The Rib Pit

Been exploring Columbia Heights a lot lately since I work 2 days a week there for the startup. Me and the YCG team picked up lunch from here today.

It's a one man show, so waiting around for a while is something you have to factor in (sort of like @ Thai Xing).


And the inside smells a little off to put it nicely.


But once you get the food its all worth it! So cheap too!


I got the chicken drummers Jr meal and it was delish. The Jr meal is plenty of food for lunch or dinner for that matter. And at only $5.50, you get some bang for your buck. It came with about ten wings, and ample portions of mac n cheese and collared greens. I've never been a fan of collared greens personally. No matter how you season them, they always seem to taste like wet grass soaked in battery acid. But they were out of green beans and there was more than enough food in the meal to make up for it.



The Rib Pit Lounge was next door and I was wondering if it serves as a nighttime spot or has some sort of sit-down space to supplement the carryout space next door. It didn't appear to be anything open for business though...more like the condemned remnants of some old restaurant extension.

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Location:14th St NW,Washington,United States

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Affordable Housing protest by Shaw/Howard metro

So I guess these are people who have homes protesting for people who don't? The group staging the protest is called ONE DC and they are trying to get low-income housing in this lot at the corner of 7th and Rhode Island Ave NW, otherwise known as Parcel 42.

They are opposed to the condos that are slated to go into Parcel 42 and seemingly to the gentrification of the area in general. Apparently Mayor Fenty promised low-income housing development for this lot back in 2007.


The organization has now propped up a "tent city" to protest the decision. I wonder how long they will last out there or if they will get what they are seeking.


The protest sign says "Condos for the rich Dirt for the poor"


Gentrification of this area sparks such heated controversy all the time.

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Location:Parcel 42 @ 7th and Rhode Island NW

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Possible vote tonight for Big Bear liquor license

Message from ANC Commissioner, John Salatti on today's Bloomingdale listserv:

"At the next ANC meeting on Tuesday, July 20th at Trinity University (starting about 7:00 pm), the ANC will likely vote for or against supporting the Big Bear Cafe`s application for a license to serve alcohol. So if you have strong feelings about this issue, this is a meeting you should definitely considere attending. Unfortunately, I won`t be able to attend myself. The ANC added this meeting to its schedule just last week. Because our original schedule of meetings for the year did not include one for July, I had already planned to be out of town that day. I may be able to call into the meeting to vote and once again show my support for the Cafe, but that is not assured. And because he is a commissioner, Stuart Davenport has to recuse himself and will not be able to vote. And right now, my gut says the remaining votes are running against the Cafe.

At our last meeting earlier this month, a small group of residents appeared with a resolution asking the ANC to vote against the application. Although I know some neighbors oppose this license, I also know a much larger number of people support it. And Stuart is working hard to reach out and find common ground with people who are against the license. But everyone has a right to her or his point of view pro or con. However, I hope that the large majority of people who favor giving the Bear a chance to expand its business and what it has to offer the neighborhood will come out and be a positive presence on behalf of the Big Bear, especially if you live within two blocks of 1st & R."

So far, I haven't touched on this issue, because I haven't been following it closely enough. But I do very much support Big Bear's pursuit of a liquor license. I might try to make it to the meeting tonight to lend some extra support to the cause.

Although I have had my issues with Big Bear in the past, I will admit that it is a crucial part of the contemporary Bloomingdale community. They have really brought a world of good on this neighborhood and deserve the right to be able to expand and grow.

And I want to be able to sit down and enjoy a drink somewhere without leaving my nieghborhood! Is that too much to ask ANC? Is it?

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Mail Thiefs

Keep an eye out for these mail thiefs!! This is from today's Bloomingdale listserv

+ Posted at the MPD-5D list: ``I was working from home today and saw the mailperson drop off the mail. Said Hi to her, got my mail then went back in the house. Noticed my tenants mailbox was heavily loaded but didn't think any thing of it. I live on the 2200 block of 1st st. Sitting in the living room working when I heard mail voices outside the window. Didn't think anything of it at first until I remembered seeing the posting on the listserv about mail theifs so I decided to look out the window. Saw light to medium complexion black mail on bike who went past my house 4 times in very short period of time. Was jestering to another individual down the street. Then a black male with middle length afro and longish scraggly beard appears. He is wearing those long nylon basketball shorts, black with green stripe up the side. He looks directly at my mailboxs and then begins to look at every window in my house until he gets to the window I am standing in. By this time the guy on the bike is on the corner motioning to him to my home. For those who asked yes I did call the police and give them a description. The 911 operator agreed that that is probably exactly what they were about to do, swipe the mail. So they head north on 1st street at a pretty urgent pace. By the time I step out of my house and can stand on the sidewalk I can't even see them on 1st st anymore. Called the police and within about 5mins I see a cruiser go North on 1st street going slow at intersections and obviously looking for these individuals (THANKS 5D!!!). So the police go by and I get back to work but decide to pull the shades to see if I see anyone eyeballing the mailboxes any more or if they come back. I also got my cell phone camera ready to snap a picture if need be. While sitting on the couch who do I see pop back up but the guy in the black shorts from before. Someone in a 4door gold color car with DC plates pulls up real fast and he jumps in and they head east on adams st. Keep an eye out for your mail cause someone else is watching it too.``

I was a victim of mail theft back in the winter during the snow storms! I reported it, but I don't think the police had much luck in catching anyone realted to the multiple crimes. I think the perpetrator(s) were different back then, but obviously more than one person (not necessarily connected to each other) are responsible for these thefts. This might seem obvious at this point, but watch your mail closely and try to bring it in as soon as you see it. Mail theft seems like a very easy crime to commit and get away with...as demonstrated in the above story.

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Taqueria Distrito Federal

This is a great little Taqueria in Columbia Heights!

You can sit down for full service or do takeout.





The food is great and cheap! They have these little do-it-yourself salsa wheels on the tables, which is nice so you don't have to request more salsa every three minutes before the food comes. I just got two tacos for lunch, at $2.50 each, which was plenty.



The tacos were just stuffed with well-seasoned meat, cilantro, avocado, and a few onions. No cheese, which irked me at first, but once i ate them I realized maybe i dont need to stuff them half full with cheese to enjoy them.

A place like this would be great in Bloomingdale! Such a nice alternative to Chinese carryouts.

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Location:Mt Pleasant St NW,Washington,United States

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Zuchini Bread @ today's Bloomingdale farmers market!

The zuchini bread at the snow bear tent was great today! It was a good idea for that lady to walk around with the samples, I don't usually pay much attention to the Snow Bear vegetable tent.



The zucchini bread was great and the perfect portion for breakfast for two.

Also got the obligatory gelato helping in white peach and the Valhona Chocolate Amargo. The chocolate one just tastes like cold, rich chocolate pudding it's fantastic. And the white peach is like a soft, smooth, light citrus taste. The best of both worlds...chocolate and fruity...yummy.


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Location:1st and R Streets NW

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Taken on the 100 block of S street at dusk

Big sunflowers are cool. This made me feel like I was walking into the Labyrinth and choosing which direction to follow when she first enters. (Anybody remember the great 80s classic, Labyrinth, with David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly? Great movie).

I love Bloomingdale in the summer.



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Location:R St NW,Washington,United States

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