Downtown

Daytime Farmers Market Launching at CityCenter Tomorrow (Tues.) at 10th and I St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user clif_burns

From a press release:

“FRESHFARM Markets will open its 12th farmers market this June with the opening of the FRESHFARM Market at CityCenterDC. Located at The Park at CityCenter at the corner of 10th and I Streets, N.W. the market will be open Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 17th – October 28th. The market will feature ready-to-eat foods, locally grown fruits and vegetables as well as locally produced items including cured meats, breads, baked goods, kettle corn and more from FRESHFARM Markets distinguished network of farmers and artisanal producers.

CityCenterDC is another opportunity for FRESHFARM Markets to bring an innovative and unique model of farmers market to downtown DC. The market will introduce neighborhood residents and professionals to an exciting collection of new and emerging local artisanal food businesses as well as high-quality local farms. What makes this kind of market unique is that the same farms who are selling to customers are also supplying the participating prepared food businesses with vegetables, cheeses, fruits and meats. Chaia DC is a great example. Launched at the FRESHFARM Market by the White House in 2013, Chaia is now widely recognized as an innovative new business whose delicious plant-based tacos are made with ingredients sourced from their fellow market farmers.

Shoppers can expect to find Black Rock Orchard, Capitol Kettle Corn, Cowbell Kitchen, Frenchie’s, Pinch hand-made Chinese dumplings, Postmodern Foods and Urban Butcher, as well as other farmers/producers to be confirmed. Highlights include: (more…)

&pizza E Street Location Opened Today

By Prince Of Petworth

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1005 E Street, NW

&pizza opened their 5th location today at 11am (10th & E St. NW) by E Street Cinema in the former Freshii space. Hours are 11a-11p Sunday – Thursday and 11a-12a Friday & Saturday.

Which Wich “Superior Sandwiches” Coming to newly Renovated GSA Building

By Prince Of Petworth

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18th and E St, NW

Thanks to a reader for sending word:

“Looks like GSA found at least one tenant for the commercial space in their newly renovated headquarters. The sign is on the NW corner of the 18th & E intersection. No dates yet, but I’ll definitely stop in when it opens. For the uninitiated, Which Wich is like a better combination of Subway and Potbelly.”

Anyone ever try Which Wich before? You can see their menu here. For those who’ve tried ’em how would you rank them in the current sandwich scene?

More Info on Boss Shepherd’s Opening in July by the Warner Theatre

By Prince Of Petworth

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13th and E Street, NW

From a press release:

“The presence of D.C.’s most renowned political boss will once again impact this city when Boss Shepherd’s opens a block from the John A. Wilson (formerly the District) Building , at 13th & E Streets, NW, next to the Warner Theater, this July.

“We plan to bring a dynamic restaurant, filled with DC’s power players, to Penn Quarter this summer. There will be more sizzling than just the sidewalk this July,” revealed renowned DC restaurateur and founder, Paul J. Cohn.

Boss Shepherd’s takes a modern, fresh approach to traditional American dining, serving familiar comfort dishes with a distinctive and creative flair. Committed to a farm-to-table use of locally sourced ingredients, Executive Chef Jeremy Waybright offers fresh classics made from scratch. The new restaurant boasts diverse lunch and dinner menus that combine seasonal ingredients with bold flavors.

Patrons can expect a diverse cocktail, wine and local craft beer list comprised of many iconic labels from around the region. The beverage menu will boast specialty drinks including the Signature Boss Shepherd cocktail.

The new restaurant is named after DC’s original governor, often referred to as the Father of Modern Washington — one of the most powerful big-city bosses of his day, who was responsible for creating DC’s post-Civil War infrastructure. Thanks to the city improvements made by Boss Shepherd, the U.S. Congress was encouraged to remain in the District of Columbia, and our capital city became a vibrant, viable, and green city. A statue of Boss Shepherd, a native Washingtonian, can be seen from the restaurant, standing watch in front of the building that houses DC’s center of government.

The restaurant will offer lunch and dinner Monday – Friday, and dinner only on Saturday.”

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Even Strip Clubs are Getting Small Plates – MPire Club Opening Soon on M Street

By Prince Of Petworth

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1819 M Street, NW

A reader sends word that MPire will be opening soon M Street downtown. Their website says:

“We are pleased to announce the Mpire Club will be opening soon.

The Mpire Club is committed to providing unrivaled service, creating the finest in food and beverage, and implementing hospitality best practices. Combined with our avant garde design and esthetic, the Mpire stands ready to provide a completely new experience.

In the building formerly known as Joanna’s 1819 club, a new state-of-the-art facility has been built for your entertainment & dining pleasure.

We look forward to our guests joining us to relax and enjoy specialty cocktails, eat executive chef inspired house made entrees and small plates, and enjoy the beauty and talent of our exotic lounge performers. All the while our guests will be surrounded by a luxurious and contemporary interior design.

Please join us once we open and allow our hostesses, management, and performers transport you to a new level of recreation and hospitality…”

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If this happens this’ll be the next Le Diplomate in DC – NYC’s The Smith Brasserie Looking at CityCenter

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user clif_burns

Potentially huge news from the Washington Business Journal:

“The group [The Smith] is eyeing a space in the area formerly intended for Apple on Eye Street NW facing the CityCenter’s Northwest Park, adjacent to where Momofuku’s David Chang is also said to be looking at space.”

The Smith’s website says:

The Smith is a casual American Brasserie with three upbeat locations in New York City: The Smith East Village, overlooking bustling Third Avenue, The Smith Midtown, in the heart of Manhattan, located on 51st Street and Second Avenue and The Smith Lincoln Center directly across from historic Lincoln Center.

Utilizing local products and purveyors, the breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner menus feature a selection of familiar bistro dishes. Signature dishes at all locations include Crispy Fried Calamari “Brooklyn Style,” Pot of Mussels with chardonnay-dijon broth and perfectly cooked hand cut fries and four different cuts of steak prepared char broiled, served with a choice of homemade sauces including béarnaise, green peppercorn and chimichurri. Most of the desserts are fun twists on classics, including Sticky Toffee Pudding, S’mores in a Jar and Hot Fudge Sundae with almond bark and flourless chocolate cake.

Our bars offer an elaborate menu of classic and signature cocktails made with fresh fruit and herbs. We serve seven local hand crafted beers on tap and have a selection of 20 wines available by the glass or carafe as well as a hand selected bottle list.

The crowd at The Smith is eclectic, attracting after-work colleagues, late-night revelers, families for Sunday brunch and more. Our guests come for all occasions – a drink after work, a quick bite before a movie, a business dinner, or to celebrate a birthday.

You can see their menus here.

My folks actually live around the corner from one of these and I’ve had the occasion to visit a few times. I’m a big fan and while I was a big supporter of an Apple store opening here, I think The Smith would be a great addition to the District dining scene. It reminds me of Philly’s Le Parc opening in DC as Le Diplomate. The Smith is a big beautiful space that I think will be equally as successful as Le Diplomate if they open here. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Chef Barry Koslow, formally of DGS (Deli/Rest. in Dupont), to be Chef of new restaurant replacing J&G Steakhouse

By Prince Of Petworth

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515 15th Street, NW

From a press release:

“W Washington DC, the closest hotel to the White House, announces the appointment of Barry Koslow to the position of Chef de Cuisine of the new restaurant concept within the hotel. Mr. Koslow will develop and execute the menus for a new dining concept that will launch at the hotel this summer.

A classically-trained chef who graduated with honors from L’Academie de Cuisine, Chef Koslow heads to W from the highly-acclaimed DGS Delicatessen, where he served as Executive Chef since the shop’s founding in 2011. Prior, he served as Executive Chef of Tallula/Eatbar and Mendecino Grille. A Washington, DC area native, Chef Koslow began his career with Chef Todd Gray at Equinox. His rise through the Washington culinary ranks also included turns with 2941, Michel Richard Citronelle and Circle Bistro.

“I’m very excited to return to my roots of fine dining,” said Chef Koslow. “This position is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work in a storied hotel with its eyes firmly set on the future. I look forward to announcing our plans very soon.”

Your Afternoon (illegal) Parking Problems Post

By Prince Of Petworth

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This was about 8:45 this morning.

“Dear PoPville,

How does one get MPD or DPW to enforce rush hour parking restrictions – in this case along the Mall? Sure, we’ve all been in the position of parking a few minutes before the restrictions end and waiting until 6:30 (or whatever time) to be safe. But some food and ice cream trucks have taken this to a new extreme, parking in the rush hour lanes on 7th street and elsewhere early in the morning (8am) and just waiting in their vehicles (or waiting in a car, saving the space) until parking becomes legal at 9:30. Cops seem uninterested in chasing them off. Meanwhile, traffic backs up because the lane isn’t available for use.”

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