Downtown

National Aquarium to Close Sept. 30th Due to Renovations at the Commerce Building

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user egr5005

From the National Aquarium:

The Board of Directors of the National Aquarium, Washington, DC, has announced that, due to necessary renovations in the Department of Commerce building, the facility will be closing on September 30, 2013. The General Services Administration (GSA) requires National Aquarium to vacate its current space in the building by March 2014.

This September 30 closing date allows National Aquarium, Washington, DC, to meet GSA’s March deadline using a timeline that accommodates its main priority: the needs of its animals and staff. The collection of more than 1,500 animals will be transitioned to new homes at either National Aquarium, Baltimore, or at other accredited aquariums.

“Here at the National Aquarium, we value our DC venue’s rich history as the nation’s first public aquarium, and we are committed to maintaining a presence in the capital, where a public aquarium has existed since the late 1800s,” said Tamika Langley Tremaglio, National Aquarium, Washington, DC, Board Chair.

A task force of National Aquarium Board members is exploring opportunities and funding options that would support this goal. The closure will not impact the operation of National Aquarium, Baltimore, one of the nation’s leading aquariums.

Established in 1873, the National Aquarium, Washington, DC, first opened its doors to visitors in 1885 with a collection of 180 species of fish, reptiles and other aquatic animals.

Rumors Bankrupt?

By Prince Of Petworth

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1900 M Street, NW

Uh oh, Washington Business Journal reports that Rumors has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization:

“1900 M Restaurant Associates Inc., which holds a liquor license at 1900 M St. and operates under the trade name Rumors, owes between $50,000 and $100,000 to creditors”

But all is not lost for fans of Rumors, WBJ also reports this has happened before in 1997. Though if they do go out of business this is some prime real estate…

Sam the Bartender is Back – Now Serving at 14K Restaurant & Lounge

By Prince Of Petworth

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Sambonn Lek

From a press release:

DC Historic Landmark, The Hamilton Crowne Plaza, welcomes another DC institution back to town. Sambonn Lek, renowned as DC’s original “celebrity” bartender, returns to DC after a year in his native Cambodia. “Sam” as his regulars know him, will now be serving up his signature “Sam I Am” martinis and magic tricks at the popular 14K Restaurant & Lounge within the historic Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel at 14th and K Streets NW.

Sam has spent the past nine months in Cambodia, overseeing Sam Relief, Inc., an organization he founded in 1999 that has helped to build 27 schools and 345 wells, delivered 100 tons of rice to a local hospital and funded local university scholarships.

“The District will always have a special place in my heart,” says Sam. “I have truly missed the people of Washington, DC and look forward to seeing new and familiar faces from behind the bar at 14K Restaurant & Lounge.”

Sam found a home at The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel’s Town and Country Lounge in 1976, two years after moving to the U.S. He was promoted to head bartender in 1980 and won numerous awards throughout his career, including Employee of the Year by DC Hotel Association along with a Best Bartender title from Washingtonian magazine.

Streets of Washington Presents – From Masonic Temple to Women’s Art Museum

By Prince Of Petworth

Streets of Washington, written by John DeFerrari, covers some of DC’s most interesting buildings and history. John is the author of Historic Restaurants of Washington, D.C.: Capital Eats, to be published this September by the History Press, Inc. John is also the author of Lost Washington DC.

One of the stateliest private buildings in Washington is the old Masonic Temple at 13th Street and New York Avenue NW, completed in 1908 and now home to the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Like other Masonic temples, the imposing structure was built with unique cross purposes; it was meant to be both a public forum for lectures and performances as well as a private place for the fraternal order’s meetings and rituals. Since the 1980s, this distinctive Renaissance Revival palace has had a remarkably fitting second life as a museum, and now the NMWA is looking to preserve the building for many more years with much-needed roof repairs. As a participant in the Partners in Preservation program, the museum will be hosting a festive open house this Sunday, May 5, from 12 to 5, offering a great, free opportunity to see this extraordinary building up close and appreciate the art it now displays.

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Photo by the author.

The sharp-eyed visitor will notice decorative touches denoting the building’s original use as a Masonic Temple. Freemasonry is a centuries-old tradition descended from medieval stone masons’ guilds, although modern masons are a strictly fraternal order dedicated to benevolent acts. Masons organize themselves into lodges, which are chartered by regional Grand Lodges. DC got its own Grand Lodge in the mid 19th century. In 1870 it built a temple, still standing, at 9th and F Streets NW, but by the 1890s, with 49 Masonic lodges chartered throughout the city, the old hall was no longer adequate. The Masons resolved to build a magnificent new temple at a suitably prestigious location.

The site selection committee received some 20 offers for sites all around the city, and in 1899 they chose the distinctive trapezoidal corner lot formed by New York Avenue, 13th Street, and H Street NW, a prominent location that would allow unobstructed vistas of the new temple on three sides. The lot, once a knoll with a clump of trees known as “Seven Oaks,” cost $115,000.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Froggy Bottom Pub Soft Opening in New K Street Location Friday, Grand Opening Next Week, Have a Look Inside and at the Menus

By Prince Of Petworth

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2021 K Street, NW

Back in Sept. 2012 we learned that the Froggy Bottom Pub would be moving from 2142 Pennsylvania Ave, NW where it first opened in 1985, to the former Thai Kingdom space at 2021 K Street, NW. Well the new day has arrived. The manager writes:

The Froggy Bottom Pub is excited to be opening our new location this week at 2021 K Street, NW. This Friday we’ll have a soft opening and the grand opening will be next week. We’ll all definitely miss the old pub, but the new place is simply fantastic. The beautiful hardwood bar area now has 18 stools and 11 tables, in the dining area there is seating for 64 people, and the outside patio is twice as large as our old patio.

The new menu has all of the favorites from the old Frog, including the nachos, burger, chicken tenders, and the Pho. The new items include some great new salads, wraps, burgers, and some new Vietnamese items: Bánh Mì sandwiches and Spring rolls. Eight types of draft beer at the old Frog was good, but the new pub will now feature 12 draft selections include some local favorites: DC Brau and Port City Porter. The bartenders got together and came up with some great new drinks that we hope everyone will enjoy.

Check out the full menus here:

Froggy Bottom Drink Menu

Froggy Bottom Menu

Have a look at some preview photos of the inside after the jump. (more…)

Bub and Pop’s now Serving Water Ice

By Prince Of Petworth

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1815 M Street, NW

From a press release:

Bub and Pop’s is becoming well known in DC for their sandwiches, soups, salads and Kettle Cooked Sea Salt & Black Pepper Potato Chips. On Friday, April 19, Bub and Pop’s added Water Ice to their list of house made offerings.

Water Ice, also known as Italian Ice, is a Philadelphia tradition sold from Spring well into the first frost of the Fall. Chef Jon’s recipe includes fresh fruit, water and natural sugar – that’s all that’s in it! It gets blended, frozen and then scraped to serving size. Four flavors are currently being featured: Passion Fruit, Black Cherry, Peach and Espresso (no fresh fruit in that one, just real coffee).

Soon to follow this Summer are ice cream sandwiches that consist of our house made Tahitian vanilla ice cream between two house made Oatmeal, Walnut, Chocolate Chip Cookies. And in keeping with Bub and Pop’s way of doing things, every thing will still be made in-house and all natural.

You can see Bub and Pop’s complete menu here. Any fans?

This is Nuts – You Just Gotta Read It

By Prince Of Petworth


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From MPD:

On Saturday, April 27, 2013, at approximately 4:15 AM, the complainant was physically assaulting his girlfriend when three (3) unknown males approached to render aid to his girlfriend. These unknown males commenced to strike the complainant about the body. The unknown males took the complainant’s cell phone and U.S. Currency and fled the scene on foot. The complainant was arrested and charged with simple assault – domestic violence regarding the assault that he allegedly committed on his girlfriend. This event occurred in the 1000 block of Vermont Avenue, Northwest.

Road Closures by IMF/World Bank on Friday through Sunday

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Blinkofanaye

From DDOT:

The Metropolitan Police Department and the District Department of Transportation would like to inform the public about the street closures that will take place surrounding the IMF/World Bank.

Street closures will begin Friday, April 19, 2013, from approximately 6:30 a.m., through Sunday, April 21, 2013, until approximately 7:00 p.m., the streets surrounding the IMF/World Bank will be closed as stipulated below:

19th Street, NW – from G Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
H Street (southern side) – from 18th Street to 20th Street, NW

The following streets will remain open with temporary closures beginning Friday, April 19, 2013, at approximately 8:00 p.m., through Sunday, April 21, 2013, at approximately 7:00 p.m.

18th Street, NW – from G Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
20th Street, NW – from G Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
G Street – from 18th Street to 20th Street, NW
H Street (southern side) – from 18th Street to 20th Street, NW

Motorists are encouraged to exercise caution when traveling in these areas.

Note: The surrounding areas and streets leading to this complex may be closed or affected as well.

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