A look at what's going on in Trinidad, on H Street, and in the larger area north of Capitol Hill.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Souk
I don't know what it is for, but a sign recently appeared at 1208 H Street that reads "Souk." The rolldown has also been painted red. Assuming that I got the spelling right, souk means market.
34 comments:
JJ
said...
Funny, I walked by the same place today and thought, "What does Souk mean?"
I peeked behind the rolldown and saw some nice tables and chairs as well as pillows in the bay windows.
If I had to guess (and this is just a guess anonymous people -- don't take my speculation on Souk as a slur against 12, or NAPA, or Naby's or anything else!) I would say it may be some kind of Moroccan/Middle Eastern restaurant in the works.
Incidentally, I was pleased to see Kojo do a show on some of the businesses on H St. Lots of people in the DC area listen to that show. The more we can dispel some of the myths about H St. being some kind of ghetto the better and I think free press like the Kojo show helps do that.
I was also intrigued by Anwar's statement at the end re: a supermarket. He stated something to the effect that he didn't want to jinx anything but that something may be in the offing in the next few months. I wonder if this is just idle speculation or if there something substantial behind it.
Yes, it's going to be a Middle Eastern/Moroccan restaurant. The owner dropped off some menu's today at SOVA. We're talking falafel, shwarma, cous cous, etc...
Also, he said he plans on having late night hours similar to Taylor, Thursday - Saturday.
Does anyone know what's going on in the old Birdland building immediatly next to Taylors? I've seen construction activity in there the past couple of times I've walked by.
I walk by Birdland almost every day on my way home and there has been "construction" going on in there for at least two years (maybe more. I only moved in two years ago.) Would be fabulous as a diner. Keep the name "Birdland." Would be a gold mine, no?
a couple months ago, i walked by Birdland around midnight and a couple folks were leaving the spot. they told me it was going to be a Chicken and Waffles joint. we'll see...
I believe Birdland was operational less than two years ago (for whatever brief period it was open) - or has it already been two years since it was closed?
"A waffle and chicken joint?" Oh boy. How can residents find out and have a greater say in what's going in on H St? There's a lot of construction going on in MANY buildings now. It's beginning to really take off it seems and I'm afraid many things are happening without resident's knowledge or input. I think we've surpassed the "something's better than nothing" attitude and can try to have a little mor influence with what we want and what we don't. Maybe I'm just missing this information that's out there.
Awesome! A good ethnic food option will be a great addition. A nice Thai or Indian spot would be good as well. Also nice to see more development to the west of Dr. GM's, which is more convenient to most of us, I bet.
Chicken and Waffles is an iconic soul food dish. Most places that serve C&W make it their specialty but also serve other food as well.
The best explanation I have seen on the origin of Chicken and Waffles is that the two items were requested by jazz musicians who needed a substantial meal after gigging until the wee hours of the morning. Owing to the hour, they came up with a combination of dinner and breakfast.
YOu will find Chicken and Waffles on the menu occasionally at places like Georgia Brown's and B. Smith's. I don't really understand why such a place would not be welcome on H Street.
There is also construction in the building to the east of Granville Moore's. The permit says Auto Parts and Installation or some such. The amazing thing is that there IS a permit. The tax increase on vacant/derelict buildings seems to be having an effect.
Now, I want waffles and fried chicken. I think a good soul food restaurant would be a huge asset to the neighborhood. Its the kind of food that appeals to a lot of people, and there aren't all that many good soul food restaurants.
Chicken and waffles are on the menu at both Marvin and Creme on U Street. I think it's actually become quite trendy and when executed well it's really delicious. As for Souk - I hope they have kabobs Moby Dick style but if not I'm sure I'll still be a frequent visitor regardless. Welcome to H st.
A souk is a tradional arabic market, typically a food market or the main open air market... the very same type of market from which our own Eastern Market takes its name.
what is sad is the underlying assumptions behind the attitude that a place selling ten dollar sandwiches is OK but a place that serves good soul food is not.
I thought Eastern Market was called that because it was the eastern market in the district? There was the western market and central market, right? The Eastern Market is the only on left standing and open.
http://www.easternmarketdc.com/history.php
I could be wrong. The place is just not 'eastern'.
A nice grocery store would be wonderful -- especially if it was a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, which would be a draw to all of Capitol Hill and surrounding areas like NoMa, Penn Quarter, etc. If you haven't already signed the petition for a Trader Joes, please do. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/TraderJoesHStreet/signatures-25.html
There's also one seeking a Whole Foods as well, which I think would be even better. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/WholeFoods_OnHSt/
anon 8:30 - I agreed with you. However, I do not believe Trader Joe's will likely locate a store around here. Besides, Harris Teeter will open soon at Constitution Square near the BATF building and New York Ave. Metro stop. Our best bet would be to have several smaller specialty stores along the corridor. Also, I have signed all the petitions out there more than a year ago. I even sent in emails to Trader Joe's and Yes! Organic to locate here.
This comment is for the person that mentioned "Neighborhood approval for new venues"....How much are you contributing to make this project a reality and gain your approval...Also,I welcome a chicken and waffle joint.If done right with addditional menue this place could be a hit.Provided the place doesnt skimp on a nice renovation job......This could make or brake a bussiness.....That was the mistake that Pape and Petes made,not putting your best foot forward at the begining and later play catch up.
Residents really have little input, unless they want to truly protest something, such as liquor licenses. There is already a mechanism in place for that through the ANC. Neighbors do have a certain amount of input on that end. The BP/ Amoco never opened at 3rd and H due to continued discussions with neighbors and now it looks like the apartment building project will actually begin to move forward with a ground floor grocery store. And if anyone remembers when it was rumored that Phish Tea (where the Country Club is now) was going to become a strip club? That was shouted down pretty quickly and the owners decided to open elsewhere.
If you would like to see a certain type of business open I suggest you either invest in that business yourself or help Anwar and H Street Main Street with the task of convincing businesses to open here.
34 comments:
Funny, I walked by the same place today and thought, "What does Souk mean?"
I peeked behind the rolldown and saw some nice tables and chairs as well as pillows in the bay windows.
If I had to guess (and this is just a guess anonymous people -- don't take my speculation on Souk as a slur against 12, or NAPA, or Naby's or anything else!) I would say it may be some kind of Moroccan/Middle Eastern restaurant in the works.
Incidentally, I was pleased to see Kojo do a show on some of the businesses on H St. Lots of people in the DC area listen to that show. The more we can dispel some of the myths about H St. being some kind of ghetto the better and I think free press like the Kojo show helps do that.
I was also intrigued by Anwar's statement at the end re: a supermarket. He stated something to the effect that he didn't want to jinx anything but that something may be in the offing in the next few months. I wonder if this is just idle speculation or if there something substantial behind it.
I also heard a possible report of tables at this location.
oooh, exciting!
Yes, it's going to be a Middle Eastern/Moroccan restaurant. The owner dropped off some menu's today at SOVA. We're talking falafel, shwarma, cous cous, etc...
Also, he said he plans on having late night hours similar to Taylor, Thursday - Saturday.
Very cool. If anyone wants to scan one and send it my way...
If this really turns into a Middle Eastern restaurant, I am going to be so excited! I think it will be a great addition to H St.
Does anyone know what's going on in the old Birdland building immediatly next to Taylors? I've seen construction activity in there the past couple of times I've walked by.
I walk by Birdland almost every day on my way home and there has been "construction" going on in there for at least two years (maybe more. I only moved in two years ago.) Would be fabulous as a diner. Keep the name "Birdland." Would be a gold mine, no?
a couple months ago, i walked by Birdland around midnight and a couple folks were leaving the spot. they told me it was going to be a Chicken and Waffles joint.
we'll see...
Chicken and waffles? The joke opportunities are endless!
I believe Birdland was operational less than two years ago (for whatever brief period it was open) - or has it already been two years since it was closed?
"A waffle and chicken joint?" Oh boy. How can residents find out and have a greater say in what's going in on H St? There's a lot of construction going on in MANY buildings now. It's beginning to really take off it seems and I'm afraid many things are happening without resident's knowledge or input. I think we've surpassed the "something's better than nothing" attitude and can try to have a little mor influence with what we want and what we don't. Maybe I'm just missing this information that's out there.
There was a Bobby Flay throwdown episode on Chicken and Waffles. It looked pretty tasty. If done right, this place could be majorly cool.
Besides, who doesn't love Fried Chicken.
SHWARMAS!!! Awesome.
And "Anon" you always have influence over what you want and don't want. If you don't want it, don't spend $$$ there. That's how you vote.
Awesome! A good ethnic food option will be a great addition. A nice Thai or Indian spot would be good as well. Also nice to see more development to the west of Dr. GM's, which is more convenient to most of us, I bet.
Chicken and Waffles is an iconic soul food dish. Most places that serve C&W make it their specialty but also serve other food as well.
The best explanation I have seen on the origin of Chicken and Waffles is that the two items were requested by jazz musicians who needed a substantial meal after gigging until the wee hours of the morning. Owing to the hour, they came up with a combination of dinner and breakfast.
YOu will find Chicken and Waffles on the menu occasionally at places like Georgia Brown's and B. Smith's. I don't really understand why such a place would not be welcome on H Street.
There is also construction in the building to the east of Granville Moore's. The permit says Auto Parts and Installation or some such. The amazing thing is that there IS a permit. The tax increase on vacant/derelict buildings seems to be having an effect.
what? people actually think a chicken and waffle joint is bad????
i'm as snooty as the rest of ya'll but i cant wrap my head around that.
also, why would thinking that Souk, an arabic word, would be considered a slur?
i dont get ya'll sometimes.
Now, I want waffles and fried chicken. I think a good soul food restaurant would be a huge asset to the neighborhood. Its the kind of food that appeals to a lot of people, and there aren't all that many good soul food restaurants.
i hope that souk has shishas!
If you guys want chicken and Waffles, Langston's Bar and Grill does it there. They're only 3 blocks into Benning after the Argonaut.
crown fried chicken also sells chicken and waffles.
Chicken and waffles are on the menu at both Marvin and Creme on U Street. I think it's actually become quite trendy and when executed well it's really delicious. As for Souk - I hope they have kabobs Moby Dick style but if not I'm sure I'll still be a frequent visitor regardless. Welcome to H st.
Many clearly still have a "Something is better than nothing" attitude. Sad actually. It's quickly turning into Adams Morgan 2.
can we get back on topic please?
cuz i gotta tell ya, i'm a souker for arabic food!
souk + chicken & waffles = good
auto parts installation, though?
seriously? blah. enough of that across the street at auto zone.
i am soukrazy for arabic food!
can we please get back on topic?
A souk is a tradional arabic market, typically a food market or the main open air market... the very same type of market from which our own Eastern Market takes its name.
anon 4:51
what is sad is the underlying assumptions behind the attitude that a place selling ten dollar sandwiches is OK but a place that serves good soul food is not.
I thought Eastern Market was called that because it was the eastern market in the district? There was the western market and central market, right? The Eastern Market is the only on left standing and open.
http://www.easternmarketdc.com/history.php
I could be wrong. The place is just not 'eastern'.
A nice grocery store would be wonderful -- especially if it was a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, which would be a draw to all of Capitol Hill and surrounding areas like NoMa, Penn Quarter, etc. If you haven't already signed the petition for a Trader Joes, please do. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/TraderJoesHStreet/signatures-25.html
There's also one seeking a Whole Foods as well, which I think would be even better.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/WholeFoods_OnHSt/
anon 8:30 - I agreed with you. However, I do not believe Trader Joe's will likely locate a store around here. Besides, Harris Teeter will open soon at Constitution Square near the BATF building and New York Ave. Metro stop.
Our best bet would be to have several smaller specialty stores along the corridor. Also, I have signed all the petitions out there more than a year ago. I even sent in emails to Trader Joe's and Yes! Organic to locate here.
Yay to chicken and waffles!
A fan since Tapeheads introduced me to them in 1988.
This comment is for the person that mentioned "Neighborhood approval for new venues"....How much are you contributing to make this project a reality and gain your approval...Also,I welcome a chicken and waffle joint.If done right with addditional menue this place could be a hit.Provided the place doesnt skimp on a nice renovation job......This could make or brake a bussiness.....That was the mistake that Pape and Petes made,not putting your best foot forward at the begining and later play catch up.
Residents really have little input, unless they want to truly protest something, such as liquor licenses. There is already a mechanism in place for that through the ANC.
Neighbors do have a certain amount of input on that end. The BP/ Amoco never opened at 3rd and H due to continued discussions with neighbors and now it looks like the apartment building project will actually begin to move forward with a ground floor grocery store. And if anyone remembers when it was rumored that Phish Tea (where the Country Club is now) was going to become a strip club? That was shouted down pretty quickly and the owners decided to open elsewhere.
If you would like to see a certain type of business open I suggest you either invest in that business yourself or help Anwar and H Street Main Street with the task of convincing businesses to open here.
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