June 7, 2007
H2O Gets Reprieve, Promises Changes
After facing the inevitable closing that many other violence-plagued clubs have been dealt, Southwest's H2O may be feeling relieved. According to the Post, the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has given the club two weeks to make improvements in security in the wake of a weekend fatal shooting in late May.
As part of a plan to keep its liquor license, over the next two weeks H2O will add several layers of security, do away with its VIP room and shut down by 1:30 a.m., with bottle service ending at 12:30 p.m. and last call at 12:45. And to avoid the circumstances that led to the killing of Nelson Able on May 27, patrons involved in any scuffles will be sent to a designated room where they will be forced to count to ten and think of what they've done (OK, so we're kidding about that last part).
We're still somewhat torn on how H2O was treated. While the club may have been somewhat lax on security, the recent shooting happened outside the club, and confusion still exists as to what provoked the fight (some say it was over a spilled bottle of Cristal; the board noted that no Cristal was sold that night), whether or not a gun was brought into the club and what steps could have prevented such an occurence. But we're happy that the club has been given a second chance. After all, we can finally start planning our next happy hour. But without the VIP room to set us all apart from the riff-raff, will it even be worth it?
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you'd think this was the Save-H20 blog. i'm rather tired of reading about it being closed down and seeing the same picture being posted over and over. can you drum up some issues with another club, maybe?
I'm with ay ay ay, there are entirely too few club shootings! Can someone get on that?
If only there was some other blog in existence that I could stare at until the next shooting happens.
I'm not torn at all based on what I've read. The club should be beefing up security so as not to allow guns into the club past the checkpoint, but other than that, what are they supposed to do outside their property line? This is the overreaching case that makes the other club shutdowns seem reasonable by comparison.
"And to avoid the circumstances that led to the killing of Nelson Able on May 27, patrons involved in any scuffles will be sent to a designated room where they will be forced to count to ten and think of what they've done (OK, so we're kidding about that last part)."
Once again DCist proves that its tactless.
"And to avoid the circumstances that led to the killing of Nelson Able on May 27, patrons involved in any scuffles will be sent to a designated room where they will be forced to count to ten and think of what they've done (OK, so we're kidding about that last part)."
Once again DCist proves that its tactless.
I think its a bit overkill (hehe), a 1:30 shutdown is absurd, killing the VIP room is dumb. none of this has to do with anything. All it's doing is restricting the profitability of the club so it will be forced to shut down due to economics.
Lets face it, any place where large groups of people congregate has a potential for violence. Its not the clubs fault, lets have some personal responsibility please.
Once again DCist proves that its tactless.
Once again, a snotty poster leaves evidence of their cluelessness for the whole internet to see. For the love of all that is holy please learn the difference between it's and its. I will save the lecture about they're and their for another day.
I think its a bit overkill (hehe), a 1:30 shutdown is absurd, killing the VIP room is dumb. none of this has to do with anything. All it's doing is restricting the profitability of the club so it will be forced to shut down due to economics.
Lets face it, any place where large groups of people congregate has a potential for violence. Its not the clubs fault, lets have some personal responsibility please.
Although I live in the neighborhood, I am not swayed either way about H2O being open or closing earlier/later/whatever. I don't patronize the club ... and rarely am I out past 11pm -- yes, even on weekends! My motto is: Live and Let Live.
Although I live in the neighborhood, I am not swayed either way about H2O being open or closing earlier/later/whatever. I don't patronize the club ... and rarely am I out past 11pm -- yes, even on weekends! My motto is: Live and Let Live.
@ Correcting Stating the Obvious:
Your so correct....I can't stand it when people confuse there homonyms.
Said "its tactless" doofus was one of the protesters outside the national spelling bee last week with a sign saying "Speeling reaform now!"
Said "its tactless" doofus was one of the protesters outside the national spelling bee last week with a sign saying "Speeling reaform now!"
At least Austermuhle of DCist is much more unbiased than the Post's Keith Alexander If you have noted in Alexander's original articles in the Post, he claims that the argument was due to a spilled "$600 bottle of Cristal champagne"
But Alexander's current article simply states that it was "a spilled bottle of champagne" Why the change in Alexander's reporting from "Cristal" to "just a bottle"?
The facts are that H20 did not sell a single bottle of Crystal on the night in question (as accurately reported here on DCist). And the ABC board was aware of this from the hearing, as well as Alexander, who was present. Why hasn't Alexander reported this contradiction in the shooter's statements?
With this contradiction in statements by the shooter, you should now ask "Why lie?"
Well the facts again are that no one was allowed that night to bypass security. Therefore the shooter could not carry a gun into the club.
This should lead to the logical question of when was the gun retrieved and who retrieved it for the shooter? Would that person not be considered an accessory to murder? I'm certain this persons prints can be found on the gun. And would this not prove premeditated murder instead of self defense as the shooter would like you to believe?
In all likelihood, the shooter is protecting someone (whoever retrieved the gun from his vehicle as originally report by police), since the shooters whereabouts can be accounted for from the time he entered the club until the shooting.
Apparently the MPD and Cathy Lanier don't care about this, since it would involve real police work! Who knows what Lanier's motives are, but it certainly isn't finding a possible accessory to murder. (roll eyes)
I live 3 blocks from H2O, close enough to see some traffic on Fri and Sat nights and even to once in a while have a patron park in my spot. However, all things considered, H20 is in a perfect spot for a nightclub. Maine Ave pretty much keeps all of the crowds, noise, and traffic away from the residential areas of SW. There is easy access to the freeways (again with only minimal traffic in residental neighborhoods) for the patrons from Northern Virginia and Maryland and the MPD does station officers in that area on Fri and Sat nights.
I know there have been problems there, but as a SW resident I fear the closing of H20, which is a successful business on the Waterfront, a lot more than I do getting caught up in whatever problems they have. Close H20 and you will have a large abandoned eyesore in the middle of the Waterfront and that won't do anybody any good.
There is a lot of "pie in sky" talk about "revitalizing the Waterfront" and all sorts of nice sketches of families walking along a new Waterfront with trendy shops and hip lofts. Not bad ideas, but ideas that SW residents have seen many times in the past only to watch as plans fade into memory. The reality now is that there are several successful businesses on the Waterfront and I just don't see why the city is doing its best to shut one of them down.