A new brand of members-only establishments is sweeping DC, and only those in the know have access. Capitol Hill "speakeasy" Harold Black is doing its best to stay true to the spirit of the original speakeasy by relying on word-of-mouth. The place is reservations only but has no website or social media outlet, and its phone number is nowhere to be found--at least, not on the Internet. Instead, keep an eye out for the "hb" branded business cards that the owners are handing out personally to customers--the "secret" number is on the back. Text it to set up your reservations.
Harold Black actually isn't the first bar in the area to try the secret phone number approach. In 2006, when Todd Thrasher opened PX Lounge in Alexandria, he gave the gimmick a go. Nine months and many empty seats later, he scrapped the game and published the number; nowadays, you can even snag a reservation on CityEats. Will Harold Black fare better? It's possible, given the many differences between the Alexandria and DC audiences--not to mention that modern-day speakeasies are all the rage nowadays.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" ] Photo Credit: Scott Henrichson[/caption]
At Dupont's new Russian confection,Mari Vanna, the key to getting in is...an actual key. Owner Tatiana Brunetti explains that the keys are handed out to customers at the staff's discretion and unlock the front door to all six of Mari Vanna's worldwide locations. So who gets the coveted keys? "Regular customers, VIP celebrities, and people who just make a good impression on us. It's a way of showing trust, of welcoming you into the Mari Vanna family." Fitting, since the name references afairy-talegrandmother who invited weary travelers into her home for a meal.
[caption id="attachment_33065" align="alignnone" ] Photo Credit: John Robinson[/caption]
If you don't have a key, you're left standing at the front door to figure out which 2 of its 12 doorbells actually work--the rest are just a design whimsy meant to represent "the many inhabitants of grandma's house." If that idea doesn't appeal, be prepared to put in some effort to earn your key; Tatiana tells us you won't necessarily get it just by asking. The doors will remain unlocked for the next few weeks or so, until Tatiana feels DC is ready for the concept. After that, if you haven't already scored one of the 25,000 keys cut for the DC location (don't worry, they've only given out 150 so far), get ready to ring some doorbells.
Email alia.khan@bisnow.com with tips, story ideas, and secret phone numbers.
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