The District will have one fewer place for middle-aged letches to hit on dancing college girls drinking watered-down hurricanes, when Friday night fades into Saturday morning and Lulu’s Club Mardi Gras packs up its multicolored awnings for good. Lulu’s has long been a fixture at the changing corner of 22nd and M Streets NW. Longtime owner Ulysses “Blackie” Auger sold Lulu’s years ago, and when he passed away in November 2004, his family opted to sell sibling Blackie’s House of Beef. Blackie’s went to the great restaurant slaughterhouse in the sky on New Year’s Eve. And Lulu’s will climb its own 13 stairs — no doubt made of wrought-iron — at 4 a.m. Saturday. If you’d like to read some last rites to the summer intern haunt and erstwhile Kegs & Eggs host, head down to Lulu’s this Friday night at 8 p.m., when your $20 cover charge will give you access to an open bar. Besides, it may be the only time that their completely unnecessary velvet rope is actually warranted.
And if you’d prefer not to pay to say good riddance to a place that resembled New Orleans even less than Outback Steakhouse resembles a roadhouse in Alice Springs, we have a much better alternative for you. On Wednesday at 11:07 a.m. at the old Blackie’s, Quinn’s Auction Galleries and R.L. Rasmus Auctioneers will be auctioning off virtually everything inside and outside these historic D.C. locales. Want to take home Lulu’s bar? It’s yours! Thinking about buying that huge neon Blackie’s sign? Fire up the U-Haul and take the sign to the YESCO Neon Graveyard! Considering adding some beautiful stained glass to your home? No need to pillage country churches on your next European vacation!
In all seriousness, the lots contain some fascinating and beautiful Washington restaurant memorabilia, and it’s sad that it won’t be staying together. But les bon temps have to stop roulez-ing some time.
Lulu’s/Blackie’s auction. 1217 22nd Street NW. Wednesday, March 29, 2006. 11:07 a.m.
Lulu’s “Last Night in Town.” 2121 M Street NW. Friday, March 31, 2006. 8 p.m.-4 a.m. Bar closes at 3 a.m. $20. (202) 861-LULU.
Photo by flickr user damclean.
