Stars and Bars

Stars and Bars: Drink the District Beer Fest @ Storey Park — 7/30/16

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Drink the District 04 Charm City Meadworks at Drink the District’s Beer Fest (Photo by Mickey McCarter)

Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder, goes the famous T-shirt slogan, and it was a beautiful day indeed at Storey Park for the 5th Annual Beer Fest by Drink the District.

Hundreds upon hundreds of attendees enjoyed samples of more than 100 beers, ciders, meads, and more, as the overcast weather made it a simply fabulous time to be outdoors. If I have to stand without cover in Storey Park for an afternoon, I couldn’t have asked for better than the warm but cloudy day we experienced on Saturday.

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Stars and Bars: Quick Take @ Fare Well

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Vegan PierogisVegan Pierogis from Fare Well

I’m definitely not vegan. Nor much of a vegetarian for that matter (though I did sleep at a Holiday Inn once).

Near to my office and home, a new vegan bakery/diner/bar concept opened in June. Fare Well – from the makers of Sticky Fingers Bakery – certainly knows how to create good dishes with only vegetable products.

From my limited experience with vegan cuisine, mostly because I think it will taste bland or strange, I must say the food I’ve had at Fare Well so far is good. I won’t completely switch to vegan anytime soon, but good things can happen when a chef is dedicated to finding the best tastes from a particular set of ingredients.

It’s nice to see that within this approach to food, there are places in DC where it is worthwhile.

So far, I’ve tried the Chilaquiles Verdes and the Pierogis. I will need to try the bakery items next!

Stars and Bars: Quick Takes @ Big Chief and The Brig

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Big Chief Roof DeckBig Chief Roof Deck

Over 4th of July weekend I had a chance to venture out and peek into a couple of the new bars that opened in the NE (Big Chief) and SE (The Brig).

The Brig
I like beer gardens as a concept, so I usually make it a point to visit new ones when they open. Sipping suds outside on a cool evening or in the shade on a hot day, I can handle that.

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Grapevine: DC Beer Week 2016, 9/24-10/1/16

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DC Beer Week 2016

A reminder to mark your calendars for the 8th annual DC Beer Week coming September 24th through October 1st.

Check out what we posted for last year’s week highlighting some of cool events that typically take place throughout the week.

For more info, see DCBeer.com as they talk about changes to DC Beer Week 2016, including shifting from August to September and that the event will now be run by The D.C. Brewers’ Guild.

Stars and Bars: Grand Opening @ Buckeye + Bear, 6/21/16

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Buckeye And Bear Interior 5 by Joy Asico
The Ballroom in Buckeye + Bear (Photo by Joy Asico)

A cool new rock and roll bar has opened up in an unlikely location, just south of Dupont Circle. In the spot that once housed the Huxley, you can now find the laidback Buckeye + Bear (1730 M St. NW, DC), a 280-person concert venue.

From the concert posters on the walls to the red and black decor, Buckeye + Bear gives off a good vibe. It’s almost like the place belongs in an ‘80s movie about an aspiring musician who alternates between solving his life problems at the bar and jumping up on stage to rock the night away.

You will be able to catch some bands at Buckeye + Bear, of course, including the ever-popular ‘90s cover band White Ford Bronco this Thursday, June 23 in an intimate show. (Tickets are available online! $15)  But Buckeye + Bear aims to provide a diverse range of entertainment, hosting comedy shows, trivia nights, and most importantly karaoke.

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Stars and Bars: Happy Hour Hike @ DC Breweries

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3-Stars3 Stars Brewing Company tasting flight

Beer. Let’s get some local suds.

Last year, we did an evening DC brewery hike heading north from Fort Totten Metro Station and ending in Silver Spring.

With expanded hours for many of the DC breweries and the new Right Proper Production House in Brookland, we now tried a hike heading south from Takoma Metro Station.

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Stars and Bars: The Ivy Room @ Republic Restoratives Distillery

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Ivy RoomThe 800-square-foot Ivy Room is a collaboration between lobbyist Vinoda Basnayake and Republic Restoratives Distillery’s Pia Carusone and Rachel Gardner. (Photo Credit: John Robinson)

Nestled next to the Republic Restoratives Distillery like a fancy sun room, a new cocktail bar opened in Ivy City.

The Ivy Room, a well-appointed and airy tasting room, will serve cocktails made with Civic Vodka. Civic is made in the distillery mere steps away. You can easily see the tanks reflecting light through the giant windows. Those windows open, giving it the perfect atmosphere on a sunny day or evening.

Cocktails featuring Civic, like the Blackberry Sour and the Moscow Mule, are refreshingly good. Republic is also distilling a batch of bourbon, which will be ready in the next few weeks. I’ll need to venture back.

There will not be a kitchen on-site, but they will plan to arrange for food trucks to park nearby.

Ivy City is a burgeoning neighborhood, with multiple distilleries and a brewery (Atlas Brew Works). Yet it is not Metro accessible. Luckily there is a parking garage next door, along with some free parking nearby. You can also find a Capitol Bikeshare station only one block away.

Ivy Room hours
Thursday/Friday: 5pm to 11pm
Saturday: Noon to 11pm
Sunday: Noon to 5pm

Ivy Room Cocktail MenuIvy Room Cocktail Menu

Ivy Room - Blackberry SourBlackberry Sour with Civic Vodka

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