Best Hotel Bars

The Washington Business Journal has rated the best hotel bars in the country.

Three on the list are in New York; one in San Francisco; and one in Boston.

But two are right here in Washington and Penn Quarter-adjacent.  Making the list are the Hay Adam's Off The Record Bar and the Willard's Round Robin Bar.

We can't disagree - and are particular fans of the Kentucky Derby Party at the Willard.  But other Penn Quarter hotels make for a great meeting spot for a drink.  Poste patio in the summer is hard to beat, and the Presidential Sports Bar in the Renaissance is not just for tourists.

We also often find ourselves sipping to the soft piano music in the Grand Hyatt.

Champagne Food Truck? Yes, please.

Veuve Clicquot is bringing their food champagne truck to the District the weekend after Memorial Day, where you can pick up a quick glass of champagne while you're out walking your dog.

You can follow them on twitter @veuveclicquot, but we'll tell you where they are going to be, courtesy of Guest of a Guest:

• Thursday, May 30th, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. - The Dupont Circle Hotel (1500 New Hampshire Ave N.W.)

• Friday, May 31st, 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - The W Hotel D.C. (515 15th Street N.W.)

• Saturday, June 1st, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Lemongrass in Annapolis (167 West Street)

We're for sale!

PQInsider.com is for sale!

Because of the personal commitments of the small group of staff here at PQInsider, we have been unable to keep up with the demands (and the news!) of our vibrant neighborhood. We are proud so much is happening all the time in Penn Quarter, but think our readers would be better served by a new owner.

If you know of anyone looking to take over such a fun operation, we are at auction with Flippa:

New changes coming to D.C. cabs

D.C. is a huge city for taxis, yet we seem to lag behind most other cities.  Good news: changes are coming.

The Cloture Club has summarized a lot of these changes, and the D.C. Taxicab Commission has issued a number of press releases.

Some of the changes:

• All taxis will accept credit cards by August 31, 2013.
• The base fare will increase from $3.00 to $3.25 on June 1, 2013
• An additional 25 cent surcharge will be charged per ride to support to the Taxicab Commission
• Taxis will once again charge $1 per extra passenger
• Baggage fees have been eliminated

So you can use credit cards . . . but you'll probably be paying more overall.

Shophouse and It'Sugar coming to Penn Quarter

Penn Quarter is set to welcome two new stores, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Shophouse, the Asian Chipotle (actually owned by Chipotle) that is currently in Georgetown and Dupont Circle finally comes to Penn Quarter.  It will take the Ruby Tuesday's space at 710 Seventh Street, N.W.

Next to that, It'Sugar is going in (714 Seventh Street N.W.), which sells novelty items like t-shirts and candy.  This is the first It'Sugar in D.C., but they are in 17 states and there is one as close as Baltimore.

FrozenYo is also expected to open up in that block, along with the Lime Fresh going into the old Potbelly's space.