1205 U Street, NW
The Saloon’s annual August closure has been announced for Aug. 3 – Sept. 4 this year as they build a school in the Philippines. As always – Props to the Saloon!!
U Street
1330 U Street, NW
From a press release:
“The Fainting Goat, 14th Street neighborhood restaurant and bar, is thrilled to announce the appointment of its new Executive Chef, a familiar DC face, Nathan Beauchamp, who has finally returned to his old culinary stomping grounds. Following six years of organic farming in Minnesota, teaching culinary school and opening up a craft beer bar in Minneapolis, Beauchamp is returning to DC to helm the kitchen at The Fainting Goat, maintaining a well-executed, approachable menu in a neighborhood setting.
A former RAMMY Award-winning Rising Star Chef, Beauchamp became loved in DC while serving as Executive Chef at Georgetown dining institution 1789. In addition to maintaining a daily-changing menu and helping put the restaurant’s culinary program on the map, he trained some incredible kitchen talents like Dan Giusti, then sous chef, who now is Chef de Cuisine at one of the world’s best restaurants, Noma in Copenhagen.
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY, Beauchamp has also worked in acclaimed kitchens such as Park Avenue Café in NYC with David Burke, and in the DC area, Restaurant Eve, Vidalia and Bistro Bis.
Beauchamp left DC in 2008 for Minneapolis, working in several diverse sectors of the food industry. He taught culinary school at the Art Institute, focusing on charcuterie, and dabbled in organic farming at Gemini Farm in Wadena, MN, growing rhubarb, potatoes, green beans and other seasonal, local produce. He also co-opened Devil’s Advocate, a craft beer bar and restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. His goal with the menu was similar to what he plans for The Fainting Goat: creative, but approachable food that surprises people.
“Coming back to DC after a few years away is very exciting!” says Beauchamp. “I equate it to the prodigal son coming home again. I missed being on the East Coast and I’m happy to return to see family and friends.” (more…)
1301 U Street, NW
The transformation of U Scream Ice Cream is now complete and Bin 1301 Wine Bar will be opening up on U Street next week. The small space turned out great and they’ll feature around 40 wines by the glass – have a look:
More photos after the jump. (more…)
Check Cashing Place Closes at 14th and U St, NW – Moving around the Corner to 1500 Block of U Street
Thanks to a reader for sending word and the photo above showing the check cashing place next to McDonald’s on 14th Street just south of U has closed. It’ll be interesting to see who takes over that space. The check cashing place will be moving to 1515 U Street, NW under the new Primp Beauty Bar:
From @DCPoliceDept:
“Robbery snatch,14th/U st NW,S (1) B/M,6’0”,200 lbs, white t-shirt “trust no one”,blue jeans shorts,white adidas,red hat L/S S/B on13th st”
This rental is located at 1822 15th Street, Northwest. The listing says:
“Cozy studio available in convenient U Street Corridor. Great walkability to shopping and local eateries. All utilities included. Available starting 6/24/2014”
You can see more photos here.
This studio is going for $1,700/Mo.
2436 14th Street, NW
Back in April we learned that Creme and their famous chicken and waffles brunch would be returning to 14th Street in June and they were pretty close – opening Tuesday July 1st – from an email:
“We’re excited to announce Creme Restaurant & Bar, formerly of U St, will be opening on Tuesday, July 1st at our new location in Columbia Heights!”
Their website says:
“Creme Restaurant & Bar is a premier casual fine dining destination for all to enjoy in the heart of DC.
With 10 years of service to the District, and a restaurant in Baltimore, Creme is known for blending award-winning food, amazing service and a friendly, comfortable family-owned atmosphere.
Tegist “Teggy” Ayalew joined the restaurant business in 1996 but the concept of Creme was created in 2004 when construction began on her U Street location.
With amazing dishes like chicken and waffles and DC’s booming brunch culture, Creme Cafe & Lounge quickly became the go-to restaurant in uptown DC.
From 2005 to 2013, Creme resided on U Street with Teggy’s son, Ezra, becoming the manager in 2010. With the success of the DC location, Teggy and Ezra were able to open Creme Restaurant & Lounge, previously known as CR Lounge, in Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood the same year.
On October 31, 2013, Creme officially closed its doors due to the construction and development of the U Street Corridor. Creme would later announce plans to move to 14th Street NW inside the new luxury apartment building of Capitol View on 14th. Its new location in the LEED Platinum Certified building is directly in line with Ezra’s beliefs of living a green lifestyle and creating sustainability and awareness in our environment.
Ezra believes that “green living is not a fad as it’s something that has to happen.”
With a water heater that conserves water, LED lights and recycled wood, Ezra’s landscape architecture background has come in handy when trying to create a more sustainable restaurant in Creme.
Ezra’s end goal for Creme is to consistently provide good food for Washington DC, promote the idea of eating local and supporting small businesses. He believes that “awesome food isn’t just a fad – it’s a living” and that the DC food scene deserves a quality casual fine dining experience in restaurants and event services.”
looking south toward Florida ave and U Street
JBG’s Atlantic Plumbing Mixed-Use Development (photo courtesy of JBG)
From a press release:
“DC’s leading artist service organization and contemporary art presenter – announces that the organization will move to street-level office and gallery space in The JBG Companies’ Atlantic Plumbing mixed-use residential and retail development in the U Street Corridor cultural district. As WPA marks its 40-year anniversary milestone in 2015, the new space matches the forward-looking vision for the future of the organization with unprecedented opportunities to expand programming and increase impact within the Greater Washington area.
WPA will move into 1,500 square feet in the main Atlantic Plumbing building at 8th and V Streets NW – adjacent to the 9:30 Club, DC’s renowned music venue – by early fall of 2015, which coincides with the launch of the organization’s 40th anniversary celebration.
“We are thrilled to offer our artists and the community a dedicated exhibition space. Combining WPA’s administrative offices with new galleries in such a visible, flexible, contemporary space will greatly enhance our programming capabilities,” said WPA Executive Director Lisa Gold. “We are imagining exciting new possibilities for our artists, partners, and supporters to experience art and engage in dialogue. And, as we approach this important anniversary milestone, this new space is a transformative step towards an illustrious future for WPA.”
The WPA space fronts 8th Street NW and will include a gallery to house exhibitions and events, staff offices, and retail space for original artists’ works. The space will operate Monday through Saturday from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. with occasional evening events.
“The U Street corridor is an ideal home for WPA, given its artistic spirit, history, and diversity,” said Kim Ward, chair of the WPA Board of Directors. “Since its founding, WPA has programmed and presented exhibitions in a variety of spaces – remaining versatile and responsive to the art of the times, while acting as a leader in creating partnerships with other arts organizations and institutions. We will continue to do that from a location that will provide a strong community hub for the arts with expanded room for programming and exhibitions.”
8th and V St, NW June 2014
Props to Compass Rose for their sweet (relatively) new signage on T Street next to Cafe St. Ex:
1346 T Street, NW
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1924 14th Street, NW
The Wydown Coffee Bar is now open on 14th Street just south of U near the new Trader Joe’s.
Hours are:
6am – 10pm Mon-Fri
8am- 10pm Sat-Sun
Turned out pretty sweet:
Photos courtesy of The Wydown