RSS FeedJuly 4 Penn Quarter Cookouts
Summer surely is in full swing in Washington DC with temperatures in the 90s, the humidity on full blast and July 4 sneaking up on workers like a lion hunting its prey. There’s a special “je ne sais quoi” to being in the federal capital for the United States’ Independence Day. Perhaps it’s a mid-summer long weekend or perhaps it’s a time to reflect on what our nation accomplished in the last two hundred plus years.
And, then there’s the food! Some of us have great rooftops with grills to enjoy or will be going to parties in the ‘burbs, but for those who won’t or who would rather have others do the cooking, a few restaurants in the neighborhood have the Independence Day spirit and are putting on picnic/bbq style events as listed below. If you know of other restaurants putting on July 4 events, feel free to comment. Where and what will you be eating on the 4th?
Poste [Moderne] Brasserie (555 8th St NW) – Chef Robert Weland and the team at Poste will serve all-American picnic fare on the restaurant’s upper and lower courtyard on July 4 between 2 pm and 8 pm. The Picnic at Poste costs $27 for adults and $14 for kids, and will feature a choice of house-made frankfurter with sauerkraut, mustard and parker house roll OR a burger with gruyere and a pickle, OR root beer glazed pork spare ribs with bok choy kimchi and black-eyed pea and Virginia peanut salad. Sides include potato salad, coleslaw, and freshly grilled corn on the cob. Dessert includes seasonal market cobbler with crème fraiche ice cream OR slice of heirloom watermelon with sea salt. Reservations are required and the party goes indoors if it rains. Call (202) 783-6060 or visit www.postebrasserie.com or their Facebook page for more details about Poste.
J & G Steakhouse (515 15th St NW (corner of 15th and Penn Ave) – Join J & G on their patio facing Pennsylvania Avenue from 5 pm – 10 pm on July 4 to celebrate Independence Day with a picnic of appetizers, group-style sides and desserts, outdoor grill selections, and more. Beer, wine, and soda will be available at an extra cost. $35 per person and no reservations.
PS 7’s Restaurant (777 I (Eye) St NW) – Chef Peter Smith will be cooking up for take out on Saturday, July 2. This includes an authentic house made half beef/half pork hot dog (Half Smoke), topped with White Veal Chili, and served in a house made Parker House bun. Chicken Basil Brats, chili, bread, and butter pickle relish will also be available. All items are available individually or as a complete package, and must be pre-ordered by end-of-day June 30th, 2011. Half Smoke pickup will take place at PS 7’s Restaurant on Saturday, July 2nd. Prices run from $9 for the hot dogs only to $20 for the hot dogs/buns/white chili combo. Orders and pick-up times can be placed by calling 202-742-8550 or emailing the chef himself at: petersmith@ps7restaurant.com
DC Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood
Photo above: Full view of 901 Restaurant & Bar at 9th and I Streets NW
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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!
Mount Vernon Triangle – An update on the reduction in scope of The Arts at 5th and Eye project. We really would like to see the residential component restored. [Life in Mount Vernon Square]
Penn Quarter – The Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association (PQNA) will hold its monthly breakfast meeting on Thursday, June 30. [PQNA]
All Over DC – Redistricting, redistricting, redistricting. The horsetrading is done and the deal has been cut to realign the city’s eight wards. [WaPo]
Penn Quarter – Find out about the Great Slaughter that took place in the building that houses RFD in the 800 block of 7th Street NW. And, no, no one was hurt. [Streets of Washington]
Penn Quarter – Will the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) building get annexed to be part of the National Gallery of Art? We’ve heard and reported on this rumor before, but we suppose this story advances the notion that the NGA will end up on both sides of Constitution Avenue. [WaPo]
Penn Quarter – A reminder that TenPenh’s (1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW) last day for business is Thursday, June 30. It’s the last chance to get the Red Thai Curry Shrimp, our favorite. [PQL]
Penn Quarter – Although this is now quite old news, it does bear repeating lest you get a moving violation at the intersection of 7th and H Streets NW. No turns at 7th and H are allowed! Keep going straight! [Prince of Petworth]
The Mall – This week, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is showing off the finalists for the design competition for President’s Park South (essentially the Ellipse south of the White House and north of Constitution Ave NW). Register your opinions online or in person at the White House Visitor’s Center (corner of 15th and Pennsylvania Ave NW). [NCPC]
Penn Quarter Living is looking for writers. If you enjoy all that the Penn Quarter and downtown DC offer and like to write, drop us a line at: pqliving [at] gmail.com
Safeway Barbecue Battle Today And Tomorrow (Penn Ave)
Ed. Note: @coupdefoudredc recommends taking Metro. See street closures below.
One of our favorite DC summer events takes place today and tomorrow – the Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle XIX. Barbecue teams and restaurants from all over the United States line Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 9th and 14th Streets NW to show off their recipes competing to be the National Pork Barbecue Champion. Patrons get to try out the BBQ and judge for themselves.
Two music stages, one more focused on rock and the other on R & B music, provide entertainment with acts well known to Washington area music fans such as Chuck Brown (THE godfather of go-go), EU (see video above for EU performing their ’80s hit Da Butt at the Barbecue Battle from years past) and the Junkyard Band. Honor by August (video), a great rock band, will be on hand Saturday evening and local favorite Love Seed Mamma Jump performs Sunday during the day.
The weather is supposed to be fantastic both days, highs in the mid to upper 80s. Saturday hours are 11 am to 9 pm and Sunday hours are 11 am to 7:30 pm. Adult tickets are $12 and kids tickets are $5 with part of the entrance fee going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.
Street closures until midnight Sunday follow:
- Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 9th Street to 14th Street, NW
- 10th Street, NW from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
- 11th Street, NW from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
- 12th Street, NW from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
We’ll be there to take in the good music and good food. Chalk up another reason to love living downtown! If you attend(ed), what will/did you enjoy most?
Graffiato (707 6th St NW) Opening Tomorrow!
We briefly popped our heads into Graffiato (707 6th St NW) yesterday evening and confirmed that they are opening tomorrow evening, June 23, for dinner service to the public. We’ve seen this building transformed from a specialty printer shop that rarely saw anyone going in and out to a delightfully restored restaurant front with large plate glass windows allowing for long sight lines into the space. More patrons on 6th Street will undoubtedly spruce up this part of Penn Quarter which is much less traveled than 7th Street. Verizon Center fans will no doubt be happy to have an Italian dining option across the street from the Phone Booth too. This is Chef Mike Isabella’s Italian entry into the DC restaurant scene and as the former executive chef of the Penn Quarter’s Zaytinya, he undoubtedly knows the neighborhood well.
Selected bits from the press release include:
…no-frills two-story eatery, composed of bricks, cinder blocks, wooden booths and teak composite countertops…
…Artisanal pizzas, house-made seasonal vegetable dishes, locally procured meats and cheeses and Italian-inspired small plates comprise the menu, which is sourced almost entirely from the East Coast…
…Graffiato offers a large local selection of wine, beer and spirits. Beers from DC Brau Brewing, Flying Dog Brewing and Port City Brewing represent The District, Maryland and Virginia. The mostly domestic wine list features selections from California, Idaho, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Washington.
…two-story 5,000-square-foot space with industrial finishings. The steel-covered wood oven is the centerpiece of the first floor, surrounded by a cinder-block bar and chairs for a dozen guests to dine while interacting with Chef Isabella and his pizzaiolos. Concrete floors, original exposed brick and barn lights bring an outdoor feel inside. Wooden tables…wooden booths…
The second floor seats about 100, including a ham bar with a table-height wooden counter for seven guests. Cured meats and fresh-stretched mozzarella are prepared at this station.
If you need more media goodness, DCist and the Washington CityPaper have preliminary reviews to peruse. We’ll be checking out the scene in short order to welcome another Italian eating option to the area.
Ed. Note: WaPo posted this story on Chef Mike Isabella today.
Graffiato
707 6th St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-289-3600
Web: www.graffiatodc.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/graffiato
Twitter: @graffiato
OpenTable: www.opentable.com/graffiato
Hours:
Sunday – Tuesday: 5:00 – 10:30 p.m. for kitchen, 12:00 a.m. for bar and pizza oven
Wednesday – Thursday: 5:00 – 11:00 p.m. for kitchen, 1:00 a.m. for bar and pizza oven
Friday – Saturday: 5:00 – 12:00 p.m. for kitchen, 2:00 a.m. for bar and pizza oven
(Lunch service will begin in a few weeks)