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January’s historic inauguration marked the beginning of an exciting time in DC, but there are tons of new developments in the city aside from what’s happening on Capitol Hill. Read on for information about some of the District’s newest restaurant and event spaces, hotel updates, and information to help you plan your next event.
WHAT’S NEW ON THE DC RESTAURANT SCENE  DC favorite Zola is upping the ante with Zola Wine & Kitchen (9th & E St. NW; 202-654-2855), a distinctive wine shop and chef’s test kitchen. While wine shopping, vino enthusiasts can see new recipes in the making or sign up for a weekly cooking class taught by Executive Chef Bryan Moscatello and his culinary team. With more than 400 varieties of wine, Zola Wine & Kitchen also holds special event space for up to 25 guests, or 40 for a standing reception.
Star Restaurant Group recently announced an early March 2009 anticipated opening for a new 10,000 square-foot restaurant named Potenza (15th St. and H. St. NW) in the landmark Woodward Building. Potenza will serve a wide range of Italian fare and the upcoming menu concept is currently being developed by Star Restaurant Group’s Executive Chef/Partner Bryan Moscatello in the company’s new showcase test kitchen, Zola Wine & Kitchen. Guests can anticipate dishes such as Tuscan bean soup with proscuitto, tomato oil and purple basil; and entrees such as a rotisserie of guinea hen with apples, chestnuts, figs and Ciabatta croutons. Serving both lunch and dinner, the 175-seat restaurant will also offer private party dining options.
The Four Seasons Hotel Washington DC recently welcomed internationally acclaimed chef Michael Mina to the helm of a new culinary venture, BOURBON STEAK (2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; 202-342-0444). The restaurant, with locations in Detroit, Miami and Scottsdale, offers beef that is slow-poached in clarified butter and herbs before it's grilled over a wood fire. Heading up the kitchen is newly appointed Executive Chef David Varley, a veteran of the restaurant scene whose culinary talents have been displayed at such establishments as Trump International Hotel and Tower in Las Vegas and Caesar's palace hotel and Casino. The 144-seat restaurant offers a private dining room for up to 28 guests, and can accommodate up to 42 for a cocktail standing reception.
Sei, a hot new sushi spot and sister restaurant to DC’s Oya, recently opened up in Penn Quarter (444 7th St. NW; 202-783-7007). Aside from the cool décor, guests can enjoy an assortment of creative Japanese fare and sushi dishes, small plates, and a lengthy sake list. The lounge area, which accommodates 15-20 people, is available for private events.
Chef-restaurateur Todd English’s newest venture, Cha (1155 14th St. NW; hotel phone, 202-737-1200), opened in Thomas Circle’s Donovan House on Feb. 2. The restaurant, which takes its name from the Chinese word for tea, will serve an impressive array of artisan loose leaf teas and tea-infused cocktails, as well as a sushi bar.
Brightwood Bistro (5832 Georgia Ave. NW; 202-545-5014) adds to DC’s neighborhood food scene. Located in northwest DC, the bistro is the joint venture of five friends who grew up in the Brightwood neighborhood, north of the Capitol. Food is reasonably-priced and the menu includes contemporary American items like shredded beef wraps and fried bone fish. Brightwood Bistro offers private event rentals with space for up to 200 people, and pre-set menus are available.
HOTEL UPDATES
 Hilton Washington (1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-328-2080) owners have begun a top-to-bottom restoration project of their landmark hotel on Connecticut Avenue that will affect all 13 floors of the hotel. The scope of work includes exhibition space and modifications to the hotel’s existing function areas and meeting rooms. Designs are being completed for a fresh take on the main entrance, renovated health club facility, public spaces and lobby, complete with new restaurants and a large Starbucks.
The Doubletree Hotel, Washington D.C. (1515 Rhode Island Ave. NW, 202-232-7000) has undergone a $6 million renovation to provide an entirely updated look for its lobby and lounge, as well as a complete revamping of each guest bedroom. Meeting space is now available on both the first and second floor, and the hotel can accommodate events in these rooms from 10 to 150 people.
The historic Hotel Washington is currently undergoing a complete overhaul. The hotel is scheduled to re-open in August 2009 as the W Hotel Washington, D.C. (15th St. & Pennsylvania Ave.) featuring 317 guest rooms including 32 suites, a spectacular rooftop bar and terrace, as well as more than 13,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space.
The Jefferson Hotel (1200 16th St. NW, 202-448-2300) is in the midst of a full-scale renovation, slated for completion in summer 2009. After its renovation, the hotel will feature 99 luxury guest rooms, a lounge and bar area, an upscale dining venue, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a private spa for guests. Modern meeting spaces have also been included in the overhaul. When complete, the hotel will boast three total meeting rooms, one of which is a formal board room for 18. The other two meeting rooms can hold up to 50 people. The Four Seasons Washington, D.C., (2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 202-342-0444) the District's only five-star property, recently revealed the results of a $40 million renovation. The hotel's West Wing has been entirely redesigned and 11 new rooms have been added, as well as the hotel's sixth and largest Royal Suite. The suite features bullet-resistant windows, a security camera system, and its own street entrance. At 4,000 square feet, it's the largest suite in Washington. In addition, the lobby has been transformed by French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon and Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak restaurant recently opened on the scene as well.
 The new Dupont Hotel (1500 New Hampshire Avenue; 202-483-6000) will open March 2009. The hotel is a member of The Doyle Collection, an international hotelier currently operating 11 properties in six international cities. The Dupont Hotel has 327 rooms, including 7 Luxury Suites and a Presidential Suite. The hotel will offer 8,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and will feature a stunning bar and French-infused restaurant.
CONVENTION CENTER ANNOUNCES RETROFIT
It’s out with the old and in with the new for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center this year. The center, which hosted six of this year's ten inaugural balls, will undergo a retrofit creating an additional 40,000 square feet of meeting space beginning in spring 2009. The retrofit includes the relocation and conversion of staff offices into meeting space and the installation of Skyfold walls in East and West Registration and Hall C.
 The new flexible spaces created through the retrofit will integrate seamlessly with the Center’s existing design and finishes, and will also increase the Convention Center’s product offering, creating highly flexible space that can be used for meetings, exhibits or banquets, all steps from the Grand Lobby. Currently, the Center boasts 150,000 square feet of meeting space, 703,000 square feet of exhibition space and 52,000 square feet of ballroom space.
The Washington Convention Center Authority (WCCA) awarded the contract to the Columbia | Forrester Joint Venture, a Certified Business Enterprise that includes Washington-based Columbia Enterprises and Forrester Construction Co. of Rockville, Md. Columbia | Forrester will perform the construction in stages to ensure there is no impact on scheduled meetings.
CONVENTION CENTER OUTLOOK
FEBRUARY 18-19
International Council of Shopping Centers
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Peak Rooms: 700, Attendance: 1,000
FEBRUARY 22-26
Credit Union National Association
Governmental Affairs Conference
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Peak Rooms: 2,400, Attendance: 4,000
MARCH 14-16
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Peak Rooms: 3200, Attendance: 12,000
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY NEWS
Hilton Hotels Corp. recently announced that it will move its headquarters from Beverly Hills, Calif., to the D.C. area. Hilton Hotels, which operates 3,200 hotels under eight brands, is scouting locations in Maryland and Virginia. According to Lisa Cole, a Hilton spokeswoman, the DC area was chosen because of its strong hospitality talent pool, cheaper cost of living compared to Beverly Hills and geographic location. The move is part of Hilton’s corporate reorganization and will likely occur in the third quarter of 2009.
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