We'll not talk about the parking in this area, the U street strip is surrounded by residential properties which means parking if you are a lucky, lucky duck or you stock someone all the way to their spot ::stop laughing if you do that:: I should've called Steve tonight AA is my co-pilot, we head into the city with plans to see an old friend and maybe hear a song or two. We arrive in the U street corridor and where people are buzzing around and crowding into the many venues that line a three block radius. I don't visit here often a little too far from everything, as you know I like to hop around a bit. But there has been a request for my appearance that I would never deny.
After rounding the block a couple of times we find a spot, walking down the street there are structures in all different stages, some boarded up, some gutted, some the same for 50+ years and some brand spakin new using up ever little inch of lot they rest on. It's an interesting neighborhood, on the edge of an interesting and amazing time.
We see our guide light in the form of a red sign, that has been seen that much more often since Obamas recent visit, which is great for the already famous Bens Chili Bowl. But the old stand that is so well known among the neighborhood is not our destination tonight. We're going next door literally, to an understated entrance of Ben's sister location, Ben's Next Door. An lounge, bar, upscale version of the it's neighbor. Next Door boast over forty feet of bar length, elegant decorations, seated bar area, dining room, complete with celebrity chef Rock, you may know him from a couple season ago of Hell's Kitchen. But tonight we're in for a 'first glance' house smoke, and friends. We walk in and the bar gives quite the dramatic entrance, lining the whole right side of the space, the left side filled with hightops and chairs. It's comfortable and the crowd is a mix, just all over the place in a good way, no one could possible feel out of place with all these people here. We start with a couple of cocktails AA the Blueberry Caiprioska and I choose the Citrus District, lemoncello cocktail sounds attractive tonight. We've originally come for just a drink and a little catching up with one of Ben's grandsons and long time friend Logan, all in the family this will stay, he helps run daily and works his tootie off. From the days of seeing him behind the bar, he'd light my drinks on fire to a day when we both get to watch great futures roll out.
We stay longer than expected of course, and my stomach starts to take notice, he must've noticed the look in my eyes. Because as I reach for the menu I'm greeted with a House Smoke with Chili, I smile ear to ear of course when food is involved and dig in. An interesting note, is you are constantly greeted with the great smells of house smokes and chili, there is a rotisserie right behind the bar! It's great, worth all the talk. We have other stops in the night so we promise to return for a taste of the upscale soul food. Kisses and hugs are exchanged and we're walking down the bustling streets of dc, out night is in mid term but many night are just beginning, something I've always like about the city.
We stay longer than expected of course, and my stomach starts to take notice, he must've noticed the look in my eyes. Because as I reach for the menu I'm greeted with a House Smoke with Chili, I smile ear to ear of course when food is involved and dig in. An interesting note, is you are constantly greeted with the great smells of house smokes and chili, there is a rotisserie right behind the bar! It's great, worth all the talk. We have other stops in the night so we promise to return for a taste of the upscale soul food. Kisses and hugs are exchanged and we're walking down the bustling streets of dc, out night is in mid term but many night are just beginning, something I've always like about the city.
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