U Street

What’s the Story with the Seemingly Abandoned Bemmi Hardware?

By Prince Of Petworth

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12th and Florida Ave, NW

“Dear PoPville,

Any idea what the deal is with this hardware store at 12th and Florida? Looks like they closed one day and just never came back.”

Ed. Note: Back in 2011 we talked about this building during a horse’s ass award nomination. At that time I was admonished for nominating them for a Horse’s ass award, really just using the language horse’s ass – but anyway a DCRA rep commented:

“We will be sending out a vacant property inspector tomorrow to the property to determine whether the property is entirely vacant. Under the D.C. vacant property tax law, the entire building must be vacant in order for it to be subject to either the Class 3 or Class 4 property tax rates.”

Not sure about the current tax status but I haven’t seen any movement at the hardware store since.

Dear PoPville – Anyone Know the Purpose of the Street Construction on 14th?

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

Two days of messy, loud construction on 1700 block of 14th street, nw — for what?

All they have done is first saw a wider path (along one that was already opened a few months ago and covered over), jack hammer all the asphalt, tap down the soil, lay plastic sheeting, then fill it all in with cement. Obviously (?) there is some purpose for this. Also, this is the same channel / ditch where the bus got stuck in the cement at 14th and S St.”

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Judging Music Venues – Lincoln Theatre

By Prince Of Petworth

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1215 U Street, NW

After a brief attempt at showing movies, last summer we learned that I.M.P., owners of the 9:30 Club, would run and book concerts for the then underutilized Lincoln Theatre. So now that’s it’s been almost a year – what do folks think? Do you like the acts that have been/are being booked? Do you like the venue itself? If you’ve gone who have you seen there? Is there still room for improvement or are you happy with the new management?

Love ‘n Faith Cafe Opens on 14th Street Friday

By Prince Of Petworth

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2420 14th Street, NW

Love ‘N Faith Community Café had a soft opening this past weekend and will open with regular hours starting on Friday. Summer hours are:

Friday – 7am to Midnight
Saturday 9am to Midnight
Sunday 11am to 10pm
Monday thru Wednesday 7am to 9
Thursday 7am to 10pm

Their Facebook page says:

“Love n’ Faith is a community cafe specializing in Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream, espresso- based drinks and gluten-free, naturally sweetened desserts.”

Thanks to the owners for sending a shot from the soft opening:

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TICO restaurant opens at 14th and U Street, NW – Have a Look Inside

By Prince Of Petworth

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1926 14th Street, NW looking south toward T Street and Trader Joe’s

From a press release:

“James Beard award-winning chef Michael Schlow announces the June 8 opening of TICO restaurant in the Louis Development at 1926 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC. TICO, an affectionate name for a ‘local’ person in Costa Rica, is an American restaurant influenced by Schlow’s travels to Spain, Mexico and Latin America. The 45-item menu encourages guests to share and showcases creative ceviches, interesting tacos, seasonal small plates, a la plancha items, and entrées.

Elkus Manfredi Architects and StreetSense collaborated with Schlow to design a rustic space that reflects the casual yet imaginative spirit of TICO. Schlow’s wife, artist Adrienne Schlow, distressed the restaurant’s columns and brick walls, and some of her mixed media art and paintings can be found throughout the space as well. Michael, who also enjoys photography in his free time, contributed to the design with a few framed pieces from his travels to Spain. The 150-seat restaurant also features a 15-seat bar, as well as a ceviche bar with an additional seven seats, overlooking the open kitchen, allowing guests to be part of the action and see the workings of the culinary team.

A thoughtfully selected beverage menu, overseen by director of operations Steve Uhr, features an extensive list of more than 125 tequilas and mezcals, local and Latin beers, including an Añejo barrel aged DC Brau beer, and a cocktail list with a focus on small batch spirits. Guests who drink 88 different tequilas within eight months will be granted membership to Tico’s exclusive Tequila Club, which comes with invitations to special tastings, dinners, and other gifts. Riffs on classic cocktails will include the P90X, a Spanish take on a Manhattan and the wine list will feature varietals exclusively from North America, South America and Spain.

Schlow, considered to be one of the leading culinary professionals in the United States, opened the first TICO, named one of Esquire’s “Best New Restaurants in America” in Boston in 2011. He has tapped TICO Boston’s executive chef, George Rodrigues, to helm the kitchen in DC. Together, they will highlight seasonal ingredients and offer many dishes with a local slant such as Fried Chesapeake Oysters with Old Bay Spiked Romesco and a Blue Crab Taco with Bacon, Lettuce Pico, Tomato and Saffron, which will appear alongside signature dishes such as Crispy Manchego Cheese with Spicy Pomegranate-Honey Sauce and House-made Morcilla with Piquillo Peppers, Pickled Onions, and Mustard Vinaigrette.

Guests can opt to leave their dinner selections to the chef, based on appetite and budget. The aptly named “Can’t Decide” menu entails a multi-course chef’s choice meal – ranging from “Kind of Hungry” at $35/person, “Forgot Lunch” at $55/person, to the “Full on TICO Experience” at $85/person.

TICO will initially open daily for dinner Sunday through Thursday 4:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday will be from 4:00 p.m. until 2 a.m. Weekend brunch and happy hour will be added soon thereafter. On the opening night of Sunday, June 8, only walk-ins will be accepted. TICO will take limited reservations for the opening week via phone, and will begin accepting reservations through OpenTable in the coming weeks.”

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Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)

Judging New Restaurants – Lupo Verde (reader request)

By Prince Of Petworth

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14th and T Street, NW

I’ve had a few requests that we talk about Lupo Verde who opened up at 14th and T St, NW back in February. Their website says:

“Authentic, rustic, Italian fare featuring a variety of small plates, house-made breads and pastas, antipasti, pizzas al tegamino and a selection of fresh meats and seafood, such as our popular whole roasted fish, grilled sirloin steak and a premiere selection of cheeses and salumi. The daily specials are posted on the chalkboard.

Customers can purchase 70% of the restaurant’s menu “to go” including 50 cheeses (five of which are made in-house while the rest are made from local farmers or imported from Italy) sold by the ounce, two house-made prosciuttos and several other house cured meats. Fresh and dried house-made pastas are available for purchase by the kilo, along with rustic house-made sauces and breads.

An intimate 100-seat restaurant spread over two floors. The main level features a 15-seat bar of Carrara marble and hand-painted Italian tile and a 25-seat lounge. It also houses the Cheese Shop showcasing a variety of imported and house-made cheeses and salumi. Upstairs guests feel as though they stepped into a private residence with lofty ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, luxurious wall coverings, and substantial crown and base molding. Guests will find an intimate 10-seat marble bar, and 50 additional dining seats including a semi-private alcove. The cupola dining table, named the Sophia Loren, is also a focal point of the room seating groups of up to eight.

A gated, outdoor patio is also available during the spring and summer months (weather permitting) and can accommodate up to 40 guests.”

You can see their cucina and bar menu here and their cheese and salumi menu here.

Any fans?

Next Up in Huge U Street Transformations – Old Grimke School

By Prince Of Petworth

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1923 Vermont Avenue, NW (just south of U Street)

From a press release:

“Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor L. Hoskins announced that the District of Columbia, through the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the redevelopment of the historic Grimke School at 1923 Vermont Avenue NW, and an adjacent District-owned parcel at 912 U Street NW.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to revitalize a property with historic significance in the U Street Corridor and to integrate both sites into the surrounding Uptown Arts District,” said Deputy Mayor Hoskins. “We are confident it will draw serious interests from developers, and we look forward to an expeditious solicitation process.”

The RFP is for two parcels located in the Mid-City U Street/Uptown neighborhood, also known as the U Street Corridor, at Vermont Avenue and U Street NW in Ward 1 near major thoroughfares, multiple bus stops and a Metro Station. The property located at 1923 Vermont Street consists of the approximately 52,000 square foot historic Grimke School building and approximately 14,850 square feet of lot area that currently houses the African American Civil War Museum and provides accessory off-street parking.

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912 U Street, NW (just east of Vermont Ave)

The property at 912 U Street is approximately 5,900 square feet and is currently a parking lot. The District seeks development plans that include, but are not limited to, a mix of uses that are compatible with and leverage surrounding neighborhood development; are responsive to community and stakeholder preferences; and reflect the project’s proximity to the U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro Station as well as other transportation infrastructure.

A pre-response information session and site visit is scheduled to be held Tuesday, June 17, 2014. Responses are due by Tuesday, July 29, 2014. After responses are received, a review process will ensue to short-list the respondents as qualified to move forward in the District’s solicitation process for the site or a “best and final” proposal may be requested before a final selection is made. Following this, a developer is slated to be selected by winter of 2014.

For more information and a copy of the RFP, please visit the DMPED website here.”

Mara Home Boutique Coming to 14th and Florida Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

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2213 14th Street, NW

Thanks to a reader for sending:

“New sinkage for a home store near 14th and Florida where jack Evans had his campaign headquarters.”

Mara Home’s facebook page says:

“Home Decor · Housewares · Furniture Store

Design, beauty, sustainability, and hospitality under one roof in a curated collection of furnishings and accessories.”

Boutique Condos Coming to 15th and V St, NW Check out Some New Renderings

By Prince Of Petworth

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Rendering courtesy WDG Architecture

From a press release:

“Bozzuto Homes, a division of The Bozzuto Group, announced that the company will begin construction on 96 condominiums at V Street NW and 15th Street NW this summer, with an anticipated completion date of late 2015. The development is a joint venture with NVCommercial Real Estate Fund I.

The V Street development, a nine-story building, will offer 96 condominiums with a mix of studios, one- and two- bedroom floor plans in the popular U Street Corridor neighborhood. The building tower will be constructed with a concrete frame and the façade will be cladded in masonry and large spanning windows.

The development will feature a community lounge, meeting room, ground level patio, rooftop deck, and a parking garage with 37 parking spaces, as well as storage closets and ample bicycle storage. All residences will be finished with European-style cabinets, quartz countertops, and wood flooring. Other features available in many of the residences include floor-to-ceiling windows as well as balconies.

The project team consists of general contractor Bozzuto Construction Company, WDG Architecture, Metropolitan Engineering, Inc., SK&A Engineers, and Wiles Mench Corporation. NVCommercial Real Estate Fund I is the equity partner, and M&T Bank will serve as lender.”

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Rendering courtesy WDG Architecture

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