Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Looking Back at 2000

Because we've been hitting up a lot of history recently, what with the WAMU piece and Richard Layman's response to it, and the Fuller murder (1984) coverage, I thought it might make sense to look at a snap shot of H Street in 2000. Here you go, courtesy of the City Paper.

19 comments:

Campy said...

Quite a few other blasts from the past in the WCP archives:

Street of Repeat

H Street CDC Power Grab

Sub Par

Englertrification

Kenny G said...

Ah, the 'Merchants of H Street'-- a true classic. It's like a stroll down memory lane.

Anonymous said...

Someone was launching fireworks at around 3:30am this morning I think maybe around 6th or 7th st. The neighborhood is still ghetto.

Anonymous said...

What happened to French's?

Anonymous said...

Inked -- Thanks for linking to the CP article. I could write for hours on how that article makes me feel about my home, my neighbors and my neighborhood, but most of all, I really need to find a way to thank my neighbors for welcoming me to their neighborhood five years ago. I don't often take the time to think about how they felt and what they did (to including walking into my back yard birthday party not long after we moved in bearing gifts, smiles and hugs to the shock and surprise of most of my guests). Recently on the X2 a girl leaned into me and conspiratorially whispered that she didn't realize how "gritty" the area was. I wish I could go back and punch her. Yes there's still fireworks from Memorial Day to early August. And there are still a few more people and entities than I'd like that need to find their next free lunch and quick. But damn it we have a lot going for us.

Phil said...

Thanks for posting the other old CP articles, Campy. A couple things jumped out at me:

First, I don't think the arrival of a Starbucks would be a sign of a step forward and I hope we don't see one any time soon. I love SOVA and Sidamo and would welcome another independently owned coffee shop in between them, but would hate to see a big corporate chain like Starbucks fill the gap. Sidamo and SOVA are both better in every way.

Second, I liked seeing Joe Englert's early talk about bringing more than just restaurants & bars to H Street. I haven't made it to any of the Street Talk sessions, but I hope there's more of that talk happening there. I think we've started to see more restaurants and less bars opening and I'm pleased to see that as a sign of H Street "growing up." I hope that trend continues.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait until that fireworks element is priced out of the neighborhood.

DCJaded said...

I too would like to know what happened to French's and Harpers Bar. Although I lived on K in 2001, I really never went to anyplace other than murrays, and rite aid back then.

ro said...

What do you mean what happened to French's? he retired and sold the building to Robey. It's the playhouse now. Right?

Anonymous said...

While the fireworks might be "ghetto" and didnt quite scare the crap out of me as I slept with my window open a couple hundred feet away (the fireworks went off in the parking lot across from Ludlow Taylor), I will take that isolated incident over the "unghetto" c--- who puts her dog out at 3 in the morning (on one instance for hours in the middle of the winter) while it barks if head off.

I'm pretty sure the amount of people woken up and sometimes kept up by unghetto dogs barking outnumbers those woken up briefly by ghetto fireworks

dog lover/dog hater said...

I too have had an inconsiderate neighbor with a barking dog who thinks nothing of leaving it out til 1AM barking loudly right outside my bedroom window...and I won't qualify that with a "ghetto" or "unghetto" comment...the DC government has an anonymous textmail hotline where you can send in the complaint - I have done so repeatedly (often on consecutive nights) from the comfort of my own bed and the police have come out and knocked on her door about 50% of the time and had lengthy discussions with her about it. This has noticeably improved her conscientiousness about bringing the dog in at a more reasonable hour. Just text 50411 with some comment like "dog left unattended barking loudly at 12:30am" and the offender's address. You might find this does the trick! Good luck - you have my sympathy!

so? said...

DL/DH

Many thanks - that is a very helpful piece of information. There was a time when the police response to barking dogs was less than 50%. The neighborhood gets better and better.

Another change since 2000 - my block had this gorgeous housing stock, but the yards were empty. Now there is nice landscaping and you can walk down the block in the spring time and see dogwoods in bloom framed by freshly painted homes and colorful flowers.

Anonymous said...

i called the cops one night and they said there was nothing they could do. they can knock. the person has to answer and all they can do is ask and the person doesnt have to do anything.

starting with the fact that person seems to be an inconsiderate irresponsible a-hole to begin with, i don't want to start something that i can't finish, because you can't really compete with those types of people who are up at 3am anyway.

i just have to hope for the lease to be up and for her to leave. or for her to leave it outside for hours in the middle of the winter so i can call the humane society (which is all the cops said i could really do that would have repercussions)

why can people with a stereo get a noise violations but those with a dog can't.

i know i live in a city and am willing to let a lot of shit go. parties are fine, because at least someone is having fun. but why have a dog and just put it outside to bark, aside from the fact you are a lazy slob and can't walk it? nobody gets satisfaction out of that. it can only piss people off.

Anonymous said...

Totally takes me back!

Yes, the Robey's bought French's and it became the H Street Playhouse and the Atlas was bought from the CDC by Jane Lang (and others?). It would be a hoot if they turned their black box theater into a roller rink one night!

diane said...

I think it would be fun to have the Atlas show old retro spooky movies...like "Creature From the Black Lagoon" or "Invasion of the "Body Snatchers".."Valley of the Dolls" anyone???

Anonymous said...

Inked your post about your neighbors was nice, but I take acception to one thing you said: "Recently on the X2 a girl leaned into me and conspiratorially whispered that she didn't realize how "gritty" the area was. I wish I could go back and punch her."

It is gritty. Thankfully with the likes of people like her, it's becoming less so.

inked said...

4:15,
I didn't write that bit about wanting to punch the girl. I don't think I've ever written anything here about wanting to punch someone. It was an anonymous commenter (9:05am) who wrote that.

Anonymous said...

My apologies Inked. You're right, I misread it.

jen said...

Hey Diane, we did show some of those old Horror movies over Halloween weekend last year and we probably will again next year. I think we had some Vincent Price, Night of the Living Dead.
Meanwhile we are getting ready to announce this summer's film series very soon!