July 3rd Capitol Hill meet-up
For a variety of reasons, I am in Washington, DC at the start of next week.
Would anyone want to go grab a beer or two around Capitol Hill on Sunday, July 3rd in the late evening. I’ll supply the green balloons if you can recommend a good place to meet at 8:30.
IS IT REALLY ON CAPITAL HILL?
I’m sadly tempted to drive ten hours to DC for a meet up. Had lots of fun several years ago at a dougj organized meet when I actually lived in the area
You should get drinks at the 8:30 club. It’s like the 9:30 club but for people who go to bed earlier.
@Chyron HR: Hey, I resemble that remark. And I live just a few blocks from the 930 club (which, in all seriousness, is my favorite live music venue of all time).
Scheise. I’ll be in San Jose. But if you’re looking for a nice rooftop try 1001 above the new Ben’s Chili Bowl. Miss Little Whiskey’s Golden Dollar is cool. Beuchert’s is maybe too small but awesome place. The Tune Inn is kind of classic. Queen Vic maybe. Smith Commons also nice deck. Heart and Soul. The Dubliner is a mainstay. Phoenix Inn (name might not be right) also a mainstay with irish music. Argonaut is the first H street revival bar and might be a good choice. Darn – sorry I can’t be there. Maybe Maketto. The Hill has really changed in the last 10 years. Liberty Tree might not be bad for a meetup too.
@dedc79:
fuck 9:30, black cat FO LIFE
@Chyron HR: Ok, that was good. Also Dedc79 is right, it’s one of the nation’s best live music clubs for a reason! I think a majority of shows I’ve seen in my life (and there have been ma. ny.) were at the 9:30 Club.
Would love to pop into town, but me and the Fro family will be up in Rehoboth, hosting our relatives from Montana (a couple days of DC sightseeing and then up to the beach; what’s not to love?)
Next time definitely, Richard!
@chopper: Both???
@chopper: Ha, I like black cat too, although I feel like my hearing has never quite recovered from a Ted Leo show I saw there about 10 years ago. I’m also wondering how much longer black cat can survive in its current spot given how much 14th street has changed of late and how expensive the real estate has gotten.
:D
I’ve lived on both Capitol Hills, so…
RM – Not in DC, but shoot me your e-mail if you want to see a video link to a really bizarre ending to a U14 non-championship game. In any case, have a good trip.
2Amys Pizza (3715 Macomb Street NW) is excellent.
@Jeffro:
The original 9:30 was better, back in the days when that neighborhood was a shithole. The current incarnation is too nice; I feel like I have to be on my best behavior.
In contrast, the new Birchmere is much better than when it was in an A&P shopping center on Arlington Ridge Rd.
Ye! Great gig. Wish I could make it. Long trip from Philly. Have a great time!
@dedc79: The 930 Club is so much better since DC outlawed smoking in bars. And they finally seemed to hire someone to run the sound board who can balance the mics so one can actually hear the lyrics occasionally. But, unfortunately, it still has too many people who come to the shows who seemingly think the music is just background noise at a drinking party – “Let’s converse by making extra loud mouth noises!!”
But maybe it’s just the shows that J wants to go to… ;-)
Cheers,
Scott.
(Who will have to miss the meet-up. You folks better have a good time for the rest of us!!)
Enjoy, Richard! You must come back this fall. Not in town, but hope you will meet some other Juicers who are.
Here’s a 2015 blogpost on good Capitol Hill bars. Not familiar with most of them, except the Tune Inn. Wish I could offer more guidance! Have fun.
With Monday being a holiday, Sunday night could be busy. I’m more familiar with the Senate side of the Hill, and am partial to the Irish Times, which is next to the Dubliner. On the Senate side, you are also close to the H Street corridor, which has quite a few night spots.
Dubliner in NE is not too far from Union Station if you are in a hotel up that away. H Street has the most choices Smith Commons which I haven’t been too and Red Rocks which is a restaurant which I have. The choices on Pennsylvania Avenue Se were better for casual get togethers but most are a little challenging for that now. The old Hack n Dove was one. That still may be good it has a bar but it is definitely heavy on the restaurant. I adore Tune Inn but it is small.
I’d be pleased to come down from Bawlmer, but pleeeeeez no music live or canned! And a place where the usual clientele isn’t drunk&disorderly at 150db & with some level of sound-deadening!
That is, presuming the idea is to actually converse with one another & not just catch every third word screamed at the top of the lungs by someone less than a yard away. The level of sheer noise in the venue effectively wrecked the efgoldmans’ DC meetup a few weeks back & I for one am not interested in motoring down (necessary since the last Sunday MARC train northbound from Union Station departs at 7 PM) to have what’s left of my hearing thus assaulted again. Klar?
@Uncle Cosmo: where did you meet the Goldmans in DC? Agree about the decibel level. Important to be able to converse.
@Uncle Cosmo: Sounds like a good plan to me, so where would a good, clean, reasonably quiet bar be?
My knowledge of Capitol Hill establishments is 30 years out of date, so I’ve got no suggestions about where to get together. But I think I can make this one, especially if it’s in the Capitol Hill area, rather than out in the NW boonies somewhere. (I’ll be driving in from Calvert County.)
Hey, that sounds great. Could I put in a request that it be somewhere that isn’t too loud to hear each other? Why do people who run bars think everybody who goes to one want to have to scream to be heard?
@Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.): will do.
@Elizabelle: Fado Irish Pub, 808 7th St NW, on the eastern edge of Chinatown. Even when the place was mostly empty in the late Monday afternoon it was LOUD & it only got worse as the day
progresseddegenerated.@Richard Mayhew: No idea, Richard. That deafening afternoon at the Fado was my first time in any sort of DC drinking establishment since forever. The District is too pricey, too arch & too much of a hike for me under all but the most extraordinary circumstances, e.g., visitors coming in.
We could try meeting up in the Union Station food court, but that’s a bit loud as well (tile walls & high ceilings) & I don’t think they sell ethanol-based libations there (though I could be wrong).
Yinz pick a place & I’ll deal with it.
recommend The Tune Inn, 331 Pennsylvania Ave SE.
it’s across the street from my son’s office, and i’ve been there a couple of times with in DC. a high-class dive bar w/ great food.
p.s. it’s on the list of Capitol Hill bars that Elizabelle posted above.
@mellowjohn: That works for me…
I’ll have an updated post tonight or tomorrow morning
I would love to go as I live near DC. If you don’t mind having a long time lurker along, please count me in and let me know what’s decided on the meet up place and time.
@The Reverend boy: sounds good
As a long time lurker and temporary Maryland resident, I’ll probably attend, as well.