With field lights glaring into neighboring houses the NAFL's DC Explosion hosted the Central Penn Piranha Saturday night to a meager crowd on the artificial turf at Woodrow Wilson Senior High School. Neither the scoreboard nor the loudspeaker system appeared to be in use for the game that had a scheduled 6pm start.

Going into tonight's game the DC team was in both 2nd place and last place in the Capitol Division with a 3-4 record. The Piranha came to DC undefeated with a 6-0 record.

A Crisp & Juicy Restaurant appears to be coming to Tenleytown at the location of the former CD/Game Exchange across from Best Buy on Wisconsin Avenue. This would be the Maryland/Virginia chain's first location in DC.

Masala Art Indian Restaurant is moving into the old Kuma Restaurant location on Wisconsin Avenue less than a block from the Tenleytown Metro Station.

Some of the local professional (paid) media have caused hysteria with mis-reporting which local post office MIGHT be closed due to budget cuts. The Friendship Station Post Office at 4005 Wisconsin Avenue in DC is not even being considered for closing.

The United States Postal Service is looking into the possibility of closing the Friendship Heights Post Office at 5530 Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase Maryland which is 15 blocks from the DC Post with a similar name on the same street.

A new single story building is beginning to take root at the the old parking lot between the Payless Shoe Store and the Tenleytown Metro Station. Oddly, the scaffolding appears to be at least 3 stories high though the permit is for a 1 story building. Concrete footings appear to be 3' by 3' by 3'. This is going to be a very stable 1 story building.

DC Building Permit Info:

• CONSTRUCTION, Issued: 2009-07-06
• NEW BUILDING, Permit ID: B0901208
• NEW 3,677 SF SINGLE STORY BUILDING, SHELL BUILDING FOR FUTURE COMMERCIAL TENANT.
• LOT IS CURRENTLY BEING USED AS A PARKING LOT.
• SSL: 1770 0024
• 4501 WISCONSIN AVE NW

Even though, Mayor Adrian Fenty was involved in a recent automobile accident, some motorists do not mind sharing the road with him.  One of these daring travelers prefers a sturdy frame vehicle with plenty of road gripping traction.

Thursday, Mayor Fenty and Councilmember Kwame Brown opened the new Wilson Aquatic Center in Ward 3.

The Green Apple Chinese Cafe less than a block from the Van Ness Metro Station has closed.

The north wall at the Connecticut Avenue BP station provides the canvas for a new street mural. This is part of the Medical Advocacy Mural Project. The artist is Regina Holliday.

The mural is expected to be finished by the end of August 2009.

The Van Ness Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell closed today at 3:00pm, not to re-open.

The Super Cuts at Cleveland Park is the latest in an increasingly long list of retail establishments leaving Cleveland Park according to a report on Newschannel 8.

The Cleveland Park 7-11 will close on Thursday July 30th. This 24-hour neighborhood institution at the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Porter Street leaves rather than pay an increasing rent in a downwardly spiraling retail environment.

As droves of retailers including a Starbucks have deserted once profitable Cleveland Park, now the United States Post Office is considering closing shop.

To express your opinion on a possible shutdown of the Cleveland Park Post Office, contact:

Jack Potter, Postmaster General
US Postal Headquarters
475 Lenfant Plz, SW
Washington DC 20260-0004

Pat Moore, Postmaster
900 Brentwood Rd, NE
Washington, DC 20066-9998

C&Y Custom Tailors in Cleveland Park is closing effective September 15, 2009.

Acacia Wellness Bistro is finally open at the old Schlotzsky's location on the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Yuma Street.

Recently, a Lexus LS 430 with California plate, "US Congress 49A" blocked a clearly marked Metro bus stop on busy Connecticut Avenue. It has been less than a month since Metro's worst public transportation accident where 9 died on the Metro Rails' Red Line. Due to the deaths and the delays, many have abandoned the subway in favor of buses. Now, public transportation riders are subjected to unsafe conditions caused a Congress Member's selfish parking.

Around 3pm Friday a Lincoln Town Car with the Diplomatic Plate DPB0001 was parked at a fire hydrant on R Street NW just off Connecticut Avenue. The fire hydrant was adorned with a blue reflective band. This means it is one of those rare hydrants in the city tested to provide 1500+ gallons per minute of water pressure which is needed in densely populated Dupont Circle.

A review of photographs taken at the time shows this Diplomatic vehicle also has at least one tire in a heavily used bicycle lane. Less than a hundred feet away a white bike memorial stands covered in flowers reminding the driving public of the death of a bicyclist, Alice Swanson this very same week last year.

Given that the US State Department will not even crack down on slavery  at DC area embassies, how can we protect our citizens on our own streets from the abuses of those with Diplomatic Immunity?

The Albemarle Street entrance to the National Park Service's Soapstone Valley now has a sidewalk all the way to Connecticut Avenue. Before the recent upgrade about a block of this distance was a dirt path.

Will the new sidewalk deter parking in the walking area? Even Google Streetview caught a car parked where people should be walking.

China Construction America, Inc. continues excavation work at 2708 Porter Street, NW. A neighbor reports that the bulk of this noisy work has finished.  Isolated footing excavation is ongoing though general rock excavation has been completed.

Related Story: Porter Street Crane Towers Over Neighbors

The Metropolitan Police Department's crime camera at Porter Street and Connecticut Avenue has been removed. Signage in the area warning of the camera's presence has also been removed. MPD's website still lists the camera as being at that intersection.

A few weeks ago I photographed several Metropolitan Transit Police Department Officers making an arrest within a few feet of this camera.

[ May 6, 2009 UPDATE: Crime Camera was reportedly moved to Columbia Road.]

Google Streetview shows former crime camera.
View Larger Map

A steady stream of water pours from an Ordway Street fire hydrant. This hydrant is classified as "Mantenance Required". DC WASA considers it acceptable for fire department use. How bad must it get before WASA classifies it "Out of Serivce"?

The bus shelter on the west side of Connecticut Avenue just north of Rodman Street has been permanently removed.

Google Streetview shows the former bus shelter.

View Larger Map

China Construction America, Inc. has erected a large crane at 2708 Porter Street, NW to aid construction on the Porter Street Residences, future housing for Chinese Embassy workers. Construction is estimated to continue for another year on the 3-story above ground level structure.

Across the street, 2 apartment buildings, Quebec House and 2501 Porter Street seek new tenants.

The Catholic Standard is reporting that a staff member has a probable case of the H1N1 virus at Our Lady of Victory School. The school will be closed for the remainder of the week.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer began on Saturday and will conclude on Sunday.