Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

Absolutely the most beautiful voice of the 1990s and 2000s. And this song about sums it up. No offense to the young ladies in the biz now, but this is the real deal. Ms. Erykah Badu's Call Tyrone from 1997.

Photos: Mount Pleasant Street NW

120 Seat Italian Restaurant Moving Along

Graffiato will be a two story Italian restaurant near Chinatown, opening this year. The restaurant does an awesome job at documenting the process with a blog and active website, Twitter, etc. I've noticed more coming and goings the last few times I've walked by the space (707 6th St NW), but it looks like they've been working pretty hard for some time now. 

707 has been long abandoned, as far as I know, but sits on a block with a decent number of food options, for being one removed from the busier 7th Street strip. Burma, Chinatown Express, Kanlaya, Pizza Bistro Med and Urfa Tomato Kabob are already established on the same block of 6th Street. And Graffiato will sit in between the Muse nightclub (formerly Coyote Ugly!) and Absolute Thai. 

Graffiato is shooting for a Spring 2011 open.

Double Shot: Two New Coffee Shops

Coffy Cafe in Columbia Heights

Soon, Mount Pleasant residents will be able to caffeinate at two new local coffee shops. Right here on our own main street, Flying Fish Coffee & Tea looks very close to opening at 3064 Mount Pleasant Street NW. And just blocks away in Columbia Heights, there is new signage for Coffy Cafe at 3310 14th Street NW.

Flying Fish is an a fairly small space between Mayflower Chinese restaurant and Golden Scissors salon. The storefront was formerly occupied by the Express Business Center, a computer rental, service and business center. I'm really excited about this place and here is a preview of the shop from last week's Washington City Paper. I really enjoy the coffee at Filter and Chinatown Coffee Co, so if FF is similar, quality-wise, that would be fantastic. Looking through the windows of Flying Fish, I already think the place has a Mount Pleasant feel and aesthetically, it looks much like a coffee shop that I would open.

Coffy Cafe just appeared on 14 Street in Columbia Heights within the last few days. The colors scream "70s," (and maybe Dunkin' Donuts?). And sure enough, the signage promises a mod vibe. Very curious! Not much more insight than a color scheme and a slogan, but always good to have another coffee option. Looks like they'll have food, too: crepes and cupcakes are in the byline. The address is 3310 14th Street NW, part of the old Riggs Bank building at 14th and Park. Other retail in the building include PNC Bank, Subway, Speedy Liquors, Columbia Heights Pharmacy and more. The upper floors are occupied by the Samuel Kelsey Apartments.

UPDATE: Coffy Cafe has a Facebook page with more information. Pretty cool.

Flying Fish Coffee & Tea in Mount Pleasant

Apartment Houses: The Duncan

1701 18th Street NW (at R St). Completed in 1906 as a Dupont area mansion. Now 9 condos.

New Construction Underway at Mount Pleasant Library

A red steel framework for the new addition to Mount Pleasant is steadily rising. City officials still anticipate a winter 2011-12 re-opening after the comprehensive renovation and expansion project. The building at 1600 Lamont St NW is over 85 years old and was the last "Carnegie" library constructed in the city. 

The interim Mount Pleasant Library is operating at 3162 Mount Pleasant St NW.

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

Any top-bands-of-the-90s list would definitely include these guys; preferably close to number one. Here's Lucky Denver Mint by Jimmy Eat World. Have a great weekend.

Behind the Bar: Amico

American Ice Company. 917 v St NW.

Keeping Tabs: Sing Like You Mean It

Can you sing? Chief Ike's is hosting DC Idol II, a local take on the national competitive singing show. Test your singing ability in front of a crowd with the backing of a live cover band. They can apparently play any of about 100 popular songs while you manage the vocals (including both No Diggity and No Rain, awesome). Judges will award prizes and yes, everyone else at the bar will be the audience. $5 cover. It's tomorrow, April 13. 8:00PM-11:30PM. Good luck!

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In other AM news Bistro 18 opened at 2420 18th Street NW. Employees were on the sidewalk greeting and welcoming customers into the restaurant last night. I picked up a menu and scored a gift certificate, which they were handing out early in the evening. Pretty cool. They have a varied menu with Italian accents and one vegan-ish looking entrée. Will report back at some point; nice touch with the gift cards though. Should get people like me in the door to see what it's all about.

Prom Dress Project

Photo courtesy of chicagofabulous

This is a really great event! Prom Dress Project is what it sounds like: a program to get a prom dress into the hands of DC area young women who are unable to afford one. At no cost. This year's event is sponsored by several groups and is organized by The Capitol Fashionista.

Prom Dress Project will take place at Chinatown Coffee Company --475 H Street NW-- on Wednesday April 20 at 5:00PM-8:00PM. Young ladies wanting to attend and select a dress will need to acquire a ticket, be a current high school student with school ID and meet other basic criteria; all explained in the link below.

If you are a young lady in need of a dress, sign up here. Please don't sign up for a ticket unless you are a high school student in need of a prom dress. 

If you are a young (or young at heart) lady with a spare bridesmaid or special occasion dress to donate look here.

Please share with those who may be interested in getting a dress and those who may be able to provide one.

Friday Fun Post: 90s Redux

The softer side of 2Pac...

Clean Up Park Road, Then Eat Pops

Park Rd between 16th and Mt Pleasant Streets NW

Help clean up Park Road! Past Tense Yoga Studio has organized a clean up day on the of Park Road NW between 14th Street and Mount Pleasant Street. The clean up is this Saturday 9:00AM-12:00PM. 

The clean up will begin at park in front of Sacred Heard Catholic Church at 16th and Park Rd (this is the traingle park with the statue of Cardinal Gibbons). Meet there at 9:00AM. Organizers will provide gloves, garbage bags and other supplies.

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Afterwards, head back to Mount Pleasant for Popapalooza. Pleasant Pops is celebrating its return to the streets with a mini celebration. From 11:00AM-3:00PM Pleasant Pops will be at Lamont Park --Lamont and Mt P Sts-- with, yes, pops, but they'll also join three musical acts and two food trucks (a first for Mount Pleasant...?). Also, free face painting and some giveaways too. Lots-o-fun! So, a double duty Saturday; do some work, have some fun. Perfect.

This One Photo of Cherry Blossoms. That's It.

But it is a good photo.

Bistro 18 Getting Close?

Bistro 18, a new eatery in Adams Morgan, appears to be inching closer towards opening. They just installed new signage above the space at 2420 18th St NW. Oya's Mini Bazaar was the previous tenant. 

Bistro 18 will be what I would describe as a nice sit down restaurant, but they also bill themselves as a lounge and coffee bar, too. And add to that, a forum for artists and their various media. They keep an active and oft-updated Facebook page with great photos. It really appears that they are ready to go and are waiting on paperwork, permitting and the like. 

The website has me pretty excited with specials like half price bottle of wine nights and free meals on your birthday. Sweet. No specifics on the menu, but the mention of quinoa pilaf on the website is a plus for me. Maybe they'll sneak in a  few vegan dishes. Cool to have a classier sit down spot open on 18th. Good luck Bistro 18 folks.

Friday Fun Post: Elite Bhangra

In honor of VCU reaching the men's basketball Final Four; a little fun this morning. VCU's other Elite 8 team is not a basketball team, or a sports team at all. It's VCU Bhangra, the 2010 National Champions. If this performance doesn't have you dancing in the office, give up. This is hot. Enjoy, and dance at your desk. Do it. Good luck to VCU this weekend! Bring the championship to Richmond!