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July 30, 1997

Eat at Shemali’s

Dear Neighbors:

So I’m watching Channel 8 tonight looking for the Oriole’s game (they played this afternoon, who knew?) and there’s Tom Davis and others from Congress saying a bipartisan compromise has been reached in Congress and the White House on stripping powers from the mayor and the Council in return for a basket full of goodies.

Always beware of bipartisan compromises. This one smells like a camel—a horse designed by a committee.

Congress is rightfully concerned with the horrible management provided by Marion Barry. Their choices are to live with him, strip his powers temporarily by imposing a city manager, or mucking up governance so badly that no one will know who reports to whom. It looks like Congress is choosing door number 3, Monty. At this point, I’d choose Ed Barron’s city manager option—at least temporarily. But I’d rather leave Barry in charge than resort to this cockamamie scheme. (Did I really write that?)

I also think the bipartisan budget package stinks, but that’s another story for another newsletter.

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Lots of free preview passes are available in August for "G.I .Jane," the new Demi Moore film. Join the dc.movie list and ask for details. Just send an email message to story@intr.net to subscribe.

Cheers,
Jeffrey Itell

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Tenleytown Robberies
Mary Lou Fahey mfahey@tei.org

A police officer was visiting the shops around the Tenleytown Metro stop last weekend. During the last month, there have been several robberies of the small merchants there. The Hallmark shop has been hit twice, Hollywood Video has been robbed, and so has the new jeans store. The robberies are occurring at odd hours (10:00 a.m., noon) and the robbers are using either a knife or a gun.

No suspects yet. If you are in this area during the day, be careful.

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Motor Vehicle Home Page
Bill Rice Ricebill@aol.com

For a sad but true description of our city’s motor vehicle procedures, check out http://pw1.netcom.com/~burck/dcdmv. html.

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Old Children’s Hospital Site Update
Paul K. Williams PkelseyW@aol.com

In regards to a posting asking for an update on Children’s Hospital site, I have just finished an article for the InTowner (full write up in the August issue) and received an update from the developer, Donatelli & Klein, of the entire city block bounded by W, V, 12th, and 13th Streets. Asbestos and an underground oil tank are currently being removed, and demolition of the structure will begin on the 12th Street side in mid August! The developer has all approvals from the city, and exclusive right to develop the site. They are negotiating with retailers, and based upon the needs of residents, are trying to obtain a grocery store to occupy a portion of the site; the rest will be residential.

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Year 2000 Celebration?
Austin Kelly austin99@usa.net

I’m reading the book "Burnham of Chicago." It seems that the inspiration for Burnham’s redo of L’Enfant’s plan was the following:

In 1900 the Federal Government, in cooperation with the citizens of the District of Columbia, held a commeration to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the removal of the capital to Washington. Federal officials, state governors, and representatives of foreign powers were invited. The theme of the celebration was the need for a physical renewal of the District "in a manner and to the extent communsurate with the dignity and the resources of the American Nation."

The practical result of that was lots of bucks to get the railroad off the Mall (and under the Capitol and into Union Station), Rock Creek Park, the draining of a swamp for the Lincoln memorial, etc., etc., etc. Maybe this can be a rallying cry for the year 2000 - celebrate the 200th anniversary of Washington becoming the capital with a massive rehabbing and additions to our infrastructure?

Of course Daniel B. was a little optimistic. In the same chapter it quotes a letter from Burnham to Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. written in 1901 in which he predicts that Washington will "be the home of all the wealthy people of the United States." Maybe he meant Bill Gates?

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Trojan Connector
Jessica Vallette vallette@citizen.org

Today I decided to finally take a moment to visit the Washington Board of Trade’s (BOT) website to see what they were all about. One of their pages offered a chance to express my opinion about the InterCounty Connector (ICC) to the Montgomery County Executive at the BOT’s expense. I was dismayed however to discover that most of the letter was already written for me, the slant being very pro-ICC, and the only space I was given was buried between two paragraphs favoring the project.

I wrote to BOT, they wrote to me about their wonderful project, and so on.

7In short, BOT believes building more highways will encourage a healthy regional economy. But a healthy economy can only be achieved through helping this region’s original reason for being — a healthy core city called Washington, DC. Instead, the ICC would ultimately give even more businesses reason to move out of DC and sprawl in to the hinter-burbs. This is not a solution but an avoidance that could lead to the ultimate demise of the region.

The Board of Trade should be concentrating its resources toward more sustainable solutions instead of ‘throwing good money after bad’ .Metro's subway system, for example, could at the very least be encouraged to directly link the Shady Grove and Wheaton stations. This would likely lead to more people getting out of their cars and into the trains because their commute time via metro would be significantly reduced. Furthermore, there is no evidence that building more roads results in a measurable reduction in time spent in traffic OVER THE LONG-TERM. Yes there are short-term results but they are overwhelmed by the long-term effect of encouraging more driving in the suburbs, and therefore even more congestion. Even the not-so-enlightened in Fairfax County have come to realize this fact.

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Recycling
Paul & Eleanor Penniman unclepaul@aol.com

I reached into my hat full of answers to the question, "Why recycle?" and pulled out, "We’re running short of places to put garbage."

18th & T has been an excellent place to drop off for us, Saturdays from 10-12 am.

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Regarding Mr. Rothblum’s Comments About Recycling
Dan Lieberman danl@mail.utexas.edu

I’m sure you’ll take plenty of heat for your comments on recycling in dc.story, but I enjoyed reading your comments. As a professional with training in environmental policy and business, I have spent considerable time studying "both sides" of the issue, particularly the financial aspects.

Several of the points you make are valid, such as the incentive created by a volume-based fee for garbage coupled with free recycling. Austin, TX, has begun such a system, as have several other cities (notably Seattle).

However, there are several important factors you neglected or overlooked in your analysis. I often hear that it is expensive to pick up materials to be recycled, as if those items would simply walk to the local landfill otherwise. Garbage collection is similarly expensive, and there is simply no market to sell garbage. At the same time, you claim that sand is free. How does the sand get to become a bottle? Through a process that involves mining and transporting large quantities of heavy materials. The recycling trucks that pick up bottles would burn the same diesel mining sand.

Growing trees for newspaper (or any kind of paper) is not beneficial to the environment. Most tree farms are not conducive to wildlife, and clearcutting has been found to be the cause of mudslides and erosion. Sure, trees help to clean the air. But cutting them down does not. Recycling paper helps to allow living trees to continue to do their wonderful job.

As you wrote, "Recycling is justifiable to the extent that it is economically rational." I agree completely. When the big picture is examined, recycling IS economically rational. Only in a vacuum (or perhaps when managed by Marion Barry, et. al.) is not viable.

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Bethesda TV
Willie Schatz willie@his.com

Re Carrie Staff’s inquiry about TV repair and Alex Morin’s endorsement of Bethesda TV: Run, don’t walk. They are the epitome of reliable, efficient, prompt, helpful and reasonable. They may be thrifty, brave, clean and reverent as well for all I know. The boys behind the counter—that’s not a sexist comment; it’s just the facts, ma’am—on more than one occasion declined to repair my set because it would take more money out of my pocket than the work would put into theirs.

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Shemali’s Middle Eastern Carryout
Francine Krasowska madrobin@ix.netcom.com

I have to add my voice to Jon’s & Jeff’s in praise of Shemali’s (at the rear of 3306 Wisconsin Ave., NW, accessible through the parking lot of the Giant at Wisconsin & Macomb). Now that I’ve moved to the burbs (yes, I still feel like a traitor), I grab some middle eastern goodies every time I’m in the neighborhood. Also good quality bulk olive oil in 2-gallon tins for a good price can be had there.

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Something Else You Can Do At Shemali’s Steph "This is as close as I get to cooking" Faul steph@clark.net

Buy a bottle of mango syrup. Go next door to Giant and get a quart of plain yoghurt. Put some yoghurt, syrup, and a couple of ice cubes into your blender and turn to "filibuster" for a few seconds. Presto: mango lassi, just like the Indian restaurants serve, in the comfort of your home.

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More Restaurant Raves
Lorie Leavy lleavy@email.usps.gov

Allow me to second (or third) the enthusiastic things said about Shemali’s grocery and carryout. I especially like their chicken shawarma pita sandwich. Very nice folks there.

While on the subject of restaurants that deserve more recognition, I’d like to put in a word for the amazingly underpatronized Haad Thai at 11th and N.Y. Ave. (around the corner from the Capitol City Brewing Co.). It’s a charming place with, for my money, some of the best and best-presented Thai food in town, but there never seems to be anybody in there! I’m baffled as to why, because it’s right next to the convention center and it’s in an area without a lot of other ethnic food options. I’m anxious to drum up more business for them for purely selfish reasons: I don’t want to stroll up one day and find them shuttered.

[Contact me if you have problems finding Shemali’s .It is tucked away where no one can find it. On the other hand, after our conversation you can just follow the line wrapped around the block. Jeff]

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Brunch at Morrison Clark Inn
Greg Jones gmon6612@aol.com

Just a brief note to say that we had brunch on Sunday at the Morrison Clark Inn at 11th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW. It was one of the most pleasant brunches I’ve had in Washington, and I would certainly recommend it to others, particularly for a special occasion. For $25/person you are served three courses (appetizer, entree, dessert), plus sparkling wine, coffee, and/or tea. The choices in each category are limited (about 6 per category) but interesting (and good!). I had a tomato/goat cheese tart to start, followed by grilled rainbow trout in a dill/lime sauce, which was followed by a white chocolate brownie … The service was very smooth and the setting very pretty. And, they have FREE valet parking.

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Spicy Noodle Cafe
Austin Kelly austin99@usa.net

A few stories ago, the Great Leader wrote about seeing Spicy Noodle Cafe near VanNess, and wondered if it had always been there. The answer is "nope." I was there for opening day on the 4th of July. Tried the #1 item, spicy beef noodle soup. Happy to report it was damn tasty, and capable of clearing any known sinus problem. Staff was incredibly friendly, including running after me with the Bulls hat I had left in the booth, and putting it back on my head. We lost Ladda, which was a great Thai place, but this is a good (and lower budget) replacement. No, I’m not a stockholder or relative.

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Mildly Deranged At The Mars Metro
Joseph R. Poisso joseph.poisso@clickers.org

For Pete’s sakes, at last I know what my problem is: "mild mental derangement" (7/16/1997 dc.story). Many people would agree with that diagnosis only they would not charitably say "mild" .Writers in previous editions had me trashing the Bill of Rights and the Founding Mothers(aren’t I preciously PC?) and now here I am serving up the homeless in a modern _Modest Proposal_. Mental derangement could be one explanation, although two short paragraphs seems to be thin support for such a conclusion even for today’s sensitive doctors of victimology. Additional possibilities exits.

At the very bottom of every dc.story edition a mission statement and disclaimer appears. As I understand it, dc.story doesn’t make believe to be anything except an electronic party line (DISCUSSION GROUP) where facts, OPINIONS and propaganda intertwine wonderfully. It is much like early American newspapers whose writers did not pussyfoot with nonpartisanship. I am not making this city unlivable just shining a flashlight into corners and wondering aloud. The 12,000 people who leave each year could no[A longer use the parks or walk to the store without feeling threatened. They were not confident DC schools were helping their children become better citizens. If you wish to pity my homeless man at the Metro, you do so at your peril. Anger at me is misdirected. In my own way, I am reporting the truth. I do not work for the Washington Post, City Paper, Times, NPR or any news organization. I am not objective. Unlike some, I don’t bother pretending to report just the facts. Facts are for sissies. I give you stronger stuff. For comfort and hand holding, one can always read the "Poor Little Me" scribblings found elsewhere or watch television news.

Dementedly yours,

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A Year Has Passed… Jean Lawrence JKELLAW@AOL.COM

Since I moved from Connecticut Avenue to Chandler, AZ, outside Phoenix. I read DC Story with a sort of wistful good humor now. From Day One out here, I stopped having to think about forcing the PO to deliver my mail, the sanitation people to pick up the trash or shovel, the Finance and Revenue people to properly post my payments. All of these things happen here as a matter of course (except for the snow shoveling, natch). I vote and my vote counts for something. But, above all, I am getting on with my life. I no longer must spend 30% of my time, energy, and good humor on infrastructure, on trying to maintain my family’s safety, trying to get questions answered, and services performed. At first, it a mystifying vacuum — I had to think about my life, my business, my daughter, where we were headed, what we wanted to do. It was almost easier to call some bureaucrat and wring him or her out. But gradually, I forgot about the hassle of living in DC. Sure, there are some drawbacks here. It’s HOT, babies. The good movies don’t come here for weeks. And I miss my occasional forays to Poor Robert’s (the late lamented) and to the Home Alone group.

Moving might not be for everyone. But, I promise you this: You will instantly eliminate most of the problems in DC Story. If you’re like me, dealing with your health insurance company will be the only whiff of your former life. You can call them when you feel withdrawal pains, just to keep your hand in.

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dc.queries

Health Care Aide

We need to hire a health care aide, preferably someone who has assisted people with MS and who is willing to work in the Cleveland Park neighborhood. Any recommendations?

Linda Wheeler Wheelerl@aol.com.

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dc.market

Apartment for rent

One bedroom apt with good view in secure building, indoor parking, all utilities, close to public transportation. Available immediately. E-mail or call Marian 202-966-7888.

Marian Rowan mrowan@intr.net

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For Rent

Available 8/17/97 in Northbrook II. 16th Street, NW, Top Floor., 2 bedroom, 2 bath CONDO Sunny, 3 balconies, french doors, high ceilings, gallery foyer, views of Rock Creek, $1100/202-387-8757 leave message.

Ken Crawford K._Crawford@Telesiscorp.com

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Taupe Leather Recliner

I have a taupe leather recliner, fine shape, just too bulky for our place, for sale for $300 or best offer, to anyone who will come get it in Cleveland Park. I’m happy to throw in a handsome but huge old wood and leather-topped desk, for the taking. Call 202-237-8069.

Geneva Overholser genevaoh@aol.com

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In Search of Apartment

I’m looking for a not too small bright English basement type apartment in the Cleveland Park/Woodley Park/ Mount Pleasant area (walk to Metro if poss), 1 bed (or 2 but rent needs to be under $700).

Joanne Flemming JFleming@Worldbank.Org

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Computers Buying one shouldn’t be so scary. Setting one up shouldn’t be so scary. Getting on the Internet shouldn’t be so scary.

Jeffrey Itell Story@intr.net 202.244.4163

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dc.story is a discussion group. The opinions stated are the sole responsibility of the authors. dc.story does not verify the information provided by readers.


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