Financial
Lesbian restaurant owner wins fight to expand outdoor patio
Liquor board decision considered rebuke to nightlife opponents
Hank’s Oyster Bar (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
The D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Board released a decision on Thursday allowing lesbian chef Jamie Leeds to expand the outdoor seating and operating hours of her popular Dupont Circle area restaurant Hank’s Oyster Bar.
The board’s decision appears to have ended a two-year dispute in which a group of six neighborhood activists sought to block the restaurant’s application to expand its outdoor patio to accommodate 20 additional customers, an increase from 20 to 40.
“It feels like such a relief,” Leeds told the Washington City Paper. “We’re thankful that it’s over and that we can move on.”
Hank’s bills itself as a neighborhood restaurant rather than a gay bar, and Leeds and her supporters have said opponents did not appear to be targeting the establishment because it’s gay owned.
But D.C. nightlife advocates, both gay and straight, said Leeds emerged as one of the first neighborhood businesses with a liquor license to rally public support behind her challenge to a longstanding city policy that allows just five citizens to protest a liquor license and impose a “voluntary agreement” to restrict the hours of operation and prohibit the lateral expansion of a bar or restaurant.
At the time Hank’s first applied for the expanded patio space in 2010 a group of six citizens, one of whom didn’t live in the immediate neighborhood, invoked their legal right to protest the proposal. The “Gang of Six,” as nightlife advocates called them, acknowledged that no problems had been reported with Hank’s during its five years in business. But they said the termination of a voluntary agreement would set a harmful precedent for future businesses that did cause problems in the neighborhood. The six citizens argued that as a matter of principle, they would oppose ending all voluntary agreements, including the one signed by Hank’s five years earlier.
The dispute received widespread media attention in June of this year when one of the citizens opposed to Hank’s patio expansion reportedly called the liquor board to report that Hank’s was planning to use the additional patio space on the day of the city’s Capital Pride Parade, which passes next the restaurant on 17th Street.
City inspectors responded on the night before the parade by ordering Hank’s shut down the expanded patio space, citing a court order obtained by the opponents several weeks earlier.
“The ongoing harassment by this small band of residents is astonishing and the timing of this individual’s complaint before the annual celebration is despicable,” Leeds wrote in an open letter to the community.
Leeds called for the repeal of the law that allows as few as five citizens to contest liquor license applications.
She said that at the time she first opened Hank’s Oyster Bar in 2005 at 1624 Q Street, N.W., in the heart of the 17th Street business and restaurant district, she was pressured by some of the same nearby residents into signing the voluntary agreement. Among other things, the agreement prevented Hank’s from laterally expanding its seating and occupancy. The agreement also required that the restaurant close both its indoor and outdoor space at midnight.
Leeds said that had she resisted signing the agreement the neighborhood activists pushing it threatened to continue their legal protest against her license application, forcing her to spend large sums in legal fees and delaying for months if not more than a year her ability to open for business.
Five years later, when Leeds learned that an adjacent restaurant was closing, she applied to the ABC Board to have her voluntary agreement terminated to enable her to expand into the adjacent space, which would allow for more outdoor seating. She noted that in her five years of operating Hank’s she had yet to encounter any complaints or problems with nearby residents.
Most neighborhood residents supported the expansion request, saying the popular restaurant was often full, requiring loyal customers to wait as long as an hour to be seated, according to gay activist and nearby resident Peter Rosenstein.
The Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission quickly approved Leeds’ request and forwarded its decision to the ABC Board, which has authority to make the final decision on liquor related matters.
The board approved the request, saying that various changes, including a change in zoning regulations for 17th Street and the elimination of a moratorium on new liquor licenses, met the legal requirements for voiding a voluntary agreement.
Earlier this year, the six citizens that initiated the 2005 voluntary agreement and who opposed Hank’s 2010 application for the expansion appealed the board’s decision before the D.C. Court of Appeals.
The appeals court overturned the board’s decision and remanded the case back to the board, requiring that the board review issues the court said it had not reviewed thoroughly enough when it issued its decision granting the request to end the voluntary agreement.
Michael Hibey, the attorney representing the six residents opposed to eliminating the agreement, couldn’t’ immediately be reached for comment and to determine whether the residents plan to appeal the board’s latest decision in favor of Hank’s.
Andrew Kline, who has represented Hank’s as an administrative counsel, said the difficulties Leeds encountered in applying for a modest expansion of what he called a well-run, problem-free restaurant has drawn attention to the need for regulatory changes in the city’s liquor licensing procedures.
“This situation with Hank’s has highlighted the abuses in this process and caused people to come forward and say we have had enough of this,” Kline said.
One of the biggest headaches of the new home process is the actual moving part. By the time someone is buying a home, most people are beyond the “I just need a pickup truck, a pizza and a case of beer for my friends.”
If that is still someone’s preferred way to move, that’s great. However, many people find they need a much more robust plan. It can also trigger a lot of feelings about items one owns, what to do with them, do they have too much, should I keep this memento that I never use? Etc.
Moving is a chance for a person to “clean house” literally, figuratively, spiritually and energetically. A person can figure out which items they want to keep, and which need to go. As someone who recently moved across the country, I can speak to this experience. It’s also time for what people call “the fresh start effect.” This phenomenon, according to psychologists, can happen in little moments (like the start of a new work week) and bigger moments (such as moving from one home to the next).
The fresh start effect offers these benefits often mentioned by psychologists:
- Mental Accounting: Dates act as chapter breaks, letting you put past failures into a previous period.
- Psychological Distance: You separate your flawed past self from your aspirational future self (“That was the old me”).
- Optimism Boost: New beginnings clear mental clutter and increase your sense of agency and control
Does this mean that “the new you” will be the perfect version you envisioned? Probably not. We are humans. But it might mean you get a chance to “leave some of the old you behind” within the walls you used to live in, and now have a chance to have a new layout, a new décor, a new color pattern, new wallpaper, donate old furniture and books or magazines, throw out clothes you no longer use or fit in, and enjoy the opportunity to literally use the, “Does this spark joy?” method that was made so popular by Marie Kondo in her Netflix series.
So, for all its hassle and headache, moving is a chance to shake off the “old you” and try on the new you, to incorporate the items you would like to keep and use more of, and shed the items, habits, and ways of thinking that you feel no longer serve you.
I can speak to the experiences that several of my clients had when they moved from a previous residence to a newer one. It usually coincided with a change in relationship status, a change in employment, a change in family size, but sometimes it just seemed to correlate to a new attitude and perspective that the client was really hoping for.
I have literally had clients come to me after the fact, in tears, that they were so happy they made the decision to move out of a situation that no longer served them, and move into one that felt like a much better fit.
Change can be annoying and overwhelming at times, but usually most people come out the other side, not wanting to return to the way they were before.
Joseph Hudson is a referral agent with RLAH. Reach him at 703-587-0597 or [email protected].
Real Estate
With gas prices soaring again, a staycation is a good plan
Home can be your personal retreat and your own private resort
When airfare costs more than your monthly utility bill and a weekend road trip requires a second mortgage just to fill the gas tank, many homeowners are discovering an unexpected luxury: the staycation.
A staycation isn’t settling for less—it’s reaping the benefits of one of the biggest investments you can make: your home. Much more than a place to sleep, it’s your personal retreat, your gathering place and, with a little preparation, your very own private resort.
Whether you own a single-family home, a townhouse, or a condo, creating a memorable staycation starts with appreciating what made you fall in love with your property in the first place.
Start with a home refresh. Think about checking into a beautiful vacation rental. It’s spotless, organized, and inviting. You can recreate that same feeling by spending a day preparing your home before your staycation officially begins.
Clear away clutter, deep clean the bathrooms and kitchen, wash the windows, and put fresh linens on every bed – even if you’re not expecting guests. Fluff the pillows, light a favorite candle, and place fresh flowers on the table. These small touches instantly make your home feel more luxurious.
If your budget allows, hiring a professional cleaning service can be one of the best staycation perquisites you make. After all, vacation should begin the moment you wake up and not after you’ve spent the day scrubbing floors.
Treat your staycation like a real trip. Set away messages on your phone and out of office notices on your email. Skip unnecessary chores for a few days. Giving yourself permission to relax may be the most valuable part of the entire experience.
One of the greatest advantages homeowners have over travelers is private outdoor living space. Whether it’s a spacious backyard, a screened porch, a rooftop terrace, or a cozy condo balcony, these areas can become the centerpiece of your staycation.
Stringing lights and adding comfortable seating, colorful planters, and outdoor rugs can completely transform the atmosphere without spending thousands of dollars. Add a portable fire pit, a tabletop fountain, or a hammock, and suddenly your backyard starts competing with many resorts.
Host an evening cookout, organize a game night, invite neighbors over for dessert, or gather around the fire pit for conversation after sunset. These simple moments often become the memories we treasure most.
Inside, transform your family room into a home theater complete with popcorn and comfortable blankets. Turn your breakfast room into a morning coffee café. Designate a quiet reading corner where phones are prohibited. Create a spa-like bathroom with plush towels, candles, bath salts, and relaxing music.
One of the highlights of traveling is experiencing new food. Instead of dining out every night, create themed dinners inspired by your favorite destinations. Prepare homemade Italian pasta one evening, Caribbean grilled seafood another, or a backyard Texas barbecue over the weekend. For a touch of whimsy, dress the part.
Pair each meal with music and libations from the region and enjoy dinner outdoors whenever possible. Suddenly, your dining room becomes part of the vacation experience instead of just another place to eat.
Families with children can turn a staycation into an adventure by seeing their home through a child’s eyes. Set up a backyard camping experience with a tent, flashlights, and s’mores around the fire pit. Transform the living room into an indoor campground complete with sleeping bags and a movie under a blanket “fort.” Organize a backyard Olympics with relay races, water balloon tosses, scavenger hunts, or miniature golf using household items.
Encourage children to plan a family picnic in the backyard or on the patio, choose a theme for a movie marathon, or help prepare meals inspired by countries they’d like to visit someday. The goal is to create experiences your children will remember long after summer is over.
Enjoy the amenities you already pay for. Condominium communities and many planned neighborhoods offer amenities that residents often overlook.
Swimming pools, fitness centers, tennis and pickleball courts, walking trails, clubhouses, grilling stations, and community gardens are designed to enhance your lifestyle. During your staycation, make a point of exploring everything your community offers. You may discover you’ve been living beside your own private resort all along.
Real estate professionals often talk about resale value, appreciation, and return on investment. While those things certainly matter, there’s another return that’s harder to measure: the enjoyment you get from living in your home every day.
You don’t need a boarding pass to recharge. You don’t need a hotel reservation to make memories. Sometimes the perfect getaway is the one you already own.
Valerie M. Blake is a licensed Associate Broker in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with RLAH @properties. Call or text her at 202-246-8602, email her at [email protected] or follow her on Facebook at TheRealst8ofAffairs.
Real Estate
When buying a home, it’s decisions, decisions, decisions
Keeping notes on the process makes for an informed purchase
When looking to buy a home, there are lots of details to consider. Many of my clients would come to me and say, “Joe I want to buy a place, but I haven’t decided which neighborhood to buy in.” And the struggle was real. A few clients had everything decided from the color of the hallway walls to the cabinet handles and sometimes which three square blocks they wanted to look at.
But other clients were occasionally looking at properties in areas as distinct as Union Market/NOMA, Brookland, Logan Circle, and then we would even go across the river to look at a property in Shirlington or the Van Dorn areas of Virginia, which all have their own unique flavor and characteristics.
Sometimes clients would tell me, “I only want to look in Mount Pleasant or Adams Morgan.” Or, “don’t even show me any properties west of this street or south of that street.” My job wasn’t to convince people where to live. It was to just take the parameters they set for me and find as good of a property in that zone as I could, coordinate the showings and, if necessary, offer the strategy.
One can see that buyers often had more decisions to make than a seller. From a seller’s perspective, the house was where it was, and we just had to make the best of it. But working with a buyer could mean looking at five different neighborhoods, and then being a “thought partner” to help them figure out which were the top two or three areas they had seen, and then further distilling those down into what was available and weighing those options against each other.
One house could have the dream bathroom but also be located six blocks further from a Metro stop, walkable shopping and dining, and “just too far away from my friends.” Another house could have all the neighborhood options a client was looking for, but was just not in turnkey condition, and would require an additional $30,000 of upgrades once purchased to make it into the dream home they envisioned.
One activity I often asked buyers to do was to keep an active list in their heads of the properties they liked, and to keep a running rank of the top three. I often encouraged them to bring a notebook along on the journey where they could take notes and write down questions they thought of as they looked. It was an important decision, and sometimes the largest purchase of their lives. Why not take it a little seriously, and take notes? This could often help the buyer later when they felt it was time to decide.
The point here is, keeping a notebook handy can sometimes help a person with what feels like an overwhelming process. It provides a space to explore how one feels, jot down important details to remember, and then use that to make an informed decision.
Joseph Hudson is a referral agent with RLAH. Reach him at 703-587-0597 or [email protected].
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