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2014 was a year of exciting growth and development in the neighborhood. Here are just a few of our favorite bits and bites:
- CityCenter opened and with it exciting new retail and dining options.
- DC darling, Rasika, honored with James Beard Award for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic. Vikram Sunderam.
- Several neighborhood favorites are honored at the 2014 Rammy Awards, including Fiola and Proof.
- The opening of the grand Marriott Marquis.
- Dozens of new restaurant and retail openings.
What was your favorite neighborhood news this year?
Looking forward to the New Year and the possibility and opportunity for Penn Quarter to continue to shine!
7th And E NW Starbucks (Former d.c. space Venue) Under Renovation
The Starbucks (443 7th St NW) at the corner of 7th and E St NW is undergoing renovations and will reopen shortly into January 2015 our source tells us. Follow #7thandEReno on Twitter to check in on progress – we can already see that Starbucks Reserve coffee will be available once reopened.
Formerly known as d.c. space, an alternative music performance venue, this corner spot [image NSFW] hosted many music shows and poetry readings between 1977 and 1992. This Washington Post article offers a good synopsis of what took place in this “urban frontier.” You can also check out photos from inside d.c. space here.
Penn Quarter/Chinatown’s Best Christmas Tree…Happy Holidays!
We spotted this Christmas tree atop the roof of The Myrene, a multiunit rowhouse condo at 703 6th St NW on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s undoubtedly the best urban Christmas tree in Penn Quarter and Chinatown we’ve seen this year!
Happy Holidays everyone! We’ll be back with a post or two next week and then it’s into 2015 we go!
Heard In The ‘Hood: RareSweets, Loro Piana Open At CityCenter + More
Photo above: RareSweets Bakeshop desserts – now available from 7 am to 7 pm daily at 963 Palmer Alley
We have a few updates for you…as usual, lots going on in the restaurant scene.
Send us your downtown neighborhood news and tips in confidence to: pqliving[at]gmail.com
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Restaurants
RareSweets Opens at CityCenter (Downtown) – RareSweets Bakeshop, a bakeshop and specialty dessert company, opened for business at 963 Palmer Alley, NW, Washington, DC, 20001 located in CityCenter. A few lines from the press release follow:
After over a year of operating a wholesale and catering business out of the food incubator Union Kitchen, and hosting various pop-ups, RareSweets’ founder and pastry chef Meredith Tomason will open her first brick-and-mortar bakeshop. The menu will offer seasonally driven layer cakes, doughnuts, coffee cakes, mini bundts, cookies, bars, biscuits, ice creams, and other heirloom American confections reimagined for a modern palate.
Tadich Grill Will Open in Q1 2015 (Penn Quarter) – A former Chef Geoff’s chef will be the executive chef at the Tadich Grill which will move into the former Ten Penh space at 1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW. The Washington Post, DC Eater, and Washingtonian have the scoop.
Jose Andres to Trump’s Hotel at the Old Post Office (Penn Quarter) – Just when you thought the Andres empire couldn’t take over more of Penn Quarter. Well, it can, as Jose Andres is named to put his stamp on the hotel’s restaurant when it opens in mid-2016.
Last Industry Takeover Night at Graffiato’s in January (Chinatown) – Graffiato’s monthly Industry Takeover Night will end in January. We’re sad to see this tradition go so make sure to get to the last one on Monday, January 5!
Development/Retail
Variable Rate Parking Coming to Penn Quarter (Penn Quarter) – You may have seen the new parking meters being installed in Penn Quarter and Chinatown. They will allow DDOT to run a demand/variable rate metered parking program in 2015 and 2016 to see how well the system functions. The general idea is to set the parking rate high enough so that at least one space is vacant on any given block at any given time. The Washington Post has the details.
Loro Piana Opens at CityCenter (Downtown) – Do you like cashmere and wool with an Italian label? We do too. Bring your checkbook and your 401k as Loro Piana opened at 949 H St NW.
Arc’teryx Robbed, Unfortunately (Downtown) – Arc’teryx just opened on H St NW at CityCenter and was the victim of a smash and grab.