Break In at Looking Glass Lounge

I learned tonight that the Looking Glass Lounge was broken into last night, July 2nd. Sometime between the time they closed and the early morning hours, a person(s) broke in through the front window which cracked but didn’t shatter. They didn’t go beyond the cash register, but did steal a television, cell phone, bottles of liquor, and cleaned out the register.

It appears to have been a quick in and out since there were other items of interest that were not touched.

You can get some sense of the scope of things from the photos after the jump.

Penang Closed

I noticed yesterday morning that Penang was closed. It’s not someplace that I’ve eaten at a lot since its a little out of the way for me as I work on 18th and K and its on 19th and M. Still, I like the option.

In looking at the permits on the door, it looks like its mostly just a major redo. So, I’m curious how long it will take to repair floors and freshen it up so that the doors can reopen.

Lost Washington: Harvey’s Restaurant

The four-story, iron-fronted building erected shortly after the Civil War on the southeast corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 11th Street, NW, ended up being the city’s oldest and most famous restaurant for sixty-six years.

Though the original structure was built ca. 1820, the building was completely remodeled in 1866 by the Harvey brothers for their restaurant, originally known as Harvey’s Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Oyster Saloon.

The layout of the building was as follows. The first floor was a public bar and restaurant for men. The second floor, accessible by a separate entrance, was the ladies’ dining room. The third floor was private dining rooms. The fourth floor was nothing more than a sham front erected to conform to the cornice line of the adjacent buildings.

Harvey’s Restaurant was established in 1858 at the corner of 11th and C Streets, NW, later locating to 11th and Pennsylvania in 1866. From the time of their relocation, they entertained the political and literary leaders of the nation for sixty-six years. Every President from Ulysses S. Grant to Franklin D. Roosevelt dined in the building.

When its building on Pennsylvania Avenue was razed in 1932, Harvey’s moved to Connecticut Avenue adjacent to the Mayflower Hotel. In 1970, it moved to 18th and K Streets when the Farragut North Metro station necessitated the razing of its Connecticut Avenue building. Today, Harvey’s no longer exists in the city.

Marvin’s Owners May Expand to Petworth

According to the Washington Business Journal, there may be new life in the former Billy Simpson’s House of Seafood and Steaks located at 3815 Georgia Avenue, NW.

From the Washington Business Journal:

Eric and Ian Hilton and the team behind the tremendously popular Marvin restaurant on U Street are eyeing a parcel in Petworth to open another restaurant concept.

Developer Chris Donatelli, who is working on the property along with Mosaic Urban Partners LLC, confirmed that he is in talks with the group for a new restaurant at 3815 Georgia Ave. NW. Donatelli and the city recently negotiated a land deal for the spot.

Luigi’s Italian/French

This is a nice image of a time long gone. While this stretch of 19th street still supports a lot of restaurants and eateries, things have changed a bit since the mid-Twentieth century. A description of Luigi’s food is below.