U Street

Ted’s BULLETIN Opening at 14th and Swann St, NW on Monday, August 19 at 7am

By Prince Of Petworth

Teds_bulletin_1818_14th_st_entry
1818 14th Street, NW

Ed. Note: Earlier this week we took a look inside, check it out here.

From a press release:

“matchboxfoodgroup is excited to announce its latest expansion of Ted’s BULLETIN (1818 14th Street NW; 202.265.8337) will open for daily breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday, August 19 promptly at 7am. The new Ted’s will bring classic dishes served up in a 1930’s atmosphere to the District DC development located on the corner of 14th & Swann Streets NW.

The restaurant replicates the dining experience at its original location on Capitol Hill, seating 160, twice as many guests, in an expanded dining room that includes counter seating, large booths and multiple banquettes. Named after the late father of sibling business partners Mark Neal and Ty Neal, the real Ted was known for his hospitality and often offered soup and sandwiches to postal workers, neighbors and visitors that stopped by his home. Executive Chef Jacob Hunter will dish out Americana comfort foods like grilled cheese made with nostalgic Wonder Bread and served with Ted’s favorite tomato soup, meatloaf with mingo county ketchup glaze, and satisfying breakfast plates served all day, every day. Unique takes on the old standbys will be present on this menu as in Capitol Hill, including Drew’s peanut butter bacon burger, named for partner Drew Kim, and eggplant parmesan burger.

A spacious bar provides additional counter seating with additional seats facing the window, perfect for people watching. It sits opposite an expanded bakery where Pastry Chef Rebecca Albright will produce Ted’s award winning homemade Pop-Tarts and a new menu of unique gourmet donuts from scratch. Multiple entrances including an oversized rotating door provide ease of service, whether looking for a quick grab and go pastry and coffee, a leisurely cocktail or full service meal.”

Amazing Photos of U Street from 1991

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photos courtesy of Laura

“Dear PoPville,

When I moved my wife and two-year-old to 13th and T, across the street from the Whitelaw Hotel (the Whitelaw’s much-faded neon sign is still in my garage, no reasonable offer refused) U Street was a trench underneath which a subway line was allegedly being built. In one of the pictures, there’s a sign listing the businesses still open, I think it’s optimistic — I think we were down to Ben’s, Leon’s shoe repair and maybe a beauty shop. The street was so desolate, even the drug dealers and the homeless didn’t hang there, and you almost felt safer there than in the populated parts of the neighborhood, even though my father was once slapped in the face by a stranger because “all white men are faggots.”

Needless to say, my parents, and my in-laws thought we were crazy, and it did take a lot of squinting and gin to see something other than continued, inexorable decline peppered with random violence and some of the ugliest hookers in the history of the world’s oldest profession.

I have to go cranky old geezer for a moment on some of the PoP complaints about today’s Columbia Heghts, Petworth, Eckington, etc. Kids these days have it so easy. ;) It’s not just that the whole hipster economy springs up much faster in gentrifying neighborhoods today than they did back then — and then, as now, I’d rather have a cool bar within walking distance than a grocery store. It’s that real change seemed so much less inevitable then than it does today — we lost money on our house when we moved to Denver for two years — and there were a lot of long “holy shit, what have we done?” nights.

But, what the hell. We bought a real house for $200k, so there’s that. And had seven rich years with a diverse cast of characters, watching a fascinating and unique transformation, of which we claim some small part. (I missed living on the edge, but when I suggested Columbia Heights when we moved back from Denver in 1999, my wife announced “we’ve done our time” and so we moved to Mt. Pleasant instead).

One day early on, a friend and I went out to take some shots of the neighborhood (it’s too bad we didn’t have Pablo and PoP’s cadre of camera talent around back then to document the decline and nascent rebirth of U Street), and a couple of days ago she stumbled across these shots and passed them along for your perusal.

Irving (nee “T”) Streete.”

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More photos after the jump. (more…)

Props to the Cops – Robbery Arrests – “she was struck in the face by an individual as a second subject took her purse”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user KJinDC

From MPD:

“On August 3, 2013, at approximately 2:30 a.m., members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the Metro Transit Police Department responded to 13th and U Street, NW, in reference to a call for an assault in progress. Once on the scene, the units located a complainant who stated that she had been walking east bound in the 1300 block of U Street, NW, when she was struck in the face by an individual as a second subject took her purse. At that point, a total of five (5) subjects attempted to flee the scene by entering the metro station in the 1200 block of U Street, NW. All five subjects were stopped with the assistance of Metro Transit Police, positively identified by the complainant, and placed under arrest.”

PoP Preview – Ted’s Bulletin Opening “this month” at 14th and Swann St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Ted's_bulletin_1818_14th_st_entry
1818 14th Street, NW

Back in March 2012 we first learned a Ted’s Bulletin was coming to 14th Street. In May of this year we noted some major progress at 14th and Swann St, NW. I was able to take a preview tour on Friday and was told – opening is definitely “this month”!

Fans of the Capitol Hill location will be pleased with how the space turned out. It is very similar in that they were able to use the same materials (salvaged from the old Philadelphia Convention Center) and they have their signature yellow booths. The major difference is that the 14th Street location is twice the size with seating for 160. Also they’ll be making donuts in house here, the extra space allows for a proper bakery (be sure to check out the Donut Robot after the jump.) Like the Capitol Hill location there will be breakfast all day (open daily at 7am), the same menu, specials and a family friendly atmosphere.

There was still some polishing up going on but you can get a good idea of how the space has turned out from the photos:

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side bar

Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)

Black Cat Looking to Add a Third Floor including a 1500 square foot room with a Bar on 14th Street

By Prince Of Petworth

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1811 14th Street, NW

Well this could be huge. A recent liquor license amendment posted out front of the Black Cat says:

“Applicant requests to make some modification to the building including the addition of the 3rd floor for extra dressing room and storage space. The changes will include 1500 square foot room with a bar. In addition, increase the total load by 149.”

The hearing date is scheduled for September 30th. Updates at that time.

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Council Member Jim Graham: “I have rarely experienced in Ward 1 such a widespread and negative community reaction to a development decision”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Rendering courtesy MRP Realty

From an email:

“Dear Friends:

I have been paying close attention to the dozens of emails objecting to the recent award of 965 Florida. I have carefully read the recent email from Mr. DeWitt as well as the statement by Deputy Mayor Hoskins (see below). I am also now responding (via Bcc’s) to my Ward 1 constituents who have written me. Thank you for writing me.

I have rarely experienced in Ward 1 such a widespread and negative community reaction to a development decision. Clearly there are a great many neighborhood people who are disappointed and unhappy with the choice and justification that has been offered thus far.

This is a major decision affecting the future of development in the eastern sector of Ward 1.

I am also sensitive that the legal process requires a decision to be made at this stage by the Mayor and his advisors. I also know that this decision will, in the future, require Council approval. That would include the property disposition.

But this does bring to mind the Foggy Bottom outcry to the initial decision by the Fenty administration to award the Stevens School contract in 2009. That Ward 2 property prompted the expression of strong views by my Council colleagues including CM Jack Evans and others. Ultimately, the following year, the award was vacated, in substantial part, on the grounds that there was so much community opposition.

I appreciate the statement that has been issued by Deputy Mayor Victor Hoskins.

But, as a first step, I think more detailed explanation of the rationale for the decision is necessary.

I am now requesting that detailed justification including documentation appropriate for release (not involving proprietary information) .

Bests Councilmember Jim Graham”

Diego Tex-Mex Already Closed – Will Reopen “in the coming weeks” at 14th and V St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

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14th and V Street, NW

After great anticipation and a long time coming the Diego Tex-Mex restaurant recently opened up at 14th and V St, NW (the former AM PM Carryout space) on July 18th. On Thursday night Aug. 1st I got emails and tweets saying they had already closed. One reader wrote:

“Just passed by and it looks closed–for good–already. Know what happened? Or is it just for the day?”

Another reader tweeted the same night:

“Diego on 14th & V closed? Sign says to stay tuned for grand opening. Some staff outside apparently didn’t get the memo”

CityPaper reports that they closed because the owner was “not happy with the service and the food”. Apparently they’ve already hired a new chef. Stay tuned for a new “grand opening in the coming weeks”:

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