U Street

14th & U St, NW Farmers Market reopens Saturday 9 am

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

From an email:

We are reopening Saturday at 9, brimming with 8 varieties of strawberries and lots of asparagus, both purple and green. My personal favorite variety is Earliglow, a small, sweet berry with a wonderful flavor that reminds me of French wild strawberries. You won’t find it in any supermarkets because it has a great flavor but a short shelf life. It is the reason you go to farmers markets to find strawberries like this. It has a short season so it won’t be around more than two or three weeks. Truck Patch has it this week. And for once we will have rhubarb when strawberries are plentiful.

Other NEW delights: McCleaf is pressing single variety Fuji apple juice. They also have English walnuts,

Truck Patch has decided that Turkeys should not be limited to November feasts and are raising them right now for ground turkey and bonesless breasts that make great sandwiches. Just roast a breast in the oven and you have sandwich meat all week.

We are proud to be hosting the DC State Fair’s seedling swap of veggie starters on Saturday. (You come with a tomato seedling and swap for an eggplant) Lots of good advice from urban gardeners —

List of vendors after the jump. (more…)

Capital Bikeshare Shuffle – New Hampshire and U Street to 17th and T St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth


Former location at New Hampshire and U St, NW

Dear PoPville,

Any idea why Capital Bikeshare moved its station from 16th and U to 17th an T? It’s only two blocks but the new station is in the street (the old location was on the sidewalk) and it took up two parking spaces. I’m all for DC doing everything it can to become more bike friendly and love seeing Bikeshare expand. It’s just too bad that they took two spots away in an already tricky neighborhood for parking. Any ideas?

My guess is that the previous location on the sidewalk didn’t allow enough room for a wheelchair to pass? Anyone else know the reason for the move?


New location on T Street between 17th and New Hampshire

Update on Japanese Restaurant, Izakaya Seki, Coming to 1117 V St, NW. Looking to Open in Early July. Now Hiring.

By Prince Of Petworth


1117 V St, NW

It’s been a while since we checked in on the new Japanese restaurant, Izakaya Seki, coming to 1117 V St, NW in the former Spotts Barbershop now located at 809 Florida Ave, NW. I met with the owner yesterday to take a look at the progress. Considering this was a barbershop my mind was blown. While it may not look like much from the outside the inside was gutted to the studs and completely rebuilt. On the first floor there is a huge bar and brand new kitchen equipment behind it. There will be room for 10 to sit and eat at this first floor bar:

If you walk upstairs you’ll see an exposed brick wall and eventually seating for 30.

On the menu you’ll find 30-40 items. There will be no sushi but you will find many seafood options – think braised, grilled and roasted fish. In addition to seafood you’ll find some chicken and pork dishes as well as many vegetable dishes. There will also be udon and soba noodles.

For drinks you’ll find one or two beer on tap plus numerous offerings in cans and bottles. While there will be many Japanese beers (I was told every prefecture has its own microbrew) there will also be some from Korea, Taiwan and some good stuff from the States.

If all goes well they are looking to open in early July.

And they are hiring! They are looking for servers, line cooks, prep cooks, and dishwashers. If you know anyone who’d be interested have them email sekidc(at)gmail(dot)com.

Gas Station Home to Fast Gourmet to Become a Valero Station at 14th and W St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to all who wrote in about Valero coming to take over the gas station at 14th and W St, NW. I was eager to see if this would have an impact on the Fast Gourmet sandwiches located inside. I’m happy to report that Fast Gourmet will still be serving when Valero takes over. I also asked about their new spot coming to Dupont at 1990 M St, NW and they say we can expect to see that space open in about a month or so.

What’s Shakin’ in the Makin’ Vol. 27 – ‘Happy Hour’ Still Coming to U Street?

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in May 2011 we heard about a liquor license application for a new spot hoping to come to 12th and U St, NW above The Islander. It was to be called Happy Hour a:

“Neighborhood bar with light food, games including Skiball, Wii Stations, and other electronic video games. Entertainment includes live bands.”

Alas, I now see a For Lease sign has gone back up on the 2nd floor of The Islander:

Trash Cat Shop and Spring Clothing Swap at Blind Dog Cafe Sunday

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

Trash Cat Collective and Blind Dog Cafe are partnering up for the first Trash Cat pop-up shop of the Spring! Come shop or swap (no more than 5 items for swapping! please respect our host space!), drink and nibble from Blind Dog’s Trash Cat-themed cocktails and snacks. Full Blind Dog menu is also available.

April 29, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
944 Florida Ave, NW

Do You Oppose a Liquor Moratorium for 14th/U Street? Sign Here

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user mosley.brian

From a Change.org petition:

Once again we’re hearing the idea of a Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) License (a/k/a “a liquor license”) Moratorium being discussed for the Greater 14th and U Street Neighborhoods here in the District of Columbia.

Please sign this petition and express your support for our vibrant 14th and U Street and MidCity neighborhoods by saying “NO ABC License Moratorium for Greater 14th & U Street/MidCity Neighborhood!”

Our neighborhoods today are a vibrant mix of residents, businesses, and services and continue to grow and flourish. There are many other more effective ways to manage multi-use districts like our incredible neighborhoods. An ABC license moratorium is a short sighted and ineffective “solution” to what really is complex mix of many quality of life issues.

Only by bringing together residents, local businesses of all types, government, public safety, and developers, to work together to address all of the quality of life issues can we plan and work toward the common goal of making the Greater 14th and U Street and MidCity Neighborhoods safe and vibrant places to live, work, and socialize.

An ABC License moratorium is an ineffective way to deal with the many quality of life issues that exist in the neighborhood and unfairly places the burden and responsibility of the many issues of our vibrant neighborhood only on our local businesses that happen to hold alcohol licenses. No one is saying that serving alcohol doesn’t create issues, however blaming alcohol for all of the issues of a neighborhood and targeting only alcohol is short sighted and ineffective.

Only five (5) ABC Moratoriums exist today in DC, and all of the neighborhoods with moratoriums continue to struggle with the same issues that the proponents of the moratoriums said they would solve. These same neighborhoods now also struggle to attract new development, residents and business as well as to keep their neighborhoods vibrant and full of the mix of residents, retail, and services they desire (and even once had).

If you oppose a liquor license moratorium you can sign here.

Another New Bar Coming to 9th St, NW by 9:30 Club

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I noticed today an alcohol license sign in the window of the building next to Montserrat House at 2014 9th st NW (to the left of it if you’re facing it). It says it will be a bar with music, a cover, and bar food. No name or other details. There is a recent building permit in the doorway window that lists Montserrat House as the applying party, so I am not sure if this is an expansion or what. Have you heard anything?”

The liquor license says:

“New Tavern. Neighborhood gathering place, offering music and tavern food, with Entertainment, Cover Charge, Dancing, and DJ or band (maximum 7 pieces). No designated dance floor. Total occupancy load of 100 and total number of seats is 49. Summer Garden with 49 seats.”

As you noted this building is owned by the same folks who own Montserrat House – the Hilton brothers (Marvin, Gibson, Blackbyrd, Chez Billy etc.) Stay tuned for more info on the concept of this one as it becomes available.

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