The Long Road

Well, can anything beat a twilight stroll through the neighborhood? I don't think so. The streets are still busy; workers coming home, workers leaving home, happy hour revelers, sports bar patrons, business owners working and dog walkers, well, walking. I love walking Mt Pleasant's streets and had a pretty sweet one last night.

Just kept going actually and ended up in Adams Morgan. Took in a little people watching and started back to the hood. I was tempted to catch a 42, but with only a few blocks walk, I passed it up and took my time. Forget sitcom reruns, gossip websites, nightly news and yes, blogs. Walking the town is free, refreshing and reminds one of why its so great to live here, and free. Here's to soaking up the early spring weather and soaking up the beat of the street.

MTA Raises Fares, Metro Will Not

Yikes. The MTA, which manages the New York City subway and bus systems, recently decided to raise fares and cut services across the board. The base subway and bus fare will rise from $2.00 to $2.50, a 25% increase. An equivalent increase for Metro would have the $1.35 base fare jump to $1.69. A rush hour trip from King Street to Metro Center now costs $2.85. It would increase to $3.56. However, it does appear that Metro will not raise fares this year.

The cuts in New York are striking. Two subway lines will be completely eliminated, the W and Z lines. The W line traveled from Astoria, Queens to South Ferry in Manhattan. The Z traveled form Jamaica, Queens to Broad Street in Manhattan. MTA is covering the eliminated subway routes with modified routes from other lines. In addition more than 30 bus routes are being eliminated including overnight, weekend and weekday services. Some routes are loosing portions of the route, or are losing overnight service. Millions of dollars will be "saved," or not spent in other words.

Metro has announced some potential service cuts, mostly on suburban bus routes. They've eliminated or frozen jobs in the central office and are attempting to use Federal stimulus money to close other budget gaps, on capital costs mostly (PDF). While will not see a fare hike this year on rail, Metro is considering converting some bus routes from local to express, and charging the higher express fare. I wouldn't be surprised if Metro raised fares across the board next year, if there is a similar budget gap. Count your stars we aren't in for MTA like cuts and fare increases this time around.

Frozen Four Coming to Verizon Center

In a few days, take the 42 bus to the Frozen Four, the NCAA hockey equivalent of the Final Four. Collegiate hockey is dominated by just a handful of teams and this year's tourney group is pretty solid.

This elite contest, of just three games, will be held at the Verizon Center on Thursday April 9 through Saturday April 11. Semifinal game practices are open to the public. Those are on Wednesday from 11:00am until 3:45pm. There are no games on Wednesday, just practice. Semifinal games are Thursday April 9 at 5:00pm and 8:30pm. The championship game is Saturday April 11 at 7:00pm. The Friday in between will be full of activities like autograph sessions and a skills challenge.

I follow college hockey like I follow tennis, golf or racing; just interested in the big events. I probably won't attend, but I'm picking Denver to take it all. Mark it dude. Here's the bracket if you want to follow the action.

National Cherry Blossom Festival

...begins this weekend! Opening ceremonies at the National Building Museum this Saturday at 4:00pm.

Jury's Upgrades, Becomes The Dupont Hotel

My parents' hotel of choice when visiting DC was always Jury's Washington in Dupont. It's at 1500 New Hampshire Ave NW. They love the neighborhood and the hotel was well above average in accommodations. And Jury's didn't break the bank. Plus they had the homey Biddy Mulligan's on the first floor. Not my cup of tea, but better than a normal hotel bar. I never had a meal at the Dupont Grille (it closed, but it was on the 1st level of the hotel as well). However, my parents ate there and liked it. Both Biddy's and Dupont Grille have already been replaced with new iterations named Bar Dupont and Cafe Dupont. French inspiration for the cafe and more of a modern look for the bar.

The name of the hotel is changing, too; it now goes by The Dupont Hotel. Pretty simple. The rooms are in the process of being renovated and the biggest change is that a complete 9th floor is being added to the building. Right on top. The website promises $119 weekend rooms, subject to availability. Not bad, considering rates during Jury's last days were $99 on internet special. The new hotel is partially open now and should fully open by July.

Signs of Spring at Metro Headquarters

5th and G NW

Sweetgreen Activates 1500 Block of Connecticut Ave

After yesterday's talk about some new vegan food options here's some non vegan news about a little new frozen yogurt + joint. And big news for the Dupont neighborhood and Connecticut Avenue scene.

Sweetgreen is opening another location, in the old Riggs Bank building, at 1512 Connecticut Ave NW. This local business combines the frozen yogurt craze and the build-your-own-salad craze into a one stop health/indulgence fest.

American Apparel still plans to open in the retail spaces once occupied by Riggs Bank, then later PNC Bank, on the western side of the 1500 block of Connecticut Ave NW. But Sweetgreen will beat them to it by a mile. That side of the block has been waiting for some retail, or something constructive, for years. The Dupont farmer's market happens weekly, but on the other side of the building, out of sight. By my own judgment, there appear to be 4-6 retail spaces available in this storefront, depending on the nature of and square footage of the tenants. Hopefully, they lease out sooner than later.

Wish I could get excited about this place. Even their prepared salads aren't vegetarian. May give it a go at some point though. Good luck to them.

Astor Joins Growing DC Vegan Pizza Scene

Astor Mediterranean has joined several other DC pizza parlors by offering vegan cheese for their pizzas. Two Fridays ago the Adams Morgan eatery began serving the popular Teese vegan cheese on its vegetarian pizza. Astor was already a destination for me because of their other vegan offerings like falafel, which they do very well.

Astor (1829 Columbia Rd NW) joins several other DC pizza restaurants which offer a dairy free alternative to cheese pizza. Ella's Pizza in Penn Quarter has been serving vegan soy cheese for as long as I can remember. Pete's Apizza in Columbia Heights starting offering Teese only days after opening last year. Pizzeria Paradiso offers a soy based cheese alternative for its pizzas at both locations (Georgetown + Dupont). And both Red Rocks (Columbia Heights) and Moroni Brothers (Petworth) have dairy free cheese available for pizzas. I prefer my pizzas without any cheese--just sauce, tomatoes and veggies--but I love that these restaurants are recognizing the vegans and those who are dairy free for health/lactose intolerant/other reasons. I joined a packed house to congratulate Astor and buy pizzas two weeks ago and will continue to support similar efforts from other establishments.

37 and One Half Hours in Washington DC: Day Three

This post is based on--heck, totally stolen from--the 36 Hour series produced by the New York Times. If they send a cease and desist order, well, I’d have to agree that I pretty much copied the idea and would have to comply. Although, technically, this is called the 37 and One Half Hour Series. Click here for Day One. Here for Day Two.

Day Three
Morning: Well, after closing down the bars in the Atlas District, you may want to go ahead and make use of the continental breakfast at the hotel. Sleep in a bit, read the paper and grab that second cup of coffee. This is a half day of sorts, assuming that you'll be getting out of town midday sometime, Take the last few hours to reflect and have little fun.

Start at the Jefferson Memorial. Supposedly it's sinking into the Tidal Basin, but looks like we have a few years before it's totally gone. Jefferson's statue is positioned so that he faces the White House at all times. You can observe the same view if you stand at his feet and look out over the water. He's "keeping an eye" on the WH, making sure that the central/federal government doesn't get too powerful.

Just across the driveway of the Jefferson Memorial is the small memorial for another colonial founder, form my home state, George Mason. He exists under the radar for most and only recently got a boost because of the success of the college basketball team at his namesake university. The Mason Memorial and gardens are some of my favorite places on the Mall. Just a bit isolated.

Depending on how much time you have, make the morning a memorial trifecta by walking to the FDR Memorial from the Jefferson. Franklin Roosevelt did not want a massive memorial. He helped lay the cornerstone for the Jefferson Memorial, but later said that upon his death, he wanted a memorial no larger than his desk. And sure enough, after his death, a marble marker, about the size of a large desk was placed on the north side of the National Archives building. It's still there. However, it was not the final memorial to FDR.

The "new" FDR Memorial is large; a winding path through four outdoor "rooms", nearly as long as three football fields. He was and is still the longest serving President, so the size is fitting. Some people skim the elements and quotes while others linger and contemplate. You'll get what you want out of it on you own.

Mid day: After some quite reflection (you'll have to get used to the planes flying out of the airport directly over FDR), spend your last few hours in DC back in the residential city. Georgetown is tried and true. It's a safe space for out of owners looking for familiar brands and logos, bus still has enough unique local commercial entities that it remains stimulating. Visiting, I often feel like a stranger in my own city, but at home at once. Take a cab there or give a go at navigating the bus system to get to M St NW above 29th Street. Try the Circulator.

This part of DC used to be it's own city within the District until just after the Civil War. Georgetown is known for shopping and a University by the same name. But I generally go there for the food. Skip the splurging on jackets and shoes and spend your last DC dollars eating a great meal. My favorite place in the neighborhood is Harmony (3287 M St NW), a pan Asian vegetarian restaurant. A close second/tie is Pizzeria Paradiso (32832 M St NW). It's the best pizza in DC except for the other location of Pizzeria Paradiso. Done with the meal, ready to get to the airport/train station/bus, whatever. Before leaving get that last boost of energy with an espresso from Baked & Wired, a quirky place of sorts on a Georgetown side street (1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW). Best coffee that side of Rock Creek.

Well, that's it. 37 and one half hours on Washington DC. Hardly fair, but if you plan ahead you can see a lot of the District in a short amount of time. And maybe you'll plan another visit. Hmmm... that will call for Another 37 and One Half Hours in DC post. Not for a while though, this was a lot of work!

37 and One Half Hours in Washington DC: Day Two

This post is based on--heck, totally stolen from--the 36 Hour series produced by the New York Times. If they send a cease and desist order, well, I’d have to agree that I pretty much copied the idea and would have to comply. Although, technically, this is called the 37 and One Half Hour Series. Click here for Day One.

Day Two
Morning: Up early, yea? Skip the petit déjeuner offered at the hotel. Head to U Street (Green Line on the Metro) and get a hearty breakfast at Ben's Chili Bowl or Mocha Hut (1213 an 1301 U St NW). There is some shopping and sightseeing here, with the highlight being the African American Civil War Memorial (Vermont and U St NW) This memorial's name pretty much says it all. It's a nice departure from the heroic style single subject memorials of downtown. Other attractions are on U Street NW between 16th and 10th Streets and on 14th Street near U St.

If you are a museums person realize that you can't see them all. Go with your gut and visit those you think you'll be enriched by and enjoy. And even then, chose an exhibit or two and just see those. I have to recommend my favorite two art museums, the National Gallery of Art and National Portrait Gallery. The Portrait Gallery (8th and F Sts NW) is part American history museum, too. The permanent exhibit, America's Presidents, features timeless portraits of every commander in chief (besides Obama, he hasn't gotten an official portrait yet). The National Gallery (4th and Constitution NW) offers classic and modern art from around the world and never ceases to showcase the best of its vast collections. Spilt time between both of these distinctly different, but equally enjoyable museums. Lunch at either: National Gallery's quaint throw back cafeteria with neat views, or the covered courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery.

Afternoon: No visit to DC is complete without a visit to the peoples house, the United States Capitol Building. Secure a tour of the building in the Capitol Visitor's Center. Consider skipping the exhibits in the center itself and get the earliest tour possible. It's one of two ways to get into the Capitol Building. The other is to get gallery passes from one of your Congressional representatives. You get to watch what passes for debate these days up close and personal. Score passes in advance if you can and do this instead of the fixed building tour. Time is always an issue, but if you've got it, make a proper visit to a Senator or House Representative. We don't have either as residents of a federal District; and regardless, I think if you're in DC , try to connect with your elected leaders and lobby for a cause of yours. At least sign the guest book.

Again with the time, you'll be running out of it at this point. Squeeze in a quick photo-opish visit to the Supreme Court or the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. They are a block apart from each other (1st and East Capitol Sts) and are impressive architecturally and symbolically, although you can't photo the inside of the SC chamber.

Get some rest at the hotel and get ready for a night on the town.

Every guide to DC urges visitors to wade out of their comfort zone and visit one of the in-town neighborhoods. Something off the beaten path. Adams Morgan's bars, Dupont's people watching., or Georgetown's cobblestone. I think all those are doable and I do think that out-of-towners visit those place and find them interesting. But if you want something different, they Atlas District on H Street NE between 12th and 14th Streets. Take a cab from the Gallery Place Metro, Union Station Metro, or where ever you are and be prepared to take a cab back to where ever you are sleeping. Have a number of a company you can call in advance of needing a ride home. Palace of Wonders offers shows that can't be found anywhere else this side of New York City. Eat out at Sticky Rice, Jimmy Valentine's (1103 Bladensburg Rd. NE) or Granville Moore's (1238 H Street NE). Then party party party the night away there or Rock & Roll Hotel, Red and the Black or H Street Martini Lounge (1353, 1212, and 1236 H St NE respectively). Bars close at 2 on weekdays, 3 on the weekends. Not saying out have to stay out that late... just make sure you have that cabbie's number handy.

37 and One Half Hours in Washington DC: Day One

This post is based on--heck, totally stolen from--the 36 Hour series produced by the New York Times. If they send a cease and desist order, well, I’d have to agree that I pretty much copied the idea and would have to comply. Although, technically, this is called the 37 and One Half Hour Series.

That being said, this is my version of 36 Hours in Washington DC. It’s not for us residents. It’s really for visitors to Washington DC. Some of the timing is intentionally vague. It may take some folks an hour to explore the Lincoln Memorial and I’ve seen some do it in 20 minutes. Depends on the individual, their interests and transit options. Anyway, enough explaining.

Day One
Early Afternoon: Where else to start but the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW). The leader of the free world lives right in downtown DC. Not in a gold plated palace, or shining house on a hill, but in two story mini mansion (well, 132 rooms worth of mini mansion) within a stones throw from offices, apartment buildings, coffee shops, schools and hotels. The White House really is part of the city. There are local bus routes running all day and night a block away from the place. The main street (Penn Ave) is no longer open to traffic, but works as a great pedestrian thoroughfare. A publicly accessible park is right across the street. It's official name is Lafayette Park, but its also known as the People's Park. The White House itself would be a little underwhelming if it weren't universally known who lives and works there. Before heading on, stop at the Saint John's Church or the Blair House for a quick shot of DC history and photo op. For something more substantial, try the Decatur House.

Next, make your way down to the National Mall to see some memorials, but on the way, stop in to see the Organization of America States. Their beautiful headquarters (17th and Constitution Sts NW) was designed to incorporate architectural traditions from North and South America. The OAS predates both the League of Nations and the United Nations. It promotes the cooperation of 35 countries in the Western Hemisphere, basically most of North, South, Central America and the Caribbean. If time permits, see the affiliated Art Museum of the Americas, a block away.

As day turns to night, hit the "Big Three," the Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans and the Korean War Memorials. No one can see all of the major memorials on the mall in three days, but Lincoln Memorial is a must-see and is very close to the timeless and beautiful Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the austere and stately Korean Memorial. Each is appropriate for a moment of refection for those looking for such a thing; or great photo ops as well.

After a fair amount of walking, make your way back downtown for a bite to eat. Between the Metro Center and Gallery Place Metro stations are plenty of choices. Try Kanlaya (Thai) Rasika (Indian), La Tasca (Spanish) or Ella's (pizza!). Afterward, if time allows, get a drink at Cafe Mozart, an unassuming German market and restaurant. Nothing special, but you're almost guaranteed a quiet, other-tourist-free nightcap before you head to the hotel for some sleep. Other options for a post dinner drink are Bar Louie (party hardy), Poste (see and be seen), or Capitol City Brewing (cold, fresh beer). Catch some local news on the tube and stay out of the hotel bar! Sleep tight and get ready for a full day two...

Any suggestions or corrections, feel free to post in the comments! Day Two tomorrow.

Substantial Environmental Film Fest for '09

The DC Environmental Film Festival has begun. Screenings are happening all over town, with many locations accessible from the 42 bus, or within a short walk. There are even four kid friendly short films being screened at the Mount Pleasant Branch Library.

I've seen a few of the films being shown and am really interested in most of the others. There are almost 150 films offered over 11 days. Here are some of those I've seen, and a few I want to see:

Life of a Plastic Bag: Short film that follows the life of a plastic bag from production to end of use. One of three films tonight at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia. 7:00pm, 3/13, 2343 Mass Ave, NW. Free, but email [rsvp@croatiaemb.org] to reserve a space.

Lessons of Darkness: A science fiction of sorts by Werner Herzog. Uses real footage of burning oil fields and other imagery to frame the power and terror of these earthly, but distorted elements. A trip to go out and see this, but probably worth it. 2:00pm, 3/14, AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring. $10

Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision: If you've lived in DC for any amount of time, you should know the name of Maya Lin. She conceptualized, designed and created one of the most effective and controversial memorials on the mall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. All at age 21. This documentary is about Lin's personal story, the process of creating the monument, and several of her other works. Curious to see how this ties into the environmental theme. 6:30pm, 3/16, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street NW. $10

Grizzly Man: Uses actual footage gathered by Timothy Treadwell, a bear expert, enthusiast and observer. He studied and documented bears in Alaska, at times from close range. Sadly he was killed by one of these bears in 2003. Another Herzog directed film at the AFI Silver Theatre. 7:00pm, 3/16. $10

Recycled Life: Documentary about the Guajeros, Guatemala City residents who actually live in the city's enormous trash dump and pick out and sell its recyclable materials. 1:00pm, 3/21, National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW. $10

WALL-E: Popular Disney-Pixar animated movie about the Earth in the near future. It's uninhabited as a result of the massive amounts of trash produced by people. Humans were overwhelmed, escape from the planet, and leave robots to clean up the mess. 2:00pm, 3/21, National Geographic Society, 1600 M Street NW. $5

Maybe see you at a show...

Walk for Our Neighbors, 3145 Residents

Nearly one year to the day of a tragic fire on Mt Pleasant Street NW-- our Main Street-- there are few answers, hidden, or in plain view. The 3145 Mt P Street building sits as empty of a shell as it was a day after the fire. A single security guard is the only inhabitant night after night. The jersey barriers out front seem almost normal at this point. I hardly notice the mini crater and vast low lying pile of bricks just beyond the facade of the burned-out building. It could almost pass an occupied structure at first glance.

Well, tonight, there is a small event commemorating the passing of one year since this terrible tragedy. The announcement from Hear Mount Pleasant:

We all remember the horrible events of last March when a fire raged through 3145 Mt. Pleasant St, displacing more than 200 residents from one of Mt. Pleasant's oldest buildings. Hear Mount Pleasant along with many other neighborhood groups and individuals worked hard to offer support and resources to the displaced tenants after the fire. We would now like to invite you to join us in gathering to support the tenants of 3145 Mt. Pleasant St once again, this time to mark the anniversary of the fire.

Please join the Tenants of 3145 Mt. Pleasant Street for a Community Mass and Walk to 3145 Mt. Pleasant Street to pay homage to their still empty home.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12th, 2009 Schedule of Events:

6:30pm Community Mass at Sacred Heart Church
(16th St NW and Sacred Heart Way NW)

7:30pm Commemorative Candlelight Walk to 3145 Mt. Pleasant Street

8:00pm Ceremony of Thanks
(At intersection of Kenyon St and Mt. Pleasant St)

Help our community come together to welcome back these displaced neighbors! (All events organized by the 3145 Mt. Pleasant Street Tenant Association)

Sections of Park Road Sidewalk Reopen

Good news for you folks living on Park Road between 16th and Mt Pleasant Streets. Sections of the sidewalk are starting to be released back into the public domain. And they are much wider now than before. I'd say a good two feet wider. That formerly narrow stretch of sidewalk is much trafficked and was due for an upgrade any year now. Enjoy it. Car traffic shouldn't suffer much. Well, after the construction anyway. Not so fun to drive on Park Road right now in its current condition. There's basically a little less than one complete lane available. Stay away; unless you're walking!

Out and About: What's Up With H Street NE?

Give it up for the Atlas District. Even three to four years ago, I wouldn't have had a reason to stop anywhere on H Street NE. Drive though, yes. On the way to Botanical Gardens, yes. On the way out to some parts of Maryland, yes. I don't have kids, but perhaps if I was on the way to the old Children's Museum, then yes. But now, I find myself working to get down to this part of Northeast several times a month.

The first place which I began to visit on a semi regular basis was the Argonaut. I tried a few happy hours a couple of years ago and really liked the atmosphere. It's not so much a dive bar as it is a pretty solid watering hole with better than average food for a bar. I swear there were a few vegan-ish offerings when I first visited, but at least they kept the skinny-crisp fries and have killer sweet potato fries now, too. You can watch sports there and its the H Street venue that most feels like a really old neighborhood haunt to me.

The most in/famous of the newish venue on H Street has to be the Rock and Roll Hotel. Before attending a new years party there two years ago, I wrote a letter complaining about the prospect of naked sushi, which they had widely advertised before hand. I was a little taken aback by possibly having to eat sushi off of a naked lady. Or watch other people eat sushi off of a naked lady. Anyway, when I showed my ID for admittance, the door guy recognized my name and we had a laugh over me actually writing a letter about naked sushi. Turns out it wasn't really as degrading or unhygienic as I had imagined. Plus the sushi was mostly gone by the time we got there and the ladies just went home I guess. They had bikinis on, too. So, not naked. Great sound system. Books great bands. That's all I have to say about Rock and Roll Hotel.

The place I visit the most, though, is Sticky Rice. It's a Richmond, VA import (my hometown). The DC version is just as fun, if not more so, and I thoroughly enjoy being there whenever I go. Somehow, it's always packed. I mean, I can't get over this fact. There are always people there. Upstairs, downstairs, at the bar, waiting to be seated, on the patio, just everywhere. If one place exists that can pull off sweet decor, awesome, unique, and vegan friendly food, good drinks, over the top staff antics, while mixing in the use of a gong without being cheesy, it's Sticky. And I said it a year ago and I will say it again, the Dirty Vegan is like, the best meal ever invented. The best. Non-vegans, please try it. And the sushi here is inventive (yes, even for the vegans) as anywhere. And fresh. Hands down the crown jewel of H Street eats, in my eyes. And the best spot for partying on H Street in general. If college partying had an older and (only slightly) more mature brother, this place is it.

As for the Red and the Black, Sidamo, Pug and the few others I've been to, I need to visit a couple more times to give a proper write up. However, the Atlas District has matured nicely so far and if most of the places survive the recession/depression, H Street NE will boost itself back into the upper tier of neighborhoods in DC. Another quality neighborhood site, Frozen Tropics, keeps tabs on a daily basis if you want to follow along in real time.

Atlas District: Is it growing on you, too? Not convinced yet? Haven't figured out how to get there/get home? What do you you think?

Friday Fun Post: The Couch Dress, and More

Check out these cool, unique clothes offerings from Pantalaine. Thanks to Orangehouse for bringing this to my attention. Not sure I coud have made it through today without it.

Return of Cabaret del Barrio

These events were previously held in the mid and late 90s and sport a triumphant return next week. The location is Don Jaime's, 3209 Mount Pleasant Street. This Sunday, March 8 beginning at 6:30pm.

Performances by five artists, including one of my favorites Machetres, although I haven't seen them perform live in a few years. This event is courtesy of Hear Mount Pleasant, which will have its next monthly meeting a day later on Monday March 9 at La Casa.

Mystery DCUSA Build Out is Desi's Chicken

Been wondering about the mystery build out on the Park Road façade of DCUSA? There's been internal HVAC and other work going on for about a month now. Looks like some questions are being answered. The work is most likely in preparation for Desi's Chicken, a local Peruvian restaurant.

Desi's was an original tenant of DCUSA. That is, it was included in all the pre-opening press materials as one of the local/small business which would be a part of the massive, mall like shopping center. Ellwood Thompson's is the other recent "local" addition (they hail form Richmond, VA).

Desi's ,if it is actually going to be called that, will occupy space 121, between the Park Rd parking lot entrance and the Mattress Discounters. Looking at the diagram below (h/t Columbia Heights News), its clear that the original leasing plans for DCUSA are still inching towards completion.

Obviously Ellwood's will take the place of a previously drooled over Whole Foods. Bank of America replaced Suntrust as the on-site bank, and Starbucks decided to open across the street to the Kenyon Square building. There is no Petco, and Children's Place moved to a much better spot, right at 14th and Kenyon. McDonald's, Cingualr (AT&T) Wireless, Quizno's and Casual Male never made it for whatever reasons. Quizno's is still featured on the DCUSA website (along with Desi's). There was, briefly, some "opening soon" signage for a Maggie Moo's (next to Marshall's) but they never opened. I assume the leasing agents are working on alternatives for the businesses which were part of the original plan but haven't made the jump. Any ideas for what should go in the empty spaces?

Laundrolympics

If laundromats get you all hot and bothered, get ready. You were probably really sad when Speed Wash closed shop last year, and rightfully so. It left only two full-sized commercial laundries and two full service dry cleaners on Mount Pleasant Street. Apparently demand for the laundry on the southern end of the neighborhood was high enough to reopen the space (3058 Mt P St), serving the exact same purpose. No signage yet, so it remains to be seen of they'll keep the moniker. What's the over/under on a place like this? The profit margin can't be that high. Or maybe it is. I have no idea. People always need clean underwear though.