Quick Recap: V, W, X

I've really fallen down on the job of updating this little space. Here's a brief recap of where we've been lately (V, W, X), with more detailed reviews (with pictures) to come in the future...

V was for Vidalia

Va-va-voom: Vednesday, June 22, was Vidalia! We enjoyed happy hour specials from 5-7 p.m. (half-price select specialty cocktails, wines, and libations and $3.50 select bottle and draft beers). Vidalia also offers Southern "bar bites" for $3 from 5-7 p.m. Their menu features Southern-style comfort food like pork belly sliders, crayfish hushpuppies, BBQ shrimp, or potato chips with blue cheese dip. Or stick closer to home with the Chesapeake truffles (lump crabmeat with lemon-truffle aïoli). You can also get some grocery shopping done by purchasing a five-pound bag of Stanley Farms’ Jumbo #1 Vidalia onions (ask your server; comes with the restaurant's famous baked Vidalia onion recipe).

V is for Vidalia

1990 M Street NW

Wednesday, June 22, 6-8 p.m.

http://www.vidaliadc.com/

W was for The Wonderland Ballroom

Everybody loves a three-day holiday weekend, so we extended the fun through mid-week at The Wonderland Ballroom, a neighborhood bar with a District-wide following. Wonderland is too hip to list its happy-hour specials on its website, but according to the Washington Post, deals may include $3 rail drinks, $6 Delirium Tremens beers, and $2 off all drafts from 5-8 p.m. And, of course, Wonderland always has a good selection of drafts, cheap PBR, and a hoppin' patio.

W is for The Wonderland Ballroom

1101 Kenyon Street, NW

Wednesday, July 6, 6-8 p.m.

http://www.thewonderlandballroom.com/

X was for The Xchange Saloon

We tackled the letter 'X' with a trip to The Xchange Saloon, billed as "DC's oldest sports saloon." Resting in the shadow of the White House, The Xchange offers what you might expect from a sports bar, lots of big TV's and a full menu of "all-American style foods" (think burgers and nachos). So, we toasted the letter 'X' and the third-to-last alphabetical happy hour!

X is for The Xchange Saloon

1719 G Street, NW

Wednesday, July 20, 6-8 p.m.

http://www.theexchangesaloon.com/

Wednesday - P is for P.O.V.

Happy spring! Join us this Wednesday to celebrate the start of this optimistic season at a bar with one of the best views in town (maybe you can even spy some cherry blossoms on the horizon...). The P.O.V. rooftop lounge at the W Hotel offers eye candy in the form of sweeping vistas of the White House and the west end of the National Mall. Stop by to sip on a fancy cocktail and enjoy some time lounging on the window-side sofas. I haven't been able to locate details about happy hour specials, but trust me: the views are killer. To kick off April, we'll tackle the letter Q, and surprisingly, we may have a few options for this tough letter. Location for the letter Q is TBA...

P is for P.O.V.

515 15th Street NW

Wednesday, March 23, 6-8 p.m.

http://pointofviewdc.com/

Next up: Q is for... TBA

Believe or not, there are a couple of options for Q, so I'll work on making the selection in the next week. Let me know if you happen to have a favorite letter Q bar.

Wednesday, April 6, 6-8 p.m.

Cheers!

Reminder: This Wednesday O is for Ozio

This Wednesday, O is for Ozio, a cigar and martini bar near Dupont. We'll be upstairs (on the smoke-free level) to sip $5 house martinis, $4 house wines, $4 import beers, and $3 domestic beers. Despite the very "clubby" website, Ozio is more of a relaxed lounge atmosphere. Happy hour runs until 8, so stop by for an after-work drink, even if you'll be getting out late. Two weeks from Wednesday join us at P.O.V. at the top of the W Hotel, where the drinks are a little more expensive, but the views of the White House and monuments are priceless.

O is for Ozio

1813 M Street NW (we'll be at the upstairs bar)

Wednesday, March 9, 6-8 p.m.

http://www.oziodc.com/

Next up: P is for P.O.V.

515 15th Street NW

Wednesday, March 23, 6-8 p.m.

http://pointofviewdc.com/

Cheers!

F was for Founding Farmers

Founding Farmers has a concept that sets it apart from much of the rest of the DC restaurant/bar scene. Washingtonian Magazine called it “barnyard chic meets industrial garage,” and that’s about as accurate a characterization as I can think of. The restaurant, tucked into the 20th and Penn Ave corner of the IMF building, has crisp, sleek décor and farm-inspired touches throughout.

The bar in the middle of the first floor is surrounded by tables and booths, and the two story floor-to-ceiling windows along Pennsylvania offer the perfect place to watch the after-work crowd stroll by. Decorative jars of pickled fruits and vegetables line open shelving along the front of the restaurant and remind the patrons of the Founding Farmers theme. The emphasis is on fresh and local. Owned by the North Dakota Farmers Union, Founding Farmers (and its Georgetown sister Farmers & Fishers – link) focuses its drink and food menus on local and sustainable produce and other ingredients.

The cocktail, beer, and wine menu is extensive, with lots of classic and modern combinations to choose from, including “The IMF” inspired the nook of the IMF building it occupies ($25 – cognac, gin, Cointreau Noir, lime, and orange bitters). I tried “The Clementine” ($12 – lime and pineapple juices, agave nectar, and tequila infused with clementines and chiles), which was smooth with the slightest hint of heat at the end. The cocktail menu is divided into four categories: prohibition-era, sophisticated cocktails, farmer’s favorites, and recession proof “fiscally responsible cocktails.” The recession proof section is still pretty pricy by most people’s standards ($8-9), but not so bad when considering the ingredients and flare that go into each drink.

For food options, try some of the small plates. The homemade potato chips and dips, baby cheeseburgers, and flatbread with brie, onion jam, and apples are all tasty choices. A couple of people in the group enjoyed the large-portioned chicken and waffles. Definitely get a bowl of the $2 popcorn of the day, seasoned with the chef’s choice (ginger or old bay, for instance).

Founding Farmers compliments its sustainable menus with its dedication to environmentally conscious operation, including using reclaimed and recycled building materials, claiming the District's first LEED (Gold) certification for a restaurant, and buying carbon credits to offset its greenhouse gas emissions. Although, there are a few old-fashioned incandescents around.

Stop by and enjoy a craft cocktail (and some popcorn) at Founding Farmers sometime soon. And if you don’t have Thanksgiving plans, consider enjoying a three-course “farmhouse-inspired” meal at Founding Farmers for $35.