U Street

Old School Awning and Signage Up for Alphonse Italian Market & Osteria on U Street

By Prince Of Petworth

Alphonse Italian Market & Osteria
1212 U Street, NW

Thanks to a reader for sending: “I think it looks pretty awesome.” I agree – very cool!

A few weeks ago we noted that Alphonse Italian Market & Osteria had applied for a liquor license at 1212 U St, NW:

“Restaurant serving prepared food with a market component. Seating capacity 101 and total occupancy load of 171.”

Ed. Note: While alcohol service will be Sunday through Thursday 11 am – 2 am and Friday & Saturday 11 am – 3 am – the application lists hours of operation as 24 hours.

ABC Board to Decide on Moratorium Petition for U St. Corridor Tomorrow

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user clif_burns

From ABRA:

“The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (Board) will decide on a petition for a moratorium on the issuance of liquor licenses in the District’s U St. corridor at a public hearing tomorrow.

WHEN: 1-1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2

WHERE: Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration Hearing Room
Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center
2000 14th St., NW, Suite 400 S., 4th Floor

BACKGROUND: The Shaw-Dupont Citizens Alliance requested a five-year moratorium on the issuance of liquor licenses in an area extending 1,800 feet in radius from Ben’s Next Door located at 1211 U St., NW. The petition requested the Board:

· Prohibit the issuance of all new alcoholic beverage licenses, except licenses to sell beer and wine (class B) at full service grocery stores;

· Prohibit the transfer of licenses into the moratorium zone;

· Place a cap on the number of nightclub licenses at zero;

· Place a cap on the number of tavern licenses at ten; and

· Prohibit the expansion of existing licensees into adjoining spaces, properties or lots.

The Board held a public hearing on the petition on May 22 and received written comments until May 24. Members of the public can view the petition online.”

Classic Mural on the side of 1830 14th St, NW (future home of Amsterdam Falafel) Getting Removed

By Prince Of Petworth

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Thanks to a reader for sending:

“A crew was chipping off this mural at Swann and 14th NW this morning.”

This is the classic mural on the side of 1830 14th Street, NW the former home of L and N thrift store, Arts@1830 gallery and the future home of an Amsterdam Falafel, a couple blocks south of U Street.

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Reader Reports Robbery Victim Tasered at 10th and V St, NW around 9pm Sunday Night

By Prince Of Petworth

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Last week MPD warned of three taser robberies along N Street, NW. Last night @DCPoliceDept tweeted:

“Robbery F&V_2100 10th Street NW_ 4 B/M’s running towards V. Street NW.”

A reader reports it happened around 9pm Sunday night. Though the MPD tweet doesn’t mention a specific weapon the reader reports:

“The victim was tasered and had his iphone stolen.”

Progress at Compass Rose Coming to 14th and T Street, NW – Hoping to Open in November/December

By Prince Of Petworth

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1346 T Street, NW

Back in Dec. 2012 we first learned a new tavern serving international street cuisine would be moving into the former Collage Cafe space on T Street next door to St. Ex. In March we learned some folks were protesting their liquor license. I’m happy to report that they’ve cleared that hurdle and received their building permits as well. The house was originally built in 1887 so there is some serious work to be done. And there has already been some serious demo:

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I spoke with co-owner Rose Previte who tells me that after getting their building permit yesterday, they are aiming for a November/December opening. Plans are for a 12 person bar towards the back and table seating in the front with a small outdoor patio out front and in back. While they are still searching for a chef, the cuisine is inspired by Rose’s travels (with her journalist husband) overseas for three years. She tells me that the one commonality of the countries she lived in was great street food. And great street food is what she plans to bring to DC. It will be a casual neighborhood spot – there won’t be reservations taken or a host/hostess. The vision is to give the space the feel of an outdoor market place.

Can’t wait to see how this turns out. Stay tuned for updates as construction progresses.

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Looking west towards St. Ex and 14th Street

Diego Tex-Mex Restaurant will Reopen at 14th and V St, NW in Three Weeks

By Prince Of Petworth

Diego_14th_V_St_nw_dc_restaurant
14th and V Street, NW

Eater DC shares the good news about Diego reopening in about three weeks:

“Diego has found the new chef needed for the restaurant to reopen its doors. Billy McCormick, the EatWell Group veteran who most recently worked at the revamped Virtue Feed & Grain, will next give Tex-Mex food a shot.”

They note that the menu has completely changed so we’ll be sure to post it when it becomes available.

Dear PoPville – Quad Bikers Performing wheelies up 14th St NW Sunday night?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Sunday night at about 7.10pm, a gaggle of at least 10 quad bikes and off-road motorbikes were driven north up 14th St NW (at Florida) by young men, without lights, helmets or regard to the correct direction of traffic, ignoring traffic signals, performing wheelies, and weaving in and out of cars. There wasn’t a police vehicle in sight.

While it looked very daring, if not cool, I called the Police as it seemed rather a hazard – and just in case it was a semi-organized criminal gang on the loose, but wondered if there had been any other sightings?”

In Feb. a reader saw about 40 ATVs in Columbia Heights. In Aug. a reader spotted around 20 around McMillan reservior .

Dear PoPville – Why Save this Facade?

By Prince Of Petworth

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1916 14th Street, NW

“Dear PoPville,

A few days ago you posted about the significant preservation effort that is built into the large development at 6th and K. I’m often pleased by the fact that many historic buildings and facades are preserved as a part of new developments, and amazed at the efforts they undertake. But sometimes, like in the case of The Louis building at 14th and U, I’m just left bewildered.

The extent of the “preservation” seems to be just the facade of an older single story building, and not all that interesting a facade at that. How/why does this happen? Is the developer given an incentive to keep such a “structure”? Surely they can re-recreate something like what the photo shows them to be preserving – it’s just a front with some trim… What’s the deal with these preservations?”

Ed. Note: This is the facade of the former El Paraiso restaurant which closed in July 2011. The surrounding buildings were demolished in May 2012.

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