Tag Archives: openings

Food and Drink
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First Look: SAX Restaurant & Lounge

"Sax Restaurant & Lounge-9" by Spiggycat


The first thing I notice as I walk in to the opening party of SAX, the new Metro Center area restaurant and lounge, is not the luxury-goth club decor or even the writhing bodies behind plate glass above the bar. All of that comes later. What hits me first is that the average age of the patrons hovers closer to that of my mother than myself. Not unusual for a posh DC spot, perhaps, but this one has been over the top in marketing of their “sexy cabaret” theme concept, so I feel a bit uncomfortable, expecting to bump in to a woman from my mom’s book club around every gold-leafed corner.

People will call this crowd “diverse,” but it is a very specific kind of diverse. Which is to say, there are equal parts black and white, male and female, and rather a lot of gay men for a place selling so much female flesh. Really, though, they all seem just alike. Every woman looks like a high-price real estate agent or divorce attorney – or at least like they have one of each in their Blackberry contacts. The men wear shiny cufflinks and smirky, goofy facial expressions, but not ties. These are not my people and this is not my kind of place, but I knew that going in and cannot really judge them for it. These people and their ilk will throw each other many “fun” and “crazy” fiftieth birthday parties here and will enjoy themselves immensely, thinking they are just so outrageous.
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Business and Money, Essential DC, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
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Georgetown? More Like IceCreamtown.

Photo courtesy of
‘Thirty #115’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

With today’s opening of Georgetown Scoops, the NW neighborhood officially became IceCreamtown with 8 ice cream/froyo shops located all within a .5 mile radius of each other. The question now becomes when can you have too much ice cream? My answer today would be absolutely never.

Essential DC, Food and Drink, News, The Daily Feed
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Ray’s the Steaks at East River Asks for Liquor License

Photo courtesy of
‘Ray’s Hell Burger’
courtesy of ‘roboppy’

DC Public records show that restaurateur Michael Landrum has officially applied for an Alcohol License for Ray’s the Steaks at East River. The license says Ray’s the Steaks at East River will be, “New high quality and full-service community and family oriented restaurant serving grilled steaks and traditional entrees. Occupancy Load is 85 and Sidewalk Café with 40 seats.” An indicative move on the part of Landrum who has been attempting to open the restaurant for a while now, and has had to push back opening East River since the original prediction of April 2008.

Located in East River, many believe East River to be a bold move on Landrum’s part, especially since Ward 7 is severely lacking in sit-down options. The only option now for sit-down in Ward 7 is a Denny’s. The location is cited as right off of Benning Road at Dix Street, at what looks to be easy walking distance from the Minnesota Avenue Metro Station.

Landrum has been quoted in the past as saying, “The more I looked into the neighborhood, the more I talked to people, the more excited I have gotten about the great prospect and hope there.” We Love DC author Shannon has reported on East River in the past as being the next big redevelopment location in DC, and a Ray’s the Steaks is a great way to start.