Monthly Archives: April 2012
Breaking: Pulpo Set to Take Over Tackle Box Space
As we’ve alluded to previously, Tackle Box will be replaced by a restaurant conceived by Floriana owners. We received confirmation from Rachael O. Tapper Director of Marketing and Communications for Floriana that the company will be taking over the Tackle Box space on May 7. According to Tapper, “We are estimating a couple weeks of renovations and an open date of late May.” We look forward to this new addition to the neighborhood and wish Tackle Box the best of luck at its Georgetown location.
Tweets from this Weekend – Cleveland Park Style
Our weekly installment that takes a look at tweets from in and around the Cleveland Park area over this past weekend.
Curiously unknown WMATA rules…
From @jimcollins
@wmata cleveland park station manager G. ALEXANDER informed me that I could not take employee photos or get employee names @unsuckdcmetro
Beautiful indeed!
From @rachelryan1004
Beautiful flowers on a beautiful morning in Cleveland Park! http://t.co/qfL11XDK
Whatever happened to 4Ps closing?!
From @iroamaround
In the 4P’s in Cleveland Park and the musicians are playing “Waltzing Matilda”…
What do you think…beer hunting with the elderly or minors…
From @KitBurkholder
@DCBeerHunt #PushingRope does it all. Hunting in Cleveland Park AND just changed a poopy diaper. #RealMenAndRealBeer #DCBH
Cleveland Park, home of doppelgangers…
From @savetheskins
@michaeljenk either you have a twin walking around in Cleveland Park right now… Or you’re in Cleveland Park right now
Don’t take it personally…
From @christina_kiser
The lights have been flashing like the train is coming @ cleveland park for the last 10 minutes. It’s like they’re taunting me. #wmata
Your wish came true, just a day later…
From @202Universe
Ran errands in Cleveland Park like always on Sats. Petco, Brookeville Mkt, Yes!. Wish it were warm and sunny:-(
Notes from the Underground…
From @Steven_Haber
@AshCo514 Yeah thats from last night that didn’t go thru til this AM apparently there’s a British-style bar in Cleveland Park?
That would be nice…
From @floridagirlindc
I wish @BlindDogCafe would open in Cleveland Park. It might put Firehook out of business but… Great espresso would be worth it.
Friday Five: Red, Red Wine in Cleveland Park
As part of a new weekly post, we’ll be highlighting five things we love in the neighborhood. The first installment? Five red wines we’ve been loving lately. We love these wines because they make for a great dinner or night out and don’t break the bank.
1. Ardeo+Bardeo‘s Touriga Nacional, Cedro do Noval, Portugal 2006 ($35 bottle, we’re not sure if it’s available by the glass anymore) – It’s Portuguese, it’s something different, we love it.
2. Ripple‘s Cabarnet Franc, Domaine de la Butte “Le Pied de la Butte”, France 2009 ($11 glass, $33 b0ttle) – Complex and earthy for a cab franc.
3. Medium Rare‘s Fitou, Bertrand Berge, France 2009 ($9 glass, $34 bottle) – They call it complex; we call it delicious.
4. Ripple‘s Garancha Tintorera, Quitieria “Higueruela”, Spain 2009 ($6 glass, $21 bottle) – The best bottle of red wine we’ve found for $21 at a DC restaurant.
5. Calvert Woodley‘s Dow Douro, Vale do Bomfim, Portugal 2009 ($12 bottle) – Found while perusing Calvert Woodley’s eclectic selection; great rich fruity wine pairs well with cheese, crackers, and a casual night at home.
Cheers to the weekend!
This Week in Cleveland Park Listserv
One of the best parts of our neighborhood is the small town atmosphere that the Cleveland Park Listserv helps to create. Each Friday we will pull out some (possibly out of context) gems from the Listserv to share with our neighbors and friends. We hope these outtakes of the neighborhood news will get you ready for another great weekend in Cleveland Park!
Listserv is always good for a walk down technology memory lane…
Does anyone have a VHS machine that we could borrow to watch our old VHS tapes? We would need to borrow it for one to two weeks. We would gladly pick it up from your home.
It appears Barry could actually get a vote in Ward 3…
I don’t feel [Marion Barry's] comments are racist but realistic. And I am more embarrassed by the fact that America continues to outsource for services that should be cultivated in this country! Could his comments could have been more tactful? Sure! But he has the balls to say publicly what many will not.
That’s more like it…
I cannot even imagine what your definition of racism would be…He and you don’t seem to understand that targeting a group of people is never justifiable. I do not believe that this kind of thinking about other people deserves a pass.
For appearances only…
I’m looking for a softball glove to buy or borrow for the next three months. Does anyone have an old one they want to part with? I’m not a great player so it won’t get a ton of use!
Soggy salad lessons…
We were at a dinner party where salad was served, drenched in a thick, rich dressing. At the end of the dinner, as the hostess was clearing off the table, I was a bit surprised to see her putting the leftover greens into a plastic storage container. It seems to me that the dressing on the leftover salad would render it too soggy to eat on a subsequent day.
Package theft sucks, trust me…
…I saw an older black man with two shopping totes coming down our steps. When I got to the porch, the two packages were
wide open, so I immediately called to the man, asking if he needed help…He did come right over and gave me back the contents and told me that he thought they were free (unopened packages?) as they were lying on my porch and people leave things on their porches for the taking.
Yay coupons!
Seeking Ruby Tuesday coupon (insert) in 4/25 Wash Post. [We] play bridge every Monday night at Ruby Tuesday with an
informal group of about 20 people, and all the bridge players appreciate these coupons.
Tackle Box Closing After Bandolero Run
We’ve finally gathered enough sources together to confirm that Tackle Box will not reopen permanently in Cleveland Park. Prince of Petworth hinted as much this afternoon, but like most outlets up to this point, no confirmation was forthcoming. Although management has remained hush about its future, the staff has been permanently reassigned, with most moving to the Georgetown location. Unless something changes, we can confirm that you will not see a permanent Tackle Box space in Cleveland Park. We believe that the use of the space as Bandolero’s pop-up restaurant has made everyone play this close to the vest.
On the speculation side, there is mounting evidence that the Tackle Box space will become the next location for Floriana owner Dino Tapper. It is definite that Tapper has plans to open a Cleveland Park space in June, as we posted some time ago. The timeline seems to fit with the Tackle Box closing. We only have rumors and speculation on this right now, as nothing has been officially confirmed.
What does this mean for the Cleveland Park food scene? It’s difficult to say, but it should not cast doubt on the vitality of the neighborhood as the rash of closings did a few years ago. If anything, it is a good sign that a decent, yet poorly executed restaurant was able to find someone eager to take over their lease. If the Floriana owners do move into the space, it will be an interesting development. Their Dupont space is considered by most as “solid”, but it has never generated much buzz and certainly isn’t spectacular. We certainly are holding out hope that the Tapper family can bring another innovative and popular restaurant to the Cleveland Park food scene.
Cleveland Park Mentions
What’s the world saying about Cleveland Park this week? Find out every Thursday in Cleveland Park Mentions…
From The Washington Examiner
Lisa Frantz’s deluxe cooking
“Lisa Frantz takes center stage at D.C.’s Cafe Deluxe, where as executive chef, she oversees the kitchen of one of the city’s busiest restaurants. But landing in this position was not her first choice, nor was a food-centric family her origin.”
From DCMud blog
Construction for Cathedral Commons a Step Closer
“Food at 3336 Wisconsin Ave. will close April 23 to prepare for construction of Cathedral Commons. The grocery store closed last week, but the parking lot remained open. Crews also have removed the classic Giant sign on the building.”
From NBC Washington
Adventures in Gustatory Bucket Listing: Palena’s Cheeseburger
“OK, what hasn’t already been written about James Beard Award-winning chef Frank Ruta’s elegantly crafted cheeseburger at Palena? Not much.”
From Washington City Paper’s Young and Hungry blog
Neapolitan Smackdown!
“In opening La Forchetta, the modish new Italian-themed eatery in Wesley Heights, restaurateur Hakan Ilhan boldly declared that the reigning mecca of authentic Neapolitan-style pizza-making in the District had just been surpassed.“2Amys, in my opinion, was No. 1,” Ilhan said, referring to Peter Pastan’s uber-popular pizzeria in Cleveland Park.”
From DC Curbed blog
The Ten Least Expensive Properties in Cleveland Park
“A neighborhood that is tried and true. Away from the college crowd who frequent Adams Morgan and Dupont, but not so remote that you can’t relive your younger (and more irresponsible) days. Welcome to Cleveland Park.”
From Washington Exec blog
WINE & DINE COLUMN: Palena Delivers a Premium Experience
“What’s the right restaurant when you want to reward your top salesperson with a super night out? It should be a place where the quality doesn’t ebb and flow, a reliably high-quality performer…That’s the kind of performer Palena has been in Cleveland Park for almost a decade.”
From The Washington Post
At World Book Night, D.C. literacy advocates greeted with delight and skepticism
“Outside the Cleveland Park Metro station Monday night, two types of people — eager and suspicious — streamed past a couple booksellers turned book-givers.”
From WTOP
Rare free parking comes to an end in NW
“Parking is hard to come by in D.C., especially free parking. And, on Monday, hundreds living and working near the National Cathedral will lose the privilege.”
Snag 50% off at Tesoro in Van Ness
Enjoy summer with a nice leisurely walk up to Van Ness where Italian restaurant Tesoro awaits. With ample space outside you can further enjoy the beautiful weather dining al fresco. Now, with 50% off from Living Social, you can do all this for a very affordable price. Tesoro gets 3 stars on Yelp with 46 reviews and 4 stars on Google with 13 reviews.
Cleveland Park Condos (April 25, 2012)
A view of the nice galley kitchen of this newly listed condo
What’s it take to own property in Cleveland Park? For many young professionals this means taking a look at the condo market along Connecticut Ave. Regularly, we will be looking at the price level of condos available in Cleveland Park. Our survey area will be all condos for sale with a Connecticut Avenue address from Macomb to Tilden.
Not much movement this week. Another 2-bedroom was added, though it is likely overpriced. A few others realized as much about their listed as we saw two of the eleven condos on last week drop prices closer to market value.
Total properties: 12
Median days on the market: 39
Total 1BR/studio: 7
1BR/studio price range: $154,000-$409,000
Median 1BR price: $285,000
Total 2BR: 5
2BR price range: $445,000-$679,000
New property spotlight:
3901 Connecticut Ave, Apt 104
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
652 square feet
Custom closets
Two Days Left for Cleveland Park Haiku Contest
Ripple to Nanny’s
Our neighborhood is awesome
We love Cleveland Park
For anyone who’s more skilled at writing haikus than we are, listen up! The Cleveland Park Library’s Third Annual Haiku contest is about to end. If you’re an aspiring poet and you haven’t yet entered, don’t worry: you have until April 27th to submit your creation. Three winners will receive an undisclosed prize and will see their work published (on the library’s website). Winners will be announced on April 30th, and the entry form can be picked up at the library circulation desk. If reading poetry is more your style, you can check out all of the entries, which are on display at the library.
Already submitted your haiku? We’d love to see it in the comments!
Wolfson History Prize Winner to Discuss Book at Hillwood
Tonight from 7:00-8:30, Cambridge Professor Dominic Lieven will discuss his book Russia Against Napoleon at the Hillwood Estate. According to the Hillwood website, the schedule is as follows
5:30-6:45pm Mansion and The Style that Ruled the Empires open
6-6:45pm Members-only reception, with author Dominic Lieven
7-8:30pm Lecture, followed by book signing
Seating begins at 6:45pm
Professor Lieven’s book earned 4.5 stars on Amazon with 31 reviews. Again from Hillwood
Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 is one of the most famous stories in European history. Nevertheless much of the story as usually told is untrue. Outside Russia 1812 is usually told just from Napoleon’s point of view and without regard for Russian sources…Join visiting scholar Dominic Lieven, who used never-before-seen material from the Russian archives, to delve deeper into this riveting history. Lieven will sign copies of Russia Against Napoleon: The True Story of the Campaigns of War and Peace following the lecture.
Envy My Food – Bandolero Edition
Welcome to out weekly feature Envy My Food. Each week we hope to share a wide array of restaurant food from Washington, DC.
This week is a special feature brought to you by the amazing Elizabeth Parker Photo. She was on hand to share with the genius of Graffiato owner and Top Chef contestent Mike Isabella at his newest incarnation — Bandolero (or at least the pop-up version in Cleveland Park). She can also do your wedding or other event, so be sure to check her out!
Want to contribute to the fun next week? You can join our Flickr group, @CleveParker on Twitter, or send us an email with your picture. Bon Appetit!
Skirt Steak Taco from Bandolero pop-up
Photo credit: eparkerphoto (via Instagram with permission)
Blue crab tacos from Bandolero pop-up
Photo credit: eparkerphoto (via Instagram with permission)
Mahi mahi taco from Bandolero pop-up
Photo credit: eparkerphoto (via Instagram with permission)
Suckling pig taco from Bandolero pop-up
Photo credit: eparkerphoto (via Instagram with permission)
Empanada from Bandolero pop-up
Photo credit: eparkerphoto (via Instagram with permission)
Sopes from Bandolero pop-up
Photo credit: eparkerphoto (via Instagram with permission)
Coconut flan, pineapple, rum from Bandolero pop-up
Photo credit: eparkerphoto (via Instagram with permission)
Fresh Fish Saturdays at UDC
This weekend, we finally caught the elusive Van Ness fish truck that we’ve been hearing good things about. We learned that the man behind the truck, Vernon Lingenfelter of Kensington, MD, focuses on sustainable seafood. The selection of fish was impressive, and we liked the ease of fining fresh seafood so close to home. This weekend’s fresh catches included sea scallops, P.E.I. mussels (we highly recommend!), Nova Scotia halibut, Alaskan king salmon, arctic char, local MD lump crab, and several varieties of smoked salmon, and the menu changes weekly. Even despite the construction of the new UDC student center, Lingenfelter plans to keep visiting Van Ness at the corner of Connecticut and Veazey each Saturday morning until about 4 pm. (The truck can also be found near American University on Fridays at the corner of Nebraska and New Mexico from 12pm to 7 pm and on Saturdays at the Bethesda Central Farm Market.) We hear that Lingenfelter currently works with a Baltimore restaurant, but given Tackle Box’s recent departure from the neighborhood, we’d love to see him collaborate with a local restaurant and bring some sustainable seafood back to Cleveland Park!
