Versatile Clarendon Ballroom Will Close a 19-Year Run With One Last New Year’s Bash

Last call in Clarendon

Clarendon Ballroom cued up the social media laments last night with an announcement that it will close after a New Year’s Eve party that will mark its 19th anniversary. The bar, club, music venue, and events space in the Arlington nightlife district accommodated wedding parties, DJs, and ’90s cover bands. Its popular rooftop is the highpoint in an art deco space that enjoyed a former life as Woolworth Department Store. Tickets for the final New Year’s Eve (starting at $70) include a dinner buffet and four drink tickets. Patrick Crump, a chef at Clarendon Ballroom for the majority of its lifespan, recently opened the Renegade, a bar and venue with a dizzying global menu in the former Mister Days space.

Big change in Union Market

The premium food hall space that Burmese bodega Toli Moli just vacated won’t be empty for long. Washingtonian reports that Laoban Dumplings will be bringing Chinese potstickers to the Union Market stall in late January. Chef about town Tim Ma, who runs American Son in the Eaton and recently accepted an executive chef position at Prather’s on the Alley in Mt. Vernon Triangle, just joined Laoban as culinary director. The shop, which already has a presence in Alexandria’s Pendleton Carryout Co., will reportedly start serving soup dumplings, spicy beef noodle soup, and other snacks in Northeast. There will also be hot tea and Chinese beers. The food hall is also about to get an Italian pastry counter from the Stellina Pizzeria crew, an outpost of burger and fried chicken bar Lucky Buns, and new Thai salad stall Som Tam. [W]

#BagelHate in Georgetown

Outrageously popular bagel shop Call Your Mother continues to await the decision of a Georgetown zoning board that’s delaying the opening of its second store. The “Jew-ish” deli’s Instagram account has taken to using a #bagelhate hashtag to describe the concerns of neighborhood NIMBYs who worry that long lines will disrupt their residential enclave. An Instagram story posted yesterday says the board has delayed its decision for a second time and now plans to make a ruling January 15.

Call Your Mother/Instagram