April Pizza Adventures Part II: Flippin’ Pizza

After a recent exploration of “New Haven-style” pizza at Pete’s Apizza, for YPT’s next pizza party we decided to travel further down the east coast for some authentic, New York style pizza. On April 12, Flippin’ Pizza in Dupont Circle generously hosted a “Community Builders” night for YPT, donating 50% of proceeds from YPT supporters.  So on Thursday night, I celebrated “it’s-almost-Friday” by recruiting some friends and heading over to Flippin’ Pizza – a cozy, subterranean pizza joint in the heart of Dupont Circle, bustling with families, young professionals catching up over a post-work slice and people stopping in to pick up a giant 18” pizza for dinner. As for the pizza?  People often complain that compared to New York, our city is lacking in the pizza department, but at Flippin’ Pizza I found a delicious little bit of New York, right in the middle of Washington, DC.

Highlights:

• The crust!  Thin and chewy … so delicious!
• Huge slices, for a very reasonable price (yet somehow, I still managed to eat two)
• While I stuck with plain cheese (sometimes, you just crave the classics), Flippin’ offers both “white” and “red” specialty pizzas. One friend sampled the tomato, basil and garlic white pizza, marveling: “you can really taste the basil!”
• Whether you’re working in Foggy Bottom, living in Woodley Park or walking over from the YPT HQ in Columbia Heights, you can’t beat the location.
• The super-friendly staff, and homey, “local pizza joint” atmosphere.
• And of course, how amazing Flippin’ Pizza is for hosting fundraising nights for local organizations, and pledging half of the proceeds from these events.

A big thanks to Flippin’ Pizza for hosting a very successful second YPT pizza fundraiser to benefit our New Play Festival.  In addition to Dupont Circle, they also have locations in Northern Virginia and even at Nationals Park, so I will definitely be enjoying more of their giant slices in the future.

Next up: get ready for a YPT Pizza Party marathon!

On Tuesday, April 17, 14^th Street’s HomeMade Pizza Company is generously donating a portion of proceeds to YPT from every large pizza, large salad, order of breadsticks and gift card sold for the entire day (1pm – 10pm). Their menu highlights delicious, homemade-style pizza from fresh ingredients. They also have a variety of salads and desserts, in case you’re tired of pizza (if that’s even possible), and gluten-free options. Remember it’s all day – and pick-up only, at 1522 14^th St, NW.  See you there!

Then on Wednesday, April 18, we’re kicking off the New Play Festival with a celebratory happy hour at RedRocks Pizzeria, just a few blocks from the Columbia Heights metro. RedRocks is generously donating 30% of happy hour proceeds to YPT, and we’re hoping to celebrate with many friends (21 and older for this one, please) as we get ready for the big event next week.  RSVP for the happy hour here!

And don’t forget – the YPT Pizza Photo contest is still on! Check out our Facebook albums from our past two pizza parties for inspiration, and share your own photos for a chance to win a prize at the New Play Festival (more pizza? a gym membership? the possibilities are endless!)

See you on Tuesday, and until then, stay hungry!

Alison
Development and Producing Associate
(and official YPT pizza critic)

April Pizza Adventures Part I: Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza

The pizza party has begun! On Tuesday, April 3, Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza in Columbia Heights generously agreed to donate 25% of their proceeds for the day from anyone who mentioned YPT. An all-day fundraiser? Perfect excuse for a staff lunch!

So on Tuesday, we headed out into the beautiful day to grab lunch at Pete’s. Now the YPT staff is not an easy group to feed.  Dietary restrictions range from vegetarian to dairy-free to no gluten. A big thumbs up to Pete’s for managing to satisfy everyone with a variety of delicious options. We sampled everything from the paninis to gluten-free crust to a good old-fashioned slice of cheese pizza.  The overwhelming consensus: everything was delicious.

Highlights from YPT’s first pizza adventure:

• Pizza with fried eggplant. Amazingly good!

• Vegan and gluten-free options. The YPT staff will definitely be back.

• The huge Sorbillo (a rectangular shaped pizza turnover filled with sopressata, ricotta, mozzarella) Yum!

• Veggie pizza.  After being decidedly anti-vegetable for most of my childhood, I have recently embraced veggie pizza. My slice of Pete’s veggie pizza, topped with broccolini, onion and tomato, did not disappoint.

• The crust! We all agreed it was the perfect combination between crisp and chewy. How do they do it?

• The giant Pete’s Apizza carry-out boxes.

• Pete’s commitment to give back to the community by supporting our New Play Festival and helping bring our students’ plays to life on April 23 and 24.

Did you stop by Pete’s on Tuesday to support YPT? Share your experience on this blog or on Facebook. And don’t forget about our Pizza Photo Contest! For inspiration, check out our staff photo shoot from Pete’s. Join the contest by snapping a picture of yourself eating a pizza at one of our next fundraiser events and share it on our Facebook page. Our fans will vote for their favorite with “likes” and the winner will receive a special prize at the New Play Festival.

Up next: The pizza party continues! Join YPT at Flippin’ Pizza in Dupont Circle on Thursday, April 12 from 5-9pm. On April 12, Flippin’ Pizza is generously donating 50% of their proceeds from YPT supporters from the evening. Don’t forget to mention that you’re there to support YPT!

So until next time … stay hungry!

Alison
Development and Producing Associate