We couldn’t help but be intrigued when we stumbled upon the following item listed on the agenda for Thursday night’s ANC 1B meeting (emphasis ours).

ABRA Applications

• 71866 Sala Thai, Entertainment Endorsement
• 36085 Black Cat, Substantial Change
• Voluntary agreement review, El Paraiso Market
• Voluntary agreement review, Daily Fish of Chesapeake
• Voluntary agreement review, Eleven Market

Substantial changes? To one of our favorite music venues and venerable watering holes? Say it ain’t so.

But wait a minute, we thought. An ABRA application means it’s a substantial change to do with their liquor license, and the Cat already has a full bar. So either they’re looking to change their operating hours (unlikely), or they’re trying to serve alcohol outside. And indeed, a reliable neighborhood source tells us that is exactly what Black Cat is looking to do: The application is reportedly seeking permits to construct both a rooftop deck and a garden patio in the rear of the building.