CIRCA Blog: And then there were THREE!

July 22, 2011

Friends, welcome to the “And then there were three!” edition of the CIRCA blog.

It would be silly to open this week’s offering with anything other than the opening of CIRCA at Foggy Bottom.

On Tuesday, July 19, we opened for business.

Needless to say, we in the CIRCA family are thrilled by our new addition.

CIRCA at Foggy Bottom - Washington, DC - Outdoor Patio

Despite the hot weather, the patio was full!

(One quick reminder: They open every day at 4pm, for now….)

The “Grand Opening” was a huge success, and we invite everyone to come over to check out the new place.

We are proud to be part of the Foggy Bottom community and hope to be for many years.

CIRCA at Foggy Bottom - Washington, DC - CIRCA

Bar Scene at CIRCA at Foggy Bottom, Washington DC

On to the more mundane….

Diva back on the market.

America is still coming to terms with the news that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are divorcing.

(Call me a romantic, but I thought they would last forever.)

Good thinking Marc. She is “hot” again, on nine different levels, and nobody in this country can think of one song you have ever sung in English.

Ground Control to Major Tom.

The Space Shuttle Atlantis landed Thursday, officially ending the program.

(The craft that made space travel “commonplace” is now set to become an expensive museum exhibit, or a really ugly lawn ornament.)

Millionaires v. Billionaires.

The NFL “lockout” appears to be about over.

(It’s nice that mature men can agree on how to divide $9.4 BILLION!)

So don’t worry, the Redskins will be overpaying for free-agents of dubious talent any day now!

Is “Snakes on a Plane” on DVD?

Is anyone else as confused as I am about the trailers for the movie “Cowboys and Aliens”?

(Really? How did they con James Bond and Indiana Jones into this mess?)

Is Hope Solo single?

The US Woman’s World Cup Soccer team lost a heart-breaker of a final to Japan the other day.

Thank you to all who came to CIRCA to watch the game.

The place was packed, but you could have heard a pin drop when they were taking those penalty kicks.

Buddy, can you spare a trillion?

The Debt Ceiling debate continues.

It is sad to think that Uncle Sam would go to buy a car and need England as a co-signer.

(As long as we don’t ask Greece…..)

My friends, the wait is over.

We now live in a world with three CIRCAS.

The weather may be hot, but all the CIRCA patios are covered and, I promise, the Mojitos are very, very cold.

CIRCA at Dupont, CIRCA at Clarendon, CIRCA at Foggy Bottom.

Take your pick.

Have a favorite.

(Dupont, right?)

One thing, though.

Do not think for one moment that we are done yet!

{ 0 comments }

CIRCA Blog: Foggy Bottom, What? – July 12, 2011

July 12, 2011

Friends, welcome to the “Fireworks just aren’t quite the same on television.” edition of the CIRCA blog.

First: A “thank you” to all who came to CIRCA over the Fourth of July Weekend. It was a great time!

We obsess so much about cookouts and sparklers that we forget the people who protect our freedoms every day.

Let us not forget those to whom we all owe a great debt.

Thank you to everyone who toils in the defense of our country. To you and your families, your service is well and truly appreciated.

Congratulations to the New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter for achieving the baseball milestone of collecting his 3000th hit. This has only been accomplished 27 times in baseball history, and, never by a Yankee.

Almost more impressive is the fact that he managed to accomplish this while dating Mariah Carey, at least one Miss Universe, Jordana Brewster, Vanessa Minillo, Jessica Biel and Minka Kelly.

(Not all at the same time, of course…………………………probably.)

Groupon, the e-commerce behemoth, is said to be preparing for a $25 billion IPO in 2011.

Twenty-five BILLION!

Luckily, I’m sure we’ll all be able to buy $1000 worth of stock for $500.

Two of America’s four major team sports are now in the midst of labor strife.

Team owners from both the NFL and NBA have “locked out” their players.

(Frankly, the way the ‘Skins and Wizards have played the last few years, I’m not as upset as I probably should be.)

Fret not.

There is always CIRCA.

The weather may be hot, but the cocktails at CIRCA are cool.

Thank you to the DC City Paper for offering up a little CIRCA “love” in its’ “Young and Hungry” blog.

The CIRCA Foggy Bottom Cocktail was featured prominently and deliciously.

We always knew it was good.

The opening of CIRCA at Foggy Bottom is nearly here.

You have been very patient and we appreciate it.

(Did we mention that there is an outdoor bar on the patio?)

We will announce the official opening in this week’s CIRCA blog.

(Finally!!!!)

CIRCA At Dupont, CIRCA at Clarendon, and before you know it, CIRCA at Foggy Bottom.

Summer 2011 promises to be BIG!

{ 0 comments }

Happy Birthday, America!

July 1, 2011

Welcome to the “It’s tough to walk back over a burnt bridge.” edition of the CIRCA blog.

Fourth of July Weekend.

Well kids, we made it.

For those of you who mark this as the true beginning of Summer, rejoice.

America celebrates her 235th birthday (Seriously, you don’t look a day over 175.) and we get a three- day weekend.

(Some of us, anyway.)

It is time to switch into “holiday weekend” mode.

First, think of a creative excuse to get out of work early: Ferris wheel accident, Chinese organ thieves, 48 hour plague, try to be creative.

(Note to CIRCA staff: Disregard the previous sentence. Don’t even think about it.)

After that, it’s easy: Call the crew, shrug off the “monkey suit” you wear to work every day, and RELAX.

The CIRCA patios will be jumping and we can’t wait to see you.

Pre-fireworks, post-fireworks, we are here.

CIRCA at Dupont and CIRCA at Clarendon will both be doing Brunch on Monday the 4th, so please come by.

(Seriously, how good does it feel to down a couple Bloody Marys’ on a MONDAY morning!)

Wear a little red, white and blue. This is the weekend you can get away with it without looking like a member of the Washington Capitals. (Still a little miffed about the early playoff exit.)

The new CIRCA Caesar Salad.

Recently, CIRCA added three great new salads to our menu: The Watermelon Mozzarella, The Mango Chicken and the Steakhouse Salad. The response has been fantastic. Thank you all for offering your feedback.

Lost in all the hubbub over the new entries was a mention of the upgrade of our CIRCA Caesar Salad.

(A little look “behind the curtain” into CIRCA here.)

We (self-proclaimed) Caesar aficionados have been working to tweak, re-engineer and generally improve this salad for YEARS!

Who are we kidding? We have done more experiments than NASA!

Meetings have been held, votes have been taken, careers have been altered, titles have been lost, (trust me) there may even have been a Power Point presentation, all in the quest to make this salad as good as it can possibly be.

Try the Caesar Salad. We are very proud of it.

Fire Sale.

I have been talking to some of the bar staff, and we are thinking about pooling tip money one night and buying the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Anybody want in?

Folks, let’s enjoy the weekend.

It’s our collective national birthday party and we all get to blow out the candles!

Please have a happy and safe fourth!

CIRCA at Dupont, CIRCA at Clarendon, and coming VERY soon, CIRCA at Foggy Bottom.

{ 0 comments }

Sports & Salads!

June 24, 2011

Friends, welcome to the “What is there to do in Venezuela for a whole month?” edition of the CIRCA Blog.

Dominance.

First things first:

Did anyone watch the U.S. Open golf tournament the other day? Did you see what that kid did to that golf course?

Friends, this was the U.S. Open. Now I am no golf expert (though I have seen” Caddyshack” like five times), this is a tournament that is traditionally won with a score a stroke or two under par.

This was not the Greater El Segundo Open.

Rory McIlroy hung a 16 under par! We could be looking at the next “big thing”.

We just have to keep him away from a Kardashian sister.

Big Salads.

On to business:

The new CIRCA salad roster has premiered!

Mango Chicken Salad:

Mesculun salad greens, grilled chicken, mangos, grapes, shredded carrots, cranberries and goat cheese, tossed in an orange-ginger dressing.

Watermelon Mozzarella Salad:

Arugula, fresh mozzarella, crispy prosciutto, pickled red onions and candied almonds tossed in a honey mint dressing.

Steakhouse Salad:

Chopped iceberg lettuce, grilled flat iron steak, bacon, roasted corn and candied walnuts tossed in St. Pete’s Blue Cheese dressing.

Folks, you are going to be impressed.

They are bigger and better than any we have had before.

I take back all the lettuce jokes I made at the kitchen’s expense.

(Most of them, anyway.)

Gratitude.

Thanks to our all-time favorite figure skater Michelle Kwan for the love in The Washington Flyer.

(You never know when the person next to you at the high-top has an Olympic medal.)

Quick thought: Never let a guy buy a baseball team on credit.

Summer.

Nobody had to tell me that the Summer Solstice happened the other day, I just saw a TV commercial for “Transformers 3”. It must be summertime.

(I am happy that they made “Transformers 3”. Here were so many unanswered questions from 1 and 2.)

Human Resources.

How about those Washington Nationals? They are playing great and have laid the groundwork for a great farm system.

They are over .500!

They finally look “Major League”.

What? Their Manager quit? They were paying him less than a part-time barista?

(Just great.)

Never mind.

(Just for that, I’m skipping my trip to the mall this weekend.)

Quick thought 2: Who was supposed to tell me that Wimbledon was going on?

Bricks and Mortar.

Our weekly CIRCA construction update:

Folks, take a walk down by 22nd and I streets and take a look for yourself.

We are almost there.

Keep the faith.

Trust me. We want CIRCA at Foggy Bottom to open more than anyone!

Until that day, we have two other CIRCAS waiting to take care of you: CIRCA at Dupont and CIRCA at Clarendon.

{ 0 comments }

Happy Friday!

June 10, 2011

Welcome to the “Re-read it one more time before you press the ‘send’ button.” edition of the CIRCA blog.

Thank you to everyone who attended the on-site CIRCA at Foggy Bottom hiring event over the weekend.

It was a big success. We got to meet a lot of great people, some of whom are destined to be the next generation of CIRCA staff.

The search is not over, though. You can still submit an application to jobs@mhggroup.com, or fill one out in person at CIRCA at Dupont or CIRCA at Clarendon.

Weird note of the week: Did anyone notice that Dr. Kevorkian died? Of natural causes? Un-attached to any home-made machinery?

(Insert your own joke of questionable taste here.)

The Belmont Stakes is this weekend!

The last race of the Triple Crown, and frankly, the last horse race any of us will watch until next year’s Kentucky Derby.

(It’s amazing, really. Seventy-five years ago the biggest sports in America, by far, were boxing and horse racing. Today, not so much.)

On to sports we do watch:

Both the NBA and NHL finals have been fantastic! We have got a game almost every night and they have been incredibly exciting.

(Frankly, you need to come in to watch the hockey finals, because they are being shown on a cable network received by only 259 American homes. I exaggerate, but not that much.)

So, Ann Curry is taking over for Meredith Viera on the Today Show now?

Really? There wasn’t anyone else?

Katie Couric is unemployed again, right?

I am sure somebody at NBC still has her cell number.

Just seems like bad staff work to me.

Folks, we at the CIRCA Blog staff (that would be just me, but I am thinking of incorporating) have a problem: How do we make the requisite Congressman Weiner joke this week?

How do you make the joke in the blog of a restaurant?

When we don’t even have hot dogs on the menu!

(Pa-pow!)

Seriously, was that not the most painful news conference you have ever seen?

Keeping in touch with your constituents is one thing……..

CIRCA at Dupont, CIRCA at Clarendon, coming soon: CIRCA at Foggy Bottom.

You should be there.

{ 0 comments }

Summer!

June 3, 2011

Friends.

Welcome to the “Does this bathing suit make my butt look big?” edition of the CIRCA Blog.

The calendar may not officially recognize it, but Mother Nature has certainly supplied a dose of Summer Weather.

Yikes.

The D.C. humidity “festival” has started early!

Hey, we’ll take it, right?

Along with the weather we get farmers markets, street festivals and music in the park.

There is plenty to do in the D.C. area in the Summertime.

Soccer.

Thanks to everyone who turned out for the Manchester United v. Barcelona European final the other day.

It was a great game and a lot of fun.

The Catalan giants truly showed why they are the best team in the world right now.

(You had to feel sorry for that one poor schmuck wearing the Manchester United jersey in a room full of rabid Barcelona fans.)

Help Wanted.

Folks, the day is here.

We are now officially hiring for our CIRCA at Foggy Bottom location!

On-site hiring begins Thursday, June 2nd, and runs thru Tuesday, June 7th

We will interview 1-8pm, on Thursday and Friday, 11-4 on Saturday and Sunday, and finally 1-8 again on Monday and Tuesday.

The address: 2221 I St. NW, Suite 300. Washington D.C. 20037.

Bring your resume, bring a smile. Be prepared to sit down and interview.

We are looking for the next great group of people to staff the next great CIRCA!

CIRCA at Foggy Bottom


Gold Watch.

Shaquille O’Neal is retiring.

I don’t mention this for any particular reason other than you have to wonder what a guy who loves the “limelight” that much, does now?

Reality TV?

Kim Kardashian already got engaged (god, I hate myself for knowing that), so what else is there?

(CIRCA is hiring. Yeah, right.)

This brings me to Sarah Palin and her “Hey, look at me!” Bus tour of East Coast historical sights.

(Bring some sunblock, it’s going to be hot in Gettysburg this Summer!)

She has yet to announce an official run for the White House in 2012.

(Friends, those of us who live on the fringes of the “blogisphere”, as it has come to be known, want her to run so much we can taste it. She will provide more material.)

{ 0 comments }

Memorial Day Weekend!

May 29, 2011

Welcome back.

It appears we avoided the “End of the World”.

(Does anyone else find it ironic that the Apocalypse and the end of Oprah Winfrey’s talk show were scheduled to happen at about the same time?)

That minister in North Carolina who was espousing the May “Doomsday” scenario has “re-calculated”, and the new date for Armageddon is October 21st.

(Apparently he forgot to carry the 1.)

I am officially bored of this subject.

On to happier thoughts:

Welcome to Memorial Day weekend!

We made it.

Wool and fleece are out. Linen and cotton are in.

CIRCA at Dupont and CIRCA at Clarendon will both be open for brunch on Memorial Day!

(This is in addition to our traditional Saturday and Sunday Brunch, of course.)

Please come by.

Man (or woman) cannot live by barbecued hot dogs alone!

It is a big day for all soccer (football) lovers on Saturday.

The UEFA Champions League Final, from Wembley Stadium in London: Manchester United versus FC Barcelona.

Two of the true heavyweights of European soccer play for all the marbles.

Come watch the game in all of it’s wide-screen glory.

(Soccer chants encouraged, vuvuzelas prohibited.)

CIRCA blog projection: 2-1, Manchester United with the upset, on a late goal by Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez.

Pick a CIRCA. Wear your jerseys. It should be a blast!

(Be forewarned: The Circa at Dupont Saturday manager is a rabid Manchester United fan. A loss by the “Red Devils” could have a dramatic effect on the quality of service and the general mood of the staff.)

(I jest, of course.)

Folks, Summer is here.

This is the time we were dreaming about in February

It is time to expose our pale skin to elements again.

It is time to eat hummus and drink sangria outdoors.

It is time to visit CIRCA!

{ 0 comments }

CIRCA at Foggy Bottom: Coming Soon! – May 12, 2011

May 16, 2011

We haven’t talked about CIRCA at Foggy Bottom in a little while, so let’s do that first.

I don’t know if any of you have been down to 23rd and “I” Streets lately, but the new place is really taking shape.

Did you happen to see the size of that patio?

Picture yourself sitting on that patio, sunglasses on, CIRCA Signature Cocktail in hand, waving to someone you know as they stroll by.

Watermelon Cooler
Cruzan Guava rum, fresh watermelon
and fresh lime

Orange Crush
Freshly squeezed oranges, Svedka vodka and a splash of homemade turbinado simple syrup

Sounds pretty nice.

Well, my friends, that little moment of Nirvana is about to become reality.

All things being equal, we are hoping to open next month.

That’s right: June 2011.

Let’s not forget though, that you need not wait until next month to have your CIRCA patio “moment”.

It can happen today, at CIRCA at Dupont or CIRCA at Clarendon.

Your patio awaits.

On a completely different subject: Has anybody noticed that the Washington Nationals are playing .500 baseball?

(Heck, the Red Sox have a losing record.)

This town is starving for a winner. Maybe the Nats are it.

I will say that the NBA and NHL playoffs have been phenomenal this year.

Every night, a great game.

Do I even need to suggest a great place to watch all the games?

Gift Ideas.

Friends, as we enter graduation “season” we face the daunting task of selecting a gift for our favorite grad.

I present, as a public service, the CIRCA Gift Card!

Available in designer colors!

(That is actually completely false. It is available in an attractive wood-grain motif, adorned with the brilliant red CIRCA logo.)

Available in all denominations!

(That is completely true. The card can be purchased for any value.)

Redeemable at all CIRCA locations!

(Again, true. The card may be used at CIRCA at Dupont, CIRCA at Clarendon, and very soon, CIRCA at Foggy Bottom.)

What better way to welcome a recent grad to a world of crushing student loans and diminished job potential in their chosen field.

(I jest…….kind of.)

The CIRCA Gift Card.

Ask about it.

{ 0 comments }

Spring Events!

May 5, 2011

Welcome to the Mother’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Run for the Roses edition of the CIRCA Blog.

A quick aside:

How about that Royal Wedding?

Boy, they do love their hats, don’t they?

(Does anybody have Pippa Middleton’s cell number?)

I am sure I will get a thank-you note for that fondue set I sent.

Really, there are just a few things the British do better than us, and “spectacle” is one of them.

(The others are: fan violence, period dramas, and building cars with questionable electrical systems.)

Folks, if you haven’t noticed, we have a lot on the schedule this week:

Cinco de Mayo.

Thursday is May 5th, popularly referred to as Cinco de Mayo.

Commonly confused with Mexican Independence Day, it actually commemorates an unlikely victory of the Mexican Army over the French in 1862.

(As if that isn’t a good enough reason for a celebration.)

If we are all Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, then we are all Mexican on May 5th.

Stop by CIRCA at Dupont, or CIRCA at Clarendon and join the celebration.

Mother’s Day.

My friends, if you have not gotten to the Hallmark store yet, go. I’ll wait.

So, now that we have the greeting card taken care of, what else are you going to do for Mom?

May I make a suggestion?

Take her out.

If there was ever a day when Mom should not have to cook for anybody, it’s Mother’s Day.

Your friends at CIRCA could be quite helpful in this plan.

We have many options available to you.

Bring Mom in on Saturday to watch the Kentucky Derby and have a few Mint Juleps.

Come in on Thursday to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

The ever-popular Sunday Brunch will always be there.

You owe Mom a good time here, do it right.

Kentucky Derby.

The first Saturday in May brings us the first race of horseracing’s Triple Crown: The Kentucky Derby.

“The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sport”, “The Run for the Roses”, whichever title you like best, you have to admit that this is one of the big days on the American sports calendar.

Twenty horses in the field this year.

It will look like “The Charge of the Light Brigade.”

(We know how well that turned out.)

TV coverage starts in earnest about 5pm.

Mint Julep consumption starts much earlier.

Did you know that Secretariat still owns the record for fastest time?

New Menu.

The new CIRCA Spring menu has been a big hit at CIRCA at Dupont. Thank you to all who have sampled the new fare and offered feedback.

The new menu launch at CIRCA at Clarendon is still a few days away.

Everybody get rested, we have a big week ahead.

{ 0 comments }

The Spring Menu

May 2, 2011

A quick thank-you to whomever is in charge of the weather these days.

It is getting much better.

(If we could just string a whole WEEKEND of nice weather together, all would be swell.)

Time to consult the Spring checklist:

Baseball season started…..Check.

Taxes paid…..Check.

Easter eggs colored, hunted and made into egg salad…..Check.

Mojitos rediscovered…..Check.

Kentucky Derby horse picked…..Not yet.

New CIRCA Menu enjoyed….Right Now!

Yes, gentle readers, the CIRCA Spring menu is here.

(The fights, the acrimony, the shouting matches over fonts: The Helvetica contingent may never speak to the Comic Sans proponents again. Folks, menu development is no business for the meek.)

Actually, we are rolling out the new Menu in stages. Circa at Dupont has the new menu today, while Circa at Clarendon will have the new menu next week. (The advantages of being the “original” CIRCA.”)

We have made some great additions to an already strong line-up.

We have added Fried Green Tomatoes and Hummus to the Small Plates Menu.

(Yes, it is politically acceptable to like them both.)

Rockfish is back for another season on the Culinary Creations roster.

And, in a truly inspired move, one that will undoubtedly be hailed from all corners of the area, CIRCA Macaroni and Cheese will now appear on the Lunch and Brunch menus!

(Don’t tell me dreams don’t come true.)

The CIRCA Cheese Plate is now available on the Late Night menu, as well as the Brunch, and frankly, whenever you would like to have it.

You will also notice a Grilled Cheese Sandwich added to the Lunch menu.

(With due respect to haute cuisine and fine dining, is there really anything better than a good Grilled Cheese Sandwich? I think not.)

I know what you are thinking now, (It’s a gift.) did we monkey around with the Dessert Menu?

Though I resent the verb “to monkey”, we did make what we feel are “substantial upgrades in taste and presentation” (I do so love the English language).

Strawberry Shortcake and Key Lime Crème Brûlée sound like two great warm-weather desserts to me.

I feel full just describing this menu.

All kidding aside, (really?) we have always attempted to improve upon every previous menu in quality, presentation and value.

Your input has always been invaluable in that regard. Please keep telling us what we are doing right and doing wrong!

Speaking of doing right, (Seriously, I could teach “segue” at the college level) how about the Washington Capitals!

Having quick dispatched the New York Rangers, hockey’s Byzantine seeding system gives us a second round match-up between the Caps and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Again, I know what you are thinking (gift and curse, actually) Tampa has a hockey team?

Gather ‘round casual hockey fans: Yes, Tampa, Miami and Phoenix have professional hockey franchises. Winnipeg and Saskatoon do not. Go figure.

The Caps v. Lightning best-of-seven should be a great series.

Have no doubt that every game will be shown in all it’s high-definition glory at both Circa at Dupont and Circa at Clarendon!

{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries