What was I just saying about crime in Near Southeast? The Washington Blade reports: "Two men, one armed with a gun, made off with more than $18,000 in cash after robbing the Wet/Edge nightclub complex, home to D.C.'s only remaining male strip club, on July 16, according to police." The clubs were open at the time; no one was hurt. The police are investigating it as a possible inside job. These clubs are part of the huge 2005 purchase of Square 699N by developer Ron Cohen; at the time of the purchase he announced plans for mixed-use development on the site, starting construction in 2006, but the businesses on the block are still operating and as best I've heard have not been given eviction notices, so I don't know when development is going to proceed.

On Wednesday night there was an official "grand opening" of the Courtyard by Marriott--Mr. Marriott himself was there, helping to celebrate what is the 700th Courtyard hotel. A good crowd was on-hand, including Ward 6 council candidate Tommy Wells, although current councilmembers Linda Cropp and Sharon Ambrose were too tied up in the "crime emergency" legislation hearings to attend.