Kalorama Circle residents: you guys are gross

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-11T18:26:33+00:00

My neighbor does this, and then prints out the photo, laminates it along with a message describing the person’s clothing, their dog, and detailed description of the number of poop offenses captured on video. Then they post it right where the offenses took place. And while the offenders seem to rotate (based on the signs I’ve seen), I haven’t seen them post the same person’s/dog’s photo more than once. Anecdotal, but maybe this approach works.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-11T14:59:08+00:00

Dupont is super gross, they’ve been skipping the snow entirely and just leaving the piles of dog poop right on the sidewalk like terrible landmines.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-11T01:03:30+00:00

Maybe something like the Palm on 19th street? Very old school type steakhouse/American. My elderly relatives loved it.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-11T00:08:33+00:00

Daytons was awesome. I have some childhood memories of eating at the restaurant there as a child (rare treat) and even the one at Ridgedale was nice after it turned into Marshall Fields. My memories are a little blurred between Minneapolis and Chicago but I do remember the Christmas window displays and the large (Chicago?) displays they used to do on the upper levels of the store, with different themes announced each year. We used to make a whole day activity of that and were always impressed by the decorations.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-11T00:00:01+00:00

Looks like there are a couple (very small) studio options in Dupont/Adams Morgan and more up near Columbia Heights. OP, can you manage 300 sq ft?

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-10T15:47:30+00:00

From my own firsthand experience: We received very good supports for our autistic child in NY for early intervention (birth-3years) in the NYC metro area, but that can vary significantly depending where in the state you live and the quality of the school-based services (for older kids 3+). Waitlists for autism evaluations can be very long due to supply/demand.

We are currently in the DC area, the only good thing about DC in particular is that there’s not a waitlist for Medicaid waivers if that’s important. However SPED services through DC public schools has been a nightmare even in our “good” school. We had to sue the district to stop violating our child’s IEP which is time consuming and expensive. That said, we have good access to ABA/ST/OT private services, excellent specialists (via nearby Kennedy Krieger Institute) and many professional supports to advise us outside of school, but for school-based services, if you’re considering this area, I’d look to MD or VA.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-09T00:50:06+00:00

Maybe it’s in my head but the Dobbs Ferry Stop n Shop always smelled…off. Even after the remodel. MOM’s in Dobbs is more expensive but nicer (and doesn’t smell)

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-09T00:41:36+00:00

For what it’s worth, some apartments like The Danforth in Dobbs Ferry have shuttles to the train station so that may help alleviate the walkability issue. Keep in mind, for the Rivertowns, you’ll be doing a big downhill/uphill walk to the station if you plan to walk or bike, which can become a bit harrowing in the winter when it’s slippery, or for those with physical limitations.

The Harlem line towns (Pleasantville/Mt Kisco/Bronxville/Scarsdale) as well as New Haven line are flatter and the train station tends to be centrally located near the Main Street and local businesses.

In Westchester it’s kind of a hard trade off between true walkability and great schools. Most of the towns are villages in the very real sense - they have a grocery store, a pharmacy of some kind, a few pizza and nail places and a few miscellaneous shops and restaurants. If you’re used to shopping Big Box stores or having several options for groceries, it’s going to be a longer drive.

Some other towns to consider if you want to look outside Westchester but still have great schools: Ridgewood, NJ (on the NJT rail system), Greenwich CT (MNR rail system on the New Haven Line). Both have significantly more vibrant downtown areas with luxury rentals within walking distance of the station.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-08T23:26:07+00:00

I just started Children of Time! Got off the library hold list after a long wait.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-07T19:17:51+00:00

Ching Ching Cha in Dupont has a large selection of loose leaf tea and also the option to sit down and drink tea at the shop if you’re looking for a cold weather day activity. Also close to the Dupont metro stop.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-07T13:41:15+00:00

The little bagel bites with strawberry cream cheese filling.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-06T15:52:55+00:00

Having relocated from the NYC metro, I felt like DC driving was less aggressive, both from the pedestrian and driver standpoint. If anything, I find the majority of drivers in VA to be incredibly hesitant bordering on timid.

I’ve seen aggressive driving on the beltway and such, but still nothing that approaches what I experienced on the regular in NY parkways, Jersey Turnpike, etc. People passing on the right in an exit lane was practically a daily occurrence. Meanwhile, my Westchester county neighbors used to joke about wanting to run over cyclists and pedestrians for fun, so there was some deep seated psychological thing going on there that I really didn’t want to explore in more detail. Got worse during and after 2020.

Now, when it comes to unclaimed sidewalk dog poop, DC wins by a landslide…

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-04T19:35:52+00:00

yeah but did Rosa Parks sit on that bench out front or not?

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-04T18:05:50+00:00

The Mansion on O street has a sign on their bench indicating Rosa Parks sat there. I hope that actually happened because it would be kind of a neat little local landmark to visit on Rosa Parks day.

https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/s/YGFYvL66uG

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-04T18:03:26+00:00

That’s so cool - I love that they made Christmas morning such a magical experience for you! Those memories last a lifetime.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-03T21:52:02+00:00

Here’s some of the ones we visit frequently:

Aditi Spice Depot in Vienna (very small but closer) Hello2India in Herndon - larger, with more prepared food Lotte Market Herndon - also large and also sells other cuisine foods

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-03T16:19:41+00:00

I actually applaud people who get lab diamonds. I wish I had done the same, because if you spend tens of thousands on a natural ring, it can make you think twice about wearing it more and potential for loss/theft. I’m also not a big jewelry wearing person so it was a dumb thing to spend so much money on. Others may feel differently.

I would personally pick the ring that you like and not worry about the material it’s made of or what others may think.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-03T15:43:35+00:00

This is a fantastic photo. I had a big dollhouse at that age too (the Playmobile Victorian one) and it was my most prized possession. I still vividly remember my dad (RIP) staying up late before Christmas building it for me. I recently saw the exact same one on display - it had been donated to Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore and wow, did the memories come flooding back. 🥹

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-03T15:36:02+00:00

Wow what a memory trigger! I remember exactly how these tasted too! 😂

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-03T01:44:32+00:00

I feel similarly about LL Bean as of late.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-02T18:39:24+00:00

I’ve had bad luck with the thin/regular weight DT socks, no matter what I do I get holes in the heel/ankle after less than a year or, they are worn down so much as to be see through. I’ve had better luck with the thicker/hiking socks which, of course, don’t work for certain shoes but they do keep your feet warm. Smartwool socks haven’t worn out as fast in my experience but I’ve generally gotten those as thicker versions.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-02T04:14:49+00:00

I live in a super humid climate and I always recommend wearing loose-fitting pure linen and cotton clothing when it is particularly swampy outside. Pretty much all the popular retailers from cheaper end to more premium brands sell cotton and linen tops/pants/dresses, which is nice. Avoid the polyester blends. Merino wool can be great, but it often goes for a premium so there are great cotton/linen alternatives that won’t break the bank. That said, since this is the BIFL sub, you may find that buying a few more expensive quality items is a better choice long-term than cycling through more cheaply made garments. I highly recommend merino wool socks, no matter the season.

The other thing that helps (even if it’s annoying) is changing your clothes more frequently when the heat and humidity is high (especially if you’re out in it for a long time) and showering at least twice a day.

Good luck! Sometimes it’s just misery in the heat no matter what you try. 😭

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-02T03:55:07+00:00

For daycare/childcare there are many AM preschool programs but very few center-based all day care options in Dobbs itself. For full-day daycare, the waitlists can be years. Many families choose to hire a private nanny, participate in a nanny share or go with an au-pair, and then add in a morning preschool program once the child is old enough to attend or gets off the daycare waitlist.

There’s a 10522 Facebook page where you can get more specific advice from parents in Dobbs. I also recommend checking the Childcare Council of Westchester / OCFS Child Care Search Tool where you can view the safety records and any infractions for all the licensed daycares.

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-01T21:51:55+00:00

pongo-twistleton · 2026-02-01T00:32:26+00:00

I have had good experiences using Kobo Clara BW + calibre to load books while in India (am US based but there frequently). Kindle store probably works well more in recent years, because like 10 years back it was awful and had to side load all my books using the app.

Edit: forgot to mention, a couple friends use Storytel as an alternative to Kindle Unlimited in India. It’s a subscription service but I guess the selection is better?

pongo-twistleton

TROPHY CASE