Wednesday, October 10, 2012

More on Bardo (Coming to Bladensburg Road)

Screen Shot 2012-10-10 at 8.00.59 AM

I was originally going to write this as an update to yesterday's post announcing the coming of Bardo, but it seems to now have become a post unto itself. I walked up to the proposed site (1200-1216 Bladensburg Road) last night with a friend. It is pretty far up there (just before you hit the Denny's if you are walking north). It's a large space (important since they hope it can hold nearly 350 people), and it looked like someone was in the process of erecting a new chain link fence.



As revealed on the Titan of Trinidad, Bardo is a project from the former owner of Bardo Rodeo and Dr. Dremo's. The Going Out Gurus explain what this means. Additional coverage (some background) from ARL now,

Background on Bardo Rodeo from DC BeerTilting SudsReal BeerBardo.com.au. Hey look, old photos.

Background on Dr. Dremo's from DC Foodies, and Yours for Good Fermentables.

As some readers have pointed out, it is a bit of a hike from H Street (particularly if you are unfamiliar with the strip). For the casual traveler, there are buses that run up that way. This also seems to me like it could become more of a destination bar. A place were you might legitimately plan to spend the evening, rather than planning to barhop. Regardless, this is terrific news for Bladensburg Road, and Trinidad more generally (despite the anticipated rantings of Kathy Henderson, it should also benefit Carver Terrace).

15 comments:

MJ said...

Bardo had good beer, a funky vibe, sick building syndrome, and apathetic management; it was one of those "I want to like this place but you're making it really hard to" things. Can't remember how many people I saw piss in the men's hand sink, then realize that's where they were supposed to wash their hands(to be fair it did look like an old trough urinal from days of yore).

Was I drunk? said...

That was a sink!!

curmudgeon said...


Yeah, I think there are a lot of people on this blog that weren't around for the original Bardo. It was great, with fantastic beer and an interesting physical layout and a jukebox that seemed to be stocked with me in mind. It was also, without question, the dirtiest bar I've ever been in, anywhere. The service area of the Olds dealership was converted into a huge room with tables and I'm not sure they ever cleaned up any of the oil/grease/transmission fluid stains on the floor. The upstairs pool area was just gross. If he wants to recreate something like the old Bardo, he's going to have to bring in a lot of nasty to make a new building have that kind of feel.

Dave B said...

I'm not familiar with Bardo, but from what I am reading in comments and whatnot I'm expscting this place to be a parking lot with kegs of good beer. Is that what other people have in mind?

Was the old place dirtier than Dan's cafe? If you end up in that place when it isnt packed it smells like straight urine

William Smith said...

I had fun there.

curmudgeon said...

dave b: I don't know how to answer because I don't know what they're going to try for with the space; but if they try to recreate the feel of the old Bardo, well, it was not just a parking lot with kegs of good beer. It had a bizarre feel, with walls painted with images that seemed somewhere between graffiti and depictions of animals you'd see in southwestern-style art. A totem pole outside. A car through the front windows; the engine compartment of the car was the jukebox and you put your money in a slot in the fender.

But who knows what they'll do. If it happens. I'll be skeptical until they open: when Bardo first closed, there were stories every few months about how it was going to re-open somewhere else, and that went on for *years*, and it never happened. Vaporware. If you're a DC United fan, the return of Bardo is akin to DC United stadium news. If you're a computer gamer, the return of Bardo is akin to Duke Nukem Forever (although that finally did happen, so maybe this will too).


RPW said...

A little too young for Bardo but was a big fan of Dr Dremo's and think this is great news for the area. There were rumors of a Bardo/Dremo resurrection in Arlington since it closed.

Really looking forward to this one.

Anonymous said...

Here's to hoping. Living in NE would be easier if cheap beer was nearby. I wish I had seen the original. Would love to have something like that nearby.

Anonymous said...

As a woman I wouldn't feel safe walking Bladensburg, I would be willing to bus or cab to safe bar on Bladensburg unlike that red skull bar.

Anonymous said...

Duke Nukem Forever sucked. This place better not suck.

inked said...

6:25,
What feels unsafe about Jimmy Valentine's? Just curious.

Amanda said...

As a single woman I feel that bladensburg road is rife with dead zones with little lighting that I like to call "rape pits". If you walk alone there at night you're just asking to be violated.

Anonymous said...

You *like* calling them that?

Tommy said...

There is nothing wrong with being responsible and cautious Amanda. If I were a beautiful single white woman like you I would take the same precautions.

le poo said...

yeah, amanda. when the time comes, gimme a jingle, and i'll happily escort you to the bardo for drinks and some nachos. after a few hours, i'll escort you home too...