It was a late August day that we heard the news — the Capitol Lounge had burned down. Capitol Hill residents and socialites alike mourned the loss of one of the area’s better-known bars, but owner Joe Englert vowed to see the bar back to its old self, writing exclusively to DCist:

…this place is something I love too dearly not to mend, fix up and reintroduce to the Hill. I really appreciate all the generous offers I have had from people all over town to help employees, to paint, to get the word out when I reopen, etc. It may only be bricks and mortar but the place has a soul and we will not let it die.

Well, today could be the day that the Capitol Lounge comes back to life. According to the DC Urban Family, the lounge will re-open today at 4 p.m. Then again, these rumors have circulated before, and the Going Out Gurus couldn’t confirm nor deny their validity in their online chat today at the Post.

But, we’d like to hope for the best, so stop on by and report back.

A full set of pictures from the day of the fire is available here.

Update: Word up — Capitol Lounge will officially re-open today.