• Restoration plans for the old Howard Theatre include a restaurant and education area for rehearsal and class space. [DCMud]

• The old Waterside Mall in Southwest DC is officially history. Its sign was taken down earlier this week and construction of the new buildings continues at full speed. [DCMetrocentric]

• The Tenley-Friendship Heights library debacle continues. Plans for the mixed-use development are moving forward despite opposition from two city councilmembers. [WBJ]

• Urban Turf has picked a few weekend open houses worth checking out, including a Victorian Rowhouse in Columbia Heights. [Urban Turf]

• The Washington City Paper’s Housing Complex blog had a great suggestion for the future of the Third Church of Christ, Scientist on 16th Street: Turn it into a club. Why didn’t we think of this? With a name like “Brutal” this place would be the hottest gay club in town. [Housing Complex]

One block west of Reston Town Center, this two-bedroom condo comes with lots of perks: hardwood and marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, in-unit washer and dryer. The kitchen has matching stainless-steel appliances and dark granite countertops. The living room looks spacious—the current set-up includes a large sectional sofa—and there’s space for a small dining table. Two parking spaces are included in the rent, and building amenities include a pool and fitness center.

Address: 12000 Market Street, Reston
Price: $1,850 a month

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Where: 9441 Newbridge Drive, Potomac
Listing price: $6,995,000
Time on the market: Eight months
Bedrooms: Nine
Bathrooms: 11

This brand-new estate in Potomac sits on more than two acres and has 20,000 square feet of living space. The home features a cavernous two-story entryway, gourmet kitchen, and seven fireplaces. The cozy library, with access to the yard, has custom wood-paneling imported from Italy. Take the elevator upstairs to our favorite spot in the house: the his-and-her master bathrooms. His bathroom has an oversize, glass-enclosed shower. In her bath, we love the mosaic-tile soaking tub, which looks out over the property through a pair of French doors.

Click here for more photos.

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There is a show on HGTV (a minor addiction of mine) called “My House is Worth What?” Experts assess a  renovation and determine whether a homeowner’s $90,000 landscape project or $10,000 leather floors added to the home’s value. The point is to figure out how much equity homeowners have, so that they can get a loan to start a new project or trade up to a nicer place.

I was watching one of these programs when it dawned on me that I could have my own version of that show. So I called my real estate agent, who agreed to come by and play “Daphne’s Condo is Worth What?”

This black bookshelf is selling for $60 in DC’s U Street neighborhood. The seller got it from Crate & Barrel two years ago. Use it to house pictures, books, DVDs, and CDs, or put it in an entryway as a side table.

Other good finds:

• Six leather dining chairs for $300..
• Twin-size canopy bed for $250..
• Oak dresser with vanity mirror for $395.
• Three-piece cherry entertainment unit for $400.

Thanks, Craig!

• The District unveiled plans to redevelop St. Elizabeth’s east campus, a 173-acre piece of land in Ward 8. The massive project, which will be submitted to the City Council next month, would include 2 million square feet of new mixed-use projects and 750,000 square feet of renovated historic space. [DC Mud]

• Here’s a rendering for a new affordable housing project in the U Street corridor. Along Temperance Ave. between 12th and 13th streets, Northwest, the project would be less than a block from the U Street Metro stop. [DC Metrocentric]

• Washington area foreclosures are up 147 percent from a year ago. Wow. [WBJ]

This 1,100-square-foot condo in Alexandria has great indoor and outdoor space. The open floor plan makes it feel spacious and the kitchen has lots of counter and cabinet space as well as a breakfast bar with space for stools. The bedroom has a large window and a walk-in closet. Outside, the unit has a garden and patio with room for a grill, table, and chairs. The rent includes parking, pool access, and trash service.   

Address: Maris Avenue and North Van Dorn Street, Alexandria
Price: $1,600 a month
Move-in: Flexible

More>> Open House Blog | Homes | Real Estate