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Photo by PoPville flickr user NCinDC

I support this trend.

From a press release:

“Dupont Circle to Light Up with Public Art

WHO: Media Artist Ali Momeni, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
WHAT: “Statuevision” public art project, large-scale projections
WHERE: Dupont Circle
WHEN: Friday, October 17, 7 – 10 PM

“Statuevision” will illuminate Dupont Circle with a large-scale projection performance featuring statues from across the District. Dupont Circle, a historic gathering spot for marches on the mall, hosts an assembly of virtual sculptures to realize a future of moving monuments. District history students and teachers share stories of the statues’ migration and immigration journeys. Partners include the National Park Service and area schools.

“Statuevision” is one of 25 public art projects, created for 5×5, a Project of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. 5×5 is a contemporary public art project, showing through December.”


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1831 M Street, NW

At the risk of sounding like a broken record – holy freaking transformations! The former Mighty Pint (Madhatter for the old school) is no longer recognizable. And while I had many a fun drunken evening in this old space – it is now absolutely beautiful. Aside from the general layout it is completely unrecognizable – in a good way:

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previously:

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Lots of details about Second State from a press release:

“Restaurateur Reese Gardner is pleased to announce the opening of Second State, which will replace the former Mighty Pint at 1831 M Street, NW. Second State is slated to open October 21st [currently taking reservations]. Gardner is the founder/owner of Wooden Nickel Bar Company based in Arlington, Virginia, which owns and operates the popular Irish Whiskey Public House in Washington, DC, and neighborhood hot spot Copperwood Tavern in Shirlington Village. Gardner, a Pennsylvania native, wanted to honor his state’s history and decided to name his latest restaurant Second State as Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the Constitution on December 12, 1787.

Gardner’s goal for Second State is to create an intimate neighborhood restaurant with casual fine dining. The menu is being created by Corporate Executive Chef Allan Javery and will feature seasonal American small bites along with featured prime cuts of local game, farm-raised poultry, beef and fresh fish to accompany the hearty, family-style sides. Every ingredient will be sourced from local farmers within a three-hour drive from DC, with an emphasis on farms in Pennsylvania.

Standout dishes include Short Ribs, root beer braised short ribs over parsnip and garlic confit puree; Scallops & Foie Gras, lightly smoked and seared Eat Coast scallops and foie gras over sweet corn puree; Frisee Salad, duck confit, warm bacon vinaigrette, apples crispy fingerling potatoes and a poached duck egg; Brown Ale Butter Chicken; Filet Mignon, 8-ounce grass fed beef served with a creamy bourbon and green peppercorn sauce; Roasted Pheasant, pan roasted with cider jus, pearl onions and apples, as well as a Pennsylvania favorite Pierogies filled with classic potatoes and cheddar sautéed with onions, brown butter, and bacon. Menu items range from $7 to $36.

The bar program at Second State, spearheaded by Corporate Beverage Program Director Boris Stojkovic, will also be another important element. Second State will have a culinary approach to classic mixology incorporating fresh, local, seasonal ingredients found in the homemade syrups and mixers.  Guests will enjoy freshly squeezed juices for cocktails, and a large selection of 30 white and dark rye whiskeys. Cocktails include the Old City Rickey, Bluecoat Pennsylvania gin, aged maple syrup, lime, and hard cider; Liberty Punch, XXX Shine LiberTea whiskey, fresh lemonade, ginger syrup and lavender bitters, and the Second Statement with Pennsylvania Rye whiskey, raw Pennsylvania honey, Absinthe, and aromatic bitters. Cocktails range in price from $11 to $17.

Once again Reese Gardner is collaborating with local Designer Maggie O’Neill of SwatchRoom. “The vision for Second State is to create a cozy cool meets classic row-house dining atmosphere,” says O’Neill. “This will be achieved by incorporating a fresh palette of creamy bleached wood, steal blues, and warm greys that will envelop the intimate first floor with exposed beams and a polished concrete floor. Iron and crystal mixed with distressed metals and a few historic artifacts will pepper the space and speak to materials indigenous to Pennsylvania. Ascending a steel and wood staircase to the second floor, diners can expect to find a warm glowing wall of windows, corrugated metal, and rich upholstery creating a charming industrial treehouse feel with cozy semi private booths. The dining experience at Second State will be sweet, small, and smart—perfect for a cozy date night or dinner with friends.”

The restaurant will be open for lunch daily, from 11 AM to 5 PM and for dinner daily, from 5 PM to 11 PM. Brunch will be served Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Additionally, “Oyster Hour” will be available nightly from 5 PM to 6 PM. For additional information, please call (202) 466-3010 or visit www.SecondStatedc.com.”

Lots more photos of the new spaceafter the jump. (more…)


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2031 Florida Avenue, NW

@EdwardGarnett tweets us the photo above:

“@PoPville looks like McClellan’s Retreat is happening in the old Veritas space. Any details?”

I took a peek on my Sunday walkabout and was told then that they about 2 weeks from opening (close to 1 week out now). The women I spoke to said they’d be focusing on wine and cocktails. This is the former Veritas Wine Bar that closed back in August.

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looking east towards Connecticut Ave


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1205 19th Street, NW

Last week I noted a new restaurant possibly called Yaffa’s was coming to the former Poboy shop on 19th St just north of M. I was close – the owners email me and say Yāfa Grille is coming towards the end of October:

“Yāfa Grille Shawarma•Falafal•pita

We are five brothers and We freshly make pita in shop with fresh vegetables and ingredients every day. Placed on a service line where you can top off your pita, bowl, salad or entrée. Our shawarma and Falafals are made fresh everyday with a touch of classic and traditional middles eastern technics and ingredients to give you the taste of the middle east cuisine.”


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1821 18th Street, NW

Back in August we learned that there could be trouble for Saloon 45 (to be renamed Swann Dive) after:

“Ward 2 Council Member Jack Evans has submitted a letter supporting the protest and asking the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board to full-out deny the new license application.”

Well, on Wed. Alcoholic Beverage Control Board denied Saloon 45 their liquor license in the former Sandy’s Flower Shop on 18th Street near Bar Charley and Lauriol Plaza. ABC wrote in part:

“Specifically, the Board finds the Application inappropriate, because the establishment’s intention of having its entrance on Swann Street, N.W., along with outdoor seating, will bring loitering and other patron-related disturbances to a residential area.”

You can read the full ruling below:

Saloon 45 – Order on Denial of License – 9 24 2014 (PDF)


“Dear PoPville,

Head’s up about a potentially dangerous runner in Dupont – Today (9/21) I was walking around 17 and S St. NW at 11 AM when I was assaulted by a jogger. A woman running quickly towards looked me in the face, said “head’s up”, then purposely body slammed me in the shoulder with a lot of force. I yelled loudly but she continued and was gone before we figured out what just happened. It was clearly intentional and she really hurt my shoulder. She was about 5’4″, Caucasian, athletic, mid-30s, with mid length brown hair. The whole experience was bizarre, but clearly an unprovoked assault on a stranger that she will probably repeat.”


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All photos by James Calder

Thanks to James Calder for sharing these great photos:

“The Washington Hilton had Florida Avenue blocked off all weekend so that one massive, mobile crane could install another massive, fixed one on the hotel grounds. (Photos taken on the roof deck of my apartment building in the 1800 block of T St NW.)”

Previously the Washington Business Journal has reported that the planned condos from Lowe Enterprises:

“could include between 200 and 230 residential units.”

Updates of the project at 1919 Connecticut Ave, NW as construction progresses.

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