I was gonna pick a regular rental (here’s another good one in Georgetown for $1385) but I had to see what a $42,000 rental looked like:

The listing for 2509 Foxhall Road Northwest says:

“2016 DC Design House! Spectacular five-story, 11,242 square-foot home includes seven bedrooms, eight full bathrooms, two half baths, three kitchens, five fireplaces, sauna, exercise and party rooms, wine cellar, elevator, plus an infinity pool. Built in 2010 by Gibson Builders and designed by GTM Architects is situated on a beautiful three-quarter-acre lot.”

You can see more photos here.

This 7 bed/8 full/2 half baths is going for, well, never mind.

Photo of Towers Condominium (intersection of Cathedral Ave and New Mexico Ave) courtesy of Canadian Sweets and Treats

From an email:

“Being the only Canadian bakery in the United States, we have some unique products, not available anywhere else locally. One item is our tourtiere hot pockets. It’s a hand-held pie, in the shape of a pop-tart, filled with ground pork, potato, carrot, onion and seasoned with spices and herbs, enclosed in a flaky pie crust. It’s an item we developed a few months ago, great for a snack or a quick lunch on the go.

Also, the products we sell daily at the bakery, are croissants, scones, cookies, nanaimo bars, butter tarts, biscotti, and sometimes cakes, pies, bars… etc… I enjoy making a different kind of cake or dessert every week for customers to try.”

Canadian Sweets and Treats’ website says:

“Canadian Sweets & Treats (For the U.S. Eh?) was founded in Washington, DC in 2010 when, during the course of a friendly conversation about the greatest desserts of all time (ranging from the wholesome goodness of a Granny Smith Apple Pie to the sublime perfection of Pistachio Crème Brule), someone (out of respect for whom we have promised anonymity) asked a stunningly simple, but wholly unexpected question: “What’s a Butter Tart?” Read More

This rental is located at 4201 Cathedral Avenue, Northwest:

The listing says:

“Large sun-filled efficiency apt overlooking pool & garden. Utilities included. W/W carpet, 2 large walk-in closets. Bldg has 24 hr security, concierge, pool, gym, grocery, bakery, hair salon, library, party room, laundry room on each floor. Near AU, restaurants & shops. Bus stop at corner, minutes to central business district.”

Unfortunately no interior photos but this efficiency is going for $1,399/Mo.

3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW

I’m told via email that if all goes according to plan the new Wagshal’s going into the old Balducci’s space at 3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW near American University will open around May 15th.

3201 New Mexico Ave, NW

Eating around Town is a new series written by a number of PoPville contributors. Today’s review of Al Dente was written by dcreba. dcreba is a big apple transplant and enthusiast of all things edible. she lives – and often eats – in Logan Circle.

The ever controversial Roberto Donna (Culinary tour de force! Embezzler! James Beard winner!) recently won accolades from Esquire magazine, lauding him as Chef of the Year in their listings of Best New Restaurants in 2012.

This Best New Restaurant is Al Dente. And prior to the Esquire review, I was unaware of its existence. A quick perusal of the literature tracks Donna’s circuitous history: Chef rises to glory with his Italian behemoth, Galileo, which undergoes three different inceptions – and locations – over 16 years. Chef falls from grace with reports of embezzlement and failure to pay his employees. Chef opens La Forchetta in a nondescript building in Wesley Heights, relegated to the kitchen and relieved of financial involvement, leaving this management to owner Hakan Ilhan. Restaurant changes name to avoid litigious goings on with a similarly named Adams Morgan restaurant, La Fourchette. This brings us to present day, where Donna is hoping to rewrite history – or at least change the course of things, moving forward – at the helm of Al Dente.

We visit Al Dente on a chilly Monday night. The restaurant is brightly lit and awash in Valentines decorations. My dining companion, with an excellent eye for design, did a calculated 360 sweep of the restaurant and pronounced its aesthetics distracting. “I’m not sure I can take the food seriously, when its decorated like this,” she said warily. As our meal unfolded before us over the next few hours, there were some clunkers, yes, but very pleasant surprises as well, and it became possible to lose sight of our surroundings and focus on the food at hand.

Continues after the jump. Read More

3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW

Thanks to a reader for sending word that the coming soon signs have gone up in the old old Balducci’s space at 3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW near American University. Their Website says they’ll be open in early 2013. We judged Wagshal’s deli at 4855 Massachusetts Ave NW here.