I hate to start things off on this note, but I must be the bearer of bad news. My favorite watering hole in the city, The Common Share, is closing it’s doors at the end of the month. The building has been sold, so it’s officially the end of an era in the neighborhood of Adams-Morgan. The only bar in Washington DC owned by black women is facing it’s demise.
The Common Share achieved that rarest of feats: it became one of a kind by being as ordinary as possible. The phrase “It is what it is” is quite possibly the most overused one in the English language right now, but there is no better way to sum up The Common Share. The appeal is that it promises to be nothing more than a bar where people from all walks of life can relax and have good, cheap drink. The people make that place special, from the patrons to the staff, all the way up to the owners, Chris and Raynette.
Where else in the city can you go up to the bar and see a Capitol Hill lobbyist posted up next to a bike messenger, both having fun and laughing? You’re just as welcome in a business suit as you are in sweatpants(although someone did get denied entry last night for wearing nothing but boxer shorts and a tank top that was so small it didn’t even cover his nipples). The diversity and collection of characters you can find in the place on any given night is one of a kind.
The owners recognize this, because they have a wall completely covered with pictures of people enjoying themselves in the place. Me, being the social deviant that I am, I ripped down the two pictures of me from the wall and took them withme last night when I stopped by. Both are hilarious in their own way, so I’ll just go ahead and put them up here. The first is a photo of me, my best friend Eon(if any of you makes a “Leon and Eon” joke, I’ll kill you dead) who is now living in South Carolina, and some random Ethiopian. If I remember correctly, anonymous guy was cool. I hope so, since I’m about to make his ass famous on here. As you see, I wrote something different on the frame each time I went. Some other smartass took the liberty of editing my “God’s Gift To Ovaries” signature to read “God’s Gift To Child Support”, but that just makes it funnier, so I don’t care.
That damned thing looks like a relic from from the Smithsonian! Like Indiana Jones dug it up on his search for the Holy Grail.
The other photo is from the birthday party they had for one of the old bartenders, Danny. It was only meant to be a photo of Chris and Danny, but I was drunk and I saw a photo opportunity, so I could not resist. I looked like a negro version of Where’s Waldo, so I added a visual aid to help people find me in the picture.
As you can see, good times are always to be had when I’m innebriated and a camera is nearby. There are only a couple of weeks left to enjoy the cheap prices, great jukebox, and wonderful company of the people who frequent The Common Share, so I strongly suggest that you make a trip by the place before it’s just a memory. Once I find out when and if there is a going-away party, I will let you know.
Well, inebriated or no, you still look cute!
Ive only been to The Common Share once, but Ill be sorry to see it go.
L
I was there on Saturday when I saw the flyers saying they were shutting down. That was only my second time going there but I was still crushed by the news. I am trying to get a gang of folks to go out to The Common Share 2moro. I’m about to tie one on at the bar Thursday night…..A Bay Bay!
Awwwwww! Go to the myspace page and say goodbye please! Last night was fun and I have the picture I took off the wall in my purse still! LOL The last night will be August 31st so I’m assuming that will be the big party. Plans are still in the works. I’ll keep you posted.
*Wipes away tear*
This is heartbreaking! I am gonna try my best to get back to DC and have one (or ten) more Long Islands.
Damn…I might have to make my presence there before they close shop. It is a sad moment indeed. FYI…the strip club..The House formerly known as the Penthouse on Georgia Ave in D.C., I heard over the weekend is closing soon. Might want to hit that up too. That is where it all started and the girls in there are off the chain still. I was there a few months ago…lol
NOOOOOOO!!!! Damn they can’t close Common Share!
@ Big Homie, they’re building a charter school on the corner of that next block, so I figured it was a matter of time before the city tried to get rid of The House. I guess I better get in all the T&A that I can before they close up shop!
Bert and Ernie wanted a four-some, who did they invite?
Leon and Eon..LMAO :)
ah man I’ve been meaning to check it out. Sad that it’s going to be gone before I get back to town.
Have the owners thought about moving on to H Street NE? It’s up and coming and from your description of the spot it would do well.
dogg… is that the place where me you resha and hassan went that night? With all the niggas smokin ciggerettes buckwild?? it look like it lol.
Every time i leave cali, and go some where else, i forget people can still smoke indoors. shits bannanas to me. But i remember when it used to crack though. shit was wack then too lol.
Okay, so I’m not from D.C. nor do I live there (soon, hopefully), but that is really sad that a place like that is closing down.
But, um, Leon…you’re kinda cute! lol
and I’m LMAO at the comment someone wrote by the first pic: “Ladies, have sex with this man, he has a big fuck stick”, I guess you weren’t lying after all. Someone slept with you and lived to tell about it!
I’m glad I got a chance to get the Common Share experience man! Pretty soon all that will be left will be the bougie spots….one day man…I’mma head up that way and buy a spot and call it the NEW Common Share….
you would befriend someone named eon. too bad common share is closing; it started to suck a couple of yrs ago but I never wanted a place that serves strong-ass, $3 vodka & tonics to close. oh well. adams morgan sux in general. but leon, you’re cool…lemme hold $20.
Well you that I have been there more then once and that is where I met you. I hate to see it go but you never know what may happen next. For all of the real people that hung out there, I will miss you all like crazy and I know that if you are a real friend I will see you again. That place taught a lot of life lessions (over a drink) but you know, these past four years I would not change none of it. I have been kicked out, gone to jail, met people that I know will be in my life forever. Long Live that Share!!!!!
We love u all. Those who have been to “the Share” and those who feel the love. “The Share” is a movement, a feeling, a vibe. So, no building and no intermission will stop my promise to make it live again. A wise man once said, “If u build it they will come”. Iwill build it and u are all welcome to come. Ain’t no party like a Common Share party for a Common Share party don’t stop. Join our MySpace page and keep abreast of our progress. WE DON’T DIE WE MULTIPLY, BABY!! Viva “The Share” I love u all.
Muah**, Chris
(Owner & Mother to all my Share babies)
P.S. Leon, always my deepest love and appreciation. Now, gotta get u some more ovaries.
MySpace.com/thecommonshare
Wow, $3 for a strong ass vodka and tonic!! I should have been notified a long time ago…When is the last night?? I wanna come up before the common share closes.
The ovary-less chick is here. (sigh). (It’s my first day back post-surgery and I HAD to make a smart ass comment)
Oh, BTW the new word is “uterectomy.” My hysteria is quite intact, thank you.
I was upset whn my favorite spot stopped the Saturday shrimp special. I’d probably cry if they closed.
Like promised I hit up The Share last night and had a blast. It was quite hot up in there but by 10:30 they turned on the air……. I got busted in the mens bathroom…..someone had the woman’s on lock for real.
@ Cali, those signs are just there for show! It does not matter which one you use when it comes time to pee!
@ Jali, glad your surgery was successful. Rest up, because that surgery is no joke. I had a few relatives who underwent hysterectomies, and I saw what type of pain they were in :(
@ Chocolate, you have until the 31st! Make a road trip to DC!
@ Chris, keep us posted on all the future developments. You know I’ll do anything I can to help
@ Nikki, you definitely partied like a rock star in The Share! I can’t even write about the crazy details ofthe night we met, because I’m sure you’ll beat my ass if I do!
@ Pru, that was not planned! Eon is one of the coolest people ever. I just usually refer to him as “E” to avoid confusion and jokes!
@ Cal, I will definitely be one of the primary investors! Good luck in the BWAs!
@ Caroline, thanks for the compliment, but I can’t lie. I wrote that. I put a new comment on there every time I went to the Share for a few weeks, until my side of the photo ran out of space!
@ O.com, smoking is banned in DC now, but you’re right. That’s the place! We went on a bad night, because the people there are what make the place. The night that we went, it was a chain-smoking swordfight!
@ Honest, H Street is not a bad idea. I hate to get off-topic, but whe should plan another blogger trip to The House, for old times sake! :)
@ Wonderlove, not funny. LOL
@ Sister Toldja, I still haven’t gotten your picture yet, but I will sometime this week. I haven’t forgotten.