Getting Around This Weekend

It's a big weekend.  The Phillies are in town (games 7:05p tonight, 1:05p tomorrow, and 8:05p on Sunday).  The Rangers are in town (game 12:30p tomorrow).  The Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo.  Taste of Mount Vernon Triangle.  The Race for Hope (which will close down the usual 5K route on and around Pennsylvania on Sunday morning from 5a to 11a).  Did we mention there was major metro track work?

Washington Post's Dr. Gridlock has an extensive article on navigating all of this weekend.  No matter where or how you're going, you're bound to be affected by sports fans, drunk people, or track work.  We grumbled too - but just remember you're the lucky one: you can walk to all of that.  Happy Penn Quartering!

Cintucky Derb Mayo

How to celebrate a very festive day:

• The Derby.  Both the Nats and the Caps games should be done by post-time (6:23p), so we'd be any sports bar worth its weight (and we've weighed in on this in the past) will be showing the Run for the Roses.  Hill Country has a special menu for the day, also.  If you're looking for something a bit fancier, we recommend Bonnets and Bowties at the Willard.  $75 gets you two juleps, an all-you-can-eat buffet, some giveaways, and prizes for the best hat and bowtie.  
• Cinco de Mayo.  Looking for the best marg in town?  Thrillist identified Penn Quarter as the best place to do a "margarita tour."  They suggest taking a pedicab but as a PQ resident, you know your way around well enough to stumble between:

• Hill Country's Kreuz margarita;
• Jose Andres' personal favorite marg at Oyamel (they'll have a live band from 1p-5p);
• the Coco de Mayo at Rosa Mexicano (they'll also have live music and giveaways);
• Ceiba's margarita de casa (Ceiba is also offering $5 raffle tickets for an all-inclusive trip for two to Mexico to celebrate - margs and street food are also only $5); and finally
• Topic the Margarita at PS7's.
• As a bonus, we also suggest the margaritas at Zengo.
• (As a double bonus, you'll be hungry after all of that drinking - stop by California Tortilla and get a coupon for a free taco).

This could be the only day of the year that sombreros go with seersucker.  Live it up!

Ralph Lauren in PQ?

Greater Greater Washington reports today that the Equitable Building at 915 F Street (nee The Fifth Column, Club Bounce, Platinum Nightclub, Museum of Arts and Sciences, etc.) is getting closer to sale.  You may remember that back in January it was OK'd for a pop-up, and Douglas Jemal reports that retailers are interested in the space, specifically Ralph Lauren.  If true, this would be Lauren's second location in the District - the other on Wisconsin in Georgetown (and the third if you count Rugby).

Ralph Lauren would join Anthropologie, Lou Lou, Mia Gemma and the forthcoming J. Crew on that block, and of course Zara, Forever 21, Macy's, Guess, American Apparel, and H&M all just a block or two away.  We could hit 1.1 million square feet of retail far before 2018 if we keep this up!

Market Thursday

The goodness coming from the folks at Penn Quarter Market today is just overwhelming:

You've got until 7p - you know what to do.

Downtown Playground

Downtown DC Kids has been working hard to make our neighborhood more kid and family friendly - and we are pleased to report they are making great strides.

Yesterday, the DC Committee on Libraries, Parks, Recreation and Planning, chaired by Councilmember Tommy Wells, unanimously approved budget recommendations that included funds for a playground.    It's been suggested that Carnegie Library, Seaton Park or the National Building Museum lawn house a kid-friendly playground or climbing structure.

Still, the funding is not currently guaranteed - the budget must be approved by Mayor Gray and other councilmembers - and Downtown DC Kids wants your help.  Check out their post on how you can get involved.

The Mall: Redesigned

The competition to redesign the National Mall has come to a close, and the results are in.

By 2016:

• Constitution Gardens will soon feature an ice rink and a glassed in restaurant;
• The area surrounding the Washington Monument will be built up, a bit like an amphitheater; and
• Union Square will get a reflecting pool all of its own.

We're excited for the changes, but given the mall-rehab has already begun, four years seems a long way away...

Reports of Gas/Smoke Inhalation at Fairfield Inn

Reports from the DC Fire & EMS and the DCPD are coming in about the strong smell of gas at the Fairfield Inn at 5th and H NW.  Additionally, DCPD reports that five people have been treated for smoke inhalation.

Vehicular and pedestrian traffic has been stopped in the area:

3:30p UPDATE:  DCPD reports that the area is now clear.

More on the Beach Bar

It's already starting to look like the quintessential DC summer (Friday is supposed to hit 89!), so to say that we're looking forward to the New York Avenue Beach Bar is an understatement.

The space has already begun to build out, and we're told it's only a couple of weeks away now.  We know that hours will be Tues - Thurs 12p-2a; Fri - Sun 12p-3a.  If you see the 80 tons of sand arrive, let us know!

Taste of Mount Vernon Triangle

The Derby post time isn't until 6:24, and Cinco de Mayo festivities can wait, because you've got more important things to do this Saturday: the Taste of Mount Vernon Triangle from 2-5p.

Tickets ($20 now, $30 at the door) get you samples of appetizers, entrees, drinks and desserts from some of our favorite MVT establishments:  Busboys and Poets, Henry's Soul Cafe, Kushi, Mandu, Papa John's, Sixth Engine, Subway Liquor, Taylor Gourmet, and Tunnel Liquor.

If $20 is too steep for you, consider volunteering at the event - you get a free ticket for your trouble!

Shakespeare Theatre to Take Home the Regional Tony Award

A resounding "congrats" from all of us here at PQ Insider to the Shakespeare Theatre Company.  It was announced today that they will be awarded the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award in New York on June 10th.

The Regional Theatre Tony Award honors only one non-profit, professional regional theatre in the entire country per year - one that displays a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theatre nationally.  We are very lucky to have Shakespeare Theatre Company just around the corner.

"I am so honored to have the work of the Shakespeare Theatre Company recognized in this way," STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn said in a statement.  "This is a very touching tribute to have the work of all of the artists and staff who have been a part of our 25-year history acknowledged."

Next time someone tries to pull the old "New York is sooooo much better" routine with you, you can tell them you're afforded the opportunity to see Tony winners too.  Check out their upcoming performances.

A When's-It-Opening Update

Two months ago, we did a round-up of Penn Quarter establishments that were en route.  We figured it was time for some updates.

We'll start with the most prominent offender to timely-openings: Wagamama.  Absolutely no progress has been made.  Last we heard, they were waiting on "confirmation from landlords and property development," and were to expect a press release in a few weeks.  No dice.  No development:

Just down the block, however, at 7th and D, Protein Bar is making strides towards opening this summer.  We love their mission: to "provide active, on-the-go people with healthy, flavorful choices while having a positive impact on everyone [they] meet and in everything [they] do."  This is Chicago's menu, but we expect much the same here in DC.

Grand Trunk still has its main space blockaded from public view, and though we've occasionally seen workers in and out, it doesn't look much closer to opening.  The signs have been updated to say "coming soon," as opposed to "Winter 2012."

The old Hot Potato Cafe space has, at the very least, been marked for lease by Douglas Development.  A commenter let us know that a pizza joint slated for the building was nixed by Douglas because Carmine's lease prevents anything similar on the block.  It's too small (we think, anyway) for the Penn Quarter Bodega - what else would you like to see in that space?

District Taco is undergoing final inspections this week!  Orale!  Last night, work was underway, and they told us they'd be "opening in a couple of weeks."  Watch this space:

Daikaya: still a giant hole in the ground.  No soup for you.

Del Frisco's Grille got signage - and has classified opening as "early summer."  We're (happily) thinking June.

The Art of Spyn has bumped their opening back a season to Summer 2012.  We wonder if they'll open at the same time as their neighbors, J. Crew - in August.

Dangerously Delicious Pies has officially missed its April prediction.  Frankly, we're confused by the location - Douglas Development says it will be at 901 7th Street, but as of last night, the TD Bank there was still very operational.  If it's the space down the block, as Prince of Petworth indicated, that space still has the "for lease" signs up, and nothing has been built out inside.  Moreover, the "for lease" signs are by Brookfield, not Douglas Development.  We've reached out to management but haven't heard anything. Thoughts, our (smarter-than-us) readers?  

And finally, Local Vine Cellar will be opening this week!

BOGO Vegan Cupcakes

It's only Tuesday, but the folks at Red Velvet have a solution to the mid-week blahs: buy-one-get-one-free vegan cupcakes, today only:

Another Georgetown Campus in the Neighborhood?

Just over a year ago, the Louis Dreyfus Property Group (now Property Group Partners) released their proposal for filling the airspace above 395 between E and H Street.  Then, the proposal included courtyards, buildings, and continued access to 395. The project has since been named "Capitol Crossing," and estimates put the total cost at around $200 million.

Today, the Washington Post reports that Georgetown University is interested in building out Capitol Crossing, perhaps with their medical school or public policy school.  This would create, essentially, one congruous campus with Georgetown University Law Center: "Georgetown East."

Property Group Partners emphasized that no deal has been struck yet - and that the earliest occupancy date was probably early 2016.

The project will move ahead, with or without Georgetown, and it will provide us with more retails bays in the area.  Interestingly enough, page 45 of the brochure in fact renders Eataly in that space.  Do we smell a bidding war with City Center DC?