The Express has a good article about the new restaurants coming to Columbia Heights as a part of the DC USA development.   Honestly, I’m a bit envious that they (i.e., Columbia Heights) have a Potbelly Sandwich Works.  Don’t ever let me hear they get a Chipotle!   That would be like rubbing salt in the wounds.  I know U Street is full of “unique” spots and all, but a Chipotle somewhere in the corridor couldn’t hurt…

From ANC1B Commissioner Phil Spalding:

ANC1B will be reviewing the following applications for new or changed liquor licenses at our June 5th meeting. Please note that due to renovations in our usual space at 12th & U we’ll be holding the June meeting at Housing Finance Agency, 815 Florida Avenue. Details on each of the applications can be found on the ABRA site, in the DC Register, or by contacting appropriate ANC Commissioner

78882, Eatonville, 2125 14th St., New CR02(restaurant), new restaurant featuring live band music, dj’s and poetry readings, no dancing or designated dance floor. Sunday through Thursday 7AM to 2AM, Friday and Saturday 7AM to 3AM. Entertainment Sunday through Thursday 6PM to 2AM, Friday and Saturday 6PM to 3AM. (Hunter)

79023, Yes Organic Market, 2123 14th St., new B (grocer). Beverage sales hours Sunday 10AM to 7PM, Monday through Saturday 9AM to 9PM.(Hunter)

77546, Almaz, 1212 U St., amending entertainment endorsement to add hours, additional days. Proposed days and hours are: Sunday through Thursday 6PM to 2AM, Friday and Saturday 6PM to 3AM. (Spalding)

78943, Patty Boom Boom, 1359 U St., new CT01 (tavern), new tavern serving Jamaican patties with live entertainment, dj, live reggae bands, cover charge and dancing. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11:30AM to 2AM, Friday & Saturday 11:30AM to 3AM. Hours of entertainment Sunday through Thursday 6PM to 2AM, Friday & Saturday 6PM to 3AM. (Spalding)

XXXXX, Mocha Hut, 1301 U St., details not yet available. (Spalding)

23734, Jin, 2017 14th St., add Entertainment Endorsement to CT license. Hours of entertainment Sunday to Thursday 6PM to 2AM, Friday & Saturday 6PM to 3AM. (Spalding)

21967, Cafe Nema/Momo’s, 1334 U St., substantials changes to hours of operation and addition of entertainment endorsement (live band, jazz and dj). Proposed hours of operations: Sunday 10AM to 1:30AM, Monday through Saturday 10AM to 2:30AM. Hours of entertainment: Sunday 7PM to 12:30AM, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30PM to 1AM, Friday 9PM to 2AM, Saturday 10PM to 2:30AM. (Spalding)

Prospective agenda is updated through the month leading to the meeting, and is updated and posted on the www.anc1b.org web site.

Liquor license applications

At the upcoming ANC1B meeting there will be review of a number of new and substantially changed liquor licenses. This list is probably incomplete, but additional notice is warranted.

Chix, 2019 11th Street is applying for a new DR (wine and beer restaurant) license with the addition of a summer garden permit for 15 seats

Parliament House is applying for a new CT01 (tavern) license to be located at 917 U Street

The Republic is seeking a new CN03 (nightclub) license to be located at 1355 U Street

Cafe Collage is opening a CT01 (tavern) from safekeeping and is located at 1346 T Street

Source (Theater) is applying for a new DX02 (multipurpose) license for 1840 14th Street

DC9 is applying for a substantial change to add a summer garden (roof deck) with 50 seats at 1940 9th Street

Further details on these applications is available in the DC Register (online) or at ABRA’s website under ANC notifications. I do also have copies of most of these applications. The agenda as it builds is posted on our web site www.anc1b.org.

Commissioner Phil Spalding

The Washington Post, District Extra, had an article on rats in DC. The reports of rat sightings in DC increased 8 percent from 2006 to 2007. The DC Department of Health suggests that warmer winters and better reporting explain the increase in reports. The article mentions that Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan are “rat havens,” due to the number of bars and restaurants, which come along with dumpsters and garbage. Construction also unleashes the vermin. Well, the U Street Corridor has its fair share of restaurants, bars, dumpsters, and construction. Anyone experiencing rat or mice issues? Don’t be shy! It’s not your fault…

Do you want four days of St. Patrick’s Day fun?  Of course, you do.  So, check out the U Street Corridor’s very own Duffy’s Irish Restaurant and Pub, located at 2106 Vermont Ave NW across from the 9:30 Club and just around the corner from the U Street/Cardozo Metro station on 10th St.  Here’s what’s happenin’:

Duffy’s St. Patrick’s Day Weekend 2008:

Friday March 14th - Conor Malone Live 9:00pm to 1:30 am

Saturday March 15th Duffy’s Presents ‘Paddy Goes West’ 9pm to 1:30 am!

Sunday March 16th Come by After the St. Patrick’s Day Parade from 2pm to 6pm live entertainment by Conor Malone | All U Can Eat Shepherd’s Pie for $8.95 | $4 Pints of Guinness and Smithwicks Irish Ale!!  

St. Patrick’s Day March 17th Open At noon. DJ Playing Irish favorites. Take the Day off… they give you sick days …Use them!! Please note: the kitchen will be closed but Corned Beef Sandwiches will be available all day.

Best of Ballot Party!

Thursday, March 20th, 6-9 p.m. at Lounge 201

Free drinks!
Free food!
Free balloting!

Join City Paper and make your vote count at our Best Of Ballot Party! We’re gearing up for our Best Of issue, and we want to honor YOU, our voters. Meet City Paper writers and mingle with fellow readers while you eat, drink and vote merrily in over 100 categories. Tell us who is D.C.’s best of the best: You decide who will be tops in Food and Drink, Arts and Entertainment, Goods and Services, and People and Places.

Lounge 201, 201 Massachusetts Ave. NE (at 2nd and D Street NE–one block from Union Station), 6-9 p.m.

This party is free to attend, and you must be 21+. Questions? Email mail@washcp.com.

With all the buzz about the grand opening of the Target and other stores at Columbia Heights’ new gleaming mall, DC USA, the Washington Post created a neat graphic showing all the changes to this once down and out neighborhood.  I have read that there was a time that the city couldn’t even beg McDonald’s to come to Columbia Heights.  Now, the city may not even want McDonald’s to come now and muck up its “luxurious” landscape.  With all the upscale lofts, condos, and various stores and whatnot, that neighborhood is on the RISE!  Hey, the U Street Corridor is just a hop, skip, and a jump away (one Metro stop), so I will be enjoying the fruits of Columbia Heights, too.  Take a look-see:

The following U Street restaurants are participating in Dining Out for Life this Thursday, March 6.:

Alero U Street (202) 462-2322

Busboys & Poets (202) 387-7638

Coppi’s (202) 319-7773

Sala Thai (202) 462-1333, seems to also have a lunch special for this day

Tabaq Bistro (202) 265-0965

U-topia Art & Eat (202) 483-7669

They have agreed to donate a between 25 to 100% of your bill to help Food & Friends help people who have HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses.  Food & Friends will ensure that these people receive nutritious meals daily.

Ulah Bistro, the new U Street restaurant set to open shortly, was written up in the Express (not sure if it was in the print version). The Prince of Petworth blog also featured sneak peaks of the restaurant and its menu. I gotta say it looks really nice, and the menu is not outrageously priced for a hip and happenin’ U Street restaurant, let alone something that calls itself a “bistro” (cute names usually equate come with an extra charge). Anyway, according to the Express, the restaurant will be opening shortly at 1214 U St NW and is just awaiting inspection. Apparently, the bistro is run by the same people who run Stoney’s near Logan Circle and Tunnicliff’s on Capitol Hill. I wish that meant more to me, but I don’t eat at restaurants much. But, YOU should! Much success to the owners of Ulah Bistro! In fact, much success to all of the businesses (legit, legal ones) in and near the Corridor…and the entire District, too.