DCist: The Weekly Feed: Throwing Punches Edition

Lane

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:32:14 -0500

Thank you, DCist Jamie, for your attempt to help me out. For any other drinkers out there, wallywine.com will ship it to you, but only if you call and plead with them first. Can't wait to try out this punch.

hmcd128

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:40:55 -0500

I couldn't wait for my wedding crap to be over so I could finally take a night to try to get reservations at H2M, and I'm brokenhearted that they are taking a "break" with the possibility of never coming back. Whatever the reason -- Mr. Cool-Guy Wilson, exams, too much for a day off -- I'm sad. What angers me most is that again, people complain about how there's nothing cool to do in DC, and the minute someone does something unusual or out of love for [food][booze][whatever], everybody jumps on the chance to call it elitist, or stupid, or whatever. Go be "of the people" at your crap bars in Georgetown or in other places up the street in Adams Morgan, please, and don't worry your little so-called non-elitist heads about the irony in my statement, either. Many cities now have eating and drinking clubs underground, and they are selective. So what? Go make your own. Sniff. All I wanted was a good drink....

JoeHoya

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:05:30 -0500

I'm just curious if everyone who's posting "serves them right" and similar sentiments has actually been to Hummingbird. I have, and there are a few things that I think need to be mentioned: 1. This isn't a full-time gig for any of the guys involved in it. H2M is something that they started ON THEIR DAYS OFF. Instead of relaxing, unwinding, running errands, etc., these guys are taking on two additional evenings of what is still work because they want to work with classic cocktails and innovative techniques that their regular work environments don't permit. What do you do with your days off? Most of us try to get as far away from our day-to-day as possible. 2. The location of the evening has ZERO impact on what is served or how the drinks are prepared. Revealing it (and doing so in such a jaded, "aren't I cool?" way) took away from what could have been a decent piece. He obviously spoke to at least one of the bartenders to get the recipe he published...do you think that bartender would have given him the recipe if he had acted like a prick while at Hummingbird? Instead he played nice while he was there and then turned around and gave us a "check me out, I'm cool enough to get in and even cooler for blowing their cover" piece. The idea that so many people feel qualified to talk about how the three guys behind this 'deserved' to have the location revealed when they've never even met any of them or bothered to check out H2M for themselves before passing judgment is sad...but not especially surprising.

The Anti DC

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:45:47 -0500

Wow. This might be the most retarded item I've read on this site. Not only is it factually incorrect (according to one of the owners who commented above, it's not temporarily closing because the Post sorta kinda revealed where H2M was, but because of law school midterms), but the premise is illogical. 1) Why are being a reporter and encouraging a better food scene exclusive to each other? 2) DCist said: "[P]ersonally I care more about ensuring that restaurant owners, farmers, brewers and distillers see D.C. as a receptive environment for opening better restaurants, providing better ingredients, and ensuring wider distribution of beers and spirits to those who seek them out." And not telling people where something is located helps this cause how? By keeping out would-be customers? 3) "Wilson sees himself as a reporter and not as an advocate, but what D.C.'s food reporting scene needs are people who are passionate about building a better environment for its consumers." Well, clearly you're not a journalist (just an advocate, right?), as you managed to report the impossible -- Wilson's inner thoughts (that is, apparently he doesn't see himself as an advocate. How do you know?). It's more like you don't see him as an advocate. Who the hell knows how he sees himself. And really, does it even matter? Again, I personally don't buy into the statement that food/fashion/entertainment journalism and advocacy are exclusive. The very fact that a place that is supposedly as awesome as everyone seems to believe even exists in DC is something that must be made public in order to capture the attention of and encourage others (hopefully, non-douches) to open similar joints. If that's not being an advocate, than I'm assuming we just have different definitions of that word. Lastly, if you don't want the public, er, riff-raff intruding on your "secret" space, then stay at home. Nothing's more exclusive than that. Or move to N. Korea, I hear getting in there is invite only.

DCist Jamie

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:44:19 -0500

Lane: I usually get most of my cocktail making supplies at Ace Beverage. So I'm a little hazy on where else you can find arrack. I'm guessing wherever you can find a large array of bitters and other funky things. Also a lot of places can place orders for you, if they're not on the shelves. I don't think arrack is a super common request, so I doubt most places would typically stock it.

Fluxgirl

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:25:04 -0500

Yawn...so glad to be an adult, I can drink at home, or at a friends, listen to any music I care to, have broadband access and not have to put up with newbies from Ohio who think they're really swingin' with the "in" crowd now, baby! Free parking too! I've started a club, called "Magpies to Mercury", so exclusive that the location is unknown to anyone! Beat that!

Disco Stu

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:15:24 -0500

Wilson? Low class. If he really felt that it would've been impossible to drink the fine cocktails of H2M without disclosing the location... well, then don't drink there, sir. See? Could've kept his integrity and stayed home prayin'. BUT, instead, went out, hit the sauce, and lost all. Oh, the humanity.

Bethesdaist

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:56:10 -0500

Is this group a private club or an actual business? Because exclusivity/douche cred aside, the website is non ADA compliant, which is a different kind of douche move entirely.

Caribou Barbie

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:13:38 -0500

Fair enough thomsono. Now any explanations for the douchery inherent in having a bar with nondislcosure agreements?

thomsono

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:25:05 -0500

My apologies to any and all conspiracy theorists, as the General Manager of Bourbon and one of the guys behind Hummingbird I would love to let you in on a little secret. The reason we are shutting down for awhile is because I am also a second year law student and I have to study for my midterms. Sorry it's not an exciting reason I know but it's all I've got.

sfw

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:53:27 -0500

Ok, first, FLOUTING, not not not not flaunting. Thank you. Second, thanks for the punch recipe!

Lane

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:51:24 -0500

Uh, you guys are missing the point. Which is the punch recipe. Now, where the hell do I buy a bottle of Batavia Arrack? Speedy's Liquors in Columbia Heights definitely does not have it.

monkeyrotica

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:01:34 -0500

It's not downtown, but Jimmy Valentine's has done a great job of cultivating a bit of mystery and exclusivity without being douchey. JV's cachet owes a lot to it's location: relatively cheap rent, little advertising, and on the edge of H Street. Once upon a time, the old 930 Club, the Insect Club, and DC Space resided in a similar "marginal" environment. Then it became "Penn Quarter" and the neighborhood goes upscale. So long as the douches don't feel "safe" parking there on a Saturday night, that exclusivity will remain intact.

hillrat

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:16:01 -0500

PX still manages to be quasi-exclusive and yet still a great place to hang out and have excellent cocktails. It's a shame there isn't a downtown DC equivalent, where it's either Grey Goose guidos and table service, or $2 MGDs and clowns with nametags. It's not downtown, but Jimmy Valentine's has done a great job of cultivating a bit of mystery and exclusivity without being douchey.

monkeyrotica

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:42:33 -0500

downtown rez

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:11:22 -0500

Are upscale watering holes so ubiquitous and are obscure specialty drinks so trite that erstwhile honest proprietors are compelled to micro-market segment into an entirely confected fantasy of being quasi-illicit? Or are these places truly illicit and therefor simply tax dodges? Eh, who cares. Really. Thanks for the recipe.

Nate

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:11:13 -0500

Gosh, thanks for that insightful "you're just jealous!" analysis, ifod. Now if you could just go back into the thread and point out where anyone actually "complained" about the "concept of exclusivity" . . .

indiecognition

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:48:30 -0500

IMGoph, I think I know where you're talking about. But I didn't know St. George was gay. That said, maybe you've seen me elsewhere? Say hi if that's the case -- I'm there at least a couple days a week for big chunks of afternoon.

ist full of dollars

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:28:58 -0500

Perhaps the Hummingbird thing is lame (i wouldn't know i've never been.) But, it seems that the only people who would complain about the concept of exclusivity are the ones who are bitter about not getting in.

MahoganyShip

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:51:50 -0500

"This city needs more pretension like I need to not drink 2 bottles of wine tonight." I second the motion. Why would you take something as simple and straightforward as drinking and sully it with super-secret handshakes and non-communique policies? That reporter did these clowns a favor by ruining their lame tea party. Maybe the proprietors will come down to earth sooner rather than later.

IMGoph

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:47:07 -0500

damnit, indiecognition, you revealed one of the other locations! thank god you didn't reveal the other location [above a place in bloomingdale named after a large, hairy, gay man]!

indiecognition

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:43:20 -0500

Do not bring champagne bottles and sabres to Duke's Shoe Repair in the Reeves Center at 14th & V...there is not a chartreuse speakeasy there. shhhhh...

Caribou Barbie

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:25:56 -0500

This city needs more pretension like I need to not drink 2 bottles of wine tonight. This is all so pathetic. Enough with the lame rules and idolizing of the ’20s. And if you’re a business owner willing to whore your super secret establishment out to the media, then you take the risk that this will happen. Reporters aren’t in the business of keeping secrets. Except Woodward, of course.

Nate

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:23:00 -0500

The Weekly Feed has the potential to be one of the more popular and commented-on regular columns on this site. I mean, everybody eats, and DC everybody eats out. However, burying it relatively late on Friday afternoon every single week seems to get in the way of that. Have you ever considered moving this to another day of the week? And I don't get it ... if it's "Reservations Only" with a strictly limited number of visitor allowed at any given time, what the heck difference does it make if the physical location is revealed (or implied) in a newspaper review? If there's no chance they'll be let in, people aren't exactly going to be lining up outside the door. Taking their toys and going home this way just makes it seem like the project was more about creating exclusivity and cachet out of a faux sense of mystery and being "in the know" than actually creating a "relaxing atmosphere to have a drink." So forgive me if I don't exactly cry a river over this semi-private little party choosing to break itself up rather than let the peons know where they're hanging out.

hungeegirl

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:20:28 -0500

i've been to H2M and had a great time, i was actually about to email for reservations to go back. great job, douchebag!

monkeyrotica

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:15:40 -0500

I always kinda sympathised with Claudine. Clearly, she has great rapport with her dad, but sometimes I really got the impression that Jacques needed to uncletch his sphincter about her technique. So what if she isn't flaking the cod just the right way for the brandade de morue? Its fu**ing fish and potatoes, Jack. Lighten the hell up. At least he always deferred to her on the wine selection, seeing as that's what she does for a living. I can't really blame Wilson. If he didn't blow the speakeasy's cover, some other blog clown would have made the scoop. So some soda jerk blows the blind tiger's cover? Big woop. I just think the foodie community needs to hire some goons and break his legs is all I'm sayin. We only kill our own. And I know some guys, if ya know what I mean. And that carpet you roll the body in when you take it to the dump? I'll throw that in for free.

ahark1pd

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:06:01 -0500

well, that sucks. i was really looking forward to an evening at H2M once my work schedule opened up. Wilson might have been "doing his job" in a strict sense, but it's not like he's an investigative journalist breaking a murder case. why ruin it for everyone?