NEW
There are no books at this Library. Brought to you by Gaynor Jablonski of the Ugly Mug is the new Catholic University friendly bar called the Library. Replacing Cardinal’s Club, this neighborhood bar serves nice American pub fare (similar to the Ugly Mug) including the famous mini-burgers. Enjoy the checkered theme of the bar and floors, the eight TVs, the leather couch, the high ceilings, the jukebox and the arcade games such as Golden Tee. The Library serves $5 Busch Light pitchers and $4 Captain Morgan pints all the time and each day they have an additional special. The Library boasts live music and on the weekends they have a DJ.
The Library: 3514 12th St. NE, Washington, DC. 202-832-3945.

Opening in the beginning of April, 18th and Red is a dual restaurant/ bar located on the 18th Street strip where Anzu used to be. 18th and Red will have two floors with the downstairs catering to the restaurant crowd and the upstairs serving as a cool bar/ lounge with a dance floor. The restaurant will dish up American continental cuisine with tasty fish, pasta, chicken, steaks, salads, burgers, wraps, etc. Named after the street it is located on and the Metro’s red line, 18th and Red will have a map décor with three hand-drawn maps from the 1800s serving as the central theme. They will have eight draft beers, a full bar and a nice wine list. Stop by for the food, the drinks, or the DJ who will get you grooving on the weekends.
18th and Red: 2436 18th St. NW, Washington, DC. 202-462-8844. www.18thandred.com

Built where Fasika unfortunately burnt to the ground, Grand Central is a restaurant, bar, club and lounge in one central location. The restaurant will serve traditional American cuisine with a modern twist and will have a late night menu that ends at 1 a.m. There is a main bar area made of oak wood, a dance floor that gives off a club feel and a lounge mezzanine level that looks out at the dance floor. They will have a photo booth, a great sound system with 42 speakers, two 42-inch plasmas and a 32-inch LCD plasma TV. The most impressive thing about Grand Central is the quarter arch ceiling that took 1,000 man hours of hand painting by six painters to complete. It is reflected by a mirror so that the final product looks like a tunnel. With the grand opening on April 6, Grand Central is sure to become your go-to destination.
Grand Central: 2447 18th St, NW, Washington, DC. 202-986-1742. www.grandcentraldc.com

Do you need something to look forward to? The Great American Beer Festival gold medal winner Hook & Ladder Brewing Company is buying Silver Spring’s No. 1 historic fire station. They will be converting it into a full-service restaurant/brew pub that will serve the famous Hook & Ladder beers using their well-known formula of “A Penny for Every Pint” so that a portion of the proceeds go to the local burn foundation. But you’ll have to wait for their opening in Spring of 2008.
Hook & Ladder Brewing Company Headquarters: 2231 Distribution Cir., Silver Spring, MD. 301-565-4522. www.hookandladderbeer.com

Layla’s Lebanese Restaurant is a family-run restaurant in every sense of the phrase. The Chebat family has all of its members working in the restaurant with Mr. Chebat as the manager, Mrs. Chebat as the chef and their two daughters as waitresses. The food is homemade and created fresh upon ordering with their most popular dishes being the Layla’s special mixed grill (made of every type of kabob they make) or the Layla’s sampler platter which features siz of their appetizers. They have a Lebanese wine list, 12 tables for patrons, a dining room with curtains to create privacy, a large window which lights up the room and a mostly red and yellowish gold interior. It is the Chebat family’s first restaurant and with its fresh homemade dishes, it is sure to be a success.
Layla’s Lebanese Restaurant:
907 King St., Alexandria, Va. 703-684-3288. www.laylasrestaurant.com

If you think Clarendon is the place to be now, wait until the Liberty Tavern opens in mid April. Located next door to the Clarendon Ballroom (and now a smart alternative to go to when the lines get long at the Ballroom), Liberty Tavern is a bar and modern American restaurant whose claim to fame is their rustic wood oven fired cuisine brought to you by Chef Liam LaCivita (who won critical acclaim at Centro Italian Grill in Bethesda). While the first floor has restaurant seating, the main attraction is the cherry wood bar that has a generous global wine list, creative cocktails and 10 carefully chosen drafts and bottles. The second level of Liberty Tavern serves more as an intimate dining room with a partially open kitchen and an inviting wine and cheese centerpiece table. The décor is modern yet warm and feels spacious with its soft, muted colors and earth tones. Liberty Tavern will be featuring a separate carry-out entrance on Irving Street where you can take their wood-fired pizzas, paninis, salads, etc. to go. Their late night menu will be sure to become a staple in the Clarendon scene, as will their bar which will become the place to grab a drink.
The Liberty Tavern: 3195 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Va. 703-465-9360. www.thelibertytavern.com

If you can’t get enough of this recent Brazilian Steakhouse trend, then you need to try the new Texas de Brazil Churrascaria that has opened in the Fair Oaks Mall. Their specialties are various cuts of angus beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage that are slow roasted over an open flame, as well as their selection of 300 different wines.
Texas de Brazil Churrascaria: 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, Va. 703-352-4111. www.texasdebraazil.com

NOTABLE

You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg for an amazing wine tasting dinner when you go to the hidden gem of Beacon Bar and Grill. Every Saturday Chef Troy Walker has his informal “Wine Tasters Dinner Series” where you receive a wine pairing with each phenomenal course (appetizer, entrée and dessert) — all for $35. It is titled 3 + 3 = $35 and each course is exquisite and delicious. The menu changes monthly but expect entrees such as Crispy Duck Ravioli, Shrimp Pappardelle, Seared Rockfish, etc. It’s a meal that you will never forget — we promise.
Beacon Bar and Grill: 1615 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, DC. 202-872-1126. www.beaconbarandgrill.com

You’ll recognize the elegant Victorian interior at 219 Restaurant but you won’t recognize the new cuisine. 219 Restaurant has acquired Cam McNair as their new chef, and he means business. Previously at the Commander Palace in New Orleans with the famous Emeril Lagasse, Chef McNair has created a menu that puts a New Orleans twist to favorites such as Jumbo Lump Crab cakes, Filet Mignon, Escargot, Oyster Rockefeller, New Orleans BBQ Shrimp, etc. Come check out this exciting new change. 219 is open for lunch and often has live jazz as well as a DJ on the weekends.
219 Restaurant: 219 King St., Alexandria, Va. 703-549-1141. www.219restaurant.com

You may have noticed that Crystal City Sports Pub has quietly been doing renovations over the last year and a half. All that work will pay off  at the end of April as they unveil a brand new third level with 22-foot ceilings, 150 plus seats, a full bar, 10-foot high definition projector, 24 32 inch crystal high def plasma TVs, six 32-inch liquid crystal plasma TV and two six-foot electronic data walls (where scores, stocks, weather, etc will be shown). This floor will be non-smoking and it will be the ultimate place for technology and business related activities since it has WIFI and presentation capabilities. The floor is handicap accessible withan elevator that reaches it, so all can enjoy.
Crystal City Sports Pub: 529 S. 23rd St., Arlington, Va. 703-521-8215. www.crystalcitysportspub.com

When you think of April, don’t you think of the Easter bunny and brunch? 1789 Restaurant has put the two together by bringing in the Easter bunny for their fabulous Easter Sunday Brunch on April 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy complimentary canapés and candy (straight from the Easter Bunny’s hands). Expect the restaurant to be decorated in a glorious Easter motif, featuring a  la carte dishes such as Eggs Benedict, waffles, steak and eggs, open-faced omelets, halibut, biscuits and gravy, roast chicken, lamb, etc. with prices ranging from $22 to $31 (first and second courses are included in the entrée’s price). There will also be a special Easter dinner, which starts at 5:30 p.m.
1789 Restaurant: 1226 36th Street, NW, Washington, DC. 202-965-1789. www.1789restaurant.com

Le Paradou is now serving a $32 three-course prix fixe lunch Monday through Friday to brighten up your work week. Choose from 12 appetizers (think Lobster Purse, Cannelloni, etc.), 10 entrees (Stuffed Quail, Beef Medallion Roast, Bass, etc) and 4 desserts (Pistachio Crème Brulee, Chocolate Saveur, etc).
Le Paradou: 678 Indiana Ave., NW, Washington, DC. 202-346-6780. www.leparadou.net

NO LONGER

Stella’s Restaurant in Alexandria has closed.

Not a “No Longer” yet but Dr. Dremo’s will soon be closing so that it can be demolished and a retail/ residential buildings can be put up. Expect a closing date between February and April of 2008, so go there while you still can.

Chef Chris Bradley is leaving Ardeo/Bardeo in Cleveland Park to return to New York.