F R E E D O M: 2007-10-07

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Bike-Friendly Fridays Fall 2007 Campaign

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), Commuter Connections, and the Downtown Business Improvement District (DBID) invite area residents to participate in Bike-Friendly Fridays. Which, from October 12 thruough November 16, will provide a regular opportunity to enjoy autumn in the city without the stress of driving.

Click the above photo view my Friday Bicylcists - WDC - Fall 2007 and Bicyclists photo sets.

Friday, October 12, 2007

MPDC Officer Langenbach (First District) in Full Stride on 4th Street in SW

Today, 12 October 2007, the MPDC launched "Operation Full Stride".

As I walked down 4th Street, SW, from M toward N Street during my 12 October 2007 Friday Photo Walk and in connection with my ongoing Pedestrians and MPDC series I snapped two photos of Officer L. A. Langenbach as he walked toward me. And I toward him.

When I said "I just snapped a couple of photos of you ... I hope that you don't mind." In a very friendly and non-threating manner he said "Not at all". Mentioning that I live in Southwest and almost always have a camera he asked where I lived.

When I replied "River Park" he asked which complex was that. Pointing southeast I said "the tall black and glass high rise around the corner".

Mentioning that there recently had been a mugging, at gun point, inside the gate of the complex Langenbach inquired if I knew the code to access the main desk should he or other officers need to enter the complex.

Saying that I had viewed two flyers in my building pertaining to the mugging I said that I was not too sure what the access code is. And, in fact, that very issue had been of concern to my brother who, a few months ago, as a former Baltimore policeman got furious when he could not locate that information at the gate's entrance. In the event of an emergency or in life and death situations, my brother explained, police and fire department access may would be hampered. And when I later checked the box at the gates I, too, could not locate the code to access the front desk.

By this time, we had reached N at 4th Street, SW. Veering left and pointing toward the black and glass high rise I said "I'm heading over there".

Bading each other farewell, Officer Langenbach continued on his beat ... in full stride!

Candey Hardware at Dupont Circle South 'bites the bust'

Another old fashioned family owned hardware store 'bites the dust' as WJ Candey Hardware Store at 1210 18th Street in NW Washington DC closes its doors.

An history of more than 100 years, in the 26 July 2006 Washington Post article Hardware Store Out of History Yields to Reality by Sue Anne Pressley Montes current owner Gwen Loftin, 73, the great-granddaughter of founder Josiah Candey. "... I can't keep butting my head against a brick wall."

Loftin said the store has lost a hundred customers a day in the past few years. The family plans to sell the 1929 building at 1210 18th St. NW, which is actually the store's third location in the vicinity. For customers who have long depended on Candey's convenience and old-fashioned service, the news is another example of a world losing its originality and retail charm.

Click the above photo taken on 12 October 2007 to view my W. J. Candey Hardware Store and Hardware Stores photosets.