I’m Pretty Sure this is not an Elaborate Joke – “1920’s Themed Chaplin Cocktail Bar To Open This July”

1501 9th Street, NW formerly Mandalay Burmese restaurant which closed at 9th and P St, NW in May

From a press release:

“Mixologists and brothers Ari and Micah Wilder, along with their partners Armin Amin and Adrian Williams, are pleased to announce the July anticipated opening of Chaplin Cocktail Bar at 1501 9th Street, NW. Chaplin is a nod to Sir Charles Spencer “Charlie” Chaplin, an English actor, comedian and filmmaker who rose to fame in the silent era. The restaurant will showcase cocktails from the 1920’s with a unique, handcrafted twist. Chaplin will serve Monday through Thursday from 4 PM to 12 AM; Friday from 4 PM to 1 AM; Saturday from 12 Noon to 1 AM, and Sunday from 12 Noon to 12 AM.

Ari and Micah Wilder have a rich mixology background with 29 years of combined experience. While Micah was opening cocktail bars throughout San Francisco, his younger brother Ari was following his lead in Washington, DC. Then, in 2008, Micah joined his brother in the nation’s capital to found Wilder Bros LLC, a cocktail consulting company. The dynamic duo created over a dozen cocktail programs throughout the city since launching their company. They also opened their first venture together, Fed Restaurant in May, 2013 and supply cocktail programs throughout the city with their proprietary mixers and lost ingredients.

The cocktails at Chaplin will be influenced and named after Charlie Chaplin’s comedic films. Standouts include the Gold Rush, Champagne, Montenegro amaro, peach liqueur, peach bitters and golden flake; The Tramp, rye whiskey, Bénédictine, Peychaud’s bitters and burned orange peel; The Vagabond, Tom Cat gin, blanc vermouth, lemon bitters and tonic; The Pilgrim, Genever, Crème de Violet, ginger beer and lime; Lime Light, vodka, Leopold’s apple liqueur, green apple soda and lime vin; Sunny Side, made from a combination of three rums, orange Curaçao, cherry liqueur, Peychaud’s bitter and pineapple with citrus; By The Sea, Speyside scotch, Porto, apricot liqueur, Champagne and lemon, and the Laughing Gas, Blue Coat gin, blackberry liqueur and lemon laughing gas soda, which is made combining helium to their house-made soda to create laughter while imbibing. Cocktails are priced at $10 each.

Design and fabrication agency SwatchRoom will be responsible for the interior scheme for Chaplin. The two story, 83-seat dining room will be enveloped by the nostalgia of a flickering black and white cinematic experience. The space will feature layers of antiquated textures and artifacts from film and entertainment. Bold accents of rich gold and reds can be found throughout the space leading to the private Opium Den located on the second floor. Additionally, an expansive 80-seat outdoor patio “Piano Bar” will be available during the spring and summer months, and is sure to become a neighborhood gathering place.”

Image via Chaplin Restaurant’s website