Members of ANC 2F are eagerly anticipating an ABC board hearing tomorrow at which they hope Mood Lounge at 1318 9th Street NW will meet its end. more ›

One of Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's flagship plans to privatize state liquor stores has been put to sleep in a key Senate committee Friday. In a strictly procedural move, the Democrat-controlled Rehabilitation and Social Services committee declined to consider a bill, backed by McDonnell, until the Republican-controlled House proceeded with a similar proposal. That is, if they're not busy catching up on their DVRs. more ›

New year, new hearings in the DC9/Ali Ahmed Mohammed saga: TBD's Sommer Mathis and City Paper's Rend Smith were back tweeting about a hearing in front of the city's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board regarding the club's future this afternoon. According to both scribes, the Board voted to allow the club to rehire the five employees who were initially charged in the death of Ali Ahmed Mohammed in October. The club will, however, have to continue to maintain a security detail after midnight every night it is open, though that restriction will be revisited at another meeting in February. more ›

Yesterday's legislative action in the D.C. Council, typical of end-of-session days, was jam-packed with votes. Here's a few more you may have missed: >> The Council moved ahead on a bill that restricts interest rates levied by the so-called payday loan industry, an issue we've looked at before. The bill passed on an initial reading, and if implemented would place a 24 percent annual percentage rate cap on interest charged by lenders. The Examiner notes... more ›

With the news of Be Bar's ability to open in Shaw looking up, we've got word that another long-standing controversy surrounding a new bar in the U street area is finally at an end. Yes, Duffy's Irish Restaurant, located directly across the street from 9:30 Club, has announced it will officially open to the public on May 12. Owner Andrew Duffy has been trying to gain permission to open his new establishment since the summer... more ›

Metro Weekly brings us news of the latest development in the ongoing battle between Shaw's churches and new businesses moving into the area. Yesterday the ABC board voted unanimously to decline to recognize two groups of potential protestants to the liquor license for Be Bar, a new establishment opening near the intersection of 9th and O Street, N.W., leaving ANC 2F as the only official protestant still standing. It's become a largely standard procedure for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions to protest new liquor licenses in order to negotiate "voluntary agreements" with new businesses about things like noise, cleanliness and delivery times. Be Bar faced a different challenge: its planned site lies on the Eastern edge of the ANC 2F border, close the adjacent ANC 2C. Representatives from 2C, along with a group of residents affiliated with Scripture Cathedral Church — which is located across the street from the Be Bar site — sought to oppose the bar's opening. Be Bar's owners have refrained from saying so, but based on the ownership and press coverage, it's not unreasonable to infer that the bar will primarily cultivate a gay clientele — hence the conservative church's opposition. The ABC Board's refusal to give 2C a voice in the proceedings can be appealed, however, and Scripture Cathedral's Bishop C.L. Long has implied that his group will pursue all options available to them to prevent Be Bar from opening across the street. But not taking into account any further appeals, Be Bar should be able to open in July once it completes its negotiations with ANC 2F. more ›

We reported on Tuesday that D.C. government had temporarily suspended the liquor license of Kili's Kafe on 8th Street after an early morning shooting wounded four men. The Post reported on the incident which finally sparked the suspension, as well as two other killings -- one in June and one in November -- that occured near the club and have created an air of tension between the club owners and police and neighborhood groups. Today... more ›

The proposed closing hours for a new restaurant on Wisconsin Avenue in Glover Park has upset a few of the neighborhood's residents. A group of investors are currently remodeling the former location of Saveur Restaurant, 2218 Wisconsin Ave. (between W and Hall places), for a new "family-style" restaurant called Town Hall. (The image is from Saveur's Amazon listing) All was going smoothly for the group until some residents got wind the group was hoping to extend Saveur's liquor license from 11:30 until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends. more ›

This photo of street art near Shaw was taken by Georgetown freshman Matt Kallman. Today will be mostly sunny with highs around 60. more ›