12/28/09
Oh, Nine
Everything That Was Important in 2009
It's easy to get caught up in weighty issues like war, economic recovery and Joe Biden's hair. But since this will go down as the year UD stormed DC, we thought we'd remind you of a few other noteworthy DC debuts from the last year of the aughts. Bring on 2010...
BOOZE WENT UNDER LOCKDOWN
Againn
A lot of hype surrounded this modern British gastropub. But eclipsing the bangers and mash (and the array of
rare ales on tap) were the walls of Scotch lockers, to be emblazoned with your name and filled with your
hooch. Makes you wonder how safe your other booze really is...
- 411:
- Againn, 1099 New York Ave NW, 202-639-9830
BARKEEP BROTHERS WENT DIVING
The Passenger
After helming the bars at two of 14th Street's top boozy escapes (The Gibson and Cork, respectively), Derek
and Tom Brown developed a delightfully dingy watering hole in Mt. Vernon Square. On the menu: beef jerky,
half-smokes, cans of beer and custom cocktails. This would have qualified as divey in '79.
- 411:
- The Passenger, 1021 7th St NW, 202-393-0220
PIES GOT EDGY
Dangerously Delicious Pies
This Baltimore import, the brainchild of a guitar-slinging rockabilly hipster, took its place along H
Street's music row, turning out an array of pies and pie-like dessert structures, including savory pies like
BBQ pork and crab quiche—just in time for bowl games and playoff Sundays…
- 411:
- Dangerously Delicious Pies, 1339 H St NE, 202-398-7437
NIGHTLIFE GOT ELEVATED
W Rooftop
Good real estate—overlooking the White House, for instance—isn't to be trifled with. Thus, the
W's rooftop became your favorite summer cocktailing (and scene-surveying) spot. Not letting a good space go
to waste, they prepped for winter with storm flaps, heat lamps and—here's where it gets
inspired—faux-fur blankets.
- 411:
- P.O.V. (at W Hotel), 515 15th St NW, 202-661-2400
BARS GOT GAME
H Street Country Club
This game-intensive Atlas District watering hole set up fall skee-ball leagues to stoke your competitive
fires between now and the start of softball season. But unlike at your local park, margarita consumption is
encouraged.
- 411:
- H Street Country Club, 1335 H St NE, 202-399-4722
BEER EARNED ITS VELVET ROPE
ChurchKey
Wine bars are still popping up on every corner, but you still prefer malty, caramel notes to violets and
currants. Which is why you've joined the lines up to this second-floor hop house to take a crack at a beer
list that's 500 selections strong, amid décor that somehow blends Parisian hotel and Oregonian
treehouse.
- 411:
- ChurchKey, 1337 14th St NW, 202-567-2576
LONDON SENT...ASIAN FOOD
Ping Pong Dim Sum
Just like China's finest tea, this dim sum palace had to earn its stripes in London before decamping to
America. The result is an enviable Asian hangout, delivering dumpling bars, tea stations, wasabi-flecked
amaretto sours and Earl Grey juleps. Now that's tea, American style—spiked with bourbon.
- 411:
- Ping Pong Dim Sum, 900 7th St NW, 202-506-3740
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