“February 5 – February 6
Feb 5 at 7 PM to Feb 6 at 11:59 PM
DC’s resident sherry expert Chantal Tseng (of RedEye Menus) is back behind the bar for her popular #GetLit literary cocktail series in the Reading Room. This weekend’s authorial inspiration: Haruki Murakami. Join us from 7pm-midnight Friday and Saturday nights for the most intellectual, inventive drinks DC has to offer. Bring your books and your friends.”
829 Upshur Street, NW
Clearly.
2450 18th St, NW
Mosaic mural (Photo by Jeff Elkins)
Update – The Columbia Room send professional photos – now we’re talking!
Why on God’s green earth did I not bring my good camera? This I do not know. What I do know is that the new Columbia Room (124 Blagden Alley, NW) is the bomb. For those who missed the info last time:
Columbia Room, the intimate cocktail bar created by leading spirits expert Derek Brown, re-opens in Washington on February 9, 2016. Widely hailed for its meticulously crafted cocktails and intimate drinking experience, Columbia Room returns with the same attention to detail and top-notch service that earned it two James Beard Award nominations.
The revamped Columbia Room is a 2,400-square foot bar divided into three distinct areas: The Spirits Library, Punch Garden (outside) and Tasting Room.
“We’re so excited that we get to expand on our original idea” Brown says about the Columbia Room, which he originally launched inside The Passenger in 2010. “It means that we get to add bells and whistles, but it also means that we get to bring a new perspective, a more confident perspective that I think, for guests, will translate into a richer experience with our service, drinks and food.”
Against the backdrop of a stunning Italian mosaic mural that tells the story of the bar, ticketed patrons at the Columbia Room’s signature 14-person tasting room will indulge in three and five-course tasting menus featuring specialty cocktails, punches, sodas and light snacks curated by Brown and his team of expert bartenders, including head bartender J.P. Fetherston. The 20-seat Spirits Library, framed by bookcases and original artwork, will allow guests to taste one-of-a-kind spirits and cocktails à la carte. The Punch Garden, an outside terrace with a panoramic view of Washington, is slated to open in Spring 2016.
I took a taste last night and it was phenomenal. I just want to add that I went in with super high expectations too – DC is very lucky to have them back in action.
Tasting Room bar (Photo by Jeff Elkins)
A couple More mediocre phenomenal photos after the jump. (more…)
639 Florida Ave, NW
Thanks to a reader for sending word. IChing (cuisine is Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, Japanese) opened up back in Sept. 2014. From their Facebook it looks like they opened around late December/early January:
“DC’s new Gay Bear Bar, Lounge & Restaurant”
via Looking Glass Lounge’s Facebook page
Thanks to a reader for sending from Looking Glass Lounge (3634 Georgia Ave, NW) after they posted to their Facebook page on Saturday. We briefly spoke about the fire @PoPville when it first happened last Thursday. Updates when they reopen.
Ed. Note: Props to DCFD and thank God this wasn’t worse. This coulda been devastating on many levels.
2017 14th Street, NW
From a press release:
“Quarter+Glory, the latest addition to Washington, D.C.’s thriving hospitality scene along the U Street Corridor, today opens its doors at 2017 14th Street NW on the corner of U Street. Patrons will find a modern take on the classic American watering holes of past generations, where all walks of life convened over a shot of whiskey, a cold beer or a simple cocktail and enjoyed good conversation in a convivial atmosphere. (more…)
2440 18th Street, NW
Around Midnight Millie & Al’s tweeted out:
“ATTN: despite what you may have read/heard, Millie and Al’s will not, I repeat, WILL NOT be closing it’s doors.”
To be clear the original article from the Washington Business Journal said the building is for sale and they will be “likely to close“. They didn’t say they were closed or they were closing on a particular date. Just reporting that their building was for sale and “from the broker: The building will be “delivered vacant.” So obvious conclusions were drawn. I’ll also add that this was the same reaction I received when I first wrote about the Stetson’s building being for sale. As we know Stetson’s sold and is now closed. WBJ reached out to Millie and Al’s for comment (as did I) and did not hear back.
On Millie and Al’s Facebook page they wrote:
“Business as usual. We are not closed.
Who started that rumor?
Karaoke Thursday, starts at 9:30pm.”
Raman Santra answered their question: “Your real estate broker”
Anyway the good news is – you can still go to Karaoke and have jello shots. Until you can’t. As was reported. Stay tuned.
3000 Connecticut Ave, NW
Hard to tell with all that snow but the Zoo Bar has now papered over their windows – changes are coming. Stay tuned.
Update from a press release:
“The partnership group behind Dupont Circle gastropub Duke’s Grocery will open a second location, Duke’s Counter, directly across from the National Zoo at 3000 Connecticut Avenue NW. The new restaurant and bar will serve the same dishes and cocktails found at the current location, with new twists and more options. Duke’s Counter will benefit from a larger kitchen and more draught beer lines.
Fans of Duke’s Grocery who visit Duke’s Counter will recognize a robust brunch menu, active bar scene, creative sandwiches, sunny patio and of course the Proper Burger, while also looking forward to new items like fish and chips, wings, a kid’s menu and the potential for take away service. The East London-inspired menu will continue to offer seasonal salads, white truffle mac & cheese, curries and specials including Sunday Roast, lamb shanks, falafel with the works and salt beef. (more…)
Thanks to all who sent links. The Washington Business Journal reported:
A jury has awarded a former employee of Chinatown’s Redline sports bar a total of $687,000 in damages after finding that she was the victim of discrimination.
Hardin said her termination was “part of a broader scheme of discriminatory exclusion perpetrated by Redline and Dadlani,” according to her lawsuit.“In pursuit of defendants’ vision of Redline as maintaining a white, homogeneous customer base, Redline and Dadlani implemented discriminatory policies that excluded African-Americans from working in visible positions and denied African-American customers equal access to the establishment.”
2440 18th Street, NW
Thanks to all who sent emails about the Washington Business Journal report yesterday:
“The home of Millie & Al’s, 2440 18th St. NW, is for sale, according to a postcard we received Tuesday from Josh Feldman of Marcus & Millichap. The list price is $1.8 million for the 2,562-square-foot building on a 2,719-square-foot lot.
Most importantly, from the broker: The building will be “delivered vacant.”
I’ve emailed the owner for official word and am still waiting to hear back from her. In April 2013 to celebrate their 50th Anniversary the owner wrote A Brief History about Original Owner Al Shapiro – definitely worth a read if you missed it. Updates as soon as more info is known.
Millie and Al’s in the early 70s courtesy of owner Barbara Shapiro