Bars

Checking in on Chez Billy Bistro and Bar Coming to 3815-17 Georgia Ave, NW in Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

I have to warn you straight away, this is gonna be one of those posts where I can’t really contain my enthusiasm. But cut me some slack, it is the enthusiasm of someone who has been waiting nine years for something like this. Holy freaking awesome, you’re gonna have to trust me a bit too because the photos are obviously rough and don’t do the space justice. But here goes! Holy freaking awesome. Alright I’m calm now.

For those who are not familiar with the project – it is from the Hilton brothers Eric and Ian – the guys behind Marvin, Gibson, Blackbyrd, soon to be Brixton etc. We took a peek (and some lucky ones a taste) at some preview menus here and here. While, I’m guessing it’s still 4 weeks or so from opening now it’s time to take a peek inside 3815 and 3817 Georgia Ave, NW. Not shown is the outdoor space. This is just a taste:


Booths on the first floor


Sweet ceiling


Upstairs looking downstairs

Continues after the jump. (more…)

The 5pm Post – Don’t Forget the next PoPville Happy Hour Wed. Feb. 29th at Acre 121

By Prince Of Petworth

I hope many of you can make the next PoPville happy hour tomorrow night (I’ll be there from 5-9pm) at Acre 121 (14th and Irving St, NW next to Tynan Coffee.) There’ll be lots of drink and food specials and some live music.

I’m also gonna take this opportunity to remind folks that I’m still accepting donations for the St. Baldrick’s foundation. I’m gonna shave my head March 10th at Fado to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer, but more importantly, to raise money to find cures. I have a huge goal of raising $5000 and we are almost half way there. I know we can do it. To help encourage people – if you donate $15 or more I’ll give you a PoP t-shirt (while supplies last but I’m bringing a lot of them) at the happy hour tomorrow night. And a huge thanks to everyone who have so generously donated.

Hope to see many of you tomorrow night at Acre 121.

Fiola to offer Mixology Classes

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

Starting this March, Fiola will begin offering monthly mixology classes led by Bar Manager Jeff Faile. Priced at $85 per class or $200 for all three, not including tax and gratuity, each class will include a three-course menu specially created by Chef Fabio Trabocchi to complement Faile’s cocktails. The two-hour classes will begin at 6PM and will be held at Fiola’s bar.

Instead of pairing the cocktails with the courses, each class is spirit-driven, with Chef Trabocchi designing his tastes to work with the tipples Faile creates. March’s theme being Whiskey Madness, as a hat-tip to the college basketball tournament, while April will allow Faile’s passion and preference for gin over vodka to emerge. The April class will focus on the history of gin, and the creation of cocktails that illustrate the complex flavors found in different styles of gin. The final class in May, “Amaro, Amaro, I Love Ya Amaro” will be a primer on the Italian herbal liqueur – a spirit used quite frequently in Faile’s Italian-inspired bar program at Fiola.

Faile will lead class participants through the history of each spirit as well as demonstrate three distinct cocktails. Students will have the opportunity to taste each cocktail while paired with their meal, and receive recipes for all the drinks demonstrated.

Fiola Mixology Classes

Whiskey Madness – Wednesday, March 14, 2012
You Say Potato, I Say Juniper – Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Amaro, Amaro, I Love Ya, Amaro – Wednesday May 9, 2012

We recently judged Fiola located at 601 Pennsylvania Ave, NW.

The 5pm Post – Trivia Night to Benefit the U.S. Capitol Historical Society

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

From an email:

Come join us for a night of trivia to benefit the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, currently commemorating its 50th Anniversary year!

Monday, 27 February 2012
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Lounge 201
201 Massachusetts Avenue, NE

Come test your knowledge of the Capitol, Congress, history, politics, and general information, all in support of a great cause!

ADMISSION IS FREE and a percentage of the revenue will go to the Society!

Prizes from the sponsor and the Society

A nonprofit and nonpartisan educational organization created in 1962 to promote the history of the Capitol and Congress, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society serves as an informational and educational resource for its members and the general public.

ArtJamz Opens in Dupont

By Prince Of Petworth


1742 Connecticut Ave NW

From an ArtJamz press release:

After roaming the metro area as pop-up for 1.5 years, ArtJamz has opened its first permanent retail location– the ArtJamz Dupont Studio at 1742 Connecticut Ave NW, Washinton DC 20009 in Dupont Circle. The venue is hybrid gallery / bar / artist studio. To celebrate its new home, the participatory art party concept will be hosting the “Dupont Studio Launch Sessions” throughout the month of March, with its first session open to the public on March 9th. Although the studio is not officially open till the 9th, ArtJamz is currently taking online reservations. Ticket link: http://artjamzdcsessions.eventbrite.com/.

$65 includes beer, wine and vitaminwater zero, catering from Fuel Pizza, great music, a canvas that you get to paint and keep, unlimited acrylic paints, brushes, art materials, tips from ArtJamz Creative Enablers and a chance to meet and bond with your fellow intrepid ArtJammers. A new $45 pay-as-you-go bar option is available. There are also family-friendly paint and pizza KidsJamz sessions from noon to 4PM on the weekends for children aged 6 to 18 ($40 for two hours.)

The 800-square foot lounge / gallery is located in the heart of Dupont Circle and features a cozy Artist Lounge for eating and drinking and an open plan ArtJamz Gallery where ArtJammers can unleash their inner artists. With a maximum occupancy of 30, the studio is ideal for public and private groups of 10 to 25.

As ArtJamz evolves, so too will its business model. Aside from ArtJamz paint and drink sessions, the studio will host KidsJamz, private party bookings for adults, families and corporations, and unique art classes, such as sketching, cartooning and street art.


The Artist Lounge, ArtJamz Dupont Studio (Photo by Anchyi Wei)


ArtJamz Dupont Studio (Photo by Anchyi Wei)

DC Resident Hopes to Bring Irish Liquor, Poitín, to the US

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

1661 Poitín An Old Irish Spirit Seeking New Life through Alternative Funding

1661 was apparently a tragic year for drinkers in Ireland. Why? Because that is the year the British Crown outlawed poitin, a clear Irish spirit known for its strength and so-called medicinal qualities. The ban lasted over 300 years, but now an Irish entrepreneur is hoping to help the spirit make a comeback through online fundraising via Kickstarter.

1661 Poitin is the name of the spirit and the person behind it is Ashlee Casserly. This lover of fine spirits is looking to raise $40,000 through the popular online crowd funding platform to produce the Irish alcohol. Her plans, if she is successful, is to create the spirit in a small batch Irish distillery using locally sourced Irish ingredients and a pot still. The money raised will help with this, as well as bottling, shipping and licenses for US distribution. A recently added pledge reward to the project allows someone to get their name on the packaging box that every bottle of 1661 poitin will be sold in, check out the picture below.

1661 Poitín wants to bring this tasty spirit to the world and is letting you in on the opportunity. The first batch is ready to be made and Casserly would love to be the person to revive poitín as a national product and bring it to the States. As bars look for new and unique spirits to mix with, something like 1661 Poitín would do really well with the mixology crowd.
Watch the video below and then click the Kickstarter link above to help Casserly in bringing this old Irish spirit to American shores.

The project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/442783822/1661-poitin-small-batch-traditional-irish-spirit

Anyone ever try Poitín before?

Eagle Restaurant Sports Bar and Cafe Opens in Shaw

By Prince Of Petworth

A couple weeks ago, I mentioned that the Eagle restaurant was coming back to the former Vegetate space at 1414 9th St, NW. Earlier this week I walked past the space and it looked totally revamped. They’re also branding themselves as a sports bar – when I walked by there was a soccer game on the tv. Looks like it could be a chill space. Anyone stop by yet?

Fashion and Design Nerd Nite @ Looking Glass Lounge Sun. 8pm

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

We’re throwing a night of fashion and design talks (free and open to the public) this Sunday night at Looking Glass Lounge (3634 Georgia Ave NW.) Starts at 8.

Join us at Looking Glass Lounge (downstairs) for an evening of short lectures from DC’s most fashionable intelligentsia. Topics will include:

– “Kate in Slacks: Katharine Hepburn on the middle road” by Annie Strother, a writer and a production assistant at the PBS NewsHour.

– “How To Catapult Your Passion Into Your Vocation” by local fashion illustrator and stylist Lauren Friedman. Friedman is the creator of the website My Closet in Sketches and is a regular contributor for Lucky Magazine.

– Jessica K Pavone, of frumchic.blogspot.com, discussing challenges to western tailoring, including silhouette conventions—vis-à-vis Japanese designers and Orthodox garb—and the underutilization of oversized possibilities.

– And Anna Wonson on the History Of Dressing Cats.

And more!

Tortilla Coast Launches New Happy Hour for Logan Circle Location

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

Tortilla Coast Logan Circle is launching their happy hour! It will run Monday through Friday, 3:30pm-6:30pm, in the bar only. There will be discounts on a selection of signature cocktails including the classic and frozen margaritas, made with organic nectars, fresh lime juice, and agave. They will also offer sangria (available by the jar!), micheladas (the chelita and la sangrita), beer, and house wines. Please note this is specific to the Tortilla Coast located in Logan Circle.

Tortilla Coast’s Logan Circle spot is located at 1460 P Street NW at the corner of 15th and P.

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