Ben's Turns 50

Whatever your feelings on their greasy half smokes, soupy chili, or scary-good milkshakes, one thing everyone can agree on is that any business that manages to stick around in the same location for 50 years (particularly when that location is the volatile U St. corridor) deserves some accolades. Today is your chance to share some love with that venerable DC institution, Ben's Chili Bowl, as they turn 50 years old.

U St. between 12th and 13th Sts. is closed to traffic all morning and afternoon in order to make way for the festivities, which outspoken Ben's patron Bill Cosby (the only person who eats free at Ben's) will be MCing. When I walked by this morning on my way to the Metro, it looked like they had a couple of moon bounces set up, seating for a couple hundred or so, and a live broadcast from local radio station 93.9.

So, if today's travels brings you around to Ben's neighborhood, stop by for the festivities. If not, Ben's is open late for your daily craving of saturated fat and grease. Mmmmmmmm....grease...

For more details about Ben's 50th anniversary festivities, you can visit their website.