Want to buy a tree close to home? Better hurry or you may have to drive outside the neighborhood. (Luis Gomez Photos)

It’s the week before Christmas and you still haven’t bought a Christmas Tree, a wreath or greenery to wrap around your porch railing. You’re probably safe when it comes to buying the smaller green stuff. But if you’re looking to buy a tree in the neighborhood, you best do it now.

Local tree sellers report extremely brisk sales this year — much better than last year. The Ross School PTA sale ended last weekend (one week early) because they were not able to get trees for this weekend. One local retailer is already out of trees and will not be getting more.

In the Neighborhood

Here are your close-to-home options in the Borderstan area for trees, wreaths and greenery.

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From Tom Hay

More Wine and Shorter Lines on P Street

The Logan Circle Whole Foods in the 1400 block of P Street NW announced that the renovation and expansion of the 10 year old store which we reported on in June is nearly complete.   There will be an unveiling of the new mezzanine level cafe on October 1. Check out the store calendar for details on the kickoff which includes entertainment, refreshments and giveaways.

If you’ve been to the store in the last few weeks you may have noticed the expansion of the wine department and addition of a bunch of express checkout lanes along the P Street window wall. While I welcome shorter lines at the grocery store, the new checkout system feels a bit like a DMV queue. Plus it eliminates the window side seating which was great for people watching.

Overall the system is working and I think the changes will be a big hit, especially with football season underway and the holidays quickly approaching.

Tunnel… But No Love

The Washington City Paper Housing Complex Blog reported that construction is set to begin in late October on a gigantic 1,165-room Marriott Marquis at the Northwest corner of 9th and Massachusetts NW.

The saga of building of a large hotel in close proximity to the DC Convention Center has dragged on for years, and while the legal battles have ended, not everyone is happy. The estimated 42-month-long construction is sure to disrupt residents and business owners.

Plans call for the hotel to have several restaurants, cafes and a tunnel under 9th Street.  Not good news for cafes and galleries north of the site who had hoped for increased foot traffic. The hotel will also be within the boundaries of the Arts District which is currently undertaking a branding and marketing effort.

Jogger Gets a Lesson in Safe Sex

Interesting Washington Post opinion piece by a female jogger whose run through the portion of Rock Creek Park known as P Street Beach became her introduction to the notorious hookup spot. After finding the area littered with condoms and condom wrappers, the writer contacted various law enforcement agencies for comment. Seems that patrolling of the area is somewhat lax because of jurisdictional issues between US Park Police and DC Police.

Proposed Metrobus Changes Would Create U Street-Dupont Bus Link

From Greater Greater Washington are some details on proposed changes to the 90-92-93 Metrobus lines that run from the Anancostia Station, along U Street NW, through Adams Morgan ending at the Ellington Bridge on Calvert Street. The recommendations by DDOT and WMATA call for the line to instead continue straight on westbound U Street to Florida Avenue NW, then left on Connecticut, continuing south toward Dupont Circle. The proposed change would create a direct bus link from the U Street Corridor to Dupont Circle.

Renovations are underway at the Logan Circle Whole Foods store and should be completed by November. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Tom Hay

Good news… I got emails this morning as well as this comment on an earlier posting about Molly the Stolen Dog (below). As best I can tell, Molly was found in DC’s Cleveland Park neighborhood. She was taken from in front of the Whole Foods on the 1400-block of P Street NW on June 29.

Hi all, I just wanted to let you know that Molly was returned safe and sound by MPD officers last night! Many, many thanks for posting this here and to everyone for keeping an eye out and hoping for her safe return. This happy ending is most certainly thanks to such impressive efforts to get the word out! There is an ongoing criminal investigation, so unfortunately I’m unable to provide details as to how the police located Molly and the woman who took her.