A self-described “extraordinary corner market” is on track to arrive in Columbia Heights in the coming weeks.
Odd Provisions might open at 3301 11th St. NW as soon as November, co-owner Jessica Woods told Borderstan this week. But the former Room 11 general manager didn’t have an exact date yet.
Located in the former Arthur’s Grocery space, the store will have craft beer, wine, snacks, produce and other pantry goods for sale from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
Woods said she’s trying to create a unique shop with Rachel Mowrer, a fellow Room 11 alum who owns the business with her.
“We’re . . . planning to be a little different from the bigger grocery stores in the area,” Woods said.
Photo via Instagram/Odd Provisions
(Updated at 2:40 p.m.) A self-described “urban design studio” that sells furniture and home accessories in Adams Morgan is getting bigger.
Hudson & Crane at 1781 Florida Ave. NW is set to expand into the former And Beige space next door by December, the shop posted on its Facebook page yesterday. And Beige closed earlier this year.
The enlargement will give Hudson & Crane about 2,500 square feet, about 1,100 more square feet than it has now, store spokesman David Hoffman said in an email.
“We’re expanding in part because of the opportunity that came up when And Beige closed but also because of the incredibly positive reception we’ve received from the Adams Morgan/U Street corridor, and DC at large,” Hoffman said. “We’ve built up an incredibly loyal base of both residential and commercial clients who have amplified our business through their own word of mouth and interior design services we’ve provided for them as well as the every day walk ins.”
The store opened in 2014.
Photo via Facebook/Hudson & Crane
A Dupont Circle chocolate shop is set to bring gourmet chocolatiers to a D.C. hotel next week as part of the first-ever District festival celebrating the candy.
The Chocolate House’s D.C. Chocolate Festival is slated to draw more than 20 candymakers to The Westin at 1400 M St. NW on Saturday, April 9. Chocolate fans can taste the treats and learn more about them from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., after paying $32.64 online.
A news release adds:
The District’s second Francesca’s location will open for business at 1143 Connecticut Avenue NW this Friday.
The women’s clothing and accessory store is planning a soft opening on Friday and a larger grand opening celebration on Saturday.
The storefront is the former home of the Godiva Chocolatier that closed its doors in June.
Store manager Erica Ragland-McCall said the grand opening will feature an outdoor tent, a raffle and a 20 percent discount on all purchases made on Saturday only. Employees will also be handing out additional coupons on Wednesday to promote the event.
On Tuesday afternoon, city employees could be seen digging up the sidewalk in front of the new store to work on the plumbing.
Ragland-McCall — who was tasked with managing the Dupont Circle location after working as a manager at the boutique chain’s Montgomery Mall location — wasn’t worried about the ongoing construction and was told it’ll be finished by Friday.
“Once it’s done, it’s going to be beautiful,” she said.
Popular Adams Morgan hangout Pop’s Sea Bar (1817 Columbia Road NW) will begin serving alcoholic snow cones on July 1.
For $7, patrons can order a color-coded cone in three boozy flavors: Baltimore Lemon Stick, Strawberry and Bing Cherry.
Non-alcoholic versions of the flavors will also be sold for $3.
Between July 1 and 7, $1 from each snow cone sold will be donated to Brainfood, a local nonprofit dedicated to teaching youths food production skills.
Photo via Facebook.com/PopsSeaBar
Jessica Alba ate at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace on 14th Street last night, confirmed employees at the restaurant this morning.
Alba posted to Instagram about her experience last night:
Great din in DC at #pearldive w my @honest homies @jamilvmoen @jkroogr – excited for tomorrow -going to Capitol Hill lobbying for chemical reform
Photo via Jessica Alba’s Instagram. Thanks to reader M. Torpey for the tip!
A liquor license for a “new tavern” has been posted at 1410 14th Street NW, a space currently occupied by Black Whiskey, Jrink, and Italian suit pop-up Abitissimi Fashion Room.
The liquor license says the business will feature “live entertainment and dancing” and a summer garden with seating for 46 patrons.
Though the licensee listed on the posting reads “In Stereo, LLC,” the policy agenda of last night’s ANC 2F meeting says an official name for the new tavern is to be determined.
(Updated at 4:03 p.m.) Beloved indie record store Red Onion Records is moving to a new store at 1628 U Street NW, says owner Josh Harkavy.
The store is currently located at 1901 18th St NW, and is one of the city’s only independently owned record shops.
When reached by phone this afternoon, Harkavy confirmed the store will be moving to U Street, but said he had nothing else to add at this time.
Photo via the Red Onion Records Facebook page
The Adams Morgan hemp shop infamously raided by D.C. Police in 2011 and ultimately closed is coming back to life.
In a tweet sent out yesterday evening, Capitol Hemp announced its triumphant return:
Began the build out today at 1770 Columbia Rd NW . 😏🌴⏳⬆️
— Capitol Hemp (@CapitolHemp) June 9, 2015
According to the shop’s Twitter profile, it will carry “hemp clothing, bags, paper, pipes, vaporizers and more.”
Photos via Twitter.com/CapitolHemp
The proprietors behind Adams Morgan ice pop eatery Pleasant Pops opened their second store today.
The shop is located downtown at 733 15th Street NW and sells an assortment of frozen juice pops in flavors such as strawberry, ginger lemonade, cookies and cream, and orange chai.
The new location also serves coffee drinks and pastries.
“I think on the weekend we’ll have a lot of tourist traffic, fingers crossed,” said Hannah Smith, general manager of the 15th Street location. “I think we’ve been well-received and anticipated by our neighbors.”
The Columbia Heights Farmers Market is now open for business on Wednesday evenings.
From 4 to 7:30 p.m., the market’s local vendors will sell produce at the intersection of Kenyon and 14th streets, NW.
The market is also open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
Community Foodworks Outreach Manager Dalila Boclin says that Wednesday hours were added for convenience as well as accessibility.
“We recognize that it would be hard to get all your shopping done on Saturdays before 1 p.m., so we wanted to add the day to give another market opportunity for the farmers and customers,” says Boclin.
The market will now also include the option to purchase pre-assembled bags of local vegetables, fruit, meat and cheese on a recurring basis through an aggregated Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
Unlike some other CSA programs, Boclin says the new CSA program focuses on flexibility of service.
“You pay week-to-week as you go, and if you’re out of town for a week, you can skip a week for free,” Boclin says. “It’s not like you’ve sold your soul for vegetables.”
Community Foodworks, formerly known as Columbia Heights Community Marketplace, also operates farmers markets in Brookland and Arlington.
Join Pulp a local staple celebrating its 10th anniversary. (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.
Most residents in the neighborhood are familiar with the purple hued PULP building on 14th Street NW, but what many don’t know is that PULP was one of the first businesses to plant its roots on 14th Street before the area’s changing demographics and upswing made it the city’s cultural epicenter.
Last week, PULP celebrated its 10th anniversary, and we sat down with Beverly Jones, general manager and buyer for the eclectic gift store, to discuss how the store has grown and changed as much as the neighborhood in which it resides.
Borderstan: What do you think it is about PULP that makes it so successful?
Jones: It’s lots of things all wrapped-up together. We Pulpsters try hard to remember Ron’s (the original owner) love and kindness, and share it with our customers. Our customers share it right back and all that love makes for a happy time in the store. PULP’s current owners, Sharon and Tony Boykins, recognized that dynamic when they bought the store, and they encourage us to continue it. Our doggie customers, the babies, the kids, everyone contributes to the energy of the store, making it Pulpy and delicious.
Borderstan: The residents near the 14th Street area have changed over the past 10 years (younger residents, families, etc.) – Has PULP had to change to continue to grow with the neighborhood?
Jones: Absolutely. I think it’s amazing how the neighborhood has evolved. It’s great to see all sorts of folks now walking up and down the street. It’s a great mix of people who’ve lived here all their lives, the GLBT community who invested in the neighborhood years and years ago when no one else would, the students, the hipsters, young families with babies and toddlers, the foodies… what a great scene! Oh, and we carry a lot more baby merchandise than we did 10 years ago.
Borderstan: The story of “The Miracle on 14th Street” is heartwarming – Do you think PULP has changed at all under the new ownership?
Jones: Yes and no. As I mentioned earlier, Sharon and Tony love the energy of the store and the product mix, and wanted to keep it the same. Our back office operations, however, have changed a great deal, and it’s put PULP in better shape going forward. Next year we’ll tweak our product mix a bit, but things will basically stay the same.
Borderstan: How did PULP celebrate its 10-year anniversary?
Jones: We celebrated with cake and sparkling cider during the day, and with champagne and a potluck dinner for our Pulpsters, sales reps and vendors (like Amy Smyth of Ecka and Pecka who live in the area) in the evening.
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Miss Pixie’s Furnishings & Whatnot will reopen in early September. (Borderstan)
Miss Pixie’s Furnishings & Whatnoton the 1600 block of 14th Street NW is closed for some renovations — but will reopen soon, in early September. Workmen were busy over the weekend, working on one of the major parts of the renovation, the front windows.
Owner Pixie Windsor said in an August email, “While we are gone… We’ll be buying lots of goodies to unveil in September! Check the website for new merchandise and news on the big reopening date!”
Vote for your favorites so they can take home the “Best of Gay DC” plaques! (Luis Gomez Photos)
Voting in the Washington Blade’s 11th annual Best of Gay DC reader poll closes Wednesday, September 5, the last day to vote. The rules allow you to vote every day, so you can still vote for your favorites three times! (Borderstan would love to have your vote for Best Local Blog again this year — a big thanks to all our readers who helped us win in 2011.)
Numerous businesses, organizations and non-profits in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area made the Best of Gay DC ballot, with readers nominating their favorites in a four categories: Dining (14 subcategories), Nightlife (15 subcategories), Community (19 subcategories) and People (25 subcategories). There are usually five choices for your vote in each of the subcategories.
Since the Borderstan area is still the heart of DC’s LGBT community, it’s not surprising that so many local businesses and groups made the list. To see all the nominees, and vote, in the Best of Gay DC 2012 contest, visit the Blade’s voting page. (See “Best of Gay DC” Reader Poll Closes Sept. 5; Locals Dominate Ballot.)
Multiple Nominees
A total of 25 local venues and organizations are on the ballot in more than one category; in some cases people associated with the business are on the ballot.
The leaders are COBALT with nine (four of those for BARe), Town Danceboutique with eight, Nellie’s Sports Bar and VIDA Fitness each have five nominations. Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, the Black Cat and Phase 1 each received four nominations while Hank’s Oyster Bar and U Street Music Hall had three each.
The following each received two nominations: Jeffrey Johnson/Special Agent Galactica, Aura Spa/Bang Salon, Salon Rouge/Salim, Duplex Diner, Level One, FIT-DC, Level One, Floriana, JR.’s Bar & Grill, Larry’s Lounge, DC9, Green Lantern, Black Fox Lounge, Dahlik, 9:30 Club, Foundry United Methodist Church and National City Christian Church.
Vote for your favorites so they can take home the “Best of Gay DC” plaques! (Luis Gomez Photos)
Voting in the Washington Blade’s 11th annual “Best of Gay DC” closes Wednesday, September 5, the last day to vote.
Numerous businesses, organizations and non-profits in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area made the ballot, with readers nominating their favorites in a four categories: Dining (14 subcategories), Nightlife (15 subcategories), Community (19 subcategories) and People (25 subcategories). There are five choices for your vote in each of the subcategories.
We have only listed nominees on the ballot that are located in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area. Of course, since the Borderstan area is still the heart of DC’s LGBT community, it’s not surprising that so many local businesses and groups made the list. To see all of the nominees in the “Best of Gay DC 2012” contest, visit the Blade’s voting page.
Multiple Nominees
A total of 25 local venues and organizations are on the ballot in more than one category; in some cases individuals associated with the business are on the ballot. The leaders are COBALT with nine (four of those for BARe), Town Danceboutique with eight, Nellie’s Sports Bar with five and VIDA Fitness with five. Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, the Black Cat and Phase 1 each received four nominations while Hank’s Oyster Bar and U Street Music Hall had three each. The following each received two nominations: Jeffrey Johnson/Special Agent Galactica, Aura Spa/Bang Salon, Salon Rouge, Duplex Diner, Level One, FIT-DC, Level One, Floriana, JR.’s Bar & Grill, Larry’s Lounge, DC9, Green Lantern, Black Fox Lounge, Dahlik, 9:30 Club, Foundry United Methodist Church and National City Christian Church.
Local Dining
- Best New Restaurant: Little Serow, The Pig, Pearl Dive Oyster Palace.
- Best Brunch: Agora, Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, Level One Disco Brunch, Masa 14, Nellie’s Drag Brunch on Sundays.
- Best Date Restaurant: Floriana, Hank’s Oyster Bar – Dupont Circle, Level One, Logan Tavern.
- Best Ethnic Restaurant: Eete, Rice.
- Best Wine Bar: Cork, Floriana, Veritas, Vinoteca.
- Best Late Night Restaurant: Annie’s Paramount Steak House, Ben’s Chili Bowl, Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, Taylor Gourmet.
- Best Dessert Dish: Alero’s Cheesecake Chimichanga, Coppi’s Tiramisu, Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe’ Goober Pie.
- Best Chef: Jamie Leeds – Hank’s Oyster Bar.
- Best Independent Coffee Shop: Java House, Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café.
Local Nightlife
- Best Dance Club: COBALT, Town Danceboutique, U Street Music Hall.
- Best Drag Show: Ladies of Town, Nellie’s Drag Brunch, Special Agent Galactica at Black Fox Lounge.
- Best Live Music: 9:30 Club, Black Cat, Black Fox Lounge, U Street Music Hall, U Street NW.
- Best Happy Hour: 30 Degrees/COBALT Happy Hour, JR.’s Thursday All You Care To Drink, MOVA, Nellie’s Sports Bar, Number 9’s 2 for 1 Happy Hour.
- Best Place to Meet Women: BARe – COBALT, Phase 1 – Dupont, 22nd Street NW.
- Best Neighborhood Bar: American Ice Company, DC9, Larry’s Lounge.
- Best Karaoke Party: DIK, Green Lantern’s Mama’s Trailer Park.
- Best Alternative Scene Event: CODE night at Green Lantern, CTRL at Dahlak,DC Bear Crue Bear Happy Hour at Town Danceboutique.
- Best Men’s Party: Blowoff – 9:30 Club, Mixtape — Town & Black Cat; RAW – COBALT, WTF?! – Town.
- Best Place to Meet Men: Crew Club, Duplex Diner, Larry’s Lounge.
- Best LGBT Friendly Straight Bar: Black Cat, DC9, Local 16, Stoney’s, U Street Music Hall.
- Best Women’s Party: BARe by LURe at COBALT, Sexy Second Saturdays at Phase 1 of Dupont.
Local Community
- Place of Worship: All Souls Unitarian, Bet Mishpachah (DC Jewish Community Center), Foundry United Methodist Church, National City Christian Church, St. Thomas’ Parish Episcopal Church.
- Best Home Furnishings: Miss Pixie’s, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, PULP, Room & Board.
- Best Hotel: Beacon, Donovan House, Hotel Helix, Renaissance Dupont, Rouge.
- Best Art Gallery: Long View Gallery, Phillips Collection, gallery plan b, Transformer.
- Best Non-Profit: DC Center for the LGBT Community, Food & Friends, SMYAL, Transgender Health Empowerment, Whitman-Walker Health.
- Best Local Blog: Borderstan, DCist, Outrage DC, Prince of Petworth, Where the Girls Go.
- Best Spa/Salon: Aura Spa/Bang at P Street VIDA, Salon Blu, Salon Rouge.
- Best Men’s Clothing Store: Caramel Fashion U Street, Federal 14th Street, Palace 5 14th Street, Redeem 14th Street, Universal Gear 14th Street
- Best Women’s clothing Store: Betsy Fisher Dupont Circle, Caramel Fashion U Street, Lettie Gooch Boutique U St.
- Best Gym: Balance, FIT-DC, Results, VIDA, Washington Sports Club.
- Best Theater: Studio Theatre.
- Best LGBT-Owned Business: Duplex Diner, Hank’s Oyster Bar, Leather Rack, VIDA Fitness.
- Best Second-Hand Shop: Buffalo Exchange 14th Street, Current Boutique 14th Street, Secondi Connecticut Avenue, Martha’s Table 14th Street.
- Best Comedy Club: Source Theater.
- Best Yoga Studio: Bikram’s Yoga College, Buddha B Yoga, Yoga District, Epic Yoga DC.
People
- Best Realtor: David Bediz, Didier Ramos, Fernando Garcia, Mark Rutstein, Ray Gernhart.
- Best Educator: Katie Anderson – Ross Elementary School.
- Best DJ: Jeff Prior – CTRL at Dahlak, Kurt Graves DJ TWiN- Nellie’s, Rosie Hicks – BARe (COBALT)/Pride in the Sky (Rockville Town Center) & Phase 1, Shea Van Horn – MIXTAPE at the Black Cat/U Street Music Hall and others, Tommy Cornelis – TMY, Chord Bezerra – Town.
- Best Businessperson: David Franco – Universal Gear/Level 2 Development, Douglas Warren Schantz – Nellie’s, Ed Bailey – Town Danceboutique/Number Nine, Karen Diehl – Bare/Lure.
- Best Personal Trainer: Bill Thompson – VIDA, Liz Warner-Osborne – VIDA, Natalie Davis — FIT DC, Ryan Stitt – VIDA.
- Best Local Actor (male): Jeffrey Johnson (aka Special Agent Galactica)
- Best Straight Ally: Brett Johnson – COBALT.
- Best DC-Area Bartender: Angela Lombardi – Phase 1, David Chung – Nellies, Eric Wood – COBALT, Jayson Smith – JR.’s, Matt Miller – Town.
- Best Stylist: Salim – Salon Rouge.
- Most Supportive Member of the Clergy: Dean Snyder – Foundry Methodist, Rabbi David Sapperstein – Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Stephen Gentle – National City Christian Church.
- Best Massage Therapist/Body Worker: Leconte – VIDA Fitness/Aura Spa at P Street, Nildo Silva — Tranquil Space/FIT.
