I know I am a bit late in this (out of town). It appears to me that the fire hydrant on the corner may have outlived much of what has now been replaced.

Why do you suppose that the two cars at the left each have two license plates? Is it one for Washington and another for the state of their residence at the time?

[You had to have plates for wherever your motor vehicle was operated. Many cars in Washington also had Maryland or Virginia tags. - Dave]

Here's the same view today.

When I was in high school in the 1940s, I worked at the Central Public Library at Seventh and K Streets, just off to the right of this scene. We always considered Goldenberg's to be a bargain department store. For example if something was cheap or looked cheap it "probably came from Goldenberg's basement." The other six department stores in D.C. were farther south on Seventh Street or farther west on F or G Streets.

Chestnuts roasting on the curb?

Mold.

The lunch cart?

[Ding ding ding! You are correct. - Dave]

This would be The Link for the image of the Peoples Drug Store.

[Also here. And let's not forget Hahn's Reliable Shoe House.- Dave]

Besides men in hats, ghostly images, bicycles, buggies and cars all at the curb, and trolley tracks, I seem to recall seeing the "Noon Time Friend" sandwich cart featured in a Shorpy posting before.

Had I been around during this time, I probably would have pursued opening a company that supplied awnings for buildings and roofs for cars. Walking inside the buildings, oilcloth coverings were on cabinets everywhere for protection. Oilcloth would have been my sideline.

On the other hand, the competition must have been tremendous.

The "Noon Time Friend" Liberty Lunch wagon seems familiar, as does the bike with the jacked-up handlebars.

Man in a hat - am I close?

Goldenberg's, People's Drug and Hahn's ... ?

[Three out of four! - Dave]