Wednesday: E is for Eatonville

This Wednesday, E is for Eatonville in the 14th Street corridor, just north of U Street. Come celebrate author Zora Neale Hurston's Florida hometown (Eatonville) at this Southern-style establishment, complete with rocking chairs, colorfully muraled walls, and drinks served in Mason jar-style glasses.

E is for Eatonville in the 14th Street NW corridor, just north of U Street
2121 14th Street NW (2 blocks from the U Street Metro stop)

Wednesday, August 25, 6:00 p.m. and beyond
http://www.eatonvillerestaurant.com/

Next up: F is for...? (Send in your suggestions!)

Wednesday, September 8, 6:00 p.m.

DC @ dusk

DC is pretty at happy-hour time...

Wednesday: Dubliner is 'D' place to be

A new edition of alphabetical happy hour is just around the corner. Come out to celebrate the letter 'D' this Wednesday at The Dubliner.

D is for The Dubliner on Capitol Hill
4 F St. NW
Wednesday, August 11, 5:30-ish and beyond
http://www.dublinerdc.com/

Next up: E is for...? (still taking suggestions; let me know if you have any input!)

Wednesday, August 25, 6:00 p.m.

Cheers!

P.S. My apologies for the continuation of the awful alphabet-themed puns. I'm sure I'll run out of steam soon...

C was for Churchkey

Months of hype preceded my first visit to Churchkey, but it stood up to its reputation. Dimly lit, especially for late afternoon/early evening on a bright summer day, Churchkey has stashed coolness in every corner of its industrial interior. From the plush marigold couch seating along the wall to the comfy orange bar chairs (no stools at the bar here) nestled against the long bar inset with polished skeleton keys, this bar/lounge/restaurant strikes a balance of form and function.

Not only does Churchkey have stylish ambiance, its menu has an impressive offering of diverse beers and wines, as well as some tasty food options. Try the bread board for $5 or the “disco fries” (A.K.A. poutine, the Canadian-invented dish of French fries topped with brown sausage gravy and cheese). But it’s really the beer that's king at Churchkey. The menu has two full pages of draught offerings, and several large refrigerators house the bottled-options behind the bar. It can all be a little overwhelming, but the categorized organization on the menu and informative bar staff are big helps. I tried the St. Idesbald Blond, a Belgian ale. It had a nice, light flavor (“bright,” according to the menu). I then had an Edmund Fitzgerald (“dark and dry” under the “Roast” category on the menu), a product of the Great Lakes Brewing Company (known for it’s well-made, creatively named brews).

So, does Churchkey merit all the hipster hype? Probably. But go early to beat the crowds and snag a seat, and plan to stay a while to enjoy the awesome selection.

B was for Billy Goat Tavern

Billy Goat Tavern is a multi-faceted watering hole, a dive bar with a short-order burger counter, wedged into the corner of a shiny glass and steel office building. And then there’s the outdoor seating area on the wide sidewalk along New Jersey Ave. A short distance from the Capitol, Union Station, and Georgetown Law, this bar seems to cater to a mixed crowd.

Billy Goat is a rough copy of the infamous Chicago joint by the same name. The original Billy Goat Tavern got its name after the owner, William Sianis, adopted a goat that had fallen off a passing truck and wandered inside his bar. Sianis was such a fan of his bar’s new mascot that he renamed his bar and grew a goatee. In 1945, Sianis tried to bring the goat, Murphy, to game four of the Chicago Cubs-Detroit Tigers World Series. Sainis had even purchased a ticket for the goat but was denied admission because of the animal’s odor. In frustration, Sainis exclaimed, ‘"The Cubs ain't gonna win no more,” allegedly casting the Curse of the Billy Goat on the Cubs, who since have not won a World Series or even a Pennant.

The wall behind the bar at the DC Billy Goat is decorated with Chicago memorabilia, and other walls are covered in framed news articles depicting the famed history of The Billy Goat Tavern.

The DC version of Billy Goat has even replicated the original’s short-order counter with famous “cheezborgers” featured prominently. The Billy Goat and its gruff (forgive the pun) staff were showcased as “The Olympia Restaurant” on a 1978 episode of Saturday Night Live.

The cheezborgers at Billy Goat Tavern are quick, tasty, and cheap, and the staff is quite pleasant. As the crowd grew for the A-B-DC happy hour, we moved out to the patio and enjoyed the last of the sun’s rays disappearing from the DC landscape.

Billy Goat should definitely be a stop the next time you find yourself in the neighborhood, and it’s even worth a special trip to satiate your hunger with a cheezborger, have a cold beer, and marvel at the strange history of its namesake.

Wednesday: 'C' you at Churchkey!

Thank you to everyone who came out for Billy Goat a couple of weeks ago. We had an impressive turnout! Next up is 'C' for Churchkey on Wednesday.

C is for Churchkey in Logan Circle
1337 14th St. NW
Wednesday, July 28, 6 p.m. & beyond
http://www.churchkeydc.com/


Next up: D is for The Dubliner on Capitol Hill
4 F St. NW
Wednesday, August 11, 5:30 p.m. & beyond
http://www.dublinerdc.com/


Cheers!

Tomorrow: 'B' there or 'B' lame

Come out for round two of the A-B-DC Project TOMORROW! Join us at Billy Goat Tavern, and immerse yourself in a little Windy City culture. Don't know about the Curse of the Billy Goat on the Chicago Cubs? Educate yourself over a couple of drinks!

B is for Billy Goat Tavern on Capitol Hill
500 New Jersey Ave. NW, near the Judiciary Square and Union Station Metros stops
Wednesday, July 14, 6 p.m. and beyond
http://dc.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/american/billy-goat-tavern-northwest/393487/content

Cheers,
Katie