RSS FeedDowntown DC/Penn Quarter News Roundup: Restaurant Edition Heard In The ‘Hood
Photos above: Bakers & Baristas opens at 7th and E St NW – the menu includes apricot danishes!
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Bakers & Baristas Opens! (Penn Quarter) – In the former Tangysweet space and once a coffee shop pre-Tangysweet, Bakers & Baristas, a coffee and pastry shop, opened on the northeast corner of 7th and E St NW (501 7th St NW). We stopped by twice and this one is a clear winner with absolutely delicious pastries and coffees available. We highly recommend stopping in. [Washingtonian] & [Washington Post] & [Washington CityPaper]
Mango Tree Opens at CityCenter DC! (Downtown) – Mango Tree [Menus], an upscale Thai restaurant, opened in CityCenter at 929 H St NW [Photos]. We ate at the new venue in the downstairs bar on Saturday night and it seems fine, not exceptional for the price, but fine for now. The upstairs bar and dining area is much better than the downstairs bar which still remains lively but somewhat undecorated.
W Hotel Wine Bar Turns Into Root Cellar Whiskey Bar (Downtown) – Our favorite cozy drink meet up spot, the W Hotel’s Wine Bar was remodeled and repurposed into a whiskey bar named Root Cellar (515 15th St NW). This is part two of the dining menu at the W Hotel, the first being the inception of Pinea (which is delicious, by the way). We have not stopped by Root Cellar yet but plan to check out the drink menu soon. [BYT] & [Washington CityPaper]
China Chilcano Expands the Jose Andres Restaurant Empire (Penn Quarter) – Good bye Olsson’s, good bye Wagamama, hello China Chilcano. We stopped by China Chilcano (418 7th St NW) for a quick dinner and it meets the quality and consistency available at all the other Jose Andres’ restaurants in town, that is, excellent. Expect a fine price for a finely tailored Peruvian/Chinese hybrid meal set in a fun, whimsical environment [Photos]. [Washington Post] & [DC Eater]
Grand Trunk Indian Restaurant Open, Sort Of (Penn Quarter) – Replacing the Artifactory at 641 Indiana Ave NW, Grand Trunk will be open 24 hours. We stopped by the Sunday before last but they were closed and still in “soft open” mode. A phone call this morning yielded no answer so we’ll drop by again and see. [Urban Daddy]
Ed. Note (Jan 26): Grand Trunk reached out to us to let us know they’re hoping to formally open by the end of this week. Stay tuned!
Upcoming Restaurants at CityCenter include Centrolina, Fig & Olive, and Momofuku – We’re keeping an eye out for when these restaurants open! [PQL Intelligence Network]
Vroom Vroom
If you love all things cars, then be sure to make your way to the Washington Auto Show starting this weekend at the convention center (801 Mount Vernon Pl., NW). Over 700 new makes and models from over 42 manufacturers will be on display featuring some of the latest in design, technology and sustainable innovations for the cars of the future. Is a self-driving car, flying car or car that can run on your household garbage closer to the market than you’d think?
Cribs XXVI: Penn Quarter Style…Redux
Well, well, well. Look what has come on the real estate market. It’s one of the biggies in Penn Quarter…major square footage for this unit with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. At The Residences at Terrell Place, 675 E Street, #700, went up for sale recently and we are making it our 26th Crib.
Two reasons…1) it has 2,720 square feet of space, a 56 foot wide living room/dining room (the entire width of the building) and great light facing three points of the compass – south, east, and west; and 2) it’s interesting to compare with the 10th floor version of this unit that we pointed out in September of 2007 (pictures linked off of post) which was our very FIRST Cribs post profiling great real estate in Penn Quarter/downtown DC.
How much bling will this set you back? A cool $1.595 million and $2,321 per month in condo fees. Now that’s living in Penn Quarter style!
675 E Street, #700 [Redfin listing for DC8529593] [Homevisit Virtual Tour]
Restaurant Week Begins Monday, January 19 – Penn Quarter Represents!
It’s that time of year when Restaurant Week (the Winter Edition) rolls around and restaurants have the opportunity to attract new (or returning) customers by enticing them with easy to pick and fixed price (prix fixe) menus. Restaurant Week runs from Monday, January 19 through Sunday, January 25 with lunches going for $21.15 and dinners for $35.15.
As always, buyer beware because some restaurants put zero effort into being creative and simply package existing menu items together for the same price (or sometimes more!) than what is normally available throughout the year. However, there are always a few gems that take the time and effort to shine and put the package together at a discount or offer unique menu items that showcase the restaurant’s cusine.
The Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association put out a list of Penn Quarter member restaurants participating in Restaurant Week as follows (other neighborhood restaurants may be participating also):
- 701 Restaurant | 202.393.0701
- Acadiana | 202.408.8848
- Cafe du Parc | 202.942.7000
- Carmine’s [lunch only] | 292.737.7770, extension 1
- Casa Luca | 202.628.1099
- Cedar | 202.637.0012
- Cuba Libre | 202.408.1600
- Daikaya Izakaya [dinner only] | 202.589.1600
- DBGB Kitchen and Bar | 202.695.7660
- District ChopHouse | 202.347.3434
- Fiola | 202.628.2888
- The Hamilton | 202.787.1000
- Jaleo | 202.628.7949
- McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood | 202.639.9330
- NoPa Kitchen + Bar | 202.347.4667
- Occidental |202.783.1475
- Old Ebbitt Grill | 202.347.4800
- Oya Restaurant & Lounge | 202.393.1400
- Oyamel | 202.628.1005
- Poste Brasserie | 202.783.6060
- Rasika [lunch only] | 202.637.1222
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House – DC Convention Center [dinner only] | 202.393.4488
- SEI Restaurant and Lounge | 202,783.7007
- Social Reform Kitchen and Bar | 202.393.1300
- The Source | 202,637.6100
- Zaytinya | 202.638.0800
- Zengo | 202.393.2929
Coffee Aficionados
Sure Starbucks is conveniently located less than 3 blocks from any corner in Penn Quarter, but if you really love your coffee, then you’re taking the extra steps to head to some of DCs locally roasted coffee shops. We recently tried Compass Coffee (1535 7th St., NW) in Shaw and it is taking the lead as our favorite mid-day meeting spot. Not only is the coffee delicious, but the service is excellent and the ambiance is a very calm, but hip urban chic. To top it off, you can watch/hear them roasting the beans as you sip and chat. The cup says it all “real good coffee!”
Penn Quarter N’hood Assn. Breakfast On Wed, Jan 28 (Topic: Penn Ave Initiative)
By e-mail we were notified of the next Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association breakfast meeting. An RSVP by noon Monday, January 26, is requested to attend the meeting. There is no cost to attend. Please indicate if you heard of this meeting from Penn Quarter Living:
Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association Breakfast Meeting
Wednesday, January 28, 8:30amLocation
The Newseum’s Knight Conference Center
Eighth Floor
Freedom Forum Entrance
6th Street, NW between Pennsylvania Avenue and C Street
Metro: Archives-Navy Mem’l-Penn QuarterAgenda
Continental Breakfast: 8:30 – 8:55am
Brief Announcements: 9:00am
Speaker: 9:15amSpeakers + Topic
Marcel Acosta, Executive Director, and Sarah Moulton, Urban Planner
The National Capital Planning CommissionThe National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is leading a team of Federal and local agencies with a stake in the future of Pennsylvania Avenue’s public realm, now in need of significant attention. Our speakers will outline the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative’s Action Plan that includes steps to envision The Avenue’s 21st century role as a local and national destination in our nation’s capital, and conceive of near-term pilot projects to test physical and programmatic improvements.
Background
Funds for The Avenue’s upkeep and management have not been adequate since 1996 when Congress terminated the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation (PADC) and placed responsibility for The Avenue and adjacent blocks in the hands of NCPC, the National Park Service, GSA, and the DC government. After creating a Plan for the area and receiving initial funding to carry it out in 1977, over a twenty-year period PADC oversaw the transition of The Avenue and adjacent blocks from a downtown area that had seen better times to an award-winning, revitalized model for the country.Please respond if you plan on attending this meeting as it will help our host prepare. RSVP via email to my new email address by noon Monday, January 26:
Jo-Ann[at]PennQuarter.org
Include the first and last names of all those attending and their affiliations.
New ANC Commissioner Jeffrey Higgins To Be Introduced At Monday’s ANC2C Meeting
The second Monday of the month means that it’s time for the ANC 2C (Advisory Neighborhood Commission) to meet in the MLK Library on Monday, January 12 at 6:30 pm (Lower level – room #3).
The agenda typically hints at businesses that plan to open their doors in the near future among other things. Of note, the Fig and Olive is the newbie planning to open in CityCenter in Palmer Alley. On to the full agenda as delivered to us by the Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association:
Agenda
Call to Order
Introduction of New ANC2C03 Commissioner Jeffrey Higgins
Quorum
Approval of Agenda
Approval of December Minutes
Treasurer’s ReportBusiness Items
1. Election of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary-Treasurer
2. Approval for Legally Required Security Fund – $25
3. Website Proposal by Nathan Adams for Nations Builder (800 7th Street, NW | 202.459.9876)
4. Discussion on Formation of Committees: Alcohol Beverage Regulatory Licensing; Transportation
and Public Space; Noise and Public Safety; Local Events; Planning, Zoning, and EnvironmentBrief Community Announcements and Presentations
1. Office of Human Rights – Teresa Rainey (202.727.4559)Transportation and Public Space
1. Third Street Tunnel Update – Shana Viera presenting (info@3rdsttunnel.com)
2. DC Arena (Verizon Center, 601 F Street, NW) – Tracking Number 103017; Application to Occupy Public Space for the purpose of Fixtures and Billboards at the premises – Ben Hyde presenting (301.257.6810)
3. Next month DDOT’s Project Manager, Lezlie Rupert will present the Union Station to Georgetown Streetcar proposed alternatives for the Environmental AssessmentAlcoholic Beverage Licensing
1. White Apron Specialty Sandwiches – ABRA 097559, Retail Class C Restaurant – 455 11th St., NW — Notice of Public Hearing – Stephen O’Brien Presenting (202.625.7700)
2. Fig & Olive – ABA 097488, Retail Class CR – To be located at 934 Palmer Alley, NW Notice of Public Hearing – Andrew Klein Presenting (202.686,7600)Next meeting: February 9
Questions
ANC 2C01 – John Tinpe, 2C01[at]anc.dc.gov
ANC 2C02 – Harold Closter, 2C02[at]anc.dc.gov
ANC 2C03 – Jeffrey Higgins, 2C03[at]anc.dc.gov
