Columbia Room Declared Best Cocktail Bar in America
At the Tales of the Cocktail, an annual, internationally recognized, four-day event in New Orleans dedicated to the contemporary cocktail, Shaw’s own Columbia Room won the Lillet Spirited Award as the Best American Cocktail Bar. Starting almost a decade ago as a small room enveloped by The Passenger, a much larger Shaw bar, the Columbia Room was devoted to the crafting and production of high-end cocktails. It opened its own location in Blagden Alley last year. While Derrick Brown, Angie Fetherston, and J.P. Fetherson of the Drink Company have attended the Tales of the Cocktail event for a number of years, this is the first time they have won such a prestigious award. It comes on the heels of the crowds and international attention drawn by their Game of Thrones popup bar on Seventh Street.
Shaw Restaurants Rack Up RAMMY Awards
Shaw had some notable wins at this year’s RAMMY Awards, on the night of June 30 at the Washington Convention Center. The RAMMY awards are given out annually for culinary and managerial excellence among members of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.
Convivial started the wins for Shaw by getting the RAMMY for Upscale Brunch of the Year. Hazel got the nod for New Restaurant of the Year. Cava Grill, which has a branch in Shaw, won Favorite Fast Bites of the Year, while its corporate parent the Cava Group took the RAMMY for Restaurateur of the Year.
Shaw Holds Ribbon-Cutting Jamboree
Shaw Main Streets held a Ribbon Cutting Jamboree the morning of July 27 to highlight new businesses in the neighborhood. The event opened at the new Sugar Shack, part of a regional chain that makes and fries its donuts on site. The jamboree brought together dignitaries including Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity Courtney Snowden, Department of Small and Local Business Development Director Ana Harvey, Chamber of Commerce President Vincent Orange, and Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau, Kenyan McDuffie, and Charles Allen.
Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander Padro greeted the crowd assembled for the jamboree. Deputy Mayor Snowden said that new small businesses were important for the jobs they provided residents. Director Harvey noted how important the Main Streets concept has become for the District, starting from six to now 12 communities, to a total of 16 DC Main Streets in the near future. Ward 6 Councilmember Allen said that he saw the business activity in Shaw as a leading indicator of the overall health of the District’s economy.
From Sugar Shack, the crowd moved to cut ribbons at the newly relaunched Etete, Canteen Beer Garden, the Breather co-working space, the Five to One bar, and Capo Deli along with its Backroom, a luxurious club space behind a metal door in the deli. Then the group went on to cut ribbons at Wet Dog Tavern, In3 Inclusive Innovation Incubator, Inizio Hair Salon, Fish Scale restaurant, and Kiss Lounge.
On Seventh Street, ribbons were cut at You Break I Fix phone repair, Yoga Shala, and two Shaw Main Street fence-art projects at the corner of Seventh and P streets. The jamboree moved to Ninth Street, cutting ribbons at Maggie O’Neill Fine Art and the Room x Swatchroom gallery. The restaurants French Quarter Brasserie & Oyster Bar, Imm Thai, Maxwell Park Wine Bar, and Mirai Market were next on the tour of Ninth Street.
The jamboree ended with ribbon cuttings at the newly opened Urban Athletic Club, Union Kitchen Grocery, and Tiger Fork restaurant in Blagden Alley. The final ribbon cut was at Nocturne, a new speakeasy drinking space opening in the basement of Sugar Shack.
Mirai Market Opens
The much-anticipated sushi spot Mirai Market, noted above, has finally opened in Shaw. Developed by the same people responsible for the District spots Sushi Capitol and Sushi Ogawa, Mirai has an eight-seat counter serving sushi as a “quick-service omakase,” where the chef creates and serves the meal within a 30-minute period. Plans are to have the space serve also as a daytime Japanese market. Currently, Mirai is only open on Sunday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m. Reservations can be made by texting the number of people in your party and the time you want to arrive to 571-251-5444.
Dolci Gelati to Hold Puppy Happy Hour
Dolci Gelati, the City Market at O purveyor of frozen desserts, will host a Puppy Happy Hour on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. Among its assortment of gelatos, sorbets, and pastries, the store carries a line of canine-appropriate gelatos. The event will mark the end of a busy summer for Dolci Gelati, including competing for the Gelato World Tour championship in Italy.
