Michelle Obama was here: The former first lady’s book launch a year ago sold out Capital One Arena, so her November 18th appearance at a slightly smaller venue was bound to draw a crowd.
Obama celebrated the first anniversary of Becoming with a book signing event at Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut Avenue). She drew a crowd over two days. On Saturday, November 16th, the line wrapped around the block as people waited to buy the hardcover and get the wristband that would get them into the Monday event. And that Monday afternoon:
P&P owners Brad and Lissa open the doors to a crowd of folks ready to meet @MichelleObama with BECOMING #IAmBecoming pic.twitter.com/1uOelU06tY
— Politics and Prose (@PoliticsProse) November 19, 2019
Some local and national reporters were on hand, too. “She looks so much younger than I thought,” an Associated Press reporter heard one man say.
A columnist for The Hill saw this exchange:
Lots of love for @MichelleObama at her @PoliticsProse book signing in DC. One young woman gushed, “We miss you!” Obama grinned: “I’m here. I’m right up the street!” pic.twitter.com/VQpXjGk96i
— Judy Kurtz (@JudyKurtz) November 18, 2019
“Deer management” in Rock Creek Park: It’s that time of year when USDA sharpshooters work with the National Park Service to cull Rock Creek Park’s “overabundant white-tailed deer population.” That means overnight road closures in parts of the park through March.
Note that Broad Branch Road will remain open throughout. Read about it: The Washington Post, ABC7, WTOP.
These Forest Hills apartments have a “good address”: At least in 1982, the Charles E. Smith Company had a system for naming its many properties around the Washington area. Washingtonian explains: “The first was to name it after where the buildings were if they had a ‘good address’: The Albemarle apartments on Connecticut Avenue and Albemarle Street, Northwest, for instance, or the Brandywine apartments on Connecticut Avenue and Brandywine Street, Northwest.”
By the way, the land where Avalon The Albemarle (4501 Connecticut Avenue) and the Brandywine Apartments (4545 Connecticut) now stand used to be farmland. The owner got into it with his neighbors on occasion, and in 1910 was hauled into court on the accusation he “Cruelly Stoned Domestic Fowl.”