2007
Kinda like our now and then series, “Only ____ Years Ago” will feature photos from my archives that have changed drastically from a particular year. We will start with a bunch of changes from 2007. Let’s kick it off with 14th and T St, NW. Anyone remember McKey’s Antiques?
2013
801 Florida Avenue, NW
Back in mid-January we first heard about a new restaurant coming to 8th and Florida Ave, NW. Finally word on what is happening at 801 Florida Ave, NW (just east of 9th and U Street.) A liquor license application reveals:
“A Mediterranean restaurant serving tapas and high end cocktails with a seating capacity for 150 patrons and total load of 150. Request an entertainment endorsement with live performances jazz for brunch or private events and summer garden with a seating capacity for 25 patrons.”
Stay tuned for updates as they get closer to opening.
For a hot second this was home to a frame shop. Stay tuned for Bouquets and More to take over the space at 1628 U Street, NW.
From an email:
Wednesday March 20, 2013
7:00 – 9:00pm
Thurgood Marshall Center
1816 12th St NWMembers from the U Street (1B), Logan Circle (2F) and Dupont Circle (2B) ANCs will be holding a joint listening session to hear directly from the residents and the business community about a proposed Liquor Moratorium for 14th and U Streets. The meeting will be an opportunity for the neighborhood to speak directly to their elected officials who will be voting over the next few months on whether to support a moratorium in the area. Special invited guests include representatives from the Alcoholic Beverage Regulatory Agency, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Shaw Dupont Citizens Alliance, who proposed the moratorium.
Though this is the only joint meeting being held on the proposal, ANCs may hold additional smaller meetings – decisions or actions will not be taken at this meeting. Organizers intend to give each participant 1-2 minutes to speak and request that members of the community direct their comments to the ANC Commissioners present.
If you oppose the moratorium you can also sign a petition here.
Streets of Washington, written by John DeFerrari, covers some of DC’s most interesting buildings and history. John is also the author of Lost Washington DC.
Washington has one of the highest concentrations of apartment dwellers among American cities, and fortunately many of its historic apartment houses from the early decades of the 20th century have survived. Among these, the Northumberland, opened in 1910 at 2039 New Hampshire Avenue NW, is one of the best preserved. Thanks in part to its very early conversion (1920) to cooperative ownership, the building has benefited over the years from the meticulous care and attention of farsighted owners and remains a jewel-like oasis of turn-of-the-century urban living.
The Northumberland (photo by the author).
The Northumberland was one of many projects undertaken by the relentlessly energetic Harry Wardman (1872-1938) in the early years of his career when he was building row after row of houses in Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights and just starting to construct towering apartment houses. “In apartment building the most expensive structures in the city are the work of Mr. Wardman,” the Washington Times noted in 1911, soon after the Northumberland was completed. Wardman was a developer’s developer, putting up the most desirable buildings possible at the least possible cost and then quickly moving on. “His money is always active and he is always borrowing,” the Times explained. “He always takes profits and goes at something new.”
Continues after the jump (more…)
Back in 2010 plans were for The Independent, a new coffee house bar and lounge. Then in 2012 I heard some scuttlebutt that Richard Sandoval was considering opening a space here. Turns out he’ll be opening Toro Toro downtown. Now the space is up for lease again. I hear the Hilton brothers (Marvin, Brixton, Chez Billy etc.) may open something on the 2nd floor and somebody new may take over the first floor. But at the moment no new tenant has been found yet. Stay tuned.
The saga of the old Church at 10th and V St, NW continues. Thanks to a reader for sending word that it’s up for lease again. For a minute it looked like it would become a
“a 6-story, 37-unit condo building that will also house SORG’s offices.”
Back to the drawing board I guess…
1330 U Street, NW
Back in late Jan. we learned that a new bar called the Fainting Goat would be coming to the former Urban Essentials space at 1330 U St, NW. Fainting Goat’s owner tells me that there are two groups opposing their liquor license application:
“The Shaw Dupont Citizen Association (SDCA, the people behind the U Street Liquor License Moratorium) and also a protest from some people on Wallach Place (directly behind the site).”
The folks from Fainting Goat have set up a petition saying:
“The proposed site is currently vacant and the establishment will have no outdoor seating, nor will it have a roof deck. As local business owners who have operated successful establishments in DC for over 15 years, we promise to be good stewards of the neighborhood.”
So if you live in the neighborhood and would like to support Fainting Goat you can sign the petition in their support here.
1728 Columbia Rd, NW
The long vacant space next to and featuring ads for Metro Wine and Spirits is set to become a Forever Yogurt frozen yogurt spot. Washington Business Journal notes:
“The chain makes more than 85 flavors of yogurt, including Jolly Rancher pomegranate raspberry, Greek froyo, and blueberry burst. The company has rolled out an espresso bar in some locations to provide more business year round, and that concept could appear in D.C., according to the spokesman.”
The only specific address announced is in Adams Morgan on Columbia Road. Forever Yogurt’s website lists other coming soon locations without specific addresses for Georgetown, Connecticut Ave (Dupont Circle), Verizon Center, and U Street (seeking space.)
Any Chicago expats fans of Forever Yogurt?
2047 9th St, NW (behind 9:30 Club)
Back in Oct. 2012 the long awaited Satellite Room opened behind the 9:30 Club. You can see their menu here. How do they compare to the other Hilton brothers spots? For the fans – do you go more for the bar or the food?