Last night I made my way to National Harbor to investigate the bar and dining options for those taking the Water Taxi to and from the Park this season.  According to the staff at National Harbor, discussions are under way to bring regular Water Taxi service between the booming year-old development and the stadium.  Water Taxi service currently runs from Old Town Alexandria to National Harbor, Mt. Vernon and Georgetown. 

As I've reported previously, Water Taxis would dock at Diamond Teague Park, the small city owned park with piers and docking space located behind the First Base side of the stadium.  The City and The Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District kicked off park construction last month. 

The $8 million park is being built through money kicked in from nearby development, including $800,000 from the Florida Rock's "Riverfront on the Anacostia" development, which will eventually replace the concrete factory that separates the stadium from the river.

The City claims the piers will be ready for opening day and that the park will be planted and complete by mid-season.  The park will feature a mural from my favorite city artist, Byron Peck, who has decorated my neighborhood with great wall-mounted art for 20 years.

The connection to National Harbor would be a major plus for the Nats and the Stadium.  During my visit, I was amazed that five separate hotels in the Harbor were all relatively busy,  and the huge valet parking area resembled a Las Vegas casino after a busy night.  My favorite spot at the Harbor would have to be the Cigar Terrace at The Old Hickory restaurant, it features plush outdoor furniture, a big brick fireplace, and a spectacular view of the river and the new Wilson Bridge.   I'll review The Old Hickory and other National Harbor hot spots in the next few weeks.

Gaylord National Harbor

201 Waterfront Street

National Harbor, MD 20745

      

At our Nats Season Ticket Distribution Party this weekend one of my co-season ticket holders came up to me and asked, "Are you still thinking about setting up a keg outside the Half Street Metro Station?  It would be the only bar within five blocks of the stadium."

Still, there are some fantastic new options on the Green Line, just three or four stops down from the stadium.  One that I've been enjoying recently has been SEI Restaurant & Lounge.   Why Lounge?  Perhaps its the small but beautiful bar area with white leather accented by Japanese style red tree branches, similar but a little more subtle that its sister restaurant Oya.  The owners have improved upon Oya's bar menu with one of the most interesting in the city, starting with the unusual Asian Pear Sangria and the Apple Vodka based Apple Blossom.   My favorite is the Silver Samurai, which uses the tasty Japanese liquor Shochu and fresh cucumber, vanilla and black pepper.

The emphasis here is on the sushi, which offers unusual twists like Wasabi Guacamole and pineapple variations like Old Bay pineapple sauce or pineapple jalapeno. There is even a "Fish and Chips" sushi roll; this is not your typical sushi bar.  Even better, there are other non-sushi options; I've enjoyed the Kobe Sliders with tomato jam and the Vietnamese style pork buns with Yuzu hoisin sauce.   From the hardwood floors to the white leather menus to the modern sushi bar, this is an outstanding new addition to the Penn Quarter and just a few Green line stops down from the stadium.

SEI Restaurant & Lounge

444 7th St NW

Washington, DC 20004

(202) 783-7007

      

Most people remember the "No Soup For You" episode on Seinfeld, it was about a great soup restaurant with an owner, "The Soup Nazi," who needed every customer to behave according to an exacting and slightly strange set of rules.    Don't follow the rules?  No Soup for you!  Last week on U Street I discovered DC's own answer to the Soup Nazi at The Saloon.

The Saloon is justifiably well-known for its great range of Belgian and German beer, including a wide selection of Spaten products.  They have twelve on tap and twelve in bottles, incluidng the super strong Eggenberg Urbock at almost 10% alcohol.

The atmoshphere matches the beer, the looks of a German beer cellar, and a European sense of civillized drinking.  On the other hand, the owner, Kamal “Commy” Jahanbein, goes to exterme and bizzare lenghts to keep the bar just the way he wants it.  Let's start with some of the rules:

-No Standing
-No Televsion
-No Noise
-No Being Served unless Kamal approves
-No Questions

Don't like it? By all means don't say anything, its a sure way to get bounced out as happened to me the other night. Kamal gave me his standard, "I'll pay for this beer, now get out!"  Mostly Kamal and his assistants pour people water if they detect you may have already had one or they just don't like you.  In a down economy its interesting to see someone giving up profits in order to keep absolute control over his establishment.  Everyone should check out DC's crankiest bartender, or as the City Paper called him, "Best Enforcer."   

The Saloon
1205 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-2640

      

Last Halloween I wrote about the ghost of failed development haunting the Nats' new neighborhood.  It seemed like an interesting and strange side note to years of successful corporate sports and real estate profits.  In DC especially, the Verizon Center's booming Penn Quarter seemed to prove that the Federal Government's largesse defied gravity.

This weekend I attended a big-time Broadway show at the beautiful and always crowded Warner Theater.  Chazz Palminteri appearing in his own amazing show, A Bronx Tale.   After walking in with our balcony tickets the usher took us aside, "You can sit downstairs, anywhere behind Row K."  Huh?  My balcony ticket was going to get me an 11th row center seat.  The crowd was smaller than most high school musicals.  Something I never thought I'd see in Washington, a popular and well-known Broadway show with the original star and almost nobody watching.  It was a great show and a depressing environment. 

Its not just the Warner Theater.  Places where you once knew you'd stand in line (The Cheesecake Factory, Old Ebbitt Grill, DC9 on U Street) have recently looked deserted.  Welcome to 2009.  Lerner family, I hope you're paying attention.

Last week my season ticket group started splitting up our tickets.  So many Marlins, Rockies, Giants, and other near triple-A level games.  Who is going to be there with me?  Last year's half empty crowds of 18,000 (most of who get there in the 2nd inning and leave in the 7th) might start looking pretty good.

If you see me in my seats, Section 220 Row F, please come by or just yell from your seats, I'll probably hear you...