Smithsonian's National Postal Museum completed renovations to its historic lobby as well as a major expansion with the new William H. Gross Stamp Gallery in September. The museum now has the world’s largest gallery dedicated to philately. Located next to Union Station, the Beaux-Arts museum’s front exterior is newly accented with a glowing wall of windows illustrated with reproduction of 54 historic United States stamps, plus an outdoor terrace that stretches along Massachusetts Avenue with dramatic views of Capitol Hill. In the lobby, four programmable video screens can display presentations during events. The lobby seats 300 or holds 800 for receptions, while the full museum seats 450 or hosts receptions for 1,100. The museum’s atrium and two small meeting spaces are also available for rental.
In September, José Andrés and ThinkFoodGroup’s Jaleo Bethesda closed for a weeklong renovation to create a more contemporary look for the 12-year-old tapas restaurant. Architect Juli Capella incorporated art pieces and avant garde Spanish design, including two foosball tables that serve as dining tables and a mural from Barcelona artist Rafael Vargas. There are 165 seats in the dining room, 40 bar seats, and 60 seats in the outdoor dining room in the Bethesda restaurant.
Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC completed a $2 million renovation of the hotel’s 13,500 square feet of event space, adding an Apple iPad lighting system, audiovisual enhancements, and digital signage capabilities. The property's eight meeting rooms now include 62- to 72-inch high-definition TVs that can be completely covered behind custom millwork doors. Hand-painted ceiling coves in the prefunction area, custom wool carpets in rust, eggplant, gold, cream, and brown, and original artwork all contribute to the refreshed design. Outside, the event space’s patio now includes a fire pit with lounge-style seating.
New music venue and bar Gypsy Sally’s opened in Georgetown in September, hosting local, regional, and national Americana acts. Corporate and private events can be hosted at the 7,000-square-foot space, which consists of two rooms: the 3,500-square-foot main Music Room for 300, and the 2,500-square-foot Vinyl Lounge, which holds 250.
New Italian small plates restaurant Rialto opened in September on M Street. From the owners of Thunder Burger & Bar and Bodega, Rialto’s decor is inspired by Venice. The restaurant holds 200 for events, and in addition to the main dining room, Rialto includes a downstairs lounge and dining room called Sala Grifone.
The Roof Terrace Restaurant at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts unveiled a new look in October when the venue reopened for the Kennedy Center's 2013-2014 season. With a reimagined menu of seasonal, French-accented dishes, the Roof Terrace Restaurant now includes an extended bar area and a private dining room that doubles as a lounge during normal restaurant hours. The main dining room hosts receptions for 400 and seats 250 for dinner; the private dining room accommodates 40 guests for a reception and 30 for dinner. New navy carpets, rose-tinted drapery, and contemporary wood and leather furniture help modernize the space.
Now open directly above artisan food hall Union Market in Northeast is Dock5, a 13,000-square-foot event venue. The industrial warehouse space accommodates about 500 people. The raw space includes exposed concrete floors, 22-foot-high ceilings, and glass garage doors. Events at Dock5 can extend into the venue’s private outdoor alley.
Chef Richard Sandoval opened El Centro D.F. Georgetown, a replica of his 14th Street El Centro D.F. concept, in September on Wisconsin Avenue. The new two-story Mexican restaurant hosts 59 guests on the first level, 99 guests on the second floor, and 55 on the patio. Mexico City-inspired decor elements include materials such as reclaimed word, used metal, and Mexican newspapers.
Global Korean fried chicken brand BonChon's new location in Arlington opened in July, with space for 85 diners. The 3,400-square-foot restaurant's contemporary look was designed by GrizForm Design Architects and includes curved details, wood and metal materials, and neutral colors enhanced by red as a nod to the franchise's Korean logo.
New in Shaw is Thally, a 70-seat restaurant with a focus on modern American cuisine. Design details include vintage barn-door hardware, blackboards, wood and steel tables, exposed brick, antique pipe fittings, and custom wall graphics. A semiprivate, raised dining room seats 25. The restaurant is available for full buyouts on Mondays.
Daikaya Izakaya, the much-anticipated Japanese tavern and grill, opened in Chinatown in late March. Located on the second floor above Daikaya’s more informal, walk-in-only ramen shop, the 90-seat izakaya is available for party packages and partial buyouts. Designed by Edit Lab at Streetsense, the restaurant’s eclectic, layered look includes glazed mosaic tiles, vintage pendant lights, Japanese fabrics, tour bills for Japanese bands, movie posters, and custom manga wallpaper.
Former BLT Steak executive chef Victor Albisu opened his first full-service restaurant in April, the upscale South American grill Del Campo. Located in Chinatown, the 5,000-square-foot venue seats 129 in the dining room, 36 at the bar, and 40 on the patio. Del Campo accommodates as many as 300 standing guests for full buyout. Private dinners for 18 guests and semiprivate dinners for 28 to 46 guests can also be arranged. At the Asado Bar, guests can sit at a nine-seat counter overlooking the restaurant’s open kitchen while trying dishes from the restaurant’s tasting menus. Del Campo’s look is designed by CORE and inspired by both the modern South American city and the Argentina countryside. Decor includes textured concrete walls, laser-cut wood paneling, leather dining chairs, velvet-upholstered booths, South American collectibles, and crystal chandeliers.
Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr landed in D.C. in April, bringing a bit of Paris to 14th Street with the new bistro Le Diplomate, which specializes in classic French dishes. The 200-seat restaurant includes a light-filled Garden room and an outdoor dining area with seats for 60. The bistro’s Francophile decor includes wicker, red awnings, subway tile, antiques, and Tour de France memorabilia.
In May, Dallas Tex-Mex institution Mi Cocina opened its newest outpost at the Collection in Chevy Chase. The restaurant seats 155 in an open dining room, and a glass-enclosed private dining room seats 25 guests. Decor includes custom chandeliers and a colorful mural from Mexican-born artist Luis Sottil. Guests can also dine at Mi Cocina’s shaded courtyard patio.
Named after the Arabic phrase for “our home,” Darna Restaurant and Lounge brings Lebanese comfort-food favorites to Arlington residents. Opened in April, the venue seats 71 in a rustic-meets-glam setting with distressed wood, chandeliers, stone-cut walls, and custom, cork-filled glass tables.
An open kitchen with a stone hearth lends smoky flavors to Italian-influenced American fare at the Red Hen in Bloomingdale. The hearth is also a focal point for the design of the 2,400-square-foot space, which seats 60 guests in an open floor plan. The restaurant, which was designed by Edit Lab at Streetsense, boasts exposed brick, 13-foot ceilings, and bay windows accented by tables, barstools, and chairs made from reclaimed Nicaraguan wood. The restaurant opened in April.
This spring, Doll House Pole Fitness opened a Manassas studio. The venue is outfitted with nine poles and can be rented for private parties during which an instructor teaches students a choreographed routine. Doll House Pole Fitness instructors can also offer “mobile” pole-dancing parties, bringing pole-dancing lessons to any venue.
In April, Heritage India owner Sanjeev Tuli opened Crossroads, his newest venture located just a blocks from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant has an appropriately global menu and includes South American, African, Asian, and European dishes—and a dual concept, with a second dining area solely devoted to Heritage India’s menu. Groups can book the restaurant’s private dining room, which accommodates 45 people and offers items from both Crossroads and Heritage India. Decor includes tribal masks from around the world, along with a Buddha statue that measures more than five feet and weighs 500 pounds.
Local pizza and mini burger favorite Matchbox opened its first Virginia location in April in the new Mosaic District development. Located next door to Mosaic’s Angelika Theaters, the new Matchbox Merrifield seats 250 and includes a 40-seat patio and a 10-seat pizza bar overlooking the restaurant’s wood-fired ovens. The outpost also boasts a private dining area called the Barrel Room, which seats 60 and offers a private catering menu.
With locations across the country, sandwich shop Which Wich opened its first Washington-area outpost in May, opening near Ballston Commons Mall. The yellow-and-black-branded venue accommodates 40 inside; there is also a patio. Sandwiches can be customized with more than 60 toppings, and the restaurant also serves cookies, shakes, chips, and soft drinks from a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine. Catering is available with options like sandwich trays and boxed lunches.
A huge open kitchen with hickory-fired rotisserie grills is a focal point at chef Mike Isabella's new northern Greek-inspired restaurant Kapnos on 14th Street. The 6,000-square-foot space includes a 39-seat semiprivate dining area with accents like velvet curtains, punched metal Moroccan lanterns, and a window view into the display kitchen. Designed by Streetsense, the restaurant's rustic 160-seat dining room also includes a 10-seat chef's table illuminated by wine bottle chandeliers. Also new is Isabella's new Italian sandwich shop G, which is located next door to Kapnos. The 2,000-square-foot restaurant seats 46 and offers dine-in and carry-out sandwich options by day and a four-course Italian-American tasting menu for dinner.
Long View Gallery is undergoing an expansion, adding 3,500 square feet to the gallery's loftlike event space. Slated for completion in October, the venue will include 8,500 square feet of event space inside the historic warehouse and 2,500 square feet of gated outdoor space. Long View Gallery's new flexible floor plans can accommodate as many as 500 guests, with room for 350 for a seated dinner and 500 for a cocktail party. The space offers Wi-Fi, wall panels for projection, and hookups for speakers, iPods, and wireless microphones.
New Dupont Circle lounge Kabin brings alpine Aspen chic to Washington with a 1970s-era ski-culture-inspired interiors. The 3,200-square-foot venue accommodates 250 guests and includes chalet-esque design details like charcoal-finished wood walls, skiing murals, mirrored ceilings, tanned-leather banquettes, herringbone floors, and a virtual fire box.
J&G Steakhouse reopens this month with an upgraded look, including a refresh of the restaurant's two private dining rooms. The renovation also includes the addition of Bar 515, a new upstairs bar. The new design from New York-based Elemental Interiors will include giant hanging lanterns, dark walls, and an abstract photo of the Capitol dome.
Italian-based global pizzeria chain Piola opened a new location on 14th Street in June. The two-story restaurant seats 80 guests in the dining room and 20 at the bar, with a raised dining area on the split-level second floor. The restaurant's architectural details include skylights, picture windows, industrial furnishings, and exposed brick and pipes.
Salamander Resort and Spa, Sheila C. Johnson's 168-room luxury resort located on 340 acres in Middleburg, Virginia, is now open. In addition to two restaurants from Equinox's Todd Gray, the resort includes conference and event spaces like the 5,000-square-foot divisible Middleburg ballroom, a 1,800-square-foot Bluemont ballroom, and a 1,000-square-foot hospitality suite with an outdoor terrace, as well as two boardrooms with additional breakout rooms. Events can also be held in the 160-year-old converted Stallion Barn, poolside, or in the culinary gardens. Amenities include a sprawling equestrian program, a spa with 14 treatment rooms, a cooking studio, tennis courts, and walking and biking trails.
Chef Robert Wiedmaier's third Mussel Bar & Grille location is now open in Ballston. Located in a futuristic building that once housed a Chevrolet dealership, Mussel Bar & Grille's sleek design includes industrial elements like painted steel cargo containers and construction crane purse hooks at the bar. The restaurant boasts a selection of 100 beers, and beer makes its way into the decor. A custom suspended light fixture is constructed out of bottles of Wiedmaier's Belgian Antigoon beer, and lines for beers on tap are enclosed within glass as a design feature. The restaurant accommodates 244 guests in the dining room and 54 guests in the outdoor seating area.
Located within a block of the Dunn-Loring Metro station is new Italian restaurant Ovvio Osteria, which opened in August. The 130-seat restaurant incorporates barn wood salvaged from upstate New York for its rough timber-topped tables and bar. Two large communal tables flank the bar, each seating 14 guests. Subway tiles frame an open kitchen, which includes a wood-burning oven. Ovvio also offers a 36-seat patio.
A new, larger outpost of Ted's Bulletin opened on 14th Street in August. Designed to look like a 1930s diner, the 160-seat restaurant includes a 500-square-foot bakery offering treats such as doughnuts and homemade Pop Tarts to go. The restaurant, which includes counter and booth seating, can accommodate large groups of as many as 15 on either side of the dining room.
In late August, Doi Moi opened in Logan Circle from the team behind Proof and Estadio. Chef Haidar Karoum and restaurateur Mark Kuller's new 5,000-square-foot Southeast Asian street food concept's bright white, minimalist dining room seats 135 guests. Designed by GrizForm Design Architects, the restaurant also includes a cocktail bar, dubbed "2 Birds 1 Stone," on the lower level from bar manager Adam Bernbach.
