1420 K Street, NW
Back in January US Marshals were spotted at Lotus Lounge. Next up is Soundcheck. Their new liquor license placard says:
“Late night lounge with DJ, dancing and cover charge. Small plates/appetizers to be served during hours of sales and service with a total occupancy load of 239.”
Hours of operation are listed as:
“Sunday through Saturday 11am – 5 am”
Live entertainment hours are listed as:
“Sunday through Thursday 8 pm – 2 am and Friday & Saturday 8 pm – 3am”
11th and H St, NW
Whoa pretty posh. Looking forward to how this one turns out. Anyone ever been to a more upscale Starbucks Reserve before?
Thanks to a reader for sending: “Ducklings recently hatched on 15th and K Street.”
1501 K Street, NW
Looks like work at Claudia’s Steakhouse is nearly completed. Their website says:
“Come Welcome Claudia Rivas to 1501 K Street, N.W Washington D.C
Grand Opening 7 – 10pm, Wednesday June 17, 2015
Claudia’s is opening this spring and is located inside of The Investment Building off of the prominent corner of 15th and K Street, NW in Washington, DC.
Grand Opening Celebration Event – Open to the public
FREE CHAMPAGNE”
A peek in the window – pretty posh:
18th and H St, NW
Thanks to a reader for sending. Their website says:
“The best piece of Greece!
The authentic pies have only one name: alfa! They smell like Greece and invite you to follow them in a delightful gastronomic journey, full of taste and flavors! With unique taste and quality, the famous kihi pies as well as the other pies of alfa are indeed the best piece of Greece!”
Check out the pies here.
14th and G St, NW
Finally some movement at the beautiful former National Bank of Washington building – no longer plans for an Armenian Genocide Museum – next up retail. Washington Business Journal reported (thanks to all who sent links):
“The marketing materials for the space identify a number of possible layouts, including a potential restaurant space with nearly 3,500 square feet split on three levels as well as a nearly 16,000-square-foot “flagship retail” space.
The Armenian Genocide Museum of America, which went through an ugly legal battle with the property owner for the past several years, is no longer pursuing a museum at the site”
Pre-demo: RIP Clement’s, Grafix Tattoos and Italian Kitchen:
Thanks to a reader for sending in:
“The K Street Vultures that roost on the corner of 11th and K NW. They usually perch on the chimney and steeple of the church across the street but often land on our office’s windowsill in the mornings. They’ve become a bit like office mascots. Apparently they were interested in my breakfast today.”
974 Palmer Alley, NW
From a press release:
“Washington, D.C. chef Amy Brandwein is thrilled to announce June 1, 2015 as the opening date of Centrolina, her 4,075-square-foot market and seasonal Italian osteria. Centrolina will open at 974 Palmer Alley in downtown’s expansive CityCenterDC development. Brandwein’s first solo restaurant outing will be open daily for lunch and dinner, as well as weekend brunch. Market hours begin at 8 am on May 26, and reservations are now available for lunch beginning June 1. The kitchen will serve a 48-seat dining room, 16-seat bar and 32-seat patio. The market will offer a selection of imported Italian specialty goods along with meat, fish and produce from local farms, a selection of house-made items and a barista-serviced coffee program.
“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to open a restaurant here in my hometown,” said Brandwein, an Arlington native. “I am thrilled to bring everything that I love about Italy to CityCenter. Centrolina is about creating an experience for diners where they can enjoy a chef-driven Italian meal and then stroll into the market to purchase my house-made pasta, sauces, local bread and imported Italian treats. Stocking a seasonal market and making it accessible to everyday shoppers is a real challenge, and I can’t wait to put on that grocers apron.”
OSTERIA
Centrolina will feature a concise and frequently-rotating Italian menu of around 15 dishes, including antipasti courses such as wood-roasted octopus suffocato or burrata with market vegetables agrodolce. Pasta dishes will include pappardelle lamb ragu and chiancarelle with turnip greens and tuna. A legna courses will showcase wood-fired fish and meat like poletto (young chicken) with crostini and pan drippings, and tuna with roasted bone marrow and snap peas. Seasonal availability will be the guiding principal of the menu, and Brandwein plans to maintain a sense of interconnectedness between her kitchen and Centrolina’s retail wing. Rather than attempting to be a comprehensive Italian emporium, the market will reflect Brandwein’s own experiences with Italian cooking and the products and produce she loves and uses.
The beverage program will feature a wine list that combines imported Italian favorites with the best of Virginia; a beer selection that skews heavily local, and a short list of classic Italian cocktails given a contemporary twist.
MERCATO
The wine menu’s marriage of the best Italian imports with regional favorites will be echoed in the market where imported cheeses and specialty items share counter space with fantastic local produce, meat and seafood. Grocery items will include dried pasta from all over Italy as well as fresh pasta from the Centrolina kitchen, accompanied by up to a dozen house-made sauces. The dairy and produce sections will be stocked with goods from farmers and artisans from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The lineup of Italian specialty items will include anchovies, olives, vinegar, olive oil, salumi, imported and local cheeses and sweets. Wine and craft beer will also be available for sale.
The market will feature a barista-serviced coffee counter along with breakfast in the form of fried-to-order bamboloni, house-made quiches and scones. Grab-and-go lunch offerings will include panini, antipasti, salads and pastries. In the evening, the coffee counter will turn into a five-seat mini cocktail bar where guests can enjoy a tipple before shopping or while waiting for their seat at the osteria. (more…)
Thanks to a reader for sending. 900 New York Avenue’s website says:
“Set within the magnificent CityCenterDC, in the heart of the nation’s capital, 900 New York Avenue sets a new standard as a high-performance office building wrapped in an architectural masterpiece.
Your professionals may spend as much time in the office as they do at home—reward them with a workplace that enhances their quality of life. 900 New York Avenue combines innovative design and state-of-the-art building systems to create a work environment that enhances performance, health and wellness.”
From Capital Bikeshare:
“Have you been dreaming of a morning bikeshare ride with the option of unlimited docking in downtown DC?
Well, round up your helmet and Bikeshare fob —beginning Thursday, May 14, we’ll be providing weekday Corral Service at two downtown stations from 7am to 11am at the following locations:
21st St & Eye St NW in Foggy Bottom
13th St & New York Ave NW near Metro Center & Franklin Square
Corral Service will offer guaranteed open docks in the morning by having staff on hand to remove bikes when the station docks are full. This service is included with your membership, to make your Bikeshare experience more convenient and enjoyable.
We’ll offer Corral Service every weekday morning through the end of September, with the potential for extension depending on demand.
We’re excited to roll out Corral Service on Bike to Work Week. Be sure to join us on Thursday, May 14 for the first day of Corral Service, as we hand out Capital Bikeshare swag at both locations. If your morning ride takes you to the Wild Wild (North) West, come by and say hello!”