RSS FeedActivity In Former Soho Space
Over the last few weeks we’ve noticed workers cleaning up the old SoHo Cafe & Market (401 9th ST NW). The same “for lease” signs still hang in the windows, and there are no work permits posted, so we don’t know if this is just a general cleaning to try to entice a new tenant or if we might finally have one of our long empty corner spots filled.
We certainly hope some new business is moving in – a small market would be ideal.
May Day
On this May Day, instead of dancing around the Maypole adorned in Spring blooms, we’re weaving the intricate ribbons of our calendars to enjoy a stellar weekend of events.
Lucky Lily Day TweetUp
May 3, 5:30-8pm
The Willard Hotel – Café du Parc (1401 Pennsylvania Ave., NW)
Ball on the Mall
May 4, 6:30-11:30pm
The National Mall
5th Annual Kentucky Derby Party
May 4, 4-7pm
Young Leadership Council with RaiseDC
Penn Social (801 E St., NW)
Bonnets and Bow Ties Kentucky Derby Bash
May 4, 4pm-8pm
Willard Hotel – Round Robin Bar (1401 Pennsylvania Ave., NW)
Cinco de Mayo Festival on the Mall
May 5, 12-6pm
Penn Quarter Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood
Follow PQ Living via Facebook here and Twitter here. Our Flickr tag is pqliving.
Here’s what we were reading recently about neighborhood news in DC. Have something to add? Leave it in the comments!
Have any tips? Send them in confidentiality to: pqliving [at] gmail.com
Penn Quarter Restaurant Recipe of the Week – Cinco de Mayo is next Sunday so it seems appropriate to direct readers to a video and recipe for making Oyamel’s Margarita. The link is to an older story and some may wish to swap in their favorite type of tequila, but the basic recipe remains the same. You also get to learn how to make salt air. Yum! [Oyamel Margarita recipe – Washingtonian Magazine]
Penn Quarter – Azur (405 8th St NW) opened offering “a classic European seafood restaurant in the heart of Washington, D.C.” [PQ Living] & [WaPo – Going Out Guide]
Penn Quarter – Tom Sietsema reviews the revamped Elisir, now called Osteria Elisir (427 11th St NW), and gives it 2.5 stars. Not bad! [WaPo]
Penn Quarter – Owners of what must be the last non-utilized real estate in downtown DC requests a raze permit for the three buildings next to the old National Bank of Washington building on G St NW near the corner of 14th and G St NW. Moving these properties forward, at least in some fashion, has been a long time coming. [Washington Business Journal]
Penn Quarter – The Riot Act lawsuit moves forward in DC District Court. Penn Social opened up in place of Riot Act at the corner of 8th and E St NW. [Washington City Paper]
Chinatown – The Ruby Tuesday at 712 7th St NW will be closing as its lease expires and the cycle of creative retail destruction begins anew. This is the third spot where we’ve seen this happen on 7th Street in that block in the last year. [Washington Business Journal]
Chinatown – Del Campo (777 I St NW) with a South American grill inspired menu opened in the old PS7 space. [WaPo] & [REVAMP – interior photos]
Penn Quarter Crib of the Week – We do have a Crib of the Week for you and it is in the Clara Barton condominium at 616 E St NW. It’s Unit #311, has 2 bedrooms, and 2.5 bathrooms. It is listed at 2001 square feet for $985,000 under MLS number DC8051878. [Redfin listing – 616 E St NW, Unit 311]
They Said It Couldn’t Be Done
For years we’ve been asking the bartenders at Central (1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW) why they don’t utilize the huge sidewalk in front of the restaurant for outdoor dining. Without a second entrance, we were told, it was just too difficult to service the tables properly.
It appears that something must have changed their minds. The other day we noticed that Central has in fact added outside seating, and it looks great. Now if we could only get a restaurant to take over the old TenPenh space.