Business in Brief: Donating and demanding “Justice for George;” Outdoor dining options expand

by Will Fowler

When businesses say “Black Lives Matter”

Little Red Fox, Calvert Woodley Fine Wines and Spirits and other local businesses have made public statements in support of the Black Lives Matter protests.

On June 5, Little Red Fox donated 10 percent of sales to the D.C. American Civil Liberties Union.

“It’s time for everyone to use whatever platform we have to speak out,” said Little Red Fox on Instagram. “How many more innocent black people must be murdered before real change happens in this country? We must be the change and we must demand it of those in leadership.”

View this post on Instagram

BLACK LIVES MATTER. It’s time for everyone to use whatever platform we have to speak out. How many more innocent black people must be murdered before real change happens in this country? We must be the change and we must demand it of those in leadership. We are donating 10% of sales today to @ACLUofDC and @blacklivesmatterdc. And for those who might feel we have no place discussing systemic racism on this account, our business is a small family business and we try to live our values. #blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd #ahmaudarbery #breonnataylor Art by @shirien.creates

A post shared by Little Red Fox (@littleredfoxdc) on May 31, 2020 at 4:19am PDT

Little Red Fox also sold rainbow colored “pride cookies” to celebrate Pride month and donated 100 percent of sales the Center for Black Equity, which advocates for the rights of Black LGBTQ+ people, and are participating in the Bakers Against Racism virtual bake sale to raise money for similar organizations.

Calvert Woodley owner Michael Sands also had something to say.

“BLACK LIVES MATTER,” reads the beginning of statement on Calvert Woodley’s Facebook page. “Three words that say so much. It bears repeating. Black lives matter.”

Calvert Woodley is donating $5,000 to the DC chapter of the NAACP.

Politics and Prose, meanwhile, continues its long history of teach-ins and advocacy. It has long promoted Black authors on its bookshelves and at author talks. But in their own statement, owners Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine say they must do more “to address systemic racism within our own walls.”

“As much as we have sought at P&P to foster inclusion,” they write, “additional action must be taken.” Politics and Prose is pledging to further diversify its staff, to broaden its book inventory and programming, and to extend partnerships with local schools and independent businesses.

Dining options expand in Phase One

If the District remains on track for Phase Two of reopening next week, restaurants will be allowed to start seating diners indoors. Serving customers outdoors has been the focus for the three weeks they’ve been operating under the District’s Phase One plan. Outdoor seating likely will remain important to restaurants for weeks to come, if customers feel safer dining al fresco. And there’s no one-size-fits-all approach as every customer has different needs and comfort levels. Carryout and delivery remain on the table.

Acacia Food and Wine, Tesoro Trattoria and Pizzeria, Sfoglina, Italian Pizza Kitchen and Uptown Market were among the first in Van Ness and Forest Hills to open up outdoors when restrictions lifted on May 29th. These are some of the other area restaurants that have resumed outdoor dining in the past three weeks:

Van Ness/Forest Hills

• Van Ness’s Thai Pad is open 11 a.m to 3 p.m., and 5 to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.
• Italian Pizza Kitchen has an expanded and partially shaded sidewalk seating area and is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and until midnight on weekends.

Chevy Chase

• The Little Beast patio is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• The patio seating at Parthenon is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
• The Bread & Chocolate bakery is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and the kitchen is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Jetties is open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cleveland Park

• Hours vary daily at Siam House and its outdoor seating area.
• Sababa is seating customers on its roof and in the Cleveland Park service lane from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

Tenleytown

• Surfside opens at 11 a.m. daily, and closes at 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and at 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
• The Guapo’s patio is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Again, that’s not all. The Main Streets of Cleveland Park, Van Ness and Tenleytown and Chevy Chase ANC 3/4G Commissioner Jerry Malitz have been staying on top of the changes.

Know before you go

The restaurants are going to great lengths to protect customers and their staff, sometimes going above and beyond the District’s Phase One guidance.

We can help protect them by following the guidance for patrons:

Do not visit a restaurant if you are sick.

Remember that service is limited to outdoor service to seated patrons only, with tables placed at least 6 feet apart, or to carry-out service. Standing and/or seating at an outdoor bar is prohibited.

Tables are limited to parties of 6 or less.

Reservations are encouraged and dining records will be saved for at least 30 days. Customers should provide names and contact information and record time of arrival.

Wear face coverings while not eating or drinking (e.g. while ordering food and prior to being served, and after completion of meal), and maintain 6 feet of distance form those not in your party.