Paul Uppole joined The Black Squirrel team after serving as a bartender with Austin Grill in Chinatown and the old Glover Park location. Uppole has drafted the beer and wine menu and is in charge of setting the weekly personnel schedule. The Black Squirrel's popular 60-plus beer menu is the brainchild of Uppole, who has fashioned a varied and international brand of selections.

I wanted The Black Squirrel to be distinctive, different from many watering holes," Uppole says. "So that is why we carry imported beer from Lithuania and Estonia, to cite two examples from our beer menu. And the smart thing we do is try to be flexible with our menu. If our customers want an off-beat beer, we try to get it. And if one of our beers is not selling, we will stop stocking it, even if we think it is a great beer. In other words, our beer menu is ever evolving.

Uppole has attempted to have an equal amount of fun with his wine list, culling from vineyards around the globe. Uppole has been in the restaurant industry since 1989 and was involved in a partnership in the early days of Rhino Bar on M Street in Georgetown. Uppole, a Glover Park resident, has a B.A. degree in history and an M.A. degree in international affairs from Georgetown University, where he was a fullback on the football team. Uppole, who is married and the father of two, often makes the commute from Glover Park to Adams Morgan on his bicycle. He is an ardent supporter of the Georgetown football and basketball teams and insists the Washington Redskins are destined to win the Super Bowl every August before reality intrudes on the dream.

Scott Layne comes to The Black Squirrel after being the manager of Clarks Shoes in Pentagon City.
The Summit, N.J., native previously served as a manager of a Sharper Image store in Annapolis, Md.
Layne, who lives in Adams Morgan, follows the fortunes of the New York Yankees, New York Jets and New York Knicks. He also hits the neighborhood tennis courts. Layne was a ranked junior player in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area and the leading player on his Summit High School tennis team.

I think The Black Squirrel attracts people from the neighborhood who want to dine and interact with each other, as opposed to just going out and partying hard," Layne says.

Layne likes to travel, hit the beach in the summer months and golf.

 

 

 

 

Brittany Bennett moonlights as a server several shifts a week at The Black Squirrel after spending her days teaching kindergarten at Truesdell Elementary in the Petworth section of the city. Bennett, who grew up in Alexandria, obtained a pair of B.A. degrees from Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., after double-majoring in English language and literature and elementary education. She has been a fine addition to the staff because of her professionalism and enthusiasm. That spirit comes through to the patrons of The Black Squirrel.

"I like watching the customers come in, kick back, try something new and enjoy themselves," says Bennett, who lives in Bloomingdale. "The Black Squirrel is my favorite spot in Adams Morgan."

When Bennett is not teaching and helping the customers of The Black Squirrel feel at home, she is an active sports participant, gets a joy out of playing Scrabble and hitting the U. Street/Shaw area. Bennett also is an avid jogger and thinks nothing of making the demanding trek from her residence in Bloomingdale to Adams Morgan.

 

 

Ariana Hodes adds to the down-home spirit of The Black Squirrel with a highly refined sense of style and flair.
Hodes, a native of Concord, N.H., is set to enter her senior year at American University, where she is majoring in music theater. She recently performed the role of Leona Samish in the AU-produced "Do I Hear a Waltz?" Hodes, who lives in Adams Morgan, says she is thinking of moving to Los Angeles to pursue her acting interests after completing her undergraduate studies at American. Hodes, who is a server in the front of the house, endorses the atmosphere of The Black Squirrel.

"I think the food is great, the best food in Adams Morgan," Hodes says. "The service is so friendly that you would think you were having a meal in your dining room. It’s a great place to hang out."

Hodes used to work at the old Austin Grill on Wisconsin Avenue NW in Glover Park.
Hodes is a rabid fan of the New England sports teams, notably the Red Sox and the Patriots. It is her contention that the Patriots will win the Super Bowl next year and prove all the haters wrong.

 

 

Bill O'Connell made the crossover to The Black Squirrel after heading the security of the previous establishment since 2005. The Oceanside, Calif., native also spent three years in security at Adams Mill Bar and Grill and is part of the "Black Squad" security detail during the popular Adams Morgan Day Festival each year. O'Connell, an Arlington resident, is a fixture at The Black Squirrel on the weekend, when he is the eyes of the place and in charge of providing a safe, hospitable environment.

We have a very relaxed and chilled atmosphere," O'Connell says. "I think people come to our place knowing they can have a great time and not face the issues that sometimes plague other establishments.

O'Connell is a 1999 graduate of King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where he earned a B.A. degree in Spanish. O'Connell competed on the varsity soccer and track and field teams at the Field School in the District. He follows the fortunes of D.C. United and the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders. O'Connell also enjoys hiking, kickball, shooting pool and visiting museums. He plays in a Capitol Hill kickball league called NAKID (No, Adult Kickball Isn't Dumb). He has varied interests in music and movies.

 

Herb Taylor, a member of the security detail at The Black Squirrel, has a long history in the service industry. He has been the manager of the Grog & Tankard on Wisconsin Avenue in Northwest the last five years. A native of New Orleans, Taylor moved to the District in 1987 and spent six years managing the banquet room of the Non-Commissioned Officers’ Club on Bolling Air Force Base in Southeast. It is Taylor’s job to set a hospitable tone at the door of The Black Squirrel, an assignment he welcomes with graciousness.

"I think The Black Squirrel has created one of the best vibes on the 18th Street strip in Adams Morgan," Taylor says. "I eat at a lot of different places in the neighborhood, and I think our food is the best. Or at least up there in the discussion of the best. And you can’t beat our staff. They are really good people."

Taylor, who lives in Glover Park, follows thoroughbred racing and likes to go horse-back riding. Taylor also enjoys dancing on occasion. It is a pursuit that he can undertake while the live bands of Grog & Tankard bang out their songs -- but only if he is off work.