It’s been a big year for anniversaries – next up – Happy 40th anniversary Dancing Crab! Dancing Crab is located at 4611 Wisconsin Ave, NW. You can see their 40th anniversary menu for the month of May here. Check out the fancy new patio too:

Here’s how they looked in 2010:

From DC Water:

DC Water and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) crews remain on the scene of a hole that opened in the roadway at 14th and F Streets, NW and are working to determine the cause of underground concrete falling 15 feet onto a sewer line.

A DC Water sewer investigator yesterday determined that concrete from above had collapsed a large section of a 54-inch diameter brick combined sewer line. The concrete may have come from the road itself or from another utility casing.

There are a number of utilities and old trolley tracks above the collapsed sewer, making this a complex repair. This sewer is 15 feet below the road surface and was built in 1897. DC Water anticipates approximately 30 feet of the sewer will need to be excavated and repaired.

DC Water and contractor crews will work 24 hours per day until the repair is complete. DC Water will provide updates throughout the process.

DDOT will manage traffic control during the process and traffic advisories can be found at www.ddot.dc.gov on the Featured News Section. The intersection remains closed to vehicular traffic at this time.

Sorta great news for swim fans. Most outdoor pools will open this memorial day weekend. Banneker hours will be:

Mon – Fri 1:00pm – 8:00pm; Lap Swim Mon – Fri 8:00am – 10:00am; Sat – Sun 12:00pm – 6:00pm. Closed Thursdays.

Opening for weekend operations only starting May 25, 2013. Open Monday May 27, 2013 for Memorial Day. Full operational hours starting Monday June 24, 2013

You can find a list of all DPR pools here.

Huge news from Inside Scoop SF:

Tadich DC — to be located at 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, less than a mile from the White House — will be twice as big as the original, clocking in at 7,387 square feet, compared to the 3,500 square foot original. The new East Coast branch won’t be a replica per se, but will try to attempt to recreate that same counter-centric atmosphere, though there will be a bigger dining room and private dining areas. The idea is that the Tadich Grill menu, famous for its use of West Coast seafood, will also remain largely the same on the other coast.

They also report plans are for Tadich DC to open in early 2014. TenPenh closed back in June 2011. A reader writes:

“A friend who works on that block saw people taking measurements in the space a few days ago.”

You can see Tadich Grill’s menu here. Any San Fran expats ever eaten there?

Cajun Experience closed in mid-July 2012 at 1825 18th St, NW. In Aug. 2012 we noted the space was for lease. Now I’m hearing Jackie Greenbaum of Jackie’s in Silver Spring and El Chucho in Columbia Heights – is likely opening up a new restaurants here. Details are scarce but more info if/when it becomes available.

@HStreetDC_ tweets:

“Bocce court is waiting for you @vendettadc…opens officially on Tuesday”

You can see Vendetta’s menus here.

Formerly Palace of Wonders, Red and the Black and Red Palace:

This could be cool – from a liquor license posted at 3rd and L Street, NE:

Union Kitchen

New outdoor Tavern with Food Trucks serving a variety of fare with a seating capacity for 50 patrons and total occupancy load of 200. Entertainment Endorsement featuring live and acoustic music.

Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Wednesday 4:00 pm – 12:00 am, Thursday & Friday 12:00 pm – 2:00 am, Saturday 8:00am – 2:00 am

Ed. Note: Here is the comprehensive Map of DC’s Rooftop Bars.

From a press release:

Donovan House and Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants are pleased to announce the opening of DNV, an urban rooftop retreat 14 floors above downtown D.C., after a $300,000 revamp. Opening in late May, this newly-updated poolside oasis was reimagined by local design firm, GrizForm, and features stunning views of the Nation’s Capital, framed by sleek dark wood, glass, and chrome. Intimate tables for two and four and inviting lounge seating, upholstered in a soothing shade of green surrounds the pool, creating the perfect setting to join friends and neighbors to sip and savor the new menu of craft cocktails from Zentan’s bar manager Josh Berner and Asian tapas from Executive Chef Jennifer Nguyen in a communal atmosphere. Officially, the name DNV stems from the abbreviation for the Donovan House Hotel and provides a little mystery with being named after former CIA operative Bill Donovan, but informally it also represents a “Damn Nice View.”

Newly appointed Chef Nguyen, from the ground floor restaurant, Zentan, has created a menu of Asian tapas, inspired by her food and cooking style at Zentan. Guests can expect refreshing, shareable plates like Rock Shrimp Tempura, paired with a Kochojun aioli and candied walnuts; Watermelon Salad featuring Maryland blue crab, shaved hearts of palm and pink peppercorns; and Shuimai Dumplings with a pork filling, served with chili ponzu dipping sauce. Nguyen will also feature a shrimp ceviche, with betel leaf, toasted coconut, cashews and grapefruit. In the opening weeks, the food offerings will be limited, but will eventually expand to include the full menu.

Berner’s cocktail menu centers around inventive seasonal refreshments, including his “Tea Lights” – cocktails incorporating freshly brewed teas. Served in glass jars, the Tea Lights include sophisticated combinations such as Basil Hayden bourbon, house-made lemon bitters, and black tea syrup; Beefeater gin infused with citrus-chamomile tea, mixed with Aperol and Blanco Vermouth; and strawberry-infused Tequila Real, combined with lemon juice and verbena-mint tea. Guests can also indulge in a popular British-inspired refresher, Pimm’s Cup, offered on tap. DNV’s bar menu also features a signature spiced rum punch and a specialty punch updated weekly, which will be inspired by fresh flavors of the season. Sangrias and classic cocktails will round out the menu.

Happy hour will be available daily from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., with special pricing on punches, sangrias, cocktails on tap, frozen beverages and specialty cocktails. Special pricing during happy hour will only apply to single servings of drinks, many of which are also available in shareable options for groups of 4-6 and 8-12 people. For example, happy hour drinks will include Butternuts Pork Slap Ale and Jack’s Cider for $5, select sangria, cocktails on tap and frozen drinks for $6 and spiced rum for $7.

DNV is located at 1155 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20005. Operating hours are Monday to Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 7:00 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Back in Dec. 2012 we noted another Quiznos would soon bite the dust – this one at 1707 L St, NW just off Connecticut Ave. An Italian Gourmet Deli will be taking over that space.

From a press release:

MRP Realty and Ellis Development Group have teamed with Fundrise, a local, online platform that uses technology to create a new model for real estate investment centered on crowdsourcing, to offer the public the opportunity to invest in their next development, The Griffith, located at 965 Florida Ave, NW. The Griffith is a mixed-use development consisting of approximately 370,000 square feet, including 40,000 square feet of ground floor retail and residential units above. The Griffith title is in homage to the old Griffith Stadium that was located between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street from 1911 – 1965. The development parcel is currently being sold through the District of Columbia Deputy Mayor’s office, and MRP’s proposal has been selected to be in the best and final round.

Ground floor retail of the development will include Griffith Market, designed as an indoor farmers’ market that allows small and independent grocers, operators, and retail entrepreneurs to set up inside the building and serve the general public in a creative and affordable manner, thereby creating an urban village that is authentic to the culture of Shaw and LeDroit Park. It is intended to compliment, not diminish, the high end, large scale grocery store planned for the Howard Town Center. More importantly, Griffith Market is intended to provide food and retail options that serve the immediate neighborhoods of the community while also serving as a destination for residents throughout the City.

Ed. Note: In late April we looked at the Ellis and competing JBG proposals for 965 Florida Ave, NW. A winner has not yet been selected.

I’m curious what folks think about the proposed Griffith Market. Do you think it will work well in that location? Do you think it can serve the public in an “affordable manner”? Would you invest in something like that?