1409 T Street, NW

Dear PoPville,

Walked by the new Taqueria Nacional on T last night, they were doling out free tacos between 6 and 7. The place looked great! They’re doing a friends and family event tomorrow and the owners said they expect to open sometime next week!

click menu to enlarge

click menu to enlarge

14th and V Street, NW

The new tex-mex restaurant Diego was expected to open up in early May but it looks like there’s still a few works of work left. Will updated when an opening date is announced.

How it looked in 2010:

1320 U Street, NW

A new coffee bar, The Wydown, is coming to the former Aroma Cafe space at 1320 U Street, NW. This will be a pop up location for about six months. If all goes well they will be opening later this week.

When the Louis project is finished on 14th Street just south of U Street, NW – they will have a permanent retail space of about 1000 square feet in between the coming Trader Joe’s and the coming Tico restaurant. Sweet!

Photo by PoPville flickr user Gelmandaria

From emails:

“Petworth Community Market opens TODAY, this Friday, May 3, from 4 – 8 PM. We will have local produce, music from Superior Cling and a tasty demo from Chez Billy! Come see us each Friday, starting today, from 4-8 p.m. at Upshur & 9th Streets, NW at Georgia Ave.”

and

“The Columbia Heights Community Marketplace kicks off the 2013 season Saturday May 4th at 9:00am on the Civic Plaza at 14th and Park Rd NW. Come celebrate Spring with us with healthy, local food, a salsa performance and lessons, chef demonstrations, free bike tune-ups, and much more!”

and

“14&U FM reopens Saturday May 4th
1400 U Street NW on the sidewalk of the Reeves Center
Saturdays
9-1pm”

14th and W St, NW – W Street entrance

Thanks to @bonusvir5 for sending word:

“Just stopped by new @sweetgreen on W St @YMCA. Got a couple of free salads & they have more. Opening Wednesday! Looks great!”

Anyone else get a free salad?

This rental is located at 1914 13th Street, NW:

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The listing says:

“Recently renovated 1 bedroom 1 bath with a great location. 1 block U Street, U Street metro and 14th St Corridor. Front patio on 13th St2 exposed brick fireplaces. Heat natural gas, bi-weekly cleaning service and security alarm service included with rent. 1 Block from soon to open Trader Joes. WalkScore 97. HCVP Vouchers welcome.”

This 1 bed/1 bath is going for $2,200/Mo.

2008

I always loved checking out the awesome old photos and paintings in the window of the Emma Mae Gallery Soon it will be the future home of the DC Center for the LGBT community. The other retail space in the Reeves Center is now home to a post office.

2013

2008

Seafood & Crab was located at 1936 14th Street, NW and was home to one of the longest running grand opening signs in the district. The mystery of differentiating crab from seafood was never resolved. The space then briefly became a Chidogo hot dog spot and soon it will be part of the Louis Project featuring a Trader Joe’s.

2013

1301 U Street, NW

A few weeks ago we learned a new wine bar serving Mexican food would be replacing U Scream Ice Cream at 1301 U St, NW. I’d never heard of a wine bar focusing on Mexican cuisine, alas, the liquor license application has been changed:

“**Food will be American /Italian cuisine to include, salads, Panini, small plates, charcuterie and cheeses. Total Load: 61, Seats Inside: 36, Summer Garden Seats: 35.”

917 U Street, NW

One of the best bars on U Street. Congrats! They write:

“Dodge City turns 3! On Monday, April 29 @ 8 PM we want you to help us celebrate our birthday. We have $4 DC Brau and other drink specials, while our delicious friends from 13th St Meats will be manning the grill. DJ’s Neville C and Baby Alcatraz will laying down the tracks to keep it going deep into the night!”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Laura_Grageda

Well this is awesome. From Rolling Stone:

“Rolling Stone polled 26 insiders and musicians – from top managers to Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump – and came up with a list of the nation’s coolest large clubs and theaters.”

And for 9:30 Club in part they write:

Since moving to a larger location in 1996, playing the 1,200-capacity club has remained a rite of passage for indie acts on the rise. Says Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, “It’s got so much character, you wonder if the locals know how lucky they are.”

14th and U Street, NW

Back in July 2012 I shared some scuttlebutt that a Tico Taco from Chef/Owner Michael Schlow would be coming to the Louis project at 14th and U St, NW.

Yesterday CityPaper confirmed:

“Boston-based celebrity chef Michael Schlow is opening Tico in the Louis at 14 development from JBG Companies just south of U Street NW.”

You can see Tico’s menus here.

I’m not afraid to admit, I still weep for my vanished Taco Bell…

This one is from 11th Street, NW near T Street.

Pre-construction:

2008

Today it is still boarded up and for lease with a bicycle parked out front:

2013

13th and U Street, NW

Thanks to all who sent emails about the new signage. Back in February we learned &Pizza had signed a 10 year lease for the former Quiznos space at 1250 U St, NW:

Last summer, H &pizza opened its first location in the H Street Atlas District with great success. Soon, U Street pizza lovers can walk up to &pizza’s counter and choose from traditional, whole-wheat or nine-grain dough with five types of house made sauces and whole-milk mozzarella, freshly prepared daily. Customers can then decorate their pizza pies with a wide range of fresh, locally sourced ingredients compatible with any dietary need. Pizzas are topped and then blast-fired in &pizza’s oven, ready to eat in minutes.

Standby for a May opening.