Liberty Market to Remain Open

Prior reports that the Liberty Market would be closing for the season were premature. The Diverse Market Management team has replied that they hope to remain open as long as customers keep coming. Fresh produce may become scarce as the season winds down but homemade goods will still be available. Recently the market has added two new vendors: "an already very popular Pickle guy and fantastic olive oil from Provence."

The market runs on the grounds of Mount Vernon Square each Tuesday from 2:30-6:30PM.

Thanks to John T for tracking down the official word from DMM.

WBJ: Streetcar backers gather ammo to sway skeptics

According to the Washington Business Journal, earlier this month district officials and developers with major holdings along the proposed streetcar system traveled to Portland Oregon. The group met with meet managers of the Portland system and property owners who helped finance the Rose City's streetcar line.

Portland Streetcar image from flickr user KGradinger

The WBJ article collects impressions from several major developers, including the Wilkes Company which counts Mount Vernon Place project in the Triangle among its holdings.

The Wilkes Company's Sandy Wilkes, already a fan of streetcars, said he was further impressed by the residential occupancy and retail leasing rates along the Portland tracks. “There’s been a level of economic activity that is probably greater than they had even forecasted,” he said. His company plans mixed-use developments for Mount Vernon Triangle and NoMa, and Wilkes said the walkability, cleanliness, and ultimately value, of both those projects would be enhanced by streetcar lines. “There is something about the streetcar experience that is so appealing,” he said.

Foreclosure for Gallery Towers

DCMud is reporting that Yeni Wong and her Gallery Towers LLC have been served notice of foreclosure for the two contiguous lots on the Northeast corner of 7th and H Streets NW. The development plans for this mixed use project involved a substantial retail component in the historic corner property with two towers setback.



Wong and Riverdale International have been major players in the revitalization of Chinatown. Before ('93) and After photos of their Gallery Square development, on the NW corner of 7th & H are displayed above.

Image Credits: Riverdale International

Ping Pong Dim Sum arriving soon

Next month Ping Pong Dim Sum will be the newest arrival to the Chinatown dining scene at 900 7th Street (7th & Eye). The London restaurant import aspires to being a "21st century teahouse" with emphasis on dim sum cuisine and cocktails. The scuttlebutt I've heard is that December 12th may be the targeted opening date.


You can follow Ping Ping Dim Sum DC on Facebook and Twitter.

Last day of season for Liberty Market

The Liberty Market which occurs each Tuesday on the grounds of Mount Vernon Square will end it's season today (November 24th). The market run by Diverse Markets Management opened on September 29th and has run for 9 weeks featuring produce, prepared foods and beverages, live music, and artists selling their works.

Hopefully the market can return to the Square in the Spring with a wider array of produce offerings and a more consistent presence on a week-to-week basis. In the meantime the Downtown Holiday Market on F Street will begin on December 4th and run continuously for 20 days until the 23rd.

Best Dry Cleaning service?

What's the best local dry cleaning service? Is it Gallery Cleaners (450 Mass), Sundown Cleaners (407 K), or the Bergmann's at Safeway? Is it none of the above? Do you use a pick-up/drop-off service such as CityCentric?

GGW: Evolution of Mount Vernon Square

Alex Block, of Greater Greater Washington, outlines a history of the Evolution of Mount Vernon Square. The posting features images from 1948, 1988, 1992, 1999, 2004, and 2009.


The image above was first featured by DCist on Sunday which stimulated the deep dive by GGW.

425 Eye Construction Update

From my condo I have a front seat view to witness the progress of construction at 425 Eye Street. The renovation will transform the building from Class B office space contained in a bland white box to Class A office space with a glass facade and 29,000 SF of new retail space.

Left: Before image from Spring 2009; Right: Rendering of proposed improvements

July '09 image of Fourth and Eye corner

Nov '09 image of Eye Street frontage

Nov '09 image of Fourth Street frontage

Renovations are forecasted to be completed by the Summer of 2010. Presently there is no news about potential office or retail tenants.

Henry's Soul Cafe signage

A week ago we broke the news that G & J Deli (317 K St NW) had closed and would reopen as Henry's Soul Cafe. This weekend that inched closer to reality as the G & J signs were replaced with new signage.

New signs for Henry's Soul Cafe

Unofficial word is that the Soul Cafe will open on Tuesday December 1st at 10:30 AM.

Washingtonian on the Best of Penn Quarter

The December '09 edition of Washingtonian magazine includes a 10 page feature on The Best of Penn Quarter.


A liberal definition of PQ allows some MVT bonafides to join in on the celebratory press. Taylor Gourmet was mentioned among the Best Sandwiches and the neighborhood's condos and apartments nearly swept the real estate superlatives. Washingtonian bestowed the the following titles on the residential high rises north of Mass: City Vista K (Most Convenient), The V Apartments (Best Incentives), Madrigal Lofts (Best Lobby) and Yale Lofts (Best Backstory).

Absolute Thai was singled out as a hidden gem by Shakespeare Theatre Company's artistic director Michael Kahn who said "(I enjoy) a wonderful drink called the Cha Cha and my favorite food to order is the pad Thai."

Much, much more is in the issue which is on sale for just $3.95.

Hat Tip: FrenchTwistDC

City Center DC Brochure

Our neighbors at PQLiving shared news of zoning adjustments at the City Center DC site yesterday. That led me to visit CityCenterDC.com for the first time since August. Hines Archstone has revamped the site adding more details including a video and a 38 page brochure. Below are a few screen prints from the materials.

Aerial view rendering of CityCenterDC; Click to visit brochure

Retail visioning at CityCenterDC; Click to visit brochure

The plans call for 458 apartments, 216 condos, 458,000 SF of office space and between 250,000 and 400,000 SF of retail. 10th and Eye Streets will be restored to the street grid. An interior courtyard is placed between the four residential buildings and pedestrian alleyways paved with cobblestone cut through mid-block. All parking and loading is underground so that retail lines all streets and alley ways, 20% of the housing is affordable and there is a new park at NY Ave and 11th.

DDOT Chat Transcript

DDOT Director Gabe Klein held a chat today [transcript]. Chat is not the medium for highly substantive answers but it is great that our new director values and makes time for dialog with the community.

The Mount Vernon Triangle was a topic of several questions from participants (neither was me):

[Comment From Guest]: Thank you for taking questions and reaching out to the community. Will the ARRA money designated to improve K Street between NJ Ave. and 7th Street NW also include laying track for the proposed streetcar? If not, should it?

[Gabe Klein, DDOT]: We are still waiting to hear if our application will be approved. It is a very competitive field for this money. The streetcar was not part of the application.

[Comment From Tom]: Will DDOT implement the Mt. Vernon Triangle Transportation Plan to reconfigure the H Street / 3rd Street / Massachusetts Ave., intersection? It is a dangerous intersection for pedestrians. It would be helpful to, at least, remove the large billboard-sized signs that lead drivers to believe it is a freeway rather than a neighborhood.

[Gabe Klein, DDOT]: Yes, we will be improving this intersection. We are reassessing the signs as well. (urban alternatives).

Second Annual Repeal Day Ball

by KimFromTheK

The DC Craft Bartender’s Guild (DCCBG) is holding the Second Annual Repeal Day Ball on December 5th from 9 P.M. to midnight for general admission (8 P.M. to midnight for VIP ticket holders) celebrating the 76th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. Attendees will enjoy craft cocktails from the city and country’s best mixologists and food from renowned chef Peter Smith while dancing along to the Prohibition-era sounds of the Red Hot Rhythm Chiefs. The ball is black tie and will be held at PS7's restaurant at 777 Eye Street, NW.

Come celebrate too with cocktail creations from local favorites Gina Chersevani, Derek Brown and Todd Thrasher, to name a few, along with special guests--bartending legend Dale DeGroff, nationally-renowned bartender Tad Carducci, and toastmaster Jeffrey Morgenthaler. We will also feature top spirit brands and a special rum and cigar lounge. VIP guests will gain entry early and enjoy exclusive access to the bartenders, special demonstrations, heavy hor d’ouevres and the first release copy of The Lush Life: Portraits from the Bar by author and illustrator Jill DeGroff, along with access to VIP after-parties at the city's top cocktail bars.

Tickets are $100 for general admission and $150 for VIP, and can be purchased here, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans.

The Passenger Roundup

On Wednesday Kim previewed the opening of The Passenger. The links below highlight what others are saying.

• Metrocurean: The new joint is kind of a neo-speakeasy version 2.0. It subtly nods to the Prohibition era (Derek was donning a vest at last night's preview) but it's a less contrived, more relaxed take on the trendy genre.
  
• Young & Hungry (WCP): But will the Passenger really play hardcore music? Well, consider this: The name of the place is derived from the Iggy Pop song, The Passenger. "I’ve always loved this song," Derek Brown says. "It always had great energy."
  
• We Love DC: The preview featured a gin punch that was a bit too lemony-sour for my taste (I tend to steer clear of that flavor range anyway, definitely do not pair it with the kimchi hot dog!). The Sherry Flip was more to my liking – with egg white, cream, sherry, brandy and nutmeg, here was a fragrant sipping cocktail whose old-fashioned vibe somehow seemed appropriate for the rough-hewn setting.
  
• DCist: There is no cocktail menu at the Passenger, so when ordering one, you'll be asked to specify a base liquor and further detail on whether you like a drier or sweeter drink. This is the part where it's important to develop that relationship with your bartender and have a real conversation. It will enable you the opportunity to learn more about what you prefer, and to learn about new things. You may discover that you like vermouth; the dry, rouge and blanc Dolin vermouths are highly quaffable on their own.
  
• Prince of Petworth: They were less interested in a gimmick and more interested in focusing on the fundamentals of a good bar. As such they will have 25 wines by the glass, 15 different cans of beer, and four beers on tap, in addition to specialty cocktails including gin punch which I may or may not have sampled between one and six.
  
• Going Out Gurus (WaPo): There are plans for events like wine tastings and BYO nights, and every week, the main bar will host happy hour with a percentage of proceeds going to charity. (Derek also works for Share Our Strength, which provides food for needy children.)

Tons of photos from the pre-opening party are available to view in ReadysetDC's preview. On the social media landscape both a Yelp business entry and a Facebook fanpage are already present.

Lastly, lots of comments on the blogosphere about the "God Save the District" slogan. My impression is that it has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with music. With the bar named after an Iggy Pop song this slogan would seem to have clear linkage with the Sex Pistols God Save the Queen which was later covered by the Brown's beloved Motorhead.

Engine 6

Could the impending arrival of Buddha Bar trigger serious interest in the engine 6 firehouse space across the street at 400 Mass?


Last month I came across a great example of a historic firehouse transformed into a vibrant space. Jack's Firehouse is a very successful pub and restaurant on Philly's Fairmount Ave across the street from Eastern State Penitentiary. Much of the original mahogany interior, wood plank floors, and even the brass fire pole remain intact in the old building. The large sweep boat suspended overhead also added a great deal of charm.


What will the future hold for our old Engine company?

Flip Burger Boutique coming soon?

Word is (Via We Love DC) that Top Chef finalist Richard Blais has targeted PQ/Chinatown for a new location of his Flip Burger Boutique next spring.

The menu at Flip offers a diverse array of gourmet beef burgers, specialty burgers including Ossobuco and Chorizo, a variety of sides, and creative milkshake flavors like spicy chocolate mole and Krispy Kreme.


If this bears out Flip would be another formidable contender in the DC Burger Wars. Presently for me Ray's Hellburger, which is a hop skip and a jump from my office, is at the top of the mountain.

Image Credit: BurgerBeast

The Passenger Arrives

by KimFromTheK

The Passenger is a new bar in the Warehouse Cafe space, opening this evening. It's located at 1021 7th Street NW, between New York Ave and L Street, across from the Washington Convention Center.

With The Passenger, brothers Tom and Derek Brown (most recently of Cork and The Gibson, respectively) bring us their own laid back neighborhood bar and lounge. The space features late 19th century hardwood floors and distressed concrete and exposed brick walls, which gives it some character. The most impressive new addition to the decor is an area to the rear of the bar with arched ceilings and mirrored walls designed to look like an antique dining car. Lastly a private space called The Columbia Room (opening date TBD) will be dedicated to as a reservations-only area where Derek Brown will host more intimate gatherings focused on educating patrons in a space he refers to as "a cocktail club and laboratory bar".

Beers are served in cans and over twenty wines are available by the glass. There will not be a mixed cocktail menu; instead the brothers plan to ask patrons what they like, and mix something up that might appeal to them. And the food menu will include an eclectic offering of items such as Route 11 chips and kimchi hot dogs. I had the opportunity to snag a few photos at a pre-opening event last night. (Apologies for the quality as these were taken on my blackberry).

Top: 7th Street entrance; Middle: Owner Derek Brown mixing gin punch; Bottom: a view down the bar

In addition to the bar and lounge, the Civilian Art Projects is moving to 7th Street (into the gallery space on the first floor of 1019 7th Street). The Warehouse Theater will continue in operation, with a new entrance, and a production of Santaland Diaries upcoming in December.

Read more about The Passenger in Tim Carman's preview and WaPo's Going Out Guide review by Fritz Hahn. The Prince of Petworth preview features some of the best interior photos of The Passenger on the net at the moment.

Linked up: Pies, Pretzels and Bikes

H Street NE: Dangerously Delicious Pies is arriving from Balmer to NE in a few weeks. They are taking pie orders now for Thanksgiving. [Capital Spice]

Penn Quarter: Auntie Annie's Pretzels will be arriving to Gallery Place's Kiosk Row soon. Lots of discussion in the comments. [PQLiving]

Mt Vernon Square/Shaw: A new bike lane is being installed on 5th Street NW from New York Ave to Rhode Island Ave NW. [CCCA]

Mount Vernon Triangle: Cary Silverman gives his impressions of Lift Off at 5th & K and offers a poll to gauge public opinion. [The Other 35 Percent]

Also of note is the liquor license application posted at Taylor Gourmet (Via @FrenchTwistDC). I gave it a very quick 10 second scan and I think it's just a off-premises retailer liquor license with hours ending at 9pm. If anyone has given it a closer look and has more details let us know.

G & J Deli closes; will reopen as Henry's Soul Cafe

G & J Deli at 317 K Street NW is closing and will reopen in several weeks as Henry's Soul Cafe. Whereas G & J offered a blend of Mexican, Salvadoran and American food the new Henry's is anticipated to adopt the menu of their original location in Oxon Hill. So expect ribs, wings, and a variety of other beef, poultry and pork dishes. The website for Henry's Soul Cafe lays claim to the restaurant being the home of the Sweet Potato Pie.


The U Street location of Henry's Soul Cafe has 25 Yelp Reviews - of which 16 are ratings of 4 or higher.

Sesame Street 40th Anniversary Exhibit

by KimFromTheK

Through November 30, Union Station is showcasing a photo exhibit celebrating Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary. The exhibit is in the main hall and highlights how the program reaches children all over the world. The show's content and themes are adjusted to accurately reflect issues relevant to that country, for example, Kami, a Muppet on the South African version of the show, has HIV and helps millions of children who are impacted by HIV/AIDS daily.




The exhibit is small but informative, and I recommend checking it out if you're in or near Union Station.

November MVSNA Meeting

This month's MVSNA membership meeting will be held on Tuesday November 17th at 7:30pm in the community room of the Yale Loft condominiums (437 New York Ave NW).


The November edition of the MVSNA newsletter is available online [here].

Fourth Street Construction Update

The Fourth Street reconfiguration construction has been ramping up since the last week of October. Today I noticed that the trees on the 1000 block that were destined to be casualties of the planned street widening were removed. Two other dead trees were also removed.

Top: Before image from Google Streetview; Bottom: Photo from today

When the work is complete the segment of road will accommodate two way traffic and street parking. The pavers will be replaced with brick and the cobrahead streetlights will be upgraded to the newer globe lights. I would also venture to guess new street trees will be planted.

WBJ discusses Temporary Urbanism with Harriet Tregoning

In today's Washington Business Journal staff reporter Jonathan O'Connell discusses "temporary urbanism" with Office of Planing Director Harriet Tregoning as a means to to bring dead construction zones and storefronts alive with active, temporary uses.

Examples of temporary urbanism around the city include the Washington Trapeze School and Kastles Tennis at the City Center site, the yearly Artomatic event and and outdoor event area coined the Bullpen outside Nationals Park.

O'Connell points out that developers are often luke warm to the idea of temporary uses as they are concerned that when the time for development does arrive the public will object to displacement of the temporary amenity.

I support the concept of temporary urbanism. When the stop gap for every stalled development is a parking lot it stifles livability. The district has made strides in this regard under Tregoning's tenure but other cities show that much more is possible. Portland Oregon not only has pioneered the modern streetcar line but also prominently features temporary urbanism in the form of a vibrant downtown food cart scene. The perimeter of most downtown surface parking lots in Portland are lined with food carts (over 400!) that offer diverse and cheap dining options including Bosnian pitas, Venezuelan Arepas, Deep Fried Double Dogs, Poutine, Vegan options, and much, much more... This leads blocks with parking lots to become hubs of activity rather than barren wastelands.

A 555 Mass resident send in a tip that a successful venture in Austin called the South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery would be a great idea for temporary urbanism. It merges the foodcart concept of Portland with picnic tables and kid friendly attractions.

ADL in Concert Against Hate

by KimFromTheK

On Monday night (11/16), participate in a moving evening at the Kennedy Center where the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) honors four individuals who have helped combat hate. The evening is hosted by actors Gabriel Byrne and Liev Schreiber and features a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra. A preview video for the event is below.


Tickets start at just $25 for young professionals and can be purchased on the concert website. Ticket purchases benefit the ADL, which was founded to stop the defamation of Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Learn more about the ADL here.

Update on the Arts at 5th and I

There is an update on the 5th and Eye project today from Jad Donohoe at the 5th-and-i blog.

We've been working with the District Government to create a world-class development for 5th & I. The Arts Team has been meeting with the Deputy Mayor's office to work out the details of the development plan, including agreements for hiring DC residents, schedules for construction, etc. We've had more than 50 meetings so far. In the coming weeks, we're looking to the Deputy Mayor's office to finalize our LOI (Letter of Intent) and to forward The Arts project to the DC Council for review and approval.

In the meantime, Commissioner Karen Wirt and ANC 6C have invited us to appear at their December meeting. Maybe we'll see you there?

Hat Tip: Jay K

More on Lift Off

by KimFromTheK

The Lift Off sculpture installation is nearing completion despite being surrounded by caution tape. The lighting at the end of each of the horizontal beams appears to be the major outstanding item remaining.

Responses to this new artwork have been mixed. Fellow K at City Vista residents have comically started calling it "Big Bird" with one individual saying "if we don't feed it maybe it will fly away." Perhaps it will become landmark in DC like The Big Chicken is a point of reference for driving directions in the Atlanta area.

My condo listserv has been flooded with comments and jokes about the sculpture. And despite some negative feedback, someone pointed out that the new artwork is a great distraction from the strip club and parking lot at the 5th and K intersection.


Personally, I'm not a fan of the color (especially with a similar-colored building in the background), but overall I'm happy with the artwork and thrilled that the Master Plan is being implemented. I'd like to remind our readers that public art displays are part of the Mount Vernon Triangle Master Plan, which also includes the decorative grate artwork scheduled for installation in the coming months. While many of us were not yet residents of The Triangle in the spring of 2007, there was a two day community panel during which the artwork was selected.

What are your thoughts?

Image Credit: DCMud

Editor's note: The MVT CID has published a press release on the sculpture.

November ANC 6C Draft Agenda

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C
Thursday, November 12th, 2009 7 pm
Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue N.E.

AGENDA
Call to order
Quorum
Approval of agenda
Approval of October minutes
Approval of special meeting minutes September 30, 2009
Treasurer’s report
Approval of quarterly report (July, August, September 2009)
Approval of 2010 budget
Approval of additional expense for acoustical engineer ($2400 to $3450)

Brief community and commissioner announcements

• Early Stages Program, D.C. Public Schools, children ages 3 to 5 – Sam McCormally
  
• New Ethiopian restaurant, 401 H Street N.E. – Meseret Bekele

OLD BUSINESS

Grants Committee (Comm. Brown, chair)

• MPD Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) grant application – Nancy Rosen, CAC chair

Youth and Education Committee (Comm. Hamilton, chair)

Liquor License Committee – (Comm. Phelps, chair)

1. Carmine’s Italian Restaurant – Michael Fonseca, representative (Nov. 30 hearing)
   
2. Level Tavern, update, Comm. Docter, prepared statement

Transportation Committee (Joe McCann, John Kelly)

1. Muse valet parking, 717 Sixth St. N.W. – Matthew Marcou, DDOT, moved staging area to G Place
   
2. Potbelly Sandwich Works, 637 Indiana Avenue N.W., extend sidewalk cafe from 6 to 12 mos – Aaron Bennett (vote due Nov. 23)
   
3. Toscana, 601 Second St. N.E. – outdoor cafe tent – Joe Spinelli (vote due Dec. 3)

Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee (Rob Amos, chair)

1. NPR , 1111 North Capitol N.E., concept design (Nov. 19 HPRB hearing)
   
2. 550 K St NW, Sixth and K St., request for extension of time – Chip Glasgow
   
3. 225 E St. N.E., rear extension – Greg Zahn (Nov. 19 HPRB hearing)
   
4. Mt. Vernon Square update – Patricia Zingsheim

NEW BUSINESS
Recommendations to be submitted for December meeting, letters of commendation

Meeting Adjournment

DCMud on future MVT development

Shaun from the DCMud development blog outlines the future development plans for the Mount Vernon Triangle.

For long time followers of this blog there isn't much new offered in DCMud's piece but they do an admirable job consolidating the high level specs into a singular comprehensive posting. For a deeper dive on the projects they mention follow the links below that reference our past coverage:

• 5th & Eye
  
• 425 Eye Street
  
• 300 K and 400 K Street Office Buildings
  
• Mount Vernon Place site plan including the Cantata
  
• The DuMont
  
• Buddha Bar at 455 Mass

The DCMud piece does confirm that WSD did not sell their parcels to JBG after Donohoe/Holland won the 5th and Eye RFP.

November DNA Meeting

From DNA President Miles Groves:

The final meeting for 2009 is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10 at Calvary Baptist Church at 733 8th Street NW. The lead discussion leader will be Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans who will brief attendees on neighborhood issues and take audience questions. He will be followed by Hadiah Jordan, and Associate with Justice & Sustainability Associates. Her firm is working with the Infrastructure Project Management Administration, a division of the District Department of Transportation, to manage the Downtown BID Streetscape and Streetlight project that received stimulus funding. As usual, we will start with an update from our PSA101W officer, Lt. Craig Royal.

Mayor Adrian Fenty is scheduled to be our primary discussion leader at our January Meeting - one not to miss!

Miles note didn't include the meeting time - generally it's 6:30PM.

Lift off installation underway **UPDATED**

by KimFromTheK

The installation of David Black's Lift Off sculpture is underway this morning at the 5th and K plaza space in front of Busboys.



UPDATE (11/9/2009 1:22PM): City Vista resident Sean Smith has sent in photos of the installation progress.

Myth: Streetcar overheard wires and trees can't comfortably coexist

Members of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society have launched an all out blitz against DDOT's new streetcar plan (PDF). Their fearmongering campaign, as communicated in the Capitol Hill Community News by Monte Edwards, is centered on the notion that overheard wires will irrecovably damage priceless viewsheds. Mr Edwards writes:

Trees and overhead wires do not coexist well. Trees would need to be pruned, and in some cases removed, to make way for poles and station-stop bump-outs. In the suburbs you can see the grotesque pruning that results when trees are forced to compete with overhead wires. DC cannot afford a citywide initiative that cuts down mature healthy trees or unnaturally prunes them.

I confidently reject this close minded argument. I've visited other cities with streetcar systems and have seen first hand that trees and tram wires can comfortably coexist. But don't take my word for it, review these Google Streetview images from residential streets tree-lined streets traveled by Portland's streetcar.

NW Northrup Street in Portland Oregon; Image from Google Streetview

SW Harrison Street in Portland Oregon; Image from Google Streetview

It is unfortunate that the CHRS is choosing to oppose streetcars outright rather than focus on asking DDOT how they plan to minimize the impact of overhead wires on mature trees.

UPDATED (11/9/2009 2:20PM): Chris from ReadysetDC exposes the falsehoods in Monte Edwards editorial with even more gusto.

The Passenger

Fritz Hahn of The Washington Post's GOG Blog shares details on The Passenger arriving to 1021 7th Street NW later this month. The Passenger is new venture from Derek and Tom Brown, who have won acclaim at The Gibson and Cork, respectively, and will take the space previously occupied by the Warehouse Theater Cafe.

The Warehouse Theater is undergoing a big transformation. The bigger-than-a-black-box theater is moving its entrance around the corner, Civilian Art Projects is moving onto the block and there are plans to turn the former Warehouse Next Door concert space into a jazz club and restaurant. But what's grabbing attention from local cocktail fiends is the Passenger, which will combine a laid-back saloon with an upscale, reservations-suggested cocktail sanctuary.

Back in July we learned that another establishment to be named "Wired" had applied for a liquor license at 1015 1/2 7th Street. This block may finally transform into a destination again.

Huge Sale @ 5th Street Ace this Saturday

From Rachel M:

The World Famous Bag Sale is back! On Saturday November 7, you can fill up a bag and 20% off pretty much everything inside. (10% off power tools and appliances). Stock up on holiday décor, get your gift shopping done and out of the way or conquer that last home-improvement project you’ve been meaning to get done by the end of ’09.

If you’re shopping between 11 am and 3 pm, bring in your bike. Tommy, our resident cycle pro is heading up our monthly bike clinic and offering free repairs and adjustments.

Hope to see you there!

1055 5th Street, NW
acehardwaredc.com

MyRadius

MyRadius was created by a small business owner for small business owners to have better exposure to area residents and so those residents can have better information about local offerings. MyRadius is intended to be a useful platform for community-based news and information. The pilot version of the platform is being implemented in October 2009 in the Mt. Vernon/Convention Center neighborhood in Washington DC.


The project is a collaboration by local business owners and spearheaded by Joanna Robinson of Lunar Massage.

Ten Ten Mass Sells Out

DCMetrocentric reported yesterday that Ten Ten Mass has sold out. The 14-story 163 unit condominium located at 11th and Mass began delivering in the Spring of 2007. The building facade features a similar Esocoff design as the DuMont.

The ground floor retail space, represented by The Rappaport Companies, and remains unleased. The space spans 8,736 SF and is considered "restaurant ready" and may be subdivided.

The brochure (PDF) boasts of a great outdoor dining opportunity. I would tend to reserve the word "great" for expansive patios like at Acadiana, Buddha Bar or the 5th & K Busboys but a restaurant may be able to tuck a limited number of tables up against the building's edge on 11th Street.