Harold Black: A Capitol Hill Speakeasy

It was a rainy, dreary Saturday night in DC this past weekend.  With guests in from out of town, and outdoor sightseeing out of the question, we luckily scored a last minute table at Harold Black.

That's right Hillers, we have our own illusive speakeasy right here in Capitol Hill.  As is the tradition with most speakeasy's....it's difficult to find, impossible to make a reservation, and because of these trials and tribulations it is ultimately very, very cool.

Harold Black is located above Aqua Al 2 on 7th Street across from Eastern Market.  We heard about Harold Black from friends.  It seems all the buzz is by word of mouth (and the occasional blog).  

I looked online and could not find a way to contact the speakeasy so I called Aqua Al 2.  The hostess was so nice.  She said Harold Black did not have a public phone number but that she would go upstairs and ask if they could squeeze us in and call me back - which she actually did! It's always so surprising when people do what they say they are going to do. Freaking amazing.  

The night was already improving. 

She called back and said they could seat us immediately but that they needed the table back by 10pm for people who actually had reservations.  So across the street we ran!

To enter Harold Black do the following:

- walk through the unmarked door to the left of Aqua Al 2's entrance

- round the corner hallway

- go up the stairs

- knock on the sliding wood door

- someone will open it and ask for your name

- if they do not have your name, you cannot drink with the cool kids

The space is dark, cozy, and intimate.  The decor is made up of vintage books, men's shaving brushes, and all sorts of other miscellaneous knick-knacks on the bookshelves that separate each booth.

The drinks are stout, flavorful, and delicious.  Our group ordered the cocktail flight for $35- which was a hell of a deal to get sufficiently buzzed on some serious high quality booze.

The servers were knowledgeable and friendly.  The vibe was chill, fun, and secretive - of course.  Harold Black was the perfect answer to a rainy weekend night.

Happy Hilling!
S.

Grocery Shopping in Capitol Hill - Knowing Your Options

Every week we spend time buying groceries; which for most of us, is an annoying chore.  You hope when moving into a new neighborhood you will find some place to shop that will have exactly what you need. Lucky for us in Capitol Hill, we have a wide variety options on where to buy our weekly groceries. After six weeks of living in the neighborhood, here is what I have found.

Fresh Daily - Eastern Market
Eastern Market is known for it's weekend leisure crowds.  People stroll vendor tables filled with jams, scarves, and everything in between.  But during the week, Eastern Market is a great option for buying groceries the day-of.

Eastern Market is open until 7pm during the week. There is hardly a soul in the place on a week night so it is very easy to shop. Besides grabbing fresh meat, fish, or veggies you can also grab pantry staples at the booth at the Southeast corner of the building. They stock tomato paste, cranberry sauce, rice...you
name it!  The small space is crammed but I was amazed at what they had available.


Fresh Weekly - Relay Foods
Relay Foods is where I buy the majority of our weekly groceries.  Relay is actually an online grocery store focusing on local and organic items.  I was a little nervous about trusting someone else to pick out my perfect cut of meat or just-ripe-enough produce; however, I have been amazed at the quality of my items from Relay.

Relay can either deliver your items or you can pick them up from one of their truck locations on Monday or Friday from 4pm-8pm.  There is a charge for delivery; however, pick up option is free.  If for someone reason you are not satisfied with a purchase from Relay, just go to the online chat section of their website.  A customer service person will refund your item in literally less than 5 minutes.

Stocking the Pantry - Harris Teeter
Buying local and fresh is great, but sometimes you need to stock up on Oreos, Cokes, and instant Mac & Cheese.  You know, all the things that really get us through when we are too lazy to actually cook.

The Harris Teeter located at Penn Ave SE and 14th is great for pantry stocking.  They have pretty much everything you would expect from a normal grocery store.  And, they have free garage parking.  So whether you have your own vehicle or a Zip Car membership, you can really stock up and only have to make the trip once every three months or so.

For the Gluten Free, Organic Junkies - Yes! Organic Market
While Yes! Organic Market is very, very small they have a great selection for you gluten free folks.  They are located on the north end of Barracks Row. Yes! Organic Market has a decent wine and beer section as well as some ready made sushi, sandwiches, etc. in the back.  I do love that they carry hot Hale & Hearty soups, one of my favorites from living in New York.  The store is a bit limited for me personally, but it would be a perfect solution for someone who is gluten free.

Eastern Market
225 7th Street SE
http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/

Relay Foods
http://www.relayfoods.com/

Harris Teeter
1350 Potomac Ave SE
http://www.harristeeter.com/

Yes! Organic Market
410 8th Street SE
http://www.yesorganicmarket.com

Happy Hilling!
S.

Dessert in Capitol Hill: The Sweet Lobby

I have to admit, I knew about this uber fabulous establishment, known as The Sweet Lobby, long before I was a Capitol Hill resident. 

The Sweet Lobby serves cupcakes, macaroons, and cupcakes with macaroons on top.  Simple, right? Simple and delicious!  

The macaroons are hands-down my favorite thing at The Sweet Lobby. The flavors are inventive, fun, and change on a regular basis.  The presentation is beautiful and they have great gift box options if you are looking for a unique hostess or work gift.  

I am not traditionally a cupcake lover; however, The Sweet Lobby's cupcakes really hit a home run with me. Why? Because they are not overly sweet or overly filling. I can actually eat an entire cupcake from The Sweet Lobby and not feel like I am on the verge of becoming diabetic.  The cupcakes come in a wide variety of flavors including vegan and gluten free options.  

The Sweet Lobby makes the perfect stop for an afternoon sweet fix or a unique dessert destination after dinner on Barracks Row.  

Personally, I would recommend the praline macaroon - it's divine. :-)

The Sweet Lobby
404 8th Street SE (between Penn Ave and E St)
http://sweetlobby.com/

Happy Hilling!
S. 

Quick Lunch: District Taco

Yesterday afternoon my husband and I were looking for a quick and easy lunch in Capitol Hill.  

As former Texans we have a very special place in our heart for tacos, so naturally, District Taco caught our eye.

The Food: Grab & Go Mexican Basics 

The Menu consists mostly of tacos (obviously), burritos, and quesadillas. They also offer breakfast tacos and heuvos rancheros - which we will definitely be going back for on the weekend. 

District Taco offers a great salsa bar which includes freshly chopped cilantro, jalapenos, and onions to spice up your meal, if you are feeling saucy that day.  

We ordered the Fish Tacos (amazeballs - but only available certain days of the week), Al Pastor (very good), and the Carne Asada (which was basically just the meat, you would need to pump this one up at the salsa bar to make it great).  

The Space: Casual & Creative

With bright, bold colors against reclaimed wood features and exposed brick walls, this place has a contemporary but warm vibe. 

There are a variety of seating options with low and high top tables, counters along the window facing Penn Ave, and booths.  I found the recycled plastic crates that were converted into light fixtures to be very cool and innovative.  

Grab a quick bite at District Taco if you are looking for something fresh, flavorful, and inexpensive.

District Taco

656 Pennsylvania Ave SE (between 6th and 7th)

http://www.districttaco.com/

Happy Hilling!

S. 

Neighborhood Must Have - Chinese Take Out

Well Hillers, we officially moved in to our Capitol Hill digs.  And as you know, with moving and unpacking comes a need for the traditional first meal in a new home - Chinese Take Out.

Our previous apartment was in the Navy Yard, and technically in the same zip code as our new home, so we had tried quite a few places in the area with very little luck.

I'm not sure if the take out gods decided to bless us on our move day or what, but we had an amazing experience ordering from Young Chow.

Young Chow is located on Penn Ave between 3rd and 4th.  The restaurant's claim to fame is that Hillary Clinton has eaten there (she is prominently featured on their website's home page).  As usual, Hillary got this one right. 

Ordering: Super Easy

You can order online from their extensive menu.  Once you select an item, a dialog box populates which allows you to choose add-ons (ie: extra veggies) or type general requests in a comments section.  You can pay by credit card or cash at delivery.  If paying by credit card, you can tip in advance on the site.

Delivery: Fast & Friendly 

The food arrived exactly 30 minutes after placing the order.  Everything was super hot and fresh, you could tell the food had not been sitting under heat lamps for the last four hours.

The major bonus was that the delivery man was nice, professional, and actually came up to the door. Novel idea, right? 

For whatever reason, DC is famous for having delivery guys sit in their car and expect you to come to them. I find this absolutely ridiculous and against the laws of the delivery universe.  So thank you, Young Chow, for getting the service right. 

What We Had: Deliciousness 

We had the General Tso's Chicken, Egg Rolls, and Won Ton Soup.  Keep in mind all main entrees come with white rice so there is no need to order extra rice (this wasn't terribly clear on the website).

Where to Find It:

Check out Young Chow for delicious take out and prompt, friendly service.

http://www.youngchowdc.com/

312 Pennsylvania Ave SE (between 3rd and 4th)

Happy Hilling!

S. 

Moving to Capitol Hill

Haute on the Hill: 
For All Things Fabulous in Capitol Hill

Next Friday my husband and I are moving to an amazing townhouse in the heart of the hill.  This blog will track my experiences exploring our new Washington, DC neighborhood and all it has to offer.

The buzz of Eastern Market on a Sunday Afternoon.
The vibrant hues of leaves changing in the Fall.
The grandeur of the Capitol on a morning run.


I look forward to sharing my experiences with you! My husband and I are new to DC and are excited to become a part of the community.  If you come across this blog and live in Capitol Hill, please reach out.  I would love the opportunity to engage with fellow Washingtonians who are passionate about the neighborhood.

Happy Hilling!
S.