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Saturday, October 11, 2008
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Acuario is a new Latin American restaurant in Columbia Heights' revitalizing 11th Street corridor.
Location:
11th St NW and Park Rd NW
Washington, DC 20010
Information
Phone:
TBD
Hours:
TBD
Review
Editorial Review coming soon...
Comments
Written by New2CH on 2007-09-28 16:22:46NeighborJoe, you are an idiot. If I didn't like latino people, why would I eat at Rinconsito II on a weekly basis, and also commonly frequent Distrito Federal and Pollo Campero? I lived in my place before Acuario opened, I was excited and had high hopes, and I visited there the first week it opened. The facts are these: they are unfriendly to their neighbors and make no efforts to market themselves outside of their regular clientelle, they are a loud bar rather than a restaurant even though they don't have a bar-class liquor license, they create a mess with their garbage in the alley they share with my building, people in my building observed their customers having sex in the rear area of the establishment (hardly a baseless allegation) prior to them building an illegal roof over that area, topped by a hideous barbed wire fence which makes it feel as if we are living in Iraq, all without consultation with the neighbors, the owners are hostile and/or non-responsive to anyone who tries to engage them in dialogue about their business, and they constantly (and illegally) serve liquor to already-drunk patrons, who them create a public nuisance / menace by urinating outside my building. Those are all facts. I think it is reasonable to speculate that something strange is going in light of all these factors, added to the blank-tinted windows and the very strange atmosphere of young men patrons and scantily clad women servers, some of whom make out in public with the male patrons. It is you who are making unfounded allegations of racism. I have no problem with latino people, but I do have a problem with any business that creates serious, real, proven problems for its neighbors. There are numerous responsible latin-run businesses all around the area, why should Acuario be any different?
Written by Bill on 2007-09-28 17:45:53OK, I’ll retract the Latino part of “whore house”, but the rest is very true and honest and NOTHING to do with racism. I also frequent the same establishments mentioned by New2dc.
The facts are there was no public meeting held, (a government folk up) which we are trying to correct now. I did live here and welcomed them as an addition to the neighborhood, but the owner’s disregard for the city laws, the neighborhood in which they do business, knowledge of city regulations, etc. is in serious question and has prompted concerns by many local residents.
My real concern is public safety and drunk driving, nothing about racism, just facts.
Status of ABC lic. renewal with Aucario Written by Bill on 2007-10-05 16:56:12The voluntary agreement between the ANC & Acuario, 3410 11th St., NW (that has already been discussed in a public forum???) is on the agenda (see below). You should voice your issues or concerns to your own ANC representative via phone (also see below), since they don't seem to operate in basic electronic media.
It would seem logical to me that the ANC would not ratify such an agreement without community input and that the monthly meeting is one avenue to do so, since it appears that they prefer to work around some community communication forums.
Title: ANC 1A Monthly Meeting
Date: Wednesday October 10, 2007 Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Location: Harriet Tubman Elementary School Notes: The monthly meetings of ANC1A are held in the cafeteria at Tubman Elementary School, unless otherwise noted. Tubman is located at 3101 13th Street, NW (at the corner of Kenyon Street, NW). Please contact your ANC Commissioner or call 202-588-7278 if you would like to appear on the agenda
Written by New2CH on 2007-10-11 06:58:36Well, for the second meeting in a row, Acuario refused to sign the voluntary agreement (even though they had agreed to it verbally the day before at a special meeting). It really was a sweetheart deal, allowing them to remain open until 2:30 on weekends. They walked out of the meeting and the ANC had no choice but to refuse to support Acuario's application for renewal. Really shot themselves in the foot, but characteristic of Acuario's refusal to communicate with, let alone accomodate, the community from the outset of its existence.
Acuario ABC renewal Written by Bill on 2007-10-11 20:44:42Thanks for the update New2CH. I was not able to attend but heard similar reports of the same ole, same ole. I am encouraged to hear the ANC has continued its protest and I hope they now more fully understand the community's issues. They too should now have even further concerns themselves based on the actions of the establishment. I will also request my ANC representative recommend no further disscusions with the establishment and let the chips fall where they may. I encourage othes to do the same, the have had MORE than enough chances to participate in the community process.
Acuario bad and Latino bashing just as b Written by
'>E on 2007-10-14 10:48:28Ok, so I agree with most of the people here and I also believe that Acuario is a problematic establishment. They are a nuisance to the neighborhood, their food is terrible, they are rude, etc.
The similarities with some of you end there though. As a Latina I find a lot of the comments here in the Columbia Heights News website derogatory and prejudiced.
What I found priceless is the comments by Bill and New2CH defending that they are not racists because as one of them puts its "If I didn't like latino people, why would I eat at Rinconsito II on a weekly basis, and also commonly frequent Distrito Federal and Pollo Campero?" That is even worst than saying "If I didn't like [insert race, ethnicity here], why would I have my friend Juan, Tyrone, Lee, etc".
Or comments like those of GforGood referring to a new establishment coming to CH: "Hope the menu is something other than latin.. lol.. enough of those around."
I'm sorry but when I moved to Columbia Heights from NYC, it was because of its diversity. I agree that we do need more dining options but I think we should celebrate diversity instead of complaining about it. There is authentic American fare EVERYWHERE in this city (may I include VA, MD and the whole US?) and for people in CH, while we wait for those places to come, you could go to Adams Morgan where places like these abound and which are a skip and a hop away.
While it seems like some people want just that, I would hate to see the diversity of the neighborhood dwindle.
Written by GforGood on 2007-10-14 21:57:12Err!! Que??? LOL! You quote my comment, and then say you wish for more diversity. Exactly my point! Nothing wrong with latin places, but since there are so many around already, wouldn't it be nice to get some more diverse offering?
Written by New2CH on 2007-10-15 07:50:44It is disgraceful to throw around accusations of racism without basis, and that is just what you have done. What did I ever say that was RACIST? Racism is making generalizations about an ethnic group or attacking something based on ethnicity. Find me one example of when I have ever done that. I am not using the latino friends card as you laughably assert. My point is, I will bash any restaurant, regardless of ethnic orientation, that is a neighborhood nuisance (aka acuario, as you yourself admit), and I will applaud and patronize any restaurant, such as Rinconstio II, which serves great food in a nice atmosphere. I challenge you to find, in my hundred postings to this site, a single posting that is racist. Shame on you.
re: Acuario bad Written by Bill on 2007-10-19 16:56:21Glad you understand the real issue with this establishment but you may want to read the news today regarding racism and compare how commentary about this one establishment is so totally NOT about the same subject.
Acuario Written by Sweatyfatman on 2007-11-01 09:36:51Acuario is a brothel, not even debatable. Go down Wonderland and get it for free.
Entertainment 
