Prince Of Petworth - PoPville

Judging Restaurants and Bars – Portico

Published September 17, 2009 at 12:00PM | Updated September 9, 2025 at 5:11PM

Portico is located at 1914 9th Street, NW. I’ve walked by a few times and couldn’t remember if it was new or not. There is a bit more info from two commenters on Yelp. One says:

“Portico, has returned after a three year hiatus…The original owner, Mike, is back. He is Eritrean and the Italian influence shows through in the menu which includes a lot of pasta dishes. The bar/restaurant itself is in a basement with a lounge/live music area upstairs.”

The other says:

“The crowd was mixed gentrifiers and immigrants, which was nice as it’s hard to find places where the groups commingle even though we live side by side… My friend predicts Portico will be a hipster bar in six months.”

Anyone check it out? Any fans?

A Look Inside New Pop Up at 2317 15th Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Published September 17, 2009 at 11:00AM | Updated September 10, 2025 at 11:47AM

We judged this pop up a number of months ago (will have to add an updated photos soon) but the owner was nice enough to send a few photos. It looks amazing!

Thanks to the owners for being kind enough to share a peek. They also give a bit of background:

“We were very lucky to find a smart, green architect to guide us through this update, Rick Harlan Schneider, who specializes in earth-friendly modern design. His company is called iStudio: (www.istudioarchitects.com). He also works on community projects and is in the middle of designing a pretty cool public meeting center project with Takoma Park. He’s the real thing, not fake enviro–we were lucky to find him. He gave us good advice about use of materials, saving rain water, keeping down the chemical levels, proper disposal, re-use, etc., and we really love his design sense–simple and not overdone.”

Dear PoP – What are your Top 10 Recommendations For a Visit?

By Prince Of Petworth

Published September 16, 2009 at 11:32PM | Updated September 9, 2025 at 5:15PM

“Dear PoP,

It’s been two years since we moved from our lovely abode on the 700 block of Girard St NW to my Midwestern homeland. And I’m finally coming back for a visit next month and was hoping you could give me your Top 10 List of “Must Sees” in the Logan Circle, U Street, Columbia Hgts, and Petworth neighborhoods. I do check in with the blog periodically, but would be much obliged if you and your readers could give me some pointers about the best bars, restaurants, shops, galleries, rehabs, that may have sprung up since July 2007. Thanks for your help!”

#1 – The Franciscan Monastery.

#2 – Room 11

#3 – Social

#4 – 1905

#5 – Mid City Caffe

#6 – Fusion

#7 – Lincoln Cottage

#8 – Pete’s Apizza and/or Red Rocks

#9 – Bloom Bars

#10 – Pho 14

I tried to name some of the newer spots (with the exception of the Franciscan Monastery in Brookland). What would you guys add? Any other must see spots in other neighborhoods? You can find a discussion we had on must visit spots throughout the city here.

#Quest for the Best

Wait a Second? Why Would Anyone Get Hooters To Go?

By Prince Of Petworth

Published September 16, 2009 at 11:08PM | Updated September 9, 2025 at 5:13PM

Can’t you just get wings cheaper somewhere else… Do folks actually think the wings at Hooters are that good?

And of course this reminds me of a hilarious quote from Old School:

“How was Hooters?

I actually didn’t go to Hooters.

Yeah, right.

Skittles?”

POSH, Consignment Store, Opening at 1828 18th Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Published September 16, 2009 at 11:01PM | Updated September 9, 2025 at 5:12PM

I just learned today that a consignment store, POSH, will be opening above Ansonia Wines at 1828 18th Street, Nw on the second floor in early October.

Any Fans of the Postal Museum?

By Prince Of Petworth

Published September 16, 2009 at 10:55PM | Updated September 9, 2025 at 5:09PM

I’ve always thought of this beautiful building next to Union Station as the one that houses Capitol City Brewing Company. Intangible Arts explained to me that it’s actually the National Postal Museum. Is it worth checking out?

Victims of Communism Memorial

By Prince Of Petworth

Published September 16, 2009 at 10:52PM | Updated September 9, 2025 at 5:08PM

This is a relatively new memorial dedicated in 2007. From their Web site:

“The Victims of Communism Memorial was dedicated by President George W. Bush on June 12, 2007. The dedication ceremony featured the unveiling of the “Goddess of Democracy,” a bronze replica of a statue erected by Chinese students in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China in the spring of 1989. Many world leaders have already visited the memorial site to pay their respects and lay wreaths. It is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and New Jersey Avenue, NW on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.”