Andale Takes Last Tequila Shot
Penn Quarter Mexican restaurant, Andale, has abruptly shut its doors, according to last Wednesday's TomChat. After six years, one of the owners just decided that he didn't want to be in the restaurant business anymore. So, poof. There goes the restaurant and—most importantly—the jobs of all the staff. As Tom notes, head chef Alison Swope is working to place her folks in other positions. Knowing the generosity of Washington's chefs, we trust this is going well.

Not one to mourn, I'm already thinking about what's going into that super-hot space on 7th and D St. NW next. Andale was one of my favorite spots for trendy-Mexican, as well as the best spot in town to get great tequilas, so I wouldn't mind seeing something similar replace it. But, maybe D.C. can fill one of its many missing links. What about an all-night place? That neighborhood could definitely support it. What would you like to see in that space?

Ray's The Classics Opens in Silver Spring
What feels likes eons after it was supposed to be off the ground (and better than a month of serving under the radar), Ray's the Classics has opened in Silver Spring (8606 Colesville Road). Michael Hartzer, most recently of Citronelle, will be cooking up the savory goodness, which will only be available Wednesday through Saturday for the next few weeks. It will take at least that long for Ray's owner Michael Landrum to dig his tunnel under the street to the Discovery Channel headquarters. I don't know what it is, but Landrum is obsessed with Meerkat Manor, and will do anything to get a peek at episodes before they air. You never know with some guys; sometimes it's women, sometimes it's booze, sometimes it's small African mammals that love big, juicy millipedes. Kisses, Michael!

Partisans Migrate to Food Section
You'd think that if there's one thing conservatives and progressives can agree on, it would be food. For instance, Ronald Reagan loved jelly beans. I, as someone who thinks President Reagan, um, "gave it a good try," also love jelly beans. Also, according to each other's campaigns, it became known that both President Bush and Senator Kerry love to eat babies, so there's that. Nevertheless, the parties have moved the debate into the realm of eating, and things may never be the same again. Just this week, the Washington Times and The Washington Post line up on separate sides of the great potluck debate. The Post argues that the tradition of old-fashioned dinner parties where the host family does all the cooking and serving has rotted in the back of the fridge due to the popularity of the potluck. The Times, on the other hand, lauds the potluck as the perfect way to divide the labor Adam Smith-style and have a low-stress meal that doesn't result in fallen soufflés and a hostess clawing for her quaaludes. For shame! Why must we peck at each other like cackling hens? Dining with friends isn't left or right, red or blue, it should be a comfortable and enjoyable evening full of conversation that is left and right, red and blue. Furthermore, what do these articles tell us that we can't manage to figure out for ourselves? All I know is that if there's a dinner party in my house—regardless of who did the cooking—I'm sure as hell not doing the dishes.

Micro Bite
Listen, Alexandria bureaucracy. I've been wanting to go to Eammon's forever now. After months of waiting, having the opening date and the backup opening date come and go, and then reading about how you are holding up the final permits for the place, I've had it. I've spent the last two weeks getting increasingly furious about several unrelated things, and all I really need is some beer-battered fish and a really neat cocktail from Todd Thrasher to calm me down. However, you are totally cocktail-blocking me, and I am sooooo pissed. What are you afraid of? Is the sailboat lady from last week's Feed threatening you because you ticketed her for not paying all four meters she uses with her stretch Hummer? Are you too busy inspecting the sixteen identical Applebees on Duke Street? Just approve the permits for Eamonn's, damnit! What is this, communist Russia? Approve them!

Photo from flickr user Roberto Ferrari.