More on the Lounge

From the Post...

"Popular Capitol Hill hangout Capitol Lounge was devistated by a fire early
this morning. A jogger called 911 to report smoke coming from the windows of
the bar, located at 231 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, around 6 a.m., and all
residents who live on the upper floors of the building were evacuated
safely. The bar's interior, filled with political memorabilia (Nixon signs,
Kennedy campaign badges, a Marion Barry poster) is completely gutted.

Initial media reports have suggested that a improperly extinguished
cigarette was the source of the fire, but longtime Capitol Lounge bartender
and manager Tony Tomelden said he suspects "faulty wiring" was responsible
for the blaze. "It seems from what firemen and the cops are telling me, it
started in the back, and there's no reason anyone would have been smoking
back there," he said.

D.C. Fire and EMS spokeswoman Catherine Friedman said, "Investigators have
indicated they don't believe it's suspicious, but beyond that, I don't have
anything concrete."

Cheap happy hour food and drink specials (those 25-cent tacos frequently hit
the spot on Wednesday evenings), friendly bartenders and kitschy decor made
the Lounge an after-work favorite of Hill staffers and interns. But it was
also a favorite gathering place for soccer fans -- a collection of scarves
representing foreign teams hung over the bar -- and alumni groups, who
gathered to watch college football over pizzas and pitchers of beer.

It will be missed.
-- Fritz"