Shaw Welcomes New Businesses with Ribbon Cutting Marathon
Shaw Main Streets welcomed the newest businesses to the neighborhood by holding a series of ribbon cuttings the morning of July 30. Multiple ribbon cuttings on the same day to celebrate new businesses are a tradition in Shaw, held on a biannual basis in recent years. The ribbon cuttings heralded 14 new businesses, starting with a press event at Gaslight Tavern (2012-14 Ninth St. NW). Shaw Main Streets Board Chair Gretchen Wharton and Executive Director Alexander Padro were joined by DC Department of Small and Local Business Development Director Kristi Whitfield, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau and ANC Commissioners.
The group moved down Ninth Street to cut ribbons at Po Boy Jim Bar & Grill (1934 Ninth St. NW), Cortez DC Restaurant & Rooftop Bar (1905 Ninth St. NW) and Cosmo Beauty Bar (1911 Ninth St. NW). The contingent then moved to one of the two Shay buildings (1924 Eighth St. NW) to cut ribbons at the new location for the Local First Market, Violet Boutique and The Shop at Shaw salon. After boarding the Ribbon Cutting Express limo van, the cuttings continued to the south, with stops at Tobacco & Vape King (1537 Seventh St. NW) and Glass House Gallery DC (1527Ninth St. NW), a purveyor of high-end smoking glassware. Ribbons were also cut on Ninth Street to welcome pet grooming shop Petropolis (1408 Ninth St. NW), San Lorenzo Restaurant & Bar (1316 Ninth St. NW) and new offices for U Street Parking (1208 Ninth St. NW).
The ribbon cuttings ended on Seventh Street at Morris American Bar (1020 Seventh St. NW), with the last ribbon cut on the corner of Seventh and New York Avenue at The Capital Burger (1005 Seventh St. NW), the nation’s first outlet of a brand created by the people behind the Capital Grill.
Espita Chef Beats Bobby Flay
Right after Shaw’s Espita Mezcaleria won its RAMMY award for Washington’s Best Cocktail Program, it has gained another accolade. Espita’s Chef Robert Aikens has just appeared on the Food Network show “Beat Bobby Flay,” where he was able to defeat celebrity chef Bobby Flay in a cookoff. While the dish that Chef Aikens prepared for the show had British roots, fans can sample his work with Oaxacan specialties in Shaw.
Dolci Gelati Hosts World Gelato Festival Competition September 8
In a recent Washington Post review of the 10 best ice cream shops in the District, Shaw’s Dolci Gelati came out on top. The reviewer noted that “After a spoonful of Dolci’s sinfully smooth gelato, you’ll see why the shop topped the others in every category — despite its lack of name recognition compared” to bigger establishments in the District. Actually, the accolades for Dolci Gelati should not be a surprise given the awards that its leader, Gianluigi Dellaccio, has received, including a designation as the first gelato ambassador to the United States by the Associazione Italiana Gelatieri.
Now Chef Dellacio is bringing the Gelato Festival America to Shaw on the weekend of September 8 and 9 at City Market at O. The festival is actually a regional competition between gelato artisans, who will present original gelato flavors created specifically for the event. The winners of the Gelato America Festival will eventually compete for the title of World Champion at the 2021 Gelato Festival World Masters in Italy.
Festival attendees will get to go to the Gelato School, where gelato artisans share what it takes to be a gelato chef, participate in a Gelato Eating Contest where the five people who eat five cups of gelato the fastest will win a gallon of gelato, and see the Kid’s Jury, where children have the opportunity to question the chefs and vote for their favorite flavor.
Tickets to the festival are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and children. Children under two years of age get in free. Tickets are available online at gelatofestivalamerica.com/tickets or on www.eventbright.com/e/gelato-festival-washington-dc-tickets-47259080181.
Watha T. Daniel Library Holds Book Sale September 8
Also on Saturday, September 8, the Friends of the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library (1630 Seventh Street NW) will be holding a massive book sale. The Friends of the library will offer thousands of recently published books, rare and established classics, and an extensive set of titles for children and youth, along with CDs and DVDs for sale, most for a dollar or less. The ever popular bag of books for five dollars deal will be available again. There will also be a table offering some books for free. The sale will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
