Schools, Government Offices Reopen Today, But Commute May Not Be Easy — The federal government and D.C. schools are reopening today, but roads still aren’t ready for a full-scale rush hour and not all buses are running. [Washington Post]
Capitol Hill Man Threatens to Bury Cars Parked in Spot He Cleared in Widely Shared Sign — Nathan Bergman of Capitol Hill spent five hours digging out his car after the weekend blizzard, and posted a sign promising to re-bury any car that took the spot while he was gone. The sign was widely shared on social media. [Washington Times]
Developer Struggles to Find Cafe Tenant in Hill East — The owner of a two-story rowhouse at 1247 E St. SE says he has struggled to find a coffee shop or cafe to occupy the space but hopes that will change as more residential projects are built in the area. [Washington Business Journal]
Three Capitol Hill Area Bars Among Districts Best Dives — The Pug (1234 H St. NE), Trusty’s Full-Serve Bar (1420 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) and Tune Inn (331 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) all made Thrillist’s list of the best dive bars in D.C. [Thrillist]
Capitol Hill Residents Planning Bake Sales to Raise Money for Information From Department of Justice — When Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Denise Krepp told residents that the Department of Justice is charging her $1,000 for information on how many crimes in the area resulted in prosecution, residents agreed to hold bake sales to offset the cost. [NBC Washington]
Public Pier at The Wharf May Open Ahead of Schedule — Filings with the Zoning Commission suggest that the developers of The Wharf in Southwest could open the 7th Street Recreation Pier along with the first phase of construction. [Washington Business Journal]
Meet the Capitol Hill Chef Competing on Top Chef — The Washington Post profiled three area chefs who are competing on this season of Top Chef, including Garret Fleming, chef at Barrel on Capitol Hill. [Washington Post]
Sample Local Coffee On and Off Capitol Hill With the D.C. Indie Coffee Passport — Fans of local coffee and tea will soon be able to get 17 drinks for $20 with the D.C. Indie Coffee Passport. [Hill Now]
Fans of local coffee and tea will soon be able to get 17 drinks for $20 with the D.C. Indie Coffee Passport.
The passport, which can be purchased online, allows people to receive a free drink at 17 area coffee shops, including two in the Capitol Hill area.
Passport holders can choose one free drink per location from a list of options at each place between Dec.. 1 and June 30.
Ebenezers Coffeehouse at 201 F St. NE will offer passport-holders their choice of a spiced or vanilla Chai, latte, tea, coffee or a honey lavender latte.
Peregrine Espresso at Eastern Market will offer espresso, americano, cappucino, coffee, tea or iced coffee.
Passport holders will have to venture outside of the Capitol Hill area to get the remaining stamps in their passports. A full list of participating coffee shops is available online.
Photo via Flickr/ Michael Allen Smith
A San Francisco-based coffeehouse chain is slated to open one of its first locations outside of California at The Yards in Navy Yard next year, the area’s developer announced today.
Philz Coffee is expected to bring its Tantalizing Turkish, Philharmonic and other java blends to a mixed-use building across from the Boilermaker Shops on Tingey Street SE this spring, according to developer Forest City Washington. The building, known as the Arris, is still under construction.
Founded in 2003, Philz currently only has locations in California. But the chain is set to move into the D.C. market with a shop in Adams Morgan later this year, according to District Source.
The shop along the Capitol Riverfront in Navy Yard is slated to be Philz’s second location in the District. Forest City Washington’s announcement followed hints by the developer last month that Navy Yard would have a new coffee shop.
“Philz Coffee is a California-based company on a mission to better people’s days by reinventing the coffee drinking experience,” Forest City Washington said in a news release. “In addition to an impressive array of exclusive, handcrafted, flavorful blends, Philz Coffee prides itself on its extraordinary customer service and culture, where each cup of drip coffee is personalized by their baristas.”
Navy Yard also is slated to get a Pacers Running this fall, according to the developer. The chain, which sells running shoes, workout clothes and other accessories, is slated to open at the Boilermaker Shops on Tingey Street SE in October, after initially looking to open this month.
Pacers Running currently has stores in Northwest D.C., Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax.
Photo via Facebook/Philz Coffee
A corner market has returned to 3rd and F streets NE, with Cheerios, toilet paper and local Bloody Mary mix.
Union Kitchen Grocery, the former home of Martin’s Market, opened today at 538 3rd St. NE with about 200 offerings, which skew toward local food.
In addition to the Gordy’s Pickle Jar Bloody Mary Mix for $10.95, other D.C.-area items include Milk Cult ice cream for $7.49 and Capital Kombucha for $3.45. It also sells made-to-order sandwiches and coffee.
“People have been excited to see local things,” said Edward Ford, the store’s grocery manager.
But corner store staples like Cheerios ($4.95), toilet paper ($10.95) and peanut butter ($4.95) are on the shelves, too. It also will have beer and wine in the coming months.
Patrick Lally, a Capitol Hill resident, said he particularly appreciated Union Kitchen Grocery’s unique offerings after he browsed the store. The store is owned by Cullen Gilchrist and Jonas Singer, founders of Union Kitchen, an incubator for D.C. food businesses.
“For me, this is the type of business where you can get specialty items you can’t get in a supermarket,” said Lally, 52.
Sarah DeLucia, 32, who also lives in the neighborhood, said she wished the shop had more vegan food, but was happy to have a new store nearby.
“I’m excited it’s here,” said DeLucia, who bought some treats for her dog.
Union Kitchen Grocery is open every day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The old Martin’s Market space will sell kitchen and household basics again.
The entrepreneurs behind Union Kitchen are planning a cafe and small grocery store at the corner of 3rd and F streets NE, co-owner Jonas Singer said.
“It will be a combination of a comfortable coffee shop and … harken back to its history as an old school corner grocery,” he said.
The 1,000-square foot storefront at 538 3rd St. NE will serve coffee and a “cafe menu” with Union Kitchen products like cookies from Blind Dog Bakery.
“We won’t be a restaurant with a full kitchen, but we’ll have a simple menu that people can nosh on,” said Singer, a 32-year-old LeDroit Park resident.
The Union Kitchen team, which provides professional kitchen space to food startups like Capital Kombucha and Broodjes & Bier, is planning outdoor space behind and alongside the shop. They’re working on designs now.
“It will have a homey feel for people to hang out and enjoy a cup of coffee or a sandwich, and we’ll also sell basics like paper towels,” Singer said.
They’re hoping to open the shop by mid-year, and are applying for a license to sell beer and wine.
Photo via Google Maps
