The District of Columbia - The 51st State (please)

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by timo96, Jun 4, 2015.

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  1. DrunkJester

    DrunkJester No longer drunk or funny.
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    Apologies in advance for the long post.

    I’m moving to DC in August. I want to live near my office, which is downtown. I’m looking at Logan and Dupont Circles. The Post Massachusetts seems nice and is about half a mile away from the office. Does anybody have any recommendations on areas, specific residences, or anything else? I plan to get a two bedroom, two bath. I’ll also be getting rid of my truck.

    I’ve also heard good things about Waterfront and Navy Yard, how they are up and coming. But according to the metro website, it would be at least a 20-minute commute everyday each way, which would suck, and would also cost around $5. And then all those late nights when I'd have to uber. Some of the older threads recommended avoiding these areas, but a lot may have changed since then. There’s a lot of new construction, but the prices for these places don’t seem to be significantly cheaper than those in Dupont/Logan (which of course are older buildings in comparison).

    Anybody have any other recommendations of any sort? I’m interested in the dating scene in particular. I won’t have much free time due to my job. I’m 30+. Are there any particular places I should go or apps I should use? I’m an attorney, which has helped me a lot with dating in the small cities I’ve lived in. But I’ve heard something like 10% of DC residents are attorneys, so that’s not going to work for me. So I’ll need all the help I can get.

    Bars? Restaurants? Things to do? There are plenty of recommendations in the other threads, but may be outdated. I know I enjoyed the lobster omelet at Le Diplomate when I was in the city for one of my interviews. Here are a few restaurants from the older threads. Please let me know if some should be taken off the list or if you have any additions:
    • Ambar
    • Bad Saint
    • Central
    • City Center
    • The Dabney (1 Michelin star)
    • Duke's Grocery
    • Founding Farmers
    • Good Stuff Eatery
    • Hank's Oyster Bar
    • Hill Country
    • Masa
    • Milk
    • Momofuku
    • Nazda Mochica
    • Oyamel
    • Slash Run
    • Smoke and Barrel
    • Standard
    • Steak n Egg
    • Toki
    In addition to the Dabney, the following have Michelin stars according to Wikipedia (no 3-star restaurants in the DC area):
    • Blue Duck Tavern (1 star)
    • Fiola by Fabio Trabocchi (1 star)
    • Kinship (1 star)
    • Komi (1 star)
    • Masseria (1 star)
    • Metier (1 star)
    • Minibar by Jose Andres (2 stars)
    • Pineapple & Pearls (2 stars)
    • Plume (1 star)
    • Rose's Luxury (1 star)
    • Sushi Taro (1 star)
    • Tail Up Goat (1 star)
    • The Inn at Little Washington (Washington, VA--2 stars)
    Anything else you think I need to know would be great.

    Also, fun fact: while drinking coffee at a chain coffee shop (maybe Peet’s?) and preparing for an interview, I saw Lewis Black, who is apparently a DC resident.
     
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  2. allothersnsused

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    On mobile so I’ll respond later but feel free to PM me. Recently moved to DC, also an attorney, working downtown and IIRC from the purchases thread you’re moving from my hometown.
     
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  3. bwi2

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    Hill Country is the DC version of that Brooklyn BBQ place that serves prison quality plates. The rest of your list looks fine (Momofuku/Milk Bar have been a bit of a dud but are okay) most of the new food places worth checking out will be in Navy Yard (loved living there, and it’s only gotten better) and the nearby Wharf (still wouldn’t live there).
     
  4. Lip

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    If money is no object, I think you’ll find most of what you’re looking for in Logan, Shaw/Bloomingdale, NOMA/H Street NE, Adam’s Morgan, Navy Yard/Wharf in that order, IMO. I would put DuPont a notch below all of those and generally think the bars/restaurants there have largely lost their luster. Do you have any intention to buy at some point? That could play a role too.

    How old are you actually? 30+ can mean anything. There are women everywhere around town so you shouldn’t have much trouble meeting them via apps or in person. You are correct though - the majority of them aren’t gonna give a shit that you’re an attorney. There’s tons of us here and many older, more established guys willing to sugar daddy the whores.

    As far as your questions about restaurants, what are you asking about them? Yes, those are the Michelin restaurants. Are you intending to regularly hang out at them? That seems a little odd. Are you asking what some of our local favorites are? Best date places? Once you settle on an area, you’ll probably develop your 3-5 favorites over time.

    FTR: I’m 32 and have lived in DC proper for 10+ years and have watched it change dramatically over time.
     
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  5. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
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    As proof that there’s way too many attorneys in DC, I think all three of us that have responded to you so far fit the bill.
     
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  6. Josey Wales

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    I’ll try to respond later with anything helpful, but LOL at complaining about a 20 minute commute door to door.

    Edit: live in Logan if you can afford it. Good location relative to 14th, U, and DuPont. Whole Foods nearby, tons of bars and restaurants. SW Waterfront is awesome but you’re stranded down there. Be more centrally located to various neighborhoods.

    Also, Fiola is so fucking money.
     
    #206 Josey Wales, Apr 14, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2018
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  7. DrunkJester

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    Thanks for your very detailed answer. To answer your questions, I do have intentions to buy, but only if the law firm thing works out. Since it works out for so few, I don't think I can depend on that, at least not right now. And I have no idea what I would want to buy or where. For example, the only area I can think of to buy a house or townhouse in the city is Georgetown, which can't be the only good area for that.

    I'm in my early 30s, so your age. Good to hear it won't be much trouble. I've just heard the biglaw horror stories and want to make sure I utilize that time as efficiently as possible.

    I gave the lists of restaurants both to hear opinions on them and to provide a reference for people looking for good restaurants in the future. We have a handful of threads asking just that. I'd like this thread to become more active, both for residents and travelers. I guess none of that came through in my long-form post above, mainly because I didn't say any of that. I guess there's maybe not much to say about the Michelin restaurants because Michelin has already done the work for you, but if you know of any quirks it would be good to hear. For example, I know at Le Diplomat (again, one of the very few DC restaurants I've dined in) you can make a reservation 28 days out on the website, but if you call you can get one a month out. Those extra days could matter if you really like that restaurant and it'll be really busy that weekend.

    Your sample questions sound great. I guess I have so many that I need to figure out how to articulate them. Also, it would be good to know places to avoid, places that may look great from the outside or that undeservingly have the reputation of a good restaurant. For example, Fig & Olive looks like a perfectly fine restaurant, but it is a chain (not necessarily disqualifying on its own, but here means they warm up frozen food, as of a couple of years ago) and had a salmonella outbreak a couple of years ago where the owner wouldn't take responsibility and bizarrely blamed the press. Oh, doubt I'll regularly hang out at restaurants, but I do tend to establish favorites that I attend regularly. For example, I've eaten Saturday breakfast at the same place for the past couple of years.

    Sorry about the odd questions. This move is starting to get overwhelming to me, which is saying something as I've moved 9 times in the past 12 years. But the largest city I've lived in is less than 10% the size of DC, going by metro populations. These will likely not be the last dumb questions I ask.
     
  8. DrunkJester

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    I realize how ridiculous it sounds that I would be annoyed at a 20-minute commute. I experienced DC traffic when I drove from DC to Richmond at about 4:30 PM on a week day. So maddening. I've just been spoiled with living downtown within walking distance to my work the past few years. I'd like to continue that if possible.

    Thanks for the advice!
     
  9. bwi2

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    FWIW, Michelin mailed in the DC guide. Not that the ones on their are bad, but I think local guides figured out they didn’t actually do the legwork.

    I generally think the Washingtonian’s list does a good job, and isn’t just hunting for the most expensive tables in town: https://www.washingtonian.com/2018/02/15/100-best-restaurants-2018/

    If you live in DC, you’re most likely not driving for your commute. The metro gets rightfully shit on a lot, but over the past six months I’d say it has become more reliable during communing hours. And you’ll want to live here several years before you decide where you want to buy.
     
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  10. DrunkJester

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    Despite my 20-minute-commute comments above, one of the main reasons to live near the office is that I've heard so many horror stories about the metro and also that they were shutting down a lot to make repairs (although I would like to be able to walk to work regardless). Is that no longer the case? Or maybe not nearly as bad as I read?

    I agree on the several years. I'm fairly risk averse in that regard. I think I'd even have to live in my hometown at least a couple of years before I'd make a decision on where to buy.

    ETA: Also, thanks for the link. Bookmarked.
     
  11. bwi2

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    The metro has definitely improved. It catches fire a lot less often than it did a couple of years ago. Realistically, it will get the job done most days. On days when it doesn’t, you’ll hear about it and if you’re living in the city itself, there will be no shortage of alternative transportation options. Logan Circle is a nice place to live, but I wouldn’t feel limited to it because of transportation concerns. You’d be perfectly fine in Capitol Hill or Navy Yard or a number of other neighborhoods - it just depends on what else you’d be looking for other than proximity to the office.
     
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  12. DrunkJester

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    I'll keep that in mind, and obviously I have a lot of investigating to do. I plan to go up in early June to look at places.

    Also, I couldn't help but laugh at the bolded above.
     
  13. Thoros of Beer

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    I lived in the Post, it's very nice and very convenient. But my office was near 12th and F so I guess it depends where you are working.
     
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  14. DrunkJester

    DrunkJester No longer drunk or funny.
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    That's good to hear, because prior to my first post in this thread, it was my top choice. I think it's a bit closer to my future office than it was for you from what I see on Google Maps, but similar distance. I'll be working near Farragut Square.
     
  15. Thoros of Beer

    Thoros of Beer Academy Award-Winning Actor, Tim Allen
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    Yeah, definitely closer. DC is an overall amazing city and it's hard to go wrong. It was definitely probably the youngest city I've ever lived in.
     
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  16. Guns

    Guns horse paste aficionado
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    I commute from Petworth to Ballston. lol at a 20 min commute.
     
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  17. Guns

    Guns horse paste aficionado
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    has anybody eaten at Pineapple & Pearls? Taking the gf for two year anniversary in a couple weeks. Loved Rose's even though last time I went, I felt like the quality had fallen off a bit. I'm pretty excited about P&P though.
     
  18. rv12

    rv12 Cowabunga
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    It's incredible. I still believe that Tail Up Goat's ribs are the best dish in the city.
     
  19. timo

    timo g'day, mate
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    putting an offer on a house today that will probably go 50K above list price and we won't get. This shit is absurd.
     
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  20. Lip

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    Yep. It was very good, but I probably won’t return unless someone else is paying. The drink pairings didn’t seem worth it.
     
  21. Lip

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    What neighborhood?
     
  22. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
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    My favorite website to keep up with what’s new and delicious is DC Eater:

    https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-new-restaurants-heatmap-dc
     
  23. allothersnsused

    allothersnsused Wow that’s crazy
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    Want to buy but saw recently that half of successful home buyers in DC don’t see the house before their offer is accepted. Fuuuuuuck that.
     
  24. bwi2

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    [​IMG]

    Welcome to the suburbs
     
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  25. Lip

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    I bought 2.5 years ago and my house has gone up 140k per Redfin. No way is that shit sustainable.
     
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  26. allothersnsused

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    Yeah, feel bad whenever I say this because so many of my friends have bought recently, but we’re well overdue for a dip.
     
  27. Icculus is a Bammer

    Icculus is a Bammer marco esquandolas took my job
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    I believe it’s 1/25 are attorneys in DC. Saints games at buffalo billiards for sure. Just moved from Nola to DC last November. I live in the U street area and have no complaints really. I work near Farragut square (couple blocks from the White House). Im an accountant. Walk most days when weather permits. My work pays for metro, which is across the street from my place. So on days where it’s too cold or rainy I just take that.

    I’m in my 30s too. DC is a young city it seems to me. As far as dating, well, I believe it’s the number one city in the country for single men in terms of single females to single males. I fucking love it. I’m from the south (Alabama) take it you are too given your fan of section. It’s night and day from that of the south. New Orleans included. Women here are much more progressive and forward. They have no problem approaching you at a bar etc. Just my opinion, but I’ve found dating much easier here than anywhere else I’ve lived. I have had no need for tinder etc whereas everywhere else I’ve lived it was a necessity in a sense.

    Feel free to pm me as well with any questions
     
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  28. Josey Wales

    Josey Wales Well-Known Member
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    DC has gotten MUCH MUCH better looking over the last few years. This was a topic of conversation while drinking outside yesterday. There’s always been a fantastic female:male ratio, but quality is way up. My suspicion is you won’t be walking much in the summer, unless you’re changing at the office. Not that you aren’t used to humidity, but gross.
     
  29. timo

    timo g'day, mate
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    it's listed as Petworth, but it's pretty much Ft Totten.
     
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  30. BigReff73

    BigReff73 Well-Known Member
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    Speak to me of Tail Up Goat, going in two weeks and can’t wait.
     
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  31. rv12

    rv12 Cowabunga
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    Get the ribs.
     
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  32. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
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    They’re lamb, right?

    I thought our meal was good. I brought my Uncle who is a chef and he was just okay with it.
     
  33. Guns

    Guns horse paste aficionado
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    the rabbit sausage is a must, too. Possibly two orders. We didn't get the ribs but will definitely get them next time.
     
  34. Gunners

    Gunners Nicking a living
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    Root for your previous sports teams, don't get invested in DC teams unless you enjoy being miserable
     
  35. St. Jimmy

    St. Jimmy WPS!
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    I lived at 13th and R from 2003 - 2014. Loved every minute of it. The Wife got pregnant so we bought a place in AU Park thinking our lives were over. I work a block from DuPont and it takes us 20 minutes to get here. Can metro in about 25, with 10 minutes walk to metro station. Enjoy your youth in Logan. I miss being 2-3 blocks from no less than 10 above average restaurants. Now, I think it is like 20 haha.

    As for new places, I hit up Kaliwa last weekend and was underwhelmed. Loved the concept, but the execution and especially the service were lacking.
     
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  36. allothersnsused

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    I am learning we have a lot more District residents than I previously thought
     
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  37. Tug

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    I was going to sing the praises of Metro but twice in the past week I’ve been delayed by a fire. Also my stop is closing for two months this summer. Other than that it gets me to work pretty quickly
     
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  38. St. Jimmy

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    And for those of you that work downtown/Dupontish, don't waste your time with the new taco joint. Everything was totally bland and flavorless. I really wanted it to be good.

    We are big fans of Mirabelle, Rare, and Le Desales for lunch around here.
     
    #238 St. Jimmy, Apr 17, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2018
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  39. allothersnsused

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    List of downtown to-go lunch spots near Farragut would be much appreciated, cheap or healthy is a bonus. Surprisingly hard to find reviews online for places that aren't sit-down.

    After almost a year here I find myself going to the same places over and over (especially as I try to eat healthier at lunch) and would love to mix it up more. I try to meal prep at least every other week but it falls to the wayside, particularly when I'm traveling a lot of weekends during wedding szn.
     
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  40. St. Jimmy

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    I make myself do Chop't 4 days out of 5, but there are tons of great options along Connecticut, 18th, and 19th. It is always fun to check out http://foodtruckfiesta.com/ to see who is down on the square or at 19th & L.

    Every fast-casual chain you can imagine has an outpost within walking distance. Most importantly, almost every one of them accepts online orders. The lines at Cava, Chopt, Nando's, 5 Guys, Sweetgreen, Potbelly, Taylor etc. can be 10-20 minutes. I'm not that important, but I am beyond wasting time waiting in line when you can order online and bypass the line to pick up your meal in 30 seconds or less.
     
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  41. allothersnsused

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    Oh yeah, I am all about the online order unless I forget. All the ones you listed are in my rotation, plus a big fan of Roti and Naf Naf which opened recently. Went to The Best Sandwich Place nonstop for a couple months when I first moved here, but had to stop because the lbs were adding up quickly
     
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  42. DrunkJester

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    Nice tip on the Saints view venue. Man, you got me excited about the dating scene. Too bad I’m so overweight. Until I get rid of this albatross, it’s an uphill battle.

    Thanks for the offer, and I expect to take advantage of it in the near future.
     
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  43. DrunkJester

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    Will not have an issue there, particularly since I will be actively rooting against one of those teams. Got a bad case of schadenfreude.
     
  44. DrunkJester

    DrunkJester No longer drunk or funny.
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    I still can’t get over how blasé y’all apparently are about these Metro fires. It’s just hilarious to me.
     
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  45. DrunkJester

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    Anybody been to ChurchKey or the Sovereign? Or drank anything from Bluejacket? Saw a brief article on that group by Mr. Porter this morning. They sounded pretty cool, but that was the intent of the article.
     
  46. rv12

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    Bluejacket is my #2 brewery in the city. Right Proper is #1.
     
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  47. Tug

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    You sound like you make a big chunk of change. You’ll be fine
     
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  48. bwi2

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    Used to live across the street from Bluejacket and remain sad that I no longer do. Their beer generally rocks, and they sell to go growlers.
     
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  49. DrunkJester

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    I sure hope so, otherwise there’ll be a lot of Tug-ing going on. :awesomeface:
     
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  50. Matt Foley

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    Visiting in October and need to get this full list. Thread consensus would be nice.
     
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