DC National Aquarium closing. To be replaced by CVS & Condos

[verbal8]

Dick, read the article. They're closing it to renovate the building -- which is horrible for an aquarium in it's current state, by the way.

It is unclear where and when the D.C. aquarium will reopen. Kate Hendrickson, a spokeswoman for the National Aquarium, said it has not yet been determined which animals or how many will move to Baltimore, and that some will go to other aquariums.
"We are committed to a continued presence in the capital, where a public aquarium has existed since the late 1800s," Racanelli said. "I am working with a task force of National Aquarium Board members to explore opportunities and funding options that would support this goal."

I think it's very likely an aquarium opens in a bigger and better location in DC -- and that you will hate it, which is delicious.

Unfortunately I think it is unlikely that the aquarium will re-open in DC, at least in the near term. There just isn't much in terms of public or private funds available to support one. Kind of like the Wizards win total, one of those predictions where I hope that I am wrong.

[montestewart]

so does WTA pine for the days of People's Drug Store competing
against Drug Fair? Those stores were the bomb.

. . . and Dart Drug, and G.C. Murphy's, and McBride's, and Morton's, and Jelleff's, and Lansburgh's, and Woody's, and Hecht's, and Hechinger's, and Hot Shoppes, and Three Chefs, and . . . and . . . Buy 'Em By The Bag, and Circle Theaters, and Key Theater, and Biograph Theater, and Wilson Theater, and Senator Theater, and Embassy Theater, and segregation, and Ontario Theater, and Town Theater, and The Wiz, and the Guitar Shop, and Rolls Music, and Seranade Records, and New Wax Unlimited, and Melody Records, and Waxie Maxie's, and Penguin Feather, and Yesterday and Today Records, and Olssons, and Franz Bader Books, and 22nd St. and New York Avenue NW, and I St. going east instead of west, and the "temporary" buildings on the Mall, and the Washington Senators, and . . .

It was all downhill after they tore down the Raleigh Hotel.

Such a positive contribution to the city.

Lost forever. Those kids are responsible.

Oh well, at least you can still get the word's best pizza at Mario's

[Nivek]

I long for the good ol' days of DC. Before it was sullied by all this change.

[pancakes3]

The tripadvisor ratings of the national aquarium is sad. Lots of tourists giving it bad reviews followed up by someone at the national aquarium replying to most/all of them with a multi-paragraphed apology detailing the history of the aquarium and the the pros/cons of the DC location as opposed to the Baltimore location. It's obvious that she acknowledges that the DC aquarium is smaller and in all respects inferior but to watch her try to put on a happy face and defend the DC location through the merits of it being more accessible due to the smaller size, the focus on American sealife rather than all of aquatic world, and the historical importance of the collection being the oldest public aquarium in the US was... sad.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R ... umbia.html

[tontoz]

While I've usually had harsh things to say about Wes_Tiny_Abe, this board just wouldn't be the same without his there-or-abouts monthly 'genty' post. I mean give the guy a break, his heart has grown founder of days past as it does with most of us. He does have some valid criticism about some of DCs newer residents (shoot, I lived for a year in DC because of an internship and I was born and raised in the burbs of Fairfax, I guess he was talking about me too), although I do agree some, if not most, of what he has to say goes overboard and is unrealistic. With all of that said, you people asking for the mods to lock his threads are buffoons, you very well know what your getting when you enter a Wes_Tiny_Abe thread. What did you actually expect, a basketball conversation?

There are out of towners who come to this board with legit questions about DC and they invariably get trolled by WTA. I don't know why he is even allowed to post at all. Every post he makes is nonsense.

[Higga]

It was a pretty terrible aquarium anyway. I admit the one in Baltimore is much better. The one thing Baltimore has over D.C.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

so does WTA pine for the days of People's Drug Store competing
against Drug Fair? Those stores were the bomb.

. . . and Dart Drug, and G.C. Murphy's, and McBride's, and Morton's, and Jelleff's, and Lansburgh's, and Woody's, and Hecht's, and Hechinger's, and Hot Shoppes, and Three Chefs, and . . . and . . . Buy 'Em By The Bag, and Circle Theaters, and Key Theater, and Biograph Theater, and Wilson Theater, and Senator Theater, and Embassy Theater, and segregation, and Ontario Theater, and Town Theater, and The Wiz, and the Guitar Shop, and Rolls Music, and Seranade Records, and New Wax Unlimited, and Melody Records, and Waxie Maxie's, and Penguin Feather, and Yesterday and Today Records, and Olssons, and Franz Bader Books, and 22nd St. and New York Avenue NW, and I St. going east instead of west, and the "temporary" buildings on the Mall, and the Washington Senators, and . . .

It was all downhill after they tore down the Raleigh Hotel.

Such a positive contribution to the city.

Lost forever. Those kids are responsible.

Oh well, at least you can still get the word's best pizza at Mario's

You forgot to mention Chafitz, Irving's and Variety Records.

[montestewart]

I also forgot the Exile, the Terminal Hotel, and all the great drug neighborhoods. You know how it is, can't name them all.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8oF7QGPF4E[/youtube]

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

I also forgot the Exile, the Terminal Hotel, and all the great drug neighborhoods. You know how it is, can't name them all.

So in other words you associate Jewish businesses with drugs and crime?

[montestewart]

I also forgot the Exile, the Terminal Hotel, and all the great drug neighborhoods. You know how it is, can't name them all.

So in other words you associate Jewish businesses with drugs and crime?

No, no my brother. The hand can be used as a knife. It makes the best ice cream you've ever tasted.

[dorianwrite]

Out of curiosity, Wes_Tiny_Abe, did you attend the "Pump Me Up" show at the Corcoran, and if so, what did you think of it?

[fishercob]

Out of curiosity, Wes_Tiny_Abe, did you attend the "Pump Me Up" show at the Corcoran, and if so, what did you think of it?

Dorian, I was there for this roundtable discussion, but didn't get to see the exhibit, as it was closed that day. I would love to check it out.

[dorianwrite]

I missed that roundtable, but went to opening night of the documentary about Cool "Disco" Dan that was held at AFI Silver.

"Pump Me Up" has closed, unfortunately, so I'm afraid you missed it, fishercob.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

Out of curiosity, Wes_Tiny_Abe, did you attend the "Pump Me Up" show at the Corcoran, and if so, what did you think of it?

No. I was not able to go because I was out of the area for several weeks.

Makes me wonder if there will be an exhibit 30 years from now featuring flip flops, beards, lame urban blogs created by transplants, overpriced organic markets, bicycle lanes, ugly overpriced condos, CVS stores, transplants who get beaten up by elementary/middle schoolers, and adults who snowball fight, play kickball and wear no pants while riding on the subway.