Recapping DC bar news for the past two weeks:

• First, don’t forget to read the details about December 7th’s Barred in DC Circulator Bus Bar Tour here.
• If you haven’t already, check out my story about the ANC protest of Bar Charley‘s request to be open until 2a/3a. Story includes closing times for the neighboring establishments and the nuances of why the ANC decided to protest despite being in favor of the later closing times. SALM has a few more details.
• Bar Announcements
  • El Ray (U Street) (917 U St. NW) (ETA late December 2013) –  taqueria from Hilton Bros (Marvin, 18th St Lounge, Local 16, etc.) set among shipping containers. Will have a retractable roof & multiple bars. Next to Dodge City (PoPville)
  • Right Proper Brewing (Shaw) (624 T St. NW) (website, Facebook, Twitter) (ETA early December 2013) – brewpub set to open with 8 draft beers, including 2 house beers. 65 seat dining area with lounge/bar area in front (WCP)
  • All Souls Bar (Shaw) (725 T St. NW) (website, Facebook) (ETA late November 2013) – neighborhood 40-seat spot with limited menu set to open after years-long fight (Eater)
  • Alibi Restaurant & Lounge (Capitol Hill) (237 2nd St. NW) (ETA December 2013) – “British American pub” opening in the old hilarious dive My Brother’s Place spot (apparently from same owners). Sounds like it will be a complete 180 with chandeliers and good food. News originally first reported by Barred in DC over a month ago. (PoPville)
  • Seven Faces Barroom (Bloomingdale) (251 Florida Ave. NW at S) (ETA May-June 2014) – 1200 square foot, 85-person tavern from bartenders from Range, Ripple, & Velvet Lounge.
  • Sky Lounge (U Street) (913 U St. NW) (ETA unknown) – not much information on this place; just spotted that they’ve applied for a liquor license. ABRA tells me that it’s a transfer from a previous tavern licensee. Some digging uncovers a settlement agreement with “MBB” (perhaps previous licensee) and some PoPville discussion about the building being gutted.
  • Casual Mexican Richard Sandoval Restaurant/Bar (Shaw) (1547 7th St. NW at P) (ETA unknown) – Casual Mexican concept, not another El Centro as PoPville reported (Eater, PoPville)
  • Not opening- Kiji Club, a new planned cocktail bar from Daikaya owners, will not open after all, mostly b/c Daikaya has a great cocktail program (WCP/Y&H)
  • The Getaway likely closing by end of November. Never made it to this Columbia Heights spot. A PoPville commenter says the bank foreclosed on the property. (PoPville)
• Other News
  • Sticky Rice began serving its 2 week liquor license suspension on Nov. 13th for interfering with an ABRA investigation. Sticky Rice did file a motion for reconsideration of the suspension, but it was denied. Still open & serving sushi; apparently hosting AA meetings.
  • Riverfront at the Ball Park denied liquor license by ABRA despite support by local ANC; ABRA thought DC cops couldn’t police 6 acre area (technically capacity of 12000 people) and worried about sound emanating from the open air bar affecting the houses 1.5 blocks away. Was going to be bocce and kickball venue. Very bizarre ruling from ABRA (PoPville)
  • Dacha Beer Garden‘s attempts to build permanent structure has ran into the historic preservation roadblock. Lots of good info from WBJ. Dacha has turned to Facebook to drum up support for its plans.  Dacha’s last day for the season was Sunday. (WBJ, WCP)
  • Opportunity for new tavern license (or existing restaurant transferred to tavern license) in Georgetown. By law, Georgetown can only have 6 tavern licenses. According to the Post, Gypsy Sally’s (new music venue) and Smith Point have applied to have their licenses converted into the much less restrictive restaurant license.  There are 68 on-premises liquor licensees in Georgetown; only five have a tavern license: Rhino Bar, Chadwick’s El Centro D.F., Modern & Blue Gin (latter is currently closed) (Post, ABRA)
  • ANC 2F entered into settlement agreement (ABRA approval pending) with The American, new gastropub in Blagden Alley inside block bordered by 9th/10th/M Streets. The ANC voted to oppose termination of settlement agreement with The Park at 14th (SALM)
  • Two new bars (Ivy and Coney and The Pub and the People) received $85,000 each in DC grants as part of the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Program. Jessica Sidman (Y&H/WCP) has a great look at whether this is a worthwhile use of tax dollars. PoPville first reported about Ivy and Coney’s grant using to fund a retractable roof deck (which spawned a good discussion in the comments).
  • Great new nightly specials from RedRocks H Street. Includes 1/2 price pizzas Tuesdays & HH all night long Wed. ($1 off drafts, $5 mixed drinks) (GoG/Post)
  • BYT’s rolls out its The Least Douchey Bars in DC for 2013 (hate to admit-haven’t frequented many of these, I’ve bolded those I’ve been to: Shaw (A&D, Hogo), Dupont (Bar Charley, The Bier Baron Tavern) Eastern Market (Beuchert’s Saloon,) Logan Circle/U Street (Black Whiskey, Satellite Room) Bloomingdale (Boundary Stone, Showtime Lounge), NW DC (Comet Pizza & Ping Pong), Petworth/Park View (DC Reynolds, The Looking Glass Lounge, Petworth Citizen) Woodley Park (The Gin Joint) H Street (Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club,  The Pug), Columbia Heights (Meridian Pint, The Pinch,  Adams Morgan (The Pharmacy Bar), Mount Pleasant (The Raven Grill), Capitol Hill (Wisdom). Check the link for 2012’s list too (BYT)
  • 10 new happy hours to try including 7 in DC: The Heights, Kapnos, Mi Cocina, Mintwood Place, ParkView Patio, The W Hotel Living Room, Zentan (Washingtonian/Best Bites)
  • Young & Hungry spotlights a few new wine spots, including Eno Wine Bar, Barcelona Wine Bar, & Vin de Chez (pop up at Union Market)
  • ANC 2B protest renewals for Bistro Bistro & The Fireplace, Barcode (peace quiet/parking issues) & Public Bar’s request to terminate settlement agreement. ANC is fine with Public Bar’s request to be open at 11am.
  • Fiola/Casa Luca head mixologist/bartender Jeff Faile moving the Neighborhood Restaurant Group to head group’s cocktail program (Post)
  • ABRA to decide what to do about 17th Street liquor license moratorium this Wednesday afternoon.
  • 22 year old man from Silver Spring stabbed to death Sunday night outside Midtown in Dupont. A cop was also kicked (DCist)
  • Thrillist lists 47 coolest bars and restaurants in DC (really 43 in DC)
  • No new lease yet for TruOrleans space on H Street (WCP)
• Barred in DC Activity
  • Lots of bars in Memphis – too many to count or remember
  • GBD  – still cheapest best happy hour in city, goes till 8p, $3-4-5 beers, $3 punches, often $3-4 food items
  • Lucky Bar – solid Friday HH goes till 8 includes $4 drafts (includes local drafts such as Chocolate City and Atlas on recent visit)
  • Garden District – spent a terrific Sunday afternoon here; catch it before it closes December 7th
  • Blackjack – swung by for solid Sunday HH
  • Ghibellina – although limited time (only 4:30-6:30p), this might have best food & drink combo deals for HH. $3-4.50 20 oz beers, $5 wines, cheap cocktails,~$8 pizzas
    
  • Pearl Dive Oyster Bar – hung out on the great patio outside
  • Duke’s Grocery – terrific neighborhood bar with great sandwiches
  • The Board Room DC – had some solid cheap cocktails
  • Maddy’s Bar and Grille – watched some Thursday night football here, definitely impressed by the sports bar atmosphere, will bump up their rating 1/2 star