Washington, D.C.
The turnout on Super Tuesday is expected to be large — and not just at polling places. As anticipation builds over how voters in 22 states will cast their presidential primary ballots, restaurants and bars in the nation’s capital are preparing to accommodate those who will be coming in to watch the results over patriotic potables.
The best places in the nation’s capital to watch the results — in today’s Express.
Washington, D.C.
On a recent evening, a pair of diners sat in the window seat at Queen of Sheba on 9th Street NW in Shaw. Between them, they shared traditional Ethiopian vegetarian plates, like Atkilt, a stew made with carrots, potatoes, cabbage, red pepper and onions. They glanced directly across the street, at the Shiloh Baptist Church, raised their Heineken beers and took a swig.
It was a somewhat ordinary scene — but, after a nearly two-year battle for a liquor license, it’s one that owner Embzam Misgina now takes comfort in.
Read more about it in my other Express piece out today.
Washington, D.C.
Metro has plenty of rules. Wearing pants, I’ve learned, is apparently not one of them. About a 100 pranksters dropped trou and hit the subway this weekend. It’s all detailed in my latest story for the Express. And no, this intrepid reporter did not participate.
You have to draw the line somewhere, right?
Photo by The Post’s Ricky Carioti
Washington, D.C.
Nearly one year after the work began, the massive reconstruction and refurbishing of P Street NW between Dupont Circle and 22nd Street is almost complete. But what has the impact been on local businesses — and was the whole project worth the costs?
My latest Express piece is out today.
Washington, D.C.
As temperatures in the nation’s capital plummet, restaurants and bars are rolling out heat lamps and radiant heaters to keep patios and roofdecks toasty. Read more in my latest story for the Washington Post Express.
Photo by Michael Temchine for The Washington Post
Washington, D.C.
Here’s another piece of mine that ran today on the Express blog, Free Ride. It’s about the expansion plans of Chop’t, the make-your-own-salad Gallery Place lunch-spot with 60+ toppings to choose from.
Good news: it’ll be in Dupont soon.
Washington, D.C.
I’ve started contributing to Free Ride, the blog for the Washington Post Express. My piece out yesterday is the first in a series leading up to the one year anniversary of the D.C. smoking ban. Read it on the Express site — or, if you’d rather stay here, I’ve also got it posted on MZ.com.
And, if you ever need any matchbooks, let me know. I’ve got a couple to spare after reporting this out.
Photo illustrations courtesy of Chris Combs/Express
Charleston, South Carolina
I’ve finally got a couple of minutes to jot down some thoughts on a great trip down to Charleston over Labor Day weekend. After an early morning flight there on Saturday morning, we were met with some overcast skies – but nothing that brunch at Hominy Grill and some shopping at M. Dumas & Sons, the preppiest, most amazing store I’ve ever walked into, couldn’t take care of.
After a quick nap, we geared up for cocktails at Social, before a fantastic dinner at Slightly North of Broad, locally named the Restaurant of the Year. SNOB had an awesome grilled peach salad, with arugula, walnuts, a hunk of goat cheese and a maple vinaigrette. It rivaled the main entrée, a sautéed squab breast with cheddar cheese grits and asparagus.
Post-dinner, it was time to visit the Silver Dollar, for a Playboy.com bar review. It was a true dive bar, packed with college kids. The owner, Steve, and his dedicated staff, took good care of us all night before we headed back to our room at the downtown Holiday Inn.
The next morning, after a quick and tasty breakfast at 39 Rue de Jean, we met with the world-acclaimed concierge, Kevin McQuade. He did not disappoint, offering a great walking tour that brought us through the Charleston historic district (but not before some shopping diversions on King Street — again) and then along the Battery and White Point Gardens, with views of Fort Sumter and the harbor.
We checked into our new hotel, the gorgeous Charleston Place, hit the gym (needed it) and took a swim, before changing for dinner at Coast (try the lobster and shrimp penne dish). Afterwards, on the suggestion of our pal Kevin, we met for Ed Macy’s ghost tour, which, believe it or not, wasn’t as cheesy as it sounds.
We got up early on Monday morning for an 8-mile run across the Cooper River Bridge (still hurting). Next, with the sun shining, we gathered the cooler for a couple hours at Folly Beach. And then, there was nothing like a barbecue feast at Sticky Fingers (had to grab a bottle of the Carolina Sweet sauce) to cap off a fantastic weekend.
I’ll post photos and a link to my bar review here as soon as I’ve got a chance.
Washington, D.C.
According to market research firm comScore, the Revolution Health Network had the seventh highest percent increase in unique visitors on the Internet from June to July of this year. In June, our sites had 3,047,000 unique total visitors versus 4,014,000 the following month, marking a 32% increase.
In other news, I’m heading out of town for a weekend of beaches, bar reviews and good grub in Charleston, South Carolina (above, one of the city’s main drags, Broad St.). But not before dinner tonight at Agraria.
I’ll have a full report next week.
Washington, D.C.
When you think of Georgetown, you’ve got to think of 1789.
It’s really the quintessential restaurant here in D.C., housed in a renovated 19th century Federal house whose walls have been lined with historical prints and tables filled with Grandma’s china. Unfortunately, the surroundings and great food don’t come cheap, which means it isn’t every day that you get to visit. Luckily, it’s August, which also means that no one is around the nation’s capital and restaurants are desperate for business. Thus, our trip to 1789 on Saturday night.
As part of a summer offer, you’re entitled to an appetizer, entrée and dessert for $36. Considering main courses average around $30 bucks, it isn’t a bad deal. My veal short ribs starter — with grilled corn, smoked paprika and pickled ramps — was fall off the bone delicious. It was followed by yellow fin tuna, seared to perfection over a bed of arugula, piquillo sweet peppers, botarga and fennel. Dessert was a valhrona chocolate truffle — basically a hazelnut chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. All washed down with a glass of white wine, it was near perfection.
Too bad we won’t all be back there again until next summer.
Marc is the co-founder and CEO of AcceptU, an edtech company based in Boston. 
Marc Zawel 