Move on up: DC9's rooftop deck opens tonight

Tonight's weather forecast: low 80s until sunset, and then down to the 70s. Sounds like perfect temps for the debut of DC9's long-awaited rooftop deck. The roof, which features its own bar, seats for 50 and a view of the surrounding Shaw neighborhood, has been a summer-long project for DC9; creating access meant taking out the club's existing stairs and reversing their direction. (You can see photos on DC9's twitter feed if you look for messages posted on Sept 11.)

The official grand opening takes place tomorrow at 9 p.m., when DC9 will mark the occasion with a DJ on the roof. Owner Bill Spieler said he doesn't know yet whether al fresco entertainment will be a regular feature: "Maybe. We'll see how it goes."

In the meantime, it's nice to have another place to enjoy the cooler temperatures after work. Doors open at 5 p.m.

-- Fritz Hahn