Local Restaurants Brave The Storm

By Rebecca Sheir

Many schools and offices may be closed, but many eateries are staying open. Some are offering specials to attract patrons who've worked up appetites dashing through the snow.

Stormageddon. Snowverkill. We've heard the nicknames. But in Northwest D.C., Kramerbooks and Afterwords Cafe has a new one.

"The hot seller right now is 'The Snomore," says general manager, Peter Conner. "Everything to beat the blizzard is in that cup!"

It's actually hot chocolate with Chambord and Creme de Cacao one of the specials Conner is offering a modest crowd.

Business is slower at Eatonville, where they've been Tweeting hourly specials, like three-dollar gumbo. But Brian Evans, who manages the place, says he doesn't mind.

"We are here for the community," says Evans. "If you want to go outside and get something to eat, something warm, your neighborhood restaurant is open for you."

Back at Kramerbooks and Afterwords Cafe, Caroline Baxter and her partner say restaurants also offer much-needed diversion.

"We both had the day off, and I really needed to get out of the house or else I was gonna kill myself or him," says Baxter." I called Kramers and they said they were open!"

They haven't yet tried "The Snomore," or the hot cocoa with Peppermint Schnapps and Godiva. Its name? The Snowpocalypse.