Spring Brings New Businesses to Shaw
After a dreary government shutdown in January, a crop of new businesses is popping up in Shaw for spring. Perhaps the biggest opening so far is Shaw’s second Union Kitchen Grocery, moving into the former Glens Garden Market space at 1924 Eighth St. NW in the west Shay building. The new grocery carries the same mix of gourmet commodities and delicatessen and prepared-food items as its Ninth and N streets sister. The grocery at The Shay also brings extended hours to the neighborhood, opening at 7 a.m. and closing at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Two blocks north, a new casual restaurant, Roy Boys, has taken up residence at 2108 Eighth St. NW, in the Atlantic Plumbing building. Roy Boys specializes in fried chicken and fresh oysters, with a menu including fried chicken sandwiches, ice cream tacos, craft cocktails and local beers.
Zeppelin (1544 Ninth St. NW) is another example of a dark space lighting up again. The new Asian-themed bar and restaurant is a result of the team at Chaplin’s and renowned sushi chef Minoru Ogawa of Sushi Capitol. Zeppelin also offers an omakase tasting menu and karaoke on its second floor.
At the corner of 11th and N streets, the Bird has become Frenchy’s Naturel, a laid-back restaurant serving French cuisine using “naturel” ingredients. Shaw’s other big French restaurant, Convivial, now offers lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the week, along with weekend brunches and dinner. Also, in terms of extended hours, Seylou Bakery & Mill is now open seven days a week. Seylou is open on Friday nights until 8 p.m., Pizza Night, baking traditional pizzas on whole-grain bread.
A number of new drinking establishments have opened on Seventh Street. The 1015 Bar & Lounge (1015½ Seventh St. NW) offers a mix of cocktails, Cajun small plate dishes and hookah smoking. Jake’s Tavern (1606 Seventh St. NW), from the owners of Black Whiskey on 14th Street, has beer on tap and in cans, cocktails and heavy bar food inspired by the tastes of Texas and coastal Maryland. And just in time for spring, the Drink Company has brought back its Cherry Blossom Bar pop-up (1843 Seventh St. NW), with a totally new set of decorations celebrating spring in Washington and the culture of Japan.
Howard Theatre Walk of Fame Installed
Installation of the Howard Theatre Walk of Fame has been completed. The project, commissioned by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, along with the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and Cultural Tourism DC, commemorates some of the titans of entertainment who performed at the Howard Theatre since its 1910 opening. Starting at the Howard Theatre, the trail of large bronze-relief portrait medallions continues down the sidewalks on both sides of the 600 block of T Street to the east side of Seventh Street, going all the way down to S Street. The portrait medallions include famous Washington entertainers (Pearl Bailey, Billy Eckstine, Marvin Gaye, Chuck Brown, Billy Taylor), icons of the swing era (Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton) and other stars of African American entertainment (Abbie Mitchell, Ruth Brown, The Clovers, James Brown, Moms Mabley, Mamie Smith and Sister Rosetta Tharpe). Interpretive signs in front of the Howard Theatre and on Seventh Street tell the stories of the luminaries.
Shaw Main Streets Annual Meeting and Reception, March 19
Shaw Main Streets will hold its annual meeting for the community on Tuesday evening, March 19, starting at 7 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis Hotel. The organization will review its accomplishments for the past year and announce the winners of its Best New Shaw Businesses of 2018 poll. A reception featuring food and drink follows the meeting, sponsored by Shaw Main Streets and the Marriott Marquis.
You can still vote for your favorite new Shaw business by sending an email to BestinShaw@gmail.com before Monday, March 18, at 12 p.m., with the name of your favorite new Shaw business (see Shaw Main Streets ad in this issue). The three top vote getters will be recognized as the Best New Shaw Businesses at the Shaw Main Streets annual meeting. Admission to the annual meeting is free and no tickets are required.
Eat. Drink. Shaw. April 24
Shaw is home to over 100 of DC’s finest restaurants and bars, drawing foodies and cocktail lovers from around the world. On April 24, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., Eat. Drink. Shaw. – Shaw Main Streets’ annual food and drink showcase – will feature the work of more than 20 outstanding chefs, bakers, mixologists and brewers who call Shaw home.
Event attendees will enjoy unlimited food, cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks from some of DC’s most celebrated restaurants and bars, and meet the chefs and bartenders who have made Shaw an international dining and entertainment destination. The $80 ticket for the event includes live entertainment, a free photo booth, a gift bag and complimentary valet parking, a $300 value.
Tickets are $80 in advance and $100 at the door. Proceeds support Shaw Main Streets’ economic revitalization and historic preservation activities in central Shaw. Tickets are available at www.eatdrinkshaw2019.eventbrite.com.
