What was so jarring was the contrast between that plain white piece of paper with computer type on it and the gilded and art-filled contents of the store. But then again, just because a store has been in one place for 35 years and displays 19th-century antiques, it still needs 21st-century technology to promote and sell its brand and its wares. So, good on you, Artisan Lamp in Cleveland Park. MyLittleBird looks forward to a new and improved website, Facebook and Twitter posts, Instagram pix, etc., so instead of merely looking in the window, we’ll be able to browse online to see products, find out about sales and even (gasp) make a purchase. Full disclosure: This LittleBird bought a pair of French art deco lamps several months ago. They sit atop a glass cabinet in her apartment and although they don’t emit lots of light, they do light up the room.–Janet Kelly / MyLittleBird photo.
Wow! We thought this white van, parked down near Washington Harbour, was the work of a handyman having fun, possibly at his boss’s expense. Not seen, on the side of the van, it says, “If we built it ….. it probably won’t fall down.” It turns out, though, that Genops, the 40-year-old General Operations Group, is, in the words of one satisfied customer, “the most unconventional construction company you will ever work with.” But before you start dreaming of your new kitchen, know that Gary Simons’s Genops specializes in commercial work–yoga and pilates studios, veterinary facilities, restaurants, commercial kitchens., even church meeting rooms. Simons says he often gets emails and voice messages from passersby who have been amused by his fleet of trucks and vans, so we’re not the only fans.–Nancy McKeon / MyLittleBird photo.
Who can say no to a nun!? All those nightmares of clacking rosary beads drifting in and out of our sleep! Much more effective than a standard Go Slow sign, this placard seen upon driving out of the parking lot at Georgetown Visitation Prep adds humor and personality to the daily commute. (It’s almost as cute as the SnowNun, complete with wire-rimmed glasses, someone built at the entrance to the convent during Snowmageddon 2010.)–Nancy McKeon / MyLittleBird photo.
Pity the poor physics students at Georgetown University. Their big, bright classroom runs along a main north-south footpath on the university’s campus. And because the campus is kind of hilly, the windows are at about shin level for passersby. The signs demonstrate that “Big Bang Theory” physicists are not the only ones in the field with a sense of humor.–Nancy McKeon / MyLittleBird photo.
WE HUMANS SEE SIGNS everywhere: signs of spring, signs of aging, signs the economy is about to implode. Then there are real signs, and the Washington, D.C., area is rife with those. Some are serious and some are funny, albeit sometimes unintentionally so. Here then are half a dozen signs we’ve noticed in town. There must be hundreds more, all around the city and the surrounding areas. Send us your favorites and we’ll put them together in a gallery—maybe one for each neighborhood? We’ll see. Send high-resolution jpegs to nancy@mylittlebird.com.