by Marlene Berlin Some icing of streets and sidewalks is to be expected in the freeze-thaw cycle after a snowstorm. But that’s not the only reason for icy conditions. Rain-swollen underground springs are releasing water onto our streets and sidewalks. And when the temperatures dip below freezing, those surfaces are icing up, making travel through […]
Northwest Neighbors Village celebrates a decade of helping seniors age in place
“[Northwest Neighbors Village] ‘opened its doors’ on March 2, 2009,” co-founder and board member Janean Mann wrote in the organization’s January/February newsletter. “But there were no doors to open, as we had no office! We did have a Blackberry that four of our founders/board members passed around to connect our 22 members seeking a limited […]
In the 1950s, Connecticut and Albemarle was a shopping destination
by Ann Kessler In the 1950s, before Washingtonians started traveling to the newly built malls in the suburbs, people shopped locally. Near Forest Hills, for instance, on the east side of the 4400 block of Connecticut Avenue, there were stores where you could buy shoes and women’s casual and dressy clothing. One could walk to […]
Backyard Nature: Snug as a bug in an “insect hotel”
by Marjorie Rachlin What is that pile of junk and brush in my garden? It’s a winter hotel – a place for insects and small critters like toads and garden snakes to find shelter. They need a place to keep out the winter cold and protection against predators. Many butterflies, bees, beetles, ladybugs and other […]
Neighborhood history: The day Van Ness got its own Metro station
by Ann Kessler December 5, 1981 was an historic day in the Forest Hills neighborhood. It marked the opening of the Van Ness-UDC Metro station as well as the Woodley Park and Cleveland Park stations, the first Metro stops to open west of Rock Creek Park. Although the day had started out dreary – and […]
Connecticut Ave.’s reversible lanes and potential bike lanes to be studied
by Marlene Berlin The District hasn’t conducted a comprehensive study of Connecticut Avenue in 15 years. In about 15 months, we could have a new perspective of vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian safety on the Avenue, the reversible lanes, and the impacts on neighborhood streets and nearby arterials if reversible lanes were to be eliminated and […]
I’m Eddie Cano wins raves from neighbors and the Post’s Tom Sietsema
Washington Post restaurant critic Tom Sietsema is a fan of Sfoglina. Buck’s Fishing & Camping is where he goes when he’s craving comfort food. And now he’s raving about the newest restaurant in Forest Hills. But first he had to get past the name: I’m Eddie Cano. “I was prepared to dislike the place before […]
2018 election update: The Post’s Ward 3 picks vs. reality, and history in the making
The DC Board of Elections will soon certify the results of the November 6th general election. Using the unofficial vote tally from dcboe.org, here are a few takeaways. The Washington Post’s Ward 3 endorsements were a poor predictor The Post did not endorse any of the DC Council incumbents on the Ward 3 ballot, choosing […]
Photos: Late-arriving fall foliage makes a dramatic entrance
by Marlene Berlin Last weekend, our late-arriving fall colors finally popped. (The Washington Post says it was the best in years.) It was a glorious time to be out walking in Rock Creek Park and the neighborhood. With a picture perfect blue sky and brilliant sun, the yellows, oranges and reds danced off the waters […]
Photos: The spookiest block in Forest Hills DC
Many of our neighbors go all out for Halloween. But few blocks do it up like Chesterfield Place in Forest Hills. The decorations are massive, including inflatables stretching two stories high. A deejay serenades trick-or-treaters with spooky music. One participant projects classic scary movies onto one of the houses. Scariest of all? According to resident […]