I received a mass email yesterday informing that Nanny O'Brien's Pub in Washington, DC has closed its doors. I don't have any further information, nor can I even verify that this is true, so I'm asking anyone who knows more than I to please write back.
I grew up playing at Nanny's - I truly hope that I am misinformed.
The imminent closing of Nanny's is something that has been a subject of rumor here in DC for several months now, Brendan. Who sent you the mass e-mail saying it is closed, anyway? (And why didn't I get it too?) There have been various stories floating around as to why the pub would be closing. One story said that the owner of the building that houses the pub had died, and that the heirs to the property wanted to cash in by putting something more upscale and trendy in the space, so they were squeezing out the pub by refusing to renew their lease or raising the rent exorbitantly so that they'd be forced to leave. Another story said that it was problems with the tax man. No one really seemed to know what was going on except Brian, and he wasn't talking. A reporter from the Washington Post even contacted him a few weeks ago to ask about the rumors, and Brian's response was basically "We're open right now, but I can't tell you anything beyond that." But apparently the kitchen has been closed there for several months, and there hasn't been any live music there lately, either. Brendan Mulvihill I hear is now playing at a new pub in Silver Spring, and I don't know about the Monday session, which has been in decline for several years now. Most every musician around here that I know has moved on from Nanny's to the other, better sessions that have sprung up here and in Baltimore. Still, even though we don't go there any more I think we're all sad to see the pub die. We were hoping for the chance for one last blowout there before the end,, once we knew when and if there would be an end. Sounds like we may not get it...
I’m new to the session, but as a DC resident, I’m not new to Nanny’s. It’s my usual hangout. There have been rumors floating around for months about it closing, but as of two weeks ago it was still up and running. If it has indeed closed I will be extremely distressed. I’m normally there at least once a week (been out of town a lot recently), and as far as I’m concerned it’s one of the last comfortable watering holes that hasn’t been overrun by yuppies. Errr. I will definitely check by this Saturday at the latest and report back if we haven’t gotten definitive confirmation by then.
i've heard this rumor too. i was at "The Nanny" about two weeks ago and it was still alive and kicking. Although due to the disgusting nature of their bathrooms (well, haven't been in the lady's side) i wouldn't be surprised if the place was being closed on that score alone from health code violations...
Nanny's has been sold and no one seems to know what the new owners have planned for it. And it is true that Brendan Mulvihill has moved on to McGinty's in Silver Spring.
Hmmm, fiddleguru, I guess all the DC'ers will have to truck on up to Philly for a decent session now... I hear there's a pretty good one on Saturday afternoons....
There are (and never have been, AFAIK) any sessions in Georgetown. To quote Yogi Berra, nobody goes there any more. It's too crowded. With the demise of the Nanny O'Brien's session, it looks like there are no longer any sessions in DC proper. But for a roundup of the sessions in the DC metro area, see this fairly recent discussion:
So I checked, and Nanny’s is still open. It has been bought out apparently, but from what I hear the new owner's plan is to leave it as unchanged as possible. They will apparently be addressing a few health code issues though (so that’s good news). As to the musical future of the establishment…haven’t heard anything definitive.
Don't let johnkerr give you the wrong impression: Due to personal friction, schedule conflicts, or whatever, some musicians have stopped frequenting the Nanny's seisiun. I've only been in DC for 3 years, so I don't know the whole history of the seisiun, but it's hardly dead. It happens every Monday night. True, it's less structured than other seisiuns in the Balt-Wash area (no "seisiun leader", no set repertoire), which means that the number and level of players ebbs and flows from week to week. I don't know what johnkerr means about "other, better seisiuns" - there are other seisiuns, every one has a different feel, and I've consistently felt welcome, been comfortable playing even challenging tunes, and had a grand time at Nanny's. Of course, if johnkerr or others think there aren't enough people at Nanny's, there's one solution: they should come out! I for one would love to meet 'em.
Now, as for likely health/safety violations, it adds to the "charm" of the place. ;) Of course, i don't think anyone will miss that "charm" when it's gone...
As of December 4, the seisun at Nanny's was still going strong. If anybody is thinking of going next week, call to check if they are still open, as the scuttlebutt is that renovations by the new owners are suppose to start soon.
Incidently, the new McGinty's session in nearby Silver Spring is shaping up to be quite nice.
All I can say is that despite the DC liquor board, the neighborhood still *LOVES* Nanny's and people still turn out for the session. Also, you might what to make sure that the pub you play in will not have similar troubles.
ALL THE RUMORS ABOUT NANNY'S CLOSING ARE WRONG. Just got the inside scoop that whatever deal may have been in the works has been stalled by the infamous DC city bureaucracy. Nanny's isn't shutting down, the music isn't stopping, and everyone should come down and play. The end.
Petworth, D.C.: I am in deep, deep mourning for the Nanny's that was.
So, what can you tell us about Bedrock's plans for Nanny's?
Fritz: Well, it's reopening today after a one-day cleaning job. The kitchen is going to be back in gear "soon," says Bedrock founder Geoff Dawson, who adds that the kitchen hasn't changed since he applied for a position at Gallagher's, Nanny's predecessor, a few decades ago.
Mostly, though, what I'm hearing from the Bedrock folks is that they want to keep the good parts of Nanny's -- friendly staff, good music, great pints of Guinness -- and ditch all the negatives, like slow service, the odd smell, etc. As someone who went to Nanny's on his 21st birthday, I'm rooting for them.
Thanks for the update -- hope Bedrock uses some common sense and keeps the session (which really just ran itself). I hope to swing by there soon and find out.
I was there the last evening under the old ownership (January 30th), and things were crowded. I think every body wanted to come by and say "goodbye." I then went to the McGinty's session, and after I got there, some people arrived after visiting Nanny's, also -- I had just missed them!
The new management wants the session to continue. I posted my comments about the first session under them at the "Comments" section for the listing for Nanny O'Brien's session on this Web site. The night was great!!
Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
I received a mass email yesterday informing that Nanny O'Brien's Pub in Washington, DC has closed its doors. I don't have any further information, nor can I even verify that this is true, so I'm asking anyone who knows more than I to please write back.
I grew up playing at Nanny's - I truly hope that I am misinformed.
# Posted on October 31st 2006 by fiddleguru
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
The imminent closing of Nanny's is something that has been a subject of rumor here in DC for several months now, Brendan. Who sent you the mass e-mail saying it is closed, anyway? (And why didn't I get it too?) There have been various stories floating around as to why the pub would be closing. One story said that the owner of the building that houses the pub had died, and that the heirs to the property wanted to cash in by putting something more upscale and trendy in the space, so they were squeezing out the pub by refusing to renew their lease or raising the rent exorbitantly so that they'd be forced to leave. Another story said that it was problems with the tax man. No one really seemed to know what was going on except Brian, and he wasn't talking. A reporter from the Washington Post even contacted him a few weeks ago to ask about the rumors, and Brian's response was basically "We're open right now, but I can't tell you anything beyond that." But apparently the kitchen has been closed there for several months, and there hasn't been any live music there lately, either. Brendan Mulvihill I hear is now playing at a new pub in Silver Spring, and I don't know about the Monday session, which has been in decline for several years now. Most every musician around here that I know has moved on from Nanny's to the other, better sessions that have sprung up here and in Baltimore. Still, even though we don't go there any more I think we're all sad to see the pub die. We were hoping for the chance for one last blowout there before the end,, once we knew when and if there would be an end. Sounds like we may not get it...
# Posted on October 31st 2006 by johnkerr
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
Hi,
I’m new to the session, but as a DC resident, I’m not new to Nanny’s. It’s my usual hangout. There have been rumors floating around for months about it closing, but as of two weeks ago it was still up and running. If it has indeed closed I will be extremely distressed. I’m normally there at least once a week (been out of town a lot recently), and as far as I’m concerned it’s one of the last comfortable watering holes that hasn’t been overrun by yuppies. Errr. I will definitely check by this Saturday at the latest and report back if we haven’t gotten definitive confirmation by then.
# Posted on October 31st 2006 by North Light
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
Do any of ya'll ever come down to play at any of the sessions in Richmond or Charlottesville?
# Posted on October 31st 2006 by BE
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
i've heard this rumor too. i was at "The Nanny" about two weeks ago and it was still alive and kicking. Although due to the disgusting nature of their bathrooms (well, haven't been in the lady's side) i wouldn't be surprised if the place was being closed on that score alone from health code violations...
# Posted on November 1st 2006 by Brendan
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
Nanny's has been sold and no one seems to know what the new owners have planned for it. And it is true that Brendan Mulvihill has moved on to McGinty's in Silver Spring.
# Posted on November 1st 2006 by PurpleHayes007
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
Hmmm, fiddleguru, I guess all the DC'ers will have to truck on up to Philly for a decent session now... I hear there's a pretty good one on Saturday afternoons....
# Posted on November 1st 2006 by darinkelly
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
so where are the sessions in DC/Georgetown??
# Posted on November 1st 2006 by I_Fel
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
There are (and never have been, AFAIK) any sessions in Georgetown. To quote Yogi Berra, nobody goes there any more. It's too crowded. With the demise of the Nanny O'Brien's session, it looks like there are no longer any sessions in DC proper. But for a roundup of the sessions in the DC metro area, see this fairly recent discussion:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/10561/comments#comment218507
# Posted on November 1st 2006 by johnkerr
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
Thanks for the info on DC
# Posted on November 1st 2006 by I_Fel
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
So I checked, and Nanny’s is still open. It has been bought out apparently, but from what I hear the new owner's plan is to leave it as unchanged as possible. They will apparently be addressing a few health code issues though (so that’s good news). As to the musical future of the establishment…haven’t heard anything definitive.
# Posted on November 2nd 2006 by North Light
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
Don't let johnkerr give you the wrong impression: Due to personal friction, schedule conflicts, or whatever, some musicians have stopped frequenting the Nanny's seisiun. I've only been in DC for 3 years, so I don't know the whole history of the seisiun, but it's hardly dead. It happens every Monday night. True, it's less structured than other seisiuns in the Balt-Wash area (no "seisiun leader", no set repertoire), which means that the number and level of players ebbs and flows from week to week. I don't know what johnkerr means about "other, better seisiuns" - there are other seisiuns, every one has a different feel, and I've consistently felt welcome, been comfortable playing even challenging tunes, and had a grand time at Nanny's. Of course, if johnkerr or others think there aren't enough people at Nanny's, there's one solution: they should come out! I for one would love to meet 'em.
Now, as for likely health/safety violations, it adds to the "charm" of the place. ;) Of course, i don't think anyone will miss that "charm" when it's gone...
# Posted on November 22nd 2006 by JHowley
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
As of December 4, the seisun at Nanny's was still going strong. If anybody is thinking of going next week, call to check if they are still open, as the scuttlebutt is that renovations by the new owners are suppose to start soon.
Incidently, the new McGinty's session in nearby Silver Spring is shaping up to be quite nice.
# Posted on December 7th 2006 by NorthEagle
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, check out the comedy of errors (literally) concerning Nanny's at the Website
www.washingtoncitypaper.com/tell/2006/tell1110.html?navCenterTop
All I can say is that despite the DC liquor board, the neighborhood still *LOVES* Nanny's and people still turn out for the session. Also, you might what to make sure that the pub you play in will not have similar troubles.
# Posted on December 7th 2006 by NorthEagle
Nanny's NOT been sold
ALL THE RUMORS ABOUT NANNY'S CLOSING ARE WRONG. Just got the inside scoop that whatever deal may have been in the works has been stalled by the infamous DC city bureaucracy. Nanny's isn't shutting down, the music isn't stopping, and everyone should come down and play. The end.
# Posted on January 3rd 2007 by JHowley
Update on new ownership
from the Washington Post's "Going Out Gurus", 2/1/07:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/01/25/DI2007012501235.html
Petworth, D.C.: I am in deep, deep mourning for the Nanny's that was.
So, what can you tell us about Bedrock's plans for Nanny's?
Fritz: Well, it's reopening today after a one-day cleaning job. The kitchen is going to be back in gear "soon," says Bedrock founder Geoff Dawson, who adds that the kitchen hasn't changed since he applied for a position at Gallagher's, Nanny's predecessor, a few decades ago.
Mostly, though, what I'm hearing from the Bedrock folks is that they want to keep the good parts of Nanny's -- friendly staff, good music, great pints of Guinness -- and ditch all the negatives, like slow service, the odd smell, etc. As someone who went to Nanny's on his 21st birthday, I'm rooting for them.
# Posted on February 2nd 2007 by JHowley
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
JHowley,
Thanks for the update -- hope Bedrock uses some common sense and keeps the session (which really just ran itself). I hope to swing by there soon and find out.
I was there the last evening under the old ownership (January 30th), and things were crowded. I think every body wanted to come by and say "goodbye." I then went to the McGinty's session, and after I got there, some people arrived after visiting Nanny's, also -- I had just missed them!
# Posted on February 2nd 2007 by NorthEagle
Re: Nanny O'Brien's Pub Closed?
The new management wants the session to continue. I posted my comments about the first session under them at the "Comments" section for the listing for Nanny O'Brien's session on this Web site. The night was great!!
# Posted on February 9th 2007 by NorthEagle