WP Weekend: New Trends touts Toki Underground

Today's Weekend section features H Street's own Erik Yang on the cover, with his coming soon Toki Undergroud as the highlight of the Food trends section.  The story by Lavanya Ramanathan and Fritz Hahn touts the "New York-ification" and growing diversity of the DC dining scene, noting that DC residents "have an insatiable appetitete for all of it, as long as it is new, as long as it is novel."  They go on to discuss Yang's time in Taiwan getting ready to open Toki Underground in February.  The full piece is worth a read, but here are the main details they offer on this long coming venue.  

hopes to fill its 30 seats with diners hankering for just two dishes: ramen and dumplings. (The small kitchen will crank out five kinds of each, including hakata-style ramen swimming in a pork broth reduced for 28 hours and a mushroom-based veggie noodle bowl.)
"Toki Underground for me is Taipei in one 700-square-foot space," explains Erik Yang, the chef and the face of Toki. But it's obviously D.C., too: One wall, behind the bar, is covered with graffiti by a local artist, while vintage skateboards hang like shingles on another.

Sticky Rice closed for weekend, Smith Commons opens

Sticky Rice is closed tonight and this weekend.  More details to come, but do not plan on spending your NYE at Sticky Rice. 

There are lots of great events happening tomorrow at other H Street spots, including Liberty Tree, Atlas Room, Little Miss Whiskey's, Red Palace, and Granville Moore's and more, along with the greatly-anticipated opening of Smith Commons.

Link roundup

UrbanDaddy takes a quick peek at Toki Underground -- the ramen and dumplings spot long slated to open above the Pug (1234 H St).  Toki Underground should be one of a handful of big openings on H Street in the coming month along with Smith Commons (1245 H St), Church and State (1236 H St), and the grand full reopening of the Argonaut (1433 H St).

THIH's Nichole Remmert has the scoop on Church and State (1236 H St) opening above Fruit Bat and bringing a new cocktail concept to H Street soon.

THIH also rounds up all the NYE happenings on the Hill with lots of great options on H Street.

DCMud has this 2010 development roundup stating that "H Street swelters" noting in particular the Rappaport redevelopment of the H Street Connection, the Clark Realty breaking ground on its mixed use building at the eastern end, and the official announcement that Giant will break ground at 4th & H St this spring.

UrbanDaddy has this piece that the opening of Biergarten Haus (1355 H St) was one of the 7 top important happenings in DC last year.

Link roundup

Young and Hungry is looking forward to Smith Commons (1245 H St), which wont open tonight, but hopes to open within days.  Urban Daddy and Thrillist have short pieces as well.  The Urban Daddy piece has some great photos from the second floor.  Nice work on the renovation and decor, guys!

Greater Greater Washington reports on bike lanes and/or bike boulevards for the H Street Corridor, possibly along G and I Sts.
DCTheatreScene recommends Black Nativity at the H Street Playhouse (1365 H St).  The show runs through January 2.

Frozen Tropics has begun rounding up New Year's Eve options on H St.  H Street Country Club (1335 H St) has a dinner date plan for two, while the Red Palace (1212 H St) a Variety Blowout Bash planned.  Little Miss Whiskeys (1104 H St) and Jimmy Valentine's (1103 Bladensburg Rd) have fun plans as well with "Double Whammy 2010" a night hosted by One Love Massive and 5 great DJs lined up.  They'll also provide patrons with shuttle service to Union Station at the end of the night.
Rock and Roll Hotel’s (1353 H St) has A Rattler New Year's Eve with Rattler, Villains DJ Crew and more. Tickets are $25 general admission, $50 for open bar.

Tim Carman, now of the Washington Post, has this response to a recent NYT article about so-called 'junk food' (really comfort food) on Capitol Hill and H Street.  Carman's thoughtful critique follows the same path as a recenty reply post on THIH and includes this impassioned defense of some outstanding new restaurants in the neighborhood, which do far more than offer quality comfort food.  Carman cites Ethiopic and the Atlas Room in noting how the Times failed to tell the story of:

how a husband and wife are dragging Ethiopian cuisine (disgusting finger food!) into the arena of modern American dining. (Tom Sietsema: "If you think all Ethiopian restaurants are cut from the same cloth, you have yet to visit Ethiopic" in the Atlas District.) No one needs to know that Ba Bay on Pennsylvania Avenue SE has hired a fine-dining chef to put a modern twist on Vietnamese cooking, complete with themed craft cocktails. And no one can stand another word about that Florentine import, Acqua al 2, let alone another sentence about those two accomplished toques who just launched the daringly original Atlas Room on H Street NE where the chefs have cast aside the concept of a standard appetizer-entree menu.

X9 Express Bus serve begins running along H Street

Starting today, a new limited-stop express bus route will operate between Capitol Heights Metrorail Station and Metro Center (New York Avenue & 12th Street NW) -- running along the  H Street corridor, through Chinatown, and into downtown along H Street NW.  Service will operate in both directions at a frequency of every 15 minutes. Westbound trips will leave Capitol Heights between 6:15 and 9:00 a.m. and between 3:43 and 6:19 p.m. Eastbound trips will leave New York Avenue & 12th Street between 6:30 and 8:50 a.m. and between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Westbound buses from H Street will run with stops on H Street at 14th St and 8th St NE to into NW Washington with stops at Chinatown and 13th Street NW before turning around.

This should be welcome news for H Street commuters and hopefully the hours will be expanded, particularly later into the evening, before long. 

Eastbound buses will begin at south side of the 1200 block of New York Avenue NW to H Street NW with stops at 7th St NW, North Capitol Street, 8th St NE, and 14th St NE, before continuing down Benning Road, to Minnesota Avenue, and out to the Capitol Heights Station.

Westbound and eastbound buses will serve only the following stops: Minnesota Ave Station, Minnesota Avenue & Benning Road NE, two stops on Benning Road NE at 19th Street and at 16th Street (westbound)/15th Street (eastbound), two stops on H Street NE at 14th Street and at 8th Street, four westbound and three eastbound stops on H Street NW at North Capitol Street, 7th Street, 11 th and 13th Streets (westbound) and 9th Street (eastbound), and at New York Avenue & 12th Street NW.

Church & State (1236 H St, 2nd Fl) opening in January

When Erik Holzherr took over 1236 H Street, he planned to open Fruit Bat on the first floor and said he hoped to open something special on the second floor this winter.  True to his word, Holzherr is nearly ready to open Church & State on the second floor at 1236 H St.  This speakeasy-style cocktail emporium is what Holzherr has previously dubed "his baby" and should be a very exciting addition to H Street's burgeoning cocktail scene.  Although, Church and State wont open until next month, the space will be open as part of Fruit Bat's New Year's Eve festivities in two weeks. 

WE WILL BE OPENING THE SECOND FLOOR NEW YEARS EVE!  CONSIDER IT A SNEAK PEEK BEFORE CHURCH & STATE OFFICIALLY OPENS IN JANUARY.

Link roundup

Tasting Table checks out the new brunch at Granville Moore's (1238 H St).  It sounds great. 

DCTheatreScene recommended Swingtime at the Atlas (1333 H St).  That shows run has ended, but Black Nativity is still playing at the H Street Playhouse (1365 H St) and is also getting great reviews.  It runs through January 2. 

The New York Times finds a number of good comfort food options on Capitol Hill, including Liberty Tree's (1016 H St) "Pigs in a Blanket" featuring linguica, macaroni and cheese (recently served as a special with lobster), and fried brussels sprouts.

The Washington Post has this piece on Tacos Impala (1204 H St).  The Post likes the tacos and recommends that you add the homemade rojo salsa.  Tacos Impala opens for lunch daily and is open late on the weekends. 

We reported that Smith Commons (1245 H St) opens December 21, the Argonaut (1433 H St) fully reopens January 15, Kitchen on K Street (3rd & K Sts) is opening in the spring courtesy of Chef Gillian Clark, and Angelico Pizza is coming to 1421 H St.  With the Washington Post's nice first bite review for the Atlas Room (1015 H St), and the news that streetcars on H Street in 2012 is moving ahead with full DC Council support, it was truly a great week for H Street.

Living Social is running half off at Sticky Rice (1224 H St) today.

Angelico H Pizza & Tapas (1421 H St)

Angelico's Pizzeria was slated to open at 1387 H Street until the concept for that location went a little less pizza delivery and a little more sit down restaurant/cafe and the name became Desperados and later Home Slice, which is the current plan.  Construction work is ongoing at that site. 

Now comes news that the team behind that concept plans to bring an Angelico H Pizza to 1421 H Street, NE.  Deniz Eroglu and Mustafa Misirci -- business partners of Musa Ulusan -- have filed an application for a liquor license for this location.  The application describes the business as a "new restaurant with pizza, appetizers, salads, and sandwiches" with seating for 48 and patio seating for an additional 16.  The partners are scheduled to present their plans to the ANC6A Alcohol and Beverage Licensing Committee next week.   

Drink for a cause at the Pug tonight, tomorrow, and next Friday

Via Frozen Tropics, the Pug (1234 H St) will donate 10% of their sales tonight and tomorrow to local school, Watkins Elementary School (420 12th St SE) and next Friday, December 17, 10% goes to the Yellow Ribbon Fund, which supports injured veterans as they return home.  Stop by the Pug this weekend or next to support these good causes.

Kitchen on K Street from Chef Gillian Clark coming to 3rd & K St NE

A great food week for the H Street Corridor continues with this news that Chef Gillian Clark is going to open a restaurant this spring at 3rd and K St NE (inside the Loree Grand Building at 250 K St NE).  Chef Clark is a bit of a legend from the since-closed Colorado Kitchen and especially well-known for her fried chicken, biscuits, roast chicken, pork chops, shrimp and grits, and donuts.  Her brunches, in particular, were the stuff of legends on the Colordo Kitchen thread over on DonRockwell.com, so this is another very good bit of restaurant news for the neighborhood.  Kitchen on K Street will be open for three meals a day.

The full NoMa BID press release follows:

Smith Commons (1245 H St) Opening December 21

Smith Commons (1245 H St) is set to open on Tuesday, December 21.  They will be open daily at 5 p.m., closed Mondays.  They will do a "Smith Hour" happy hour weekdays from 5 - 7 p.m. with a selection of beer, wine, cocktails, and small plates for $5 each.  It's going to be an exciting and busy winter on H Street.  Congratulations to the Smith Commons team who have been hard at work putting together a great menu, beer, wine, and cocktail list to go with their fully renovated historic building! 

The full press release follows after the break.

Argonaut Grand (full) Reopening: January 15

The Argonaut announced they will officially reopen their full dining room area on Friday, January 15.  Congratulations to all the great folks behind the Argo! 

Check out some photos of they've posted on their website of the great restoration and other work they've done as they rebuild.  We can't wait to see the finished product and see it fully open soon.     

Expanded patio with new paint job on building

New patio features indoor/outdoor bar via those windows



New indoor/outdoor bar is a boat and is alongside the Maryland Ave side of the property in the old main dining room.  It's built from salvaged wood from the old dining room floor.

The Argonaut remains open with a limited food menu and full bar offerings in the interim. 

Streetcars update

The DC Council Transporation Committee unanimously approved two bills last week to advance streetcars on H Street.  First, it passed a bill to address overhead wires.  Second, it approved a resolution to authorize the use of the additional funds it set aside in the budget to fund the completion of the streetcar line along H Street, so that it can begin running in Spring 2012. 

Yesterday, the Council passed a budget without cutting funding for the program.  It also passed the overhead wires bill and the resolution approving the plan for the H Street line, so it appears that the final legislative hurdle may have been cleared.   

DDOT also released an RFP for the completion of the H Street/Benning Rd segment (power, maintenance facility, and bridge work) and announced that they will issue an RFP for two additional streetcars on December 22nd.   

Thanks to DDOT Director Gabe Klein, Streetcar Director Scott Kubly, Transportation Chair Jim Graham, and Ward Six Councilmember Tommy Wells and all the others who have worked to move this ahead.

WP's @tomsietsema @AtlasRoom (1015 H St) is "a chic addition to H St"

Tomorrow's Washington Post will have this favorable initial review from Food Critic Tom Sietsema.  Congratulations to the Atlas Room of which we are big fans too!  Some higlights of the First Bite review are below:

The dining possibilities on H Street NE now run to German, Ethiopian and Japanese plus gimmicks as offbeat as indoor miniature golf (on the second floor of H Street Country Club, which serves tacos, black bean soup and tres leches cake). Until recently, however, a diner looking for a sophisticated plate of food and serious cocktails under the same roof was more or less obliged to head to another neighborhood.

Then the Atlas Room crept on the scene last month, tempting customers with an intimate 30-seat dining room, a Sazerac that summons New Orleans and not one, but two chefs whose resumes add up to a pocketful of stars.

...

The Atlas Room is dressed with shimmering green curtains, handsome maps and a gently lit bar with a slate-stone veneer. The start of the fancification of bohemian H Street? "We're not trying to change the neighborhood, just give it another option," says Beard.

The chefs' menu is novel. Instead of grouping dishes by course, it lists food types. Under the heading "Pork," for instance, you'll find a flatbread arranged with shredded pork, another plate featuring pork loin, and a stew made with the meat. The dishes are priced at $9, $13 and $19, respectively (think snack, appetizer and entree).

The early hits include a meatless pot au feu chockablock with chickpeas, lentils and other beans, enlivened with a pesto made with the herb savory and crushed walnuts; juicy pan-roasted chicken with herbed gnocchi; and beef loin served with a fine mush of eggplant and yogurt and a rim dusted with toasted cumin and other zingers. That flatbread was underbaked yet nicely chewy, and it gained more flavor with a slather of butternut squash puree and glossy parsley. In all, the food makes me eager to return.

Link roundup

Tim Carman says goodbye from the City Paper as he moves to the Washington Post.  Carman's farewell piece tracks what's happened in Washington during his five years as host to the Young and Hungry column.  Carman highlights the developments on H Street noting "No strip has changed as much as this patch of Northeast. . . . These (and others yet to come) are turning the street into a dining destination. Imagine what the area will be like once the city completes that goddamn streetcar project."

Zagat and Ontaponline check out the Atlas Room (1015 H St).  Zagat says it "uplifts its namesake neighborhood’s dining scene with creative moderately priced New American eats" while On Tap says "It’s almost enough to make us consider a move."

DCUrbanTurf has a nice one bedroom condo just south of H Street (730 11th St NE) as its best new listing.

DCFoodies gets serious about beer with Granville Moore's (1238 H St) Matt LeBarron.

Eater announced they are coming to DC and put together a map of hotspots with help from Tom Sietsema and Metrocurean.  Ethopic (401 H St) is featured alongside some of DC's best restaurants.  Toyland (421 H St) and the Atlas Room (1015 H St) were also named as honorable mentions.  Sure sounds like Sietsema likes the Atlas Room almost as much as we do.

CNN highlights Dangerously Delicious Pies (1339 H St) as one of five tasty new pie shops in America. Remember you can get a discounted gift certificate to DDP via So What's the Deal this week.

The Washington Post Going Out Gurus have this on the fun plans at Star and Shamrock (1341 H St) to celebrate their jewish heritage this hannukah with a special running through Thursday night.  For $13.25 you can load up on a platter of latkes, matzoh ball soup and a house-roasted brisket sandwich.  They're also offering $1 off Hebrew brews.

The Washingtonian's Readers chose Taylor Gourmet (1116 H St) as DC's best sandwiches.

Water Ice Update: Rita's & Philly Water Ice are closed for the season, Taco Impala stands in for PWI at 1204 H St

Rita's Water Ice closed for the season last month.  They will reopen with the warmer weather this spring. 

Philadelphia Water Ice recently closed as well.  The owner reports that they will reopen in April.  In the interim, she has subleased the space to a taco shop operating under the name Taco Impala (1204 H St).  They also plan to continue to serve Philadelphia Water Ice's popular cheese steaks.  Frozen Tropics reports that this business opened earlier today.

Unfortunately, when the business closed its product melted and as the trash bags containing it were dragged to the corner of 12th & H and left a trail of melted water ice along the new sidewalk.  In other news, we hear it is increasingly likely that the wooden locker in front of the property that was deemed to be illegally on public space will be removed soon.

Early Impressions of The Atlas Room (1015 H St) @atlasroom

It is difficult to overstate how excited we were when the newest addition to H Street, the Atlas Room, officially opened their doors at 1015 H Street last month. Despite our lofty expectations, the Atlas Room has managed to exceed our high hopes and has positioned itself to become the finest dining experience on H Street.  You are likely to hear more about it from Washington Post Food Critic Tom Sietsema soon, but here are our early impressions, recommendations, and more.  In short, the Atlas Room is a fantastic addition to H Street, offering an ambitious menu, diverse wine list, and excellent craft cocktails.  It is already H Street's best restaurant and its opening continues a trend of nicer restaurants opening on H Street that was started when Souk, Liberty Tree, and Ethiopic last year and that continues with the upcoming openings of Smith Commons (1245 H St) and the new cocktail temple from Erik Holzherr above Fruit Bat (1238 H St). 

Atlas Room Chef-owner Matt Cordes (previously of Vidalia, 701, and Gerard's place) and Chef de Cuisine Bobby Beard (previously of Citronelle, Pesce, and Vermillion) crafted their menu to encompass flavors from around the globe while using local, seasonal ingredients.  The menu is designed a la carte to feature smaller “nosh” plates and larger entrée size portions.  The smaller plate serving sizes are relatively generous and diners tempted by the breath of the menu should not hesitate to make a meal out of a few small plates.  The seafood salad features calamari, bay scallops, and shrimp tossed in a light vinaigrette over a bed of plump Israeli couscous that left us wanting more.  The butternut squash flatbread and short rib pasta are other good small plate options.  The flatbread is satisfyingly salty-sweet with a delicious puree of squash topped with crispy shredded pork and creamy goat cheese.  The short rib is as tender as it is rich and is surrounded by a thick homemade pasta wrap.  If something fried catches the eye both the chicken and lamb fritters are cooked to perfection with crisp outer shells and creamy rich centers.  And while the field green salad with sherry vinaigrette may not sound as interesting as the other offerings, it proves just as delicious with a satisfying crunch from the crisp onions sprinkled throughout. 

The larger plates do not disappoint either and include enough variety and variation in preparation from night to night to keep even the most frequent visitors satisfied.  The Indian spiced beef loin is a star and is served with roasted cauliflower and a creamy, rich yogurt sauce.  The pan roasted chicken breast is perfectly juicy due to the brine preparation and served with root vegetables and gnocchi which would be beautiful even on their own.  The lamb duo of saddle and top round is another favorite.  Lastly, a perfectly prepared gratin is hard to beat, and Chef Cordes hits the mark with a sizzling oval dish of creamy yet firm layered root vegetables topped with Gruyere and bread crumbs.

The wine list is also H Street's best to date, and the program stems from a partnership with Tannic Tongue LLC, a local distributor that works with some of DC's best restaurants and offers an eclectic selection of smaller producer wines, which are not heavily distributed in our area.  From the by the glass selections, our favorites are the columbard (a lighter, dry white), the cabernet blend, and the Coyote Canyon Sangiovese from Washington State.  The Chinon Blanc is a bit off dry for most palates, unless you prefer sweeter wines. 

The cocktail program here is suprisingly strong and joins SOVA, Toyland and Fruit Bat as a go-to spot for a great craft cocktail.  The list comes from Chris Surrusco, who H Street fans will remember from Granville Moore's early days and others may recognize from his recent stint at Marvin.  Surrusco features a series of classic cocktails, including a great Cosa Nostra manhattan-like cocktail made with Capano Antico Formula vermouth.   Surruco makes many of his ingredients from scratch, including orgeat syrup and grenadine.  Atlas Room serves perfect cube ice cubes in all their drinks, which cocktail afficionados will appreciate as they melt more slowly and thus are less likely to dilute your drink.  That attention to detail is one of a number of ways Atlas Room sets itself apart of your typical neighborhood restaurant. 

Atlas Room is a good spot for pre or post-show eating and the dessert menu is small, but refined and enjoyable.  It's fills the need for a finer dining experience on H Street and is without a doubt the best special occassion spot on the stretch, but does so without pretention and is the kind of place you can drop by in jeans after work for a beer and fritters or after a night of drinking for a cocktail and dessert. 

The Atlas Room has plans to eventually offer a brunch menu. In the meantime, cozy up to the bar and enjoy all the Atlas Room has to offer the ever-expanding H Street corridor.  It's already a great addition to our developing dining scene. 

The Atlas Room
1015 H Street
388-4020
Closed Mondays
Reservations not necessary, but are encouraged for large groups.

WTD: $19 for $35 to spend at Dangerously Delicious Pies (@DangerousPiesDC)

What's the Deal has a good deal on Dangerously Delicious Pies running currently.  For $19, you get a $35 certificate to spend on your favorite pies with 10% going to charity.  Stock up and stock up on some delicious pies for the holiday season.

WP: Fruit Bat has great cocktails and concept and good food too

Today's Washington Post has this nice review of Fruit Bat (1236 H St).  The Post also has this blog post on their vegetarian offerings and use of soy milk in some cocktails.  Fruit Bat recently added some new cocktails to their fall menu and they are working away on bringing a new concept to their second floor soon.

@CityGalleryDC (804 H St) opening Sat, 6-9 p.m.

City Gallery (804 H St) will show the work of Capitol Hill resident Wally Szyndler who passed away this summer. Wally’s award winning gourd sculptures will be on display. Proceeds from the sale will go to Art Enables, a studio and gallery for emerging artists with developmental and/or mental disabilities.

Courtesy of Phil Hutinet is the Editor-in-Chief of East City Art.

6th & 8th Sts to be closed south of H Street on Saturday for construction work

TRAFFIC ADVISORY*** 

 

One-Day Closure Set for 6th and 8th Streets, NE 

Closures in Place for H Street Reconstruction Project  

 

(Washington, D.C.) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will be closing 6th and 8th Streets, NE between H and G Streets on Saturday, December 4 for construction work. The 700 blocks of 6th and 8th Streets will be closed between 7:30 am and 4 pm, weather permitting, to accommodate concrete pours across the 6th and H Street intersection and the installation of streetcar tracks at the 8th and H Street intersection. 

 

Local access will be maintained on 6th and 8th Streets for residents only.  

 

3rd Street will remain open and may be used as an alternative for northbound 6th and 8th Streets. 10th Street will remain open and may be used as an alternative for southbound 8th Street. 

 

Temporary signs and traffic control measures will be in place to alert and guide the traveling public through this area. 

The Metrobus 90 and 92 lines will be detoured from their regular routes and stops in the 700 block of 8th Street. At the 8th Street intersection with G Street, northbound buses will be re-routed west on G Street to 3rd Street, north on 3rd to H Street, east on H Street to 8th Street, and north on 8th Street to resume their normal route. The northbound buses will make a stop at the northeast corner of  8th and H Streets, instead of at the regular bus stop on 8th Street just south of H Street. 

Southbound 90 and 92 buses will be detoured at K Street, where they will be re-routed to go east on K Street to 10th Street, south on 10th to G Street, and west on G to 8th Street where they will resume their normal route. During this period, the southbound buses will make a stop at the southwest corner of 10th and H Streets, instead of at their regular stop on 8th Street just south of H Street. 

The work is part of DDOT’s H Street Reconstruction Project. More information about the project is available on the DDOT website, dashboard.ddot.dc.gov under the Ward 6 Projects Link. You can also contact the project office at 202-388-3081. 

###

Get in the holiday spirit @AtlasPACDC

Singtime! runs from tomorrow, December 3 - the end of next weekend, December 12.    The show features great songs, swing, and jazz from the fabulous 40s.  This weekend and next only.  Friday at 8, Saturday at 7, Sunday at 3 and again next weekend starting on Thursday night.  Showtime! is written and directed by Tom Mallan and part of the inseries.  Get your tickets here.

The Atlas is also home to a Holiday Market each of the next three weekends on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 8pm, featuring great local craftspeople, including:

Lanyapi Designs: http://www.lanyapi.etsy.com/
Scents by Sassee: http://www.scentsbysassee.com/
Beth’s Stuffed Animals: http://www.tigerflight.etsy.com/
Raine Studios:  Unique Handcrafted Jewelry: http://www.rainestudios.net/

 Check out this The Hill is Home post from Atlas Performing Arts Communications Director Jen Demayo for more details.

Link roundup

UrbanDaddy has this piece on this cool new cocktail at SOVA.  SOVA has always had some of the very best cocktails on H Street and has a great nightly happy hour and bluegrass on Thursdays. 

Capitol Bop followed up on the news that esteemed jazz venue HR-57 is moving the 816 H Street in January with reports that they are also looking to open a blues venue on H Street.  City Paper has a followup piece with a picture of the facade and says its a better space than it appears from the photo.

BBC swings through the neighborhood and concludes that H Street is heating up.

The Examiner ran a nice minireview of the Atlas Room (1015 H St).  Tasting Table is wowed by their cocktails from Chris Surrusco, calling his Mai Tai the city's best.  We'll be back soon to try it.  The drink features his homemade orgeat syrup and cinamon and pepper rum.  Surrosco also makes his own grenadine. 

Greater Greater Washington is collecting signatures to petition Mayor Gray to keep current DC officials Department of Transporation Director Gabe Klein and Office of Planning Director Harriet Tregoning.

THIH notes that Hill School Information night is tomorrow at Eastern Market.

WBJ's Mike Neibauer notes that NoMa has not set aside any park space in its development plans and that Tommy Wells is working to address that.

Link roundup

Brightest Young Things has this great behind the scenes look at Dangerously Delicious Pies with pictures which will make you want pie for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

DC UrbanTurf talks about solar panels on a condo near H Street.

Frozen Tropics rounds up a lot of love for War of the Worlds which is being performed at the H Street Playhouse (1365 H St) through November 28.

DC Life Magazine has this interview with Granville Moore's Chef Teddy Folkman.

CHAMPS posted the winners of the 2nd Annual HILLY Awards.  H Street had several winners.  Congratulations to Best Tavern; the Argonaut, Best Arts Business, the Atlas Performing Arts Center; to Best Retailer, Metro Mutts; and to Julia Robey Christian and the others at CHAMPS who organized a great event.  Also congratulations to Granville Moores and Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill, runners up for Best Restaurant and Best Service Provider, respectively.    

The City Paper broke the news that HR-57 -- one of the area's premire jazz venues -- is relocating to H Street, near 9th Street, in January.

Chuck's Wagon BBQ closing, hopes to reopen in new H St location

Chuck's Wagon BBQ is closing the 650 H St location.  The owner left us this comment explaining that the move was due a dispute with the landlord and that he hoped to reopen on H Street again soon.  Here's hoping that is the case. 

Due to irreconcilable differences with our leaseholder, Chuck's Wagon BBQ has decided to close it's H street location. We really appreciate the warm welcome from our customers and the neighborhood. We especially loved the great feedback - even the negative. CWBBQ hopes to return to H Street in the near future. See you soon!

CP: HR-57 bringing world-class jazz to 9th & H

The City Paper has this great news that HR-57 -- one of the Washington area's very best jazz venues -- will relocate to H Street from its location on 14th St NW in January.  The story says the new location will be at 9th & H, though it does not identify the exact address.

Reminder: Last H St Freshfarm Market of the season today until noon

Today is the last H Street Farmers' Market until it reopens in the Spring.  There are a couple special events of note to mark the occassion and the upcoming holiday:

Red Apron Butchery will be at market selling its delicious cured meat products and will be giving away cooked hotdogs to customers and there will be sauerkraut on hand as well. Red Apron will be joined by Copper Pot, who makes artisanal jams and wonderful hand made pastas.

The Market is also conducting an end-of-season Thanksgiving food drive to benefit DC's needy families. Consider bringing a few cans or dry items in your reusable bags or a few extra dollars to donate or purchase items at the market for those in need this holiday season!

Big night for H Street at the Hillys

H Street did well at tonight's Hillys. 

Congratulations to

The Argonaut: The Best Tavern on the Hill
Toyland: Runner Up for Best Tavern
The Atlas Performing Arts Center: The Best Arts Business on the Hill
Metro Mutts: The Best Retailer on the Hill
Granville Moore's: Runner Up for Best Restaurant
Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill: Runner Up for Best Service Provider

The Hillys are tonight at 8 p.m. Congratulations to all the H Street nominees:

H Street was heavily nominated for this year's Hillys Awards after not coming in first or second for any awards at the inaugural event last year.  It's been a great year for Capitol Hill and H Street businesses and we continue to have more and better options, so it will be fun to see who this year's winners are.  Hopefully at least one or two of H Street's finest will receive the honors tonight.  Here's a list of the contenders nominated from H Street:

Best Restaurant:
Dr. Granville Moore’s
Best Service Provider:
Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill
Best Retailer:
Metro Mutts
Best Bar/Tavern:
Toyland
Argonaut
Best Cafe/Coffee Shop:
Sidamo
SOVA
Best Arts Business:
Atlas Performing Arts Center
Joy of Motion
Aesthetic Answers

Best New Business:
Liberty Tree
Metro Mutts

Quick notes from yesterday's Streetcar hearing

Marion Barry devoted his opening statement to calling for the streetcar plan to be abandoned in favor of paving alleys in Ward 8. 

ANC6A Commissioner Drew Ronneberg testified in support of the streetcar plan on H Street and Benning Road, noting the havoc that current construction and poor transit options have caused to date and the promise of great economic development that the new line will provide.  

ANC6A Commissioner David Holmes reiterated the long work of community groups to advocate for streetcars on H Street and Benning Road and emphasized that the community and H Street businesses are counting on seeing the streetcars running at the end of the difficult and long construction period.

Several neighborhood residents also testified in support as did one woman who is looking to buy a home near H Street with her husband and baby-to-be, but who is public transportation-dependent and does not feel she can buy along the eastern end of H Street until she knows that funding for the streetcar line is secure.  She explained that with the streetcars, H Street become an attractive family-friendly place to live as eastern market and other parts of Capitol Hill have become over the course of time.

Greater Greater Washington's David Alpert testified passionately and particularly persuasively about the importance of streetcars not only to the H Street Corridor and neighborhood but to the District overall.

Tommy Wells broke from his streetcar talking points to share his love of the H Street neighborhood and said that he thought the H Street Festival was "the best street festival in all of Washington . . . and a tremendous asset to the entire neighborhood."

DDOT said they are putting out a Request For Proposals to provide wireless (without overhead wires) streetcars to run on H Street when technologically feasible. 

The tone of the hearing varied over the course of time and other Coucilmembers who attended seemed interested in getting streetcar lines running through their Wards, but there was little to not criticism of the plan DDOT prepared and submitted, so hopefully the Council will move to authorize the continued progress with the H Street line soon.   

Last chance to catch the H Street Farmers' Market

This weekend is the last weekend for the H Street Farmers' Market until it reopens in the Spring.  There are a couple special events of note to mark the occassion and the upcoming holiday:

Red Apron Butchery will be at market selling its delicious cured meat products and will be giving away cooked hotdogs to customers and there will be sauerkraut on hand as well.  Red Apron will be joined by Copper Pot, who makes artisanal jams and wonderful hand made pastas.  Both vendors were new every other week participants in this year's market.  
 
The Market is also working with a local church on a end-of-season Thanksgiving food drive to benefit DC's needy families (per below).  Consider bringing a few cans or dry items in your reusable bags this weekend or bring a few extra dollars to donate or purchase items at the market for those in need this holiday season! 

Lost Yorkie on 9th St

Hi,
On Sunday, 11/14, we lost our Yorkie. His name is Baxter, and he's a 1.5 year old Yorkie, slightly larger than most (12 lbs), quite scared and skittish, and generally likes to hide under and behind things. He was staying with some friends for the weekend and bolted out, and was last seen on 9th and A St SE running north.

I was hoping that you could post something our blog so that folks can keep a look out for our little guy. I've created an online flyer that you can use:

http://baxterlicious.blogspot.com/2010/11/we-miss-our-dog-baxter.html

Thank you so much!

Vicki
 
If you see him around, please pick him up. Since he is afraid, he might have a tendency to run away if you approach him. The best thing to do is to crouch down and call his name. If you pick him up or see him, please give me a call at 571.213.7335.

WP's @TomSietsema loves Ethiopic, but has new favorite on H St... @atlasroom ?

Tom Sietsema reiterates his opinion that Ethiopic (401 H St) is the DC's best Ethiopian Restaurant in his online chat earlier today.  He also drops a hint that he's found a new favorite place to dine on H Street, which he will be previewing with a "First Bite" column in a few weeks.  Sounds like Tom enjoyed his early visits to The Atlas Room (1015 H St) as much as we did! 

Q. Ethiopic

I just want to give a big shout out to Ethiopic. Over the weekend, my husband and I went there for the first time after reading so many positive reviews. Our food was taking an especially long time, and they ended up bringing out my entree (the vegetarian sampler) first so that we could at least begin to eat. Even after my entree came out delayed, it was nearly another 30 minutes before my husband's entree was ready. The waitress apologized multiple times, and though we were somewhat annoyed, we were also famished and the food was amazing (best Ethiopian I've had in the city, hands down!). However, when our waitress stopped by our table to give us one last status update that my husband's entree should be out in 2 minutes, she also told us that because of the backup in the kitchen and subsequent delay, they weren't charging us for his entree. We definitely weren't expecting anything free - we did eventually get our food and fully enjoyed it when it arrived. But it was definitely above and beyond, and we tipped generously to show our gratitude. Bottom line - I highly recommend Ethiopic for the food AND commitment to service!

A. Tom Sietsema writes:

I agree: Ethiopic, despite a few service snafus, is the best Ethiopian playing in the city right now. And up until very recently, it was my favorite place to eat in the ever-expanding scene on H St. NE. (Stay tuned for my First Bite column on Dec. 8 in Food.)

– November 17, 2010 11:03 AM

Reminder: Important Streetcar Hearing tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Reminder that an important hearing to review DDOT's recently detailed plans and to authorize the use of the funds to implement streetcars on H Street will occur tomorrow.  If you are interested in testifying, please contact Ms. April Hawkins-Mason by email at ahawkinsmason@dccouncil.us or telephone at (202) 724-8195 to be added to the witness list prior to 5 p.m. today. 

Hearing: Streetcar Project Comprehensive Plan Approval Resolution
When: Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 2:00 – 6:00 pm
Where: Room 120 in the Wilson Building, 1350 Penn Ave NW
What: A public hearing on the DDOT Streetcar Plan. DDOT released its updated version on its overall Streetcar Plan for DC, including many specifics for the H Street and Benning Road line. The plan details DDOT's plans for the design, construction and operation of the system and covers topics such as operations, safety, fare collection, and funding. The hearing is to get feedback on DDOT’s plan.

Link to DDOT submitted plan: http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/On+Your+Street/Mass+Transit+in+DC/DC+Streetcar/System+Plan+October+2010

Link to summary of hearing notice: http://streetcars4dc.org/?p=253

Link roundup

DCMud has this piece on the planned mixed use development for 1113-1117 H Street.
They follow up with this piece announcing that this Spring will kick off a big year of H Street's resurgence noting a host of development that will begin to happen then. 

Frozen Tropics has the news that SOVA is finally launching their "bar snacks" menu of cheese, charcuterie, olives, dates, almonds, gherkins, soups, salads, bruschettas, and more.  It looks awesome and means H Street's best happy hour just got a lot more attractive.

The Washington City Paper checks out Ethiopic (401 H St) and concludes what everyone else has: "With the exception of maybe Meskerem, Ethiopic offers the best Ethiopian I've tried."  We wholeheartedly agree and join the City Paper in highly recommending the raw kifto.

California Castaway interviews Smith Commons Managing Parner Miles Gray.  Gray shares his passion for craft microbrews and his hopes to have Smith Commons open at 1245 H Street in December.

Tommy Wells announced that he will be back with his monthly H Street office hours this Thursday at SOVA, from 8 - 9:30 a.m. 

@AtlasRoom (1015 H St) is now open

The Atlas Room is now open at 1015 H Street.  Stop by for a bite, a drink, or a full meal. 

They will open nightly at 5 p.m. and are closed Mondays.

Streetcars Update & request for testimony

DC Council will hold its next hearing on streetcars on Wednesday, November 17, at 2:00 p.m. The purpose of the hearing is to review DDOT's recent streetcar plan and to pass a resolution in support of it. This is the next step in freeing the otherwise approved funding to implement streetcars on H Street. Streetcar supporters are encouraged to testify by the Streetcars 4 DC Coalition.

If you are interested in testifying, you may be added to the public witness list by contacting Ms. April Hawkins-Mason by email at ahawkinsmason@dccouncil.us or telephone at (202) 724-8195 no later than Monday, November 15 at 5:00 p.m. and request to be added to the witness list. Individuals will be given three minutes to present oral testimony, and individuals representing organizations will be given five minutes. Witnesses should bring 16 copies of their written testimony to the hearing.

Those who are unable to testify in person may submit written testimony for the official hearing record by sending it to Ms. Hawkins-Mason by email at ahawkinsmason@dccouncil.us or telephone at (202) 724-8195 no later than Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.

If you have never testified at a DC Council committee hearing and/or would like advice about how to testify, there will be a testimony prep session with information about the hearing process and one-on-one assistance to help you feel confident about testifying on Tuesday, November 16 at 6:00 pm, at SOVA - Espresso & Wine (1359 H St).  It is not necessary to attend this session to testify. 

Atlas Room opens tomorrow

The Atlas Room (1015 H St) will open its doors tomorrow at 5:00.  They are eager to welcome neighborhood residents then.

The place looks great and the offerings we previewed recently were delicious.  Chris Surrusco (from the opening era of Granville Moore's) is behind the bar with a great classic cocktail list and Chef/Proprietor Matt Cordes, and Executive Chef Bobby Beard have very impressive backgrounds with collective experience with DC dining greats including Citronelle, Vidalia, Olives, Pesce, Vermillion, Bob Kinkead's Colvin Run, Evening Star, and Gerard's Place.  The concept is neighborhood accessible with each item available in three sizes: personal, appetizer, or main plate, so they hope to suit every appetite and budget and to do extensive neighborhood service.

For more on the Atlas Room, its check out our previous post.

Giant deal complete for 3rd & H, groundbreaking for Steuart Development this Spring

Great news from Councilmember Tommy Wells.  The expected deal with Giant to anchor the new Steuart Development at 3rd & H Street NE is complete and groundbreaking on the new residential mixed use building will occur this Spring with the store expected to open within two years.  This should help spur construction at other coming development sites, including the 200 block of H, the 600 block of H, and the recently approved redevelopment of the H Street Connection between 8th & 10th Sts.  Press releases from Councilmember Wells and Steuart Development follow.

H Development Announces Agreement to Bring Giant Store to Corridor


Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells shared news today that Giant grocery stores and Steuart Investment Company have signed a lease to bring the grocer to the 3rd and H Street NE redevelopment project. "This is a great next step in the revitalization of the H Street Corridor,” stated Wells.

He added, “I’m excited that Giant has been exploring more urban and transit-oriented store designs and I’m eager to see Steuart and Giant deliver on a vision that embraces the new streetcar and the proximity to Union Station. The new grocer will encompass approximately 41,000 square feet of first floor retail space, and the overall development will include additional street-level retail space and 215 housing units, including 18 affordable units.

"Much like we’ve seen with other grocers in Ward 6, these stores not only bring new shopping choices for a neighborhood, but they are also job generators that draw heavily from the immediate area,” noted Wells.

According to the development team, a groundbreaking may take place as early as this spring and based on the current development plan, the new Giant will be open for business during the first quarter of 2013.

November 2, 2010
Guy Steuart
GIANT FOOD TO ANCHOR NEW MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON H STREET
360º H Street Advances Another Step Closer to Reality

A mixed-use project slated for development at the intersection of 3rd and H Streets, NE in Washington, DC has advanced one step closer to reality this week with the signing of a long-term anchor lease by Landover, Md-based Giant Food. The project, called 360º H Street, is a nearly 290,000-square-foot, LEED certified development by Steuart Investment Company and features street-level retail topped by 215 first-class rental units. Torti Gallas and Partners, Inc. of Silver Spring is the architect.

The 360º H Street development is a part of the massive revitalization of the entire H Street, NE corridor that has been underway, in earnest, since 2002. The 61,000-square-foot site is a collection of real estate parcels, some of which have been owned by Steuart for many years, assembled to create one, contiguous development site. The retail portion of the development will encompass 43,000 square feet, to include the 41,200-square-foot Giant Food, as well as a 1,500-square-foot retail bay on the east end of the site. Additionally, the development will include two floors of subterranean parking, with one floor, or 125 spaces, reserved for retail customers. Construction is slated to begin next spring.

The new Giant at 360º H Street will be a full-service and convenience-oriented store, featuring a wide variety of freshly-prepared meal options, in addition to the normal selection of grocery items. The entrance to the store will be situated directly at the corner of 3rd and H Streets, with easy accessibility from the Union Station Metro, as well as a stop on the new DC Streetcar line, scheduled to be in operation in 2012. This will be Giant’s first store in the H Street corridor.  Based on the current development plan, the 360º H Street Giant will be open for business during the first quarter of 2013.

We could not be more pleased that Giant has committed to anchor this development,” said Guy Steuart, president of Steuart Investment Company. “Our vision for 360º H Street is one of ‘convenient urban living’, and with Giant we’ve partnered with a grocer embracing smart development and top-quality customer service, too. The future on-site residents, as well as those in the surrounding neighborhood, will benefit greatly from the accessibility of this grocery store.” JBG Rosenfeld Retail’s Bob Schwenger represented Steuart in the deal with Giant.

The residential component of 360º H Street features five floors of studio, one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, and two-bedroom units, including 18 affordable units distributed throughout the project. Each of the units will include an island kitchen, approximately nine-foot ceilings throughout, hardwood floors, and either a balcony or terrace, to name just a few of the details. Community amenities include an internal courtyard above the grocery store, a fitness club and community room with access to the courtyard, as well as a rooftop terrace and 145 spaces of resident-only parking below the development. Steuart anticipates the first residents moving in during the spring of 2013.

New exhibit opening at Evolve, Saturday 5-8 p.m.

Evolve Urban Arts Project presents Into the Quietude: Lisa Rosenstein and James Halloran November 13, 2010 - January 8, 2011

Opening Reception: Saturday, Nov. 13, 5-8pm
Quietude: The state of being quiet; tranquility; calmness; stillness

Just in time for the busy holiday season, The Evolve Urban Arts Project is proud to announce our upcoming exhibition Into the Quietude featuring painter James Halloran and mixed-media artist Lisa Rosenstein. While utilizing differing mediums and approaches to the application on paint on canvas, both artists strive to create works that elicitquiet contemplation from the viewer.

Rosenstein works in a world of void of colors. In her work she, "yearns for the Beginning; the place where all is calmness and nothing matters but to breathe." White pigments on white canvas strip the work of superfluous elements that distract us from journeying inward to a sense of stillness. Her spare color palette and use of simple found materials as stand-ins for traditional narrative elements force the viewer to focus on the shadows, light, texture and depth within each piece.

Similarly, Halloran's landscapes, or "private meditations", are stripped of minute details, forcing the viewer to focus on just the essential elements of nature. These landscapes, rendered almost abstractly, turn urban landmarks into anonymous "planes of light and value". Far from the serene, Halloran's quiet works evoke a hint of anxiety. Human beings are noticeably absent from the works, creating a silence that Halloran describes as deafening. Featured in this exhibition will be both preparatory charcoal drawings and finished works, giving the viewer a glimpse into his artistic process. Halloran, a 2010 finalist for the Bethesda Painting Awards, received a BFA from the University of Buffalo in 2005.

Into the Quietude runs through January 8th, 2011. The Project space is located in the Pierce School Lofts at 1375 Maryland Avenue, NE, in the H Street Arts and Entertainment District. Hours for the Project are:

Mondays through Thursdays: 1-5pm
Fridays: 1-7pm
Saturdays: 11am -2pm

Chuck's Wagon BBQ (650 H St NE)

Chuck's Wagon BBQ opened up a couple months ago at 650 H St.  When they first opened they were only open on weekends, but this WP review from today's Food Section says they are now open daily for lunch as well.  It sounds great, but we've yet to try it. 

Chuck's Wagon BBQ 650 H St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 202-391-0741

As more people migrate to the slowly percolating Atlas District for its burgeoning bar scene and still-reasonable rents, Charles Smith hopes his pulled pork, ribs, brisket and chicken will give them further reason to come.

He owns the newly opened Chuck's Wagon BBQ on H Street NE, and his meats are all dry-rubbed 24 hours before he smokes them. The smell alone will lure you in.

Smith is one friendly guy, but don't even try to ask about his recipes, which he holds close. He and his wife, Stephanie, both born and raised in Maryland by mothers who encouraged them to cook, were known among their friends for their barbecue and were often told they should start a catering business. They did so in 2005 in their home town of Bowie, still maintaining their full-time jobs at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving and at the Goverment Printing Office, respectively.

Smith found the H Street location through a friend. For the first few weeks, it was open on Fridays and Saturdays only, but now it runs six days a week, with plans to let the neighborhood rhythm ultimately dictate the hours.

Lunch is definitely on, and that is a good time to order the pulled pork, either as a sandwich with coleslaw ($6) or by the pound ($11). The meat is full of intense flavor and not fatty. Ditto for the chopped brisket ($7 as a sandwich; $9 as a dinner with two sides; $14 per pound), which is slightly drier than the pork.

Even the breast on the smoked chicken is moist, but we preferred the legs and thighs for their richness ($6 as a sandwich; $8 as a two-piece dinner with two sides; $10 for a whole bird).

The mantra here is "we don't sauce our ribs, because we don't have anything to hide." And those ribs are good, if a little sparse on the meat ($8 as a dinner with two sides; $19 for a full rack). As for the accompanying sauce, we appreciated the not-too-sweet, straightforward barbecue and wished we had also tried the North Carolina-style and spicy variations.

Our favorite sides were the creamy, crisp-edged macaroni and cheese and the collard greens flavored with smoked turkey instead of ham hock. The potato salad tasted pleasantly of vinegar, and the spuds were soft yet not mushy (each side is $2 for eight ounces; $4 per pound).

Smith's cousin, Joy Boddie, makes the sweets. We gobbled up her chewy oatmeal raisin cookies ($2 each), which were the only desserts available on our visit. Other popular treats in her rotation: red velvet cupcakes ($3 each) and pound cake ($2 per slice).

Also on offer are chili ($5 for eight ounces) and Honeybees: individual loaf-shaped pieces of kernel-studded corn bread baked with honey butter (two pieces come with one bowl of chili; extras cost 50 cents apiece). We came on an off-day for those items, too. But when Smith enticingly declared, "I believe we have the best chili in Washington!," we were wholly persuaded to return.

-Catherine Zuckerman (Good to Go, Nov. 10, 2010)

H Street Connection Redevelopment moving ahead

Last night, the DC Zoning Commission approved the PUD (Planned Unit Development) for the redevelopment of the H Street Connection (south side of H Street between 8th & 10th Sts).  This will be the biggest and likely the best of a series of coming development projects on H Street. 

Dear Neighbors,

The redevelopment of the H Street Connection was finally approved at last night's Zoning Commission meeting. 

ANC 6A has worked with the developer for the past 3 years to create a building that would anchor the 8th and H corner and spur the redevelopment of the central part of the H Street Corridor.  The new building will bring over 50,000 square feet of retail space and over 300 new residential units to the H Street Corridor.  In addition, the building was designed to fit into the architectural fabric of H Street, and read as eight separate buildings rather than a single monolithic structure. 

Although construction on this project will not begin for at least another 2 years, the Zoning Commission's approval of this project means that it has cleared its most significant regulatory hurdle.  With the approval of this project, the completion of the streetscape in 2011, and the arrival of the Streetcar in 2012, the future is bright for H Street.

To learn more about the project:

Views of the new building: http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2010/03/h-street-goes-big.html
ANC 6A's letter of support which outlines the project's community benefits:  http://anc6a.org/HStConnectionPUDsprt.pdf

Best regards,

Drew
--
Drew Ronneberg, ANC Commissioner 6A02
Phone: 202-431-4305
ronneberg6a02@gmail.com
Please visit our website - www.anc6a.org

Link roundup

Prince of Petworth says he "freaking love[s]" Star and Shamrock and asks what others think of it.

Frozen Tropics has some photos of the newly painted Argonaut and a robust debate in the comments about whether the new shade of gray is an improvement over its distinctive green predecessor.  We liked the green too, but rest assured that the Argonaut is going to be better than ever when it reopens. 

The Hill is Home featured local business Aesthetic Answers.

Thrillist has a nice picture of the bar and a few details about the cocktail and wine programs at the Atlas Room, which will open to the public this week at 1015 H Street.

Groupon has half off certificates to the Langston Bar and Grille (1831 Benning Rd).

DCBOEE posted unofficial election results in local races.  Tommy Wells was overwhelmingly re-elected with 85% of the vote in Ward 6 where 1 in 3 voters wrote in a candidate for Mayor.  In ANC races, congratulations go to new commissioners Adam Healy (6A01) and Andrew Hysell (6A06) who will join Drew Ronneberg (6A02) in representing the eastern end of H Street.  ANC6A will also have two more new commissioners: Sharee Lawler (6A05) and Lia Veenendaal-Selck (6A08).

Nov 10 Community meeting re: development of 1113-1117 H Street

The Deputy Mayor Office for Planning and Economic Development has organized a meeting to discuss the "surplussing" of the 1113-1117 H Street NE parcel so that can be sold to a private developer.  The developer, who was selected in a competitive process in 2007, will be at the meeting and have design concept available for viewing.

Neighbors have expressed concerns regarding the poor condition of the alley behind the site, and we are working to get DDOT representative at the meeting who can address these concerns.

The meeting will take place at 7pm at Sherwood Recreation Center (640 10th St NE) in the second floor meeting room.

If you have any questions or concerns, and are not able to attend the meeting, you can contact me at 202 431-4305 or ronneberg6a02@gmail.com

Best regards,

Drew
--
Drew Ronneberg, ANC Commissioner 6A02
Phone: 202-431-4305
ronneberg6a02@gmail.com
Please visit our website - www.anc6a.org

Neighborhood Soft Opening at the Atlas Room (1015 H St)

The Atlas Room will be soft open for neighborhood residents tonight with doors opening at 6 p.m. The full menu will not yet be available, but the kitchen will be serving a partial menu until 10 p.m. and the full bar with cocktails, wine, and beer will be available. They expect to open fully this week if all goes well.

Chris Surrusco who you may remember from the opening era of Granville Moore's is the bartender, cocktail master, and resident beer connesoisseur. Prior to opening Granville Moore's, Surrusco previously worked at Rustico and Old Dominion Brewery, and more recently worked at Marvin.

For more on the Atlas Room, its proprietor and chef Matt Cordes, and Executive Chef Bobby Beard, check out our previous post. Both chefs have very impressive backgrounds, between them with experience at DC greats including Citronelle, Olives, Pesce, Vermillion, Kinkead's, Evening Star, and Gerard's Place.

This weekend at the H Street FreshFarm Market

H STREET FRESHFARM MARKET --  Saturdays, 9 am to noon (625 H St)

Farmers and Producers at Market:

Atwaters Bakery, Blueberry Hill Farm, Cedarbrook, Dangeroulsy Delicious Pies, Keswick Creamery, Quaker Valley Orchards, Richfield Farm.

Garden Path Farm is taking holiday turkey orders!

Dolcezza Gelata, Red Apron Butchery, and Copper Pot are at market this Saturday!

At market this week: First Saturday at H Street: Customers will be served hot cider and scones. Enjoy the food the live music!

Red Palace opening show tomorrow

The first show on the new Red Palace (1212 H St) stage will be this Saturday, November 6th - the Dangerously Delicious Pies: 8th Annual Pie and Rock-n-Roll Extravaganza. Door open at 8, show starts at 9, $10 cover.

For more information and to purchase tickets in advance go to www.redandblackbar.com

Weekend Arts roundup

Two Art Openings on Saturday November 6

Over on H Street, CITY Gallery opens Geoff Ault’s “Running with Scissors” from 6 - 9 p.m.  Ault’s digitally manipulated photographs seek to defy conventional wisdom by going against the grain of traditional photography.  CITY Gallery is located at 804 H ST NE, second floor.

A few blocks away, do not miss Industry Gallery’s opening of “din-din” by Jerry Mischak from 6 - 8 p.m..  Mischak’s work evokes memories of grand dinners by wrapping commonly used tableware in plastic tape.  Industry Gallery is located at 1358 Florida Avenue NE, second floor.

Via Phil Hutinet, Editor-in-Chief of East City Art.  Learn more about East City Art on Facebook  or follow them on Twitter

Booking a holiday party? WP recs H Street

The Washington Post recommends a few spots for where to book your holiday party.  Included on their list are Little Miss Whiskey's upstairs room or back patio and some of the rooms upstairs at the Rock and Roll Hotel.  The upstairs space at Toyland is another great option for a holiday party or any private event. 

Chef Collabaration Beer Dinner @GranvilleMoores Tues. Nov. 9

A great Beer Dinner is coming up at Granville Moores, but it will sell out quickly, so be sure to make your reservations soon.

Chef Collaboration Beer Dinner

The Saint Louis Brewery, makers of the great Schlafly Beers, Executive Chef of the Schlafly Tap Room Andy White will be working in unison with DC Beer-Loving Chef (and DC Beer Week Co-Founder) Teddy Folkman.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 – 6:30pm

Schlafly Brewing Company Executive Chef Andy White teams up with Chef Teddy Folkman for a Four Course, Six Plate dinner.  $70/Person

Happy Half Hour featuring Schlafy Kolsch APA
An American Pale Ale with a hearty dose of hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. We add hops directly into the finished beer to boost the fresh, fruity flavor and aroma of American hops.
ABV:5.9%
IBU: 50

Cured Sturgeon, Early Citrus, Celery Root, Micro Celery
Fried Buffalo Style Pacu Ribs with Feta Dipping Sauce

Biere de Garde
A bottle-conditioned, French farmhouse-style ale. The name refers to the beer's ability to improve with age and if you choose to age this ale, the tart fruitiness from the yeast and the sweet maltiness from the grains will meld together nicely for several years at cellar temperatures. (Available in bottles only)
ABV:7.5%
IBU: 25

Charcutterie including Foie Gras Tourchon, Pork Rillette, Aged Blue Cheese, Quick Pickled Veg, Spiced Dates, Warmed Cranberries, Toast Points

Christmas Ale
A full-bodied amber ale to spice up the holidays. ‘Tis the season to enjoy this rich and flavorful ale made with orange peel, cloves and spicy hops. Also available in bottles.

Crisp Ozark Forest Chanterelles, Oxtail Barley, Mustard Green Emulsion
Smoked Beef Short Ribs, Parsnip Puree, Sauteed Kale, Christmas Ale BBQ

Coffee Stout
This collaboration with Kaldi's Coffee uses the cold toddy method of extraction for the coffee. We mix it with Oatmeal Stout for an exceptionally delicious beer.
ABV:5.7%
OG: 14
IBU: 40

Missouri Black Walnut Short Bread, Blue Cheese Sabayon, Belgian Chocolate Stout Pudding

Call Granville Moore's to make your reservation (202) 399-2546

Capitol Hill North Neighborhood Assn Meeting Saturday at 10 a.m.

This Saturday, November 6th at 10 AM the Capitol Hill North Neighborhood Association (CHNNA) will be holding its next general meeting at Two Rivers Elementary School at 1227 4th Street NE.

Featured speakers will be Scott Kubly and Sandy Castor from DDOT, who will be on hand to discuss the new streetcar line under construction on H Street, as well as the future proposed line on 8th and Florida that will also serve our neighborhood. Other topics will include reports and discussion on our efforts to secure land for parks in Near Northeast, as well as public safety information from Doug Klein of the US Attorneys Office, and other news items.
Thanks!

Tony Goodman
CHNNA Steering Committee

Link roundup

Today is election day in DC.  If you haven't already early voted in the general election, make sure to find time to get to the polls today.

Prince of Petworth has photographs of the Totem Poles temporary exhibit on the 300 block of H Street, where a new residential building with a Giant on the ground floor will eventually rise.

East City Art had this piece on the H Street Arts District, which also ran in the October Hill Rag.

CityBizlist covered the groundbreaking for the Flats at the Atlas (1600 Maryland).  DC UrbanTurf has a few more details on the project and its expected impact on the H Street Corridor.  DCmud has some of the interior designs and they look very nice -- some units will have Capitol views.

The City Paper is impressed with their first experience with the Dangerously Delicious DC Pie Truck.

TBD follows up on DC's failure to get Philadelphia Water Ice to remove a wooden box from public space.

The Red Palace (the combined rebirth of the Red and the Black and the Palace of Wonders) proudly (fully re-) opens Saturday.  Urban Daddy has some details.

CHAMPS announced that voting for the Hilly Awards ends on Thursday.  Cast your ballot now -- lots of H Street's finest have been nominated.  The Awards will be announced on November 19, at Eastern Market's North Hall.

Election information: ANC endorsements and more

H Street area voters have a variety of competitive elections on Tuesday's ballot.  HSGS wont be endorsing candidates, but if you are uncertain about how to vote: here is some information about the candidates and endorsements from others.  The Hill is Home has done a great job gathering statements from almost all of these candidates, which you can find here.  They are also hosting an informal candidates meet and greet tonight at Top of the Hill (319 Pennsylvania Ave SE) from 7 - 9 p.m.

H Street Area Competitive ANC races

ANC6A01 (north of H St, east of 7th St)
-Adam Healy (endorsed by Greater Greater Washington, member ANC6A Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee)
-Lawrence "Russ" Russell (endorsed by outgoing ANC Raphael Marshall)
-Angelina Rice

ANC6A05 (south of H St, 10th to 16th, between E St and C St)
-Sharee Lawler (endorsed by Tommy Wells, fmr ANC Chair Joe Fengler, ANC Drew Ronneberg, fmr ANC Cody Rice, Greater Greater Washington, member ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee)
-Will Mohring (works for Fenty Administration coordinating neighborhood services)

ANC6A07 (Rosedale)
-Nikki Bowens (Rosedale Citizens Alliance President, endorsed by Greater Greater Washington)
-Gladys Mack (current Commissioner)

ANC6C05
-Jennifer Zatkowski (mother of DCPS student & local business owner)
-Brian Cox (young new resident)
-Tony Richardson (current Commissioner)
Note: Greater Greater Washington opted not to endorse the incumbent or a challenger in this race)

ANC7D01
-Lisa White (endorsed by Tommy Wells and Greater Greater Washington, Kingman Park Community Gardens)
-Veronica Raglin (current Commissioner)

ANC5B (these candidates have all been endorsed by both Frozen Tropics and Greater Greater Washington)

ANC 5B06: Thalia Wiggins
ANC 5B07: Laura Casperson
ANC 5B08: Tina Laskaris
ANC 5B10: Camille Tucker

Ward 6 Board of Education:

-Monica Warren-Jones (endorsed by Tommy Wells, the Washington Post, outgoing Education Board member Lisa Raymond, and ANC6A Commissioners David Holmes and Nick Alberti)
-Melissa Rohan (has run an impressive and well-organized campaign and is endorsed by various ANC Commissioners, including Bill Schulteiss and Gladys Mack)

Haloween events at the Atlas

The Atlas Performing Arts Center joins in all the H Street Haloween fun with Haloween movies all weekend long. 

Friday night after HollowFest at Sherwood, and the marquee Thriller! performance, head to the Atlas for the legendary horrow film Night of the Living Dead.

On Haloween Sunday itself, the Atlas will be showing creepy classic films all day long.

The Bat featuring Agnes Moorehead from Bewitched at 2 p.m.

House on Haunted Hill with Vincent Price at 3:30 p.m.

Little Shop of Horrors (the original with a young Jack Nicholson) at 5 p.m.

The Brain That Wouldn't Die, a camp classic, at 6:30 p.m.

Admission to each film is only $5 or purchase "the Haloween Four" and get access to the full day of movies for only $10. 

The Atlas also has "Don't Tea on Me!" and "Pirates of Penzance" this weekend.  "Don't Tea on Me!" tickets can be purchased for half off with the code "TEA,"