Service Bar Supports Black Restaurant Week With a Cocktail Competition

Cocktail clash

Black Restaurant Week, the first-of-its-kind celebration of black talent in the D.C. area’s restaurant and bar scene, features a feel-good reason to drink on a Monday night. The R.R. Bowie cocktail competition takes place at 5:30 p.m. tonight at Service Bar on U Street NW. All bartenders around Washington, including some from Maryland and Virginia, were eligible to enter the battle. The mixed drinks will adhere to the theme, “black history makers in the DMV.” Eligible cocktails must contain a 1.5-ounce pour of Grey Goose vodka and a Blue Henry mixer; both brands are sponsoring the event. Six finalists will be judged on the categories of flavor, balance, criteria of products, garnish, and story. Tickets are available for $15 here.

Service bar is co-owned by Glendon Hartley, an accomplished mixologist who is the son of West Indian immigrants. The competition is named after R.R. Bowie, who is credited with founding a black mixologists club in D.C. in 1900, then serving as its first president. More DMVBRW signature events are listed here. Washingtonian collected a list of week-long events and discounts here. [Washington City Paper; Washingtonian]

Prime location?

Crystal City, the Northern Virginia neighborhood just across from the 14th Street Bridge from Washington, is reportedly a finalist to land Amazon’s second North American headquarters. Citing people close to the process, the Washington Post reports that the online retail giant is having advanced discussions about Crystal City, including what buildings the HQ2 project would occupy and how to announce a potential move. If Crystal City were to land HQ2, that would mean an influx of 50,000 jobs, and therefore a huge boon to the neighborhood’s restaurant market. [WaPo]

Incoming Southern fare

The Delegate, an upcoming restaurant with a corner spot in a building at 9th and L Streets NW, has signage up promising a fall 2018 opening. Popville reports that the location at the fast-changing block in Mount Vernon Square looks like it’s close to welcoming customers. The Delegate’s social media accounts seem to indicate the restaurant will lean Southern, with dishes such as fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and jalapeño fig jam and seared scallops atop sweet corn risotto. [Popville]

Maggiano’s lawsuit

A man from Southeast D.C. is suing Maggiano’s Little Italy for $2 million, claiming negligence by the location in Friendship Heights because bartenders allegedly over-served him before he fell on Metro tracks. NBC reports that Patrick Augusma is saying he suffered facial fractures and head trauma in the June 2017 incident, and a federal judge will decide whether the case can move forward. [NBC]