U Street

El Rey “Mexican Beer Garden” Opens at 5pm Today – Have a look “Inside” and at the Menu

By Prince Of Petworth

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919 U Street, NW

“El Rey, the highly anticipated Mexican beer garden located at 919 U Street NW will officially open Friday, January 10 at 5pm. The 3,100 square foot space built almost entirely out of shipping containers is the first construction in Washington to use the colorful steel boxes in a substantive way. El Rey also features a spacious back patio that is covered (and uncovered) by a retractable roof and a U Street-facing takeout window. El Rey’s menu highlights tacos and tequila as well as a selection of Mexican and South American brews.”

Check out the menu here:

El Rey menu (PDF)

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I stopped by for a preview last night and I think the doubters will be pleasantly surprised. Not only are the tacos delicious but the space is very cool. And warm! I couldn’t believe how well the heaters worked. This is an incredibly good addition to compliment Dodge City and Velvet Lounge.

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Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)

New Target Date for Trader Joe’s Opening at 14th and U Street is March 21

By Prince Of Petworth

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1914 14th Street, NW

Perhaps the only thing that could rival the announcement of a new movie theater near U Street is the opening of the eagerly anticipated Trader Joe’s. Though we originally heard February was the target date – ANC Rep ‏@KevDC tweeted a new date last night:

“Target opening date for Trader Joes (14th St NW): March 21 #ANC2B”

Though I still miss Taco Bell a bit – I’m obviously happy to accept this trade. In the past some commenters haven’t really understood all the excitement about a Trader Joe’s. Well I have two words for them, or I guess one hyphenated word, [Ed. Note: I actually don’t know if it supposed to be hyphenated] mini-tacos. Try the Trader Joe’s mini-tacos and I’ll prepare a big glass of kool-aid for ya.

Council Member Graham Introduces Bill to “Control Rats in Restaurant Areas”, Council Candidate Nadeau Questions its Timing and Effectiveness

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user DC@rt

From CM Graham:

“I introduced the Rat Prevention Control Act of 2014 and a super majority of my colleagues—nine plus myself–joined as co-sponsors of the legislation.

This bill results from what I heard from residents and business owners at the Ward 1 Rat Summit on November 9, 2013, an event I co-hosted with the Department of Health. Renowned experts in this field were present and provided information.

The bill requires new food establishments to submit a detailed rat prevention plan with their business license application. This plan will include details on how the business will handle food storage and debris removal.

Rat populations thrive on discarded food. We can set traps and take all manner of steps to kill rats. But the experts agree that, most important, we must reduce the food supply.

While many businesses in our neighborhoods have made a responsible effort to reduce this food supply for rats, some businesses have been irresponsible in their lack of efforts to remove debris and dispose of trash properly. The Department of Health’s Rodent and Vector Control is to be commended for its excellent work, but it is time to establish a greater degree of cooperation and collaboration between business owners and District agencies.

What I have proposed today is a solid step in attacking this public nuisance.”

From Ward 1 Council candidate Brianne Nadeau:

“After leading a community initiative on sustainability for the past several years, Ward 1 Council candidate Brianne Nadeau has called into question both the timing and effectiveness of legislation introduced today by Councilmember Jim Graham intended to address the rat problem in the ward.

“I’ve been working with both residents and business owners since my time on the ANC and now as the founder of Sustainable U to identify collaborative ways of addressing the rat problem facing the ward,” said Nadeau. “If after 15 years, Graham is finally going to step up to address this problem, we’d like him to join in the community effort and support business leaders who are looking for resources that help create long-term solutions such as overall waste reduction and compacting. And we must also be offering solutions for residential waste.”

Business leaders are concerned that Graham’s legislation adds a burden, without addressing the issue.

“This legislation adds an extra burden to the process of opening a new business that is largely unnecessary, because it duplicates processes already in place through the Department of Health to address rats,” said Sheldon Scott, manager of ESL Management group, which operates Marvin, the Brixton, et al. “This bill does nothing to support cooperative efforts on behalf of public and private entities to effectively address these issues.”

Shipping Container Taqueria, El Rey, Opens Jan. 10th on U Street

By Prince Of Petworth

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919 U Street, NW

From a press release:

“El Rey, the highly anticipated Mexican beer garden located at 919 U Street NW will officially open Friday, January 10 at 5pm. The 3,100 square foot space built almost entirely out of shipping containers is the first construction in Washington to use the colorful steel boxes in a substantive way. El Rey also features a spacious back patio that is covered (and uncovered) by a retractable roof and a U Street-facing takeout window. El Rey’s menu highlights tacos and tequila as well as a selection of Mexican and South American brews.

Facts

Capacity: 114 seats; 200 total
Menus: Dinner, take out window, cocktail. Lunch coming in Spring 2014
Hours of Operation:

Interior: 5pm-2am weekdays
5pm-3am weekends
Take-out window: 5pm-3am weekdays”

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From 2011:

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Sad News – Pulp Closing after 12 Years at 14th and S St, NW on Sun. Jan. 12th

By Prince Of Petworth

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14th and S St, NW

Thanks to all who forwarded the email from the owner of Pulp:

“After more than 12 years of fun, frolic, and feeling the love, I regret to announce that PULP will be closing it’s doors on Sunday January 12, 2014.

Please know this has not been an easy decision. The store has been a really special place for me, the dedicated staff and the neighborhood. Not to mention the thousands of loyal customers who have supported PULP since I purchased it in 2010 and certainly before then.

Between now and January 12th, we will be open regular business hours (11am – 7pm Monday thru Saturday and 11am – 5pm Sunday) and offering special discounts on the remaining merchandise. I do hope you will come by to see us one last time.

On behalf of the staff, please accept my thanks and gratitude for being our customers, neighbors and friends.

We will all miss you.”

Ed. Note: Back in July we noted Pulp hoped to raise funds for store improvements. In 2011 Pulp briefly closed before the ‘miracle on 14th Street’.

Very Minor Damage to African American Civil War Memorial, Huge Discrepancy as to How Many Gunshots were Fired Thursday Night

By Prince Of Petworth

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Vermont and U Street, NW

On Friday morning we learned gunshots were fired around 9:30pm by the African American Civil War Memorial and 10th/U Street metro entrance. Council Member Graham informed residents:

“I have confirmed with MPD that as many as 6-7 shots were fired between two persons just outside the entrance to the U Street Metro”

However the Washington Post reported:

“Frank Smith, the museum’s director, said police told him more than 60 shots were fired about 9:30 p.m. Two people who live steps from the Metro station described gunfire between youths in the plaza and others in a car on U Street. No arrests have been made.”

I inquired with MPD if they could clarify how many shots were fired and they responded to me:

“The matter is under investigation. No arrests at this time. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099.”

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Fortunately damage was very minor. From the African American Civil War Memorial Museum:

It is with much regret that we report minor damage to the African American Civil War Memorial, a national monument dedicated to the 209,145 black Union soldiers and their officers who joined President Lincoln in the Civil War to end slavery and keep America united under one flag. The damage occurred on Thursday night around 9 pm when gunmen opened fire damaging Wall of Honor plaque # 124 on Wall D. The damage occurred at the very corner of Regimental unit 121 which is a regiment that was organized in Kentucky. The museum hours of operations are 10 am to 6:30 pm and was closed at the time of the incident. The damage was confined to a small area where two plaques are joined together. According to police reports, no one was injured even though multiple shots were fired.

“We can assure the public that the monument is safe and secure and open to the public. Today is Saturday and I can report that we have had multiple visitors to the monument and museum and that the metro station is open for business and continues to be used by the riding public” said Frank Smith, Founding Director of the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum.

It is too early to know what the cost of repairs will be although we can assure the public that we will work with the National Park Service to make sure the repairs are done as soon as possible and in a way that meets the standards set by the designers who worked so hard to build the Nation’s first monument to the 209,145 United States Colored Troops who served the country so honorably during the America Civil War.

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Cause Philanthropub Closes at 9th and U Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

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1926 9th Street, NW

From Cause’s website:

It is with deep sadness that we report that CAUSE is closed for business. What started as an idea for a fun new way to help others has unfortunately not been able to achieve its purpose. Despite a great response from people around the country, CAUSE has not been able to achieve regular profitability, and thus not been able to generate the donations that were the reason for starting the restaurant. It is certainly a huge disappointment to us, as we truly believe in the idea but a number of factors have kept us from reaching our goals. We knew going in that it was a very difficult industry, but we hoped that the mission behind CAUSE would help carry us to success. We would like to thank our great team and the entire community that has been very supportive in this endeavor.

Back in June we learned there could be trouble when they announced offering “adult cereals”. To which commenter monkeyrotica predicted:

“So this is basically that Cereal Bowl restaurant in Cleveland Park, only with booze and brunch and a higher pricetag? The question remains whether they can build a sustainable business model on legions of idiot manchildren.”

Cause opened up just south of U Street at 1926 9th Street, NW in Oct. 2012. We judged them here.

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