Dupont Circle

Magnolia Kitchen & Bar coming to former Circa space in Dupont

By Prince Of Petworth


1601 Connecticut Ave, NW at Q Street

After 10 years, CIRCA closed here on December 31st.

Magnolia’s website says:

“Coming Soon…
1601 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.

In the meantime… please visit us at our other locations:

Southern Hospitality
www.sohodc.com
1815 Adams Mill Rd, NW

Scarlet Oak
www.scarletoakdc.com
909 New Jersey Ave, SE”

Magnolia’s liquor license placard says:

“New Class “C” casual neighborhood Restaurant serving American fare. The restaurant will have 90 seats and a Total Occupancy Load of 140. Licensee is requesting a Sidewalk Café Endorsement with 40 seats.”

Updates as they get closer to opening.

“Erik Bruner-Yang’s Paper Horse is popping up at Shop Made in DC from March 5-31.” and “Dolcezza is going to take over the cafe space in April”

By Prince Of Petworth


1330 19th Street, NW

From an email:

“Erik Bruner-Yang’s Paper Horse is popping up at Shop Made in DC from March 5-31. This is the first location outside of a Whole Foods Market for the brand, which will bring a menu of steamed bao buns, collaborative dumplings by Paper House x Peter Chang, along with Bruner-Yang’s Chinese Burgers, a take on a classic street food from the Shaanxi province of China (the bun is made from a yeasted wheat flour dough). I’ve pasted the full menus for you below, and attached photos as well – menus are available from 11am to 8pm Monday-Friday and 11am to 3pm on the weekends.

Also, Dolcezza is going to take over the cafe space in April with its new “Mom + Pop” coffee shop and eatery concept.”

Check out the Paper Horse pop up menu after the jump. (more…)

Uh Oh – Scion Restaurant Space Being Offered “Rare Dupont Retail Condo | Delivered Vacant and Move-in Ready”

By Prince Of Petworth


2100 P Street, NW

Thanks to a reader for passing on potential Scion restaurant news from a Greysteel advertising flyer:

“Fully renovated restaurant condo on a hard corner in DuPont Circle

Located on the Southwest corner of 21st and P Streets NW, just over a block west of DuPont Circle and Metro Station

Turnkey restaurant space delivered vacant; ideal for a new concept or leasing

Excellent street frontage with strong foot traffic, across the street from Starbucks

The zoning, size of the space, and location make this space suitable for a wide range of potential uses”

OP notes: “I haven’t been there in awhile, but spent many a drunken brunch there in my youth. Was surprised to see this land in my inbox – it appears to still be open from what I could find online.”

Scion opened up back in 2009. You can see their menus here. In January 2012 President Obama made a visit. Updates when more is known.

Update from Scion:

“To be clear there are no plans to close right now! However, It has been a wonderful ten years in Dupont but our lease is up next year and with the changing tides of the market we have not yet agreed upon a new rate with the landlord. Negotiations are ongoing and we have a longstanding positive working relationship so we are optimistic. In the meantime the landlord is testing the market on possibly selling the building as is his right and we could possibly vacate early at the end of this year if so negotiated. The winter season is so slow anyway and would be a good time for another tenant to renovate. Ultimately we love Dupont and we hope to stay in the neighborhood for another decade but only if it makes business sense! I’m sure everyone can understand how difficult the environment can be for a small family restaurant such as ours. In the meantime we are still here so come see us soon, we appreciate the neighborhood support!“

“Is this a new thing?”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Elliot Mitchell

“Dear PoPville,

I had an odd experience on Saturday night. After an Uber ride from hell (I will leave that there), my partner and I ended up walking home up Connecticut Avenue to Dupont Circle. At the corner of Conn. and RI, we saw a couple of young men asking for money to light candles at St Matthew’s, just up the street. We thought nothing of it. A block further and we were confronted with another group of young men asking for money to light candles at the cathedral. And half a block further we were accosted by yet a THIRD group of young men asking for money to light candles.

Is this a new thing? Is the Cardinal telling his parishioners to go out an solicit people on the street for money for candles? Or is this a scam of some sort? All these guys looked like clean cut suburbanites but what they were asking for was very bizarre, especially at 10:30 on a Saturday night.”

73-unit Boutique Hotel Planned for Dupont Circle on Connecticut Ave, Currently Home to the Gryphon and others

By Prince Of Petworth

The following was written by PoPville contributor David McAuley, founder of Short Articles about Long Meetings.


Photo of the Gryphon in July 2017 from google street view

A team of developers briefed Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont at its regular monthly meeting February 14 on its plans for the proposed “Penelope Hotel” at 1337 Connecticut Avenue NW, south of Dupont Circle. The space currently hosts “The Gryphon” bar and restaurant.


Photo by David McAuley

As currently planned, the hotel will have 73 “keys” and space for a bar/restaurant on the Connecticut Avenue. Since it is located on a wedge-shaped block, it will have entrances both on Connecticut Avenue and 18th Street.

Felipe Serpa, Development Manager at Valor Development, told the ANC the developers were close to a deal with a hotel operator and would be “back in front of you guys” when the deal was finalized.

The purpose of the briefing was to present the construction schedule and let the ANC know about possible disruptions to Dupont life, such as the closing of traffic lanes on 18th Street and when construction cranes will be used. The developers are adding an additional floor to the existing five-story building.

Exterior construction work is scheduled to begin on April and end in February 2019. (more…)

Today’s Rental “Don’t Fuss with The Bus. Live Here At The Croydon.”

By Prince Of Petworth

This rental is located at 1815 17th Street, NW at Swann St NW. The Craigslist ad says:

“$1649 / 350ft2 – Don’t Fuss with The Bus. Live Here At The Croydon.

$300 move-in fee waived! $500 off first month rent w/move-in by 2/28/18.

This amazing Art Deco building located in Dupont Circle has an abundance of light and sleek charms. The apartment homes are sun filled cozy space surrounded by bay windows capturing pure scenery. Each apartment has its own unique floor plan. Showcasing beautiful hardwood floors, generous closets and storage space, light fixtures throughout the home! The Croydon is steps away from an oasis of popular restaurants, tourist attractions, and boutique shops. Conveniently located 1/2 mile away from the Dupont Metro( Red Line) and Dupont Circle fountain!

At this fantastic location we offer: (more…)

“Power is out at the North Dupont Metro entrance. Pretty weird”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by @Coffee2Brain

Dean writes around 6:45pm:

“Power is out at the North Dupont Metro entrance. Pretty weird”


Photo by @Coffee2Brain

Billy writes at 6:30pm:

“No power in Dupont Circle Station. Passengers have to go up the escalators in the dark.”


Photo by @Billyistan

From WMATA:

“WMATA reports Dupont Circle’s 19th St entrance is closed due to escalators and elevators malfunctioning, however the 20th St entrance remains open. Shuttle bus service has been requested.

Metro reports the following correction, the 20th St NW entrance is closed and the 19th St NW entrance remains open.”

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