August 2008 Resturant Week is Coming!!!

We know many of you have been waiting for more information on Restaurants participating and event dates. Well here you are...

The dates for this year's August 2008 Restaurant Week is August 11-17. So schedule appropriately, we will added a list of participating restaurants soon.

The Best of Washington Party | The National Building Museum

Verizon Wireless presents: The Best of Washington

This event has received a tremendous amount of buzz, with well over 400 people already registered for the event. This buzz has contributed to the sold out status for online tickets along with lots of buzz among the blogosphere.

Tonight this will be the don't miss event. You will get a chance to taste the best food from some of our favorite restaurants. We know their your favorites too, also some of the local bars will be serving up some amazing cocktails for all the guests.

Also because some be turned off by the ticket price, its important to note that one of favorite charities, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will be receiving the proceeds from this event. Not only to have the chance to dine on dishes from your favorite chefs but its all for a good cause.

This event has some big name sponsors as well Cadillac along with BB&T Wealth Management Services and DC 101, Channel 9 News.

Participating Restaurants:

1789 Restaurant
Amici Miel
Athens Grill
Angeethi Authentic Indian
Bastille
Butterfield Nine
Cafe Du Parc
California Tortilla
Cava
Central Michel Richard
Charlie Palmer Steak
Circle Bistro
Citronelle
Cityzen
Cynthia's
DC Coast
Degrees Bar & Lounge
Equinox
Famoso & M Cafe
Farrah Olivia
Filomena
Food Matters
Granville Moore's
Heritage India
Hook
Indique Heights
Jackie's Restaurant
KBQ Real Barbecue
Kinkead's
The Liberty Tavern
Maylasia Kopitiam
Matchbox
Mendicino Grille & Wine Bar
Mia's Pizzas
Nicaro
Oval Room
The Park at Fourteenth
Pizzeria Paradiso
Poste Moderne
Brasserie
Proof
PS 7's
Rangoli
Rasika
Red Hot & Blue
Rock Creek at MazzaSpezie
The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Taberna del Alabardero
Tune Inn
Vermilion
WillowZ Pizza

Drinks:
BassBud
LightBud
Light Lime
Cape North
Clos du Bois
Dominion
Endless Waters
FordhamFranciscan
Napa Valley
Hoegaarden
Hogue Cellars
Landshark
LagerPomacai
VodkaPurus Organic Vodka
Red Bull
Redhook
Shock Top
Smartwater
Stella Artois
Vermont Spirits
Vitamin Water
WidmerWild Blue

Sweets:
Baked & Wired
Georgetown Cupcake
Gifford's Ice Cream& Candy Co.
Heidelburg Pastry Shoppe

Josh B.

Calling all Tennis Fans - Opening Night of the Washington Kastles - 7.8.08

Opening Night of the Washington Kastles

This Tuesday evening is Opening Night of the World TennisTeam’s Washington Kastles. Serena Williams and crew will take on the Boston Lobsters.

The Match starts at 7pm with the gates opening at 5:15pm. If you cannot make it tonight for the season opener and want to catch them this week, you can get tickets for Friday the 11th. The Kastles will playing against the New York Buzz (i don't make this stuff up).

The match at 7pm and gates opening at 5:15pm.

Just for background knowledge, World TeamTennis(WTT), co-founded in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King, features several generations of tennis pros competing in a co-ed pro league in communities throughout the U.S. each summer. This is the first Washington, D.C.-based team in the league's 33-year history.

Each team will play 14 matches during the WTT's 2008 season, which runs July 3-23 with the WTT Championship Weekend set for July 24-27 in Roseville, Calif.

Kastles Stadium

According to Mark Ein, owner of the Washington Kastles, " World TeamTennis(WTT) is all about the fans having a great time and cheering their team to victory. Drafting Serena Williams is our commitment to Washington tennis fans that we're going to have a great first season - not only great fun to watch, but also our commitment to showcase great tennis and to win!"

This summer tennis star Serena Williams will take on other tennis icons like John McEnroe and Anna Kournikova at the brand new Kastles Stadium.

Now you might be wondering where is this stadium, well its going to be located in the old Convention Center space at 11th St and G street. Also if you are in the mood for amazing Latin dinner after the game head down to new Leeloo Lounge on 7th and G st. You are in for nice treat.

Following tonight's game for all you party people, there will be a after party at The Park at Fourteenth hosted by our good friend Cat B. The after party is slated to be hosted by Cat and Serena Williams along with the Kastles Tennis Team.

The Park at Fourteenth

920 14th St. NW

Washington, DC

http://www.theparkat14th.com/

For Washington-area tennis enthusiasts can get more information at http://www.washingtonkastles.com/ or 202-4TENNIS (202-483-6647).

Also for a full game schedule please click here: http://www.wtt.com/schedule.aspx

Dupont Tequila - Washington's First Tequila Bar

Dupont Tequila Opening in the Fall








As some of you may know our good friend Reese is slated to open a new latin flavored creation in Dupont Circle. The focus of this venue will be Tequilla. Yes Yes... you can almost hear The Champs begin to play.

This place is poised to give Cafe Citron some serious Dupont competition, we would love to reveal the location but we promised Reese we would keep it a secret. As the venue comes closer to reality please check back on our blog for more details on the grand opening date along with the super secret location.

According to the website this venue promises to be the Washington area's first true tequila paradise. Dupont Tequila will feature fresh squeezed cocktails, white & red sangria, frozen margaritas and of course 20 of the finest imported tequilas in the world.

Dupont Tequila will also be a casual hot spot to enjoy a full menu of Mexican favorites like our signature tequila glazed jumbo shrimp or our chips and tequila salsa with a cold pitcher of margaritas or sangria.

Acoustic entertainment will be featured every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm-1am. Feel free to sit back and lounge outside and enjoy all of our food and drinks on what is supposed to be Dupont's largest out door patio.

Our Sangria brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am - 3pm

Because we know you were thinking it. We added it for your listening pleasure!! Tequila!

Tequila" by the Champs



We just had to add this one, and we are sure this venue will not have Pee Wee Herman dancing for the crowd






Dupont Tequila
http://duponttequila.com/


Check back for more info..

Josh B.

Save The Date - 08.02.08 -

Massive Party on 08.02.08!

This event comes from the people who brought you the 07.07.07 party, now they are giving you their latest poolside event: 08.02.08.

Photo - DJ Neekola - Spinning in Ibiza, Spain

Last year's 12 hour party pulled in people from across the country who enjoyed live DJs spin away a perfect summer's eve.
This year, with another extensive line-up of DJs, Open Bar, and the area's finest talent, 08.02.08 promises to be an event you won't want to miss.
This year, 100% of proceeds of the event will benefit CurePSP (http://www.psp.org/) and the Sibley Memorial Hospital Cancer Effort (http://www.sibley.org/). Charitable Donations will be requested at the door.


UPDATE JUNE 30, 2008:

4 DJs CONFIRMED FOR 08.02.08! DJ Neekola, DJ Boris Gluck, DJ Rainier and DJ Vikuna will be dropping tunes for you at the much anticipated 08.02.08 event.

Local DJs Neekola, Boris Gluck, and Rainier have and continue to drop tunes at The Park on 14th, Club Ibiza, Club Fur, Fly, Chroma, Five, and many more of DC's best. As many of you may know DJ Neekola is fresh from coming off spinning gigs at Ibiza not the one of first street even though she spun their as well. She was spinning this summer in Ibiza, Spain. For footage of her trip make sure you check our her blog at http://djneekola.blogspot.com/.

After rocking the Island of Spain she returned to her residency at The Park on 14th, during her absence our good friend DJ Boris Gluck took over and rocked the party at the Park. These two DJ have joined forces with other DJ's from around the country for what is no doubt going to be a amazing event. Please make sure you are in attendance.

DJ Vikuna, currently based out of NYC, has spun around the world at venues through Central America and Europe.

08.02.08 is rapidly approaching, for more information please email us at litonevents@gmail.com

Josh B.

Shadow Room DC Review - www.shadowroom.com

Shadow Room is Now Open - The latest addition to K street's every expanding high end lounge scene.

Shadow Room - http://www.shadowroom.com/

Table service is taken to new level at this brand new lounge brought to you by Acott Ventures, LLC and Das Enterprises, Inc. The same good guys behind some of hottest parties in the city. It is truly amazing to see these guys go from throwing amazing parties to opening their own venue.

After gaining a ton of experience helping launch K Street Lounge and incorporating high end technology into their set up. When it came to time to create their own venue, they did not spare any expense in their own venue. This venue's table service experience sets out to be a step above the rest. After hosting a small press sneak peak a few months ago. Shadow opened to the public last week. We actually had the pleasure of stopping in for a few seconds, and to say the least we were impressed.

Consider some of these featured amenities:

Personal dedicated waitress for your table

Computer screens at every table

Request songs to DJ from computer at table

Order specialized drinks from computer at table, down to the ingredient, choose from multiple brands of liquor-

Upload photo albums in advanced and have a slide show at your table-

Order valet service from your table-

- The valet service will expect your vehicle when you pull up and whisk you into your table as the attendant park your car.

For all your gamers you can order PS3 or XBOX games from your table along with being able to watch your favorite DVD at your table. With all these services forget getting a table. If they start cooking in their I might just move in...haha.

The wild part is this is just some of the features at this venue.

There are also super secret plans for some 23rd century technology to be incorporated into the table reservation system (Think Minority report - ). There are plans for a possible expansion into other markets, which we have been entrusted to keep under wraps but all we can say is keep up the good work Das and Company.

Shadowroom will only be open on Fridays and Saturdays. If you would like to be on the guestlist for Friday only. We are currently doing a guestlist for this venue. Email us your names at litonevents@gmail.com

Make sure you visit the amazing site at http://www.shadowroom.com/ - Special kudos to Ezra on the amazing site intro design.

Josh B.

Washingtonian's Best of Washington Party - National Building Museum

Washingtonian's Best of Washington Party - National Building Museum

Come experience on the must attend events of the summer. The Washingtonian's Best of Washington Party. This event will feature some of the hottest restaurants in the city, along with some of the area's top bartenders serving up their signature cocktails.

TUESDAY, July 8

Washingtonian's Best of Washington Party

Where:
National Building Museum
440 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001

When:
7-10pm
Taste the best food from local restaurants. Sample the best cocktails from local bars. Enjoy the best music and much more!

Participating Restaurants:
Amici Miei
Bastille
Butterfield 9
Cafe du Parc
Central
Michel Richard Citronelle
Cynthia's Equinox
Famoso Restaurant & M Cafe
Farrah Olivia Heritage India
Hook
Tackle Box
Malaysia Kopitiam
Mendocino Grille & Wine Bar
Nicaro
Oval Room
PS 7's
Rock Creek at Mazza
Taberna del Alabardero
Willow

A portion of the proceeds from this event benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Tickets: $95 (VIP: $125)
http://washingtonianbestof.eventbrite.com/
If you use discount code "FACEBESTOF", you can save $20 on each ticket you purchase.

Chef Barton Seaver departures from Hook and Tacklebox

Chef Barton Seaver departures from Hook and Tacklebox



Hook chef Barton Seaver, who made a name for himself in guiding the slick Georgetown seafood emporium to foodie prominence and also helped launch a more casual spot, Tackle Box, has split with his ownership group, Pure Hospitality Restaurant Group.


This is the second dust-up at Hook this month. It follows the bitter—and very public—breakup of Tackle Box and chef Richard Bechtold a couple of weeks ago.

Hook’s controlling owner, Jonathan Umbel 25 year vet of the hospitality industry, attributes the departure of the tousle-haired, tattooed Seaver—who has recently palled it up with Oprah on the beach—to a difference in philosophies. Seaver, he says, has ambitions to become a public advocate and speaker, touting the necessity of “sustainability.”

The chef has three years and 11 months remaining on his five-year contract, and Umbel—“hoping to come to a good conclusion for everyone”—plans to retain him as a consultant. “Green is the message of the decade, and sustainability is a part of that,” Umbel says. “And that’s still the message of Hook. . . . We just sold our 77th different species of fish. That’s who we are.”
Seaver declined to discuss his future other than to say: “I’m committed to seeing Hook and Tackle Box succeed.”

Josh Whigham, the restaurant’s chef de cuisine, will assume control of the kitchen. “The restaurant was being run by Josh anyway,” says Umbel who has had had legal disputes with his last 2 ventures at Blue Gin & the Georgetown Bagel Bakery (now the Tackle Box).

As of late this morning, there was no word of the news on Seaver’s Web site, Bartonseaver.org—which describes the 29-year-old as a “Washington, D.C.-based chef, writer, speaker and environmentalist” and invites readers to “learn more about [my] upcoming projects, affiliations and accomplishments.”

Umbel, while acknowledging Seaver’s emergence as a “rock star” and calling him “my fifth son,” hints at tensions between the two: “He might have forgot that you have to pay your dues first. Bobby Flay and Emeril became celebrities because they made their restaurants successful first.”
He adds: “Hook and Tackle Box are both my concepts. The sustainability message was adapted when we signed Barton up. We weren’t really talking about Pure Hospitality, the company that started this, when things took off. We were talking about Barton. . . . Now it’s a good chance for me to reel that back in.”



This break cause a lot of feathers to be ruffled with a comment list that turned ugly very quickly.


In response to some of the comments Christian Pendleton General Manager of Hook issued this statement:


I understand how delicious this is for everyone, but the truth of the matter is chefs leave restaurants everyday for a myriad of reasons, and Barton has left us to pursue other endeavors in sustainability. We are proud of the work that he has done, just as we are very proud of our new executive chef Joshua Whigham. Josh is very passionate about cooking and sustainability as well. We at Hook are excited and proud about what we are doing on a daily basis and we are committed to providing the best possible experience for our guests. We will continue to grow and improve everyday. Thanks, Christian Pendleton General Manager Hook


HOOK
3241 M St NW
Washington, DC 20007
202.625.4488
info@hookdc.com


Courtesy of: http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/restaurants/bestbites/8426.html