Ace Hardware Opens in Adams Morgan

Ace Hardware Adams Morgan opened yesterday at 1706 Columbia Rd NW (the Ontario 17 building). This store is one of 11 stores in the DC-Baltimore region owned by A Few Cool Hardware Stores including Logan, 5th Street, and Glover Park. A Few Cool Hardware Stores operates in a co-op partnership with Ace, which is definitely a nationally known brand. 

The hours of operation for the Adams Morgan store is 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Mon-Sat and 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM on Sunday.

The Bottle Shop Open in Adams Morgan

A new wine and beer shop opened recently in Adams Morgan. The Bottle Shop has replaced the cute, bodega-like mini market known as Home Food Store, at 2216 18th St NW. Home Food Store had a bit of everything, like a good corner market always does. It will be missed.

The Bottle Shop has no grocery; it's all adult beverages. Bottle Shop is open 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM Mon-Thu, until 11:00 PM Friday, and until 6:00 PM Sunday.

&pizza to Columbia Heights, Yamas Open in Adams Morgan,

Yamas Mediterranean Grill opened recently in Adams Morgan. The Greek cuisine focused, fast causal eatery already has a District store at New Hampshire Ave and U St NW. The new location is at 2418 18th St NW, formerly occupied by Shwarma Spot. The Yamas menu features a lot of vegetarian friendly options including falafel, vegetarian burger, and a selection of vegetarian mezze.

ABRA Public Hearing signage is up for the &pizza ("and pizza") location in Columbia Heights. The DC-based quick-serve pizza shop has over a dozen locations in the Metro area. The new shop would have a total occupancy load of 46 in addition to a sidewalk cafe of up to 32 seats. &pizza has great veggie and vegan options including multiple choices for crusts, sauces, Daiya cheese, and plenty of toppings.

The address is listed as 1375 Kenyon St NW on the &pizza website, but you may know the location as the former location of 826 DC. It is located on the first floor of the Park Triangle apartment building and bordered by Pollo Campero and FroZenYo. 

Typically, &pizza opens at 11:00 AM, but closing times vary by location and day. I'd expect this location to have similar hours as the U Street store: 11:00 PM close through Thursday and midnight on weekends. No word yet on opening day.

AdMo Hotel Reaches for Ground Level

Construction continues on the new Adams Morgan hotel, "The Line."

Work continues on The Line Hotel in Adams Morgan. Excavation is complete, and the construction of the lower floors of the hotel has commenced. The below-grade levels will be comprised of parking and a concourse level which could contain the gym and spa, among other amenities. The 227 room Line Hotel is being constructed on the corner of Champlain Street NW & Euclid St NW. The hotel will be comprised of the existing First Church of Christ, Scientist building on Euclid and a newly constructed tower along Champlain St. [Here's a look at The Line Hotel : Los Angeles for a possible peek at the aesthetic.]

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Just around the corner from the new hotel, Czars 11 looks to be opening (or perhaps has already opened?) on 18th Street NW in Adams Morgan. The self-described international restaurant promises a wide ranging menu, including "American (New), American (Traditional), Barbeque, Brunch, Caribbean, French, German, Greek and Mediterranean, Irish, Italian, Latin American, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Pizza, Russian, Seafood, Soul Food, Southern, Spanish/Basque, Tapas Bars and Vegetarian." 

Czars 11's FB page indicates that they are now open daily from 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM, but my calls to the business phone went unanswered. Czars 11 is located at 2309 18th St NW, which was previously home to Pi Pizzeria & Bottoms Up Bar.

New Bar Could Replace Meskerem

Borderstan is reporting that a "space themed" bar will open in place of the beloved Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant in Adams Morgan. The owners of Meskerem (2434 18th St NW) closed shop and sold the building earlier this year. It is comprised of three levels with a deceptively vast 3,649 square feet of floor space. 

Borderstan reports that the new bar will have space theme and will be called 2020 Bar & Lounge. The name reminds me of another space themed restaurant, New York's Mars 2112. It's closed now, but offered a very... interesting dining experience to say the least. RIP Meskerem, but good luck to the new owners. Bring us something worthy!

RIP Meskerem

Art and Frame Shop Moves in Adams Morgan

Gary Taylor's Fine Art and Framing is once again open in Adams Morgan. The small custom frame gallery recently moved one block east to 1785 Columbia Rd NW. This space was most recently occupied by "We R Wireless" Verizon Wireless affiliate. Gary Taylor's had previously operated near Fleet Feet at 1843 Columbia Rd NW. 

Adams Morgan Gains a Salon, Mount P Loses a Laundry

The owners of Chinatown's AsukiSQ Hair Salon are opening a new salon on Columbia Rd in Adams Morgan. Mixtec, a popular Mexican restaurant, was the last tenant of 1794 Columbia Road NW. Mixtec closed in 2014 and the space has been vacant since. The salon looks as if it will only occupy about half of the restaurant footprint. AsukiSQ is already hiring for stylists, so if you're a stylist looking to land in a new work environment, there you go.

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A gym is moving into the space formerly occupied by a laundromat in Mount Pleasant. Fit360 is currently located in the Argyle building on 17th St NW. They recently began documenting the process of converting a nearby laundromat into a new gym space. The "24HRS Laundromat" at 3058 Mount Pleasant St NW has posted signs indicating that they were closed for good and that they were moving to 3215 Mount Pleasant St NW (which is actually already home to another laundry). So, all this goes to say, Fit360 is moving to a larger, more visible space on lower Mount Pleasant Street, and the neihborhood will have to do with one less laundromat. 

Adams Morgan Day 2015: Photos

This year's Adams Morgan Day festival was a bit different than those of the past. Absent were the 40,000+ visitors, the smoky streets from food vendors, car-less, closed streets, and the big-time outdoor stages for music. (How it looked to me in 2013).

In place of the mega-festival was a more low-key, but seemingly more authentic celebration of the neighborhood businesses. The sidewalks were packed with pedestrians, but so were many of the businesses and  restaurants. It wasn't too difficult to walk 18th Street or Columbia Rd NW, but there were enough visitors to make the day feel like a success. Artists played music and displayed works inside restaurants, retail spaces, and on the sidewalks. Here are some photos from this year's festival:

The Spread Love band plays near Suntrust Plaza.

The streets were crowded... but so were restaurants.

Lots of sales by local businesses.

No "Arts on Belmont" this year. Just cars.

Artists displayed and sold works on sidewalks up and down 18th St NW.

Batala drums a perfect beat at Suntrust Plaza.

There were several rooftop bands, including at Roofers Union.

There were fewer programs at Marie Reed this year, but there was karaoke and some kids activities.

Lots and lots of folks attended, but thousands fewer than years past.

Embassy

Boost Mobile Replaces Crumbs & Coffee

Crumbs & Coffee had quite a run. The small time independent coffee shop opened in, well, what must have Summer 2006(?), before the first 42 blog post (Summer 2007). At the time it was the only go-between for Starbucks and Tryst in Adams Morgan. There was no Flying Fish, no Open City, no Filter, no Sweet Science, or many of the coffee shops that I frequent now. They also served bagels, sandwiches, had WiFi, and offered outdoor seating. And they were affordable!

Crumbs closed earlier this summer. The address, 1737 Columbia Rd NW is near the Safeway in Adams Morgan and just feet away form a 42 bus stop.

It's now home to US Mobile/Boost Mobile. Boost offers monthly and prepaid (even daily) mobile phone plans, cell phones, and mobile hotspot devices. They are open for business, as of last week.

Modified Adams Morgan Day for September 13

It appears there will be an Adams Morgan Day this year after all. However, it promises to be a bit different that festivals of the past. The details are not quite complete just yet, but the festival's Facebook page offers some clues.The date is set, though: Sunday September 13.

From the organizers: 

"The local businesses and neighbors of Adams Morgan have banded together to revive the longest continuing running neighborhood festival in the nation’s capital. The 2015 Adams Morgan Day celebration will take place on Sunday, September 13, 2015, from 12 noon to 6pm, along 18th Street and Columbia Road in Adams Morgan.

In its 37th year, the event is bringing the focus back to the neighborhood and the people and businesses within it. There will be many changes from years past. While the streets will be open during the day-long activities, each restaurant and business will be able to do their own thing, giving this more of an organic and local feel.

Each resident and business involved in the planning is volunteering their time, energy and in some cases, their own finances. There are currently over 50 establishments who are participating. Activities will include face painting, music, fitness and wellness games, food and drink specials, and much more." 

Back in June, we learned that there was a strong possibility that the long running festival would not be happening this year due to several issues, mostly financial. While it's not clear if some of those specific challenges have been overcome, I'm thrilled that neighborhood business owners have stepped up. This clearly won't be the same Adams Morgan Day we know and love (18th Street closed to cars, tons of street vendors, big music stages, 40,000+ people), but maybe something more akin to Dog Days on 14th & U.

This is great, great news. If you'd like to volunteer, play music, lead a tour, or just help out on the day of the festival they're accepting help here. And if you'd like to help on the financial side, you can do that as well. Glad to see this back on. See y'all there.

Sakuramen Adding Second Floor of Seating

I've always loved Sakuramen. They have vegan ramen, the staff and owners are accommodating + genuinely friendly, and it's walking distance from Mount Pleasant. Bonus: they don't serve alcohol, so tables actually do turn over fairly quickly. 

And now the wait for a table might get even shorter. The Washington Business Journal reported last week that Sakuramen was looking to add seats on a second level. The restaurant is currently on the terrace/basement level of 2441 18th Street NW. The permits do indeed indicate that Sakuramen is seeking to add 14 seats (total load: 19 people) to the first floor of the building. This space was formerly occupied by the Botanica Yemaya & Chango. No word on an opening date for Sakuramen upstairs, but when they get close, I'll report back. 

Hardware Store Coming to Adams Morgan

Ontario 17 (left).

Adams Morgan is getting a new hardware store as part of the new Ontario 17 project. Washington Business Journal is reporting that the owners of Logan Hardware have signed on to open a 5,000 square foot store at the new condo building. This store will occupy over half of the retail space in Ontario 17, a not-yet-finished 90 unit condo building located at 2550 17th St NW. This building replaced the storied Ontario Theatre, of which only the entrance awning remains (see photo below).

The store will be called Adams Morgan Hardware and will join 10 others from the same company, including stores in Tenleytown, Mount Vernon Triangle, and Glover Park. Look for Adams Morgan Hardware to open this fall.

Ontario 17.

Toulouse-Lautrec

Vegan Pop-Up at Potter's House

Core Food Group is hosting a fine dining, vegan pop-up service at the Potter's House. The one-night-only affair includes two sittings this Sunday, August 2nd. The venue, newly renovated Potter's House, actually does serve some vegan food on its own menu, but this is a separate event. Looks awesome! The meal is in the form of a five course tasting menu and tickets are $75. Here's the menu, from the organizers:

"Core Food Presents: Vegan Tasting at the Potter’s House

August 2 2015. Join Core Food and chef Christopher Roberson for an adventure in vegetable centered dining. The menu will present diners with five masterfully crafted dishes, featuring product grown in DC proper by Three Part Harmony Farm and Good Sense Farm

fine dining | vegan food | local produce | community 

Menu:

Amuse Bouche

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Salad
heirloom tomatoes |  housemade “mozzarella” | basil | balsamic reduction

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Pasta
handmade fettuccini | roasted mushrooms | cream sauce

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Palate Cleanser
sorbet | local seasonal fruit

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BBQ “Short Rib”
braised seitan | collard greens | speckled grits | carmelized onion

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Cake & Gelato

chocolate cake |  hazelnut gelato | espresso macaron"

Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Washington, DC

2630 16th St NW

No Adams Morgan Day in 2015 - WOMP

The writing was on the wall. The internet wall anyway. Admins of the Facebook page for Adams Morgan Day recently posted a note indicating that there would not be a festival this year -- the first year without a fest since 1977. And yesterday, this WAMU story confirmed that the organizing entity has essentially crashed into the mountain, leaving unpaid bills, questionable financial scenarios, and no real path to obtain permits for a 2015 Adams Morgan Day. So, the festival as we know it is off for this year.

What a bummer! I hate to be cynical in such situations, but BALL DON'T LIE. Either 1) running this event as it is just isn't financially feasible, or 2) the organizers were negligent / out of their league, or worse, 3) the organizers let the festival deteriorate beyond event horizon due to willful financial mismanagement. Either way, we're left without my favorite neighborhood festival in the District.

After the sudden loss of Mount Pleasant Day and eventual departure of Fiesta DC over the last decade, those of us in Mount P know the frustration of suddenly being without a major indicator of neighborhood pride. Of course some residents are loathe to support the festivals because of street closures, parking, trash, potential noise and whatnot, but I consider a good festival as a net win for the neighborhoods. We get to celebrate and support local businesses, draw in folks from other parts of DC, and be reminded of why we like living here. And yes, you tend to see a lot of your friends, all at once. That's really worth it in the end. That and samosas from Jyoti. I guess I'll have to call up some friends and make a plan to eat at Jyoti this September. We'll make our own Adams Morgan Day. Friends and samosas forever. No permits needed.

Memories:

Rainbow Over Adams Morgan

Lotus Blooms Among New Retail for Adams Morgan

I can't say I've done an official count, but it feels like Adams Morgan has a lot of retail vacancies. For sure there will always be turnover in a neighborhood with so many retail storefronts, but it really does feel like there's a stagnation of sorts. But now some of the empty storefronts are starting to be filled and/or have recently changed hands, and none of the new tenants are bars or restaurants.

Alexandria's Lotus Blooms looks to open soon at 2408 18th St NW. Lotus Blooms is an adult boutique known for hosting workshops & classes. And of course it's also a retail location for all things toy, corset, garter, wand, rabbit, bullet, teddy, g string, pastie, boots, so on and so forth. All the fun stuff you usually buy online. This would be only the second location for Lotus Blooms and the first in the District. The 2408 18th St NW storefront (1,700 sq ft including basement level) was last home to the very short lived Instant Noodles and Viet Thai restaurants. 

Just blocks away, Cosmo Nail Bar recently (well... actually in February) opened in the WY18 condo building. Cosmo offers a familiar slate of mani/pedi offerings, with waxing and other spa-like services. This is one of a growing number of mani/pedi choices in Adams Morgan, Dupont, and Mount Pleasant. I assume competition is good in this field? Cosmo is located at 2200 18th St NW.

When coffee pop-up Cafe Diem --operating out of the Skynear building-- closed, I thought we had lost a neat, quirky space with really good coffee. Luckily Sweet Science appears to have filled that vacancy perfectly. Sweet Science opened quietly last month and has been brewing, by all accounts, freaking excellent coffee. I've heard a few good things about this place from people I trust about coffee. That being said, I still need to make a proper visit. Here's to better coffee in DC, a dream we've been actually realizing over the past 10 years. So awesome. Sweet Science is located at 1800 Wyoming Ave NW. 

Adams Morgan Concert Series

The free outdoor music series hosted in Adams Morgan is back. It actually started last week, but there are five more weeks remaining. The concerts are played at the corner of 18th St and Columbia Rd NW, next to BB&T Bank and the Capital Bikeshare station. Music starts at 5:00 PM each Saturday, and is over by 7:00 PM. The rest of the lineup:

May 9th

Dot Dash - Post-punk pop.

May 16th

Goin' Goin' Gone - Roots rock.

May 30th

La Unica - Latin & Irish rhythms.

June 6

Doug Stevenson and the Spades - Country & western, alt-country.

June 13

Dupont Brass - OMG, pls just play this brass rendition of Jill Scott's "The Way" over and over and over again. So good.