Take a Cue in Being Neighborly From Mr. P's

Terry Lynch's May 31 Local Opinions piece on the mayhem that sometimes occurs after Adams Morgan bars and nightclubs close for the evening reminded me of an incident at Mr. P's, a since-closed bar in my neighborhood of Dupont Circle, about five years ago. Not because of the mayhem, but because of the neighborliness that Mr. P's instilled.

I live in a condo on P Street NW. At the time, Mr. P's was next door. On this particular night, I was awakened at 2 a.m. by the hootin' and hollerin' of patrons leaving Mr. P's. I looked over my balcony and saw a large group of inebriated people yelling, screaming, jostling one another and generally being very disruptive. Their tempers were rising.

Mr. P's had held an open house a couple of weeks before. The owners invited the neighbors to come and meet the staff and the bar's occasional performers. My husband and I went, more out of curiosity, but also to get to know our neighbors. One person stood out -- Robert, the bouncer.

So, there I was, on my eighth-floor balcony, getting angrier by the minute at yet again being rudely awakened in the middle of the night by disorderly conduct. I decided to call Mr. P's. I asked for Robert. I was told that the club was closed. I explained that I was a neighbor and that I had met Robert at the open house. Robert got on the phone, and I asked if something could be done about the noise. Robert assured me that he would take care of it.

I did not really expect anything to come of my call, but it made me feel better to have someone to contact about the disruption. I went back out on the balcony, and to my surprise, I saw Robert come outside and disperse the crowd. Within 10 minutes, all was quiet and I could go back to sleep. Now that was a good neighbor!

Perhaps the owners of clubs and restaurants in Adams Morgan should hire Robert.

DEBBIE SCHREIBER

Washington