Back in November, we told you about plans by Smith Point owner Bo Blair to start a “Smith Point for Older People” club of sorts. Well, it’s finally here: Enter “The Rookery.” The club was originally slated for a Dec. 6 opening, but snags in the process pushed it back. “I don’t like to do anything until everything’s perfect,” Blair told us in December.
Blair unveiled the new Pennsylvania Avenue club Thursday night to some of his close friends (Mark Ein, Winston Lord, Tripp Donnelly and the rest of the usual suspects). The two-floor spot was once an old federal building built in the 1800s. Designed by Blair himself, the venue is expected to be open almost every night of the week and will serve both drinks and food (Blair’s putting David Scribner — his partner at Jettie’s sandwich shop — in charge of the food).
Recommended Stories
But crashers beware: “Private” is Rookery’s middle name. Details on how the club will handle membership and guests haven’t been completely sorted out (don’t worry ladies: it’s coed) but extra attention is being paid to keeping it exclusive (and keeping a list at the door).
Smith Point, you surely know by now, has earned a reputation as ground zero for Georgetown’s preppy types (and, back in the day, the partying Bush twins): The Wisconsin Avenue bar is a favorite for the young, rich and beautiful (and the always colorful LateNightShots.com crowd). But sources told Yeas & Nays that many of the aging Smith Point regulars grew tired of the fact that, to quote Matthew McConaughey in the movie “Dazed and Confused,” “I get older, they remain the same age.”
So Rookery is aimed at 30-year-olds, and you can expect a more upscale environment and better-dressed attendees. But that doesn’t mean that the partying will be toned down: After all, Webster’s dictionary defines “rookery” as “a haunt for gregarious animals.”/>
