Cloaked in darkness, the Sovereign offers some truly powerful and Old World cocktails. Ambiance: ****1/2 Decor: ****1/2 Service: **** Cocktails: *** Overall Rating: 4 As an ultra-hip trendsetter, I viewed Fritz Hahn’s article on six hot new DC bars as a challenge and a borderline insult. I’d been to three on the list, but the idea that… Read More Vive le Roi – The Sovereign
A bright neighborhood bar, Palette 22 offers a unique ambiance and some surprisingly good cocktails. Ambiance: **** Decor: ****1/2 Service: **** Cocktails: **** Overall Rating: 4 As a frequent stroller through the little village of Shirlington, it’s been sad to see the big corner space on South Randolph remain vacant for so long. So I’ve been… Read More Cocktails and Oils – Palette 22
This week I’m reviewing Owen Matthews’ “Glorious Misadventures,” a history of Russia’s all but forgotten attempt to explore and colonize North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. The far flung saga follows the trail of Russian adventurer and businessman Nikolai Rezanov as he moved east from Siberia, to Alaska, all the way down to Spanish-administered San… Read More Russian Dreams and Northern Cocktails
Quarter and Glory is a good spot for a large group looking for a fun time off of 14th Street. Ambiance: **** Decor: **** Service: ***1/2 Cocktails: *** Overall Rating: 3.5 Ever attuned to the openings of new DC cocktail bars, I read with interest of Quarter and Glory, a New York-sourced spot that takes its name… Read More Simple Conviviality – Quarter and Glory
“All time is time. It does not change. It does not lend itself to warnings or explanations. It simply is. Take it moment by moment, and you will find that we are all, as I’ve said before, bugs in amber.” ― Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughter House Five I was so excited to open the Washington Post on… Read More Unstuck in Time at Petworth Citizen
For the past few years I’ve been lucky enough to support the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, the preeminent research and advocacy group fighting ovarian cancer. Helping others and pitching in to fight this horrible disease is satisfaction enough, but there’s also the annual “Turn Up the Heat” gala/fundraiser to sweeten the deal. The gala brings together… Read More Cocktails for a Cause
The quintessential neighborhood bar, the Pub and the People brings some aggressive, spicy cocktails and good vibes. Ambiance: **** Decor: ***1/2 Service: **** Cocktails: ***1/2 Overall Rating: 3.75 My face buried in a scarf in a desperate attempt to escape the cold, I was happy to spy the Pub and the People, a brick-walled, down-to-Earth establishment in… Read More Nothing Fancy – The Pub and the People
Everything right in the bar world, The Dabney provides a luxurious but homey setting, exemplar service, and wonderful cocktails. Ambiance: ****1/2 Decor: ****1/2 Service: ***** Cocktails: ***** Overall Rating: 5 If you’ve been living in a cave without wi-fi for the past few months, you might have missed all the hub-bub over the Dabney, the new restaurant in Shaw.… Read More All the Rage – The Dabney
This week I’m reviewing Peter Ross Range’s “1924: The Year that Made Hitler” – a dark history that overshadows the vibrant culture of Germany including, of course, its rich alcohol tradition. When most people think of Germany and alcohol, they think of schnapps. I had no idea what schnapps actually was before I started writing this entry,… Read More Readings on Schnapps and Tyranny
Snow is coming and the temperatures are dropping, so I thought it was time for some more sweet and wintry cocktails (see my Snowzilla-themed blizzard drinks). I was inspired to work on new seasonal drinks upon reading Washington Post spirits writers M. Carrie Allan’s fun broadside against the Chocolatini. But Ms. Allan doesn’t just trash the tacky dessert… Read More Winter Fun with Chocolate, Gin, and Whipped Cream
Hello Cocktails! 