New Year's Eve Dining in Shaw

Looking for New Year's Eve plans?  Look no further than our neighborhood!  Here are a few great dining options to consider in Shaw this Friday night:

1.  1905 - 1905 will be offering a special fixed price 4-course menu for $65 per person (does not include beverages, tax, or gratuity). For an additional $35, dinner patrons can enjoy open bar after 10PM.  If you're dining elsewhere but would still like to ring in the New Year at 1905, for $75, 1905 will be offering open bar from 10 PM until close. Call the restaurant for questions or reservations.

2.  Acadiana - Acadiana will offer 4 course fixed price dinners priced from $56 to $68. Champagne toast at midnight.

3.  Beau Thai - Beau Thai has applied for a one day full liquor license for New Year's Eve.  Open from 5 to 11 PM, be sure to stop by this neighborhood favorite for delicious Thai cuisine and a drink before heading on to your midnight destination.

4.  Corduroy  -Corduroy will offer a special 3 course menu New Year's Eve For $65 per person (exclusive of beverage, gratuity or tax). The menu will offer at least 5 choices per course.

Any others I'm leaving off?  How do you plan to celebrate the new year in Shaw?!

DCist Exposed Photo Show

This year's DCist Exposed Photo Show will be on display at our very own Long View Gallery from March 6 through 21. DCist is throwing an opening party for its show this Saturday night (March 6, 2010) from 6 to 10 p.m. Click here for more details on the party. DCist's beer sponsor, Pabst Blue Ribbon, will have homemade pinhole cameras to give away to the first 100 photography lovers who visit their table at the reception. The cameras will be loaded and ready for exposure, with directions for how to develop the paper.

Long View Gallery
1234 Ninth Street, Northwest
202.232.4788

Old Dominion Has Skeeball

Neighborhood watering hole, destination sports bar and go-to casual restaurant Old Dominion Brewhouse recently added skeeball to its menu of fun. Back in 2007 I confessed my love of Photo Hunt (a game at their bar), but skeeball takes Old Dominion's entertainment to another level!


Old Dominion Brewhouse
1219 Ninth Street, Northwest
202.289.8158

New Year's Eve in Shaw (Updated 12-29)

Looking for New Year's Eve plans? Here are a few of your Shaw-based options for ringing in 2010:

1. Corduroy - Start your new year in elegant style at Corduroy, which will be serving its regular, delicious menu. You can make a reservation here.

2. Acadiana - Acadiana is offering a 3-course fixed price meal for $56-68 per person with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. You can make a reservation here.

3. Morrison Clark Restaurant - The Morrison Clark Restaurant will offer a $65 priced fixed menu (viewable in PDF here). Reservations are encouraged; call 202.898.1200.

4. Vinoteca - Vinoteca has several great options for the evening, which can be viewed here. Reservations recommended.

5. Nellie's - No need for reservations at Nellie's, which will feature $3 Nellie beer and house vodka drinks until 10, $15 buckets of bud until midnight, a champagne toast, a d.j., and more until 3 a.m.

6. Town Dance Boutique - Tickets to New Year's Eve at town are $20 in advance (available here) and $25 at the door. At its website, Town is soliciting votes for the best song of the decade. The poll's results will feature in the musical programming for the evening. Doors open at 9pm.

UPDATE
7. 1905 Restaurant - The always cool 1905 Restaurant wants you to ring in the New Year with them. They offer a special 4-course prix fixe dinner followed by a celebration to remember!!! Call or email for details - 202.332.1905 or tony@1905dc.com.


I'm sure there are others I am leaving off... Let us know about other exciting options in the neighborhood by leaving a comment!

Weekend Shoutout: Shop in Shaw

In an e-mail blast, Old City Green sent out the following shopping list of great gifts from Shaw merchants:

1) A massage or gift card at Lunar Massage
2) A pie from Chatman's Bakery
3) A bottle of "Spirits" from Modern Liquor
4) A trinket from Abou Master Goldsmith
5) A gift basket or gift certificate from Maruka
6) A squeaky toy from Wag Time
7) Discounts on Christmas items at 5th St. Ace Hardware
8) A gift of membership to Results Gym
9) Check out EarPEACE (www.earpeace.com)
9) A tree and greens and more from Old City Green

There are, of course, many other fantastic gift options from our great neighborhood. Long View Gallery offers some small original oil paintings that would make a great and unique gift. Gifts certificates from any of our fantastic coffee shops (e.g., Azi's, First Cup, and Chatman's) or restaurants (e.g., Corduroy, Etete, 1905) or health spots (e.g., Shakti, Pilates in the Alley).

Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments, and happy shopping this weekend!

Weekend Shoutout: Walking Tours in Shaw this Weekend

Get some exercise and learn a thing or two with WalkingTown, DC Fall Edition, this and Sunday (September 19 and20). Fleeting fall weather provides the perfect backdrop to explore our neighborhood and/or city with more than 120 free, guided walking and bike tours! Discover a new spot or revisit old favorites with professional tour guides and community leaders.

Search tours by theme to find your favorite topic!

Check the schedule at www.WalkingTownDC.org or call 202-661-7581

The following is a sampling of tours of Shaw:

Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part I
Saturday, September 19
10 am – 12:30 pm
Meet inside Great Hall, Historical Society of Washington, DC, 801 K Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Mt Vernon Sq 7th St-Convention Center Metro station (Green and Yellow lines)
End at Azi’s Café, 1336 Ninth Street, NW
Shaw has always been a crossroads. Today, the Washington Convention Center dominates Shaw’s southern half, but it once consisted of woods and a few farms. Notable historic figures lived and worked in lower central Shaw, including explorer John Wesley Powell, African American U.S. Senator Blanche K. Bruce, and historian Carter G. Woodson. This half-mile walk includes visits to view selected building interiors. Led by Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.

Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part II
Saturday, September 19
1 – 3:30 pm
Meet on northwest corner of Seventh and R Streets, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Shaw-Howard U Metro station (Green and Yellow lines)
End at Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U Street, NW
Entertainment has long been the focus of central Shaw’s northern half – from the Howard Theater, where every star in the black entertainment pantheon performed, and the pool hall where Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington decided to become a musician, to two sites that hosted baseball teams. Highlights of this half- mile tour include a renovated movie theater building and the city’s first African American YWCA. Led by Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.

Rediscovering Mount Vernon
Saturday, September 19
12 noon – 1:30 pm
Meet and end at Carnegie Library, south side, Eighth and K Streets, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metro station (Green, Yellow, and Red lines)
Walk the Mount Vernon Triangle to learn about its history and rebirth, and the new retail, offices, and condos of this once forgotten neighborhood. This one-mile tour will include a walk past remaining historic buildings and discussion about the market forces that lead to its decline and current revitalization. The tour may stop at a new condo, office building or historic church. Led by Bill McLeod and presented by Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District.

Weekend Shoutout: Heart of DC Picnic This Saturday

If you've not yet heard, a truly fabulous community event will be held this Saturday (September 19): The Heart of D.C. Picnic on Mount Vernon Square (the grounds of the Carnegie Library, home of the Historic Society, at 801 K Street Northwest). The event runs from 11am to 5pm. The event will have many exciting offerings for everyone in addition to food and drink, such as games, walking tours, music, raffle and kids' activities. all in an afternoon of neighborhood fun! There will even be a dog show, so don't forget to bring your pooch!


Heart of DC Picnic
Mount Vernon Square
Saturday, September 19, 2009
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Weekend Shoutouts

There's always a lot of cool stuff to do in Shaw on the weekends. Tonight (August 21), for instance, bring a picnic basket, a blanket, friends, and the kids for an awesome evening of jazz at Bundy Park (400 P Street, Northwest). From 6:30 to 8:30, Brazilian jazz by DC Choro Ensemble will set the tone of the summer evening fun as we all relax under the stars as a community after a long, hot week of work.

In the event of rain, the fun will be postponed until this Sunday (August 23) from 4-5:30.



Jazz on the Green
Friday, August 21
6:30-8:30 pm
(Rain date: Sunday, August 23, from 4-5:30)



Any other notable things going on in or around Shaw this weekend? Let us know in the comments!

Weekend Shoutout: All-Day Breakfast at D'vine Cravings on Saturday

Chatman's D'Vine Bakery & Cafe has started serving breakfast on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The all-day breakfast menu includes Belgian waffles, southwest breakfast wraps, French toast, cheese grits, and a basic eggs, toast and meat combo. Of course, Mrs. Chatman's popular BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich will also be available for the non-breakfast minded.


Chatman's D'Vine Bakery & Cafe
1239 Ninth Street, Northwest
202.249.3258

Weekend Shoutout: Old City Green Yard Sale Tomorrow

The weekend looks to be gorgeous. After several days of rain and with several more in store next week, be sure to get outside tomorrow and Sunday. And while you're outside, why not spruce up your yard and tree box with help from Old City Green?!

Tomorrow, Old City Green hosts its first monthly "Super Saturday Yard Sale." On the first Saturday of each month from 9 am to 1 pm, Old City Green offers 20% off all annuals in stock. Here are some of the brilliant annuals they have right now:

Hot Pink and Fire Red Geraniums
Purple, Pink and Double Wave Red Petunias
Lipstick Pink and Lavender Impatiens
Bright Orange and Deep Red New Guinea Impatiens
Purple and Silver Persian Shields (great for your shady areas)
Purple Angelonias
Double Colored Zinnias
White and Hot Pink Flowering Vinca
Purple Mexican Shower Bush (their favorite tropical this month)
Various Annual Vegetables and Herbs

So take a stroll to Old City Green tomorrow morning to pick out something to give a little extra pizazz to your yard or tree box this summer. Grab a big coffee from Azi's Cafe or First Cup Cafe en route if you need a jumpstart for a big day in the yard....

Old City Green
Corner of 9th and N Streets, NW
202-412-CITY

Weekend Shoutouts

Here are a few notable things going on in our great neighborhood this weekend.

1. Watch the United House of Prayer for All People Memorial Day Parade on Saturday May 23 -- the parade starts at 11am and is really a fun thing to watch. Avoid trying to get anywhere by car during the parade, though, as traffic can be a nightmare. There will be temporary road closures along the route, which is:

The parade route begins at 601 M Street
North on 6th Street, NW to Florida Avenue
West on Florida Avenue to 13th & U Streets, NW
South on 13th Street, NW to Logan Circle
East on P Street to 7th Street, NW
South on 7th Street to M Street, NW
East on M Street to end at the House of Prayer

2. Buy Plants and Flowers at Old City Green on Saturday - Our great neighborhood garden center will be closed on Sunday and Monday in honor of Memorial Day, so stock up on your landscaping needs tomorrow.

3. Try the Summer Brew at Old Dominion - Old Dominion Brewhouse now features a summer beer, Dominion Beach House Golden Pilsner. Check it out this weekend!

4. Taint at DC9 Sunday - Memorial Day Taint (an "indie-rock and electro party for those tired of the same-old gay club circuit" according to the WaPo), is at DC9 on Sunday night. $5 cover.

Know of others? Let us know in the comments!

Weekend Shoutouts: Easter Edition

Below are a few of the exciting things going on in and around Shaw this weekend.

1. Easter Brunch at Acadiana- This Easter Sunday from 11am - 5pm, Acadiana will offer their three-course prixe-fixe brunch menu for $32 a person, which includes a complimentary mimosa or bloody mary. To view Acadiana's Sunday Brunch Menu, click here, and scroll down to "Eye-Opener Brunch".

2. Grand Opening Festivities at Old City Green on Saturday - Enjoy a 10% discount all weekend, but be sure to attend the dedication of Community Peace Garden at Old City Green, which takes place at 12pm.

3. Easter Brunch at Vinoteca - Vinoteca will offer an Easter brunch buffet this Sunday from 11am to 3pm. For $35 per person, you will enjoy a gourmet selection of brunch dishes as well as a pitcher of mimosa, bellini, or kir for your table (Pitchers are limited to one per four people per table)!!! Make your reservation today!

4. Plant Trees and/or Roll Easter Eggs at Common Good City Farm this Saturday - Common Good City Farm is the new incarnation of the Seventh Street Garden and is now located at the Gage School grounds (located at 2025 3rd St NW, 3rd & V Streets, NW) in LeDroit Park. Two notable events occur there this Saturday, April 11. First, from 9am to 11pm is a workday in which Casey Trees and Common Ground will plant 20 fruit trees (all tools and light snacks provided. Kids are welcome if accompanied by an adult). Second, there will be an Easter Egg Roll and some fun activities for the whole family after the morning's work is complete. White House signature eggs will be given as prizes.

5. Countdown to Yuri's Night Party at Warehouse Arts Complex - This sci-fi event incorporates a gallery show, music, and performance as a gateway to celestial celebration. Tickets are $20 in advance and available on this website.

Know of others? Let us know in the comments!

Weekend Shoutouts

It's time to dust off an old Renewshaw.com feature, weekend shoutouts. The following are a few of the many exciting things to do in and around Shaw this weekend.

1. Have Brunch at 1905 Restaurant on Sunday - 1905 now features Sunday brunch from 11:30am-3pm. They've won me over with their burger, so I'm curious about their bloody Mary making skills...

2. Enjoy Vegetate's Extended Weekend Hours - Starting this weekend Vegetate will be open on Friday and Saturday until 10:30pm. Also, starting this Saturday they will begin opening at 5pm. Make reservations via Open Table, and don't forget to take advantage of their three-course fixed price deal Tuesday through Friday between 6pm-7pm (you get three courses -- small plate, large plate & dessert -- for $25).

3. Watch a Game at Nellie's Sports Bar or Old Dominion Brewhouse - Be a part of March madness at either of our neighborhood's outstanding sports watching venues.

Know of others? Let us know in the comments!

(Updated 12/31) New Year's Eve Shoutouts: Ring in 2009 in Shaw

Still looking for New Year's Eve plans? Here are a few of your Shaw-based options for ringing in the new year:

1. Vegetate - Vegetate will be offering two special New Year's Eve seatings. The early seating (reserve now for a 6:30, 6:45 or 7:00 seating) will feature an a la carte menu. The late seating will feature a 4-course menu for $50/per person (reserve now for a 9:30, 9:45 or 10:00 time seating). The late seating price includes your table for the evening, champagne toast at midnight and DJ. Both seatings are reservation only. You can make reservations here or call 202-232-4585.

2. Corduroy- Corduroy will be serving a special 3-course prix-fixe menu for $75/person. You can make a reservation here.

3. Acadiana - Four-course prix fixe menu, ($55-$60/person). Complimentary Champagne toast available for guests seated 9pm and later. You can make a reservation here.

4. Morrison Clark Restaurant - The Morrison Clark Restaurant will offer a 4-course menu featuring a twist on a few southern favorites for $75/person. You can make a reservation here.

5. Vinoteca - For $125/person or $200/couple, Vinoteca's the place to be for an open bar, food buffet, party favors, and a bubbly toast at mid-night, ($100/person, $180/couple before 12/20; $125/person, $200/couple after 12/20). You can make a reservation here.

6. Nellie's - No need for reservations at Nellie's, which will feature $3 Nellie beer and house vodka drinks until 10, $15 buckets of bud until midnight, champagne toasts, a d.j., party favors, and more.

7. Town Dance Boutique - Music will be by Ed Bailey upstairs and Wess downstairs. There will be a drag show at 10pm and, on the main stage, an over the top stage show featuring the X-Faction dance troupe and the Ladies of Town. Party favors for all and a neon-glowing explosion at midnight. Advance tickets are available at the Town box office during the day Wednesday starting at 2 pm (advance ticket holders may skip the line). Tickets at the door will also be $25. Doors open at 9pm.


Know of others I'm leaving off? Tell us in the comments!

[UPDATE]

Here's another option that was just brought to my attention -- New Year's Eve at the Space. It promises to be a relaxed option for New Year's Eve, featuring a Premium Open Bar from 9pm-3am, a champagne toast, heavy appertizers, all night breakfast, DJ Portarock, and DJ Sonny Cheeba. Tickets are available online until 9pm this evening
or can be purchased at "The Space" if available.

Weekend Shoutouts

I'm feeling inspired again this week to touch on some of the many exciting things Shaw offers to make your weekend amazing... Take a look and enjoy our awesome neighborhood:

1. Brunch is BACK at Vegetate on Saturdays - Oh happy day -- Starting this weekend, Vegetate is again serving brunch! This go-round, brunch is on Saturdays (which I personally prefer over Sundays) starting at noon. They will offer items from their regular menu along with brunch specials weekly and, I assume, their delicious Bloody Marys!

2. Beautiful Weather = Perfect Time to Hang Out on Nellie's Sports Bar's or The Space's Roof Deck - Nellie's Sports Bar at 9th and U Streets, NW and The Space is at 903 N Street both have great roof decks for taking in the lovely spring weather.

3. Celebrate with the Queen on Sunday - from 5 to 7 pm on Sunday (April 27), Queen of Sheba Restaurant (1503 9th Street, NW) will express their gratitude for the community's support of their liquor license application and celebrate the Ethiopian Easter during a reception this weekend with free food and tastings of Ethiopian beers and wines.

4. These Regular Options Are Always Great - the Liberation Dance Party at DC9, the shows at 9:30 Club, Black Cat, Arena Stage, and Studio Theater, the cultural offerings of the Warehouse Arts Complex, Project 4 Gallery, the Ninth Street Gallery, and the Long View Gallery, the chance to get your freak on and knock back some drinks at places like The Space, Avenue, Be Bar, Nellie's Sports Bar, and Old Dominion Brewhouse, and great meals at Vegetate, Etete, or Queen of Sheba.

Have a suggestion for a weekend activity? Leave it in the comments or email me at slumhistorique at yahoo dot com.

Weekend Shoutout: Cleanup Moved to Sunday

A busy day here precludes me from a more substantive Weekend Shoutout post, but note that the Shaw March Monthly Cleanup has been changed to Sunday, as tomorrow's forecast is grim while Sunday looks to be nice. The cleanup's other details (meet at 10:30 AM at 7th & Rhode Island Ave. , etc.) stay the same. Check out http://www.treeboxvodka.com/ for more information.

As always, Shaw offers tons of weekend activities to keep you entertained, including the Liberation Dance Party at DC9, the shows at 9:30 Club, Black Cat, Arena Stage, and Studio Theater, the cultural offerings of the Warehouse Arts Complex, Project 4 Gallery, the Ninth Street Gallery, and the Long View Gallery, the chance to get your freak on and knock back some drinks at places like Town Danceboutique, The Space, Avenue, Be Bar, Nellie's Sports Bar, and Old Dominion Brewhouse, and great meals at Vegetate, Acadiana, Etete, or Queen of Sheba. Enjoy!

Weekend Shoutouts

Here are a few of your Shaw-based sources of excitement this weekend:

1. Opening Reception for Warehouse Gallery's Last PEACE NOW! Show - Tonight from 6 to 9 pm, stop by Warehouse for the opening reception of their (last) annual PEACE NOW! show. The show features work by forty artists and includes painting, installation, photography, sculpture, and video. If you can't make the opening tonight, the show will run through April 6. Gallery Hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. and by appointment.

2. Black History Month Book Signing and Discussion - Tomorrow (Saturday, February 23) starting at 1:00 PM, Shaw Main Streets and the National Park Service’s Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site will present a discussion and signing of the newly released book, “The Early Black History Movement, Carter G. Woodson and Lorenzo Johnston Greene” at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, which is located at 1318 Vermont Avenue, NW, half a block south of Logan Circle. For more details, go here.

3. Oscar Party at Nellie's - Hosted by Anywhere Goes, Nellie's Sports Bar is the place to be for Oscar night fun. They'll have an Oscar ballot, trivia and prizes throughout the night.

4. All the Usual Fun Stuff - the Liberation Dance Party at DC9, the shows at 9:30 Club, Black Cat, Arena Stage, and Studio Theater, the cultural offerings of the Warehouse Arts Complex, Project 4 Gallery, the Ninth Street Gallery, and the Long View Gallery, the chance to get your freak on and knock back some drinks at places like Town Danceboutique, The Space, Avenue, Be Bar, Nellie's Sports Bar, and Old Dominion Brewhouse, and great meals at Vegetate, Acadiana, Etete, or Queen of Sheba.


Have a Weekend Shoutout? Leave it in the comments or email me at slumhistorique at yahoo dot com!

Weekend Shoutouts

Here are a few of the many happenings in Shaw this weekend:

1. See Cool Art Tonight - Tonight from 5 to 8 is the opening reception kicking off the The Long View Gallery's latest show, an exhibition of new works by noted artists Jessie Mann and Mary Chiaramonte. This show has already garnered a lot of press, and the preview images from it are pretty stunning.

2. Meet Neighbors, Break a Sweat, Clean Our Neighborhood Tomorrow Morning - There's a Shaw Neighborhood Cleanup this Saturday, February 9th. Go here for details and updates. The plan is to meet at 5th & Rhode Island Avenue, NW at 10:30 a.m. The cleanup will focus on the 5th & Rhode Island Avenue area cleaning up the usual suspects of liquor bottles, fast food, cigarette butts, etc. Bring gloves, friends, any additional tools you want to use for cleaning; Treebox Vodka will supply trash bags.

3. All the Usual Fun Stuff - the Liberation Dance Party at DC9, the shows at 9:30 Club, Black Cat, Arena Stage, and Studio Theater, the cultural offerings of the Warehouse Arts Complex, Project 4 Gallery, the Ninth Street Gallery, and the Long View Gallery, the chance to get your freak on and knock back some drinks at places like Town Danceboutique, The Space, Avenue, Be Bar, Nellie's Sports Bar, and Old Dominion Brewhouse, and great meals at Vegetate, Acadiana, Etete, or Queen of Sheba.

Have a Weekend Shoutout? Leave it in the comments or email me at slumhistorique at yahoo dot com!

Weekend Shoutouts

Shaw + weekends = fun, as always. Here are a few things on my radar:

1. The Washington Auto Show at the Convention Center - Already underway, this show always makes our area buzz with excitement. I can't wait to check out all the rides that put mine to shame (an easy task).

2. Aussie Day at The Space - The Space celebrates Australia Day this Saturday night startnig at 10pm. On Australia Day, Aussies come together as a nation to celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. We benefit from The Space's celebration wiht $4 Australian Coopers Beer, Aussie Tracks from DJ Fireman, and a live band, Mojai.

3. All the Usual Fun Stuff - the Liberation Dance Party at DC9, the shows at 9:30 Club, Black Cat, Arena Stage, and Studio Theater, the cultural offerings of the Warehouse Arts Complex, Project 4 Gallery, the Ninth Street Gallery, and the Long View Gallery, the chance to get your freak on and knock back some drinks at places like Town Danceboutique, The Space, Avenue, Be Bar, Nellie's Sports Bar, and Old Dominion Brewhouse, and great meals at Vegetate, Acadiana, Etete, or Queen of Sheba.

Weekend Shoutouts

I'm a little late in posting these, but here are some suggestions for a great weekend in Shaw:

1. Satisfy Your D'vine Craving - stop by the grand opening weekend of Chatman's D'vine Cravings! Located on 9th Street in one of the convention center retail spaces between M and N Streets, your sweet tooth and caffeine tank will thank you!

2. Do Brunch at Vinoteca - As reported yesterday, Vinoteca is now another great brunch option in our neighborhood. Stop by Sunday for $5 bottomless bloodies.

3. Celebrate Old Dominion Brewhouse's One Year Anniversary Saturday - Celebrate in O.D. style: Come for NFL Playoffs, stay for $1.50 Drafts from 9pm-2am on Saturday, January 12th!

4. All the Usual Fun Stuff - the Liberation Dance Party at DC9, the shows at 9:30 Club, Black Cat, Arena Stage, and Studio Theater, the cultural offerings of the Warehouse Arts Complex, Project 4 Gallery, the Ninth Street Gallery, and the Long View Gallery, the chance to get your freak on and knock back some drinks at places like Town Danceboutique, The Space, Avenue, Be Bar, Nellie's Sports Bar, and Old Dominion Brewhouse, and great meals at Vegetate, Acadiana, Etete, or Queen of Sheba.