Fly Event: Taste of Georgetown

This Saturday, head on over to Wisconsin Ave, & M St. for the sixteenth annual Taste of Georgetown. Enjoy food from 1789, Hook, Georgetown Cupcake, Tony & Joe's Seafood Place, Bodega Spanish Tapas & Lounge and other Georgetown favorites.

Who: Taste of Georgetown
What: Enjoy delicious food from your favorite restaurants.
When: Saturday, 11a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Wisconsin Ave. & M Street.

Tickets available online at tasteofgeorgetown.com

Lounge of Three

Lounge of Three located at 1013 U Street, NW, only opened for month, yet the crowd seems to feel right at home, as if its not the newest spot on U Street. My friends and I tired Lounge of Three yesterday and we had a great time. Though, it was past happy hour, Lounge of Three continued with drink specials. Rail liquor for five dollars and beer priced at $2.50 to $3.50.

After a couple of drinks, my friends and I ordered some food, with a small simple menu, printed on white paper and stabled together, I decided this isn’t the place to try anything fancy. I just stuck with the basic and tried the buffalo wings. Though I’m not a fan of fried buffalo wings, they were still tasty and reasonable priced. Complemented with a huge portion of fries, that were seasoned well and had a little kick to the them.

Lounge of Three shines with their food prices; drink specials, atmosphere and music. Rarely is there a simplistic bar that comes with a cool crowd, not overly priced nor crowded and blasts, Jay-Z’s ‘Reasonable Doubt.’ If the aforementioned continues, Lounge of Three just may be the go- to -bar when I’m trying to chill, have a sensible priced beer and listen to some great tunes.

Menu Standouts:

Buffalo wings
Chicken Tenders
Tilapia Caesar Salad
Mama’s Burger

Location:
U Street Corridor
1013 U St NW
(between 10th St & 11th St)
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 387-3333


Hours:
10am - 1am

Policy: Truth. Love. Liberty.

I was recently invited to the soft opening of Policy this past Thursday and the place was delightful. I described the atmosphere of Policy to my friends, as “Urban Glam.” With its graffiti adorned walls and over-the-top chandeliers in its upstairs lounge, Policy is sure to be a hit on 14th street. I had the opportunity to speak with Richie, one of the investors of Policy who stated that Policy wants to provide good food and great music in an atmosphere that isn’t pretentious. The Policy crowd is slanted to be able to walk in with jeans and a tee shirt and mingle with others in suits and ties, a very mixed crowd.

During the soft opening, the chef sent out selections from their menu, and I will say, that I was impressed. Standouts included curry lamb sliders with mint pesto, chicken croquettes paired with green apple aioli dipping sauce, wild rockfish topped with a sherry-coriander sauce and hen-of the-woods mushrooms. Oh, and if you thought, Marvin’s scallops were delicious; Policy has day boat scallops in a tomato-bacon vinaigrette, that is boss.

Madras Curry Lamb Sliders

Speaking of Marvin, which is right down the street, I asked Richie, if he believed that Policy would give Marvin a run for their money. He believes that there is enough room on 14th street for both restaurants/lounges. “Have a drink a Marvin, come get some light fare at Policy, have another drink at Policy and enjoy the music, and vise versa,” said Richie. Hoping that D.C. locals take pride in the new establishment, Policy is the new kid on the block that is holding its own.


Policy will host its grand opening tonight. Check out the website to make reservations for dinner or stop in and head upstairs.

Policy
904 14th Street NW, Washington

Hours
Brunch
11:00am - 4:00pm SUN

Dinner
5:00pm - 10:30pm TUES - WED

5:00pm - 12:30am THUR - FRI - SAT

5:00pm - 1:30 - 2:30am FRI - SAT (BAR)

Dining Out For Life! Thursday, March 5th

I love eating out (pause) and if I dine at my favorite restaurant knowing that the portions of my bill go towards a great cause, I’m definitely all for it.

This Thursday, March 5, 150 restaurants in the Washington metropolitan area will join together to support men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses by contributing a percentage of their sales to Food & Friends.

Food & Friends is the only nonprofit organization in the Washington area providing daily, home-delivered, specialized meals, groceries and nutrition counseling to individuals in the community who are facing some of life's most difficult challenges. The funds raised through Dining Out for Life allows Food & Friends to continue to provide these critical services at NO COST to the clients.


Click here to review a list of all the restaurants participating in Dining Out for Life, where 25-100% of your bill will be donated to Food & Friends.

14th Street Finds

I love walking, geared with my ipod and my two feet; I walk all over the District. I recently ventured further than usual on 14th Street and I found some amazing finds that I’ve been missing.

Hemphill Gallery

This art gallery has been around since 1993 but it has recently moved to 1515 14th Street in Logan Circle. The gallery itself is impressive, you would never think of such a place on 14th Street. Even more impressive, is the Bob Johnson Presents Selections from The Barnett-Aden Collection- A Homecoming Celebration.

The Barnett-Aden Collection features collected work by artists who painted and sculptured pieces from their own lives as an African Americans living in America and dealing with what that means. It is a wonderful collection of the African American life by artists such as Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Archibald Motley.

Bob Johnson made an effort to preserve and maintain the collection and it is showing through March 7.

Please take time to stop by and check out the gallery, the pieces are lively, the artistic range is impressive and the struggle of being Black in America is still relevant.

Click here to learn more about the Gallery and hours.







ACKA Cocoa Bar D.C

It’s like a grown up candy store but much more. ACKA (Artfully Chocolate Kingsbury Confections) is a cocoa bar for those chocolate lovers. The concept is popular in cities such as New York, Paris and Madrid and now D.C.!

It’s like a classy Starbucks were coffee isn’t the focus but delectable hot cocoa drinks. This isn’t your average hot cocoa, where you take a Swiss Mix packet and add water, ACKA’s hot cocoa is made with fine chocolate and the drinks are named after divas and starlets. Such as The Lucy (named after Lucille Ball), which comes, infused with chipotle peppers and cinnamon. The Liz (Liz Taylor) is hot cocoa infused with lavender. The Joan (Joan Crawford) is mixed with a shot of espresso.

This quaint cocoa bar also features pastries from local bakeries, owner Eric Nelson’s artwork and novelty items such as chocolate voodoo dolls, chocolate scented candles and chocolate massage oil.

www.thecocoagallery.com





Universal Gear for Fly Boys

The window displays drew me into this men’s shop. Universal Gear is for the trendy, metrosexual man. It has a large section of designer jeans such as D&G, Diesel, and Ben Sherman. Universal Gear also features American Apparel, Scotch and Soda, and G-Star.

Ladies, if your man is just as fly as you, then you definitely should put him on to this store.

Located at 1525 14th Street.

www.universalgear.com

The Gibson

I feel bad writing about this bar that is supposed to be a “speakeasy”, but I can’t let the awesomeness of this place go unnoticed by my fellow fly girls.

A speakeasy was an establishment, which illegally sold alcoholic beverages during the Prohibition. During this period (1920-1933), the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol was illegal. The term “speakeasy” comes from a patron’s manner of ordering alcohol without raising suspicion — a bartender would tell a patron to be quiet and "speak easy. ”

I don’t understand the overly dramatic incognito theme, since alcohol is legal but the effect is cool. Located next to Marvin on 14th and U at 2009 14th St. NW, this no sign, ring doorbell and enter quickly bar is in short, fly.

Named after a D.C. local whom the owners of The Gibson, known and missed, this spot abides by some strict rules. For example, there is no standing at the bar; there must be room inside for you to enjoy your drink. If there is no space open, then you can give your number to one of the staff who will call you when space opens up and you get 8 minutes to truck back from Marvin to claim it. Space is so limited that it is suggested to make reservation between 6-10 p.m. and secure a table for up to 2 hours.

If The Gibson seems a little pretentious, it is! But the drinks and the décor and the friendliness of staff make up for it. This is not the place to order vodka and cranberry, this is a place where you order a handcrafted cocktail made by a mixologist- not a bartender. I ordered The Golden Child, a rum cocktail made with peanut butter liqueur and cream and I felt like I was living my life like it was golden while slipping on this delicious drink.

Try out The Gibson, just don’t tell them the Fly Girl sent you and remember to speak easy.

The Gibson
2009 14th St. NWWashington, DC 20009
202-232-2156

Cork DC

As an aspiring wine connoisseur (or maybe just a fancy name for a lush), I had to try out the wine bar, Cork. Located at 1720 14th Street between streets, R and S, Cork is a perfect spot for after work, pre-theater or a celebration with the girls. It fits perfectly within the U street corridor, as it’s a nice trendy addition.

The décor of exposed brick gives an industrial feel, which makes Cork seem like an experience; you’re taking a wine adventure, vineyard not included. The wine bar is not intimidating, the bartenders are friendly and the menu already states which wines pairs well with their entrees. The servers and staff graciously ask questions so they can best serve the wine novice or a wine enthusiast.

The restaurant’s wine menu focuses on wines from France and Italy, and it’s meant to expose people to new things. With such an extensive list of wines, one should check the blackboard listings of the four categories of wine served by flights, which is a sampling of three two-ounce tastes of sparkling wines, chenin blancs, cabernet francs and grenaches..

The food at Cork is just as selective yet delicious as their wine, with cold and warm entrees that are meant to be shared while slipping a glass of Colutta Pinot Grigio Del Colli Orientali or Albert Mann, Pinot Blanc with the Rosemary Chicken Liver Brushetta, topped with a shallot marmalade and a herb salad. The average calamari is upgraded with lemon pepper seasoning and a blend of rock shrimp, that pairs well with the caper remoulade.


Cork gets crowded, for the best experience come straight after work at 5 or late evening to try their Lizzy's Goat Cheese Cake and a dessert wine.

On your plate: Start with Cork’s House-Marinated Olives and their House-Roasted Marinated Peppers. For the adventurous eater, try the Rosemary Chicken Liver Bruschetta and the Sautéed Wild Mushrooms with madeira and marjoram.

In your wine glass: Cork’s wine lists host’s 40 wines by the glass, and around 130 by the bottle.


Cork is located at 1720 14th Street, NW just south of the U Street Corridor

Hours of Operation


Tuesday-Wednesday: 5:00 p.m.-Midnight (kitchen opens at 5:30 p.m.)
Thursday-Saturday: 5:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. (kitchen opens at 5:30 p.m.)
Sunday: 5:00 p.m.-Midnight (kitchen opens at 5:30 p.m.)
Closed Monday

U Street's newest addition: Ulah Bistro

1214 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-2am; Fri 11am-3am; Sat 10am-3 am; Sun 10am-2 am

http://ulahbistro.com/


Only open for a month, Ulah Bistro already has fans and regulars. With cool interior, a choice of two dining areas, two bars and warm, delicious flat bread with an olive tapenade that comes complimentary, Ulah is a great addition to U Street.

At first glance of Ulah, it sorta looks like a misspelling, but owner Med Lahlou says he came up with the amalgam using the restaurant’s address and the first three letters of his last name. If the food seems similar that’s because Lahlou owns Tunnicliff's on Capitol Hill and Stoney's in Logan Circle, Ulah’s food and décor is a hip mixture of both.


Their lunch and dinner menu offers simple, fresh American dishes. Try the crab and artichoke dip as a starter, its creamy, cheesy, made with jumbo lump crab meat and pairs well with the flat bread. The Ahi Tuna Tartar is a standout dish, served with seaweed salad and a wasabi cream sauce.

Other entrees include, their brick oven pizza, grilled dijon salmon, rum glazed mijito chicken and their grilled steak and cheese with sliced marinated steak with bleu cheese, arugula on top of a baguette. Ulah boasts a great beer selection, Hoegaarden is on tap and so is Leffe Brown. Their wine selection is modest but try their red apple mijito.

U Street is changing with new bars and restaurants continuously opening, so it might be hard to try out the new spots, but Washingtonians add Ulah on your to-do list. The atmosphere is relaxing, staff is friendly and dinner for two or happy hour with your co-workers won’t break the bank. Night Owls, Ulah also offers discounted food from 11pm to close.

On your plate: Sample the appetizers. Reasonably priced with big portions. Try the calamari, mussels or bristo wings.

In your cup: Leffe Brown beer or lime mijito.

Let's Get It On: Marvin Restaurant in DC

After reading mixed reviews about this new establishment, Marvin on 14th and U in Washington, DC, I decided to head out with my girlfriends and see what all the fuss was about. Mind you, I didn't go on the weekend so the atmosphere may vary but tonight I had a blast and will definitely return.

Paying homage to DC native Marvin Gaye, Marvin has a hip interior with posters of Marvin Gaye adoring the walls along with other soul singers. A two level bar/ restaurant/ lounge, Marvin's at first glance seems to be the newest trendy spot for hipsters alike. The first level is the dining room with a small bar, Marvin’s calls itself a restaurant with a bar not a bar with a restaurant.

Heading up stairs, there is the intimate lounge area and rooftop patio. Still scouting the place, I headed outside to the patio and although it was outdoors, heaters are placed everywhere so it's warm and perfect to sit outside, have one of Marvin's Belgian beers and enjoy the DC skyline.

Entering the lounge area, sits another bar and seating. The lounge area is perfect for couples that will enjoy the close private seating without the crowd of the dining room. The lounge is self-served, so when your ready to order head to the bartender and sample Marvin's Belgian inspired entrees.

The bartender schooled my homegirl and myself on the menu entrees, stating that Marvin Gaye left DC to escape his woes and traveled to Belgian for two years to relax and regain his focus on his music. The owner of Marvin's actually saw Marvin in Belgian and decided to build his menu with the Belgian inspirations.

On your plate: Sample the appetizers. Try the duck and shrimp and grits. Entrees range from $ 16 to $ 24. For dessert, check out the Belgian chocolate waffle topped with chocolate gelato paired with hot chocolate.

In your cup: Marvin’s has a full bar so order your favorite drink but you can’t leave without trying one of their beers, Stella Artois, Leffe Brune, Hoegaarden and the Canadian-made (but Belgian-style) Maudite are among the beers on tap. Thirty Belgian beers are available in bottles. For the wine lovers, Marvin’s has a boarder selection of wines than other spot, so try a glass! Beers start at $8.

Music Selection: They can’t name the place Marvin, if they didn’t play any of his music. The DJ booth is located up stairs and you can groove to R&B, soul and funk from the 60’s, 70’s.