By Brian S. Perched atop the oh-so-eclectic 18th street in the heart of Adams Morgan, bar/restaurant Southern Hospitality (a.k.a. Soho) is bringing a little Southern comfort to the city of Washington D.C. One of the first (of soon to be many) establishments looking to “civilize” the notoriously rowdy neighborhood , Soho, which opened in 2012 caters to all crowds, from the Howard University Alumni Club, to young professional families, to Monday Night Football devotees. The Soho staff was strategic in picking the pineapple as a logo: It’s a symbol of hospitality. If it’s raining, they’ll search high and low to equip you with an umbrella on your way out the door; and after just 3 visits, the whole staff knew my name. In a city where it’s difficult to get a friendly wave from a passing jogger, such warmth is refreshing. Ambiance. Check. Service. Check. But what about the food? Full disclosure: [...]

By: Brian S. Since the late 1940′s, a shift in traditional suburban living has taken place. A shift that is bringing city-living to what were once quite neighborhood streets. Planned Unit Developments (PUD’s), which incorporate residential, recreational, commercial, and industrial aspects into one contained development, have become extremely appealing to buyers… and therefore developers. And it makes sense; you get the convenience of city-living with the comfort (and often times safety) of a suburban neighborhood. Washington D.C. has long been known as a commuter city. High crime rates (although declining), poor schools, and high cost of living are three main reasons people, typically families, flee to places like Northern Virginia and Maryland. Take the new Crown Development in Gaithersburg; occupying 180 acres, the development is said to house a mixture of town-homes, single-family detached homes, multi-family units and over 260,000+ square feet of commercial use. The development will take place [...]

By Brian S. Chevy Chase based development firm, The JBG Cos. has been very busy leaving their mark on what has been described as the center of D.C.’s music scene. The U Street Corridor has undergone pretty significant changes over the past 20 years, and there are no signs of slowing down. Close to completing a 268-unit mixed-use apartment complex at 14th & U (complete with a Trader Joe’s), and plans for a 135-unit mixed-use apartment complex at 13th & U (across from U Street Metro Station), JBG has also just broken ground on a two building mixed-use project that will boast a total of 375 residential units and close to 24,000 square feet of retail space located right next to the 930 Club (see rendering above). Through the first half of the 20th century, U Street was defined by its rich music culture. Somewhere along the way, U Street [...]

By: Brian S. Can’t make it to Germany for Oktoberfest this year?? Don’t worry, the city of Frederick is bringing Germany to Maryland!! This weekend (Saturday & Sunday), the Frederick Fair Grounds will transform into a big “Volkfest” (folk festival). Oh, and if you wear an authentic Dirndl or Lederhosen, your admission is free! The Food: On the menu is everything you would hope for from a traditional German festival… Bratwursts, sauerbraten, sauerkraut, pretzels and of course, strudel. The Entertainment: The festival will feature traditional Volksmusik (think polka and waltz). There will also be traditional Bavarian dancers and audience participation is encourage! Afraid you’ll miss out on all the football action? You can still keep up with your favorite team in the grounds’ football tent. The tent will feature 2 big screen projection TV’s (with sound)… pair that with a cool Hefeweizen and you’ll be yodeling your teams name! The [...]