BY
JAZZY WRIGHT
New
Restaurants Open
Two
new eateries are coming to the neighborhood. In September restaurateur Phil
Rodriguez announced on the Bloomingdale Neighborhood blog that he plans to open
a Mexican restaurant at 108 Rhode Island Ave NW with his business partner Tony
Lucca. Rodriguez, who is one of the owners of Sticky Rice DC and 1905 Bistro
and Bar, is planning a restaurant that will serve traditional Mexican food and
Latin cocktails. “Aside from my personal passion for Mexican food, Tony and I
feel that Mexican food will be a great addition to the current selection of
amazing restaurants in Bloomingdale,” he wrote.
The unnamed Mexican restaurant will be going in this site next door to Grassroots Gourmet.
Next
summer a new restaurant and bar called The Pub and the People will open on the
eastern border of the Bloomingdale neighborhood. The new bar from local
restaurateur Jeremy Gifford and several partners will open at 1648 North
Capitol St. NW, on the corner of R and North Capitol. It will offer 70 indoor
seats and up to 100 outdoor seats. The new eatery has already acquired Black
Salt sous-chef Dan Dalcin. The menu will offer classic American dishes
including sandwiches and vegetarian options. The owners plan to offer local
craft beers and a cocktail selection.
Gifford
has been in the restaurant business for more than 12 years and is also the
owner of DC Reynolds, a bar in Petworth. The restaurateur says that he was
driven to open a bar in the area for two reasons: first, the new space is close
to his home; second, the stunning view of the Capitol. He hopes that his new
establishment will ease some of the blight on busy North Capitol Street. “When
you’re facing one of the most powerful buildings in the world, it feels like
there should be a sit-down restaurant there,” he said.
House
Tour Raises Money for Young Students
In
October the Bloomingdale Civic Association hosted the 4th House Tour and Art
Show to raise funds to support the civic organization, community beautification
efforts, and historic preservation activities. Additionally the biennial event,
which is the major funding source for the civic association, raised college
scholarship funds for Bloomingdale students.
With
the theme “Diverse Devine Design,” the home tour focused on the history of the
neighborhood and included showings of eight Victorian, traditional and
contemporary area homes. As part of the home showings, the tour route featured
Bloomingdale historical poster displays and kiosks manned by local history
experts. The event included a children’s book reading and book signings. Local
landscape designer Tom Noll, who contributes recycled art to the 1st Street NW
triangle park, read from his children’s book “The Bicycle Fence.” The event
concluded with an art show and reception at the GooDBuddY art gallery on
Florida Avenue.
By
the end of the night, the event raised $10,000 for the organization, more than
previous years according to House Tour Committee Chair Bertha G. Holliday. She
says that the event helps bring the community together. “It is important to
highlight Bloomingdale and to get people outside the neighborhood to learn more
about the growth and the vibrancy of the neighborhood,” she said, adding that
the tour brings attention to the diversity of the area.
As
a result of the fundraiser the Bloomingdale Civic Association will award
college scholarships to students Rica Spriggs of McKinley Technology High
School and Samantha Washington of Capital City Public Charter School.
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