stupidusername

I saw another cart this week in Rosslyn on N. Lynn St. not far from the McDonald's. I was driving so I couldn't get a close look, but it looked like it was called something like Choup? and might have had crepes? Has anyone else seen it or been to it?

Choupi opened up there over a few weeks ago. I tried a crepe and found it be pretty tasty and a great addition to the Arlington street cart scene. Their website is here.

Liberty Tavern had a special snow happy hour yesterday afternoon and was absolutely slammed from 3PM on. I'm consistently impressed by the level of service at this place even yesterday when I'm sure they had to adjust staffing issues with the weather. Food remains delicious. This is an amazing neighborhood restaurant and I am really looking forward to two new places from the same owners. I'm sure they took some chances spending a great deal of money opening this place, but it really made a world of difference in the climate of eating on the Orange Line.

On a telephone pole in Clarendon is the following Public Notice of a Special Exception Use Permit:

I do not know what this will do for the food, but it should be quite a boost for the alcohol sales. More live music is always good. Hopefully they will attract bands more of the caliber that play at Iota rather than those you would find at Whitlow's on Wilson.

I suppose many of these decisions have been made and are just now being built (website says they are now closed for renovation), but just a plea to keep this place much like it is, with better than expected food and a nice vibe. I would hate to see it turn into Mister Days or something like that. Bigger is not necessarily worse but often can be worse.

Thanks for all the responses. For my first purchase of beans here in the district, and because I was sorta heading in that general direction, I stopped at SOVA, at 1359 H St. NE. I was delighted to find freshly roasted Stumptown beans (at least 4 varieties which had been roasted 3 days earlier) and had a nice converstion with the owner, whom I believe is Frank.

Says that they're the first place in DC to carry Stumptown beans, and plans on getting in freshly roasted beans on a weekly basis. Also in stock was at least one variety of Intellegentsia.

Though not in DC proper, Boccato Gelatos in Clarendon has Stumptown coffee beans for retail purchase.

The retail spaces next to Spider Kelly's that used to belong to Orpheus Records and some luggage and random stuff store are being cleared out. The permits on the door indicate that this is for the expansion of an existing restaurant. It would appear that Spider Kelly's may be tripling in size unless I misread what is happening (I don' have any inside information). I like Spider Kelly's a lot but its small size is one of its nice features. It would be interesting to see what it would be like three times as large.

I post this comment on the board because I was so truly surprised at what I saw. I hope the owners realize that normal lunch-crowd people really want to spend their money on interesting twists on food they know, not necessarily interesting food. That may be a sad statement to foodies, but we are talking about lunch, not fine dining.

This may be the saddest thing I've ever read. Let's hope there are enough people interested in interesting food to keep this place going (assuming the food is good) forever.

I received an e-mail newsletter from the little store in Falls Church called Red, White, and Bleu (127 S Washington St) that said that they are the first store to be carrying the Stachowski Charcuterie. They mention the following in the newsletter: duck prosciutto, Hungarian beer salami, duck salami, and pate de campagne. Red, White, and Bleu is a fairly new and friendly store that is worth stopping by - especially now.

The Peter's Pickled Ramps drink that I had tonight may be among my favorite cocktails ever. If I recall, the ingredient list is just pickled ramps and vodka or gin, but it is delicious.

I did not see a sign when I walked by this afternoon and the place was full of people. I suppose I could have missed the sign, but the place is definitely still open as of today.

The Lost Dog Cafe website says that a new location will be opening at 2920 Columbia Pike this summer. I believe that is right across the street from the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse in a new condo building with some preserved old facades. The current location has a great beer selection and some pretty good (but not great) sandwiches and pizza. Hopefully the new location will continue with the great beer selection. That section of Columbia Pike is already home to some great restaurants, but the drinking options are limited. I haven't seen the new location, so I have no idea if they have even started construction.