14th St Cred - shout to a mainstay

As if I don't already spend enough time at Saint Ex, now I'm at home writing about it. I started this blog because, having lived in Georgetown, Van Ness, Eckington, Capitol Hill, and Dupont over my 8+ years in DC, this is the only area really worth writing about. So, why not lead with one of the reasons - Saint Ex is the closest thing I've seen to a neighborhood bar - the staff stays fairly constant and remembers its regulars, it's always inviting, even when nearly empty (which happens less - good for them, bad for us). Barton Seaver, the exec chef, places a refreshing emphasis on quality, healthful, locally grown ingredients (and incidentally, he was named one of DC's hottest chefs).

The downsides? Few, but worth noting. The place changes character when the restaurant stops serving and gives over to the bar scene. The patrons get pushy and annoying and more pretentious, and are more likely to write for or try to be photographed in one of those stupid DC Style magazines. So the staff, who are laid back but great at their jobs, close ranks and it becomes an "us against them" mentality. It's to the point where I won't go on weekend nights unless we're on our way home but don't feel like parting company just yet, and then we'll head straight downstairs (if you can get past the line) for the fun silly music.

The WaPo published an article about the changing nature of 14th St a few months back, I can't find it. Saint Ex was featured prominently, and while I thought it was slightly ungracious that they complained at length about the non-local - read: Northern Virginia - clientele invasion, the article nailed what's going on in this hood right on the head. Gone is the crappy liquor store on the opposite corner and the church that used to wake me up every Sunday; in comes more condos and out goes the parking. Very interesting, though, to see it all unfolding and wonder what the heck it's going to look like in even 3 years.