by Will Fowler
“Everyone wants things to go back to normal as quickly as possible so we can resume talking about fun stuff like wine and cheese,” said Calvert Woodley in an email to customers on Thursday. “But we are well aware of the seriousness of the ongoing coronavirus situation, and we’re taking the necessary precautions to provide you with a safe, comfortable Calvert Woodley.”
These are sentiments echoed by other small businesses in the area. Calvert Woodley’s precautions include stepping up in-store cleaning, lowering its charge for daytime delivery from $22 to $12, and offering to bring orders to customers parked in its parking lot or curbside at 4339 Connecticut Avenue.
The measures at Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut) include adding hand sanitizer stations at entrances, and for those who feel safer staying home, the shipping on online orders is free until the end of the month.
From Uptown Market: “Our staff has been trained on our new sanitation protocols and have reviewed our current sick policies, which require them to stay home if they are feeling sick or feel they may have been exposed to COVID-19…. We want our customers to feel safe dining & shopping with us at Uptown Market. Our weekly specials, happy hour and other activities are still moving forward as scheduled.”
Levine School (2801 Upton Street NW) is closing for three days of planning and cleaning. Levine is posting updates here.
We heard from Little Red Fox and Sfoglina owner Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants on Wednesday. And remember, your favorite spot probably has similar plans and procedures, so if in doubt, call them and ask.
Finally, from Medium Rare (3500 Connecticut) on Thursday:
If anyone knows of anyone over 70 in the DMV that is quarantined , at home and needs a meal tonight , please DM me .. we will make sure they get dinner .
— Medium Rare (@MediumRareDC) March 12, 2020
Buckaroos experiments with soft openings
Buckaroos, soon opening permanently in Besta Pizza’s former location at 5029 Connecticut Avenue, has spent the last month experimenting with a handful of weekend soft openings, according to Popville. The restaurant, which serves “family-style Californian food,” has a preliminary menu which lists tacos, tortas, and snacks such as chips and quesadillas. The prices are affordable, with the most expensive items (taco platters and tortas) are listed for just $9. While Buckaroos isn’t still isn’t open full-time in its physical location, it periodically offers deliveries online.
The torch passes at Calvert Woodley
CW is changing hands, but we're proud to keep it in the family & carry on our tradition of exceptional service! Ed Sands, owner/operator since 1966, is passing on the torch to his son Michael, who has worked in the business since 1998. #familyowned https://t.co/tOeR44rsNO
— Calvert Woodley (@CalvertWoodley) February 21, 2020
Uptown Market bar extends hours
Uptown Market’s bar, which previously closed at 8 p.m., is now open until 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The bar will continue to serve wine, beer, sangria and craft cocktails, as well as its signature bar snack menu. The bar will still close at 8 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday.
(March 15 update: Uptown Fest has been postponed.) Uptown Market (4465 Connecticut Avenue) is inviting the community to celebrate its new bar hours, new daily happy hour and new dinner menu at the March 20th “Uptown Fest.” That Friday, from 3 to 7 p.m., the market is serving complimentary passed appetizers, free tastings at each of its market stalls and free wine tastings. Uptown is also giving away a wine basket, an Uptown Market gift card, DC United tickets and a gift card to Copa Kitchen & Bar, and a FREE box of joe and donut breakfast party. There will be live jazz from 4 to 7 p.m.
Mama Lucia Express announces March opening
The long-awaited Chevy Chase location of Mama Lucia Express has announced it is opening by the end of the month. The eatery (at 5504 Connecticut Avenue) is a quick-service offshoot of the full-service Mamma Lucia chain in Maryland. According to the constituent newsletter from ANC 3G05 Commissioner Jerry Malitz, it will open at 7 a.m., serving fresh bagels, and serve lunch through 4 p.m. when dinner options become available. Like other Mamma Lucia locations, the menu will include sandwiches, pasta, pizza and appetizers. The location is geared toward takeout, but will also have seating for 15 to 20 people and outdoor seating when weather permits.
Chevy Chase Community Center redesign on hold
The modernization project seeks to dramatically revamp the current community center, adding parking, a fitness center, a lecture and performance hall, teaching kitchens, tech lounges, dance studios, arts and crafts spaces, offices, workshops, a greenhouse/garden, and much more, according to the project website.
But the DC Department of Parks and Recreation and Bell Architects say the $19 million appropriated for the project is not enough to meet the needs listed in ANC 3/4G’s 2018 report. The architects say the costs per square foot were underestimated by about 40 percent. At the ANC 3/4G meeting on February 24th, they attributed the increased costs to delays in the contract’s award and inflation in construction prices. For now, the project is at a standstill, and ANC 3/4G is waiting for DPR and Bell to provide an estimate of the additional funding needed to continue.
Surfside opens in Tenleytown
The popular Dupont Circle taco stand has opened an enormous full-service restaurant and bar at 4200 Wisconsin Avenue. Surfside offers free parking weekday evenings and all day on weekends. Its hours are: Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It’s planning to open a 24-hour walk-up taco window and deliver with DoorDash.