U Street

Kapnos Greek Restaurant from Chef Mike Isabella Applies for Liquor License at 14th and W St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth


14th and W St, NW

Back in March 2012 we confirmed some scuttlebutt that a Greek restaurant from Chef Mike Isabella (chef/owner of Graffiato and Bandalero) was coming to the new development at 14th and W St, NW:

Chef Isabella will draw inspiration from Northern Greece to create a menu of spreads, breads, phyllo pies, vegetables and other small plates, including his signature wood-grilled octopus. Dinner will culminate with the choice of carvings from whole animals that have been spit-roasted all day, including lamb, goat, duck, chicken, and suckling pig.

Two wood-fire grills with five rotating spits each and a small wood oven for flat breads will service the 150-seat restaurant. A marble chef’s table situated in front of the spits will offer up to 10 guests an the opportunity to pre-order a whole spit-roasted animal for their party. Kapnos will be open for dinner seven nights a week and weekend brunch. The wine list will offer an extensive selection from Greece and other European countries.

Chef Isabella has named George Pagonis chef de cuisine and his brother, Nicholas Pagonis general manager. Nicholas is currently a manager at Graffiato and George formerly worked under Chef Isabella as a sous chef at Zaytinya. The brothers are first generation Greek American. Taha Ismail, who currently oversees the cocktail program at Graffiato, will also serve as head mixologist for Kapnos.

Glad to see the project is moving forward. The liquor license application says:

“New restaurant serving American and Greek style cuisine. Seating capacity is 205, total occupancy load is 253. Sidewalk Café with seating for 32.”

Updates as construction progresses.

Adams Morgan & U Street NW Neighborhoods Recognized as One of America’s Top ArtPlaces

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

From a press release:

Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced today that the District’s Adams Morgan and U Street NW neighborhoods were together selected as one of America’s Top 12 ArtPlaces by ArtPlace, a collaboration of leading national and regional foundations, banks and federal agencies committed to accelerating “creative placemaking”— putting art at the heart of a portfolio of strategies designed to revitalize communities.

“I am thrilled that ArtPlace has selected the Adams Morgan and U Street neighborhoods together as one of its Top 12 ArtPlaces in the nation,” said Mayor Gray. “This recognition affirms the investments we have been making in the District’s livability and sustainability as well as the investments we’ve made in our creative economy by supporting artists, small businesses, cultural non-profits, retail and restaurants. These individuals and institutions, in turn, improve the District’s quality of life by creating safe, convenient, unique and thriving neighborhoods.”

The 12 recognized communities across the nation were identified as having successfully combined the arts, artists and venues for creativity and expression with independent businesses, restaurants, and a walkable lifestyle to create vibrant neighborhoods. Neighborhoods in 11 other cities also received this distinction, including Dallas; Los Angeles; New York City; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; and Seattle.

Mayor Gray and ArtPlace Director Carol Coletta were joined by officials from the D.C. Office of Planning (OP) and the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities for the announcement and a walking tour of Adams Morgan and U Street arts businesses and organizations.

America’s Top ArtPlaces is a new annual ArtPlace initiative recognizing neighborhoods in the largest 44 metropolitan areas in the country where the arts are central to creating the kinds of places where people want to be. The complete list is available for download here.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Scuttlebutt – Immortal Beloved Hair Salon Moving to Muleh Furniture Retail Space on 14th Street?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville contributor Jeremy Barr

A very reliable source sends some news about one of DC’s most well known salons – Immortal Beloved. Word is that Immortal Beloved is likely going to move from their current 1457 Church St, NW location to the nearby current location of the Muleh furniture store at 1831 14th Street, NW. They also say that Muleh will likely be moving into a new space in Georgetown. Not sure of the planned timing of this move but both Muleh and Immortal Beloved remain open. More info as it becomes available.

More Info on 1930 9th St, NW – Maraki Ethiopian Restaurant Now Open

By Prince Of Petworth


1930 9th Street, NW

Last week I noted the new Lounge opening in the former El Sol space would opening soon at 1930 9th St, NW. They’ve sent a press release with a bit more info:

Maraki Ethiopian Restaurant, Lounge and Sport Bar is furnished with a modern state of art facilities. Maraki means impressive in Amharic, the Ethiopian national language.

Maraki is nested at the corner of a modern building with features of historical architecture. It has two up-scale Vegas style bars with an amazing and pretty lighting system. The entertainment is conducted with professional DJs and high standard up-scale club sound system and music with video. Likewise, large screen Tvs and projectors are ready for sport events.

The menu of its cozy restaurant includes Ethiopian, American, European dishes and sea foods. The owners are with an extensive experience in restaurant businesses.

New Tavern, Street, Coming to former Cafe Collage Space at 14th and T Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth


1346 T Street, NW

Back in Sept. ’12 we learned that Cafe Collage had closed at 1346 T St, NW just east of Cafe Saint-Ex. Now we know who’s coming to the space – a new tavern to be called Street. A liquor license application posted out front says:

“New Tavern, serving international street cuisine. Occasional live entertainment and DJ. Occupancy load is 99. Sidewalk Café with 15 seats. Summer Garden with 14 seats.”

Sounds very very promising!

Aura Spa Coming to 1612 U Street, NW in April 2013

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo courtesy of Aura Spa

From a press release:

Relaxation and tranquility is coming to U Street. Urban Adventures Companies, Inc. (UAC), the DC-based urban lifestyle and entertainment company, announced today that construction has begun for Aura Spa at VIDA Fitness-U Street, located at the company’s flagship fitness and lifestyle complex at 1612 U Street, NW. Positioned directly off VIDA’s first floor lobby, the new 5,000 square-foot Aura Spa will be the company’s third location and most advanced day spa with larger treatment rooms, an expanded menu of services and cutting-edge design finishes. The grand opening of Aura Spa-U Street is slated for April 2013 with $1 million in development costs.

Situated on two floors, the new Aura Spa will introduce a soundproof lower level to create a reflective and relaxing spa experience. Patrons will be greeted with a larger reception area and prep stations before entering four 250-square-foot state-of-the-art treatment rooms. Aura Spa plans to launch a new website at www.auraspa.net highlighting new services, treatment options and spa offerings in late January 2013.

Aura Spa is a premier revitalizing day spa treatment facility that offers relaxation and detoxification treatments, including skin care, facials, body treatments and massage therapy with current locations at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel in Penn Quarter and Metropole complex in Logan Circle.

Judging Restaurants/Bars – Cafe Saint-Ex

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by flickr user Kevin H.

A couple days ago I got word of new happy hour at Saint-Ex [1847 14th Street, NW.] From a press release:

The restaurant is offering $2.00 off all draft beers and $1.00 off all rail cocktails, as well as rotating food specials, including half-price house-cut French fries and Old Bay-puffed pork rinds, as well as $15.00 moules frites.

Café Saint-Ex’s new Happy Hour runs from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Tuesday through Friday downstairs in Gate 54, where the city’s hippest DJs are spinning a variety of music – such as house, new age, old-school hip hop and rock – each and every weekday night.

The Happy Hour also occurs from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, at the upstairs bar.

It occurred to me that we’ve never done a proper judging of Saint-Ex. Back in the day this used to be THE spot among many of my friends. What’s the word nowadays? What do you think of the bar downstairs, Gate 54? The food upstairs? You can see their menus here. Any must order items?

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