Bars

Champions League Final: Manchester United vs. FC Barcelona this Sat.

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

I just wanted to give you a head’s up for this weekend’s big Champions League Final, featuring two of the most decorated franchises in European club football history! The final will be held live from Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday, May 28 at 2:45 p.m. We’ve ( Touchdown DC 1334 U St, NW) decided to split our bar to accommodate both fan bases, with Manchester fans on the second floor and Barca supporters on the first floor! Should provide for a great atmosphere! $3 Bud, Bud Light, and Modelo Especial, along with a constant stream of pitchers and cheap eats!

The Getaway (in the former Social space) Soft Opens Tonight in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

The Getaway is located at 14th and Meridian Pl, NW in the former Social space ( Dunes art gallery is on the 3rd floor.) They will open tonight at 7pm serving snacks, tomorrow and sunday at 7pm with a limited menu and next week at 5pm with a full menu.

You can check out the menu below:

Getaway-Menu

I look forward to hearing folks’ initial impressions (especially in contrast to Social.) We’ll revisit for a proper judging in a few weeks.

“Happy Hour” Neighborhood Bar Coming to 1201 U Street NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Happy Hour will be located above the Islander restaurant at 1201 U St, NW. A recent alcohol application says:

“Neighborhood bar with light food, games including Skiball, Wii Stations, and other electronic video games. Entertainment includes live bands.”

Skiball – sweet! Sound fun?

Mova “Upscale Martini Lounge” Coming to Old Bicycle Space Location at

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to an eagle eyed reader for sending word about this development. 2204 14th St, NW used to be the home of Bicycle Stations which closed back in Feb. and moved to Alexandria. Now the space will become Mova, and “Upscale Martini Lounge”. The reader writes,

“This went up today in the old Bikestations spot at 14 and W. More small plates on 14th St; shockkkkking!”

The alcohol application says:

“Upscale Martini Lounge (Tavern) serving tapas style menu with seating capacity for 50 and a total load of 199. Request a summer garden with 50 seats and entertainment endorsement with occasional DJ or live singers or small band.”

Sound good?

Bloomingdale Civic Association’s Response to Steven May’s Open Letter Re: Engine Co. 12

By Prince Of Petworth


Engine Company 12 To be Located at 1626 North Capitol Street, NW

Following is a letter written by BCA regarding Steven May’s open letter to the community discussing a potential delay in the opening of Engine Company 12 at 1626 North Capitol Street, NW.

Bloomingdale Civic Association’s Response to Steven May’s “Open Letter to the
Community”

Neighbors,

The Bloomingdale Civic Association (“BCA”) has read Mr. Steven May’s “Open Letter” dated
today. While the BCA looks forward to working with Mr. May as he works toward the opening
of Engine Company 12, it is necessary to clarify a few things about the BCA.

First, the BCA fully supports Bloomingdale-area businesses and their efforts to serve the
Bloomingdale community. This includes supporting restaurants that seek liquor licenses.
Recently, we supported the applications of Big Bear Café and Boundary Stone, and we hope to
support future applications from businesses that will add value to our community.

Second, our policy concerning support of liquor licenses is that we consider all requests for
support during a duly noticed public meeting after the business owner has filed the license
application. Big Bear Café and Boundary Stone followed this process and the BCA supported
them. The principal reason for this policy is that Bloomingdale residents deserve to know what
the business owner is asking them to support and the official record of that information is found
in the filed and accepted application (acceptance occurs before the licensing board issues the
placard for posting). In fact, Bloomingdale residents already have approached us regarding
Engine Company 12’s intended use of the patio. While Mr. May has likely discussed this issue
in prior meetings, the use of the patio will be governed by the request in the application and the
terms of the license.

Third, the BCA is not delaying Engine Company 12’s opening. To be clear, the liquor licensing
process does not require that a letter of support from a civic association (or ANC) be obtained
prior to the submission of a liquor license application or at anytime thereafter. Likewise, there
is no requirement that such letter must be submitted with a liquor license application. We were
pleased that Mr. May sought our support and offered to consider his request once he filed the
application. Any claim that the BCA is the cause of Engine Company 12’s failure to open for
business on July 1, 2011 is disingenuous – at best. Even if the liquor license application was
filed today, in a best case scenario, the application could not be approved and issued before July
1, 2011. Further, I have found no support in the District’s regulations and through a call to the
licensing board for Mr. May’s claim that not acquiring a letter of support prior to the submission
of an application would cause a delay in application process. Therefore, assuming that the lack
of a liquor license is the only reason Engine Company 12 is unable to open on July 1, 2011, the
blame for not opening on time would seem to fall at the feet of the person(s) responsible for
filing the application in a timely fashion.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Dear PoP – Scare Tactics Used to Oppose New Bistro in Old Post Office Building at 14th and T St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

The next “Adams Morgan” scare tactics come to H St, NE, Bloomingdale, Logan Circle, Columbia Heights T Street NW.  My favorite part is “New York investor”…

“Dear PoP,

I live on the 1400 block of T Street, site of the proposed Post Office Bistro.  Some alarmist neighbor slipped me this flyer last night, which makes a litany of exaggerated claims about the restaurant and states that “EVERYONE ON THE BLOCK NEEDS TO OPPOSE THIS AT THE MAY ANC MEETING” tonight (emphasis in original).  I generally stay out of these fights, but this flyer is so absurd that now I want to support the restaurant at tonight’s meeting.”

For those who missed the the post about the new bistro looking to come to the old post office building at 1407 T St, NW, the liquor license application said:

“Casual and relaxed bistro restaurant serving an extensive Saturday & Sunday brunch with and total occupancy load of 259. Request a Sidewalk Café with 56 seats and Summer Garden with 14 seats. In addition, requesting an Entertainment Endorsement featuring recorded music and DJ.”

SAX Lounge & Restaurant Opening Downtown on May 13th

By Prince Of Petworth

Sax Restaurant & Lounge will be located at 734 11 Street, NW in the old POSH Lounge space. We first learned of their opening back in July ’10.

From a press release:

SAX, an entertainment venue featuring live cabaret and allegorical art installations, will open to the public on Friday, May 13. The SAX experience, from shocking paintings and elegant, erotic performances to a luxurious menu of modern French small plates and decadent cocktails, is an atmosphere lavishly unique in Washington, D.C.

The lounge will open seven days a week, by reservation only. On Sunday evenings, the entertainment will cater to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. SAX is the third restaurant and lounge by Errol Lawrence and Nancy Koide, who also own OYA and SEI in Penn Quarter.

PERFORMANCE ARTS
A 20-foot enclosed infinity stage is visible from all angles of the two-story space, which will host costumed cabaret performers throughout the evening. Entertainment will range from illusionists and mimes to alluring performances that border on burlesque as the evening continues. Hillary Wright, an award-winning choreographer and performer, will expertly orchestrate the in-house troupe.

THE SAX SCANDALS
Allegory meets contemporary art with “The SAX Scandals,” satirical murals and portraits of political and religious figures and their vices. The art, much like the SAX experience, is over the top and invites guests to enter a world of fantasy, pushing the envelope of allure and corruption. These paintings are artist Balage Balogh’s interpretation of the hypocrisy demonstrated by some politicians and religious leaders, and the images bring the taboo subjects of sex, politics and religion to the forefront of conversation.

THE SPACE
SAX’s opulent 9,700-square-foot, two-story space, reflects a modern French design, plush with gilded and faux-marbled columns, hand-button tufted damask banquettes and inlaid medallion tabletops. Authentic reclaimed church doors mark the entryway from the crystal-adorned vestibule into SAX, and red-corded curtains lead to the main dining room, which is adorned with 30 wall sconces and nine large chandeliers surrounding the perimeter balconies. All of the sconces and chandeliers are antique period pieces updated for the 21st century.

THE MENU AND THE CHEF
Like the interior design, the dinner menu is modern French-influenced, featuring sensual and satisfying small plates meant to be enjoyed without utensils. European fondues, flatbreads, canapés and main selections will pair with an extensive list of cocktails, beer and wine.

With more than 10 selections by the glass and 50 by the bottle, SAX will boast one of the largest sparkling wine lists in the city, plus a number of larger-format magnums and jeroboams. Sommelier Andrew Stover also selected Ridgeview ‘South Ridge’ Classic Cuvee Brut from Sussex, England. SAX is the only lounge in Washington, D.C., to carry this sparkling wine. Regional Operations Director Arris Noble has also replaced traditional bottle service with minibar packages featuring 375 ml bottles of choice spirits and food pairings. Cocktails made with gold leaf, edible flowers and liquid nitrogen complement the whimsical, decadent atmosphere.

Jonathan Seningen is the Executive Chef of SAX, and before opening the restaurant and lounge he oversaw the menu at OYA.

Sound good?

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