RSS FeedDaredevils In Our Midst
A couple of workers at dizzying heights (at least for DC) worked Friday afternoon to hang a banner advertising the new construction going up at 1199 F ST. From the street level it appeared like they sat on nothing more than wooden boards attached to rope, presumably that’s just an illusion caused by the distance.
Shimba Hills Coffee Closing
Urban areas are notoriously filled with caffeine addicts, and the Penn Quarter is no exception. There are four Starbucks locations in the neighborhood that are consistently busy but other coffee houses in the area seem unable to sustain themselves. Juan Valdez closed earlier in the summer, and now it appears that Shimba Hills is following suit.
Shimba Hills was located inside the Verizon Center next to the Metro Elevators on 7th Street. It served good coffee, the best iced tea in town and really good gelato. The atmosphere was nice and the prices very reasonable. And since losing the Marvelous Market earlier this year, Shimba had become a great place to pick up a last minute dessert. But now the doors are locked, the lights are off and the website is gone.
This begs the question, can PQ residents generate enough support to keep locally grown businesses alive or is our neighborhood destined for national chain domination?
Shimba Hills Coffee (600 Block 7th Street)…More To Follow
At 1 pm, PQGirl will provide her thoughts on the shuttering of Shimba Hills Coffee (600 block of 7th Street).
Oyamel Seeks Outside Seating
Editor’s Note: We’d like to welcome PQGirl for her debut post. Like the rest of the PQ Living Team, she not only writes here…she lives here.
According to the sign in the window, Oyamel has requested permission to set up outside seating on the D Street sidewalk next to Rasika. And while outdoor seating can be a boon to a restaurant’s summertime profits, is this really the best thing for the neighborhood?
Look at E Street between 7th and 8th where Austin Grill and Jaleo have their sidewalk cafes. On nights when foot traffic abounds, the cafes cause a sort of traffic jam as pedestrians march past the tables single file dodging patrons and waiters. The D Street sidewalk where Oyamel is proposing to set up shop is equally narrow and near the busy 7th and D street corner which causes me to wonder if we couldn’t be looking at some sidewalk congestion if Oyamel gets its way.
Living nearby, I would prefer to keep the sidewalk free of obstruction but I’m sure Jose Andres would not agree with me.