Capitol Hill

Sona Creamery and Wine Bar Coming to former Motofoto and Sprint spaces by Eastern Market

By Prince Of Petworth

Sona_Creamery_capitol_hill
660 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

Last month we learned Motofoto was moving across the street from 660 Pennsylvania Ave, SE. According to Sona’s website:

“Sona has secured a location! 660 Pennsylvania Ave. Washingtion DC 20003. Opening fall 2013!

Founded in 2013, by Conan & Genevieve O’Sullivan, Sona Creamery and Wine Bar will be the District’s only onsite creamery. Owners Conan and Gen want to share their passion for great cheese and wine with you, as they offer opportunities for you to taste and learn about them in the cafe, at classes and through exclusive events. Sona will also be shipping cheeses nationwide!

Conan and Gen have been working on making this dream a reality for more than five years. They have made partners in the community that include the Small Business Development Center and EagleBank. Both Conan and Gen have been making cheese for seven years. Conan’s experience includes completing the dairy program at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo. His professional experience includes serving as Deputy and then Executive Director in the recycling and waste industry in Washington State. Gen has been a “master” baker and cook since age 11. Her professional career has centered around marketing and communications and she is excited to be working with her best friend on their dream business. Recently, They have redefined starting a business in D.C. by establishing a cheese and wine advisory board, which they are using to acquire knowledge from all the leading experts to establish D.C.’s best wine and cheese establishment.”

This sounds amazing! Updates as they get closer to opening.

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Pret a Manger to Replace Cosi on Capitol Hill, Will Open Next Spring

By Prince Of Petworth

cosi_capitol_hill_pret_a_manger
301 Pennsylvania Ave, SE courtesy of Douglas Development

From a press release:

“Douglas Development today announced that Pret A Manger has leased a two-story retail building in Capitol Hill, located at 301 Pennsylvania Avenue in Southeast Washington, DC. Just two blocks from the US Capitol Building, Pret A Manager will move into its new location by spring 2014.

Pret A Manger will occupy 4,300 square feet and offer two floors of indoor dining space, as well as a large outdoor patio. For the past fifteen years, Cosi has occupied this busy downtown corner, next to former Top Chef Contestant Spike Mendelsohn’s two restaurants, Good Stuff Eatery and We The Pizza.

Douglas Development Principal Norman Jemal adds, “Pret A Manger will thrive undoubtedly, given this building’s location and outdoor seating.”

District Taco Applies for Liquor License at Recently Opened Capitol Hill Location

By Prince Of Petworth

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656 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

District Taco opened their Capitol Hill location in the former YES! Organic Market space back in May. Soon you’ll be able to get some beer with your tacos. They’ve recently applied for a liquor license and they hope to serve:

Sunday: 11am-9pm, Monday through Friday: 11am-10pm, Saturday: 11am-9pm.

You can see their menu here.

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Motofoto Moving Across the Street on Capitol Hill

By Prince Of Petworth

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660 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

The Motofoto located near Eastern Market at 660 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE is moving across the street to 645 Pennsylvania Ave right above the Labyrinth games shop. Motofoto’s last day at the current location is Friday and they are currently having a 25% off sale.

Mon. Afternoon Rental Option – NE Capitol Hill

By Prince Of Petworth

807 Maryland Avenue Northeast

This rental is located at 807 Maryland Avenue, Northeast:

The listing says:

“Capitol Hill’s finest, Huge 2 level condo unit with no condo fees.Property was completely remodeled in 2009 High end appliances, stainless steel, granite counters,washer &dryer in unit.Dark wood floors,fireplace.Upper level has 2 full baths 2 large bedrooms, lots of closet’s space. Private Patio, secured off street parking. Close to transportation,Barracks row, Eastern Market. Come and see it”

You can see more photos here.

This 2 bed/2 bath is going for $2,950/Mo.

Garden of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

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I thought this was a unique spot for a garden. I’ve never seen one in a driveway like this before:

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il Capo di Capitol Hill Italian Restaurant Closes – Space Being Split into Temporary Frager’s Paint Store and Vietnamese Corner (Anh Dao)

By Prince Of Petworth

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1129 Pennsylvania Ave, SE

In January we noted Mi Vecindad Cuban/Mexican restaurant had become il Capo di Capitol Hill Italian restaurant.

Now the space at 1129 Pennsylvania Ave, SE is being split into two. The larger section closer to 12th Street is going to become a temporary Frager’s paint store and opening in a few weeks accoreding to Capitol Hill Corner.

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The smaller section is going to become the Vietnamese Corner which we learned a couple months ago had opened in the Pizza-Iole space. The owner tells me they may rename the restaurant Anh Dao as a tribute to DC’s cherry blossoms.

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Now the Pizza-Iole space will focus exclusively on pizza.

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Dysfunction Junction Vol. 10: I-395, Exit Six

By Prince Of Petworth

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Dysfunction Junction chronicles the most forlorn, baffling, and wonderful crossroads of our fair city. The column is written by Ben Ball, a transportation nerd in his spare time. He lives in LeDroit Park. Ben previously wrote about Florida/U St and 7th St/Georgia Ave.

This stretch of highway is proof positive that the inner loop was a terrible idea.  Not only does it slice poor old Southeast in two, but the signage when you come in from Virginia is atrociously misleading.  If you’ve made it to exit six, you’ve already had to make several rapid fire decisions with little or no warning.  (Left exit to 14th St!  Right exit to 12th St!)  Then the fun begins.

At exit six, you have a hugely complex and counterintuitive decision to make.  Option one is C Street SW/The House/US Capitol.  C Street SW and the House of Representatives are of course on opposite sides of the Capitol building.  It might make sense if that was the only option.  But then there’s option two – 395 North/D Street NW/US Senate.  D Street NW and the Senate are also on opposite sides of the Capitol building.  Shouldn’t C Street SW and the Senate be on the same exit?  And shouldn’t D Street NW and the House be on the other exit?  It just doesn’t make sense.  Before my head explodes, let me also point out that the House, Senate, and Capitol all refer to the same building. (more…)

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