RSS FeedDay of the Dead
What are you doing to celebrate Halloween this year? How about celebrating The Day of the Dead at Oyamel (401 7th St., NW) with drink and menu specials?
The festival runs from now until November 3rd with menu specials from $10 to $20 and drink specials from $11 to $13.
Downtown DC/Penn Quarter Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood
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Here’s what we were reading recently about neighborhood news in DC. Have something to add? Leave it in the comments!
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Events/News
UPDATE (10/22): We added a few links to video covering the ANC meeting where the Verizon Center digital signboards were discussed on 10/21.
Penn Quarter – Locals whether they live or work in Penn Quarter have undoubtedly now seen that all of the recently installed wall size (50′ by 24 ‘) digital Verizon Center billboard signs are functioning and lit. Not all the residents are happy with them however and they will be on the agenda for the ANC 2C meeting is being held tonight at 6:30 pm in the MLK Library (9th and G St NW). [WaPo] & [Channel 4 WRC ANC meeting coverage] & [Channel 9 WUSA ANC meeting coverage]
Penn Quarter – The DC Public Library narrows the field from 26 to 10 firms who bid on redeveloping the MLK Library, DC’s central library, at 9th and G St NW. This group will be narrowed down to 3 firms in December. Community input is requested (see last link if you want to submit feedback). [DCist] & [DCPL MLK redevelopment public input link]
Mount Vernon Triangle – The MVTCID announces Fall Fun Day on October 26 with activities taking place in various spots. [The Triangle]
Development
Mount Vernon Triangle – Bozzuto officially breaks ground on 460 New York Ave NW. This condo will be 63 units with each unit between 435 and 1109 square feet. Sizes range from studios to 2 bedroom units. Sales are expected to start in late 2013/early 2014. [Bozzuto]
Restaurants
Downtown – Chef Geoff sues to have his restaurant stay at his 1301 Pennsylvania Ave NW location. Interesting to us is that this location is Chef Geoff’s most profitable of the five in the group and it generates more than $5 million annually in revenue. [Washington Business Journal]
Mount Vernon Triangle – RPM Italian might open in 601 Massachusetts Ave NW. Might is the operative word. [Washington City Paper]
Downtown – Casa Luca (1099 New York Ave NW) is now open Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 am to 10:30 am for breakfast. We love the Bambolini that Chef Fabio makes. [Casa Luca – breakfast menu [PDF]] & [Casa Luca menus homepage]
Downtown – City Tap House, a craft beer focused bar and restaurant, will replace the shuttered 901 Restaurant at 9th and I St NW (901 I St NW). They will open this fall, are into their build out, and already have their Twitter, Facebook, and websites up and running. It will be perfect timing with the opening of City Center right across the street. They’re also hiring. [City Tap Room DC – website – Twitter – Facebook] & [City Tap House menu page]
Downtown – This story has the photos for the inside of Bolt Burgers opening soon in the retail space at 1010 Massachusetts Ave NW. [Bad Wolf DC – Shaw blog]
Crib of the Week
Our Crib of the Week this week is not typical because it is a real, honest to goodness single family house. It is actually in Mount Vernon Square at 1110 6th St NW featuring 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms in 3200 square feet. This property could be converted into condos, left in its current hostel configuration, or returned to being a single family home. It is close enough to Penn Quarter to be walking distance so we’ll claim it as being in our ‘hood. It’s MLS DC8180434, the asking price is $1.2999 million, and there is no condo fee (because it isn’t a condo!). [Redfin listing – 1110 6th St NW – MLS DC8180434]
What Ghost Town?
The entire country is celebrating the end of the government shutdown, but maybe no town more than Washington, DC. While we all know government is a big business in DC, from the news reports you’d think it was the only industry in the city. We’re glad all of our government employee friends are back to work, but think the news maybe went a little bit overboard with the characterization that DC, during the shutdown, was a veritable “Ghost Town.”
While the L’Enfant Plaza area probably was deserted, and the area immediately surrounding the Capitol as well, we thought Penn Quarter looked and felt pretty crowded. That’s not to discount the impact on local businesses who felt the pinch with fewer customers, just that you were hardly call PQ during the shutdown “deserted” or a “ghost town,” as we suspect the same is true for many other neighborhoods throughout the city.
Take this recent WSJ article talking about skateboarders enjoying the shutdown since it meant they could turn Freedom Plaza and other landmarks into a private skate-park. We’ve always seen skateboarders attempting tricks in and around our landmarks without harassment by police (local or federal), we didn’t notice it being any better or worse during the shutdown.
Sure the media can pick and choose between a few locations in the city and end up with stories that make it look like DC was as empty as some post-apocalyptic movie scene; when it came to Penn Quarter, we though the town looked alive and well.
Bolt Burgers Opening Soon
A walk by 1010 Massachusetts Ave. NW reveals an almost ready to open Bolt Burgers. Their menu [PDF] features nine types of gourmet burgers, four salad types, and a create your own burger option.