Pearl Dive/Black Jack Sold-Out One Year Anniversary Party As Cool As Ice (Luge)

LOGAN CIRCLE -- The past year has been good to Jeff and Barbara Black. Since their Pearl Dive Oyster Palace/Black Jack restaurant/bar concept first opened in September 2011, it has racked-up critical and popular plaudits alike, with the latter even winning the prized ‘Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene’ prize at this year’s RAMMY Awards.

To celebrate their fifth Washington-area location’s one-year anniversary, the Black family therefore wanted to give back to the community that had warmed to them so enthusiastically.

Thanks to a partnership with Living Social, Pearl Dive and Black Jack therefore flung open its doors on Thursday evening to hundreds of guests, with all proceeds donated to local nonprofit Food & Friends.

A scant $50 bought each ticketholder access to an open bar with specialty cocktails mixed-up courtesy of Tito’s Vodka. For those adventurous types in attendance (there were many), Black Jack’s diligent bartenders also stood-by with a towering ice luge in order to serve-up well timed oyster shooters.

Between beverages, attendees were treated to an unlimited seafood buffet, with Pearl Dive’s signature oyster platters for the night provided by Rappahannock River Oysters and Toby Island Bay Oyster Company.

The festive occasion also coincidentally served as the official debut of two of Jeff Black’s new oyster lines, dubbed ‘Old Black Salts’ and ‘Black Pearls’, respectively.

While the soundtrack of the late night party came courtesy of a live DJ, it was the smooth musical stylings of Incwell & The Free Word that initially struck the right chord with guests and kicked things off on a high note.

Never one to rest on their laurels, the Blacks’ next project, Empire Oyster House, is set to open by year’s end in Merrifield, VA.

And we all know what a difference a year can make.