Columbia Heights New Year's Eve Guide

New Years's Eve is one of those holidays that you either love or you hate. If you have at least a little appreciation for the holiday, here is a rundown of what the neighborhood bars and restaurants are offering on Thursday night.

CommonWealth is offering a special three-course dinner for $45 a person from 5 to 9 pm. Reservations are recommended. All night the pub is hosting its 2nd annual Vicars & Tarts fancy dress party. There is no cover, a prize for best costume and a champagne toast at midnight.

http://www.commonwealthgastropub.com/

Today is the last day to place a reservation for NYE dinner at The Heights. The restaurant is featuring a three-course menu for $35 to $59 per person, wine and champagne are offered at the $49 and $59 level.

http://www.theheightsdc.com/NewYears.pdf

The Red Derby is advertising is New Year's Eve party as such: No cover, no fuss. Blowers, hats, and whistles. Free champagne toast at midnight.

http://www.redderby.com/home

Room 11 is featuring a five-course cocktail and food pairing dinner for $100 per person. There will be two seatings at 7 and 10 pm, and a champagne toast is included in the cost. Call 202-332-3234 any day after 5 pm to make a reservation.

http://www.room11dc.com/

Social is celebrating New Year's Eve around the world with free toasts at every hour.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/bar-club-events/new-years-eve-at-social,1159886.html

Wonderland is having a dance party with DJ Meistro and Deepsang. Cover is $10 per person or $15 a couple.

http://www.thewonderlandballroom.com/events.htm

Even for city residents, New Year's Eve can be a transpiration nightmare. Here's how to get home.

Metro

On New Year's Eve, Metrorail will operate on a weekday schedule, opening at 5 a.m., and staying open two hours late, closing at 2 a.m. All Metrorail trains will operate with six-cars. Metrobus will operate on a weekday schedule and will also operate until 2 a.m.

DCist reports the Circulator will have extended hours, as well. "On Dec 31, the Georgetown-Union Station route will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.., while the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan-McPherson Square route will run even longer, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m."

SoberRide is also available on New Year's Eve. To reserve a SoberRide cab ride (up $50 in fare) call 1-800-200-8294 (TAXI) or #8294 (TAXI) on your AT&T wireless phone.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays CH!

Best wishes to Columbia Heights!

My Columbia Heights Christmas wishes? An Ellwood Thompson and sushi place for 2010!

It's Nice to be WJLA's Doug Hill

I'm pretty sure that WJLA's chief meteorologist Doug Hill followed Mayor Fenty's advice, even though he isn't in his jurisdiction, and stayed home all day. It appears to this TV observer (who has observed no less than six hours of snow coverage today) that Hill has been broadcasting from his driveway and his den. And you know what? That's what I've been doing, too! Doug Hill, he's just like us!

Follow The Heights Life on Twitter for #snOMG updates

The snowmageddon in Snowlumbia Heights was the best thing that happened to Twitter in, well, a few days. So to receive the latest updates on what's open, what's closed, how the snow is affecting the neighborhood be sure to follow The Heights Life on Twitter at www.twitter.com/theheightslife.

Snolumbia Heights Day

Mayor Fenty says you aren't supposed to go outside. Like... at all. Even without car. Even to walk on the sidewalks.

But whatever, we went to brunch at The Heights - as usual. For a snowmageddon day, Columbia Heights is bustling! The Heights was seriously bumpin'. We were able to grab some bar seats and sample two of the new menu items.

On the way back we thought we might hit Target, having heard it was open. But whoa! Half of DC was at DCUSA and Target and Bed Bath & Beyond had CLOSED! Also, we hear the gym closed earlier, too. Payless was open. And Chipotle. And Starbucks. Not sure about Radiance MediSpa, but if you miss your botox appointment you can just do what I did and try making a face imprint in the snow. Or don't... I still can't feel my left cheek.

Snow Cat in Snolumbia Heights!

DC Dept. of Transportation Snow Tracker 3000

Well, it's not a snow tracker in a weather-sense, but more of a "Hey, is my street clear"-sense. So do you want to know if the snow plow has even touched your street yet or somewhere you want to go? Visit the DC Department of Transportation website, plug in your address, and a real-time map will be made. Here's what it looks like for the central area of Columbia Heights, as of 9:30 am.

Snolumbia Heights!

SnOMG! Snowpocalypse! Snonami! Washingsnownian!

And we've got all day to come up with more. Bring it Snolumbia Heights!

Coke v. Pepsi? Pete's Chooses Boylan's

Yesterday Pete's Apizza made the switch to Boylan's sparkling beverages in their soda fountain. They said it came from a desire to use a more natural product. Boylan's focuses on natural flavors and a product free of high-fructose corn syrup (instead they use cane sugar). Pete's also seeks out organic ingredients and hits the farmers markets.

Also in pizza news, the PoP has the scoop on possible RedRocks and Pete's expansion: http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/12/red-rocks-and-petes-apizza-to-open-more-in-more-locations/

New video about Columbia Heights

I was directed to this video from the Prince of Petworth. Local real estate agent Phil Di Ruggiero and his dog take a tour of the Columbia Heights. They check out a number of landmarks in the neighborhood and it's complemented by a lovely fall day. I am totally showing this off to my grandma over the holidays.

Chipotle: PEOPLE EATING INSIDE! (But not open until Friday)

Chipotle was doing some sort of well-fed staff training tonight. I walked by and it looked open! Staff were inside chowing down. Even the straws and napkins are out!

Friday Friday Friday!

New parking sign by Metro

Like Spud Lite I do read signs. I also take pictures of them. Take
this one for instance. It recently appeared on 14th Street by the CH
metro stop heading north. This is one way to make people actually
park at DCUSA. Have you seen any others?

You Probably Already Know This Food Edition

Peruvian Chicken? Yeah - that's open. Chipotle? Yeah, that opens Friday.

How do I know this? Signs. I read them. I would have taken pictures, but it was snowing on me in a really rain-like manner.

Beer Tasting at Red Derby this Thursday

Orr Shtuhl, aka the Beerspotter on Twitter (who you really should
follow, btw), is hosting a Good Beer Tasting at the Red Derby on
Thursday, Dec. 10 at 8 pm.

For just $20, the tasting will feature eight beers in four side-by-
side comparisons and will take place in the back by the pool table.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Just stop by the Red Derby (3718
14th St. NW) any day this week to get your ticket. Remember the bar is
cash only.

Still need convincing? Orr sums it up best: "it's going to be really
fun and informal, kind of like an ideal night at Derby plus good beer."

Why Columbia Heights Needs a Sports Bar

Right now I'm sitting at home watching college football. The Husker D is (was?) busy rocking Texas. Halftime is coming up. You know what I'd like to do? Head to a local bar to watch the second half.

But - Commonwealth is showing Georgia Tech - Clemson. RedRocks only has one (or two) TVs. The Heights usually has one on sports and one on news, but it's not a good place to watch football. I would have to head to Solly's or Nellie's to have any hope of catching my game (or of course - hit the Husker bar all the way over on Capitol Hill, love the Union Pub and their cheap Bud Light!). But - I can't really get to U Street in the break halftime allows.

So... I'll just stay home and drink my free beer and yell, "SSSSUUUHHH!" at my own personal TV. But I'm just saying - if we did indeed have a Columbia Heights Sports Bar, I'd totally go spend money there RIGHT NOW.

Oh shit - Texas just scored. And I have to yell at the TV in private!

Heard on the Tweet

Here is some recent news that you may or may not have read:

We Love DC hands out neighborhood superlatives. Columbia Heights is named "Easiest Neighborhood to Live In Without a Car."
http://twitter.com/welovedc

Washington Business Journal reports that Columbia Heights will lose its Target bragging rights for December. Georgetown is set to get a Target To-Go pop-up store for the holiday shopping season.
http://twitter.com/TopShelfWBJ

Same goes for our Pete's Apizza bragging rights. They will be announcing a second location soon.
http://twitter.com/petes_newhaven

The Washingtonian Best Bites blog (and others) are super excited (me too!) for today's opening of Cork Market on 14th Street.
http://twitter.com/bestbitesblog

Brightest Young Things is hosting a space fantasy New Year's Eve party. Can I go as a Cylon?
http://twitter.com/brightestyoung

Vote for your fave DC sweetest things in Daily Candy's year-end poll. However, come January 1, 2010 the DC edition will be no longer.
http://twitter.com/dailycandy

Yay, Taylor Gourmet is now on Twitter.
http://twitter.com/TaylorGourmetDC

DCist has owned the Butterstick beat since the little guy was just a tiny panda fetus. And now he is leaving us.
http://twitter.com/DCist_Updates

Shoes, Toys, Charity - This Saturday

One of our favorite local shoe retailers is having a benefit this Saturday. Simplysoles.com is holding a toy drive for Dr. Bear's Closet and giving 20% of the shoe selection to participants:

On Saturday, December 5th from 12:00 until 5:00 p.m., SimplySoles.com will host a toy drive for Dr. Bear's Closet at Children's Hospital. Fashionistas and the charitable-set will bring new toys, games, and books to fill Dr. Bear®'s Closet, which ensures that every patient has a gift for holidays, birthdays and most importantly, a little something to serve as a reward for their courage in fighting an illness. The closet provides items to thousands of patients who are treated in Children's inpatient unit, Emergency Department and Regional Outpatient Centers, and the Health Centers.

In addition to making their donation and taking time to give back to those less fortunate, attendees will enjoy a 20% discount on all purchases, hors d'ouevres from CommonWealth Gastropub and sip champagne from Barefoot Bubbly, as they browse the best shoes of the season at Kassie Rempel's SimplySoles.com showroom. Courage for Kids is inviting their supporters to contribute to this worthy cause. This is the true spirit of the season.

The event is complimentary, however attendees should bring a new toy or make a donation to Courage for Kids.

SimplySoles
1438 Park Rd, NW
Washington, DC 20010

New hours for CVS

According to a sign at the CVS at 14th and Irving, that location is no
longer 24 hours. The new hours are 6 am to Midnight. I noticed this
when waiting for the bus this morning. Did this start today because
it's the first of the month, or have I been oblivious to the sign? Let
us know in the comments below.

While I rarely stop by the CVS anymore it did allow for some fun late-
night shopping trips like 3 am mac 'n cheese.