Nova Tropicals is gorgeous. They do have a betta selection although stock seems to vary - might recommend calling them first to see how much they have in. I definitely recommend checking them out. Even if you don't find your dream betta there if you go, it's still a great store to look around. I didn't end up getting a betta from them, but they're probably my first choice if I decide to restart my tank at some point

I got a betta from Tropical Lagoon in Silver Spring and it ended up having really bad ich which was kind of a pain, especially because I'm new to the hobby.

Holy shit - I was supposed to be there right when that happened but randomly went to eastern market instead. That’s terrifying

Thank you! Lol I saw the downvotes/comments and was like “shit am I wrong on this?” I know coffee shops are “private” but they’re still public spaces

I wasn't trying to camp out for hours but it would've been nice to have been able to sit at a table to eat instead of walking around in the rain. Folks are acting like people are going to start camping out if a coffee shop has a few more tables/benches

ok but not letting customers have a place to sit for an hour is also a dick move. Not everything has to be 'grab and go' these days

That's really interesting! I wasn't aware of that, but thanks for sharing. DC zoning is a whole other beast, but that makes a lot of sense.

thank you! I hadn't heard of Pitango but I added it to my list!

I'm used to going to all three stores on a shopping trip but it's so annoying. I'd kill for a CP trader joes

There's been so many people blowing red lights lately. I know it's technically Woodley Park, but I personally consider the Zoo to be in CP (not that my say matters lol) - that big accident a few weeks ago, as bad as it was, shed some light on just how bad and dangerous that part of CT is.

Ever since I got rid of my car though, it has really opened my eyes to how insane driving in DC is. I don't even like being in ubers anymore

Oh this is fun! I'm looking it up. I hadn't heard that this was going to come in. thanks for sharing

Discovered Bread Furst last year and it's easily my favorite coffee shop/bakery in DC

I still cannot believe that people see value in the "historic" park and shop. It's so fucking dumb and imo is one of the main drivers (no pun intended) in CP losing its charm. I've lived in the neighborhood since 2019 and I plan on staying, but whenever I'm in a cooler neighborhood I get kind of bummed that we're so behind

I've lived in CP for 4 years now and it's kind of a bummer to feel it falling apart. I understand that could just be a feeling I have though. Hopefully this new development of the storefronts will do some good

I just went to go check it out (morbid curiosity, I know that might be insensitive) thankfully it looks like the injured are off the scene but there's so many police there still.

I live alone in a studio (although it feels like a one bedroom) and pay 1525 a month on a 55kish salary and financially it can be stressful but I find it to be worth it tbh. (although I do fantasize about the money I'd save with roommates)

Unrelated to vouchers, but I looked at an apartment in that building in 2019. The rent was really cheap (for CP)...turns out it was really cheap because it didn't have a kitchen sink. The apartment employee said the last tenant would run to and from her bathroom sink to cook. How tf is that legal?

(In retrospect I probably should have reported it but it didn't dawn on me to do so)

I havent had any issues but they did just jack up my price.

Somewhat unrelated but I encourage folks to negotiate to lower their price!

This! True Crime has made women paranoid that there's a monster around every corner. I'm a 30 y/o woman and of course I keep my wits about me when I'm walking alone, as anyone should, but the constant anxiety of there being a predator lurking and waiting to catch you is so unhealthy. Being smart is good, being paranoid is not

"'(T)he rent-income ratio is not concerning,' Ressler said."

Well that's the dumbest thing I read all day

A lot of exhibits have brought back their demos/keeper talks now too! Those daily schedules are usually on the website

That’s just what I heard from zoo staff so 🤷‍♀️

The zoo didn’t have exhibit interpreters due to the pandemic but they recreated the program and it’s set to start back up soon

I know that. What I’m saying is that because FONZ dissolved, that messed with who the zoo was allowed to contract with. They have to go through a whole different, more complex process through the federal government that FONZ didn’t have to do with outside event companies (like light companies). That greatly impacted events like Zoolights. So if FONZ contracted with Joe Schmoe for light decorations for zoo lights in 2019, but the federal government didn’t have a working relationship with Joe Schmoe in 2022, they couldn’t be used for the 2022 zoo lights. That greatly impacted it this year since the zoo couldn’t go with most of the purveyors from previous years (on top of a slashed budget).

This and it’s an issue with government contracts. Since everything is run by the Zoo (instead of FONZ), they have to use companies approved by the federal government to run programs (I/e vendors for zoo lights)

Part of this is because events are hosted by the zoo and not FONZ, the zoo has to go with companies approved by the federal government to contract with and many of those companies from previous years did not have relationships established with the federal government