Howard Theatre Groundbreaking this Thursday

TBD spreads the good word that the Howard Theatre project breaks ground this Thursday September 2, 2010 at 10:45 a.m.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend the event, which will take place in front of the original theatre at Seventh and T Streets. 

From MVTCID: Taste of Mount Vernon Triangle Tomorrow

From the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District comes details of tomorrow's (Saturday, August 21, 2010) "Taste of Mount Vernon Triangle," which runs from 2 to 5 p.m.:

Explore the new restaurants of Mount Vernon Triangle by dining around the neighborhood tasting appetizers, entrees, drinks, and desserts from seven different eateries! Participating restaurants are Busboys & Poets, Taylor Deli, Kushi, Mandu, Henry’s Café, Papa Johns, and Buddha Bar. Buy a master ticket for $15 in advance; $20 at the door to participate in this event. Tickets can be purchased in advance through PayPal at http://www.mountvernontriangle.org/or on the day of the event at 5th Street Ace Hardware – 1055 5th Street, NW. This event will take place rain or shine.

CityMarket at O Groundbreaking September 1

CityMarket at O, which is probably the most anticipated project in Shaw, will celebrate its groundbreaking on September 1, 2010 from 3 to 5 p.m.  The  CCCA blog has an image of the beautiful invitation for the event.

Chef RJ Cooper Opening Restaurant in Blagden Alley

DCist reports that famed chef R.J. Cooper -- a James Beard Award winner and former head chef of Vidalia -- will open a restaurant in Blagden Alley to be called Rogue 24.  Rogue 24 will exclusively offer 24-course tasting menus that will be paired with eight different beverages. 

I've heard rumblings of this for a while but have been holding my tongue (keyboard) not wanting to jinx it.  The space Cooper's enterprise will occupy is currently vacant and in rough shape.  It is owned by Douglas Development and is immediately behind Long View Gallery.  This is huge culinary news for the neighborhood and will nicely animate the historic alley.

Buy Me: 1511 Eleventh Street

A beautiful commecial building on Eleventh Street just south of Rhode Island Avenue is for sale (and/or maybe for lease too).  Formerly home to DC Carpet Outlet, the building looks to have a ton of potential and is in a great location.  According to this online listing, the asking sales price is $650,000, and it is a 1300 square foot  "Commercial property ideal for owner/user. Located 1/2 block from Rhode Island Avenue, N.W. Located only 2 blocks from Logan Circle.Great visibility on high traffic street. One parking space in rear of building."

Can't you see an art gallery or a wine bar or something neat in this space?

Beau Thai Is Open

The long-awaited, beautiful, new eatery called Beau Thai opened yesterday at the northwest corner of the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and R Street, Northwest.  It's open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., and its menu can be viewed here.

I've been privileged to sample many of Beau Thai's dishes and can honestly say that this place is AWESOME!  All of the curries are made from scratch, the ingredients are fresh and of very high quality, the recipes are authentic and healthy, and so on and so forth.  Beau Thai has already gotten a great review on Yelp, and I'm sure it will get continuously glowing feedback.

Beau Thai’s ultimate goal is to operate as a sit down neighborhood restaurant, however due to zoning, it currently must operate as a carryout. Beau Thai has an application pending with the Board of Zoning Adjustment (“BZA") for a special exception to change the existing nonconforming use (fast food/carryout) into another nonconforming use (restaurant). Last month, ANC2C voted unanimously in favor of supporting the application, as did the Convention Center Community Association.  If you would like to sign a petition of support for the application, stop by sometime soon and ask to do so. The BZA hearing regarding the application is set for September 21, 2010.  Fingers crossed...

We're heading to Beau Thai tonight for dinner.  I've made a personal commitment to try something new each time I go, but am craving their Larb Gai, Steamed Dumplings and Red Curry Chicken. 


Beau Thai
1700 New Jersey Avenue, NW
202.536.5636

EFN Lounge and Motley Bar Close

Sadly the EFN Lounge and Motley Bar have closed permanently according to Metro Weekly.  Admittedly, I never really understood or took to the concept(s) for the reinvented be bar, and the lack of signage did not help in the business's success.  Nonetheless, I hate to lose this watering hole on lower Ninth.

From SMS: Dog Days of Shaw Tomorrow (8/6/2010)

From Shaw Main Streets comes details of tomorrow's first Saturday event:

On Saturday, August 7, 2010, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, as part of DC Main Streets First Saturday, come celebrate the Dog Days of August in Blagden Alley, directly behind Wagtime Pet Spa & Boutique (www.wagtimedc.com), the city's premier doggie day care, groomer and retail store and Long View Gallery (www.longviewgallery.com), which is presenting a show of the work of Tony Savoie, many of whose mixed media pieces feature canines.

Bring your dog and enjoy canine contests, doggie splash pools, games, prizes, and free gift bags, dog-shaped cookies from Chatman's Bakery and Cafe (www.chatmansbakerycafe.com), popcorn from Independence Federal Savings Bank (www.ifsb.com), light fare and refreshments, and frozen margaritas.

And stroll 9th Street with your pet, visiting other businesses offering dog-themed specials and tastings, including Modern Liquors. Pick up the First Saturdays event map at participating businesses and enjoy the fun.

Also: Don't miss Arts on N Street, with 22 artists and craftspeople selling their work, and new art installed in windows of the Washington Convention Center.

Enter alley next to Squares Fashions, 1208 9th Street, NW. FREE.

DC Main Streets First Saturday is sponsored by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, DC Main Streets and the Historical Society of Washington, DC.

For more information, call 202-265-SHAW or email shawmainstreetsinc@gmail.com.

Sounds like a lot of fun!

Don't Miss Arts on N this Weekend and Next

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center partnered to organize Arts on N Festival, a free affordable art festival featuring work by District artists, organizations and local businesses.  The festival will take place this weekend (August 7th and 8th) and next (August 14th and 15th) from 10 am to 4 pm along N Street between 7 Seventh and Ninth Streets, NW.

The festival features indie talents of the handmade expression. This initiative provides free spaces for district artists and organizations to sell their handmade goods and bring exposure to their artwork. The diverse mediums represented range from paper goods, photography, graffiti to chic and cool tees.

At Arts on N, you can purchase work by local artists, hear interesting music and get to know your local businesses. Artists and organizations from all eight wards are represented and events for all age groups such as gardening tutorials, painting workshops and cupcake decoration will be offered.

Click here for a listing of vendors that will be displaying their arts and crafts.

Buy Me: Part of Kelsey Gardens/Addison Square Assemblage

It is old news that the developers behind the redevelopment of Kelsey Gardens are looking either to sell their prime property in Shaw or to find for an equity partner for their planned Addison Square project. But it is new news is that one component of the Addison Square assemblage is for sale.

Thanks to tipster Paul for point me to this this listing for the property at the corner of Eight and P Streets, Northwest – directly across from the imminently breaking ground CityMarket at O development.  The land is currently occupied by a parking lot, and was slated to contain townhome-styled condominiums in the Addison Square project.  The asking price is $1.2 million dollars, and the description provides:

Land Area: 4,275 SF
Current Use: Parking Lot
Permitted Uses: residential and/or office uses depending on market conditions
Highlights: Located 3 blocks north of the Convention Center. At the intersection of P Street and 8th Street. Metro access located approx. 2 blocks North (Shaw-Howard U)
Architectural drawings prepared by Lessard Group
Parking Available at Kelsey Gardens

It will be interesting to follow the disposition of this property.  I bet we'll see it redeveloped soon given that it's being broken off from the larger Seventh Street Kelsey Gardens site.