Lydia DePillis reports that after months of heated negotiations, Big Bear Cafe has finally secured a liquor license. Their class CR license will enable them to serve beer, wine, and liquor. There were certainly some comprises: Big Bear will have to close at midnight on weekends and 11 p.m. on weekdays. Outdoor music will have to stop at 9 p.m. Owner of Big Bear, Stu Davenport, was surprised by the quick decision (me too, after all of the arguing) and has no immediate plans to start serving liquor on a regular basis. more ›

This morning's "uh, wha?" comes courtesy of man-about-Bloomingdale Scott Roberts, who found this advertisement, created by Comcast to promote its controversial acquisition of NBC Universal and filmed at Big Bear Cafe. more ›

If you're feeling like you'd like to get more involved in local affairs, but aren't sure how, fear not -- a mere 25 signatures stand between you and a campaign for elected office. more ›

A Bloomingdale blog has republished emails exchanged between ANC Commissioner Gigi Ransom, Big Bear Cafe owner Stu Davenport and blogger Tom Bridge which really give some insight into what kind of mess can result when a small business in D.C. wants to expand in the face of community opposition. more ›

We finally got our hands on a copy of the unanimous resolution made by Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C last night, opposing Big Bear Cafe's application for a liquor license. The resolution is damning, stating not only the body's opposition to the Cafe's license application, but also that the popular coffeeshop has "been in operation illegally since 2007" due to zoning violations. The body claims that the Cafe "held events...which included alcoholic beverage service without a full or temporary ABC issued liquor license" as one of the myriad reasons that they voted against supporting the application. The ANC also placed restrictions on any voluntary agreement that might be fostered between owner Stu Davenport and the community: mandated closing hours of 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends, extra soundproofing, and a seven-day written notice to all "immediately impacted residents" for any event planned at the Cafe. more ›

Those of you who missed banished? productions's A Tactile Dinner at last year's Fringe Festival have another shot to catch this unusual combination of food and theater this month. more ›

The Post finally picked up on the Murky Coffee brouhaha this morning, and it appears it's been a topic of conversation at other locally owned coffee shops around town. We snapped this photo at Big Bear Cafe in Bloomingdale today. Thanks to Catherine Andrews for the tip. more ›

FRIDAY: >>Great quadruple bill comes to the Rock and Roll Hotel: Three Stars alums Jukebox the Ghost (pictured right) and tour diarists These United States join DCist fave Ra Ra Riot and Sam Champion. All that for the low, low price of $10 before, $12 at the door. Show 9 p.m. >> The Black Cat once again hosts Cryfest, everyone's favorite dance party that pits The Smiths vs. The Cure, brought to you by DJs... more ›

It's rare that any of the well-read political blogs based here in Washington take on issues that fit within DCist's mandate to stick mainly to local issues, but when they do, boy howdy, they can really make a mess of things for themselves. The American Prospect's Ezra Klein has already issued a mea culpa for a post he put up late last night on his personal blog, which wondered why there aren't more amenities for... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Though perhaps not quite as high profile anymore as some other D.C. bands from the mid-1980s, the cryptically-named 9353 always had, and still maintains, a dedicated group of fans. You may never have heard of them, but in addition to playing with some of the biggest local names like Scream, G.I. and Iron Cross, they also shared bills with Public Image Ltd, Sisters of Mercy and the Butthole Surfers back in the day,... more ›

The pattern has become almost predictable -- if violence breaks out somewhere in Ward 1, you can bet D.C. Council member Jim Graham will find the closest bar or restaurant, call it a "magnet for --------- (enter violent incident here)" and try to shut it down. Sometimes Graham's crusades are welcome, other times they are excessive. Graham last focused his energies on Joe’s Steak ’N Eggs, an eatery on 9th Street NW that was the... more ›

Near sunset on a Tuesday in the middle of May, Lana Labermeier and her husband Stuart Davenport were sitting outside their then-unfinished new Bloomingdale coffee shop, Big Bear Cafe, enjoying a hard earned cold beer after a long day of landscaping work. Unfortunately, their neighbors could hardly let them rest. "When are you gonna be open?" shouted one man from his car. "Are you hiring?" asked another. "What's this going to be?" "Aren't you... more ›