Mount Vernon Squangle

Carving Room Coming to Mt. Vernon Square

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in Oct. 2011 we learned that an Italian restaurant called Caldo was coming to 300 Massachusetts Ave, NW. Caldo pulled out of the space when owner, Chef Alfio decided to open up Zuppa Fresca in NoMa (incidentally I’ve gotten many emails from folks saying Zuppa Fresca is now open for dinner – menu here: Zuppa_Dinner_Menu.)

At any rate this meant the retail space at 300 Massachusetts Ave, NW remained vacant. Until now. A new liquor license application says that the Carving Room (not to be confused with Cafe Carvy which recently opened downtown) will be a:

“New Restaurant. House cured and hand carved sandwiches. Occupancy load is 65. Sidewalk Café with 50 seats”

Sounds potentially awesome. I’ll be sure to update when they get closer to opening.

Ed. Note: The storefront is actually on 4th St, NW. You can see from the photo below the storefront on 4th looking north towards the intersection of Massachusetts Ave and H St, NW.

Sixth Engine opens in Mt. Vernon Square

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo courtesy Sixth Engine

Last week, a reader noted some serious progress on the space and snapped some photos. You can see some photos from their menu here.

From a press release:

Douglas Development is pleased to welcome Sixth Engine, a firehouse inspired American bistro, as the newest addition to Washington, DC’s Mount Vernon Square neighborhood. The restaurant will open its doors Friday in the Douglas Development-owned historic Engine 6 firehouse at 438 Massachusetts Ave, NW. Sixth Engine leased the 3,600 square foot property from Douglas Development in March 2011.

The restaurant is owned and operated by Gavin Coleman, Jeremy Carman, Paul Holder, Paul Madrid and Tim Walsh. These seasoned restaurateurs are also behind the Capitol Hill staple The Dubliner and the Glover Park restaurant and bar Town Hall. The team’s interest in finding a property in a vibrant neighborhood with outdoor seating led them to the old firehouse; once they realized the building’s unique history, they were sold.

“I think it’s incredible what the Sixth Engine team has done with the property, and I’m really pleased with their interest maintaining the building’s history while transforming it into what I’m sure will be a great restaurant,” says Norman Jemal, Principal of Douglas Development. “Sixth Engine is exactly what Mt. Vernon Square and Downtown DC needs. The area continues to grow with an influx of new residents, and those new residents need a signature neighborhood spot to call their own.”

To reflect the restaurant’s commitment to preserving the historic building, elements from the original Engine 6 firehouse are integrated throughout the restaurant’s interior space. In addition to the firehouse’s original shield displayed outside the entrance of the restaurant, Sixth Engine features giant murals including depictions of a faded ladder company logo and a Norman Rockwell-inspired illustration of a fireman, boy and dog rushing off to a fire. Sixth Engine also boasts an authentic fire pole connecting the two-level restaurant.

The Engine 6 firehouse is the oldest firehouse in Washington, DC. Built in 1855 for the Metropolitan Hook and Ladder Company (MHL), the firehouse still retains the original “MHL” insignia above the entrance. Douglas Jemal recognized Mount Vernon’s potential long before other developers and retailers, which is what led him to purchase the firehouse from the city in 2005. Today, the neighborhood is one of the most sought after addresses in the District and continues to attract top restaurants and retailers like Sixth Engine.

Fire at Church at 501 N St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader sends in the photo above and writes:

“the church at 5th and N NW is on fire. You can see flames coming out of the roof. There are several trucks on scene, and firemen all over the building. I talked to a few firemen and the guy who called it in, but no one had any details.”

@IAFF36 tweeted:

“501 N St. – 50 firefighters control fire in a church in less than 12 minutes.”

The 5pm Post – Shaw Art Walk, Wednesday, Feb. 8th

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

Mark your calendar: On the evening of February 8, 2012, six notable Shaw galleries are staying open late and the Walter E. Washington Convention is opening its doors for a rare evening tour of its extensive art collection.

The Convention Center tour will start from the Mount Vernon Square entrance to the Convention Center and will last approximately one hour. The tour will start promptly at 6:30 p.m., and participants are encouraged to arrive at the Convention Center at 6:15 p.m.

Participating galleries include Civilian Art Projects (1019 7th St., NW), Contemporary Wing (1250 9th St., NW), Lamont Bishop Gallery (1314 9th St., NW), Long View Gallery (1234 9th St., NW), Maruka Gallery and Boutique (1300 9th St., NW), and Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., NW). Galleries will remain open until 9 p.m. for the Shaw Art Walk. Maps and descriptions of the galleries’ shows will be available at each gallery and at the conclusion of the Convention Center tour.

Following the art walk at 9 p.m., participants are encouraged to enjoy the art of the cocktail at The Passenger which is located at 1021 7th St., NW.

For more information and to view the press release, visit the Shaw Main Streets website:http://www.shawmainstreets.org/events/shaw_art_walk

To RSVP to the Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/176021592502645/

BicycleSPACE Moving to 1019 7th St, NW (next to The Passenger)

By Prince Of Petworth


459 I Street NW

Just got word from the folks at BicycleSPACE that they are moving from 459 I Street NW to 1019 7th St, NW (next to The Passenger) in Mt. Vernon Square. The move should be completed this Winter. Owner Erik Kugler tells me:

“We thought it would be a great location because it was formerly a hardware store and has that homey feel, it’s close enough to our old location, next to a high-quality establishment (Passenger) and it’s going to be out of the heavy construction zone in the MVT in the near future as that all gets redeveloped. We’re just scratching the surface of what we’ve set out to do with bicycle retail.”

For fans of BicycleSPACE – do you like this new location?


1019 7th St, NW

Dear PoPville – What’s Going on with the Buildings at 7th and L St, NW?

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear PoPville,

I’ve thought for years this would make a great spot for a pub – same block as the Passenger,
across from the Convention Center, growing neighborhood. Any word what’s actually going in here?

Back in June 2010 I nominated these buildings for a horse’s ass award.

I hear that one of the buildings had a portion of the second floor that was threatening to fall off possibly after the earthquake. So I think Douglas Development (the owner) is taking the opportunity to gut all three buildings. At the moment there is no planned use for the space.

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