Lime Fresh to Replace Potbelly's

According to the Washington Business Journal, Lime Fresh Mexican Grill will replace the Potbelly at 726 7th Street in "mid-2013."

We're struck by the fact that Potbelly will be closing - particularly when another Mexican restaurant, California Tortilla, is right next door (and Chipotle is right across the street!).

A New Noodle Shop

A new noodle shop is coming to Penn Quarter/Chinatown, and no, it's not Wagamama.

According to the folks at The 42 Bus blog, the owners of Absolute Thai will be opening a new noodle themed restaurant in the space formerly known as Quiznos on 5th Street, called Absolute Noodle.  We think of Absolute Thai as kind of a sleeper-hit in our neighborhood, now run by celebrechefs and the like, and we're excited another neighborhoody-type-place will be opening.  Opening is on course for November.

Dine Out & End Childhood Hunger

Every September, Share Our Strength's Dine Out For No Kid Hungry brings together thousands of restaurants and their customers to raise funds for the campaign.  This year, Penn Quarter has a few options if you want to help:

• Hill Country - donate $2 or more through 9/22 and receive a small side on your next visit.
• California Tortilla - donate $1 or more through 9/23 and get a free taco on your next visit.
• Corner Bakery - donate $1 through 9/22 and get a free Whoopie Pie on your next visit, or donate $5 and get a coupon book worth $45.
• Bruegger's - donate $3 or more through 9/22 and get a coupon book worth $20.

Celebrity Sighting

Heigl's Facebook picture

Katherine Heigl was in town last night for the Angels in Adoption Gala at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

According to Maria Trabocchi, she, husband Josh Kelley and daughters Naleigh and Adalaide dropped by Fiola as well.  Trabocchi categorized Heigl as "really beautiful" and "charming," and followed up with "And yes, she eats pasta too :)" 

Sculpt DC's Opening Presale

We mentioned last month that Sculpt DC was moving towards opening - and indeed - the official opening date is Monday, September 24th.

If you want to try it out, they're offering an opening month special - $40 for one month of unlimited yoga, $60 for one month of unlimited cycle and yoga.  Your month begins on the day of your first visit (so long as that first day is between Sept 24th and October 24th).  You can register here.

Their pricing will go up after that: $180 for one month unlimited yoga, or $160 if you auto-renew (you get cycling with that price also).

Red Apron Contest

Red Apron Butcher plans on opening in "early 2013," but you may have seen their signs up in the neighborhood already, inviting you to register for their mailing list.  You could win a dinner for you and nine friends if you win, or a Red Apron skateboard.

Hope you win!

At the Market Today

Actual apples from today's market:
image via @FRESHFARMMktsDC

Autumn's creeping in - winter and acorn squash from Garner's Produce and figs come highly recommended from the Farmer's Market - which as you know is on 8th Street between D and E until 7p today.

Plus: if you're a BASIS student or teacher, FRESHFARM is celebrating your first week by giving you a free apple.

The Daisuke Utagawa Projects Get Closer to Opening, Names

The Gosai Kiji bird

Today we got an onslaught of news from the Daisuke Utagawa projects.  Buried in a press release from Douglas Development, we now have some more information on when the 600 F Street cocktail bar (the Fuel Pizza corner) he's had in the works will open:  about "six months."  It's also been given a name: Kiji Club - named after the national bird of Japan.  The bar is still in development - per an interview with the Washingtonian, the only certain aspects are whiskey and snacks.  We're not complaining (unless the rumor that there would be a cover still holds true...)

Utagawa also says that the original ramen shop concept at 705 6th Street, Daikaya (next to Graffiato) - will open by the end of this year.  The ramen bar will serve Sapporo-style ramen and seat about 40, where as the upstairs izakaya ("where you drink, eat and be merry," according to Utagawa himself) will seat about 100.

No News from Wagamama

This is hardly a news story these days, but we thought we'd let you know that we recently reached out to our contact at Wagamama.  The Director of Marketing told us:

"I am afraid there is no new news on this subject."

When asked if there was anything she could tell us about the reasons for delay, she responded "I am afraid not."

Wagamama has had plans to take over the old Olsson's Bookstore since it closed in June 2008.  Four plus years - and still a huge vacant cavern on 7th Street.  Nearly every establishment in a block or so's radius of Wagamama has turned over in that time: Hill Country, Merzi, Sei, Luke's Lobster, Protein Bar, Red Velvet, Tangy Sweet, Carmine's, Iron Horse and Pitango.  At this point, we would be thrilled to even hear they had given up on the development - just so that the space could turn over to someone else.

A Table for One in Penn Quarter

Eater DC asked its readers where they'd be most likely to make a reservation for one - and they overwhelming picked Penn Quarter restaurants.

A bit of Eater's map - 9 of their 12 restaurants are here in the 20004

We wonder if it's our great restaurants that attract singles, or if it's because our lively neighborhood is enough stimulus to keep a solo-eater entertained.  The Eater article cites the fact that reservations at places like Rasika, Graffiato, Fiola, and Oyamel can be hard to grab, but sidling up at the bar for a bite can be much easier.  Either way, it's a great list to check out - and helpful if you're here on solo business or maybe looking to meet a new friendly face in the city.

Sculpt DC Looks Like It's Set an Opening

It being the 28th, it should come as no surprise that Sculpt DC is not opening in August as they have long promised.  The website, however, has been updated, indicating a September opening, and better yet - their class schedules are now up.

Per their scheduling app, it looks like a potential soft opening for a Club Sculpt class (a Friday only "total-body class set to club beats by [their] resident DJ") on Friday, September 21st - and then the full opening on September 24th.

French Classes at Lunch

Alliance Francaise is hosting a week-long open house this week - you can drop in to free mini French classes between 12 and 1:30p each day though the 31st.  You'll also get a 10% discount if you register for a full session of French courses, which begin on September 15th.

They're located at 421 7th St NW.

First Look at Protein Bar

We were able to drop by Protein Bar last night just before closing (at 9p on weekdays) and the place was pleasantly populated for late-evening in Penn Quarter.

The staff was incredibly friendly and patient with us while we perused the menu.  We opted for the Buffalo Bar-rito to go.

It was only about 3 minutes or so from ordering to when our order was ready at the pick up window, but we appreciated the fact we got a buzzer so that we could wander the restaurant, checking out their hot sauce bar and fountain soda machine (no Coke or Pepsi products, which we realize is a plus for some... not us, sadly.  We think it was Boylan's in the machine, though we forgot to take a picture!).

Our bar-rito nicely survived the short walk home (we like how it was half-wrapped on the inside as a little sleeve to eat it in). The bar-rito was grilled (though some are available chilled) and had chicken, quinoa, blue cheese, salad, and buffalo sauce.  Though we found it could have used a bit more sauce, we easily supplemented with some of the available hot sauces they have on hand.  The cheese wasn't overwhelming, but frankly, we're irked when "health food" restaurants load up on caloric ingredients - Protein Bar struck the perfect balance of adding flavor but not too much fat. 

We will definitely be back to try some of the other items.  Welcome to the neighborhood!