Not hard to have fun in a budget in Borderstan. (Luis Gomez Photos

From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

Borderstan certainly has options when it comes to an expensive night out. From wining and dining at the latest restaurants, to evenings filled with theatre and live music, Borderstan offers a little bit of everything for a top-shelf experience. Hell, even parking (or a parking ticket) will cost you a chunk of your wallet.

However, just because the price tags on some of the neighborhood’s items are higher than you’d like to pay, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a great night out at a moderate price.

Often, I put myself on a budget of $20 – but that doesn’t stop me from going to some of the area’s best spots. Here’s what $20 will get you in Borderstan.

• Floriana: Crepes with Meyer lemon, housemade ricotta and mission fig glaze AND a glass of pinot noir. Nothing beats Floriana (1602 17th Street NW) for fantastic Italian food in an intimate setting. And the best news: You don’t need a Benjamin to experience it all. My secret is to order a starter and a good glass of wine. That way, you can enjoy a delicious and seasonal taste (and wine!) for under $20.
• 9:30 Club: An evening with Best Coast. The 9:30 Club (815 V Street NW) is one of the best venues on the East Coast to see the nation’s best bands. And thankfully, most tickets are right around (or less than) $20. On June 4, California-based indie band Best Coast is bringing its Los Angeles-inspried rock to (what I like to call) the best coast. Tickets are $20 and include two opening bands.
• Local 16: One personal pizza and three drinks. Local 16 (1602 U Street NW) has one of the best happy hours in the neighborhood – and it lasts until 8 pm, which is arguably the best part. For $20, you can get a pizza (tomato, mozzarella and basil) for $5 and three glasses of wine or three featured cocktails ($5 each), like the mojito.
• Local galleries and The Pig: An evening of art, plus lentil and bacon stew and a cocktail. Exposing yourself to culture doesn’t mean you need to expose your bank account to the negative sign. The best thing about having so many art galleries around is that you can browse various exhibits for free. Check out Contemporary Wing (1412 14th Street NW), Gallery plan b (1530 14th Street NW) and Hamiltonian Gallery (1353 U Street NW) for their latest exhibits. Then, head over to The Pig (1320 14th Street NW) for a Lentil and bacon stew with pomegranate reduction and herbed crème fraiche ($10) and the Wilbur cocktail (redemption rye and pineapple-rosemary syrup for $9.50).
• Black Cat: Titus Andronicus and a beer. On Sunday, May 19, catch favorite band Titus Andronicus at the Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW) for $15 and score a beer before the show for $5. Opening band is So So Glos. Enjoy your night!
• Masa 14: Two appetizers and two cocktails. The happy hour at Masa 14 (1825 14th Street NW) is very friendly toward the $20 budget. For less than $20, you can score two mojitos (or margaritas) and two appetizers (like a crunchy shrimp handroll or marinated portobello pao buns). Everything on the happy hour menu is $4 each.

Of course there are many other $20 combinations in and around the neighborhood. What are some of your favorites?

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Parcel 42 is at the corner of 7th and R / 7th and Rhode Island NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

The deputy mayor for Planning and Economic Development (PED) has selected the developer for Parcel 42 — a plot of land in Shaw at 7th Street NW and Rhode Island Avenue NW, and a rectangular lot at 7th and R Streets.

Several bidders met the qualifications of the previously solicited Request for Expressions of Interest, but PED selected Shaw 42 Developers, LLC, a joint venture between TenSquare and the Chapman Development Group.

The planned development includes a 105-unit residential building with ground floor retail, according to a previous profile from Urban Turf. The development will consist of studio, one-and-two-bedroom units, with room for retail.

ANC 6E-02 Commissioner Kevin Chapple says the proposal from Shaw 42 Developers was most attractive to the city because the group offers the city a 99-year ground lease. This means that after 99 years, the land and the building on Parcel 42 will revert back to the ownership and control of the city government, unless otherwise negotiated.

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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

Ross Elementary School at 1730 R Street NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)

Ross Elementary School‘s annual Mother’s and Father’s Day “Buy-a-Book-for-Kids” event will take place April 26-29 at two locations: The Safeway on 17th Street NW and the Dupont Farmers Market.

The fundraiser — which is the third largest for the school— helps Ross buy appropriate and updated books for its classrooms and library.

However, this book sale isn’t like most. Here’s how it works:

1. Participants donate $25 to buy a book for the Ross library in honor of a loved one. 
2. The Ross PTA sends the honoree a letter informing them of the gift in their name. Letters are timed to arrive on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, depending on the request of the buyer. 
3. Then, the PTA inserts a book-plate inscribed with the donor and honoree’s names in the book purchased.
4. Ross students enjoy quality literature for years to come, and loved ones are honored!
   

Here’s when you can take part in ”Buy-a-Book-for-Kids.”

Dates and Places

• Friday, April 26: 8 am to 9 am in front of Ross Elementary; 3 to 4 pm in front of Ross Elementary School, 1730 R Street NW.
• Saturday, April 27: 9 am to 4 pm in front of the 17th Street Safeway, Church and 17th Street NW.
• Sunday, April 28: 9 am to 1 pm at Dupont Farmers Market, Massachusetts Avenue and 20th Street NW.
• Monday, April 29: 8 am to 9 am in front of Ross Elementary; 3 to 4 pm in front of Ross Elementary.

Can’t make it to one of the sales? Donations are also welcome online or by mail.

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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

The Wandering Minds Society in DC. (Photo courtesy of Nikki Enfield)

If you think Washingtonians can’t come together to talk like civilized human beings about guns and gun legislation… well, you might be right. But that doesn’t mean Nikki Enfield isn’t going to try to make it happen.

On Monday, April 29, Wandering Minds will host one of its regular conversations and events — only this time the session will focus on an incredibly charged and politically relevant topic: guns. The event will run from 7 to 9 pm at Public Bar at 1234 18th Street NW.

For the evening, Wandering Minds will host Clinton Yates, columnist for The Washington Post’s “The Root DC” to speak for the pro-gun control side; Andrew Gaeckle, an activist for a moderate path who can also speak as a victim of gun violence; and Maryland State Delegate C. T. Wilson, a former prosecutor turned elected official to stand up for the pro-gun rights side.

All sides and opinions are welcome to join the judge-free debate.

Tickets to next Monday’s Wandering Minds are $9 in advance, $12 at the door and can be purchased online. 

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Glen’s Garden Market to open Sunday, April 21. Click above to see pictures of the space. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

Glen’s Garden Market is opening this weekend, Sunday, April 21 at 20th and S Streets NW. Check out the photos of the interior of the new store.

Sunday may seem odd for an opening day, but owner Danielle Vogel planned to open the hyper-local focused specialty food store in conjunction with Earth Day.

Vogel, a self-described fourth generation grocer, decided to open her own store after several years of working on environmental policy on the Hill.  After experiencing frustration with the job — and more specifically frustration with the climate bill — Vogel decided to take the climate’s destiny in her own hands, with a store that minimizes environmentally harmful practices.

What to Expect at Glen’s

Here’s what you can expect to see/taste at Glen’s:

• A bar/beverage area with local draft beers, bottled draft beers, a wide selection of local wines (lots of Virginia wines) and a wine dispensing machine.
• A fully-stocked specialty meat and cheese counter. Think: spicy bison pastrami, beef pastrami and other hand-sliced local meats.
• Locally-sourced chocolates. No need to say more.
• Recycled interiors, such as wood that was used at a cattle fence at one of the locally-sourced farms.

The 5,000-square-foot space focuses on food and drink from the states of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which includes DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New York.

Vogel, who has been working to open the space for two years says she chose the location because she feels the neighborhood will “welcome a concept like ours.”

Glen’s is opening in the former site of a Townhouse Safeway grocery store, which closed in 2010.

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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

ScratchDC is expanding its service area. (Ashley Lusk)

ScratchDC — a local company that plans, measures and delivers organic and locally-sourced ingredients for a home cooked meal — is expanding its services to include Georgetown, Glover Park, Arlington and Alexandria starting Monday, April 15.

From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

VIDA’s U Street rooftop pool. (Courtesy of VIDA)

What’s better than a rooftop pool? How about a rooftop pool with a menu designed by a Top Chef.

VIDA’s U Street Penthouse Pool is getting a makeover — to it’s members-only food and beverage menu. Top Chef Masters contestant Michael Schlow is making over the menu to include appetizers, small plates, salads, artisan sandwiches and healthy juices, smoothies and shakes.

The facility even designed a new prep kitchen to prepare the new menu.

Not a member but still interested in using the space? The Pool Club can accommodate groups of up to 299 and is available for private functions.

VIDA’s Pool Club is located at 1612 U Street NW. For more information, visit the website.

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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

Dupont, Logan and the West End DC’s most walkable neighborhood. (Luis Gomez Photos)

Overall, the Dupont Circle neighborhood pulled in a Walk Score of 98, followed by the West End and downtown.

The area’s mix of homes, apartment buildings, restaurants and stores — plus its proximity to downtown offices and buildings — makes Dupont an incredibly convenient and walkable neighborhood.

According to the article, America’s number one walkable city is New York, followed by San Francisco, Boston and Chicago.

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Your Borderstan Weekend in Dupont-Logan-U Street. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, then look no further. We have your list of the food, music and cultural events going on in (and around) Borderstan April 5, 6 and 7.

Friday, April 5

• Wilmer Wilson IV: the FOREVER Aftermath: This exhibit at Artisphere focuses on the aftermath of performance art. It runs through June 30 and is free.
• Cherry Blossom Lantern Walk: It’s still Cherry Blossom Festival time, and since the blossoms are not past their peak, it’s not too late to hit up the lantern tour. The walk runs from 8 to 10 pm. For more information, visit the website.
• DC House Showcase at U Street Music Hall: The evening includes Sam Burns, Dimitri Max, AGFA and Smudge. The event is $10 and begins at 10 pm.

Saturday, April 6

• Pearl Dive’s Crawfish Boil: Crawfish, cornbread and Louisiana beer — plus much, much more. Tickets are $65 and are available online.
• The Vagina Monologues: The sixth annual community performance of ” The Vagina Monologues” will take place April 6-7 at the GALA Hispanic Theatre (3333 14th Street NW). Saturday’s performance will take place from 3 to 4:30 pm.
• DC MEET Market: DC’s local vedor market kicks off its season this Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm at 15th and P streets NW.

Sunday, April 7

• A new list of brunch spots: Borderstan recently re-vamped its brunch list to account for all of the great, new places in the neighborhood. Check it out and bottoms up.
• Poetry in Bloom: Learn how to write poetry this Sunday from 5 to 6 pm with a lesson at BloomBars (3222 11th Street NW). The monthly poetry writing group facilitated by local teaching artists.

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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.

Pearl Dive at 1612 14th Street NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)

Jeff Black’s oyster hotspot, Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, is hosting its first crawfish boil of the season this Saturday, April 6. The restaurant is at 1612 14th Street NW.

On the menu is the following:

• Louisiana crawfish
• Whole-roasted, sustainably raised suckling pig
• Cornbread
• Peel and eat shrimp
• House-made Andouille sausage
• A selection of Southern-inspired sides and desserts from pastry chef Carri-Anne Hamer

And don’t worry, there will be plenty of beer to go with that — straight from Louisiana’s Abita Brewing Company.

Tickets are $65 per person and can be purchased online. For more information, visit Pearl Dive’s website.

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