Bars

Red Light Cocktails & Dessert Bar Softly Opens Saturday, April 12th

By Prince Of Petworth

red_light_logan
1401 R Street, NW

And in other anticipated openings is Red Light Cocktails & Dessert Bar is soft opening on Saturday in the former Bar di Bari space.

From a press release:

“On Saturday, April 12th, Partners Aaron Gordon, Robert Underwood, and brothers Ari and Micah Wilder will softly open Red Light, Cocktails & Dessert Bar at 1401 R Street, NW. A limited dessert menu will run for two weeks, from April 12th through April 26th. Guests can stop by nightly, from 4 PM to close, to indulge in the restaurants show-stopping desserts and innovative cocktails. Then, on Sunday, April 27th, the restaurant will open with a full menu and regular hours: Monday through Thursday from 4 PM to close, Friday and Saturday from 12 Noon to 2 AM and Sunday from 12 Noon to 10 PM.

“Distinctive craft cocktails and inspired desserts in a fun, relaxed bar will be the ideal complement to 14th St. – DC’s top restaurant destination, explains Aaron Gordon. “Who doesn’t love delicious chocolate and Champagne?”

Gordon tapped Robert Underwood as executive chef for Red Light. Underwood was previously the head pastry chef at award-winning Komi and Marcel’s in Washington, DC. His menu at Red Light will offer ten desserts changing daily, reflecting the season, and a featured soufflé. Opening selections planned include Soufflé of the Moment– white chocolate Grand Marnier; Pistachio Tea Cakes – with local strawberry jam and lavender gelato; Abuelita’s Tres Leches – with toasted coconut cake and Zapaca rum; Black & Tan Donuts – ale batter beignets with a chocolate stout filling; and aQuinoa BrûléePudding – with caramelized bananas and spicy candied cashews. Dessert choices will be priced from $8 to $10. A pre-fixe menu, complete with a cocktail or wine pairing, will also be available for $16 to $20 per person.

The cocktail menu and wine list is being developed by the talented Wilder brothers, who will serve as Red Light’s beverage directors. Since 2008, when they founded Wilder Bros LLC, they have created over a dozen successful cocktail programs and opened Fed Restaurant in May, 2013. Their innovative list for Red Light will include a selection of eight to 12 specialty drinks, as well as ‘adult’ desserts that combine cocktail and dessert ingredients for a spirited treat. Red Light’s upcoming list will include the Riverstone Slush –ice wine with seasonal nectar, shaved river stone ice and winter fruit; the Double Down –Buffalo Trace Bourbon, rose bitters, B grade maple syrup, Ruby Red grapefruit and lime; andthe Cake Shake –Red Velvet cupcake, homemade ice cream, Atlantico dark rum, Velvet Felernum and cocoa bitters. The menu will also offer a boutique wine selection as well as eight to ten Champagnes by-the-glass, including four Champagnes on-tap.

Design studio SwatchRoom is responsible for the scheme for Red Light. The intimate 27-seat interior will have ‘love-nest’ seating options of red leather banquettes and club chairs for lingering plus a sprinkling of two and four top tables. Guest can grab a stool at the dramatic concrete 18-person bar and see the chefs in action at the display pastry bar. The seasonal 44-seat outdoor patio will be the destination gathering place with its warm and inviting environment featuring communal, cocktail and lounge seating.

“The contemporary design for Red Light will call back to the dangerous and salacious history of 14th Street, a dessert lounge and a place where the edge of rock & roll is juxtaposed to classic romance through color palette, found objects, and sensual textures,” states Warren Weixler, co-owner of SwatchRoom. “The design will illuminate the natural allure of voyeurism and the intoxicating art of the performance; specifically preparing craft cocktails and delectable desserts.”

New Bar from Owner of Acqua al 2 and Ghibellina Coming to Chinatown

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_6195
6th and F Street, NW

Big news for Chinatown – the space that was going to become a bar from the owners Daikaya – has now been leased. It’s now going to become a bar from the owner of Mindful Restaurants which includes Ghibellina in Logan Circle and Acqua al 2 and Harold Black on Capitol Hill. The new spot is actually in the lower level around the corner from Fuel pizza on 6th Street in the historic OBA building:

IMG_6193

Owner Ari Gejdenson and his wife Stacy plan on making this a proper liquor bar. It’s on the smaller side at about 2000 square feet. The description kinda reminds me of an old school hotel bar – lots of brass, lots of leather, proper cocktails including all the classics, nice glassware – just a cool, comfortable, classy spot. There will be some small food items available as well but the menu (and the name for that matter) haven’t been finalized yet. But work has begun and you can see the making of lots of awesome booths. There will be 8 of them and room for 12-14 at the bar. If all goes well they should open around the end of the summer/early Fall. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out but in the meantime – you can get a basic idea:

IMG_6185
future booths

IMG_6186
windows are going to be replaced with older period windows.

IMG_6187
future bar

DNV Rooftop at the Donovan House Grand Opening Friday April 11th at Thomas Circle

By Prince Of Petworth

DNV 2
Photos courtesy of Donovan House

From an email:

“WHAT: On Friday, April 11th, the hotly anticipated DNV Rooftop will open for the spring season, featuring new menus inspired by Asian street food and cocktails. The DNV Rooftop boasts one of the most impressive skyline views in Washington, DC, perched atop the Donovan House hotel on 14th Street. DNV will feature an Asian-leaning cocktail menu from lauded bartender Jon Harris with influences including tea infusions, sugarcane, Vietnamese salted lemonades and Japanese highballs. Jon Harris’ menu of Asian street drinks includes: the Tidal Basin Picnic Special with Clear Creek Kirschwasser, lemon, Liqueur de Violette, bitter lemon soda; the Tokyo Gimlet with Tanqueray Gin or Belvedere Vodka, a house made yuzu-lime cordial; the Red Silk Slipper with Valentine White Blossom Vodka, rhubarb shrub, Teavine Green Tea Sparkling Wine and the Green Velvet Slipper with Milagro Silver Tequila, Wandering Poet Sake, Midori, house made yuzu-lime cordial, Fever Tree Bitter Lemon.

Zentan Executive Chef Jennifer Nguyen will offer a line-up of Asian tacos inspired by her time spent in Austin, Texas including a Tamarind Barbacao Beef Taco with kimchee, pickled onions, jalapenos, yuzu crema and a Wild Mushroom Taco with seasonal mushrooms, five spice mole, pickled red onions. In addition, DNV will serve Mung Bean Tamale Cakes with shredded braised chicken, house red curry, radishes and Mazeman Noodles with peppered ground beef, cucumber, bean sprouts, bell peppers, ramen noodles and a peanut sauce.

WHEN: DNV Rooftop grand opening, Friday, April 11th at 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

DNV hours of operation: Monday 4 p.m. – 11 p.m., Tuesday – Thursday 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Happy hour will be available daily Monday through Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., when select cocktails, beer and wine are available for just $5.

WHERE: DNV Rooftop, 14th Floor, The Donovan House 1155 14th Street, NW”

DNV 4

End of an Era Vol. 11 – Remingtons Closing Monday on Capitol Hill

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_6094
639 Pennsylvania Ave, SE

Another big hit for longtime Capitol Hill bars – next up on the chopping block – Remingtons located at 639 Pennsylvania Ave, SE “for about 30 years or so”. Thanks to a reader for sending the tip, a call to Remingtons confirms their last day will be Monday at happy hour. I’m told the building sold about a year ago and will be renovated.

Remingtons follows the closures of long time spots – old Hawk n Dove, 18th Amendment, Li’l Pub and Pour House (at the end of April).

Barrel Opening this Week in former 18th Amendment Space – Check Out Their Menus

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_6092
613 Pennsylvania Ave, SE

Another pretty spectacular transformation comes to Capitol Hill in the former 18th Amendment space. On April second Barrel’s blog said:

“Our whiskey all tucked in for the night just waiting to be drunk next week #brownwater”

Check out their “brownwater” menu here and their kitchen menu here.

Mark this as another incredible transformation (lots more photos here):

Barrel_capitol_hill
Photo via Barrel

Game of Thrones Showing at Little Miss Whiskey’s Sundays

By Prince Of Petworth

game_of_thrones_dc

From an email:

“HBO’s Game of Thrones Season 4 episodes shown every week
@ Little Miss Whiskeys Golden Dollar (1104 H Street, NE)
Season premiere is Sunday, 4/6, at 9 PM. All season 4 episodes shown Sundays at 9 PM

We don’t have our own wolf any more, but we’ve still got the HDMI quality projector, 4’X6′ screen, and theatre-quality sound system with which to enjoy Season 4 of HBO’s brilliant Game of Thrones series. Possible swag and other “gifts” may work themselves into the mix this year, delicious drinky drinks and craft beers are always immediately available, so if you’re looking to stay up to date and enjoy an excellent screening of each episode as it airs please join us!”

PoPville Preview: Compass Rose Hoping to Open April 12th at 14th and T St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

IMG_5892
1346 T Street, NW next to St. Ex

We’ve been waiting a long time to see how Compass Rose turned out in the former Collage Cafe space on T Street next door to St. Ex and though I feel like I say this a lot – this one was definitely worth the wait.  At least from the looks.  This is one of the nicest transformations of a space I’ve seen since Rose’s Luxury on Barracks Row.  Though not affiliated there’s gotta be something to having Rose in the name… This one’s a bit smaller but equally as sweet.

IMG_5905

You can see some background and what Rose’s Compass used to look like here.  This was the spot that had a vision to give the space the feel of an outdoor market place.  Stay tuned for an April 12th (5pm) opening – and here’s a boatload of photos to whet your whistle:

IMG_5904

Tons more photos after the jump. (more…)

Final Farewell to Channel Inn’s Engine Room in SW Waterfront

By Prince Of Petworth

13465509735_073d1e259e_z

All photos by PoPville flickr user Beau Finley

Thanks to Beau Finley for sending the final word and photos:

“Saturday was rather surreal. Some friends and I went to the Engine Room to bid it goodbye. Little did we know an official “Goodbye, Engine Room” event was planned for the night. It was a “Celebration of the Legacy” of the Engine Room, Pier 7, and the Channel Inn, hosted by Tommy Wells. The Channel Inn opened in the 1970s [650 Water Street, SW]. The boat owners at Gangplank Marina frequently stayed at the hotel to avoid being on their boats during winter storms. Several politicians routinely visited, including Tommy Wells (hosted monthly office hours at the coffee shop) and Dante B. Fascell (Florida Congressman who chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee for awhile). The night began with speeches, turned to dancing and reminiscences among regulars. I felt a bit like a cultural tourist at that point, and took off.

From the official program for Saturday’s festivities:
“Customers of the Engine Room lounge are legendary in their devotion. There are a few who have visited regularly during the week over the entire time is has been open. Many more have attended regularly for at least twenty or thirty of those years. During the year, hundreds of out of town business professionals and family of local residents schedule a visit to the lounge during their time in town. From the beginning, the lounge has had a live band perform for the entire evening on weekends and a midweek night, with no cover charge of drink minimum. Twice weekly, there is an Open Mike night, giving opportunity for local musical artists to perform before a public audience for exposure and experience…”

The event was great, with a champagne toast to Manny and his wife Alma and to the joint itself.

The hotel closes at the end of April. The bar closed last night.”

13465803093_493f7a9997_z
the inside, empty, Thursday evening (though the bar was crowded)

13512506954_6c32e414c5_z
Many regulars

13523376725_a519c4bda2_z
Manny Fernandez bidding farewell

View More Stories