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.

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.

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.