Yesterday, Smitty’s soft opened in Park View at 3549 Georgia Avenue. I was able to pop in and welcome them to the neighborhood.
Smitty’s is small but inviting. Inside there is seating for 20, and eventually there are plans for a rear summer garden. Based on my conversation, they plan to be closed on Monday’s.
(Marrakech Restaurant will be moving into the old Waters space at 3632 Georgia Avenue, NW)
According to an ABRA notice that will be placed at 3632 Georgia Avenue on September 14th, a new tavern called Marrakech is planning to open in the old Walters space between Looking Glass Lounge and DC Reynolds. The description of the tavern is that it will be specializing in Moroccan cuisine with 62 seats inside and a 20 seat Summer Garden, for a total of 82 seats and a Total Occupancy of 100. The licensee is requesting an Entertainment Endorsement to include Live Entertainment, Dancing, and Cover Charge.
(3549 Georgia Avenue is located on the east side of Georgia between Newton and Otis)
According to a notice I’ve received from ABRA, placards will go up on August 10th for a new tavern to be located Georgia Avenue. Below are the relevant details from the notice.
Notice is hereby given that this licensee has applied for a new license under the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and that the objectors are entitled to be heard before the granting of such on the Roll Call Hearing date on October 9, 2018 at 10 a.m., 4th Floor, 2000 14th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Petition and/or request to appear before the Board must be filed on or before the Petition Date. The Protest Hearing date is scheduled on December 5, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.
NATURE OF OPERATION
A tavern that is requesting a Summer Garden with seating for 13 patrons. Interior seating for 20, with a Total Occupancy Load of 24.
HOURS OF OPERATION FOR INSIDE PREMISES AND SUMMER GARDEN
Sunday through Thursday 7am – 2am, Friday and Saturday 7am – 3am
HOURS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SALES, SERVICE, AND CONSUMPTION FOR INSIDE PREMISES AND SUMMER GARDEN
Sunday through Thursday 10am – 2am, Friday and Saturday 10am – 3am
(The Good Silver, located at 3410 11th Street, NW)
I’m happy to report that Columbia Height’s newest 11th Street destination — The Good Silver — is opening tonight at 5 pm. I got a chance to check them out last week and liked what I saw. For those that haven’t been following this transformation, The Good Silver is the next chapter in the story from the group that brought us Kangaroo Boxing Club (aka KBC). Check out the new menu here.
For full details, below is their press announcement:
The Good Silver, from Ivy and Coney Team, Opening Tuesday, May 9th
The team behind Ivy and Coney (Josh Saltzman, Chris Powers, and Adam Fry) and new partner, Carrie Dzwil, are excited to announce The Good Silver, at 3410 11th St. NW in Columbia Heights, will open Tuesday, May 9th at 5pm.
Remember when you were a kid, and mom would break out the “good” plates? It pays homage to a time when the everyday was elevated, simply by caring a little bit more. Don’t expect the finest forks or vintage China, but instead, a focus on quality food and drink in a casual atmosphere.
On the drinks side, Dzwil has incorporated some of her favorite seasonal flavors into a variety of shrub-based cocktails which bring out the best of local produce for some refreshing, tart and not too sweet offerings. A spring highlight is her Lemongrass Ice Pick, which combines lemongrass-infused Civic Vodka from local distillery Republic Restoratives, honey-ginger syrup, iced tea and fresh sage. It has kept everyone sane and hydrated after (or during) long, hot days of construction. The drink menu also includes a sparkling shrub punch for four, and a concise but excellent liquor and craft beer list that includes local distilleries and breweries.
Rounding out the team is Remi Gottheil, a graduate of Dartmouth, who ran off to join the circus (seriously, he taught trapeze classes) and worked under chef Danny Boylen. Gottheil has created a highly seasonal menu combining the best currently available produce (from farms such as Pleitez Farms and 76 Acres) with pickles, preserves and locally sourced proteins. Guests can choose from a selection of “handhelds,” starters and charcuterie. Highlights include the organic buttermilk-brined fried chicken sandwiches and a half smoke burger with pickled radish and sweet, tangy tomato jam. (more…)
Making new friends at Reliable Tavern.
After much anticipation, Reliable Tavern officially opens tonight. Reliable Tavern is the result of a collaboration between longtime barmen Joe Englert and Kyle Remissong as well as Langdon Hample, a local commercial real estate broker/investor — and is located just south of the Georgia Avenue Metro station at 3655 Georgia Avenue, NW. Longtime residents may recall that this is not Englert’s first enterprise in Park View, having been involved in the old Temperance Hall (today’s Looking Glass Lounge).
Last night, I had the pleasure of checking out their months of hard work, which turned the former Capitol Locksmith into another great addition to Park View’s growing tavern community. The space features 15-foot ceilings on the first level and a well appointed basement level that includes two pools tables and a unique bar backdrop that showcases vintage 1920’s central boiler and steam pipes.
In exploring the spaces last night, I found the entire tavern to be attractive and inviting. Personally, I really like the addition to pool to the community. I also appreciated the incorporation of the old hardware cabinets into the first floor’s bar area.
As for food, it will be provided during operating hours from Chris Svetlik’s Republic Kolache. According to Reliable Tavern’s press release, “The ‘National Pastry of Texas’ will be served alongside a selection of Tex-Mex inspired bar snacks. In future months, Republic Kolache will expand its offerings to include a brunch on the weekends.”
Below are a few photos from last night:
(Above: Photos of Reliable Tavern’s main floor.)
(Below: Photos of the basement level’s bar back and one of the pool tables.)
Mural at The Midlands, 3333 Georgia Avenue.
Earlier this week, the Washington Post‘s Fritz Hahn took note of Park View’s growing bar scene, referring to the neighborhood as “one of the more interesting and growing neighborhoods for bar hopping.” Yes, Hahn made mention of DC Reynolds and Colony Club, but merely in passing. What he points out that is worth reflection is how Georgia Avenue is filling in from Bravo Bar to the south up to the Georgia Avenue Metro.
It wasn’t all that long ago that the neighborhood “go to” spots were little more than Looking Glass Lounge and later DC Reynolds — both tightly nestled together a block and a half south of the Metro. Over time, and accelerated this past year, bars and eateries have popped up and added to the mix — the two newest arrivals being Union Drinkery and The Midlands located in the central part of the neighborhood.
Being able to tout a bar crawl in Park View may seem like a strange thing to be celebrating, but considering that such a thing would have been unthinkable a year ago and impossible in 2011 it is a notable milestone. And while the Post’s article was focused on bars, I’m particularly happy that not all new businesses have been bars. In addition to the bars and restaurants the neighborhood has welcomed in the past five years there have also been coffee shops, yoga studios, a dance studio, and a book store to name a few.
New signage for Walls of Books and The Midlands
I noticed last night that the sign for the stip mall at Georgia and Morton has been changed to reflect the new and coming businesses at the property. I also liked the neighborhood name heading the sign.
Walls of Books has been open for a short while now (a great shop worth checking out). The Midlands is a Beer Garden currently being built out at 3333 Georgia Avenue and is a collaboration between Trent Allen, Robin Webb & Peyton Sherwood (those familiar with Kangaroo Boxing Club will recognize some of those names). The Midlands team attended the February meeting of ANC 1A to informally introduce themselves and give an idea of their venture.
To give a sense of where The Midlands is with there build out, below are a few progress shots for a couple weeks back.
Here’s a documentary that will be of interest to many that features Jeremy Gifford of DC Reynolds here in Park View and Paul Ruppert of the Petworth Citizen. Both talk about their restaurants and their commitment to serving and being a part of the community. The documentary is part of a series by Clara Ritger. You can learn more about Ritger’s work, and see other episodes from the series here.
I’ve been informed that the former chef of Duke’s Grocery, Alex McCoy, Dukes Grocery — a cafe, social market, and pub has signed a lease for the former Mothership space at 3301 Georgia Avenue.
Dukes Grocery currently has a location at 1513 17th Street NW. According to their Web site, “Duke’s Grocery is a neighborhood pub and supper spot. … The idea is simple: create a fun spot that our friends (you!) can come in anytime and have a fulfilling meal, a tasty drink and great time in an atmosphere that is unpretentious and laid back. Tuck in, drink up and enjoy!”
This looks like it will be a good addition to the neighborhood and one I’m looking forward to learning more about.
![IMG_9267[1]](https://parkviewdc.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/img_92671.jpg?w=450&h=338)
(Future location of Dukes Grocery, 3301 Georgia Avenue.)
Corrected 8:45 am — original lease information was unclear, but has since been confirmed.
At the end of December I posted details and plans about Union Drinkery, a new tavern that was in the works for 3214-3216 Georgia Avenue. Earlier this summer there were a number of questions about if this establishment was still planning to come to the neighborhood. As I understand it, the snag was with getting permits from DCRA. This hurdle has been cleared and anyone walking past the place will clearly see that work has commenced (see photos below).
Union Drinkery is planned to have capacity for 86 patrons inside on the first and second levels and a rear summer garden with capacity for 63 patrons. A separate but complimentary fast casual type of business will be located next door.
![IMG_9440[1]](https://parkviewdc.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/img_94401.jpg)
![IMG_9442[1]](https://parkviewdc.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/img_94421.jpg)
"The territory comprising Park View extends from Gresham Street north to Rock Creek Church Road, and from Georgia Avenue to the Soldiers' Home grounds, including the triangle bounded by Park Road, Georgia Avenue, and New Hampshire Avenue" (from Directory and History of Park View, 1921.)
Unknown Feed Washington Business Journal
Park View, D.C. 