1930 9th Street, NW

Last week I noted the new Lounge opening in the former El Sol space would opening soon at 1930 9th St, NW. They’ve sent a press release with a bit more info:

Maraki Ethiopian Restaurant, Lounge and Sport Bar is furnished with a modern state of art facilities. Maraki means impressive in Amharic, the Ethiopian national language.

Maraki is nested at the corner of a modern building with features of historical architecture. It has two up-scale Vegas style bars with an amazing and pretty lighting system. The entertainment is conducted with professional DJs and high standard up-scale club sound system and music with video. Likewise, large screen Tvs and projectors are ready for sport events.

The menu of its cozy restaurant includes Ethiopian, American, European dishes and sea foods. The owners are with an extensive experience in restaurant businesses.


I’m really digging this new sculpture on the side of a row house just past Ellington Plaza by Bistro Bohem and the Ethiopian Restaurant Zenebech Injera at 6th and Florida Ave, NW. We’ve seen the sweet murals before but this is the first time I’m seeing the sculpture. Nice addition.

Close up and the murals after the jump. (more…)


This rental is located at 1111 11th Street, NW:


View Larger Map

The listing says:

“Beautiful move-in ready 2 bed 2 bath condo, just painted, new carpeting. Bamboo floors in common areas and bedrooms carpeted. The gourmet Kitchen has granite counter & breakfast tops, solid wood cabinets, SS appliances. Luxury tiled bathrooms with linen closet and stacked washer/dryer in the master bathroom. Community amenities: Concierge, Bike/Storage, BBQ on Roof Top Deck, Underground Parking.”

This 2 bed/2 bath is going for $2,750/Mo.



903 N Street, NW

Lots of folks have been writing in asking for updates on Table coming to 903 N St, NW. While the space looks amazing, unfortunately, they are still waiting on getting water properly hooked up. Therefore it is unlikely, despite earlier hopes, that they’ll be able to open before Jan. 15th. Stay tuned.

A peek in the window reveals a pretty sweet space:



1017 7th Street, NW

Back in September we learned about Temporary Works coming to the former Ruppert’s Restaurant space next door to Bicycle Space and near the Passenger. The first project is called HOGO. Details from an email:

Hogo is a word used in the Caribbean to designate “high taste”–shortened from the French word hâut-gout–but it really describes the funky, inexplicable taste that you find in traditional aged-rums. This defines the quality that Tom Brown, co-owner of The Passenger, wants to bring to his bar of the same name. Inspired by his Caribbean adventures and The Passenger’s beloved Tiki Tuesday, Tom (with help from his team at The Passenger) has created a funky, laid-back den dedicated to all things rum and a few other great, unheralded spirits like Tequila, Mezcal and Pisco. Hogo opens December 18th and will be open starting five days-a-week from 5 P.M. to 1:30 A.M. (Tuesday through Thursday) and 5 P.M. to 2:30 A.M. (Friday and Saturday), serving tropical drinks, rums and everything else in the style of one of the District’s top bartenders.

In addition, Hogo is part of a project called Temporary Works that hopes to bring new late-night dining options to Washington, D.C. by giving talented chefs a platform to cook bar food with their own twists. Located inside Hogo, Temporary Works has a dine-in kitchen that will be helmed by a cast of rotating chefs from Washington, D.C., and other nearby cities, serving late-night food such as American diner food re-imagined by 2012 RAMMY “chef of the year” Ed Witt and Izikaya food from ramen-darling of Brooklyn Yuji Harguchi.

For the first month, The Passenger’s chef, Javier Duran, will cook the Hawaiian diner food that he fell in love with while growing up in California with plates like Loco Moco, a burger patty and fried egg served with two scoops of rice and pork sausage or beef gravy, and Mixed Plates such as Kalua pork, kalbi, cabbage and macaroni salad. The kitchen will be open from 5 P.M. to a half hour before the bar closes.

I stopped in for a preview last night, check out some photos including the menu after the jump. (more…)



1207 9th Street, NW

9th and Beats is located in the former Tokyo Sushi space attached to the Old Dominion Brewhouse on 9th Street. From a press release:

“Where can you find an all-ages music venue that boasts rotating art exhibitions? At 9th & Beats, the brainchild of Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Festival founder Dave Mann and photojournalist Rachel Eisley. Located inside Old Dominion Brewhouse, near the Washington Convention Center, this new venue promises live music for the younger set, a mixture of music (both live and spun) and comedy for the 18+ crowd, and revolving art installations that showcase local and East coast emerging talent.”



1302 9th Street, NW

Following up on some reader comments last week comes word of the new tenant coming to 1302 9th Street, NW near the Convention Center – Reformation Fitness. The new pilates gym will be located in the former Shakti yoga studio which closed back in March 2012. I spoke to a friend of the owner who said the new gym will open around the beginning of the year.


View More Stories