Chix Is Awesome

We made a long overdue trip to Chix last week and were, to say the least, greatly impressed. Located on 11th Street just north of U Street, Chix is an eco-friendly restaurant providing natural, healthy, delicious, affordable, quick latin-flavored meals in a casual environment. We loved everything we got -- including the Chix chicken, the Peruvian chicken, the black beans and rice, and the chic pea salad -- and plan to return soon to try out other offerings. We were also thrilled to learn that Chix delivers, making it a quick and easy last minute meal solution.


Chix
2019 11th Street, NW
202.234.2449 (chix)

The Eldon Condominiums Hotel

Last year, I reported about the renovation of a primely situated apartment building on L Street between 9th and 10th, The Eldon. The renovations wrapped up and the place really looks grand, but I've heard very little information about the completed project. Until today...

I just came across this website for the Eldon Condominiums Hotel. Apparently the building opened in November 2008 as a unique luxury hotel. Here are the details from the website's "about" section:

Built in 1926 by David L. Stern, the Eldon Condominiums Hotel, located at 933 L St. in Northwest Washington, DC is part of an on-going revitalization of the entire downtown neighborhood. The building is 10 stories high, and features a completely renovated interior as well as a historically restored exterior. The Eldon Condominium Hotel opened in November 2008 as a unique luxury Condo Hotel, and is a part of the revitalized Shaw Historic District. It offers 50 guest suites at a 4 star standard. Located just 1/2 a block from the Washington Convention Center and the Mt. Vernon Square Metro Station, Eldon Condominiums is at the center of D.C.'s new downtown. With one-two-and three bedroom suites and Penthouse ranging from 600 to 1500 square feet, Eldon Condominiums defines stylish, exclusive living in the heart of our nation's capital. Our luxury condominiums include granite floors, custom wood walls, side shower massage jets, and luxury fully equipped kitchen with granite counter tops. There are queen size sofa beds in all suites. All suites are fully furnished.

What a great new offering for the Convention Center and for our neighborhood! Here's to The Eldon Condominium Hotel's unprecedented success!

The Eldon Condominiums Hotel
933 L Street, NW
Front Desk: 202-289-4323
Toll free: 877-GO-ELDEN (463-5336)



Photos from www.washingtonhotelcondo.com

Rent Me: The Exchange Apartments

Construction at Douglas Development's beautiful mixed use historic redevelopment at the corner of 9th and N Streets, NW, The Exchange, finally wrapped up late last year. From the street, it really looks awesome (and will look even better when the retail spots are occupied!).

The residences on the upper floors are officially for lease now. Check out this website for information about and pictures of the seventeen one bedroom and studio apartments for rent. All have hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite counters, washers/dryers, modern lights and great closets.

Inauguration Spotlight: DC9 Serves Food? [Corrected]

In perusing for another inauguration spotlight, I found that DC9 serves food! Who knew? Check out their menu here. As a southerner at heart, I'm particularly interested in how their fried pickes with ranch dipping sauce taste (don't knock it til you've tried it). Yelp reviewers indicate DC9's food offerings are quite tasty. Have you eaten at DC9?

Anyway, DC9 has a flurry of activity this weekend. Check out the full calendar here. Notably, on Sunday MONDAY night (thanks, Kevin!) they will host a special edition of Taint, which promises to be "super festive" and to last until 4 a.m.

DC9
1940 9th Street, NW
202.483.5000

Inauguration Spotlight: Be Bar

Be Bar is celebrating the inauguration with nightly themes (too extensive for me to describe in much detail, so check them out here) and extended hours. Tonight (Thursday) is the kickoff event, Be: Crank, featuring Hip Hop/RnB/House. Friday night is Be: Deep, which features special guest Wendy Ho performing her hit song " "Bitch I Stole Yo PURSE." Saturday is Be: Pulse. Sunday Be Bar and ABSOLUT Vodka present "An ABSOLUT Change -2009," featuring the "Barack Boyz," complimentary drinks from 10pm until 11pm, an ice scuplture, and a lite fare Buffet beginning at 9pm. Monday is Be: NYC, in which "legendary NYC mega nightclub Mr. Black’s and the Tubway crew bring their creative talents & resident DJ’s -- Gant Johnson and Nita -- to DC’s BE BAR to collaborate for one extraordinary night."


Be Bar
1318 9th Street NW
202.232.7450

Inauguration Spotlight: Vinoteca

Vinoteca will have Inauguration week specials from January 16 to January 22. They will also be open on Monday, January 19th (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and will extend closing hours during this special week.

In addition to their regular happy hour, from January 16 to January 22, Vinoteca will feature a LATE NIGHT HAPPY HOUR from midnight until close. There will be special inaugural cocktails along with a happy hour wine selection, all for $5 each.

A special four course PRESIDENTIAL PRIX-FIXE dinner will be available for $44 in honor the 44th president. The dinner will include dishes inspired by his birth state Hawaii and his home state Illinois. Here's a preview of the menu:

Amuse Bouche
First Course: (Hawaii) Mahi Mahi with roasted pineapple and tamari glaze
Second Course: (Chicago) Strip loin with potato pierogi and cabbage
Third Course: American Cheese Flight
Fourth Course: All American apple pie with ice cream

Also, don't miss Vinoteca's $1 Champagne Cocktails for SUNDAY BRUNCH. Vinoteca we will be continuing to serve $1 Mimosas, Bellinis, and Kir Royals during Sunday Brunch. $1 champagne cocktails will only be available at the bar. Offer will be extended until April 1st.

Vinoteca
1940 11th St. NW
202.332.WINE

Inauguration Spotlight: Acadiana's "44th Inauguration Celebration"

To honor the inauguration of our 44th president, Acadiana is offering a $44 prixe-fixe, 4 course dinner and select bottles of red and white wine for $44. The dinner will be offered from Friday, January 16 through Thursday, January 22 and will include an amuse bouche, an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. Special inaugural cocktails known as the Dream and the Spirit will also be offered for $9, and Acadiana's fabulous regular menu will also be available.

To view the special $44 menu, click here.

Acadiana
901 New York Ave., NW
202.408.8848



If you have a neighborhood business I should spotlight, please leave a comment or email me at slumhistorique at yahoo dot com!

Inauguration Spotlight: Warehouse Arts Complex

Warehouse will be hosting three inaugural parties.

First, on Saturday, January 17 from 9pm to 2am is the Washington Film Institutes's PRE-INAUGURAL BALL. Slake your Thirst at the open bar (beer, wine, rail drinks), consume heartily at the "Bountiful and Decadent Dessert Buffet," mingle with Washington area's finest citizens, and take photos with a lifesize cutout of our next President, and dance in a lively fashion inspired by the internationally-renowned dj Matts. Advance tickets ($100) required and can be purchased here.

Second, on Sunday January 18 from 8pm to 2am is the OBAMA WONDERAMA. This will be a "star-studded burlesque and sideshow inaugural ball." OBAMA WONDERAMA welcomes guests from near and far with an evening of classic and modern day burlesque, sideshow, illusion, DJ sets, and drink specials. OBAMA WONDERAMA features extraordinary entertainers including: Dr. Lucky (burlesque's "Lucille Ball" and only PhD), Clams Casino (Miss Exotic World 2008 Most Humorous and Most Innovative), Swami Yomahmi (host of the Cheeky Monkey Sideshow) along with L'il Dutch (producer of Dutch Oven Burlesque). This VIP line-up of variety, featuring 15 performers, also includes hypnotic belly dancing, and master hula hooping with raffle prizes from District restaurants, artists and bars.Doors open at 8 p.m. and performances begin at 9 p.m. Guests may enjoy the Warehouse bar and DJ sets between entertainment. Advance tickets available for $25 in advance, $30 at the door - limited theater seating available. Click here for TICKETS

Third, on Tuesday, Jan 20 from 8pm until close is THE ART OF CHANGE. This is an Inaugural Celebration of DC's Creative Communities and will feature DJs, musicians, theatre performers, poets, dancers, comedians and visual artists from DC and all over the east coast. Three dance areas, a Variety Stage, the Art of Change Gallery and much much more all night long ... what better way to celebrate this historic moment than with an explosion of creative energy in the heart of our nation's capital!! Click here for tickets ($50).

Warehouse Arts
1021 7th Street NW
202.783.3933

Inauguration Spotlight: Vegetate

As everyone knows, the historic inauguration of Barack Obama rapidly approaching. With the convention center hosting several inaugural events, guests staying in houses and hotels all over, and the green line metro (with several stations serving Shaw) being a crucial link to the main event and to other celebrations, our neighborhood will undoubtedly be a part of the exciting action. I thought I'd spend a few days highlighting what neighborhood businesses are doing to give you, your guests, and visitors to D.C. an idea of some of the great things our neighborhood has to offer.

The first focus will be on Vegetate. Vegetate will be open for extended hours during Inauguration 2009: notably, they will open for brunch (!!!) service on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and will be open for dinner on Sunday, January 18th.

Their Inauguration 2009 hours are:

Saturday, January 17th
Brunch 11am-3pm
Dinner 6pm-Close
Sunday, January 18th
Brunch 11am-3pm
Dinner 6pm-Close
Monday, January 20th
Brunch 11am-3pm
Dinner 6pm-Close
Tuesday, January 20th
Dinner 6pm-Close
Wednesday-Saturday
Dinner 6pm-Close

Here's a snapshot of their brunch menu:

Housemade Granola with local yogurt - 8
Cornmeal Pancakes with house preserved plums - 8
Vegetate Scramble (tofu or egg) with homefries & wheat toast - 8
Vegetate Shepherd's Pie with mashed parsnip and potato crust and simple green salad - 10
Eggs Benedict with cornbread, roasted squash,winter greens and Hollandaise sauce - 10
Chipolte grilled cheese with Vermont cheddar and black bean soup - 10
Vegetate Burgers with pickled cucumber, herb garlic sauce, and hand-cut fries - 10
Spanish Omelet with caramelized onions, roasted potatoes, housemade romesco and cheddar with "spicy sausage patty" and toast 10

Sides - 3
housemade spicy sausage patty
toast with house preserved plums
sauteed winter greens
stone ground grits with roasted garlic
homefries

Special Drinks
Carafe of Bloody Mary or Mimosa

Desserts
Maple Baked Apple Crisp with chamomile oat topping & seasonal sorbet 7
Dark Chocolate Ganache with sesame, chili oil & candied chili 7
Dolcezza Sorbet & Gelato Selection 5

YUM! I am so excited that Vegetate's bringing brunch back, even if it is just for one weekend. Please don't judge me for going all three days?!

Vegetate
1414 9th Street, NW
202.232.4585


If you have a neighborhood business I should spotlight, please leave a comment or email me at slumhistorique at yahoo dot com!

DCMUD Reports On Shaw

The great development blog DCMud reports on the details of a five unit building soon to deliver in the 1900 block of 8th Street, with renderings of the same.

The DCMud post also reports on some of the exciting developments in the pipeline for the area, including the Howard Town Center project, a few parcels along U Street that have been slated for redevelopment by WMATA, Ellis Development's recently-approved redevelopment of the Howard Theater, and other in-the-works efforts like Broadcast Center One, the Wonder Bread Factory and O Street Market.

Burger Time

I went to 1905 last night for dinner and experienced their delicious cheeseburger once again. Of note, I learned that the sexy venue features half price bottles of wine Sunday through Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 and live jazz every Thursday night starting at 10. 1905 really is an awesome addition to our dining/drinking options.

I think 1905 features my favorite cheese burger in Shaw, but I'm willing to put it to the test. Any nominations for a better burger in our neighborhood?

1905
1905 9th Street, NW
202.332.1905

Carter Woodson Site Cited For Trash, Weeds, Graffiti, and Not Being Secured

For a while, it has appeared that vagrants have been inhabiting the National Parks Service's Carter G. Woodson properties, accessing them through poorly secured windows and doors. Of course, trash, graffiti and weeds are common associations with the sad looking vacant structures slated to one day honor Dr. Woodson. It appears that the DCRA has taken notice of the deplorable conditions at one of the National Park Service's buildings (1538 9th Street). A notice issued on January 5 cites several community-harming conditions present at the property. While I don't think the DCRA has power over the federal National Parks Service, hopefully their message is clear: Clean up your act.



Thanks, Drew, for the photo and report.