As we’ve seen over the past few months, there has been a huge increase in outdoor drinking/dining options? Pictured above is Local 16 which has a great big roof deck. I thought it was time to register people’s favorites. I’m a frequent visitor of Wonderland’s outdoor beer garden and Red Derby’s space out front. But I think if I had to pick the best one, I’d vote for Local 16. What’s your vote?
I finally got some more details about this awesome development. It turns out Temperance Hall/Looking Glass Lounge Manager, Dan Searing, is one of the partners in the wine bar slated to come to 11th Street and Lamont. My opinion of this section of 11th Street continues to soar. One day I’m going to open up a satellite office on 11th Street!
So I spoke to Dan this evening to get some more details about the as of yet unnamed wine bar. He is partnering with Ben Gilligan (of the band French Toast), Nick Pimentel (of Toolbox Design, Yellow Fever DJs, and Gypsy Eyes and Planaria record labels) and Paul Ruppert. They are currently in the process of applying for a liquor license and they are looking forward to working with the ANC and the community at large to ensure a smooth transition. They hope to open up sometime in the Fall. Inside will seat up to 20 folks and outside will be a garden area that will seat up to 25.
Dan will continue working at Looking Glass Lounge in a part-time capacity.
This is a phenomenal development. What an awesome place to compliment Red Rocks, Wonderland, Bloombars, and Columbia Heights Coffee. And don’t forget we still have Meridian Pint coming as well. Beautiful.
Columbia Heights Coffee has recieved its first round of permits to expand its store on 11th Street. That’s the good news the bad news is that they still need another set of permits before demolition can begin. Still positive news.
By this time next year it is likely that Red Derby will have a roof deck. Unbelievably cool.
The building housing Looking Glass Lounge and the Yoga House upstairs has been sold for nearly $1.5 million. Both LGL and Yoga House have leases for the next two years so there is not likely to be any changes. However when the leases run out I am very fearful for the future. If that building was bought for nearly $1.5 mil then I’d have to assume that rents will sky rocket. In my opinion I don’t think this bodes well. My guess is we’ll be seeing more condos up top with, God willing, some type of retail in LGL’s space (and of course hopefully LGL will remain).
I love walking by the Emma Mae Gallery on 14th Street just north of U. There are always the coolest posters and photographs from back in the day. I really liked this one because the joint was located at 3642 Georgia Ave. It’s not hard to imagine Lorenzo Hall and his trio bringing down the house. Hopefully, there will be a comparable Billy Banks Ringside Inn gracing Georgia Ave in the near future.
I’ve never actually been to Cue Bar on U Street. Has anyone been there? What’s the scene like? Does anyone know why it may have closed? Certainly is an ominous warning. What the hell’s a “cue bar associate” anyway is that just another way of saying a patron?
Basically they report that Yoga and a dance studio will go on third floor, dinner commedy theater on second floor, and perhaps coolest, a Diner/Tryst combo spot on the first floor. Read the full story here. Sounds awesome! How sweet will Diner/Tryst combo be? I suspect it will get very, very crowded. Sound good to you guys?
Thanks to a reader for sending in the following news:
“Okay so maybe it was just a lowly little in-flight magazine. But on my flight back from LA this weekend, imagine my surprise when I see “Looking Glass Lounge” included in a short list of hot spots in DC. Petworth represent!”
The inflight magazine is from Air Trans Airline. Not sure if you can see it in the picture but LGL is listed in the “Go Party” section on the lower right hand side. Pretty cool that LGL and Petworth are now making it into inflight magazines.
Now if I could just find a globe that opens up into a bar…
Don’t know how I missed this but there was a great story last week in Bisnow reporting that the new Ben’s Chili Bowl project will be called Ben’s Next Door. They say:
“Brothers Kamal and Nizam Ali don’t want to change the original Bowl, which was opened by their parents, Ben and Virginia in August ’58. The 1213 U Street, NW, eatery is staying the same, but the bros will be opening Ben’s Next Door, where patrons “can finally get a chili dog and a beer.” They say the new space, coming in August, will be the “Bowl version of a bar” and offer a more upscale ambiance than the original.”
This is super cool. So from the picture above do you think they’ll be ready by August. Do you think an upscale version of Ben’s with a bar will work?
Did anyone catch the great music at the beer garden of Wonderland? Very cool set up.
Two women in their 20s order drinks at the bar and their toast: “To Restraining Orders!”.