Many neighborhoods in the District tend to go through a rather predictable routine. They start as fringe areas, slowly attract residents and business owners looking for good deals on housing and commercial properties, see an influx of newcomers as word spreads, and soon become the city’s next hot destination. And throughout the process the usual conflicts tend to emerge — between old and new residents, between local and national businesses. Yesterday the rather tranquil Barracks…

Matchbox Coming to the Hill As if we needed any more proof that Barracks Row is flexing its muscle in bringing business to the Hill. But, we have it anyway. Last week’s TomChat gave us the news that Matchbox, the over-popular Gallery Place pizza and mini-burger heaven, has signed a lease for a second location along Barracks Row—521 8th Street SE to be precise. According to Tom, the owner expects the new place to open…

If you aren’t in the mood to cross the Potomac for Thai (us), or if you have not yet jumped on the Bangkok 54 bandwagon (us again), then consider The Old Siam a low-key alternative. Since opening early last year in the old Mickey’s Patio location, it’s remained very much a neighborhood haunt. It’s a little out of the way for us, too, but when we’re heading toward Barracks Row, we stop in for…

As housing markets have exploded over the last several years, the pricey luxury condos springing up in many neighborhoods are seen as a sure sign that the city is on its way to a fully revitalized future. However, great as ultra-modern condos may be for developers and landlords, they don’t exactly fit the requirements of aspiring young artists, chefs, actors, and entrepreneurs (much less students, teachers, and cops) who can bring a great deal of…

Barracks Row Restaurant Crawl Next Weekend Have you been to 8th St. SE lately? The place is going crazy! New places like The Old Siam and World Cafe are snuggling into the Hill neighborhood next to old standbys like Banana Café and Levi’s Port Cafe. They’re even putting in a Dunkin’ Donuts on the corner of 8th and Pennsylvania! Hellooooo Coolattas. The folks along Barracks Row are pretty excited about it too, and they’re throwing…

Today in Transit on Tuesday we have the Zipcar-hating Washington Times, the number of applicants for the newly-formed Riders Advisory Council, and the Great Streets workshops….

In 2002, this DCist moved to the far eastern reaches of Capitol Hill. At the time, 8th Street SE, which passes nearby the popular Eastern Market and in front of the Marine Barracks, was a worn down stretch of road, hardly a place you’d want to be caught at night. Three years and $8.5 million later, the roadway, at right, now known as the Barracks Row Main Street, boasts brick sidewalks, improved lighting, increased parking,…

It’ll be a party this evening on Barracks Row, the stretch of Eighth Street SE that’ll be celebrating its Great American Main Street Award — a great honor for its revitalizing streetscaping project. The festivities kick off at the Old Siam Restaurant (406 Eighth St. SE) at 6 p.m. with appetizers and drinks. While its name may have “Old” in it, Old Siam is the newest restaurant on the strip. In the process to revitalize…

Since DCist’s resident gastronaut Kanishka Gangopadhyay is off to St. Louis this week for work-related business, he delegated the weekly task of food commentary and critique to someone with an un-trained, un-sophisticated palette. After all, he wouldn’t want someone one-upping him, would he? Much like last week, Capitol Hill seems to have cornered the market for food-related news. Barracks Row Dine Around: Barracks Row, the newly-renovated and ever-so-hip stretch of Eighth Street SE, is celebrating…

When Executive Chef Drew Trautmann and proprietors Eli Hengst and Jared Rager (of Mendocino in Georgetown) announced that they were opening a restaurant where Il Raddichio used to be, Capitol Hill food watchers were understandably excited. On a block inhabited by a Burrito Brothers, the Capitol Lounge, and formerly a Chesapeake Bagel Bakery, the new American cuisine of the sort served at Mendocino was welcome change. The Hill has seen a few good new…