In the six short years since its inception, Barracks Row Main Street has seen a tremendous amount of physical improvement and economic. The numbers say quite a lot: 51 facade restorations; 40 new businesses, including nine outdoor café expansions; 198 new jobs; three new traditional building constructions; a new streetscape, and a self-guided history trail. This represents no less than $19 million in public and private reinvestment in the community. While Capitol Hill residents have been enjoying these changes, Barracks Row is starting to get attention on a national scale. Just last month, Barracks Row Main Street was honored with the 2005 Great American Main Street Award, bequeathed annually by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center. Congratulations to Barracks Row Main Street, its staff and volunteers, and all of its business owners!

If you have not been to Barracks Row lately, you’re missing out on all the fun! Fortunately, you can make up for lost time by joining us for a special restaurant event, the first-ever Barracks Row Dine Around on Saturday, June 11 from 4:30-6:30 PM. With over two dozen restaurants and eateries on Barracks Row, it’s become difficult to try them all – until now! The Dine around is a cross between a “Taste of . . .” festival and a progressive dinner. Twelve participating restaurants will be offering a sample appetizer, entrée, dessert or drink. Customers will go from restaurant to restaurant sampling these signature selections. Tickets will be punched at each location, and the organizers are arranging to have a special offer for patrons who get all twelve spots punched on their tickets.

So, what’s on the menu? Participating restaurants in alphabetical order include: Capitol Hill Tandoor & Grill – curry sampler; Ellington’s on Eighth – entrée; Finn McCool’s – dessert; Las Placitas – pupusas; Marty’s – dessert; Starbuck’s – coffee; Starfish Café – seafood appetizers; Szechuan House – sushi; Tapatinis – drinks; Trattoria Alberto – tbd; World Cuisine – appetizers; Old Siam – appetizer.

Start with a pre-dinner drink before moving on to appetizers and entrees, or be naughty and go straight to dessert. The choice is yours. Either way, this is a great chance to patronize some of your favorite restaurants while introducing yourself to some new ones. Samples at all twelve restaurants can be had for only $40 per person (or about $3.33 per restaurant). All proceeds go to Barracks Row Main Street and will be used to fund its popular annual Fall Festival (to be held in September this year rather than October – stay tuned!). Tickets are sold only in advance at the following locations: Hoopla Traders – 733 8 th Street SE; Chat’s Liquors – 503 8 th Street SE; and Pawticulars – 407 8 th Street SE. Tickets may also be reserved by calling the Barracks Row Main Street office directly at 202-544-3188 or emailing bmcleod@barracksrow.org.

The Dine Around is being held in conjunction with the monthly Barracks Row Second Saturday for June. This free event, held the second Saturday of each month from 6:00 – 10:00 PM, is a perfect time to explore the art galleries and retail shops up and down 8 th Street SE. Between your sushi and martinis, stop into the stores to see new works of art, explore special exhibits and take advantage of Second Saturday sales and promotions. (If you need more incentive, some of the shops and galleries may even supplement your supper with wine and snacks).

So, get a taste of what Barracks Row restaurants have to offer and support the annual Barracks Row Fall Festival. Bring a friend – bring six. Not everyone has a Great American Main Street in their back yards, after all.

Barracks Row Main Street is a nonprofit organization revitalizing 8 th Street SE between Pennsylvania Avenue and M Street in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit our website: . Jeff Davis can be reached at: jeffreycharlesdavis@yahoo.com.