Twisted Horn ready to open

Twisted Horn ready to open

I heard from Twisted Horn today that they're planning on a soft launch opening Thursday evening, January 7th. I believe it is invitation only right now, will let you know if I hear different. 

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Ruta del Vino overview; owners craft settlement agreement

Ruta del Vino overview; owners craft settlement agreement

Ruta del Vino is the new Latin American wine bar and restaurant coming to 800-­802 Upshur Street NW in Petworth. The restaurant takes over the space previously occupied by the Riyad inconvenience store.

Justin Logan, one of the co-owners, met with 4C Commissioner John-Paul Hayworth and a few community members this week to talk through Ruta del Vino's settlement agreement. The agreement is needed for the restaurant to obtain a liquor license from ABRA, and helps establish a rapport and commitment with the community. 

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Don't miss the Upshur Street Art & Craft Fair on Saturday

Don't miss the Upshur Street Art & Craft Fair on Saturday

A lot of work has gone into Saturday's Upshur Street Art & Craft Fair, and from the list of music performers, artists, crafters and food vendors, it's gonna be a great event.

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Petworth restaurants team up to give back to the Capital Area Food Bank

Petworth restaurants team up to give back to the Capital Area Food Bank

There's a pretty cool charity event taking place in Petworth and Columbia Heights tomorrow and Thursday. Spotluck, a restaurant-discovery mobile app created by a Bethesda company, is teaming up Petworth and Columbia Heights restaurants to make a collective donation to the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) as a thank you for all of their hard work, and to recognize that they have spent their holiday season away from family and friends in order to help others.

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Pics of the Upshur Holiday Window displays

Pics of the Upshur Holiday Window displays

Tonight was the Holiday Windows event down on Upshur Street. I arrived late, but when I got there Willow Fashion was packed with people enjoying holiday snacks and what looked like some pretty good cheer.

Pics and more after the break:

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Enjoy a Holiday Windows celebration tonight on Upshur Street

Enjoy a Holiday Windows celebration tonight on Upshur Street

It's getting to be Tis' the Season, and the Upshur Street businesses are celebrating with a Holiday Windows celebration. Come down to Upshur this evening at 6pm to stroll along the street and see the window displays, designed by local and well-known artists.

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Twisted Horn cocktail bar opening soon on Upshur Street

Twisted Horn cocktail bar opening soon on Upshur Street

I spoke with Sabrina Zahid who works for Twisted Horn, and she told me that work on the building has progressed pretty far. At this point, they're looking to open... 

Read more, after the break:

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Upshur restaurants: It's going to be a full menu of options in 2016

Upshur restaurants: It's going to be a full menu of options in 2016


Upshur Street along the 800 block is becoming restaurant row. We already have the critically and customer acclaimed Crane & Turtle, the long-standing neighborhood favorite Domku, and the local hangout Petworth Citizen. There's Dannie's and Cuzzin's for quicker take-out, and on the non-food side, Town & Country convenience store, Bentley's Antiques, Phillips Shoe Repair, Willow Fashion, Fia's Fabulous Finds and the hair care storefronts. 

Coming in late Spring and early Summer 2016, Upshur Street will see the opening of four new restaurants.  Read more about the new restaurants, after the break:

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Getting a taste of Alfie's Thai cuisine - a pop-up dinner with Alex McCoy

Getting a taste of Alfie's Thai cuisine - a pop-up dinner with Alex McCoy

I had the pleasure of going to a pop-up dinner hosted by Alex McCoy, the former Food Network Star competitor opening up the new Alfie's restaurant at 845 Upshur St NW. It gave me the opportunity to taste some of the dishes we should expect to see when Alfie's opens.

Read more about the dinner, the expected date of opening, see pics and more, after the break:

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Riyad closed, neighborhood looks forward to new restaurant

Riyad closed, neighborhood looks forward to new restaurant

The Riyad market closed due to the efforts by concerned residents in the neighborhood, good work by MPD on busting the Riyad for selling synthetic drugs and the outstanding work of Assistant Attorney General Michael Aniton on partnering with the community and the building owners to turn this from a neighborhood problem into a neighborhood opportunity

Read the full article, after the break:

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Quick update on plans for Ruta del Vino

Quick update on plans for Ruta del Vino

The Riyad is set to close in a month, and coming up is a wine bar to replace it. I sat down with Justin Logan for coffee the other day to chat about Ruta del Vino, the wine bar coming to 800 Upshur St NW.

Read more about the new restaurant >

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Slim's Diner getting closer to opening

Slim's Diner getting closer to opening

You'd think there wasn't a plethora of restaurants on the west end of Upshur Street (there is a plethora), nevertheless, I'm stoked about the upcoming opening of Slim's Diner in the Murrell Building.

Read more to see pics of the new booths...

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Goodbye Riyad, hello Ruta del Vino

Goodbye Riyad, hello Ruta del Vino

Riyad Market, the inconvenience store at 800 Upshur St busted for selling synthetic drugs, is supposed to close by November 13th, according to the Office of the Attorney General. To replace it? A new Latin-inspired wine bar and restaurant

Read more about the new wine bar after the break:

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The opposite of a Slim chance: an interview with Paul Ruppert

The opposite of a Slim chance: an interview with Paul Ruppert

You can’t talk about the recent resurgence along Upshur Street in Petworth without mentioning Paul Ruppert. The Ruppert family has lived and owned businesses in DC since the 1890s when his great-grandfather opened up a hardware store. An entrepreneur at heart, Paul has run several successful restaurants in DC since he opened his first one on 7th Street with his mother in 1992. Paul has made a career of opening businesses in areas of DC that are on the cusp of change, and then lending support to those communities. It’s no different with Petworth.  Read more about Slim's Diner and Paul Ruppert, after the break...

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