The notice in the Washington Post was tiny, buried on page B2, under the headline “Sex trade crackdown”: “D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles announced a crackdown Wednesday on massage parlors, health spas and social clubs that officials have found to be associated with prostitution and illegal sex-oriented activities.” Note that phrase: “that officials have found to be…”

As it happens, one of the shuttered locations is the Star Spa, 1829 M Street, just a block around the corner from this magazine’s office. It is located in a mix of businesses that includes the Daily Grill, Sign of the Whale, and Chipotle. (I have also been informed by a close source that a “Gentlemen’s Club” is on that same block. Who knew?) I recall seeing the sign for the Star Spa on my way back from lunches and thinking it a bit odd. So with a fellow colleague this afternoon I decided to revisit the block. The Star Spa sign has been taken down but in order to find out what had happened—indeed, what had been going on there for at least the last few months—I decided to get my shoes shined by Bernard, aka Dr. Shine, who has been working on that same street for years.