The Adams Morgan Bogeyman: It didn't look like an easy road for the redevelopment of the old post office building at 14th and T streets NW to be turned into a restaurant—with a proposed outdoor patio, no less. But the over-the-top rhetoric about neighborhood destruction has begun sooner rather than later. A flyer on the structure proclaims, "URGENT! A New York investor plans to turn the Old Post Office building on T Street into a destination, special events venue under the guise of a "restaurant"! DO NOT BE FOOLED!" 14th & You wryly notes, "That's right! The four block stretch along 18th Street notorious for its late night bars, nightclubs and restaurants has packed up shop and relocated south, to a commercial space near the corner of 14th and T streets. Adams-Morgan will henceforth be known as the Post Office Bistro, and will be reborn as a casual restaurant serving an extensive weekend brunch with a patio and summer garden. The neighborhood/restaurant will also be owned by someone with ties to New York, which unfortunately does not coincide with the arrival of a decent bagel shop"; also noteworthy is that the flyer "was put together by Elwyn Ferris, partner of ANC2B commissioner Ramon Estrada, and another neighborhood resident." The extreme language inspired a lengthy comment thread on Prince of Petworth, and it's likely that the flyer's appearance on the Internet turned out significantly more supporters for the proposed restaurant at last night's ANC 2B meeting.

One-Stop Shopping for Prescriptions and Vermin: Brookland Avenue confirms a Twitter report that the CVS on 12th Street NE has been shut down due to health concerns; the D.C. Department of Health apparently found it to be operating "with gross unsanitary occurrence or condition" including "heavy infestation of vermin" and failing "to minimize the presence of insects, rodents, and other pests." Commenters, appropriately, find this disgusting. Writes one, "I find this CVS horrible in the customer service realm, and the manager is consistently rude to both his staff and customers, so I’m not surprised at all. My household fills its pharmacy needs at the stores near our work. The best thing possible for this CVS is for a Walgreens to open up at the RI Ave development."

Out of Our Pond, And Take Your Burgers With You: In a People's District interview, celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn made the mistake of uttering the following: "With time, I have really come to love this city. New York is over saturated with too many concepts. You may be popular for two weeks, and then there is a new trend. Here, I opened one restaurant, Good Stuff, that developed my entire career. It is nice to be in a second-tier city where you can be a big fish in a small pond." The Hill is Home, based in Capitol Hill near the aforementioned Good Stuff Eatery, took substantial offense to the "big fish" business, writing in a post titled "Get Over Yourself, Mr. Mendelsohn" that "Your burgers aren’t that good and your fries are but nubbins. They’re fine, but Michael Landrum’s Hellburger blows your “Good” stuff out of the water. The same goes for Frank Ruta’s burger at Palena. Ditto, BGR and even Five Guys and they’re (gasp!) CHAINS! The biggest issue I have with Good Stuff burgers is that they’re not cooked to order. I don’t enjoy well-done or even medium burgers, and if you’re going to consider yourself a big fish – more on that in a moment – you should be cooking your burgers to order like the actual big (burger) fish in town." Commenters have gone on to discuss whether or not they prefer Spike's burgers, in much less heated rhetoric.

Cleveland Park, ISO: "I'm getting ready to sell my house and find myself overwhelmed with all the stuff I have collected. I would like to hire someone who helps people organize/pack up their homes. Would be grateful for any recommendations," writes one member of the Cleveland Park email list. They're not alone in their plight; another member writes, "I have just become the keeper of generations of family photos, albums, letters, greeting cards, autograph albums, scrapbooks, school yearbooks, cookbooks, diaries, postcards and other miscellaneous printed and hand-written materials dating back as far as 1888. There are 17 cartons and it's overwhelming. I am desperately searching for someone to help me with this process, figuring out what to keep, what to throw out and what to digitally archive."

Get Off My Lawn—And Your Dog, Too!: One member of the Crestwood email list is none too pleased with their neighbors and their neighbors' canine pals. "My yard is not a dog park. Please do not stand in the middle of my yard, talking loudly on your cell phone while your dog runs free in my yard (sometimes digging up bare spots in a lawn that I have spent a lot of money and time making attractive). Please do not leave dog poop in my lawn. Please do not put your dog poop in my garbage can," they write. If you're a Crestwood resident unsure of how to behave around this neighbor, they go on to provide a handy list of appropriate actions: "I humbly suggest three things: 1. Let your dog run freely thru your home yard. 2. Let your dog leave poop in your home yard. 3. Put your dog poop in your home garbage can. Thanks in advance neighbor for your neighborly consideration."

Runnin' Scared: The Brightwoodian has, diligently, been all over the conversation surrounding the Georgia Avenue NW Walmart. Three neighborhood urban planners came out against the project at a meeting held by two ANC 4B commissioners: Along with the usual concerns of the destruction of small businesses and developer Foulger-Pratt's plan for a single-use site, it was pointed out that the plan totally ignores adjacent Missouri Avenue NW and focuses only on activating one rather small section of Georgia Avenue. In another post, the blog analyzes a Walmart mailer—which looks as if "they're conducting an ill-fated political campaign."

On Tap: Shaw's favorite sit-down restaurant (and possessor of punniest name) Beau Thai has secured its liquor license, reports RenewShaw. The sit-down Thai spot now has a full bar, and will apply next for outdoor seating. A few blocks to the west, the old post office building at 14th & T Streets NW is being considered for a restaurant, reports Borderstan. But the blog writes that it might not be an easy path from empty building to flourishing dining establishment: "Two small buildings at 1407-1409 T Street NW could become a new restaurant in the 14th Street corridor — but the path may not be simple. One of them is a former U.S. Post Office that has long been used as an annex for storing furniture for Ruff & Ready. The other has been renovated and sits empty. The two buildings are zoned commercial and while they face the Room and Board store across the street, everything else on the 1400 block of  T Street is residential, and close by at that. LoopNet lists the property as 1407-1409 and shows the two buildings joined by a two-story addition."

Cleveland Park, ISO: "We are seeking an already-crate- trained or mostly crate-trained cockapoo or cavapoo to adopt ASAP. If you have, or know someone who has, a young (older puppy to 3 year old) cockapoo or cavapoo that you would like to place in a loving, attentive home, please contact me! We have two teens, a small fenced-in back yard and will take good care of him/her," writes one member of the Cleveland Park email list. Retrievers, Cocker spaniels, and Weimaraners need not apply.

The Great Eradication of Nero: Though Park View D.C. reported some success in cleaning up graffiti in the neighborhood the other day, a member of the MPD 3D email list living in Adams Morgan has questions about a specific tagger: "Does MPD have any leads on who 'Nero' is? Has he/she been seen? Obviously they have not been caught yet? 'Nero' caused a lot of destruction of property in Adams Morgan and we continue to clean up after him on a regular basis. Would be great if MPD could get this person off the streets." Nero was previously troublesome in Park View, too.

Chronically Judging: The Crestwood email list continues to debate the correctness of smoking marijuana after an initial charge that unknown teens were smoking, inside of a blue Prius, outside someone's house. A particularly vocal commenter is advocating for the right to smoke, anywhere, including behind the wheel: "More likely someone would be driving too cautious and drive a bit too slowly.  I'm not saying everybody should smoke dope, just saying its not for anyone to pass judgment on how we like our coffee, how much T.V. We let our kids watch, or whether to drink or smoke or whatever. Legally? Are you the police now?  What about morally?  Should you or the guy on blagden terrace really be the arbiters of right and wrong?  And does it help to parent others kids?  Or project on another, of any age, our personal slanted belief systems? I say we all need to let go of the tendency to control others, and projecting our 'stuff' on to them." In response to that rant, another member writes, "Dude, you shouldn't drive a car stoned.  End of story."

Bring On the Burritos: Though it appeared yesterday that Cleveland Park residents were opposed to Chipotle's opening because it would erode the neighborhood's character and charm, a slew of email list members have vocalized their support for the—gasp!—chain restaurant. Some even believe that it will succeed, despite the nearby presence of California Tortilla. Though there are still a few naysayers, one writes, "I support it. The neighborhood has plenty of charm and variety, and it seems that only chains or restaurants can compete in that location with the rents as they are. Given the nail and tanning salons next door, I think it will actually make that strip more attractive." Another says, "I think it would be a great addition to Cleveland Park. The Chipotle near the Woodley Park metro is usually quite busy during meal 'rush hours' and Chipotle's exterior design is not gaudy or flashy, I think it will not detract away from the neighborhood charm. I also would love for their to be more options for "fast food" (though this is hardly the typical fast food "joint") in the neighborhood. California Tortilla is fine, but I would love to see Chipotle join the neighborhood."

Everything's Coming Up 14th Street: There's many an update on 14th Street NW storefronts filling up. U Street Girl reports that Peregrine's second location, at 14th between R and S Streets NW is close to opening. Borderstan says that the ground floor of the View 14 condo building at 14th Street and Florida Avenue NW will be home to the YWCA and Beta Academy, a mixed martial arts center relocating from Columbia Heights. And 14th & You takes away from a recent ANC meeting that PN Hoffman's renovation of the Verizon building on 14th and R Streets NW will "have room for one ground-level commercial tenant, most likely a restaurant. (The developer has plans for the eventual installation of some kind of sidewalk seating.) The building will have four levels of residences, including a penthouse level with private rooftop decks/gardens for each unit, along with a communal rooftop area. The penthouse structure will very closely resemble the rooftop structure at the top of the Room and Board building at 14th and T streets."

O Bikeshare, Where Art Thou? With the news of the expansion of Capital Bikeshare, The Hill is Home has asked readers where they might like to see a station—if the neighborhood is lucky enough to snag one or more of the 25 that will be sprinkled around the city. Two noted a station by Results Gym would be well-used, while one says that a station by Stanton Park or the Southeast Branch Library would be helpful. Another points out that the downside to CaBi's increased use isn't just empty racks: "15th St. SE and Independence is much needed. Just last night I tried to leave bike at Lincoln park, but full, then Safeway, but full, then claimed final spot all the way at Stadium Armory. Cabi is a fantastic concept, but needs 1) more locations and 2) more spaces for bikes if they continue to grow in memberships." (Bloomingdale also asked for feedback on a potential station, at First Street and Rhode Island Avenue NW, but has not yet received any comments.)

Tag, You're It II: Park View D.C. has an update on graffiti removal in the neighborhood. It might not be top-down, coming from the authorities, but residents of Park View are getting it done: "One thing I’m encouraged by is the amount of community activism I’ve seen assisting the City try to get on top of this issue. I’ve been documenting as much tagging as possible and passing along information to assist with removal and there is a very active group of neighbors on Irving Street doing much the same along that part of the community. In several cases, residents have taken it upon themselves to remove tagging after they’ve documented it." Unfortunately, though one piece of graffiti skewed more toward street art, the neighborhood's diligence quickly gave the axe: "One victim, if you will, of the recent graffiti removal efforts was the more artistic graphic below [click through] which didn’t quite survive a day before it was removed. Sadly, it was actually the one I liked the best."

What's Worse than The Cereal Bowl? On the Cleveland Park email list, it's been suggested that a Chipotle might open in the space formerly occupied by the very short-lived (and shame-inflicting) Cereal Bowl. Chipotle could easily be seen as an upgrade from the rather gimmicky make-your-own-cereal shop, and some neighbors are definitely interested; one list member writes, "I think it would be a nice addition. It's an inexpensive place to dine." But others feel it has the potential to devastate the neighborhood's quality and character: "Cleveland Park already has a California Tortilla at 3501 Connecticut (across the street from the proposed Chipotle). A second fast food Mexican-type chain restaurant will detract from the charm and variety of the neighborhood." For now, we'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it's the "chain" part, not the "Mexican" part, they were objecting to.

Palisades, ISO: A member of the Palisades email list is planning quite the party and has asked for some neighborly loans in a thread entitled "ISO Alice in Wonderland tea/croquet unbirthday party props tomorrow:

"Hey we are having a Wonderland tea and croquet party for my 8 YO daughter, and bought some props online etc but need more–if you have any of the following to loan/sell /give away, please let me know!

-fake flamingos (or hedgehogs) for a flamingos and hedgehogs croquet match
(or an old croquet set–we have a pristine one on loan, but the flagstone patio could destroy it)
-chinese lanterns–any lit/not lit, single/strung, paper/fabric/ plastic, size/shape/color
-teapots cups and saucers worthy of the mad hatter tea party (have not had luck at local op shops)
-oversized tophat or clock/pocketwatch prop
-several clear drink/food-safe bottles–either former beer/sodas to be capped by a beer capper or vial-like ones, for "drink me" drinks–can vary.

Any other random things you may have, like a large mushroom and caterpillar (we have a hooka prop) , signs that say "this way" and "that way" or best of all, astroturf for croquet match–are appreciated also.

If anyone has ideas on how to create an exploding cake, let me know! Thanks!!"

Though the "unbirthday" scene is a famous one in romp that Lewis Carroll's Alice takes through Wonderland, one has to ask, as it's not made clear: Is this list member planning a birthday for their 8-year-old daughter...or an unbirthday? If it's the latter, it'll be an unbirthday the likes of Palisades probably have never seen.

Legalize It? In response to a post from a Crestwood email list complaining about teenagers smoking marijuana in a car last Friday, another fires back, "I got stoned a few thousand times when I was a kid on your street and probably every other in Crestwood, but it wasn't in a blue Prius... it was a faded gold Toyota Corolla. Two questions: 1. Am I in trouble with you too?  2. Do you have absolutely nothing better to do than harassing young people bonding? Perhaps they are stumbling and making some mistakes along the way, but these 'kids' are clearly minding their own business...why don't we save the gossip for boring crap that doesn't infringe on peoples rights like: 'whoa! watch out folks there's a pothole on Taylor street that's a doozie!!' Or, 'Mrs Johnson is wandering in the middle of argyle terrace again! don't run her down!'" Still another list member feels this response was "inappropriate."

Animal Kingdom: A posting about a found cat on the Tenleytown email list didn't garner any specific connections, but had some members thinking about another cat that went missing last week. Turns out that cat, Mookie, was found and reunited with its owners. One neighbor was ecstatic: "YEAH!!! I am doing the happy paws dance. I just read the happy news about MOOKIE finding his way home after his neighborhood romp!! It is Spring and they have been cooped up all winter and dreaming about the goodies outside(not that I endorse their hunting)." Another was more inclined to cold-blooded humor, writing in a separate thread entitled, "Are You Missing Your SNAKE?" "I was reading the paper and enjoying my coffee and a nasty-ass snake slithered across the floor of our fifth-floor apartment."

What to Do? 14th & You has noted that the corner of 14th and Corcoran Streets NW has been "cleaned up." The corner was previously "home" to a homeless man named Michael, who in an interview with People's District claimed that he preferred to live outside and not seek shelter or city resources. Though the interview received many favorable comments, his pile of stuff on the corner continued to grow to some consternation and bafflement. 14th & You commenters are conflicted as to whether or not the decision to remove Michael's things was a good one or not. Writes one, "Sad story, and a shame that Michael cannot get the help he so clearly needs." Another disagrees: "I live just around the corner. Last week or so, after the signs went up but before the "pile" was removed, Michael had begun to exhibit new signs of dementia, loudly hollering at no one in particular. Yesterday morning, walking my dogs, he was wandering both sides of the block and appeared to be stalking and again yelling. As I passed along on the opposite side of 14th he was yelling that he was going to get me and my dogs. This occurred very eary Sunday morning."

Just Not Good Enough: When Georgetown Metropolitan reported that Paul Bakery would be opening in the neighborhood, commenters where aghast at yet another chain infiltrating M Street NW and beyond. One waxes, "While worthy local businesses struggle to stay, we hail the arrival of more chains that supplant local real estate, charge more and care less about neighbors, friends and customers. I encourage the G-town world to continue to have their great breakfasts at Furin’s . What chain has the consistent familiar smiles, staff, delicious pancakes, lunch salads and will go out of its way to treat customers as neighbors and bring food its ill patrons? I and so many others have had the benefit of the care, friendship, great breakfasts, cupcakes and good food from Furin’s." Another agrees, writing "More like Furin’s, more like Poupon, more like Leopold’s…and fewer chains, please." But the blog notes that despite the appearance that Georgetown is completely chain-ified, that simply is not the case: " While it’s fair to complain about the lack of genuinely exciting or even interesting restaurants in Georgetown, one of the things Georgetown’s definitely not is chain-dominated. As of GM’s latest count, there are 126 restaurants in Georgetown. Of those, only 20 are part of a big chain. An additional 5 more are part of a regional chain (i.e. Five Guys). So even if you lump the regional chains in with the national chains, there are still only 25 chain restaurants in Georgetown. That’s less that 20%. (And the number of chains is unchanged from last year, while the number of independent restaurants has increased)."

Bon Voyage, Burro: FoBoBlo reports that The Burro, Foggy Bottom's only non-chain Mexican restaurant, will be closing its doors today. Apparently, "a handwritten sign posted on their door makes the sad announcement.  I spoke with the cashier inside, who told me that once they’re gone, the place will be empty. He cited too much competition and changes to GWU food services as reasons why they’re calling it quits." Given the dead zone of quick, affordable, but still enjoyable restaurants in Foggy Bottom, it's hard to blame the commenter who writes, "i’m heart-broken. incolsolable."

Weed 'Em Out: "What I’ve learned since having my own yard to tend to is that April showers bring a massive invasion of weeds that can grow as tall as me in the blink of an eye.  And in front of each of our houses, at the edge of the sidewalk, is a lovely box of dirt that, while on city property, is the homeowner’s responsibility to care for.  Meaning you need to tame those unruly weeds.  So do you do it?" asks the Hill is Home. A poll reveals that most Hill dwellers are apathetic toward their tree boxes, but feel a deep sense of responsibility stemming from them nonetheless. Currently, about 39% of those polled say, "I don't love it, but it needs to be done."

Multibottle Graveyard: A commenter on New Columbia Heights has suggested formal rules to create a "street booze" game, following up on the blog's tendency to post shots of empty liquor and beer bottles. As follows: "My roommates and I have started a game that you can play while commuting to/from the CH metro: 1 point for every street booze-related mixer or insinuating drinking (arizona tall boy fruit punch cans, black liquor bags, etc), 2 points for beer(40's, cans, bottles, 30 rack boxes, bottle caps, etc), 3 points for liquor (plastic vodka bottles, occasional patron bottle), and 4 points for witnessing someone in the act of street boozing, not on private property. So far I've gotten up to 14 points in 3 blocks. Try to beat me!" One commenter suggests, "anyone who walks on the north side of Harvard Street, 700 Block, automatically will win. it's a real multibottle graveyard in front of one of the houses. fancy, expensive booze too!" But remember, the real winners are the ones that actually pick up and properly dispose of the trash.

Brookland, ISO: On the Brookland Kids email list, a parent is "ISO wallet friendly puppeteer." The query, in detail, says: "A friend of mine has a soon to be 5 year old girl with a budding interest in puppet shows.  Friend wanted to hire puppeteer for birthday party but the $300 pricetag she's encountered so far is not leaving her with a smile. Does anyone know of puppet people who have lower prices? She is open to amateurs, high school/college student, etc. as long as they are entertaining enough for the kiddies."

More Than the Sum of Tom-Tom: The Very Cherry AdMo Pop-Up Shop sprung up to fill the empty space on 18th Street left by Uptowner Deli, but members of the Ward 1 email list are crediting it with more than merely activating a storefront. "We bought several items, but we liked that they sent us to other local retail stores. They sent us to Tora Mata, the art of Peru, when we said we needed a religious themed item for a friend and we bought also at the Tibet Shop and Crooked Beat records which we did not know was in Adams Morgan. Also did not know before about Planet Pet either," writes one. Another reports a similar experience, saying "Yes, we also learned much from the Adamsmorgan Mainstreet about the local businesses right here in Adams Morgan. They gave us the information on many more of the true restaurants are here than we knew. We had made the mistake to think that Brassknob was a bar, and learned they have wonderful things. Then went to the AMWine Shop to make the purchases and a special trip to Meeps Vintage." Who knew the strip responsible for the phrase "Adams Morgan Effect"—deployed by ANC commissioners hoping to quash the rapid spread of bars in their own neighborhoods—could be so charming?

Airing of Grievances: Tenleytown email list members feel the city is unfairly targeting their cars and residences in order to generate revenue. Prompts one, "Let's count the ways that the city is sticking it to us lately..."—and a list was born! Though the slew of annoyances is bound to grow, here's what Tenleytown residents feel are costing them too much money, at present:

1. Ticket for Bulk Trash with confirmation number
Then failing to pick up for 3 weeks.
2. Ticket for personal property inside fenced yard.
3. Ticket for speeding in a car we have never seen.
4. Ticket for trash cans in the alley.
5. Tickets for displaying a parking pass that has not yet expired.
6. Ticket for turning right on red after stop at Fessenden St.
7. Ticket for tree branches overhanging an alley.
8. Refusal to produce public records relating to the District's plans to develop the Tenley-Friendship Library/Janney E.S. site.

No Laundry Here: 14th & You checks in on the status of the "Shirt Laundry" building on 14th and Q streets NW—which many expected to be under construction to become a restaurant by now—but doesn't have great news to share: "Plans for the restaurant have...been shelved. Last month, the Whisk Group announced that they were pulling out of the project because of unexpectedly high cleanup costs. (Dry cleaners tend to leave a lot of mess in their wake.) This now leaves an open question as to what might end up there, if not a food-serving establishment? Several ideas have been floating around (it's been a poorly kept secret that Walgreen's would like to set up shop in the neighborhood, for instance) but nothing has been announced at this point." A commenter is hoping the former is still a go, noting, "I'd love to see a place to grab something casual and healthy. Teaism would be perfect. I love all the upscale restaurants, but if you want something quick or without reservations/a long wait, burgers seem to be the only option."

When The Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Disappear'd, UPDATE: Cleveland Park's infamous lilac thief has been spotted! One member of the neighborhood email list reports, "He was walking northbound along the Glover-Archbold Park stream valley path this morning about 6:45am in full flower. He was carrying a large armful of lilacs."

Snow consists of water, and it piles up in little fluffy mounds. It gets pushed around a lot.

In other words, it's just the sort of substance that, you'd suppose, steakmen would scoff about. Steakmen are the brutes who live on red meat and serve it at their steakhouses. Red meat, of course, symbolizes toughness, and its extraction from cattle requires macho cowboys (or, OK, absurdly confining stalls and tons of environmentally hazardous corn feed).

In the District of Columbia, red meat purveyors trade under various names, including Bobby Van's, McCormick & Schmick's, and on and on.

And most all of them are taking the wimpy way out on Snowpocalypse II.

Take McCormick & Schmick's weekend plans: Closing early tonight. Will check on conditions tomorrow.

Bobby Van's: Closed throughout the weekend, including tonight.

Morton’s: Open tonight. Will check on conditions tomorrow.

BLT Steak: Closing two-and-a-half hours early tonight. Will check on conditions tomorrow.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Closing early tonight. Will check on conditions tomorrow.

Charlie Palmer Steak: Will check on conditions tomorrow.

The Caucus Room: Open tonight and tentative tomorrow.

Sam & Harry’s: This is a snippet from the outgoing message on the phone system of this outfit: "We will be closed this evening for the safety of our guests and staff, due to the snowstorm."

Now here's a little editorial note for the management of Sam & Harry's. Look, it's not your job to look out for our safety. If you ever get the illusion that it is, consider what you do twice every day (except Sunday). You feed us big hunks of artery-clogging beef, and smile about it. You'll also be more than happy to throw in some life-killing martinis, some steak fries, and other contaminants that'll slow our shuffle to the front door but hasten our sprint to the grave. So let's not get all self-satisfied about safety here.

Now back to the original theme of this blog post. Yes, steak peddlers appear to be more fainthearted than the image of their central product would suggest.

In this topsy-turvy world of D.C. dining and weather wimping, it bears asking about the weekend plans of Minibar, Jose Andres' operation in Penn Quarter. Just how delicate is Minibar? Well, try the "baguette filled with drippy cheddar cream and topped with slices of Wagyu" and the "passion-fruit-flavored marshmallow."

And so what are the snow plans of this landmark of culinary prissiness? Open all weekend.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery

Playing Jesus in this scenario, says owner Jody Taylor, would be Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans.

"The Black Rooster will crow again," Taylor says. Asked what happened to prompt the reversal of fortune for what had been slated to become a General Services Administration conference room, "I don't really know to be honest with you. Jack Evans had a lot to do with it....Once I talked to the landlord, he was extremely gracious. Everybody came to terms. It's good all around."

And the reprieve came just in the nick of time. Taylor had put up the bar's assets in an online auction, and today was the last day he could have canceled it. "They had people flying in from Chicago and Atlanta that were interested," Taylor says. "Just came down to the last minute practically."

The final papers aren't signed just set, but Taylor says landlord Richard Cohen gave him the go-ahead to re-open, something that could happen in two or three weeks.

"I am very grateful at this point to a lot of people," Taylor says.

Mallios was first among a relatively small cadre of D.C. attorneys representing restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels in front of city liquor authorities; his services helped myriad establishments navigate an arcane licensing process and fend off countless neighbors and advisory neighborhood commissions.

He had been battling cancer for more than five years, says his law partner Steve O'Brien. Mallios had been active and practicing before his illness suddenly worsened a week ago.

O'Brien, a longtime competitor of Mallios' before their practices recently merged, says he cut a swath in the legal community that will not soon be filled. "Dmitri was my partner for three years; he was my friend for 30 years. Everything I know about alcoholic beverage law I learned from Dimitri. He is irreplaceable."

Legendary trial lawyer Jacob Stein counted Mallios as a friend for 40 years. "Personally, he had a great sense of humor," he says, and as a lawyer, "he was practical, sensible, empirical, and had no traces of ideology....A client who retained him would get the best service on offer."

"He was splendid with clients," Stein added, "and the clients are often very difficult to deal with."

Laurie Collins, a former ABC board member and a fellow parishioner at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral remembers him as "a sweet, sweet man and a good lawyer."

"He was loved by not only the business community, which he mostly represented," she says, "but I think the community was very fond of him. He was very fair."

Andrew J. Kline, general counsel to the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington and another titan of the liquor bar, remembers him as "someone who was respected by his clients, his colleagues....He knew how to represent folks in the hospitality industry and represent them well."

The "dean" label, incidentally, was well earned—Mallios was referred to as such in a footnote to a D.C. Council committee report on a late '90s rewrite of the city alcoholic beverage laws. LL will also add that Mallios' checkbook will be missed by city officeholders—he was a frequent donor to local candidates.

But his friends will miss him more.

Says Kline, "I loved him. He was my friend, and we'll all miss him a lot."

Adds Stein, "I really, really miss him. He is a part of my own existence. There are certain things that he and I knew about that we would talk about, and now have I no one to talk about them with."

UPDATE, 2:49 P.M.: Lynne Breaux, RAMW president, notes that Mallios was recipient of her organization's Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award this year. That honor goes to "an individual whose dedication and leadership have helped transform Washington’s restaurant scene into today’s vibrant and thriving industry."

His write-up in the awards program: "Known as the dean of Washington’s Alcoholic Beverage Control attorneys, Dimitri Mallios is also called THE man to know…and the man to thank when you order your next margarita. Dimitri grew up in the restaurant business in DC – Trio, one of Washington’s classics – and attended GWU, undergraduate and law, giving him a distinct advantage of native regional knowledge. As described by the Washington Business Journal, Dimitri is “soft spoken but effective. Direct but respectful. Tough but good hearted.” A rare individual and an exceptional lawyer, we toast Dimitri Mallios and his significant contribution to the restaurant industry in the Washington Metropolitan area." More here.

UPDATE, 9/21: Restaurateur and impresario Joe Englert offers a less reverent but plenty heartfelt tribute to Mallios at Young & Hungry.

These are the only phobias/allergies I have to deal with in my personal cooking life. The area's chefs, on the other hand, have to confront an army of hypochondriacs in their dining rooms, many of them merely faking allergies because they're too embarrassed to admit they just don't like certain ingredients.

In our new Food Issue, staff writer Ruth Samuelson talks to a few of these fakers—and to the chefs who wish they'd just act like grownups. It's a good read. So read it already.

Now Olney is not exactly a culinary wasteland. The village formerly known as Mechanicsville (good call on the name change there, folks) already hosts one of my favorite bagelries and an under-appreciated Belgian joint, Mannequin Pis (with the comically incontinent cherub). Angeles-Beron's Latin-American place, scheduled to open Nov. 25, is located just up Georgia Avenue in the former Bella Notte space.

Angeles-Beron forwarded me an early menu, and it's stuffed with a number of promising options, including ceviches, tapas, and even the occasional chifa dish, such as the Peruvian wontons stuffed with fresh cheese and served with avocado cream. It looks like we have one more reason to jump into the Global Warming Machine and head to Olney.

Personally I find the British charming, polite, urbane, civilised, and otherwise of a generally agreeable lot. Not having had the pleasure of personally attending an Arsenal or Manchester United football match, I leave the reputed hooliganism and accompanying rows to cultural idiosyncrasy, one not evidenced in my experience. Nevertheless, the one behaviour of your citizenry here in America of which I find the most annoying, disturbing, and ultimately maddening is the ignorance of a peculiar American cultural artefact, which manifests itself most obviously in the act of the tip. As a waiter, and one who has served the Queen’s subjects (and your constituency) on more than several occasions, and because of the vagaries of the American economic system, professional waiters in America depend wholly upon the tip, which, as I understand in Great Britain and Europe, is meant to be an extra reward for good service, due to the fact that waiters there receive a salary of liveable degree. In America, waiters receive a pittance salary, usually of an hourly nature, and far below the minimum wage, which is more often than not applied to income tax; subsequently the majority of waiters in America owe taxes at the end of the year. To put it simply: American waiters depend upon tips for their livelihood.

From the comments to this item on Waiter Rant, it seems clear that...well, Canadians don't have enough to do. What's the experience like here in D.C.? Do foreign visitors know to leave tips? I mean, we're a foreign-visitor magnet here. There has got to be stories.

1. Lebanese Butcher and Restaurant: I have never had anything from this restaurant that wasn't completely delicious. It's cheap and has good sized portions and everything on my plate is perfectly spiced. I love the way they do simple things in a lovely way, like thier hummus which is so tasty. Also, they have several lamb dishes that are so interesting and perfect. Their lamb sausages are also great.

2. Brasserie Beck: I can take my parents here and have a great meal, like the braised lamb shank or I can take my just out of college siblings here and still have an affordable evening sharing a bowl of delicious mussels. I've eaten at the bar a few times and gotten spectacular service, although it can get quite busy. I have also had slow leisurely meals in the dining room tasting staff recommended and hard to find Belgian beers.

3. Sakana Japanese Restaurant: Great sushi and they are always bustling yet have room for me. Thier rolls and thier nigiri sushi are both excellent and it doesn't have the hype of other sushi places in DC, but I never have to wait too long and can get a 20 ounce Kirin or 2 during the meal. Nothing too fancy or elaborate, but they have a great selection of sushi and the chefs out front do a great job. I have never had a bad meal here but sometimes get carried away and order far too much because everything is so good!

Want to be featured in Shill for Your Favorite Restaurant? Send an e-mail to tcarman@washingtoncitypaper.com and give me the three restaurants in the D.C. area for which you would risk your reputation, the three that you'd shill for without losing sleep at night. I need specifics -lots of loving details-why you'd serve as their pitchman (or woman).

New Yorkers have been in the throes of sticker shock since this spring when the Big Apple became the first city in the country to implement a law forcing chain restaurants to post the calorie count of each food in the same size and font as the price. … Many New Yorkers are finding that even the foods they thought were lower calorie really aren’t. … Outside the Forest Hills’ Dunkin’ Donuts, Juan Restrepo, the 45-year-old owner of a construction company, said he was quitting corn muffins — 510 calories! — this time for good. … Vicki Freedman, who lives in Manhattan, watches her weight and always tries to choose a light option when eating out. But the 26 year old just discovered that the Friday’s pecan-crusted chicken salad, served with mandarin oranges, dried cranberries and celery, has 1,360 calories.

I think this law is brilliant. Those three- or even four-digit numbers displayed next to innocent-looking cookies, frappaccinos, and even salads will surely bring accountability back to eating. Those who dread stepping on the scale may be most daunted by the new law, but I think it'll do us good. This law may be a catalyst for restaurants to choose healthier ways of preparing dishes.

It might make some people upset to have their meals "ruined," but that frustration would be short-lived. Eating healthy and giving up the fettuccine alfredo can be a drag, but it's like exercise: you don't want to do it, but you feel pretty good later for doing it.

The article mentions similar laws being implemented in Seattle, Santa Clara and San Francisco by the end of the year, which is absolutely fantastic. I think DC should follow suit. Plus, if we already had a law like that here, I probably wouldn't have eaten (and now feel so sick from gorging on) a burger and milkshake for lunch.