Bars

Tap & Parlour Opens Up in Bohemian Caverns Building on U Street

By Prince Of Petworth

Tap & Parlour has opened up in the first floor of the Bohemian Caverns Building at the corner of 11th and U St, NW in the old Hominy Restaurant and Lounge space. I stopped by before the official opening on Friday and the space was looking great.

Their facebook page says:

“the Tap & Parlour @ Bohemian Caverns is a fresh and unique neighborhood bar and lounge nestled in the heart of U Street. Blending the artistic soul of U Street with the eclectic sensibilities of the District, the Tap & Parlour @ BC offers a relaxed, friendly and diverse atmosphere where everybody knows your name. Enjoy our extensive bar offerings and unbeatable happy hour, watch the game, relax in the lounge, read a book or wax poetic – whatever you are in search of for laid back leisure, the Tap & Pour @ Bohemian Caverns is where the community connects.”

And according to their Web site every month you’ll be able to vote on what beer you’d like to see on tap:

“One of our main goals at the Tap and Parlour is to engage with our neighbors on U Street and customers to make sure we are giving them the services and products they want. So when we were selecting beers to have on draft, we figured that would be a great way to allow our customers to make the Tap and Parlour their very own.

Each month we will give the public the ability to vote for their favorite beer to put on draft. The Tap and Parlour will reserve one slot on our draft beer menu for The People’s Choice. Come by the Tap and Parlour and cast your vote for your favorite beer.”

Anyone happen to check them out yet?


Finishing touches were still going on when I stopped by. A flat screen tv was going to be mounted above the fireplace here.

Friday Question of the Day – Would a Country Bar Do Well in DC?

By Prince Of Petworth

A friend of mine is gonna kill me for posting this question because he thinks this a million dollar idea and wants to open one himself. Nevertheless a fun Friday Question of the Day will always trump my personal friendships… I was also psyched to find another really interesting fact from the cultural heritage trail in Mt. Pleasant (pictured above). It mentioned that there was a country bar located at 1419 Irving St, NW in Columbia Heights (that later became a rock bar) called the Starlite Restaurant. Coincidentally, It turns out that there is currently a vacant retail space in DCUSA in nearly that exact same address (next to the IHOP). Could a country music bar be reborn here?

And in general what do you guys think – are there enough country music fans to support a country bar in DC? If so, what neighborhood do you think would best support one?

Are there any other “specialty bars” missing from DC that would do well here? I’d also vote for and support a good old regular bowling alley.

Dear PoP – Best Green Line Happy Hour?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Laura_Grageda

“Dear PoP,

I have a question that I bet your readers could help me with! I have some new co-workers — also new to the area — and we want to get together for happy hour. The criteria are that it has to be cheap, it has to be on a Friday, and it has to be on the green line (within a few blocks, max). I definitely know my green line spots, but I have to admit I am a bit rusty on happy hour specials. So, question is — what are the best Friday HH deals on the green line?”

Hmm, the Green Line covers a lot of ground so I’m assuming we’ll be focusing on Petworth/Columbia Heights/U Street/Shaw.

So where’s your favorite happy hour spot/deal in that area?

Mood Lounge Coming to 1318 9th St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in late Dec. I noted that there was some movement at the old EFN Lounge space at 1318 9th St, NW. At the time a commenter said: “I’m a neighbor to 1318 9th. I talked to the woman who bought/leased the building. It is going to be a restaurant bar called Mood and is scheduled for a New Year’s Eve opening.” Clearly they didn’t make a New Year’s opening but I just noticed a new awning went up. Anyone hear anything else about this new space?

Church and State Opening Above Fruit Bat on H St, NE Tonight

By Prince Of Petworth

I had the chance to check out a media preview of Church and State opening at 1236 H St NE above Fruitbat nestled between the Pug and Granville Moore’s. It is a pretty small space with seating for about 40. Church and State comes from the same folks behind Wisdom located at 1432 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. To me it had a very similar feel to Wisdom. Which is a good thing because I really like Wisdom. (More photos to come after the jump.) And the drinks are good too. While I didn’t like the Mai Tai at all, I thought the Moscow Mule (vodka and ginger beer) was one of the most delicious drinks I’ve had in a while. I think this’ll end up being a good date spot for H St, NE.

More photos after the jump. (more…)

Dear PoP – Where is a good spot to watch Tennis (Australian Open)

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

“Dear PoP,

Similar to the topic of where to watch hockey, do you know of any tennis fanatics/bars that are showing later rounds/final of the Australian Open this week/next weekend?”

In previous years I have watched the Australian Open at Angles (2339 18th St, NW) in Adams Morgan (one of their bartenders, Anita, is Australian and a fellow tennis fan).

You guys know of any other good spots?

Friday Question of the Day – Who’s the Best Bartender in the City?

By Prince Of Petworth

Last week when Town & Country closed in the Mayflower Hotel (1127 Connecticut Avenue NW) I wanted to stop by to snap a photo before construction began (it’ll become a Pink clothing store which will move from it’s current location in the hotel.) Anyway, I couldn’t help but notice the faded sign on the outside featuring Sam the bartender. The sign says in part, “…Washington’s most famous bartender…” so it got me thinking about famous bartenders or at least bartenders I like in DC.

And since I’m also horrible with names you can answer the question – “the guy with glasses from Room 11 who used to work at Temperance Hall.” I actually do remember that name – Dan Searing (part owner of Room 11 in Columbia Heights) is one of my favorites. I like Dan because I can go in and say I feel like something with gin and he’ll fix up an amazing concoction that I’ve never tried before. It also helps that he’s a really nice guy.

I was just having a conversation the other night when I said that despite all the bells and whistles of a new bar, for me, what makes or breaks a bar is quite simply the quality of the bartender.

I suppose there can be two elements – fixing drinks and personality. So for the FQotD – who’s your favorite bartender (and what bar do they work at) in the city?

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