Bar Method having an opening party

The Bar Method has been open awhile now up at 9th and H Streets N.W., but they still haven't had their grand opening party.

The fitness studio will be having their party on Saturday, September 17th, but only those who have committed to a three-month package will be invited to the party.  A three month package is $195 (total $585) -- expensive even for a D.C. party.

The Bar Method also added new class times (10:00 a.m. on Mondays/Wednesdays; 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7:45 p.m. on Mondays - Thursdays; 9:00 a.m., 10:15 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. on weekends).

They also will have classes over Labor Day Weekend, each day of the three-day weekend at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 12:00 p.m.

More in District of Pi

District of Pi Pizzeria opens today, and the Washington Post has more details on the restaurant.

While Pi is known for it's deep dish, they have two ovens--one for deep dish and one for thin crust.  There are six deep dish pizzas on the menu and five thin crust pizzas, but any of them can be ordered either way.  You can also create your own pizza, choosing from a variety of toppings.

The "Pi Snacks" you may have seen on the menu are a D.C. exclusive, they are not available in the four St. Louis locations.

Their happy hour runs from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. every day except Saturday.  You can get Pi Snacks as well as $5 wines and $4 draft beers.  Sure there are better deals out there, but there are 24 beers on draft at Pi.

The restaurant will also be open for brunch, serving pizzas with eggs instead of tomato sauce.

The menus are available here.

Groupon for Crime & Punishment Museum

Been meaning to get to the Crime & Punishment Museum, but haven't?  First you want to avoid the summer crowds, then you want to see all the free museums in the area before you get to the ones you have to pay for.

Today, Groupon is there to help.  Today's Groupon lets you buy a Crime & Punishment Museum ticket for only $10, a savings over the usual $21 ticket price.  You have to go by November 20, 2011, though.

There is also a deal where you can pay the normal $21, but you get an after-hours tour of the museum, which is great for those of you trying to avoid the crowds.  However, you have to go on September 23rd, and there is a selection of times available.

Check it out here.

City Vista Safeway is now open 24 hours

Prince of Petworth is reporting (hat tip TBD) that the Safeway at 5th and L Streets N.W. is now open 24 hours. 

Our closest grocery store now joins few 24 hour grocery stores in the District, such as the Georgetown Safeway and the Giant at O Street N.W., which is closing soon.

Pi and the President

Forbes Magazine has a bit more about Pi Pizzeria opening tomorrow than we knew.

Apparently during the President's campaign, he sent a staffer out for pizza during a campaign stop in Missouri.  The staffer went to Pi, which started in St. Louis, and the President declared the pizza the best he had ever had.

Fast forward until after inaguration, and the President invited the owners of Pi to come cook pizza for him in the White House kitchen.  They did.

That means that after the restaurant's opening tomorrow, we can probably expect another Presidential visit in our neighborhood in the near future.

District of Pi Pizzeria opens tomorrow

We have sampled their food from their food truck, but finally the brick-and-mortar District of Pi Pizzeria opens tomorrow (8/31).  We knew they were opening in August, they just barely made it by the deadline.

The pizzeria is located at 901 F Street N.W.  The menu is available here. 

There is a Penn Quarter pizza, it's a deep-dish specialty pi with roasted eggplant, sausage, red onion, basil, and ricotta.

Hurricane Irene aftermath

Penn Quarter largely faired pretty well through Hurricane Irene.  Email us any damage you know about. 

All we saw was a lamp that had broken in the plaza between Indiana Ave and Pennsylvania Avenue and several newspaper stands that had blown over.  One newspaper stand seemed to have blown down Seventh Street some, but we did not see much else out of place.

Lamp broken from Hurricane Irene

Newspaper stands were blown over almost everywhere

Architecture center detailed

We have been eyeing the architecture center (first reported in February here) that took the souvenir shop space, wondering what it will be all about.

A rendering of the space to come

Today, the Washington Business Journal profiles the space, reporting it will be open in October.

They call it a "veritable mecca for the design community" and quote the President of the Washington chapter of the American Institute of Architects saying it's going to "provide a focal point for architectural conversation in the city."

The center will apparently offer lectures, events, community programs, and exhibits with the aim of increasing the visibility and accessibility of the city's architecture.

Their old space was in DuPont Circle, but in a townhouse with little or no street presence.  It will certainly add something different to Penn Quarter.

Read the full profile here.  Follow the construction progress here.

Hotel deal for those without power

If you have family without power, but no place to put them up, Kimpton hotels are offering a special deal for those displaced due to Hurricane Irene.

Several of their hotels are offering those who have no power or are stranded as a result of the hurricane a special rate of $99 per night.

Hotel Monaco in Penn Quarter is not participating; however, many other Kimpton hotels in the area are, including Hotel George just down the street.

The other hotels participating are: Rouge, Helix, Topaz, Madera, Palomar (Arlington), Monaco (Alexandria), and Monaco (Baltimore).

To get this special rate, make your reservation online at KimptonHotels.com and enter IRENE into the rate code box.  You can also call 1-800-KIMPTON and ask for the hurricane relief rate.

The rates are effective until September 2nd.

Power outage update

The Lansburgh does have power. We cannot see anything at 7th and D without power, despite Pepco's reports.

Metro status update during Hurricane Irene

This is the latest from Metro:

Based on current National Weather Service forecasts, Metro bus, rail and paratransit services are expected to continue operating on a regular Saturday schedule.  There are currently no planned service changes as a result of weather, and there are no reported delays or major detours as of 7:45 p.m. Saturday.

Power outages in Penn Quarter

Pepco is reporting that there are power outages in Penn Quarter, including one at 7th and D Street.  We are not sure which building is out (Lansburgh again?) but we are investigating and will let you know as soon as we know.

The green triangles above indicate a power outage.

Restaurant closings

A look at at OpenTable indicates the following restaurants have closed for the evening:

15 Squares American Bistro (at the Renaissance)
America Eats
Buddha Bar
Carmine's
Cedar
Central
Fiola (closed for the season)
Galileo III
Hill Country


UPDATE:  We have spoken to District Chophouse and Gordon Biersch, and both have CLOSED.