Lime Fresh Mexican Grill in DCUSA abruptly closes, apparently for good

Well, this is too bad. PoP reports that Lime Fresh, the fast casual Mexican place in DCUSA, has closed for good. There was a sign on the window the other day saying "WE ARE CLOSED" and he followed up with the company who confirmed it. A tipster told PoP that a lot of the furniture had been removed too.

No word on why, but I would guess that it just didn't make enough money. I always liked the place, but there never seemed to be more than 4 or 5 people eating when I visited. The space is huge too, so maybe they had high rent. Too bad, they had good tacos (especially the fish ones,) a big salsa bar, and tasty, very sweet margaritas. The staff was always super friendly too, which is often a rarity at fast casual places. It was a nice change from Chipotle, Panda Express and Cava when you just wanted something quick. Yelpers only gave them 3 stars, so maybe that contributed.

I wonder what we'll see to replace it? Considering it's so big, I'm not sure another fast casual place would work, unless it was very popular.

Letter from a reader: what to do about loitering and drugs

The other day I got this email from a local resident talking about loitering and drugs. Read on:

I've lived in DC four years and Columbia Heights for 2-ish, including Mount Pleasant.

I've realized that the way C. Heights was set up was to be kind of a welcoming hangout, especially around the Julia's (may she RIP) and Froyo joints with the fountain there and the cement benches.

Yet most of the hanging happening in the neighborhood is done by perpetual street vendors selling cheap hats, oils, colognes, and sunglasses outside Target, as well as loiterers around 7-11 and the Columbia Heights Metro stop (by Five Guys and Potbelly).

So here's the concern: Why is the loitering allowed? I couldn't care less about the street vendors, it's the loitering around my commute to the Metro that makes me and my friends uncomfortable.

I literally witness the the passing of drugs between people by 7-11 and the Metro on a daily basis. At least, I'm pretty sure what I see them passing between hand shakes and pockets aren't valentine's or candy... No one should be blind to this activity either, especially considering the amount of police activity in the area, sometimes parked not twenty feet from all of this.

And maybe it's these poor saps livelihoods, selling drugs at the Metro from 7am - 6pm every day, maybe even on holidays. Not a fun job either, I imagine, but it really makes me wary of my surroundings and uncomfortable to walk around the area. It also freaks out my friends who commute to my house, having to avoid people standing in the middle of the sidewalk, or attempting to cross the street to avoid walking by this kind of thing.

Is there any reason police ignore this? I'm no detective, but this isn't a rocket science fix for safety. It also seems to be a theme around this area where people just look the other way to shady business. Anecdote: When I lived closer to Howard last year, it was a known fact the person next door sold stolen bikes for a living. He hid them behind a house on a nightly basis and people looked the other way, as to "mind their business," as it were. Plus, who wants to be the end of someone else's rent check in this expensive city, even if it is petty crime we're talking.

Anyway, police complaints are obviously an action, but I feel weird even mentioning this concern as a white person, due to all the stigma associated with judging cultural pastimes. Still, I feel no matter who you are and who the people committing crime in your neighborhood are, you'd feel safer if police actually DID something about obvious CRIME, or there were laws (or signs) in place to reduce discomfort to residents.

What do people think? If you saw someone pass a little baggy to someone else for money in your neighborhood, would you do anything about it? Or, would you go on your merry way saying, "Oh, well, that's just Columbia Heights"? I certainly haven't.

-Concerned Resident

Some interesting points, but I'm not sure I agree with them all. What do you think?

For one, I'm not bothered by the vendors, and I've actually bought stuff from them before: sunglasses, mittens, books and such. 

As for the drugs, I can't say I've noticed people passing drugs outside the 7-Eleven, but maybe I'm just not looking for it. I have noticed a little in the past around 14th and Euclid. That said, police have always said at community meetings that if you notice people selling or doing drugs or prostitution, to call them. Even if they can't get there in time or they don't have evidence (which is probably why they don't do a lot of arrests, like the reader is talking about) then at least they have a report of it, which they use in planning where officers should go and patrol. The more reports in one area, the more they will focus on that. So even if you don't think anything will happen, call the police.

But that's my opinion. What do you think? Do you agree with the reader?

Cool Columbia Heights and other neighborhood map prints for sale

Christmas is upon us, and if you're like me you have put off doing any shopping for gifts. Here's a cool option though -- today I heard from local artist Torie Partridge, who makes neat, colorful map prints of different neighborhoods. I've seen her work before at Adams Morgan Day and there's a big one on the window of Annie's Ace Hardware, but never actually saw her site.

She's offering a $20 Columbia Heights map print, plus lots of others like Mt. Pleasant, Adams Morgan and Petworth.

Pretty cool stuff. Plus I'm a sucker for Columbia Heights-related items.

UPDATE: Torie has added a coupon code for New Columbia Heights readers! Just enter WeHeartCH for 30% off!

Everything from The Getaway up for auction online: TVs, furniture, bar items, car posters and art, lots more

Last week we heard that the Getaway, the 60s car and motorocycle-themed bar and restaurant at 14th and Meridian, is closing. Their final day will be a big New Year's Eve party.

And today I heard from Rasmus Auctions that everything in the bar will be up for auction -- car and motorcycle art, TVs, furniture like leather couches, bar fixtures, kitchen equipment, beer and alcohol items, signs and a lot more. They also have lots of old movie and race posters (Steve McQueen movies, races from the 1960s) and car decorations (wheels, signs, etc.)

The auction closes at 1:37 pm on Fri. Jan 3, and they'll have the bar open for people to take a look at items on Jan. 2 from 12-4. It's online here, click the "go to the auction" button to sign up and see the items.

Note that the things like plates and cups are sold in a batch, I don't think you can buy just one. Nobody bid on the stuff I want, please.

Big line for Nike sneakers at SportsZone in DCUSA today, Saturday

If you noticed a big crowd today on your way to work, you probably saw folks trying to get some cool new shoes.

SportsZone, the shoe and sporting goods store on 14th Street in DCUSA, was offering tickets to be able to buy the Nike Air Jordan Retro Gamma, which looks like this, and the Nike Foamposite 1 Meteor. They look pretty wacky to me, but I'm not an Air Jordans guy.

The event is going on today, so expect a crowd there for a while. Apparently there were a lot of police cars there earlier, I guess in case it got crazy. It seemed pretty tame when I passed by around 9:30 am, I only saw maybe 1 or 2.

I believe these are part of Nike's (and other shoe companies') plans to release rare shoes occasionally, so sneakerheads have to really pay attention to get the new coolest ones.

UPDATE: They'll also be giving out the tickets for shoes tomorrow: "We're giving them Sat morning at 8am but if there is a line forming during the day, we''ll give them at closing time tonight"

Photo from kicksonfire.com

SoberRide underway until New Year's Day: get free cab rides home

SoberRide, the great program that offers free cab rides to folks (with the idea of avoiding drunk driving, biking or walking) is underway again, offering free cab rides up to $30 until 6 am on New Year's Day. So there's basically no reason for you to make a bad decision with your trip home.

Here's more from the organizers. It's a great service.

The weather outside may be frightful, but that doesn’t mean the roads should be.

If you are trying to fight off the winter chill with a chilled beverage of your own and partake in a bit too much “mystery punch” or adult eggnog over the Holiday season, stay safe and call SoberRide!

Together with the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) SoberRide initiative, AT&T is proud to provide free taxi rides (up to $30) to anyone over 21 in the greater Washington, DC area nightly from 10pm until 6am starting Friday, December 13^th, through New Year’s Day.

AT&T customers can call #WRAP to get a safe, free ride home, while others can dial 800-200-8294 (TAXI).

WRAP's SoberRide provides greater Washington, DC residents a safe way home on high-risk holidays, including the December/January holiday season, St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day and Halloween.

Remember…”Grandma got run over by a Reindeer”, not a Range Rover, so let’s help keep everyone safe on the roads this Holiday season!

Download PDF Version of SoberRide Poster

Have you been to the cell phone and computer repair shop near 14th and Spring?

The other day I noticed a phone and computer repair shop at 3610 14th Street NW, but I can't find any reviews about it. Has anybody used it?

The place seems to be called 14Laptop and their sign mentions the website. It's not the nicest website, but hey, maybe they know their stuff.

The other signs on the building say they fix smartphones, laptops, TVs and other devices.

Angie's List says they have been in business since 1975, but I don't remember seeing the spot before, though they're there in Google Street View pictures from 2011. If you've used it, let us know in the comments. I know my phone could use a few repairs.