They talk about the increasingly urban nature of the neighborhood, how it attracts young professionals, and the real estate market.
The article details what we already know -- Penn Quarter is great. There is entertainment outside our door adjacent to some of the town's finest restaurants, as well as a slew of simply convenient ones. Transportation options are limitless, the streets are lively, and the real estate is nice. And it's only getting better by the day.
The article does talk about the noise, but says that most residents don't mind it.
That means all retail space in City Vista is now leased. That is after Michael Landrum, of Ray's the Steaks and Ray's Hell Burger, has also leased space in City Vista for an urban bakery/cafe concept in addition to a second location for Ray's Hell Burger.
Michelle Obama was on the Today Show this morning wearing a dress that is available right here in Penn Quarter for $34.95.
Here is the dress she was wearing:
Michelle Obama on the Today Show
And that dress is available at H&M at 10th and F Streets in Penn Quarter (1025 F Street N.W.). Michelle has custom sleeves - but Penn Quarter Insider added those for you! You're welcome.
The dress from H&M with Penn Quarter Insider custom sleeves
There might be some sort of time machine or something at the Verizon Center.
They apparently have these new machines, as reported by DCist, that fill up a beer from the bottom. This allows the concession operator to simply put down multiple cups and have them fill up! From the bottom. The machine stops when the cup is full.
You have to see it to believe it:
The cups apparently have a refrigerator magnet in the bottom (which can be advertised on, of course, and later removed and put on your refrigerator), and somehow the beer pushes up the magnet to fill up the cup and then it comes back down so all the beer doesn't come out of the hole in the bottom when you pick it up. Though we think it might just actually be magic.
You can see a view of the beer filling up from the top here.
The benefit is that beer can be filled much quicker (and with spilling less) meaning shorter lines at the Verizon Center. The company that makes the machine claims 44 pints can be filled by one person in one minute--though that's the record and the CEO of the company can only fill 36 in one minute. Multiple people can fill up to 56 pints in a minute.
You can order one for your own home here (we knew you'd ask).
The museum is having a Crimes of Passion event, in which couples are handcuffed together and let on a tour of the museum. While you will see all of the regular exhibits, there will also be special exhibits throughout about crimes of passion--many that took place right here in Washington.
The event is going on February 11th through 14th from 4:00 p.m. until closing.
We previously posted about the bus stop at 6th and E that has been abolished.
A commenter told us it is abolished for utility work as part of the construction of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Visitor's Center.
We did not realize, however, that the bus stop on the other side of 6th Street and on the other side of E street (a much farther distance from the Law Enforcement Memorial) is also being abolished.
Which makes us wonder - just how big is this project and what does it entail?
The feds have notified Chipotle stores in the D.C. area that they will be getting inspected to assess their compliance with immigration and employment laws.
The Washington Auto Show at the Convention Center ended this weekend, and PQ Insider was there. This year's show was much better than last year's, which occurred at the height of the collapse of the auto industry. The domestic floor was larger, grander, and flashier, and even the import floor saw some manufacturers that were not there in 2010.
Roll Call reports that many congressional leaders stopped by the show to check out the latest cars to hit the road.
Known congressional visitors included Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), as well as House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Fred Upton (R-Michigan).
Senator Brown was seen playing an interactive racing game, and Senator Leahy's wife, Marcelle Leahy, was seen riding a segway.
The Washington Post is reporting that Josh Schwartz, the creator of the TV Show The OC, is looking to start a similar show about Washington called Georgetown (though--if realistic--seriously how much of that show is going to happen in Penn Quarter? They gotta eat).
ABC has already ordered a pilot of the show.
The OC was a fictional drama that ran for four seasons on Fox about a group of teenagers that resided in Orange County, California.
The tipster tells us that the fire is out. We have reached out to D.C. Fire & EMS and will get more details as soon as possible.
UPDATE: Our tipster has informed us after speaking to building management, there was no an actual fire. Something did trigger the fire alarm - and multiple fire trucks came with lights and sirens. The fire trucks were seen inside the McDonalds with fire hoses out, but apparently did not find a fire. Sorry for the false alarm.
