Chinatown

Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue coming back to the Building Museum starting May 1st, Plans for Similar Set Up near Nats Park Didn’t Work Out

By Prince Of Petworth

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401 F Street, NW

From a press release:

“Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue will return to the National Building Museum’s West Lawn. The immensely popular outdoor experience will open Thursday, May 1 and run through Labor Day weekend. In addition to award-winning Texas-style barbecue and ice-cold Shiner beers, the Backyard Barbecue will offer live music from local and touring artists.

The Museum will again host a number of late nights so that visitors can enjoy barbecue and great summer programming inside the Great Hall.

Starting Thursday, May 1st, Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue will be open Thursday through Saturday from 4–9 pm.”

Unfortunately I’m told plans for a similar set up near Nat Park didn’t work out.

Who Are These People Memorialized on Horseback around the District? Vol. 3 – General Hancock

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Hancock the Superb” is located just outside the Navy Archives metro off Pennsylvania Ave and 7th St, NW.

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From Wikipedia:

Winfield Scott Hancock (February 14, 1824 – February 9, 1886) was a career U.S. Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican-American War and as a Union general in the American Civil War. Known to his Army colleagues as “Hancock the Superb”, he was noted in particular for his personal leadership at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. One military historian wrote, “No other Union general at Gettysburg dominated men by the sheer force of their presence more completely than Hancock.” As another wrote, “… his tactical skill had won him the quick admiration of adversaries who had come to know him as the ‘Thunderbolt of the Army of the Potomac’.” His military service continued after the Civil War, as Hancock participated in the military Reconstruction of the South and the Army’s presence at the Western frontier.

Hancock’s reputation as a war hero at Gettysburg, combined with his rare status as a prominent figure with impeccable Unionist credentials and pro-states’ rights views, made him a quadrennial presidential possibility in the years after the Civil War. His noted integrity was a counterpoint to the corruption of the era, for as President Rutherford B. Hayes said, “… [i]f, when we make up our estimate of a public man, conspicuous both as a soldier and in civil life, we are to think first and chiefly of his manhood, his integrity, his purity, his singleness of purpose, and his unselfish devotion to duty, we can truthfully say of Hancock that he was through and through pure gold.” This nationwide popularity led the Democrats to nominate him for President in 1880. Although he ran a strong campaign, Hancock was narrowly defeated by Republican James A. Garfield.

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First Annual DC Bacon and Beer Festival to Benefit Food & Friends on April 12th

By Prince Of Petworth

PTL
Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

From a press release:

“Eat Boston is pleased to present the First Annual DC Bacon and Beer Festival on April 12, 2014 at Penn Social to benefit Food & Friends. The event features creative bacon-inspired bites and tasty beers from area restaurants and breweries.

The most recent Bacon and Beer Festival in Philadelphia sold out in 30 seconds, and Boston within minutes. The event has also had sell out success in minutes in Denver, San Francisco, and other cities. Tickets are $45, and they go on sale Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.

Among the slate of participants is Bourbon Steak executive chef John Critchley who joined the event because “I’ve always been a strong supporter of Food & Friends and their incredible and important work of providing meals, and assisting people and families living with chronic illnesses. Add bacon and beer and why wouldn’t I be excited to be part of this festival.”

Guests can buy tickets and sign up to receive updates here.

Where: Penn Social
801 E St NW

When: Saturday, April 12, 2014
2:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Tickets: $45 Regular Tickets
$60 Baller Tickets

Why? Fun + bacon + beer! And to raise money for Food & Friends!

Participating Restaurants: 1905 Restaurant, Agua 301, Art & Soul, Bar Charley/Jackie’s, Bar Pilar/Cafe Saint Ex, Boundary Road, Bourbon Steak, Chef Geoff’s, Kitchen Cray, Menu MBK, Penn Social, Poste, The Pig, Three Little Pigs

Participating Breweries: DC Brau, Dogfish Head, Fordham/Old Dominion, Full Tilt, Sam Adams, Starr Hill, Three Stars, Union Brewing”

Cava Grill Coming to Chinatown this Summer

By Prince Of Petworth

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707 H Street, NW

Thanks to @dewbertdc for tweeting us the photo above. 707 is the former home of Capital Q BBQ which closed in 2012. From a press release:

“Cava Mezze has finalized a lease agreement to expand its fast-casual restaurant, Cava Grill, with a location in Chinatown at 707 H Street NW, set to open this summer. Drawing from the success of Cava Mezze’s modern take on Greek food, Cava Grill brings these authentic flavors to the fast-casual setting, redefining signature dishes for budget-,time-, and health-conscious customers. The restaurant’s format will fit well in Chinatown’s diverse and busy neighborhood.

Founders Ike Grigoropoulos, Ted Xenohristos, Chef Dimitri Moshovitis, and business partner Brett Schulman are spearheading the expansion, which first opened in Bethesda January 2011. “The authenticity of our food has been the driving force behind our restaurants,” noted Ted Xenohristos. “It goes back to our mothers’ cooking –fresh, flavorful food, shared with family and friends. We are excited to bring Cava Grill to Chinatown and open our first Cava Grill in downtown DC.”

Grigoropoulos, Xenohristos, Moshovitis, and Schulman plan to continue expanding Cava Grill, opening several outlets in the Washington, D.C., metro area, as appropriate locations become available. Cava Grill has five locations in Bethesda, Tenleytown, Columbia Heights, Merrifield, and Tysons Corner. Cava Mezze Restaurant opened in 2006 in Rockville, expanding later to Capitol Hill and Clarendon, VA, and has been recognized as one of Washington’s best restaurants.”

You can see Cava’s menu here.

Here’s How Nando’s Revamp Turned Out in Chinatown

By Prince Of Petworth

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photo courtesy of Nando’s

Update on Nando’s revamp at 819 7th Street, NW from from an email:

“You can see our new booth seating, Freestyle machines, and South African art — among other new touches. And most importantly: We’re celebrating the restaurant’s re-opening with all-day happy hour today! Including $5.95 sangria pitchers and beers starting from $2.50.”

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photo courtesy of Nando’s

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photo courtesy of Nando’s

Nando’s Peri Peri Closed Today and Tomorrow in Chinatown for a “Quick Revamp”

By Prince Of Petworth

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819 7th Street, NW courtesy of Nando’s

From an email:

“I wanted to share that our 7th Street location – the first Nando’s PERi-PERi in the U.S., which opened in 2008 — is getting a much-deserved revamp. The restaurant will be taking a break today and tomorrow. We’ll be back on Thursday and Friday with an all-day happy hour! ($5.95 sangria pitchers; beers from $2.50)

We understand people may be frustrated and going through withdrawals from their favorite cockerel, so we’ll be apologizing outside our door with “Sorry for the Cock Block” vouchers for a free appetizer once we’re back.

We like to make sure each restaurant design is unique, and we use only real and natural materials, so we’re just doing a quick refresh. We’ll be putting in new South African art, changing the seating arrangement, and installing new Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.”

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