so angry. I chased him for about 100 feet, when he reached an alley and ran into it. I got maybe a quarter of the way into the alley when I gave up running and could only scream a final insult at the top of my lungs.

There was a family walking by on Kenyon St, that heard the commotion and asked if I was ok. I said yes, but there was a man that tried to reach up my skirt. I called my friend, to tell him what happened, then decided to continue a few blocks to get to the house.

I realize now that I could have called the police, to file a report right away. I tend to think that the police don’t take sexual harassment/abuse very seriously, so I feared relaying the story to someone that might dismiss it as insignificant.

The next morning, I woke up and thought, the police station is only a few blocks away, I may as well walk over to file a report. I was really pleased to see that the first officer I spoke with took the situation very seriously, and asked if I wouldn’t mind waiting to meet with a detective to file a formalized report.

When the detective came, I gave her all of the information, including a fairly good description of the man. He was a Hispanic male, about 5′8″ smaller/medium build, wearing a darker shirt, long pants, and a mostly white baseball cap.I was able to see him clearly the night before when I turned around and saw him crossing the well lit intersection. The detective gave me her business card with the report number. She was very professional, and answered all of my questions. The incident was filed as Misdemeanor Sexual Abuse. She said that people who commit this type of crime are less likely to abuse someone again if they were to be caught and charged, so I felt really good about filing the report.

I have told a few people what happened, and have gotten a few comments about my chasing the man, and whether I should have done that. When I look at it objectively, I can agree that it is probably unsafe to chase after someone, because they may have a weapon, or may otherwise try to assault you. I have to say that for me, I don’t regret doing what I did, because I honestly thought it was the right thing to do in the situation. Fight or flight kicked in, and I chose to “fight.” It wouldn’t be right for me to enourage anyone to chase a perpitrator down, but I will say that I encourage people to cultivate an attitude where you will fight back if you have to. I tried to do everything I could to stay out of harms way, but if someone challenges me and my safety is at risk, then I access the situation, and won’t go down without a fight.

At the very least, I came across as someone who will put up a fight, so I think that could have prevented the situation from being more harmful.

Location: 13th & Lamont St NW

Submitted by Francesca

Submitted on Spetember 14, 2009

I was waiting for the crosswalk light at 13th and U. The older man standing next to me leaned over and said, “You have two weapons on you, do you know that?” I ignore him.  He says, “Your legs – those are your weapons.”  I look right at him and say, “I don’t appreciate it when you make comments about my legs, you don’t even know me.” He shakes his head at me just as the light changes. As a walk down the escalator at the U Street metro I see him harass another woman.

Location: 13th and U

Submitted by S.L.

Do you have an experience you would like to submit? Just click here and fill out the online submission form. All stories will be posted anonymously unless you specify.

After hanging out the car window for two blocks yellin “aye, aye” the car parked in an alleyway, blocking me walking on the sidewalk. One guy got out and asked could i talk to him. i shook my head no and walked around him. thankfully he didn’t follow.

I guess he thought i would appreciate him getting out the car for me. lol but what he was really thinkin what that i was wearing my skirt for him.

Location: 13th and Madison NW

Submitted by Anonymous

Do you have an experience you would like to submit? Just click here and fill out the online submission form. All stories will be posted anonymously unless you specify.

To promote the exclusive thrillers and horror films on 13th Street,

the toilet of a nightclub in Hamburg was specially prepared.

Just after entering the room, the light suddenly goes out and the room is bathed in Black light.

And now a bloody crime scene becomes visible on the floor and walls:

“See what others don’t see. 13TH STREET. The Action and Suspense Channel.”

Agency: Jung von Matt

Creative Director: Bernd Kramer

Δύο φωτογραφίες ένα τηλέφωνο. Στη δεύτερη φωτογραφία το ακουστικό κρέμεται ύποπτα. Ποιος το άφησε έτσι; Ο δολοφόνος; Το θύμα; Απαιτητηική καμπάνια της Jung von Matt Spree, Berlin για το τηλεποτικό κανάλι 13th Street που προβάλλει βασικά ταινίες τρόμου.

standing where there’s no standing (except trucks)…

reinventing beyond themselves…

Building permit for 13th and W

I  noticed this weekend that work has started on the long vacant building at 13th and W. Prince of Petworth speculated that there might be some kind of bodega-type business coming to it, but the building permit designates it as a residential (multifamily) space.

As you can see in the above picture, the building permit is for removing deteriorating roof materials, reinforcing rafters, and installing new roof decking. The owner is listed as Selma Blitzstein Trust, which through a Google search came up as the owner of the property via tax records, and not much else. And interestingly, the building permit expired last July, but I’ve seen no work on the building in the past 2 plus years. I’ve noticed previously that other establishments have been operating with expired building permits, so I don’t know if it’s just the way things go.

Proposed site of hotel, courtesy of shinichi (Flickr)

PoP has the scoop on the proposed hotel on 13th and U that would replace the building that houses Rite Aid, that nail salon, the dollar store, and I believe, Creme and Al Crostino. Honestly, I’m a little confused about where the building would be, would the entrance be facing U street or facing 13th street? It seems like it wouldn’t fit facing 13th street, but the description of the building the hotel would be replacing only includes Rite Aid. So, color me a bit confused.

Cardozo Shaw Neighborhood Association has all of the details about the proposed hotel:

• 250 guestrooms, 4,500 square feet of meeting space and 23,000 square feet of retail space;
• A signature restaurant, a rooftop bar and swimming pool;
• A rotating art exhibit which will all be open to the public (I dig this);
• The retail component will be composed of the existing Rite Aid (in a new space) and a diverse mix of retailers, restaurants and local or small business space (does this include Creme and Al Crostino?);
• possible LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

I’m not totally for or against the project, I feel like I need more information. Al Crostino and Creme are two of my favorite restaurants in the U street area, and I’d hate to see them go or have to temporarily close because of this construction. And, being a curmudgeonly U street resident, I don’t really want more tourists in the neighborhood. I still find it weird when I’m walking around and I see someone who’s clearly a tourist walking around staying dumb things about how dangerous a neighborhood they’re in. And Ben’s line is too long already. It will be good for the retail scene on U street, but it’s not exactly struggling, even with these tough times. Sure, there are more empty storefronts than I’d like, but we’ve had the Gibson, Ben’s Next Door, Yes! Organic Market, Georgetown Valet, and Posto (I guess that’s more Logan Circle) all open in the past few months and all done well.

For over 40 years, a tiny plant and flower shop has called 13th Street home.

“Plants that don’t need much light to live because not everyone has a southern exposure.”  This is how the The Flower Stall’s brochure describes what the store has to offer.  Written by the shop’s proprietor, Cornell Edwards, the flyer continues to describe the business as “a world green with plant life right on 13th Street.”

After graduating with a degree in English from NYU  in 1954, Edwards had trouble finding employment in the city.  Not deterred from his dream of coming to New York and never looking back, Edwards eventually put an old knowledge to good use.  Growing up in Norfolk, Virginia with a mother who sold annuals, Edwards was well versed in the world of plant life.  In 1967 he opened The Flower Stall at 143 East 13th Street, and it still sits there to this day along with Edwards.

With more rex begonias than anyone else in the area–15 varieties–Edwards is able to keep an edge by having more exotic plants than larger stores and researching each that he has.

This 1940 photo shows 13th Street looking toward Eighth Avenue. It’s a lovely yet unremarkable Village block, dominated by a tenement building surrounded by townhouses. The structure that sits second from left with the stepped gables was the Jackson Square Public Library, designed in 1887.

Now look at this 2008 photo. The buildings have not changed one bit, except that there are trees—lots of shady, pretty trees—obscuring them. In the 1940 photo, even Jackson Square Park is bereft of trees! The street looks naked without them. I think we have the beautify-your-block movement, plus the city’s commitment to greenery back in the 1960s and 1970s, to thank.

The park has trees now, and this morning, a couple of trucks came by to unload more for planting today.

Sensacional essa “propaganda” para o canal especializado em terror e suspense 13^th Street. Foi feita uma ambientação em um banheiro de uma casa noturna, onde Poucos segundos após alguém entrar no local, as luzes eram apagadas, acendendo uma luz negra que reveleva uma cena de crime, com manchas de “sangue” no chão e paredes. No espelho aparecia a mensagem: “See what others don’t see. 13th Street. The Action and Suspense Channel” (Veja o que os outros não vêem). Clique nas imagens para ver maior.

Para promover thrillers e filmes de terror exclusivos da 13th Street, uma casa de banho de um bar nocturno de Hamburgo foi especialmente preparada para o efeito. Logo depois de entrar na sala, a luz apagava-se, e a casa de banho era iluminada por uma luz preta. Então, uma cena sangrenta de um crime ficava visível no chão e nas paredes:

“Veja o que os outros não vêem. Jung von Matt. 13TH STREET. O canal de acção e de suspense”

Agência: Jung von Matt, Hamburgo, Alemanha
Director Criativo: Bernd Kraemer
Director de Arte: Felix Schulz
Designers: Felix Schulz, Moritz Schmidt
Copywriter: Henning Korb
Produção: Maximilian Lips, Jan Singelmann

Leuke IKEA spoofs van Shackleton Madrid voor digitale zender 13th Street.

Horror movies zijn een dankbaar product om te verkopen, de mogelijkheden zijn eindeloos. In Duitsland kan je afstemmen op 13th Street voor exclusieve horrorfilms. Om dat duidelijk te maken aan een jong publiek, besloot de zender om iets te doen met de toiletten in een discotheek dichtbij Hamburg.

Op het moment dat je de toiletten binnenstapt, dooft het licht langzaam, en flikkert er een blacklight aan. De muren en de vloer zijn behandeld, het lijkt alsof je temidden van een bloederige crime scene staat. Baseline: See what others don’t see. Simply brilliant…

Via: cross the breeze