Olsson's

Seventh Street is where Squeak, me, and Barry live. In the '60's, 7th was in high decay, but today it is the frenetic heart of D.C.'s fast beating Penn Quarter. We walk it every day, Squeak and me. Squeak has no interest in typing so I, the mammal at the other end of the leash, do it for him. Seventh Street is our neighborhood. Good as any. Better 'n some.

What made Squeak decide to blog about 7th street was Olsson's. Olsson's is closing. Olsson's was here before me and I was here a whole 6 months before Squeak. When I told some of our nation's best thinkers, who are Squeak's best friends, where I was moving, they said: "oh, your place is right across from Olsson's." Olsson's, with best sellers in its windows and comfy chairs in its cafe, was the assurance that on this street of city workers by day and bar hoppers by night, people would actually live.  It promised that downtown was not just a place for the super rich, the super young, and the super homeless. And now, it is closing.