*Nekisha Durrett's mural at Twisted Horn*

Twisted Horn cocktail bar at 819 Upshur St NW, owned by Jamie Leeds (who also owns Hank's Oyster Bar and Hank's Pasta Bar) has a beautiful new mural adorning the wall along its back patio. Created by local artist Nekisha Durrett, the mural is a lighthearted play on a "twisted fairytale theme."

Nekisha and her team painted the brick wall a dark black, and the details are in gold. A large twisted horn rises up in the center with satyrs and a young girl (or girl satyr) peering into the a glowing center. A deer pokes it head from around a tree, and a house and trees are seen off in the distance.

The black and gold mural looms over an intimate back patio featuring a new wood fence, tables perfect for groups of two, four or more and string lights that criss-cross above the tables. The patio bar features 16 tap lines, including five just for cocktails, three for wine and the rest for beer.

Twisted Horn also rolled out a new menu featuring food from different restaurants owned by Leeds, and new cocktails with some pretty original names like "An Italian Gentleman Riding His Bike Through the Piazza with His Pant Leg Rolled Slightly Above His Ankle" (featuring Tanqueray 10, Aperol, grapefruit and mint) and "Peach Don't Kill My Vibe" (Traverse bourbon, peach sweet tea, lemon and mint).

The new menu offers new items like three different paninis (with pickles from Upshur Street pickle-maker Gordy's), "Nick's Meatballs" from Hank's Pasta Bar and "Chico's Tacos." They still offer small bar bites like smoked trout dip, soft pretzel bites and more. They told me that they're planning a backyard BBQ with local brewery DC Brau later this summer (date is still TBD).

The patio opens during the day before the main bar does, and closes at 10pm (due to an agreement with neighbors). There's no music outside.

While I was there in the evening, bartender Celeste Hendrickson made me a very tasty cocktail, "How to Dress Like an Italian on Vacation," made of Blanco tequila, Finochetto, chamomile rosehip tonic and citrus). I'm no cocktail connoisseur, but it was great. Reminded me of a Long Island Ice Tea (I told you I was no expert).

The new hours at Twisted Horn are:

Outside patio:
- Monday: closed
- Tues - Friday: 4pm - 10pm
- Saturday & Sunday: 12pm - 10pm

Inside bar:
- Monday: closed
- Tues - Thursday: 4pm - 11pm
- Fri-Saturday: 4pm - 1am
- Sunday: 4pm - 10pm

Related articles:
- Twisted Horn is getting an awesome mural from a local Petworth artist (April 25, 2016)
- Prior Twisted Horn articles