On Tap Magazine // March 2016

Drink. Dine. Do. 03.16

ST. PAT’S IN THE CITY IRISH WHISKEYS CELTIC CHEFS PUB PARTIES SHAMROCKFEST

MARCH

MADNESS PRO BRACKETS ALL-STAR BARS

PRIMARY

PINTS SUDS BY STATE

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REC LEAGUE ROUNDUP SPRING FILM FESTIVALS ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com CHERRY BLOSSOM LIBATIONS 2

on the scene

For more pix from these & other events, visit the online gallery at www.ontaponline.com

Despite the cold, locals put the hilarity in charity at the Cupid’s Undie Run. Runners participated in a one mile fun run to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.

Photos By Mark Van Bergh

save the date

FASHION SHOW THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 7:00-10:00PM

Join us for COMPLIMENTARY FOOD & DRINKS LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT AND DC’S HOTTEST FASHION DESIGNERS

888.420.5875 1401 New York Avenue NE

hechtwarehouse.com Washington, DC 20002

MARCH 2016: VOL 18 NO 5 Drink. Dine. Do. 03.16

WHO IS ON TAP

SLÁINTE!

For our March issue, we put together our top picks for the best ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day around the DC area. From ShamrockFest and ST. PAT’S IN THE CITY pub parties, to our very own Irish whiskey trail, our St. Pat’s selections won’t disappoint. This month, we’re also highlighting classy sports MARCH bars to catch March Madness games, our annual rec league roundup, MADNESS upcoming primaries and suds to sip from those states, spring film PRIMARY PINTS festivals, the talent behind some of DC’s hippest hotel bars, and an + off-the-charts bassist who jams with rock legends. On Tap is excited to introduce our brand new beer columnist, Matt Laslo, also a veteran political reporter and host of craft beer and politics show “Bills and Brews.” This month also marks Monica Alford’s first issue as Managing Editor, and she couldn’t be more excited to join the On Tap team.

IRISH WHISKEYS CELTIC CHEFS PUB PARTIES SHAMROCKFEST

PRO BRACKETS ALL-STAR BARS

SUDS BY STATE

REC LEAGUE ROUNDUP SPRING FILM FESTIVALS ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com CHERRY BLOSSOM LIBATIONS 2

Venue: Siné Irish Pub & Restaurant Photographer: Mark Van Bergh Cover design: Alanna Sheppard and Nick Caracciolo

Cover model: Sarah Goldsborough Make-up: Jennifer Lee, Phenomenal Faces Hair: Molly McCormick, Art & Chemistry Hair Salon

FOUNDER James Currie PUBLISHER Jennifer Currie

jennifer@ontaponline.com

MANAGING EDITOR Monica Alford

monica@ontaponline.com

ONLINE EDITOR Adrianne Morris

adrianne@ontaponline.com

EVENTS & PROMOTIONS MANAGER Theresa Converse theresa@ontaponline.com

EVENTS & PROMOTIONS ASSISTANT Shannon Darling shannon@ontaponline.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN & PRODUCTION Alanna Sheppard alanna@ontaponline.com

Nick Caracciolo SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Nick Hardt nick@ontaponline.com

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32

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An Evening with Celtic Chefs

Irish Whiskey Trail

ShamrockFest

Spotlight on Irish Culinary Masters

Enjoy the Emerald Isle’s Best in D.C.

Headliners Scythian Take the Stage

KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Tom Roth tom@ontaponline.com

COLUMNISTS

Tess Ankeny, Marcus Dowling, Jake Emen, Nick Hardt, Jon Kaplan, Matt Laslo, Jean Schindler and Jackson Sinnenberg

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Keith Loria

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Adrianne Morris, Monica Alford, Mark Raker, Mark Van Bergh, Brittany Thomas, Alanna Sheppard

46 Primary Pints Suds by State

50

58

Raising the Bar

Rec League Roundup

Best Spots to Watch March Madness

Pick Your Sport

PLUS STAGE & SCREEN

19844 Stage & Screen Events5 March Film Festival Roundup8 Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse 10

LIFESTYLE & STUFF Greenspiration12

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On Tap Magazine is published 11 times per year. ©2016 by Five O’Clock Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Use or reproduction of any materials contained herein is strictly prohibited without express prior written consent. Log on to www. ontaponline.com for more information.

OFFICE

Drink, Dine, Do14

EAT & DRINK

An Evening with Celtic Chefs30 Irish Whiskey Trail 32 New, Notable, No Longer36 The Bierdo 40 Behind the Bar42 Primary Pints46

ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

SPORTS

Raising the Bar50 Rec League Roundup 58

MUSIC

Scythian34 Tal Wilkenfeld68 DJ SAAM70 Music Picks 72

25 Dove St, Alexandria, VA 22314 Tel: 703-465-0500 Fax: 703-465-0400 www.ontaponline.com CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS www.ontaponline.com/events Due by 15th of month for print issue.

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On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

By Monica Alford

Hara Yannas as Julia Photo: Ben Gibb

nter the dystopian world of George Orwell’s 1984 this spring, on Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Lansburgh Theatre stage from March 11 to April 10. This progressive stage adaptation of the author’s famous science fiction novel is making its debut in the U.S. with the District as its third stop, after several runs in the United Kingdom since 2013.

Created and directed by U.K. natives Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, 1984 was produced by theater ensemble Headlong, with help from the Almeida Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse, before its international run. The 100-minute production – with no intermission – is an intense, multisensory experience set in post-war superstate Oceania, where three classes (the elite Inner Party, middle class Outer Party and working class proles) live under the ever-present, tyrannical Big Brother.

Outer Party member Winston Smith, who makes his living rewriting news articles to run parallel with the party’s current position, undergoes a radical transformation as he falls in love with the rebellious Julia. The themes of government surveillance, information manipulation and global warfare all ring true today, and the play’s leads are enthralled by the opportunity to bring 1984 to the nation’s capital. “[The play] feels particularly resonant with the current political climate in America and the upcoming election,” says actress Hara Yannas, who is back in the U.S. for the first time since childhood. “I think it stirs something up in people.”

Yannas, who plays Julia and has been with the production off and on since 2013, describes 1984 as a feast for the ears and the eyes. Without giving too much away, she says the multimedia elements of the play – including live camerawork – are used to aid in the storytelling rather than just as something cool to do onstage.

She credits 29-year-old Icke with creating a vision for how to tell a story onstage that’s as enticing as watching a film with special effects, or playing a video game. Matthew Spencer, who plays

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Winston, says the multimedia aspects can evoke very real, truthful emotions for the actors.

“Hara and I have moments in scenes where we’re being filmed, and it’s really interesting being in a theater but having a camera right there in your face,” he says.

Spencer says he and Yannas have built a fantastic rapport, and the actor appreciates having a secret giggle or two with his leading lady mid-scene as a brief reprieve from the intensity of being onstage for the entire play.

“Obviously there’s a script, which is set, but within that there’s a lot of room for us to discover and play around,” he says. “It’s not set and rigid.”

Both actors feed off of the immediate, somewhat visceral feedback from audiences, allowing them to gauge how people are impacted by the play and its subject matter. Yannas loves the energy of younger audiences, who she says don’t censor themselves the way a more mature audience might by being “quite polite and quiet, and just listening and behaving themselves.”

Spencer notes that the play strikes a chord with younger audiences because “we’re a bit naughty with the rules,” but believes that anyone, regardless of age, will find the play relevant.

“In a lot of ways, [1984] takes the rules of what theatre should be, what a play should be, and kind of throws them out the window,” he says. “It gets audiences to think and ask questions about what they’re watching, why they’re watching it, and how they use media.”

Don’t miss 1984 at Lansburgh Theatre from March 11 to April 10, with tickets starting at $44. Theatergoers 35 and under can catch Young Prose Nights (YPN) on Friday, March 25 and Wednesday, April 6. YPN tickets are $25 and include a complimentary libation and an invite to a pre- or post-performance party.

LANSBURGH THEATRE: 450 7th St. NW, DC; 202-547-1122; www.shakespearetheatre.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 10 COMEDY NIGHT: THE POWER OF POSITIVE DRINKING Catch a night of comedy paired with some excellent brews at Port City Brewing.

The brewery’s “Power of Positive Drinking” comedy series is back for its latest installment featuring local comedians.

Grab Southern comfort food from Ada’s Kitchen on Wheels food truck from 5:30 p.m. on, check out Port City’s tasting room from 4 to 9 p.m., take a public tour of the brewery at 6:30 p.m. and check out the show at 7 p.m.

PORT CITY BREWING: 3950 Wheeler Ave. Alexandria, VA; 703-7972739; www.portcitybrewing.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 11 – SATURDAY, MAY 14 110 IN THE SHADE Ford’s Theatre breathes new life into N. Richard Nash’s 1963 musical, 110 in the Shade. Set in Texas in the 1950s, the play – based on Nash’s earlier play The Rainmaker – follows Lizzie Curry as she’s caught between a charming conman and an upstanding local sheriff. Five-time Helen Hayes Award nominee and DC area actress Tracy Lynn Olivera (Signature Theatre, Arena Stage, Studio Theatre) will play Lizzie, accompanied by a talented cast in this new production of the classic musical.

FORD’S THEATRE: 511 10th St. NW, DC; 202-347-4833; www.fords.org

Ignore your emails, turn off your cell phone and leave your ID badge at the office—it’s time to take a night off.

$25 gets you a live performance, an invite to a

YOUNG PROSE NIGHT and a free glass of wine or beer.

Through Sunday, March 13 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Helen Hayes Award-winning director and playwright Aaron Posner – well-known in and around the District for his incredible work at Folger Theatre, Studio Theatre and Signature Theatre, to name a few – directs the Bard’s darling comedy at Folger Shakespeare Library. Posner’s new staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream stars DC actresses Erin Weaver as Puck and Holly Twyford as Bottom. A note on the lovely Ms. Twyford: On Tap’s Managing Editor remembers bumping into her at the Old Ebbitt Grill post-performance over a decade ago (total geek moment for local theater lovers, or this one anyway), and was deeply moved by her performance in Signature’s Sex with Strangers last fall. Catch a performance of this delightful play about four young lovers, a confused band of players and some very, very impish fairies.

FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY: 201 E Capitol St. SE, DC; 202- 544-4600; www.folger.edu

Next YPN will be held for

1984 Friday, March 25

Wednesday, April 6 Lansburgh Theatre (450 7

th

St. NW)

202.547.1122 option 1 ShakespeareTheatre.org/Prose

Patrons must be 21 years or older. Valid ID required. Some restrictions apply. Subject to availability and cannot be combined with other offers or previously purchased tickets.

www.ontaponline.com | March 2016 | On Tap

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on the scene

For more pix from these & other events, visit the online gallery at www.ontaponline.com

MONDAY, MARCH 21 THE MOTH STORYSLAM: THE DARK SIDE The Moth StorySLAMS are back at Howard Theatre, inviting storytellers (i.e., audience members) to prep a five-minute story about “the dark side,” whether it be a guilty pleasure or something deliciously devious. Here’s how it works: participating audience members place their names in the Moth “hat,” names are picked from the “hat” and those selected have the opportunity to tell their stories onstage. A team of audience-selected judges score the featured stories, leading to a StorySLAM win. Particularly excellent storytellers might make it to the GrandSLAM championships, but only after 10 StorySLAMS. Whether you’re telling a story or just sitting back and watching it all unfold, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event.

HOWARD THEATRE: 620 T St. NW, DC; 202-803-2899; www.thehowardtheater.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 – SUNDAY, APRIL 3 THE WASHINGTON BALLET PRESENTS HAMLET For nearly two weeks, the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater will be home to this modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set to the music of composer Philip Glass and choreographed by Stephen Mills, who has also performed at the Kennedy Center on multiple occasions. Together, Mills and the Washington Ballet are taking contemporary dance into uncharted territory with their retelling of this tragic tale of deception and revenge, as the Prince of Denmark wrestles with his father’s murder and the troubling aftermath.

KENNEDY CENTER: 2700 F St. NW, DC; 202-467-4600; www.kennedy-center.org

Mark Your Calendars Saturday, March 12 – Saturday, April 9

Guests enjoyed a night out at Ford’s Theatre that included a performance of The Glass Menagerie and a complimentary happy hour featuring Atlas Brew Works beers.

Photos By Nick HArdt

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On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

AMERICAN IDIOT No intermission is necessary for this 90-minute production of Tony Award-winning musical American Idiot at Dupont’s newly renovated Keegan Theatre. Audiences will be on the edge of their seats for this rock musical held in such an intimate space, with husband and wife team Mark and Susan Rhea (Mark is Keegan’s co-founder and Susan is the theater’s associate artistic director) directing the play. American Idiot is based on Green Day’s Grammy Award-winning 2004 album of the same name, and centers on three friends trying to find their way in the world as they each venture down staggeringly different paths. The Rheas will be joined by the rest of the creative team behind Keegan’s Helen Hayes Award-nominated production of Hair for what will undoubtedly be a most excellent production.

KEEGAN THEATRE: 1742 Church St. NW, DC; 202-265-3767; www.keegantheatre.com

You Are Invited

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Madness

Wednesday, March 9 | 6-8pm featuring:

Paladar Latin Kitchen, Copper Canyon Grill Ted’s Bulletin & Union Jack’s Sample Margaritas & Vote for Your Favorite!

Enjoy Complimentary Beer, Wine & Food Listen to Live Music from Phil of Lloyd Dobler Effect COMPLIMENTARY EVENT, BUT PLEASE

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Must be 21+ to consume alcohol

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The Environmental Film Festival’s opening night film, Sherpa Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Channel

By Keith Loria, Contributing Writer

T

his year’s Academy Awards may be over, but buzzworthy films for the next award season are already making their debut at festivals around the District. This month, three film festivals will be held in DC that showcase unique documentaries, shorts and full-length movies – all possible Oscar hopefuls in 2017.

The DC Independent Film Festival (DCIFF) showcases work from more than 70 indie filmmakers, including everything from full-length films to animated shorts, at venues throughout DC. There’s even a competition for local aspiring high school filmmakers.

“We build a community for them and include the audience so that watching films at DCIFF is not just about what is onscreen, but also about the people who make movies,” says Deirdre Evans-Pritchard, executive director of DCIFF. “The festival is fiercely independent in order to have the freedom to be cutting-edge and to present a wide range of ideas, issues and styles to Washington, DC” This year, opening night includes a world premiere of the new web serial, Districtland, which was shot in and is about DC, and is based on the play written by Christina Bejan. Closing night includes a conversation with actor and Dogme 95 filmmaker Jean Marc Barr.

For more information and a complete schedule, go to www.dciff-indie.org.

The 24th annual Environmental Film Festival, the country’s largest and longest-running of it’s kind, will present 140 films at venues around the nation’s capital selected to provide fresh perspectives on a wide variety of environmental issues facing the earth.

The theme of this year’s festival is “Parks: Protecting Wild,” exploring the vital role of parks and protected areas on our planet.

Screenings will include discussions with filmmakers, scientists and policymakers, and many events are free.

“The festival will open with Jennifer Peedom’s new film, Sherpa, showing how Mount Everest’s Sherpa community united in grief and anger to reclaim the mountain following a deadly avalanche in 2014,” says Helen Strong, public affairs director for the Environmental Film Festival.

A highlight of the festival will be director Ian Cheney’s screening of his newest film, Bluespace, which makes a strong case for taking better care of our water-rich planet so that future generations won’t have to resort to interplanetary colonization.

For a complete festival schedule, visit www.dceff.org.

A scene from Dispatches from the Gulf, which will be screened on March 25 at the National Museum of Natural History Photo: Courtesy of Screenscope

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

With five films being screened this year, the CineMatsuri Film Festival is slated to showcase some of the most compelling Japanese films made over the last year.

“CineMatsuri’s mission is comprised of two parts,” says Melissa Tolentino, assistant director for educational and public outreach for the Japan-America Society of Washington, DC. “The first is to provide an entertaining, weeklong event for people of the Washington, DC area to enjoy some of the latest and best Japanese films.

The second is to use film as a way for the Japan-America Society to accomplish our mission of helping Americans learn more about Japan.”

The opening film, Persona Non Grata, tells the story of a courageous Japanese diplomat, Chiune Sugihara, who defied his government and issued visas to over 6,000 Jewish people in 1940, saving them from certain death in Nazi concentration camps.

Encore presentations of Persona Non Grata will be held after the 24th.

The closing film, Emperor in August, was nominated for 11 Japanese Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor.

“We don’t show avant-garde or cutting-edge films,” Tolentino says. “Instead, we try to show recent Japanese movies that were well-received by both audiences and critics alike, and that we think will appeal to an American audience.”

For more information, check out www.cinematsuri.org.

on the scene

For more pix From these & other events, visit the online gallery at www.ontaponline.com

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Model Sarah Goldsborough at the bar with On Tap’s Alanna Sheppard

Guests at Hot ‘n’ Juicy Crawfish in DC celebrated Fat Tuesday with a Crawfish eating contest, Abita specials, raffle prizes and more.

On Tap’s Monica Alford smiles for the camera with her cousin

PhoTos By Mark Van BerGh

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On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com www.ontaponline.com | MARCH 2016 | ON TAP

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Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204 703-486-2345 ArlingtonDrafthouse.com

Live Comedy!

Wine Lovers the Musical March 16-20

Spotlight on

Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse

Jost Do It

By Nick Hardt

Weekend update...or March update for Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse: Saturday Night Live (SNL) “Weekend Update” coanchor Colin Jost will perform at the Drafthouse on March 25 and 26. Jost is an award-winning writer with Wr iters Guild and Pho to: Cou rte sy of Arl ing ton Cin em a ‘N’ Dra fth ous e Peabody awards under his belt, has earned several Emmy nominations, and wrote the semi-autobiographical 2015 comedy State Island Summer, according to the Drafthouse’s website.

So bone up on Jost’s material, people. You have time – we usually only see SNL stars after they ’ve left the show and/or have had a substance abuse problem. I hate to be cheesy, but here’s a chance to “catch a rising star” and “catch a beer” at Arlington’s only independent theater and comedy venue. This guy’s way better than Seth Meyers, folks. But for the record, Norm Macdonald is still my favorite. I’ve got to keep it real here!

Tickets are $25, with four performances on March 25 and 26.

Wine Lovers: The Musical Yannis Pappas

Tone Bell

Colin Jost

Carlos Mencia

March 3-5

March 25-26

March 11-12

March 31-April 2

Visit our website for full list of Showtimes & Events!

5 $ 2 $

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Comedy Shows in The Green Room every Thurs-Sat See website for dates!

Movie Nights Mondays & Tuesdays!

On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

I love the Drafthouse’s intro for this show : “Do you love wine?

Do you love comedy? Then we have the show for you! Wine Lovers is an intoxicating evening that will leave your colleagues, clients and coworkers impressed and filled with laughs for days to come!”

Yes, yes and yes. I would drink wine until my face fell off if they let me. Luckily, there are meetings for that, but you can skip the meetings and sing along to the Pho Arl ing ton Cin em to: Cou rte sy of a ‘N’ Dra fth ous e live show from March 16 to 20. The Drafthouse describes Wine Lovers as a “unique event experience in which the audience participates in an optional wine tasting while watching a lively, comedic new musical.” The New York Post says the musical makes for a “great evening out” and Dr. Vino (www.drvino.com) says Wine Lovers has something for everyone – “beginners and wine snobs alike.”

I couldn’t agree more. I think the only thing the show is missing is some chocolate, as the promo video looks hysterical. It’s like if a skinny Billy Mays made a musical about getting hammered on vino and threw in some dance moves. You can buy a ticket for the show or upgrade for the interactive wine tasting. Just make sure you swallow that sip before the jokes start coming. And for God’s sake, don’t wear white – it’s after Labor Day and red wine is sure to come out of your nose during Wine Lovers. Trust me.

Tickets are $35, with seven performances March 16 through 20.

ARLINGTON CINEMA ‘N’ DRAFTHOUSE: 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA; 703-486-2345; arlingtondrafthouse.com

HOW DO YOU LIVE

ABUNDANTLY? The North Face | Strathmore Fresh Bikes | Bone Jour All Fired Up | Pottery Barn Grapeseed Black’s Bar and Kitchen

Tell Us & Enter to Win! One of (8) $300 Gift Cards*

Deadline March 15

enter at www.flats8300life.com

Must be 21+ to enter and legal US resident. Visit www.flats8300life.com for complete rules. Prizes are non-transferrable and have no cash value, retail names are the registered trademarks of their owners and their use does not imply any endorsement of this progam.

Fashion Forward Style Guide St. Paddy’s Day Style for Any Occasion

By Adrianne Morris t. Paddy’s Day falls on a Thursday this year, and that means you may find yourself attending multiple celebrations. Whether you are headed to an after work happy hour, a weekend festival or are planning a date night, we have got you covered. Check our style ideas for a little greenspiration.

GALS Work This tailored Piped Madison Blazer in light green is tastefully feminine and the perfect way to get your green on at the office. Bonus, it is wearable well into summer. $99 at The Limited. www.thelimited.com Date This soft and flirtatious Carrie Jumpsuit is perfect for a St. Paddy’s date night, or for spring. Pair with pumps and a blazer for an easy day-to-night transition. $58 at Chic Bella. www.chicbella.storenvy.com Happy Hour This earthy, urban Petite Flora Utility Blouse packs a modern punch. Pair with a black pencil skirt or tailored trousers for an easy after-work happy hour outfit. $60 at Loft. www.loft.com Festival If a mega festival is on your radar, try this Green Clover Scoop Neck Graphic Tee. Pair with skinny jeans or shorts and long, funky socks. $17 at Express. www.express.com

GUYS Work With dozens of variations available, a tie is a super easy way to go green this St. Paddy’s Day. Try this clover green version, featuring a Ringside Dots pattern (suspenders are also available). $19 at the Tie Bar. www.tiebar.com Date If date night is on your agenda, try this classy, dark green V-Neck Sweater. Pair it with slacks, khakis or jeans for a polished, trendy look. $40 at Zara. www.zara.com Happy Hour Keep it cool with this comfortable Trim Fit Houndstooth Dress Shirt in green spearmint. It is nice enough for work and sleek enough for happy hour. $70 at Nordstrom. www.nordstrom.com Festival Combine your love for sports and partying with the Washington Nationals Celtic Tee. It is perfect for St. Paddy’s and game day. $20 at Fans Edge. www.fansedge.com

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

on the scene

For more pix from these & other events, visit the online gallery at www.ontaponline.com

Partygoers enjoyed a Fat Tuesday parade, music from 8ohm Band and Yomomanem, gumbo, hot beignets, plenty of festive beverages and lots of Mardi Gras fun.

Photos By Mark Raker

Introducing the New

App

Finally, DC has a real-time, easy-to-use, informative and integrated “one stop” app that uniquely focuses on the activities, dining, shopping, arts and entertainment experiences that energize the DC area’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

The only App you need to live and play! www.ontaponline.com | March 2016 | On Tap

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Did You Know?

By Adrianne Morris The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to Washington, DC.

The average lifespan of a cherry blossom tree is only 20 to 30 years, but nearly 100 of the original trees from 1912 still thrive at the Tidal Basin due to the maintenance of the National Park Service.

The 2016 National Cherry Blossom Festival theme is “Connecting People to Parks,” in honor of the National Park Service’s Centennial.

The festival adds new cherry blossom trees to the region each spring. In 2012 and 2013, staff and volunteers planted 200 trees in DC’s Oxon Run Park.

Over 1.5 million people attend the National Cherry Blossom Festival each year.

There are some 3,750 cherry blossom trees of 16 varieties on National Park Service land.

The first “festival” began as a small celebration in 1927, and expanded to a two-week event in 1994. In 2012, for the 100th anniversary of the trees, the festival became a five-week celebration.

The mean bloom date for cherry blossoms is April 4, and the peak bloom date is defined as the day on which 70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino cherry trees are open.

The 2016 Blossom Kite Festival will celebrate 50 years of kite-flying on the National Mall.

Fun facts courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival organization. The festival runs from March 20 to April 17.

Learn more here: www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

The festival offers over 200 free performances.

Mister Days The Original TV Sports Bar All Games, All Teams, All the Time!

Established 1977

March basketball mania!

ls!

y specia Don’t miss our gameda

Monster Video Walls Only at Mr. Days!

Giant Video Projection screen & 40+ HDTV’s All Drink, Dine, Do event listings were provided by the venues hosting them.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5

OLD BUST HEAD BREWERY: 7134 Lineweaver Rd. Warrenton, VA; 540-347-4777; www.oldbusthead.com

JOIN US FOR ST. PATS! Big Boots Brew Day WARRENTON, VA. Head down to the production area at Old Bust Head Brewery for Big Boots Brew Day. Held every year the weekend closest to International Women’s Day, Big Boots Brew Day was born from the Pink Boots Society members’ amazing participation in International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day to raise the profile of women in the industry and the profile of beer to women.

On Big Boots Brew Day, Pink Boots chapters, members, breweries and supporters all get together, don their pink boots and get brewing. 9 a.m.

DC Web Fest NW, DC. For the fourth year, the DC Web and Digital Media Fest will showcase the best in online filmmaking. Presented by 20/20 Productions, the event will feature the best in Web series ranging from comedy, drama, horror and soap opera. Along with the best online films, the festival also highlights new digital media, such as gaming and app development. 10 a.m.

CARNEGIE LIBRARY: 801 K St. NW, DC; www.dcwebfest.co

we’re Irish owned, so It’s always a PARTY! Wear Green and enjoy Irish themed fare.

3 Private Party Areas w/own Bar Accommodates 25-100 guests.

Contact Carol at 703-527-1600 for details.

Mister Days Sports Rock Cafe 3100 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington, VA 703.527.1600 | www.misterdays.com www.ontaponline.com | MARCH 2016 | ON TAP

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Check-in is at James Hoban’s and Black Jack. 12 p.m.

DC WHISKEY WALK: 202-905-2903; www.dcwhiskeywalk.com Whisky Live NW, DC. Whiskey Live features 200 of the world’s best whiskeys side by side for guests to enjoy, along with the stories behind them as told by master distillers, brand ambassadors and industry experts. This year’s list includes titan brands like Michter’s, Ardbeg, Maker’s Mark, Dalwhinnie, Four Roses, Glenmorangie, Oban, Talisker, Yamazaki and Lagavulin (in its 200th year); dozens of spirits from craft distilleries including Barrel Bourbon, Sonoma County Distilling and Smooth Ambler Spirits from DC’s own backyard; as well as other award-winning world whiskeys from producers in the U.S., Scotland, Ireland, Australia and elsewhere.

5:30 p.m.

GRAND HYATT: 1000 H St. NW, DC; 847-249-4333; www.whiskyliveusa.com

March Madness is at the Hare!

Watch full tournament coverage starting on

St. Patrick’s Day

Thursday, March 17th @ Noon

Great specials all weekend!

HOPINCRAWLOUT.COM 567 South 23rd Street, Arlington, VA

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On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

DC Whiskey Walk NW, DC. The DC Whiskey Walk is an awesome day of fun, excitement, entertainment and of course, excellent Irish whiskey. Enjoy the best of Ireland’s premium distilleries at eight of DC’s leading bars.

This all-day event is the perfect way to get ready for St. Patrick’s Day. Whiskey Walkers will enjoy a 1 oz. taste of a different select Irish whiskey at eight different venues in the Dupont Circle neighborhood.

In addition, each venue is offering specials on food, beer and whiskey to participants.

A portion of all proceeds will go to charitable organizations.

Victoria Winter Craft Beer Festival COLUMBIA, MD. Enjoy brews from Flying Dog, Jailbreak, Bells, Union, RAR, Manor Hill, Oskar Blues, Lagunitas, Firestone Walker, Founders, Heavy Seas, DC Brau, Troegs, Oliver’s, Burley Oak, Ballast Point and Breckenridge.

Your ticket includes a beer tasting from each brewery, tasting glass and passed hors d’oeuvres. 12 p.m.

VICTORIA GASTROPUB: 8201 Snowden River Pkwy.

Columbia, MD; 410-750-1880; www.victoriagastropub.com

Fair Winds One-Year Anniversary Party LORTON, VA. Come on down to Fair Winds Brewing Company for a one-year anniversary party. Fair Winds is offering a limited release of their All-Hands Anniversary Ale, a barleywine-style ale in 22 oz. bottles, plus food trucks, prize raffles, meet-the-brewer sessions and tours of the brewery. 12 p.m.

FAIR WINDS BREWING COMPANY: Suites K and L, 7000 Newington Rd. Lorton, VA; 703-372-2001; www.fairwindsbrewing.com Barrel Tasting STAFFORD, VA. Meet in the in the Potomac Pint Winery & Vineyard’s wine cellar for a very special barrel tasting

event. Be one of the first to sample their young wines directly from the barrel, while enjoying light palate cleansers. Winemaker David Pagan Castaño will be leading the tasting and providing insider information about the winemaking process. 1 p.m.

POTOMAC PINT WINERY & VINEYARD: 275 Decatur Rd. Stafford, VA; 540-446-2266; www.potomacpointwinery.com

Cinco de March-o MANASSAS, VA. Tacos and beer come together in one awesome afternoon. “Cinco de March-o” gets you three tickets to sample three tacos from local faves for only $5.

Vote for your favorite taco and wash it down with great beer, including a batch of American Expedition with lime. 1 p.m.

HERITAGE TAPROOM: 9436 Center Point Ln. Manassas, VA; 571-358-8463; www.heritagebrewing.com Washington Arts Performing Gala NW, DC. Enjoy an evening with performances highlighting the diversity of the Washington Performing Arts’ main stage and education programs, including cocktails, auction, dinner, dancing and a few surprises. Over 600 guests are expected, including members of Congress and the diplomatic corps, as well as international, national and local business and civic leaders. 7 p.m.

ANDREW MELLON AUDITORIUM: 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, DC; 202-785-9727; www.washingtonperformingarts.org

SUNDAY, MARCH 6 Bubbly Bash LEESBURG, VA. Enjoy the first session of spring with Lost

Creek Winery’s Bubbly Bash.

Enjoy bubbly from around the world, including champagne, sparkling wine, and prosecco.

Learn what gives them their unique flavors. 1 p.m.

THE VINEYARDS & WINERY AT LOST CREEK: 43277 Spinks Ferry Rd. Leesburg, VA; 703-443-9836; www.lostcreekwinery.com

MONDAY, MARCH 7 Detox & Retox ARLINGTON, VA. Enjoy a coed, all-levels vinyasa flow class, followed by rehydrating craft beer. The ticket price includes the yoga class and your first pint. Bring your own mat.

Tickets are $15. 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5 Brewer’s Ball NW, DC. The 12th Annual Beer Institute Brewer’s Ball, presented

by Matchbox Food Group and Anheuser-Busch, has earned its reputation as the nonprofit beer and food event in DC, hosting over 35 of the region’s best craft breweries and 30 popular DC restaurants. Guests mix and mingle while sampling handcrafted beers, tastes of the best local cuisine and more. If the mood strikes, you can boogie on the dance floor featuring live entertainment, or bid on unique silent and live auction items and experiences. Take advantage of this annual tradition by inviting your family, friends and clients to enjoy handcrafted brews and signature samplings from the hottest eateries in DC. 7 p.m.

NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM: 401 F St. NW, DC; www.dcbrewersball.org

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703 D St. NW 202-628-1288 L’Enfant Plaza, SW Promenade #325 202-628-2177

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17

SEHKRAFT BREWING: 925 N Garfield St. Arlington, VA; 703-841-5889; www.sehkraftbrewing.com

that. Explore the best wines of the U.S. 7 p.m.

VINOTECA: 1940 11th St. NW, DC; 202-332-9463; www.vinotecadc.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 8

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9

Drink & Draw NE, DC. Calling all doodlers!

For those that don’t know Maketto, it’s a rad little place on H Street that’s a combination of a restaurant, bar, coffee shop and purveyor of sweet streetwear with the kind of cool and collected vibe that almost catches you off guard. It’s basically the ultimate drink and draw spot.

So grab those sketchbooks, sharpen those pencils, have a cocktail (or two) and get inspired. 6:30 p.m.

MAKETTO: 1351 H St. NE, DC; 202-838-9972; www.maketto1351.com

United States of Wine NW, DC. This United States of Wine celebration will showcase some of the best in American wine. Highlighted wines will be presented by owners and winemakers, and there will be a live auction featuring large-format bottles directly from the wineries. The reception will be followed by the 101 Constitution Terrace Rooftop’s new BYO collectors’ dinner in the company of the participating winemakers.

6 p.m.

101 CONSTITUTION TERRACE ROOFTOP: 101 Constitution Ave. NW, DC; 202-589-0520; www.101constitution roofterrace.com

Whiskey Dinner NW, DC. Enjoy a gourmet dinner featuring the best that Jameson and Redbreast have to offer. Chow down on an appetizer, choice of entrees and dessert paired with some of the biggest names in Irish whiskey. Menu offerings include blackened brie bites, pan-roasted chicken, lime-seared salmon, New York strip and Blackfinn hot chocolate.

BLACKFINN AMERIPUB: 1620 I St. NW, DC; 202-429-4350; www.blackfinnameripub.com Offbeat America Wine Class NW, DC. Ever had a Norton from Missouri? A Vidal Blanc from Virginia? No? Well, Vinoteca is going to change

18

DC Brau Beer Dinner ALEXANDRIA, VA. Vermilion will be joined by local craft brewers DC Brau Brewing Company at this special beer dinner. Vermilion Chef William Morris and Beer Director Greg Engert will host a four-course dinner featuring seasonal, delicious dishes and expertly paired beers. Founder Brandon Skall will be on hand to regale patrons with DC Brau lore throughout the dinner. $60. 6:30 p.m.

VERMILION: 1120 King St., Alexandria, VA; 703-684-9669; www.vermilionrestaurant.com

On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 10 Victory Brewing 20th Anniversary Party NW, DC. Victory Brewing is turning 20 and they couldn’t be more thrilled. Join Victory’s founder and crew in pouring 20 beers for 20 years.

CHURCHKEY: 1337 14th St. NW, DC; 202-567-2576; www.churchkeydc.com Wine & Design NE, DC. Wine & Design brings happy hour and postal-esque crafting together once a month at the Postal Museum.

Whether you love writing letters, are an Etsy-fanatic or just looking for something new to do, this is a great opportunity to try something different. Kick back after a hard day at work with complimentary wine or beer, and leave with a unique, mail-related product. 5 p.m.

NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM: 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, DC; 202-633-5555; www.postalmuseum.si.edu Spring Fling NW, DC. This event will include a buffet dinner with flank steak, crab cake appetizers, tortellini bar and an open bar from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The auction will have 100 items donated by Dupont Circle businesses ranging from gifts and spa treatments to hotel stays and dinners. 6 p.m.

WASHINGTON HILTON: 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; 202-483-3000; www. dupontcirclemainstreets.org Cards Against Urbanity ARLINGTON, VA. GreaterPlaces. com and DoTank DC have reimagined Cards Against Humanity for cities with new, special cards dedicated to Arlington. Join them to

play Cards Against Urbanity, the Arlington edition, and add your own cards about Arlington. Don’t miss this humorous and endearing take on our community. 6 p.m.

MARBLE & RYE: 2501 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA; 703-920-0706; www.marbleandryeva.com American History (After Hours) Korean Cooking NW, DC. Enjoy evenings of food, drinks and conversation that link the past to the present. Cheers to history!

From the Korean tacos to kimchi burgers, Korean food is making itself known on American menus. Explore the delicious history of Korean cooking in the U.S. and its impact on American cuisine.

The evening will start out with a cooking demonstration and continue with a panel discussion and interactive reception featuring themed drinks and snacks. 6:30 p.m.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY: 4th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, DC; 202-633-1000; www.americanhistory.si.edu Spring Taproom Takeover Series NW, DC. Love Virginia beer but live in the District? Skip the drive and check out the Spring Tap Takeover Series.

Mad Fox will showcase a handful of their favorite Virginia Breweries. This location features two bars, 16 taps and three cask engines.

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery out of Richmond, Va. will be making the trip out and taking over their taps with their distinguished brews. 7 p.m.

MAD FOX TAPROOM: 2218 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; 202-791-0389; www.madfoxbrewing.com

new

Go buckmild.

This is Henry’s Hard Orange. A new, easy-to-drink adult beverage that packs a delicious little punch. It’s hard, but not too hard, because you have stuff to do tomorrow.

LIVE HARD-ISH. ©2016 Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Co., Milwaukee, WI * Flavored Malt Beverage

on the scene

For more pix From these & other events, visit the online gallery at www.ontaponline.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 11 Ocelot Brewing Beer Dinner NW, DC. Craft beer is a passion, an obsession and a journey.

From hoppy to malty to sour, take a trip through all the flavors. You’ll enjoy a welcome reception with charcuterie and oysters and a glass of Crimson Tears before moving to a seated dinner featuring four brews and four courses from Art and Soul Executive Chef Douglas Alexander. Ocelot will pour some great brews: citrus, piney and floral. See you there.

7 p.m.

ART AND SOUL: 415 New Jersey Ave. NW, DC; 202-393-7777; www.artandsouldc.com

practicing with functional options for everyone to have a safe challenge and a relaxing journey. Just $10 for the class or $15 to include your first beer. Bring your own mats and any props (e.g., blocks, straps, towels or bolsters) that you prefer to use to enhance your practice or support any injuries. And don’t forget to snag a beer afterwards!

BADWOLF BREWING: 9776 Center St. Manassas, VA; 571-208-1064; www.badwolfbrewingcompany.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 12 – SUNDAY, MARCH 13

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon SE, DC. Celebrating five years running, the marathon, half marathon and 5K are packed with live entertainment on a course that will keep you rockin’ all the way across the finish line. The Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Marathon remains the only marathon that runs entirely within the District. Experience the thrill of high-energy local bands and cheer teams along the course.

STARTING LINE AT RFK STADIUM: 2400 E Capitol St. SE, DC; www.runrocknroll.com/dc/

Winners enjoyed a VIP day with Abita in Baltimore, MD where they took a party bus around to different bars in the city for beer, food, and fun to celebrate Mardi Gras New Orleans style!

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Poses & Pints MANASSAS, VA. This class will be flow yoga for yogis of all experience levels. They will focus on breathing and

Capital City Food Truck Convention NE, DC. This convention gathers together under one roof the industry’s brightest chefs, entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders for two days of education, professional development and connecting with fellow vendors and industry providers. Registration includes admission to both days of the convention, food, drinks and a ticket to the Saturday Night Shindig, the social highlight of the weekend featuring the “Mobile Mall: Shop” from the hottest fashion trucks and mobile retailers in the DMV, “A Bite of the DMV” tastings from some of your favorite food trucks – plus specialty drinks, live entertainment and more.

8:30 a.m.

HECHT WAREHOUSE: 1401 New York Ave. NE, DC; 571-748-3245; www.dmvfta.org

SIO S I M D A FREE

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O C N I C DE

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AR H W E H T AT

SUNDAY, MAY 1 | 1-4PM (RAIN DATE MAY 7)

COLD FOOD LIVE BEER TRUCKS MUSIC And the

running of the CHIHUAHUAS

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Cash Prizes | Live Action Jumbotron® | All Dogs Welcome*

WWW.CINCODC.COM DOG R E UE

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Must be 21+ to purchase alcohol

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*$25 per dog to race. Races open to Chihuahuas only. All entry fees are donated to Rural Dog Rescue. Contests for all dogs.

Dogs must be current on vaccinations and leashed when not racing. Unruly dogs will be excused, owners must pick up after their pets.

Your Picture Perfect Summer Starts Here!

TIMBER RIDGE CAMP OPEN HOUSE

Join us at the Kubin’s home for a Timber Ridge information session. Refreshments will be served while you find out what camp is like, get answers to all of your questions and meet Jill Goden, the owner, along with some current camp families. With over 40 different activities, Timber Ridge offer something for everyone!

Sunday, December 13th from 1:00-3:00pm 9137 Penny Bridge Ct. Midlothian, VA 23112

800-258-2267

For more information or to RSVP contact us at: www.trcamps.com trcamps@aol.com

VOTED 2015 BEST IRISH PUB IN THE US

BY BUSINESS INSIDER!

Happy Hour Mon-Fri 3-7PM MARCH MADNESS SPECIALS Live Music Friday & Saturday Nights

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day On the Pike at The Celtic House

• Full traditional Irish menu all day • Traditional Irish music & dancers from 4pm • Celebrate all weekend with Brunch & Dinner Specials • Live music all weekend • NO COVER CHARGE!

Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10AM (Buffet brunch served Sundays)

THE CELTIC HOUSE

Irish Pub & Restaurant

Open 11AM-1:30AM Mon-Fri; 10:30AM Sat & Sun

2500 Columbia Pike | Arlington | (703) 746-9644 | TheCelticHouse.net

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

MONDAY, MARCH 14

Beer & Yoga NE, DC. Enjoy one hour of an all-levels vinyasa yoga flow class in the brewery, immediately followed by a pint of beer in the tasting room. Everyone is welcome – no prior yoga experience required. BYO yoga mat, and Right Proper will provide the beer. 5 p.m.

RIGHT PROPER BREWING: 920 Girard St. NE, DC; 202-607-2337; www.rightproperbrewing.com

You’re Boozin’, You’re Choosin’: Part Duex NW, DC. For a $5 entry fee, sample over 15 cocktails from Maker’s Mark, Bluecoat Gin, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and more.

For boozin’, one ticket gives you entry to the event, and access to sample one of each featured cocktail. For choosin’, choose your favorite cocktail of the night by voting. Top selections will be put on the Sauf Haus spring cocktail list.

7 p.m.

SAUF HAUS BIER HALL: 1216 18th St. NW, DC; 202-466-3355; www.saufhausdc.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 Social Hour: HumanitiesDC NW, DC. Enjoy a social hour celebrating HumanitiesDC,

a nonprofit endowment supporting DC’s arts and literature community. Author and DC native Linda Crichlow White will be there talking about her new DC history book Back There, Then: A Historical & Genealogical Memoir. Hear some Petworth history while enjoying the neighborhood’s favorite barwithin-a-bar.

PETWORTH CITIZEN & READING ROOM: 829 Upshur St. NW, DC; 202-722-2939; www.petworthcitizen.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 18

Pink Tie Party NW, DC. Springtime Washington affair the Pink Tie Party stylishly marks the end of winter and the official beginning of blossom season on March 18.

Attendees will be delighted and entertained by delicious food and beverage stations, unique entertainment and the friendly competition of the silent auction. The Pink Tie Party is an event not to be missed as influencers and tastemakers from DC and our region’s professional, sports, social and media communities come together to celebrate the cherry blossoms as an iconic symbol of international friendship and springtime excitement. 7 p.m.

RONALD REAGAN BUILDING: 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; 202-312-1300; www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 Wine Tasting & Cocktail Making SE, DC. Taste three whites and three reds at this event, where you will even have the opportunity to make your own cocktail using one of the wines. Wine writer Sarita Cheaves from VineMeUp.com will provide the education and Pipetown Traders will sponsor the wines. Snacks will be provided. 4:30 p.m.

HILL CENTER: 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, DC; 202-549-4172; www.drinkyevents.com Wags & Wine Extravaganza DELAPLANE, VA. Enjoy awardwinning wine, an amazing view of Virginia’s wine country, swing dance lessons with Sue & Gary Caley from Gottaswing, live music to get you on your feet, delicious hors d’oeuvres and an array of great silent auction items for you to bid on. All proceeds from the event will benefit Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, a volunteerrun 501c3 working to save dogs and cats from certain euthanasia.

BARREL OKAY WINERY: 3623 Grove Ln. Delaplane, VA; 540-364-6402; www.barreloak.com

wine tasting will follow the class. Reserve your spot for $15 that includes the yoga class and your wine tasting.

JAMES RIVER CELLARS WINERY: 11008 Washington Hwy. Glen Allen, VA; 804-550-7516; www.jamesrivercellars.com Easter Keg Hunt BERLIN, MD. Explore Berlin’s downtown bar scene while looking for Easter kegs and other random items within these establishments. You don’t have to drink beer to enjoy this scavenger hunt, because points aren’t all about the brews! Entry fee includes pizza from Mama Della’s and 20 percent off of beer during registration at the brewery from 12 to 1 p.m., plus a special edition 2016 Easter Keg Hunt koozie! Prizes will be awarded to highest scoring teams, best-dressed team and best team name. There will be a maximum of 20 teams, and all must consist of three to six members. 12 p.m.

BURLEY OAK BREWING COMPANY: 10016 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin, MD; 443-513-4647; www.burleyoak.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 26

Yoga & Wine GLENN ALLEN, VA. Enjoy a one-hour yoga class from Hanover Virginia Yoga, followed by a wine tasting.

Practice your wine salutations and get your “Om” on. The class will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at noon, and the

Cherry Blossom Beer & Wine Festival SE, DC. Spanning two weekends during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, enjoy two events featuring unlimited tastings of 100+ beers and wines, access to DC area food trucks, and live entertainment all day. 1 p.m.

THE YARDS: 1300 1st St. SE, DC; www.drinkthedistrict.com

F St. Location’s

MARCH

BREWERY EVENTS

3/2

CAPITALS POST GAME PARTY 9-11PM Make us your destination after the game for awesome late night Happy Hour specials and great live music!

3/7

Enjoy our 3 Chef parings with our Belgian Tripel. Beer and sampler platter $10.

3/17

Come join us on St. Patty’s for some live music, beer specials and corned beef egg rolls!

3/21

join us during Happy Hour to support Breast Cancer with $3 Pink Shots. Help us “pink out” the bar by wearing pink.

BELGIAN TRIPEL & TRIPLE SAMPLER 4-7PM

ST PATTY’S DAY PARTY HH 5-7PM

PINK OUT HH 4-7PM

www.ontaponline.com | March 2016 | On Tap

23

BIGGEST Event in Maryland!

St. Patrick’s Day at U

nion Jack’s

ShamRock & Roll

Reserve Tickets

Now!

SUNDAY, MARCH 27

Doors Open Early (9am) FREE Irish Breakfast (9-11am) $1 Guinness, Smithwichs & Harp (9-11am)

Live on Stage!

The Reagan Years (Happy Hour) Dublin 5 (Late Night)

GREAT SPECIALS!

1 $ 2 $ 3 $ 4 $

Guinness, Smithwichs & Harp From 9am-11am Guinness/Smithwichs & Harp From 11am-1pm Guinness, Smithwichs & Harp From 1pm-3pm Guinness, Smithwichs & Harp From 3pm-5pm

Union Jack’s Rio/Gaithersburg | www.unionjacksrio.com | 9811 Washingtonian Blvd Gaithersburg, MD

CELEBRATE

St Patrick’S day

E

njoy our tasty menu items, unusual wines from around the globe and specialty beers from many of the world’s best craft brewers.

Watch the tournament unfold during March with us and enjoy our specialty pizzas along with the many delicious brews offered both on tap and bottled.

208 Queen St., Alexandria, VA • 703-683-0300 www.bilbobaggins.net 24

ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Cherry Blossom Opening Ceremony NW, DC. Watch worldrenowned performers as they welcome springtime to DC, and celebrate the anniversary of the gift of trees from Japan to the United States.

Enjoy spirited traditional and contemporary performances in the historic Warner Theatre.

The Festival heralds a natural treasure that unites our city, region, nation and the world.

The trees – both in Japan and the U.S. – always have symbolized birth and renewal.

The Opening Ceremony celebrates the season through a showcase of great American and Japanese talent. 5 p.m.

WARNER THEATRE: 513 13th St. NW, DC; 202-783-4000; www.national cherryblossomfestival.org SheROCKS 2016 NW, DC. SheROCKS is one of the fastest-growing events for emerging women artists and entrepreneurs. This event was created to showcase women in the arts while providing ways to accelerate support amongst women entrepreneurs. Each year, the event showcases 14 women in performing and visual arts, and honors Distinct women whose efforts have paved the way for the success of other artists and women in business.

6 p.m.

DISTRICT ARCHITECTURE CENTER: 421 7th St. NW, DC; 202-347-9403; www.thewimn.com

Taste on Wheels SE, DC. Taste on Wheels, presented by Taste of DC, is a food truck event series celebrating the food truck scene in the Mid-Atlantic. Each event will have 20+ trucks and feature a signature “taste” item. Every attendee will receive a free drink with their admission ticket. 11 a.m.

THE YARDS: 1300 1st St. SE, DC; www.drinkthedistrict.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 31 Patricia Green Portfolio Tasting NW, DC. If you’ve never tried a pinot noir from Patricia Green Cellars, then you truly owe yourself, your palate and, for that matter, your soul an experience you won’t forget. What Napa Valley is to cabernet sauvignon, Oregon has become to pinot noir. Coalescing the timeless traditions of the Old World and the pioneering spirit of the New World, Patricia Green, along with partner Jim Anderson, have forged a trail of wine excellence found only on their Ribbon Ridge estate – from their vines, to the bottle, to your glass. 7:30 p.m.

CORK & FORK: 1522 14th St. NW, DC; 202-588-5766; www.corkandfork.co

the fairgrounds

thursday, march 17 th

FEATURING The PieTasters

Doors open @ 5 PM - Must be 21+

OPEN TO PUBLIC - 1201 HALF Street - SE DC

All St. Pat’s event listings were provided by the venues hosting them.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5 Alexandria St. Pat’s Parade ALEXANDRIA, VA. Alexandria celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a day of fun events including a classic car show, dog show and a St. Pat’s Parade. Federal, state and local elected officials, the Irish Ambassador, military commanders and other local celebrities will participate in the Alexandria parade. Local scouts, marines and high school bands will also be represented. 9 a.m.

OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA: 100 N Pitt St. Alexandria, VA; 703-237-2199 ; www.ballyshaners.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 5 – THURSDAY, MARCH 17

5, live Irish-themed trivia on March 8 and 15, live music by Ronan Kavagh and the annual whiskey dinner on March 9.

On March 10, get a Guinnessengraved pint glass, and on March 12, a rubgy and Irish brunch will be followed by the annual Leprechaun Lap pub crawl. Enjoy rugby games and Irish brunch on March 13, and a second round of live music

by Ronan Kavagh on March 16.

Finally, top it all off with their big celebration featuring Irish lunch from 11 to 3 p.m., and live music by Peohemia and Smalltown.

JAMES HOBAN’S: 1 Dupont Circle, NW, DC; 202-223-8440; www.jameshobansdc.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

St. Patrick’s at James Hoban’s NW, DC. Enjoy nine days of St. Pat’s celebrations. Check out the Whiskey Pub Crawl on March

St. Practice Day NW, DC. Doors open early for English Premier League soccer.

There’s a full brunch available until 2 p.m., plus a full menu including traditional Irish favorites all day long. Enjoy Irish

dancers and live music from Stout 7 starting at 9:30 p.m.

Doors open 8 a.m.

FADO IRISH PUB AND RESTAURANT: 808 7th St. NW, DC; 202-789-0066; www.fadoirishpub.com Gaithersburg St. Patrick’s Day Parade GAITHERSBURG, MD. The City of Gaithersburg, in partnership with the Harp and Shamrock Society, hosts a St. Patrick’s Day Parade featuring a pipe band, marching band, music, animals and more. The parade is co-sponsored by the City of Gaithersburg, the Gaithersburg Harp & Shamrock Society, Montgomery County Recreation Department and Peterson Corporation at Washingtonian Center. 10 a.m.

WASHINGTONIAN CENTER: 209 Boardwalk Pl. Gaithersburg, MD; 301-203-4186; www.gaithersburgmd.gov Manassas St. Patrick’s Day Parade MANASSAS, VA. The City of

Show Your True Colors...

St. Patrick’s Day: • Drink Specials • All You Can Eat Buffett ($15, Starts at 4 pm )

• Our Patio is Always Open!

Fun Irish Atmosphere!

1301 S. Joyce St. • Arlington • Pentagon Row • Pentagon City 703-415-4420 • www.sineirishpub.com 26

ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Manassas, Va. celebrates St. Patrick’s Day each year with a community parade featuring Irish dance groups, the Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe and Drum, Washington Scottish Pipe and Drum, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Coalition Pipe and Drum, the Marine Corps Color Guard, and other area groups and organizations. 11 a.m.

OLD TOWN MANASSAS: 9431 West St. Manassas, VA; www.stpatparade.net DC Leprecrawl NW, DC. Get some luck of the Irish! The DC Leprecrawl runs from noon to 9 p.m. Check in at Penn Social between noon to 3 p.m. (sharp) to start your way on the greatest St. Paddy’s Day event in the history of the world. You must be 21 or older to participate. Penn Social promotes the use of public transportation. Never drink and drive. Designated drivers are free and always welcome. $25.

12 p.m.

PENN SOCIAL: 801 E St. NW,

DC; 202-697-4900; www.dcleprecrawl.com Shamrock Crawl DC NW, DC. The Shamrock Crawl is a time of festive jubilation, so let your Irish cheer run free! Join thousands of fellow beer lovers in celebrating a day full of green revelry at some of Washington, DC’s most popular bars. Price: $15 early bird prices move up to $20 on March 1, and are $30 at the door. Get a refillable, signature shamrock mug, party favors, access to some of DC’s best bars, raffle entry for great prizes and free pictures of the event. 2 p.m.

FRONT PAGE: 1333 New Hampshire Ave. NW, DC; 202- 296-6500; www.theshamrockcrawl.com ShamrockFest SE, DC. ShamrockFest is America’s largest St. Paddy’s Day festival, where thousands shake their shamrocks to Celtic rock bands. It’s pure shenanigans, where the beer flows strong and everyone is Irish for the day.

This year, festival bands include Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, Vanilla Ice, Street Dogs, Scythian, Go Go Gadjet and more. Rock to the hottest lineup as bands play on six stages throughout the day. 3 p.m.

RFK STADIUM: 2400 E Capitol St. SE, DC; www.shamrockfest.com DC St. Patrick’s Day Parade NW, DC. Enjoy over 100 marching bands, military units, dance schools, floats and a variety of other groups and organizations to celebrate the Irish culture in America. This annual affair has grown from what was little more than a leisurely stroll by a few hundred participants on Massachusetts Avenue to a mile-long, twohour celebration of Irish culture along Constitution Avenue.

DOWNTOWN DC: Constitution Avenue, from 7th to 17th Streets, NW, DC; www.dcstpatsparade.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 15

Guinness Dinner ARLINGTON, VA. Enjoy a THREEcourse dinner prepared by Chef Pedro Flores, featuring Maryland crab cakes paired with Guinness Nitro IPA, Frenchcut pork chop paired with Harp Lager and a warm chocolate chip brownie paired with a pint of Guinness ice cream.

Also, learn how to pour your own pint of Guinness and get a souvenir gift to take home. $39.95. 7 p.m. Also, don’t miss the sixth annual Four Courts Four-Miler on March 12, a “must run” with a post-race party second to none in the DC area.

IRELAND’S FOUR COURTS: 2051 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; 703- 525-3600; www.irelandsfourcourts.com

14F St NW, Washington DC 20001 | 202-543-5433 Corner of North Capital & Mass Ave

LY THE ON ITH AR W B H IS IR

ER NOSTC. POADVDY’S! ON

Start St. Patrick’s Day with a Pint!

Join us after Shamrock Fest 3/12, & St. Pats Parade 3/13!

Live Music by Pete Papageorge on St Patrick’s Day from 11am New Whiskey Bar over 120 Different Whiskeys!

EVERY GAMES ON N C AA E H T T LE EGIN! 10 BIG SCREENS B S S E $ Miller Lite $ Warsteiner MADN 5EVERY day 6 ALL March VOTED ONE OF ESQUIRES TOP BARS IN THE COUNTRY!

Ireland’s Four Courts

2051 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 www.ontaponline.com | March 2016 | On Tap

27

THURSDAY, MARCH 17

Watch ALL Games LIVE! Watch the games LIVE here!

St. Patrick’s Day 9 am-12 pm

Kegs & Eggs 12 pm

LIVE MUSIC - Tommy Gann 4:30 pm

LIVE MUSIC - Down Wilson 9:30 pm

LIVE MUSIC - Willem Dicke 12 pm & 5 pm

Irish Dancers

We are showing all LIVE 6 Nations Rugby Games

3/02 3/03 3/04 3/05 3/05 3/09 3/10 3/11 3/12

Tommy Gann Pete Baker Silent Critics Irish Dancers Willem Dicke Tommy Gann Oren Polak Eddie Pasa Down Wilson Duo

Basketball Season is back, watch all the Madness here!

3/16 3/18 3/19 3/19 3/23 3/24 3/25 3/26 3/30

Tommy Gann Mike Leverone Nick, Ian & the Machine The Perfectionists Tommy Gann Tommy Gann Willem Dicke Pete Baker Tommy Gann

Host your St. Patricks party with us and take advantage of our catering menu in house or to go!

No booking fees! Call 703.812.0939 for details.

O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub - your local Irish Pub of Clarendon 3207 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201 - 703-812-0939 Visit us at www.osullivansirishpub.com

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On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Paddy Hard Day NW, DC. It’s the 17th St. Patrick’s Day in Chinatown! A $10 cover starts at 2 p.m., when the event becomes 21+. Music by Ice Wagon Flu and Lloyd Doppler Effect. Doors open 8 a.m.

FADO IRISH PUB AND RESTAURANT: 808 7th St. NW, DC; 202-789-0066; www.fadoirishpub.com Star & Shamrock St. Pat’s NE, DC. Always an H Street holiday hotspot, this year’s celebrations will build on Star & Shamrock’s longstanding St. Patrick’s Day party tradition of an 8 a.m. start time. Patrons can partake in an all-day array of bar and menu specials, featuring a classic house-cured corned beef and Cabbage, homemade Irish bangers and Colcannon knish, $5 Irish mule punch, $5 Jameson whiskey, and $1 off Irish draft beer. Need more?

Star & Shamrock boasts an ever-expanding whiskey wall, highlighted by some of the world’s finest and rarest Irish whiskey.

STAR & SHAMROCK: 1341 H St. NE, DC; 202-388-3833; www.starandshamrock.com

Kegs & Eggs ARLINGTON, VA. Get your St. Pat’s started early with Kegs & Eggs at 9 a.m. Then, party all day long with Tommy Gann from 12 to 4 p.m., Down Wilson from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Willem Dicke from 9:30 to 1:30 p.m. Also, catch Irish dancers from 12 to 5 p.m.

O’SULLIVANS: 3207 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA; 703- 812-0939; www.osullivansirishpub.com St. Pat’s Cut Work Party NW, DC. Get Your St. Patrick’s Day started right with $30 VIP Duffy’s cut work passes. The day includes all the brew (including Guinness) you can drink from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., NCAA opening round on all TVs, one corned beef sandwich, one Duffy’s St. Pats T-shirt (large or XL only) and Irish tunes on the juke! 11 a.m.

DUFFY’S: 2106 Vermont Ave. NW, DC; 202-462-9464; www.dcduffys.com Beat the Clock! St. Pat’s Party NW, DC. Beat the clock this St. Pat’s and enjoy early specials FROM 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., plus $2 green beer and $3 Guinness.

From 1 to 3 p.m., enjoy $3 green beer and $4 Guinness. And from 3 to 5 p.m., grab some $4 green beer and $5 Guinness. Also, enjoy a patio party, giveaways, an Irish food menu, music and more.

IRISH WHISKEY PUBLIC HOUSE: 1207 19th St. NW, DC; 202-463-3010; www.irishwhiskeydc.com Shamrock & Roll Bash GAITHERSBURG, MD. Doors open early at 8 a.m. Enjoy a free Irish breakfast and $1 Guinness, Jameson, Smithwichs and Harp from 8 to 10 a.m. Catch live music from The Reagan Years during happy hour, and then Dublin 5 for late-night tunes.

Look for staggered specials like $2, $3 and $4 Guinness, Jameson, Smithwich and Harp at one of the biggest St. Paddy’s Day event in Maryland.

UNION JACK’S RIO: 9811 Washingtonian Blvd.

Gaithersburg, MD; 240-780-7139; www.unionjacksrio.com St. Pat’s Celebration FALLS CHURCH, VA. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with traditional Irish-style craft beer, food specials and live music. This event will feature beer releases

such as St. James Irish Dry Stout and Tori’s Rockstar Red Irish Red Ale. Also enjoy live music

by Dixie Power Trio and party favors. 3 p.m.

MAD FAX BREWING COMPANY: 444 W Broad St. Falls Church, VA; 703-942-6840; www.madfoxbrewing.com St. Patrick’s Day Stag Party NW, DC. This St. Patrick’s Day party is perfect for after work!

Enjoy bagpiping, Irish dancing, live music, green beer, Sauf Haus Bombs, free schwag and a complimentary Irish Nacho buffet. This all-day event also features music from Mike the Bag Piper, O’Neill James School of Dance Irish Dancers and the Irish rocker band IceWagon Flu. Also enjoy the “Office with the Most” contest and a green bier “stein hoisting” contest.

SAUF HAUS BIER HALL: 1216 18th St. NW, DC; 202-466-3355; www.saufhausdc.com St. Patrick’s Blarney Day Bash NW, DC. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Mad Fox Brewing Company’s Glover Park taproom for their first annual Blarney Bash! Get silly and enjoy a live DJ spinning Top 40 music, Irishinspired food specials, happy hour all night long, party favors and two of their locally-brewed beer releases: St. James Irish Dry Stout and Tori’s Rockstar Irish Red Ale. MAD FOX TAPROOM: 2218 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; 202-791-0389; www.madfoxbrewing.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 St. Paddy’s Day Party CROZET, VA. Starr Hill Brewery is bringing the luck of the Irish, and they’ll be turning the Tap Room into its own Irish pub, featuring Blackthorn, an Irishstyle stout collaboration brewed with O’Hara’s/Carlow Brewing Company. Enjoy a selection of special beers being poured and paired with delicious food from a trio of local chefs competing in a “St. Piggy’s Throwdown.” Also, live music from the Albemarle Pipes & Drums, Ken & Mike

Farmer and Jon Spear Band, plus a limerick-writing contest, jig dancing and lots of giveaway prizes. One dollar for every beer sold will be donated to the National MS Society’s Virginia/ West Virginia chapter. Tickets are only $17 in advance or $20 at the door and include three tokens, each redeemable for one beer or food serving, plus a limited edition 20-oz. St. Paddy’s Day mug. Slainte!

STARR HILL BREWERY: 5391 Three Notched Rd. Crozet, VA; 434- 823-5671; www.starrhill.com

te

ra Celeb at J

MARCH 9th to 17th

fun! f o k e ll we A fu

Luck O’ the Irish Madison Party Brunch NW, DC. Join The Madison and DJ ESSO for their annual Luck O’ The Madison Party Brunch as they take over the top floor of Irish Whiskey Public House. Your $35 ticket includes a brunch buffet, bottomless mimosas and DJ ESSO ShamRockin’ the entire time. Ten dollars from every ticket will directly benefit Irish Whiskey Public House’s 2016 charity, Dreams for Kids, DC. 12 p.m.

IRISH WHISKEY PUBLIC HOUSE: 1207 19th St. NW, DC; 202-463-3010; www.irishwhiskeydc.com Clarendon Shamrock Crawl ARLINGTON, VA. Dress up in your finest Irish greens and hit the town for a day of adventures. Who knows, you may even run into some lucky leprechauns. Whether your roots are from Ireland or you’re just Irish for the day, join thousands of revelers as they dance their way from pub to pub, enjoying drink specials bypassing cover charges. The 25 percent off promo code is “BLOG.” What you get: a signature Shamrock’s refillable mug, St. Paddy’s Day party beads, access to some of the area’s best bars, raffle entry for great prizes, free pictures of the event and tons of specials along the way! 1 p.m.

CLARENDON BALLROOM: 3185 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; 703- 469-2244; www.theshamrockcrawl.com

1 DUPONT CIRCLE NW WASHINGTON, DC 20036 202-223-8440 INFO@JAMESHOBANSDC.COM

Featuring Live Music by Dixie Power Trio

Dixie Power Trio at Brewpub

DJ at Taproom

Enjoy:

Tori’s Rockstar Irish Red Ale Enjoy: St. James Irish Dry Strout Tori’sLive Rockstar Irish Red Ale MusicRed & Party Favors!

St. James Irish Dry Stout Live Music & Party Favors!

Mad Fox Brewing Company

Falls Church Brewpub Glover Park Taproom 444 West Broad Street | Falls Church, VA | madfoxbrewing.com 444 W. Broad Street

2218 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC

Madfoxbrewing.com, Follow us on www.ontaponline.com | March 2016 | On Tap

29

By Jean Schindler, Dining Columnist 2015 Celtic Chefs. From left to right: Debra Rubin, Tracy O’Grady, Paul Pelt, Sebastian Rondier, Cathal Armstrong, John Fielding, Ted Hughes and Michael Abt

A

Photo: Courtesy of Washington Ireland Program

bit of blarney, some bipartisan peacemaking and some seriously swoonworthy food – the best of all of DC’s worlds collide in An Evening with Celtic Chefs on April 13 at the St. Regis Hotel downtown celebrating the work of the Washington Ireland Program (WIP). The program reaches“across the aisle” in Congress and “across the isle” to promote peace in Ireland and serve as a model for

post-conflict reconciliation. It is also a model for throwing an untraditional Washington party.

“No sit-down tables,” insists WIP Board Member Kevin Sullivan. “No long speeches.”

“And no rubber chickens!” exclaims Carmel Martin, a first-generation Irish American and WIP board member who has sampled a lifetime of rubber chicken in her distinguished career as a civil rights

attorney and policy guru. The star of this event is the food.

“I will never forget the foie gras macaron that the team from Le Diplomate served last year,” Martin recalls fondly.

So it’s settled: you’re going. Obviously.

What local foodie stars are we eagerly anticipating? So glad you asked. Here are three of the six.

The Irish Inn at Glen Echo

Campono

Originally from Syracuse, N.Y., Chef Ted Hughes started in small restaurants, worked in hotels and resorts around the world, and then landed in DC at the Irish Inn at Glen Echo – with the goal of eventually having a place of his own. That time has finally come with the March opening of Lahinch Tavern & Grill in the Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall in Potomac, Md., which he co-owns with the all-Irish crew behind the Irish Inn. In an environment of reclaimed wood and opulence glass, this casual neighborhood Irish American tavern and grill will feature fresh, locally-sourced interpretations of Irish cuisine – think shepherd’s pie, but made with braised short ribs.

Hughes and the Irish Inn have been involved with the WIP’s An Evening with Celtic Chefs for many years. Irish Inn co-owner Christie Hughes came to the U.S. from Ballymahon in County Longford over 40 years ago, and has long been a mainstay of Washington’s Irish community. The opportunity to support the WIP and to encourage peace in the homeland while serving great food was too tasty to resist.

So what will Hughes unveil at An Evening with Celtic Chefs?

Probably his favorite Irish food: sausage rolls, which he makes with an Irish mustard slaw, “which gives it a bit of unexpected zing,” he says proudly. He served these at the event last year, and they were tremendously popular.

“It’s a very common Irish food,” Hughes notes. “You pop into a little shop and grab a sausage roll, almost like street food, so it really makes sense for an event like this.”

Chef Tracy O’Grady has the distinction of having been a “Celtic chef” every year of the celebration’s existence.

“It’s a smaller, more intimate event that’s close to my heart,” she notes. And “it’s a program that builds peace in the world – people really should look at what the Irish and the U.K. have accomplished.”

O’Grady, originally from the ethnic Irish enclave on the south side of Buffalo, N.Y., grew up on Irish fare; when she opened the criticallyacclaimed Willow in Ballston, she updated that heritage with a focus on fresh and local ingredients. But the smoked salmon still came directly from Ireland via Fergus Kennedy of “Most Things Irish.”

Willow’s closing late in 2015 was a much-mourned moment (the restaurant’s last night was an “Irish wake”), but as O’Grady observed, “it’s a tough industry to start with, and it’s getting tougher.” Now, working in a kitchen without the pressures of small business ownership is “a breath of fresh air. I love the place and I love the staff, and I’m happy to be here.”

So what can we expect on April 13 from this Celtic chef? O’Grady is mum on menu details, but “we always try to do a modern interpretation of Irish cuisine,” she says.

“One year we did Irish flatbread, with smoked salmon and Irish cheddar – that was really popular. One year I did risotto – with Irish oats.”

Every year she has whipped up something savory and something sweet, including a memorable Guinness cake with Bailey’s buttercream. We can’t wait to see O’Grady’s post-Willow creativity blossom.

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Broad Branch Market John Fielding, who was trending before DC’s food scene was trendy, has been involved with the WIP event for many years.

“We loved the idea of what the program represents about working together through our differences to achieve the greater goals of peace and prosperity,” he remembers.

And the Irish connection?

“My partner Tracy Stannard (maiden name Concaugh) is from an Irish family from Boston, and I’m a bit of a mutt from the British Isles.”

Fielding has a soft spot for the Emerald Isle. While traveling around Ireland a few years ago, “what really struck me was the quality of the produce, dairy and proteins – amazing lamb and salmon, of course, but the vegetables were beautiful, and I could drink the milk all day. And the eggs – electric orange yokes and creamy whites.”

But the chef’s favorite is the full Irish breakfast.

“We stayed at a B&B in Dingle, and sitting at the table in the morning drinking tea and waiting for my plate – I would take that over most fine dining experiences.”

At last year’s An Evening with Celtic Chefs, Fielding represented Chao Ku in Shaw and served an Irish-Chinese breakfast: five-spice black pudding with Chinese pork sausage and fried quail egg. In previous years, he has participated in the event representing his business, Broad Branch Market. This year’s menu, which comes courtesy of Fielding’s new Soapstone Market (Van Ness, opening late summer 2016), is still a blank slate.

“We will definitely have Tracy’s famous Irish soda bread in the mix, but the rest will be determined as we get closer.”

Don’t miss An Evening with Celtic Chefs on April 13 from 7-9 p.m. For more information, go to www.wiprogram.org THE ST. REGIS: 923 16th St. NW, DC; 202-638-2626; www.stregiswashingtondc.com

about the event: • For seven years, An Evening with Celtic Chefs has raised money for WIP’s service and leadership programs.

• Six DC celebrity chefs will show off at a variety of cooking stations, and then their culinary creations will be plated and served up by Washington VIPs – last year featured Senator Chris Murphy, novelist Alice McDermott and Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley as glam sous chefs.

• This year, the evening will honor Joyce and John Flynn for their years of service to the WIP. • Alumni of WIP’s leadership and service programs include the youngest Cabinet ministers currently serving in the Irish and Northern Irish governments, and two members of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

www.ontaponline.com | MARCH 2016 | ON TAP

31

I RISH WHISKEY TR AIL Enjoy the Best of the Emerald Isle without Leaving D.C.

By Jake Emen, Spirits Columnist When you’re ready to expand your knowledge of Irish drinking beyond Guinness, there’s an increasingly large array of options to consider. With the luck of the Irish on your side, you may even be able to try some of the country’s best and newest whiskeys during your St. Patrick’s Day adventures in and around the District.

WEST CORK West Cork Irish Whiskey is a newer brand to the U.S., with two different whiskeys including their original classic blend that incorporates both grain and malt whiskey, and their 10-year single malt, aged entirely in first-fill, re-charred bourbon barrels.

“They are a true artisanal producer, using only spring water sourced from the Ilan River,” says Gary Shaw, whose company, M.S. Walker, imports the brand. “And they are the only Irish distillery to exclusively malt all of their own Irish barley.”

INSIDER RECIPE: A small artisanal approach is refreshing for Irish whiskey, typically known for its big brands. Try a brand-recommended W.C. & G. cocktail, with a pour of West Cork Original topped off with ginger ale and served over ice.

DERRY

TULLAMORE DEW

COUNTY OFFALY

DUBLIN

COUNTY CORK

QUIET MAN The Quiet Man launched at the start of 2016, in conjunction with Luxco and Niche Drinks, based in Derry, Ireland. Ciaran Mulgrew of Niche Drinks founded the brand in honor of his father, John, a career bartender.

“In more than 50 years behind the bar, my father saw and heard it all,” says Mulgrew. “But like all good bartenders, John Mulgrew was true to the code and told no tales. He was ‘The Quiet Man,’ or as they say in the pubs of Ireland, ‘A Fear Ciuin.’”

INSIDER RECIPE: Two varieties are available, including their traditional blend and eight-year single malt. Try the blend in the brand-recommended Quiet Irish Sour.

Use 1 oz. of Quiet Man Blended, two ounces lemon juice, .5 oz. of simple syrup and a dash of bitters, shaken with ice and served up.

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Tullamore D.E.W. has unveiled their oldest-ever release, Trilogy.

“We’re really excited about it – [it’s] 15 years [old] – and it’s got the hallmarks of Tullamore D.E.W.,” says Brand Ambassador Tim Herlihy.

He’s referring to the brand’s “power of three,” referencing triple distillation, as well as the utilization of three varieties of Irish whiskey in its blends: column distilled grain, pot still and malt. But in the case of Trilogy, there’s an added wrinkle.

“We mature it in three different types of casks,” says Herlihy. “Bourbon, sherry and then we’ll also do a threemonth rum finish as well.”

That rum-cask finishing provides entirely distinctive notes to the whiskey.

INSIDER RECIPE: Trilogy is best enjoyed neat, but Herlihy suggests using another Tullamore release, Phoenix, for cocktails.

“That’s a 55 percent ABV, 110-proof Irish whiskey,” he says.

“It works great because of the high proof, and you can give an Irish flair to any high-proof bourbon drink.”

Try it in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan riff.

TEELING Teeling Whiskey is now proudly the only operational distillery actually located in Dublin. Production is underway there, while the brand still has supply from its previous operation.

The current lineup includes a single grain, malt and small batch blended offering, as well as several premium expressions. Each bottled at 46 percent ABV, they can offer some oomph to cocktails while also being enjoyed neat.

INSIDER RECIPE: Try the Teeling Souring Inferno, made with 1.5 oz. Teeling Small Batch, .75 oz. simple syrup, .75 oz. maraschino liqueur and an egg white. Shake it all together and serve it up. To elevate it further, set it on fire – literally.

You can brûlée the egg white with a lighter to give it an exciting twist.

JAMESON The newest from Jameson is the exciting Jameson Caskmates release, taking Jameson Original and finishing it in barrels that previously held the Franciscan Well Brewery’s Irish stout.

Caskmates adds notes of coffee, cocoa and hops to classic Jameson.

“Imagined from a conversation in a neighborhood pub, Jameson Caskmates is a product of shared passion for craft, quality and collaboration,” says Sona Bajaria, Pernod Ricard USA’s Director of Jameson Irish Whiskey.

It sounds like a whimsical story, but it’s true, as longtime friends came up with the idea over drinks. It just so happens that the friends were Dave Quinn, master of whiskey science at the Old Jameson Distillery, and Shane Long, head brewer at Franciscan Well.

Another Jameson expression worth exploring is the still relatively new Black Barrel. Aged in bourbon barrels that have been twice-charred, Black Barrel delivers added, intense notes of vanilla, spice and nuts.

INSIDER RECIPE: While Caskmates is best enjoyed neat, perhaps with an Irish stout by its side, try Black Barrel in an Irish classic, the Tipperary. Use 1.5 oz. Black Barrel, .75 oz. sweet vermouth and .75 oz. green Chartreuse.

at thes e

Quiet Man bartender

Monday - Friday, 4-7pm $5 local drafts, specialty cocktails, select wines

FADÓ BY NIGHT

Wednesdays Crafty Hour Thursdays Danny Burns rocking the pub has become a new DC favorite.

Saturdays Live Bands for craicing mix of drinking and dancing.

Visit our website for Late Night Drink Specials and music lineup.

ST PATRICK S SEASON 3/5 3/6 3/12 3/14 3/17

St BALDRICKS, UFC McGregor Fight Pint Pouring contest St Practice Day w/ 6nations rugby Paddys Day Pub Quiz St Patrick’s Day

FADOIRISHPUB.COM

Get you

I RISH

HAPPY HOUR

808 7TH ST | DC | 202.789.0066 | GALLERY PLACE METRO

r

ON

Please drink responsibly.

DC Bar

s

Photo: Ronira Fruhstuck

The Dubliner The Dubliner’s massive Irish whiskey collection includes all varieties, as well as a lineup of vintage and very rare releases.

THE DUBLINER: 4 F St. NW, DC; 202-737-3773; www.dublinerdc.com Irish Whiskey DC The bar is named for the stuff, so you bet it’s a good choice.

While the selection isn’t strictly limited to Irish whiskey, the vast majority of the bar’s expansive list is dedicated to it.

IRISH WHISKEY DC: 1207 19th St. NW, DC; 202-463-3010; www.irishwhiskeydc.com Jack Rose With 2,400+ whiskeys, there are certainly some great Irish selections. According to Tullamore’s Herlihy, there’s a potential plan in place for Jack Rose to become the only bar in the U.S. carrying its Global Travel Retail release, Cider Cask.

JACK ROSE: 2007 18th St. NW, DC; 202-588-7388; www.jackrosediningsaloon.com

www.ontaponline.com | MARCH 2016 | ON TAP

33

By Jon Kaplan, National Music Columnist

Scythian performs at their roots music camping festival, Appaloosa, in Front Royal, Va. Photo: Danielle Lussier

family of second-generation Ukrainian immigrants playing Irish music; a band from DC whose members have worked hard for a decade to get where they are today; and a rocking group of musicians that will have you up and dancing for their whole show. All of these things define Scythian.

Scythian celebrated 10 years as a band last year, a decade that has seen them rise from playing the streets of Old Town Alexandria for gas money, to playing for the president and the pope. Along the way, they’ve released both live and studio albums, including their most recent, “Old Tin Can.” They refer to their sound as “immigrant rock,” a term that reflects their family history as well as the style of music they now call their own.

“My parents emigrated from Ukraine during the Second World War,” says Dan Fedoryka, one of Scythian’s founding members and rhythm guitarist, accordionist and vocalist.

“Joe Crosby’s (the band’s other founding member, fiddle and bass player, and vocalist) mother emigrated from Austria, so we all grew up with an Old World sensibility and were exposed to ethnic music our whole lives. We have tried to stay true to our roots while becoming headliners on the Irish circuit. So you might see us play a song in Ukrainian at an Irish festival. At first, people didn’t know how to take it, but now people have come to expect it and want us to keep throwing them curveballs. We’re proud to keep our heritage alive in this way and happy that people seem to dig it.”

In addition to Fedoryka and Crosby, the band features Tim

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Hepburn on drums; Fedoryka’s brother, Alex, on fiddle, mandolin and bass; and their sister, Larissa, on cello. Dan Fedoryka says that playing together as a family is “one of the best things ever.”

“We’re able to anticipate each other musically,” he says, “in ways that kind of freak us out. It’s really magic. We grew up playing together as a family band, so all those years of practicing alone in our bedrooms are paying off on the big stage, which is pretty gratifying.”

Fedoryka credits the band’s three-year gig as the house band at Fado Irish Pub with making them into the live act they are today.

The Fado gig led to shows at the 9:30 Club, and that got them noticed by the organizers of ShamrockFest. This year, the band returns to the festival that gave them a boost of confidence in the early days, and kept them reaching for bigger and better things.

“Scythian and ShamrockFest started the same year,” Fedoryka says, “and we played the first one when it was still in Clarendon. It’s been fun to grow with this festival, and we can say ShamrockFest gave the local boys a chance to cut their teeth by sharing the stage with bands like Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. This let us know that we could hang in the majors and really inspired us to keep pushing.”

Last year, as part of celebrating a decade as a band, Scythian introduced two new traditions. First, they started their own roots music camping festival called Appaloosa, which takes place in Front Royal, Va. during Labor Day weekend. This year’s festival will feature 30 bands from the U.S. and Europe, as well as giving the

Siblings Dan (rhythm guitar/accordion/ vocals), Alex (fiddle/mandolin/bass/ vocals) and Larissa (cello) Fedoryka perform Photo: Jim Gavenus

band a chance to meet the next generation of musicians.

“We’ve set up a Heritage Music School,” Fedoryka says, “where kids will get music workshops and the whole weekend will be a giving back to the community and celebrating the good things in life – friends and family. That is really what is inspiring us and the direction we’re heading.”

Secondly, they started fan trips to Ireland. The band travels the country on a bus with fans and explores places that have inspired their music.

“It’s always great to see how our music is received by the Irish locals,” Fedoryka says, “and to have our fans interact with them is really something special. Lots of Guinness, lots of amazing music and sightseeing, and not so much sleep equals Scythian in Ireland.”

Fedoryka and the other members of Scythian had no idea that their music would take them this far, but they appreciate it all.

“We definitely had no clue that this is where we’d end up,” he says, “but we wouldn’t change a thing. We can honestly say that ‘work’ doesn’t feel like work. We feel pretty lucky.”

Scythian will be rocking the “Shamrock Green” stage at ShamrockFest on Saturday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m. Check out www.scythianmusic.com for more info. For a complete lineup of artists performing at ShamrockFest, visit shamrockfest.com.

SHAMROCKFEST AT RFK STADIUM: 2400 E Capitol St. SE, DC; www.shamrockfest.com

www.murphyspub.com

ST. PATRICK’S DAY - March 17th NEW HAPPY HOUR!

MON - FRI 4-7PM

MONDAY 4-7PM $ .50 3 Bud Lights

2 Off ALL Drafts $ 5 Wine $

(Except Guinness)

All Fans Welcome!

TUESDAY 4-7PM $ 5 Rail Drinks

WEDNESDAY 1/2 Price Burgers $ 4 Coronas

Reserve our Private Room w/Bar for your upcoming parties or events!

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51ST STATE BAR & KITCHEN

2512 L Street, NW • Foggy Bottom Metro 51ststatetavern.com • 51ststatetavern@gmail • 202.625.2444 www.ontaponline.com | MARCH 2016 | ON TAP

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On Tap scouts out the restaurants and bars that are new to the scene or shaking things up.

By Jean Schindler

Mussels at Squire’s Rock Creek Chophouse

Seoulspice Korrito

Photo: Courtesy of Squire’s Rock Creek Chophouse

Photo: Courtesy of Seoulspice

BIBIM

Why: Korean food has moved from “trendy”’ to “staple” Bibim was opened by a restaurant industry veteran so she wouldn’t have to drive to Annandale for good Korean food.

The scallion pancakes are still a work in progress, but the homemade kimchi is on point.

BIBIM: 923 Sligo Ave. Silver Spring, MD; 301565-2233; www.bibim923.com

BOE

Why: From sleek to splinters Paul Bunyan meets Elvis in Oya Restaurant & Lounge’s makeover into a posh log cabin with electric purple carpets. The menu is New American (a.k.a. whatever the chef feels like making) and the cocktails are solid. We particularly love brunch, when we can order the $40 bourbon punch bowl (#SquadGoal: this bowl holds 15 glasses).

BOE: 777 9th St. NW, DC; 202-393-1400; www.boewdc.com

CEDAR KNOLL RESTAURANT

Why: George Washington might have slept here Colonial architecture meets New American cuisine at this first restaurant from local catering company The Joy of Eating. When daylight lasts longer (to better appreciate the view of the Potomac), this will be the place to take visiting parents – who will also, hopefully, foot the bill.

CEDAR KNOLL RESTAURANT: 9030 Lucia Ln. Fort Hunt, VA; 703-780-3665; www.cedarknollva.com

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Palette 22’s Baja Fish Tacos Photo: Monica Alford

COLUMBIA ROOM

Why: Suspenders are back The Columbia Room was one of DC’s first speakeasies, and the city’s drinkers collectively cursed the redevelopment that led to its closing. Now, however, we can rejoice at its reincarnation as a larger, multifaceted drink destination in ultra-trendy Blagden Alley. Details add up – spring water is sourced from spirits producing regions like Kentucky and Scotland – but as before, it’s worth the splurge.

COLUMBIA ROOM: 124 Blagden Alley, NW, DC; 202-316-9396; www.columbiaroomdc.com

COOPER’S HAWK WINERY

Pho at RollPlay Photo: Courtesy of RollPlay’s Facebook page

cocktail menu in an intimate space from cocktail god Tom Brown (Hogo, and brother of Derek). Go. THE LEFT DOOR: 1345 S St. NW, DC; 202734-8576; www.leftdoordc.com

LITTLE SESAME

Why: Think tank reception food Hummus is a food group for Washington’s young professionals – but Little Sesame (from the DGS Delicatessen team upstairs) is Raman to your think tank’s Cup O’ Noodles.

Hummus serves as the base for a variety of composed meals – the roasted beets are particularly popular.

LITTLE SESAME: 1306 18th St. NW, DC; 202-463-2104; www.eatlittlesesame.com

Why: The Cheesecake Factory meets wine tasting This Illinois chain produces its own wine from a mix of grapes from around the world; their best seller is their almond sparkling wine, and their wine club has 160,000 members, making it the largest in the country. The idea of combining a fullservice restaurant with a vineyard tasting room is surprisingly rare, and Cooper’s Hawk swoops in with a long New American menu to fill the void.

COOPER’S HAWK WINERY: 19870 Belmont Chase Dr. Ashburn, VA; 703-840-0999; www.coopershawkwinery.com

NAZCA MOCHICA

LEFT DOOR

Why: Ye Olde Worlde experience This cheerful, local chain features an extensive menu of “tavern fare” (think fish and chips and shepherd’s pie). With

Why: Because every cocktail menu should have a $100 drink The Left Door offers a short and stellar

Why: Let’s get pisco’d We were sad there was no cuy – a Peruvian delicacy of fried/roasted guinea pig – on the menu at this restaurant (with small influences from Japanese settlers), but the creative range of strong pisco cocktails cheered us up. We loved the super-rich Mochica Leche (pisco, carob syrup, evaporated milk, conceded milk and egg yolk).

NAZCA MOCHICA: 633 P St. NW, DC; 202-733-3170; www.nazcamochica.com

PARK LANE TAVERN

NEW NOW AVAILABLE

A DRY-HOPPED HARD CIDER WITH CITRUS AND FLORAL NOTES

BoldRock.com

1020 Rockfish Valley Highway (Rt. 151) Nellysford, VA 22958 | (434) 361-1030

footie (a.k.a. soccer) on the telly, you might consider this a kind of staycation.

PARK LANE TAVERN: 3227 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA; 703-465-2337; www.parklanetavern.com

ROLLPLAY

Why: Eden Center needs the competition Customize your order via iPad kiosk at this Vietnamese fast-casual; the winner on the menu is the banh mi.

ROLLPLAY: 8150 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA; 703-891-5595; www.rollplaygrill.com

QUARTER + GLORY

Why: The bus to NYC takes too long Public House Collective opens its first cocktail bar outside of Manhattan. This intimate, high-ceilinged ode to libations is a transplant we welcome without hesitation.

QUARTER + GLORY: 2017 14th St. NW, DC; 202-450-5757; www.quarterandglory.com

SEOULSPICE

Why: Mainstream Korean Fast, casual Korean comfort food à la Chipotle, fun bevvies (yogurt-soju cocktail on tap!) and the owner is also the National Symphony Orchestra’s Acting Principal Percussion Chair.

SEOULSPICE: 145 N St. NE, DC; www.seoulspice.com

SQUIRE’S ROCK CREEK CHOPHOUSE

Why: Strong cocktails and red meat This family-owned business is a great addition to Wheaton. And they’re luring

the brunch crowd with their $22 “Hair of the Dog” all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, which includes three bloodies or mimosas.

The Red Line is for pre-gaming, right?

SQUIRE’S ROCK CREEK CHOPHOUSE: 2405 Price Ave. Silver Spring, MD; 301-9338616; www.squiresrc.com

TAIL UP GOAT

Why: “Tail up goat, tail down sheep” Learn to tell your animals apart at this buzzy Mediterranean in AdMo from Komi alumni.

TAIL UP GOAT: 1827 Adams Mill Rd. NW, DC; 202-986-9600; www.tailupgoat.com

TWISTED HORN

Why: The Ghostwood Development, with Jensen Old Tom gin, sapin liquer, Salmiakki Dala Fernet, port, whole egg and savory spices From the folks behind Hank’s Oyster Bar comes this mellow libation destination in Petworth where you can actually have a conversation without shouting.

TWISTED HORN: 819 Upshur St. NW, DC; 202-290-1808; www.twistedhorndc.com

KO DISTILLING

Why: A winner KO Distilling took home the award for “Virginia Moonshine Distillery of the Year” at the sixth annual New York International Spirits Competition.

KO DISTILLING: 10381 Central Park Dr. Manassas, VA; 571-292-1115; www.kodistilling.com

CATOCTIN CREEK

Why: Iconic, almost Whisky Magazine shortlisted Catoctin for three of their Icons of Whisky awards (including Master Distiller of the Year for cofounder Becky Harris!) Next year, they’re a sure thing.

CATOCTIN CREEK DISTILLING COMPANY: 120 West Main St. Purcellville, VA; 540-7518404; www.catoctincreekdistilling.com

CRIOS MODERN MEXICAN POSTO ROGUE 24

KEFA CAFÉ

Why: A phoenix Congrats to neighborhood fave Kefa Café for getting back on its feet and reopening after a devastating fire.

KEFA CAFÉ: 963 Bonifant St. Silver Spring, MD; 301-589-9337; www.facebook.com/kefacafe

PALETTE 22 Shirlington is abuzz thanks to Palette 22, a creative space for enjoying street food-inspired cuisine while also checking out the eclectic works of local artists. The coolest part? Two of the artists-in-residence will always be working in the restaurant during lunch and dinner, so you can sneak a peek at their latest masterpieces and chat them up. Four murals by local street artists, including one by Aniekan Udofia – best known for his portrait of Chuck Brown, Bill Cosby, President Obama and Donnie Simpson on the side of Ben’s Chili Bowl – also cover the Arlington eatery’s walls.

Palette 22’s Arts Director, Cara Rose Leepson, says, “Art is unavoidable in this place. It’s going to be talked about, whether [people] like it or they don’t. If they’re having some kind of reaction, in my mind that makes it successful artwork.”

Art on View at Palette 22

Photo: Monica Alford

Graham Duncan, the Corporate Executive Chef for Alexandria Restaurant Partners (Palette 22 is the newest member), put together the globally-inspired street food and small plates menu, describing his creations as “accessible and bright, with punctuated flavors.”

Each dish comes out of the open-display kitchen’s huge 900-degree oven in a matter of minutes. Duncan’s faves include the fried watermelon and Halloumi (also our top pick thus far) and vegan ceviche.

PALETTE 22: 4053 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA; 703-746-9007; www.palette22.com

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On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

®

®

™

SweetWater Brewing Company • Georgia • SweetWaterBrew.com 2

ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

The Bierdo “Lets Get Beer’d!”

By Nick Hardt While you may find yourself “green” on the couch from too much Jameson or in full body paint for your team this March, may I suggest a better way to spend your weekends getting in the spirit of the season?

How about some new and great local beer?

Yes, instead of painting, drinking or literally turning green this March, why don’t we make your beer buddies “green” with envy?

Grab a pen, plot the course on your GPS and head to Virginia for two (TWO, Johnny Utah!) new breweries that should be on your radar.

“Just tell your girlfriend you’re going out to walk the dog…and then walk your butt to the damn brewery.”

- Roommate wisdom

face it, that’s why God invented Saturdays and your boss gave you off, isn’t it? It’s the American thing to do. Drink these for America.

1821 Belgian-style Saison, 5.5 percent: Crisp and easy to drink, this floury, biscuity craft homage to your favorite glass of Stella Artois – only local, better and more crafty.

Rating: Just “sais” yes.

1821 Black Lager, 8.5 percent: Easily my favorite, this malty, easy drinking lager improves on the Greek family recipe with a special mystery ingredient that I still haven’t guessed yet. No worries, however, as it has a slight licorice/anisette-type dark lager feel with a bitter ending that’s delish.

Rating: Smash a lager, not a plate. Yamas! *Looking for something drinkable for the beer nube? Also try the bitter but drinkable Kolsch or the light cocoa nib First Time stout.

I will always remember my first time well.

Thanks Katrivanos family!

Beer flight from New District Photo: Nick Hardt

NEW DISTRICT BREWING COMPANY New District in Shirlington is a labor of love from some local ex-rock ‘n’ rollers who had a dream of putting down the drumsticks and starting their own brewery, but did so at an unbelievable, under $350K budget with the help of many, many friends and their engineering degrees. These dudes literally MacGyvered their own equipment and entire build-out on a shoestring budget to create a small up-and-coming brewery with, dare I say, Arlington’s first walk-up growler fill-up window.

While it’s only open on Saturdays, once they expand their capacity, you can expect some additional hours for enjoying their great brews, tunes and food trucks. Or bring your dog since the Shirlington Dog Park is nearby and grab a beer without the usual scolding from your partner about day drinking on a Saturday – because let’s

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On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Tasting room at Vanish Photo: Nick Hardt

VANISH FARM BREWERY Still need to walk “the dog” a little further?

Try a new farm brewery like the epic Vanish in Lucketts, Va. Owner Jonathan Staples originally bought the farm to grow hops for his spirits at James River Distillery in Richmond. However, his friends at Flying Dog Brewing planted the brewery idea in his head (which he continued with alone after the partnership idea disintegrated), and so his rustic and historic Virginia farmland became the site and supplier for Vanish beer.

Here you’ll find an immaculate, 200+ seated tasting room and hop farming facility with a satellite kitchen for weekend BBQ, tasters around $2 and $4 to $5 pints.

Plus, an outside biergarten is in the works for the warmer weather. I’d talk more about

all the cool farming and local ingredient sourcing, but I’m going to let the owner’s knowledgeable staff regale you with that.

I’ll just do the drinking, thank you very much!

Session IPA, 4.5 percent: One-ofa-kind flavor from rye malt and “Brett” yeast, and dry-hopped with Chinook and East Kent Golding. Citrus and dry, earthy tones. Very flavorful/drinkable.

Rating: Hands down, you’ll like this beer. If not, replace your tongue (it’s broken), and repeat.

Double IPA, 8.5 percent: Imagine a lighter 75 IBU version of the Heavy Sea’s Double Cannon. Is that possible? Yes it is.

Dry-hopped with slight tangerine fringe and ever so slight dry bitterness. It’s hop heavy without weighing down your taste buds.

Rating: Double the booze, singular light flavor.

Abbey Dubbel Ale, 7.2 percent: Prunes and raisins dominate the palate with a clean, full-bodied ale that warmed my ruddy facade. Perfect fit for the wet and cold weather.

Rating: Plums up!

Sahti (unfinished at 8 percent): Coming soon and amazing. Juniper sourced from the farm, seeds of paradise and hops make this Finnish-style fermented ale just pop on my taste buds.

Rating: The best and most unique thing I’ve tasted in the DC area in months – just amazing! *Need something more approachable for a beer newbie? The Brown and Oatmeal pale ales are decent, too.

NEW DISTRICT BREWING COMPANY: 2709 S Oakland St. Arlington, VA; 703-888-5820; www.newdistrictbrewing.com VANISH FARM BREWERY: 42264 Leelynn Farm Ln. Leesburg, VA ; 301-471-6015; www.vanishbeer.com Have a beer for the Bierdo to try? Drop him a line at nick@ontaponline.com.

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Behind the Bar

By Monica Alford

C

herry blossoms are the trademark of springtime in DC, attracting tourists and hibernating locals alike. On Tap caught up with three up-and-coming bartenders at hip hotel bars around the District to give us the skinny on what they’ll be serving this spring.

Whether you’re playing host to out-of-towners or just looking for a new spot to imbibe, celebrate cherry blossom season with a spring cocktail made by one of these talented bartenders.

ANDREA TATEOSIAN

BEN COLQUE

Urbana at Hotel Palomar

Cambria Hotel & Suites

Andrea Tateosian with Nonna’s Manhattan

Photo: Alanna Sheppard

New England native Andrea Tateosian first began bartending in college, but it wasn’t until she moved to the DC area that she fell in love with everything behind the bar. She worked at the Gibson for four years – while also juggling a 9 to 5 – and considered the bartending gig more of a hobby where she could learn about the history of cocktails, explore the different spirits available to her and learn the art of hospitality. For the past year, she’s been striking the perfect balance between craft cocktail knowledge and quality guest experience at Dupont Circle’s Urbana, a contemporary Italian restaurant within Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar.

On Tap: Do you have any tips for those of us with limited craft cocktail knowledge about ordering drinks at speakeasy-style locations?

Andrea Tateosian: Don’t be intimidated by arm garters and man buns and twirly moustaches. The bartender is there to take care of you. I don’t care how much they know about craft spirits.

If they want to make their guests feel inferior, they’re not a good bartender. There’s a backlash in the bartending community against the snobby mixologist trope. It’s overdone, and it’s not fun for anyone. I think bartenders now are more focused than ever on having a well-rounded culture of knowledge, great ingredients and quality of experience.

OT: What’s your process for selecting the seasonal lineup on the cocktail menu?

AT: It’s really important to me to have a focused menu each season so that everything works well together. I like to have a menu where there’s something for everybody, and then also push some boundaries.

Continued on page 44

Photo: Alanna Sheppard

On Tap: Bartending at a hotel must lend itself to a lot of interesting requests from guests. Is this the case, or are travelers more normal than I think?

Ben Colque: We have people that come all the way from Europe, Asia, South America, [and] of course, the whole United States. I just found out that they put a little bit of Malbec in their whiskey in Argentina. I was like, “Really? Okay.”

OT: So the guests keep you on your toes then.

BC: Of course. Every day, different people come here and you’re surprised. You try [their cocktail selections], and they’re not bad.

They’re not bad at all.

OT: Do these guest recommendations from around the world ever inspire your seasonal menu?

BC: [This year], I’m going to try to make at least two, maybe three, cocktails from each region [including] Europe, the U.S. and South America. I think people will feel welcome. They will feel like they came from home, and [now] they’re coming home. I think that’s our goal here in the hotel.

Continued on page 44

NONNA’S MANHATTAN

SINGANI 63

Bourbon, Vermouth del Professore, Zucca Rabarbaro, Peychaud’s Bitters and a brandied cherry

Zuckerberg’s fave

Photo: Alanna Sheppard

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Ben Colque with Cambria’s cocktail lineup

Seasoned bartender Ben Colque embraces the open concept of the bar at Cambria’s DC location near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The boutique hotel experience at an affordable price suits Colque, who thrives off of the welcoming environment at the bar. Before becoming Cambria’s Bar Manager last year, Colque worked as lead bartender at L2 Lounge in Georgetown.

Now he pairs unique ingredients together for the hotel bar’s seasonal menus.

ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Photo: Alanna Sheppard

on the scene

ALEXANDRA GORDON

FOR MORE PIX FROM THESE & OTHER EVENTS, VISIT THE ONLINE GALLERY AT WWW.ONTAPONLINE.COM

Blue Duck Tavern

Alexandra Gordon with the Montrose

Photo: Alanna Sheppard

A DC Craft Bartenders Guild member with five years of bartending experience under her belt that includes three years at the Park Hyatt’s Blue Duck Tavern in Georgetown, Alexandra Gordon is a self-described “gin girl” with a penchant for putting a modern twist on classic cocktails. Gordon is part of a rare breed of DC residents who actually grew up in the area (Reston, Va.) and decided to stay (now in the West End), making her role at Blue Duck even more of a perfect fit – some of their cocktails are even named after DC parks.

On Tap: Do you have any spring cocktails that will pay homage to our fair city’s cherry blossoms?

Alexandra Gordon: We have an incredible tea that’s like a cherry blossom tea, and we want to incorporate that into a cocktail.

OT: Do you work closely with the Blue Duck chefs to create new cocktail recipes? Is it a collaborative process?

AG: I work at such an incredible property. We have a huge downstairs kitchen where I literally could order anything under the sun that I want to play with. All of the chefs are willing to help me with anything I want to try. And there’s a lot of trial and error, to be honest with you.

OT: That’s great to have the freedom to try new things and see what happens.

AG: Oh absolutely, and because I work at such an incredible restaurant, I can experiment. There’s a lot of cool produce and things downstairs that I can play with.

OT: What types of cocktails are you experimenting with now?

AG: We’re going to start a gin and tonic program where we have three gins and three tonics, and we’ll be listing them by themselves so you can play around with [them]. We’ll have the guests be able to almost create their own [cocktails] through our three and three.

OT: What is your signature cocktail or the biggest crowd-pleaser?

AG: I would say that bourbon is probably our strength. We have the Park Manhattan, which uses Bulleit rye, sweet and dry vermouth, and orange bitters. That’s become a standard here.

Continued on page 44

THE MONTROSE Gin, honey syrup (with honey harvested by a local beekeeper), lemon, lavender bitters and Virginia sparkling wine Thibaut-Janisson

Guests at the The Pancakes and Booze Art Show enjoyed tons of local artists on display, live music, live performances, plus free allyou-can-eat pancakes. PHOTOS BY MARK VAN BERGH

Photo: Darley Tom www.ontaponline.com | MARCH 2016 | ON TAP

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on the scene

FOR MORE PIX FROM THESE & OTHER EVENTS, VISIT THE ONLINE GALLERY AT WWW.ONTAPONLINE.COM

BEHIND THE BAR CONINUED ANDREA TATEOSIAN OT: Can you give us a sneak peek of what might be on Urbana’s spring drink list?

AT: There’s an Italian liqueur that isn’t necessarily a cherry liqueur, but it has a lot of berry flavors. It’s also slightly reminiscent of Pimm’s, so we’re going to do a Pimm’s Cup variation with that.

What we really have fun with at Urbana is taking the Italian style of drinking and adapting it to American cocktail sensibilities.

OT: Do you have any special ingredients in mind for the warmer months?

AT: This summer, I want to use some of the fresh ingredients from our garden [at Urbana] to make a house soda to incorporate in a seasonal rickey. I’m leaning toward yellow bell pepper and potentially some basil – just get a little weird. Keep it weird, keep it sexy.

URBANA: 2121 P St. NW, DC; 202-956-6650; www.urbanadc.com

BEN COLQUE OT: What’s the weirdest thing someone has ever requested from Cambria’s bar?

BC: My bartender was like, “Okay, I need to talk to you. [This guest] wants me to boil vodka and put it in a huge glass with ice and iced tea. And she wants four [servings].” So we were Googling “boiling vodka.” Apparently, [singers] drink that to clear their throats. And then we [realized] it was Rihanna.

OT: Requests for boiling vodka aside, what do you have in store for the spring and summer?

BC: We’re getting ready for our new summer cocktails that will include a lot of passion fruit and other juices. We have a new product that is Mr. Mark Zuckerberg’s favorite drink, the Singani 63, from South America. We’re planning to put that as a main drink.

OT: What Cambria cocktail do you have the most fun making?

BC: The blackberry watermelon mojito. I think it’s the best drink that we have here. The muddling, the mixing, and the color – it’s beautiful.

CAMBRIA SUITES: 899 O St. NW, DC; 202-299-1188; www.cambriadc.com

ALEXANDRA GORDON OT: What sets Blue Duck’s drink menu apart from other area bars?

AG: We’re extremely seasonal. I feel like it excites guests to be able to come and sit down at the bar and always try something new.

BLUE DUCK TAVERN: 1201 24th St. NW, DC; 202-419-6755; www.blueducktavern.com At the Strong Ale Tasting at RFD guests enjoyed a sampling from numerous breweries who brought their strongest brews. Fans also met the region’s best brewmasters. PHOTOS BY CRISTINA O’CONNELL

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Light beer, monumental taste.

NOW ON DRAFT Drink responsibly.® Per 12 oz. serving: Calories: 99, 3.0% ABV: 3/9%, Fat: 0g, Carbohydrates: 5.0g, Protein: 0.8g

Corona® Light Beer. Imported by Crown Imports, Chicago, IL

PRIMARY PINTS Suds by State

By Matt Laslo, Beer Columnist Washington’s political class has been turned upside down watching traditional Beltway wisdom shrivel on the vine throughout this presidential election cycle.

It’s time to throw orthodoxy by the wayside and get back to the basics of American elections: booze.

Pundits and politicians forget how integral alcohol has been to U.S. politics. In fact, the foundation of our first president’s political career was paved with liquid gold.

George Washington lost his first political campaign when he ran for the Virginia House of Burgesses at age 24. He chalked the loss up to not plying voters with enough booze. When he ran again two years later, he bought 144 gallons of beer, rum, punch and hard cider, according to author

MARCH 15:

N���h Caro�ina

I’m predicting this election will be injected with booze politics sooner than we’ve seen in the past, and Ashville, N.C. – the unofficial beer capital of the East Coast – is where politicians would be wise to hit the local bar scene in full force.

Voters there come out on the crucial March 15 primary. It’s admittedly hard to find most of N.C.’s best beers in DC. But there seems to be a North Carolinian picking the kegs at ChurchKey on 14th Street. They have four different local choices on tap, including a 12-month aged barley wine from Fullsteam Brewery and a light porter from Foothills Brewing.

But if you really have a hankering for Ashville’s finest brews, just stop by the Capitol Hill office of Rep. Patrick McHenry, who is a co-chair of the Small Brewers Caucus. He has a nice little fridge that’s usually brimming with his town’s finest craft brews. Tell him I sent you!

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Daniel Okrent, and he won. Go figure. When you provide about a half-gallon of booze for every vote you receive, you better win!

It’s time for today’s presidential aspirants to tap into the sudsy goodness that made politics great in America’s infant days. Trump’s comedic dominance in this year’s race has moved the nation further away from the coolheaded statesmanship the nation’s first president hoped would embody his successors. Still, all hope isn’t lost: the state of our beer union is strong.

Nothing embodies that more than thumbing through the upcoming primary schedule. The great thing about the Washington region is that you don’t need a seat on a campaign’s charter jet to enjoy the myriad of beers that primary voters are wildly toasting (or crying into).

So come with me and take a stroll through the primary calendar from right here in the DMV.

APRIL 5:

Wisconsin

The next big primary contest is on April 5 in Wisconsin – the home state of Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. In honor of his drink of choice and all of the big, watery beers coming out of the Badger State, that seems like a good day to just grab a Miller Lite (what the Speaker was sipping during the Super Bowl), which you can snag for a cool $3 a pop on Tuesdays at the Cleveland Park Bar and Grill on Connecticut Avenue.

on the scene

FOR MORE PIX FROM THESE & OTHER EVENTS, VISIT THE ONLINE GALLERY AT WWW.ONTAPONLINE.COM

APRIL 19: New

Y��k

The New York primary on April 19 seems like a great day to get toasted in honor of the state’s two leading presidential contenders: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. If you’re a Trump supporter, you likely have bad taste (yeah, I’m looking at you, Chris Christie!), and your presidential candidate is a teetotaler so maybe just grab a decaf tea and leave the rest of us alone that night!

For Clinton supporters, you might as well put on some skin-tight hipster jeans and sip a cold one from Brooklyn Brewery, which is just a short jog away from her campaign headquarters. Iron Horse Taproom and Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Northwest have been known to showcase some of their specialty brews. If you’re an energetic Bernie Sanders supporter, that’s promising to be a night where you want to avoid being in public. Sorry.

APRIL 26: Pennsylvania The race to the White House may be more clear when Pennsylvania voters weigh in on April 26 than it was in 2008 when then-Senator Obama was duking it out in a tight contest with Clinton. You could tell they were both pandering to blue collar voters, because Clinton allowed herself to be filmed taking a shot of whiskey and Obama sipped a Guinness for the cameras.

But hey, I wish more candidates pandered to voters with booze!

In honor of the PA contest, head out of DC and go to the classic Philadelphia Tavern in Manassas, Va., where they’ve been known to showcase a wide variety of special Yards Brewing Company ales based on the original recipes from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. If they’re out of the brews from our founding fathers, just crack a Yuengling and watch the returns roll in.

The nation is at a crossroads and it seems like it’s silly season when it comes to political discourse. But there’s no reason to despair because the craft beer revolution is alive and well. So even if our politics suck right now, keep your chin up as you keep sipping.

Matt Laslo is a veteran congressional reporter and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University’s MA program.

He hosts the craft beer and politics show “Bills and Brews.”

Follow him on Twitter: @MattLaslo

Guests enjoyed an exclusive tasting of Devils Backbone’s new Adventure Pack Collaboration at Meridian Pint.

PHOTOS BY CRISTINA O’CONNELL

www.ontaponline.com | MARCH 2016 | ON TAP

47

a t f a cr

G I Benture

adv

Devils Backbone Goes Big With Cans

By On Tap Staff

S

pring is almost here and it’s time to elevate your sense of adventure.

Canned beer has become the darling of the craft beer industry and for good reason – beer stays fresher in cans, cans recycle easily and when you’re ready to head outdoors, they are more portable than bottles.

Devils Backbone Brewing Company’s Basecamp, its original location, is in the heart of Nelson County, Virginia and touches on the Appalachian Trail. Who better to come up with a collection of canned beers that encourages you to get outdoors and have some fun. Their canned offerings include the Daypack seasonal collection and new this spring, their award winning Vienna Lager and Eight Point IPA will be available in cans.

The Daypack series is a collection of four seasonal beers and one beer available year round, Goldleaf Lager.

First in the series and available now is Cran-Gose, a 4% cranberry ale that is brewed in the “gose” style. “A gose is an old Germanic style sour ale, lightly flavored with salt...It’s a really great base to build upon and for this beer, we added hundreds of pounds of pureed cranberry.

The natural tartness of cranberry works well with the fruity character of the beer,” says Brewmaster Jason Oliver.

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

In May, Trail Angel Weiss, winner of a 2010 Great American Beer Festival gold medal is the featured beer of the series.

Trail Angel is a Bavarian-style Hefeweizen brewed with Tettnang hops. It has a honey colored, light to medium body with a fruity, spicy finish and carries flavors of banana, honey and clove.

Bravo Four Point ushers in fall and while it keeps to the under 5% ABV level of all of the beers in the Daypack series, it has a bolder, hoppier flavor well suited to the season.

Ginger Brau, a honey hued lager infused with three types of ginger wraps up the year in November.

Devils Backbone is one of the fastest growing breweries in the country, and much of that growth is courtesy of its flagship Vienna Lager and Eight Point IPA brews. Both beers have won numerous accolades and in 2015, Vienna Lager received a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. Devils Backbone beers have been so successful that the company has had to expand capacity at its Outpost production brewery in Lexington, VA from an estimated 10,000 barrels in 2011 to 250,000 barrels currently. And now for the first time the beers that have driven that expansion will be available in cans. Vienna Lager will

be offered in 12 and 16 ounce cans, and Eight Point IPA will be offered in 16 ounce single serve cans.

Single serve cans is a newer but fast growing package option for craft beer.

The appeal of the larger can includes all the benefits of a regular can – easier to take places, more suited to concerts and sports venues, but also offers the opportunity for consumers to sample new products. Rather than commit to a full six or twelve pack, the sixteen ounce can gives the beer drinker the chance to try a beer they may not have had before at a friendly price point and without fear of wasting beers if it’s not to their liking.

Speaking from experience, the larger size is also a nice option when you are at a show or event, as it’s certainly a little more beer per trip to the bar!

So for those ready to craft an adventure, be it on the trail or at the show, Devils Backbone has a beer that can suit your needs. Look for their beers at area retail and restaurant locations.

To learn more about Devils Backbone or to get more information on their award winning beers visit www.dbbrewingcompany.com.

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On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

By Monica Alford

BEST

S T O P S L A LOC rch to Catch Ma es! m a G s s e n d Ma

M

arch Madness is upon us, with the NCAA tournament kicking off its 64 games on St. Paddy’s Day. In anticipation of the upcoming games, On Tap put together a list of our top picks in the D.C. area for enjoying the tourney with a little flair. Our short list features sports bars with great drink selections, elevated menus, endless HDTVs to choose from and a less rowdy, mellower ambiance for cheering your team on to victory. Not going to make it out for the tourney, or feeling like your bracket will be busted before you begin? These locations are all great date places and have plenty to offer besides big screens.

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

OLD TOWN POUR HOUSE Photo: Courtesy of Old Town Pour House

Old Town Pour House in Gaithersburg is ready for March Madness.

General Manager Aaron Gordon says the ambiance is going to be awesome, with a great crowd of customers, the Pour House’s upbeat and friendly staff, a DJ spinning tunes during commercial breaks, plus upscale bar food and a diverse craft beer selection with over 90 drafts.

“We’re the total package,” he says. “There’s no restaurant in Montgomery County with the TV setup that we have. We have 14 viewing screens, so every single game will be on.”

Gordon says the bar’s three 110-inch and 11 60-inch flat screen TVs have a great sound system. Added bonus: Old Town Pour House is known for serving limited-edition brews and suds from local breweries.

OLD TOWN POUR HOUSE: 212 Ellington Blvd. Gaithersburg, MD; 301-963-6281; www.oldtownpourhouse.com/gaithersburg

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51 TV’s + 27 Drafts 51 㐀㔀 吀嘀猀 ⬀ ㈀㜀 䐀刀䄀䘀吀匀

= 㴀 Everything you need for 䐀 䔀嘀䔀刀夀吀䠀䤀一䜀 夀伀唀 一䔀䔀 a Perfect bracket Season一 䘀伀刀 䄀 倀䔀刀䘀䔀䌀吀 匀䔀䄀匀伀

䌀 栀愀洀瀀瀀猀 䴀椀氀攀 䠀椀最栀 一愀挀栀漀猀

NATIONAL PASTIME SPORTS BAR & GRILL

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Photo: Alanna Sheppard

Tucked inside the Gaylord National Harbor Hotel is the impressively sized National Pastime Sports Bar & Grill, offering 600 seats and 42 HDTVs – including a brand new and gargantuan 30-foot-wide LED screen that can break out into 32 games, four games in quadrants, or only one or two games at a time, depending on the day. The sports bar also caters to those of us that prefer a quiet space to watch our team kick some butt, with smaller dining areas featuring individual screens.

Andrew Gould, the executive chef of restaurants at Gaylord National Resort, notes the Indian-inspired veggie burger, lamb burger with mint mayo and health-conscious Cobb salad (topped with salmon, crab cakes or chicken) as some of his top picks on the menu. Specialty March dishes include stew made with a Port City Brewing porter (National Pastime is adamant about serving local brews), corned beef and cabbage, and fish and chips. And get ready for some March Madness specials offering good deals on beers and appetizers during the games.

“We have a great local following from the Oxon Hill area and DC itself,” says Gould. “There isn’t another National Pastime. Our menus and our offerings are unique, and I think our service and general atmosphere is a lot different than what you get at other places.”

NATIONAL PASTIME SPORTS BAR & GRILL: 201 Waterfront St. Oxon Hill, MD; 301-965-5500; www.nationalharbor.com/stores/national-pastime-bar-grill/

Catch all the Game Day Madness on 38 Ultra HD LED 60”-75” televisions! $ 30 Bottomless Brunch 11AM-4PM Sat & Sundays!

Join our VIP list, Text BRACKET to 95577 VOTED DC AREA’S #1 SPORTS BAR OPEN FOR LUNCH AT 11AM, MON-FRI

1210 N Garfield St, Arlington, VA 22201 (703) 276-7337 • www.bracketroom.com www.ontaponline.com | MARCH 2016 | ON TAP

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THE PROSPECT

HIGH VELOCITY Photo: Rey Lopez

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott International

In the heart of the U Street Corridor sits The Prospect, an upscale sports bar with 45 HDTVs, craft beers and ciders, signature cocktails, and high-quality stadium and tailgating fare. The Prospect’s interior is covered in sports memorabilia – including an impressive collection of baseball mitts above the stairs and a brick wall of staggered baseball bats – and also offers a 40-seat patio for patrons to enjoy during warmer weather. Notable menu items include three types of home mules served in copper mugs – classic, spicy and strawberry – and hog wings that made Thrillist’s “Best Food & Drink of 2015” list.

“There’s not a bad seat in the house,” says Managing Partner Brian Dombrowski. “From every angle or direction, you’re able to see a specific game or multiple games at the same time.”

Derek VanBrakle guarantees that High Velocity carries a beer you haven’t tried before. The restaurant manager at the Marriott Marquis near Penn Quarter and the Verizon Center is referring to High Velocity’s 48 draft lines.

“We’re always reaching out to [beer] vendors to get the newest, latest stuff,” he says. “We also try some that nobody’s ever heard of before, because the only way to know if you like a beer is if you try it.”

Located in the Marriott Marquis, High Velocity offers 40 HDTVs – three at 120 inches and the rest at 55 – and quieter spots to park it and watch your March Madness game of choice. During the tournament, the swanky sports bar will serve $5 pints of New Belgium Fat Tire and Citradelic IPA. Plus, bourbon fans can swing by The Dignitary (50-feet from High Velocity in the Marquis) before or after the game and choose from up to 70 different bourbons and even some high-end scotches.

THE PROSPECT: 1214 U St. NW, DC; 202-450-4109; www.theprospectdc.com

HIGH VELOCITY: 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW, DC; 202-824-9389; www.facebook.com/HighVelocityDC

CHAMPPS KITCHEN + BAR Photo: Alanna Sheppard

THE BRACKET ROOM

Champps Kitchen + Bar is a community sports bar with a down-to-earth Midwestern atmosphere, nearly 30 varieties of beer and dependable comfort food. Kevin Songster, managing partner at the bar’s Pentagon Row location, says Champps is still the best seat outside of the stadium.

“Where else can you have as many TVs?” Songster asks (rhetorically). “There isn’t a [March Madness] game we’re not going to show.”

Champps has four 110-inch laser projection screens, four 70-inch LCD HDTVs and 45 50-inch HDTVs. Songster points out some of the bar’s lighter food options, like the tuna poke appetizer or Tuscan salmon, for those who want to enjoy the game without having to unbutton their jeans/wear stretchy pants to the bar, and different drink specials every day of the week.

The aptly named Bracket Room in Clarendon has a tight community of regulars, according to bartender Tania Amador, while also attracting a diverse crowd.

“You see a lot of bonding going on during big games,” Amador says. “A little smack-talking is always in good fun. It’s never a volatile experience here.”

Bracket Room offers 38 Samsung Infinity Edge LED TVs ranging in size from 55 to 75 inches, half-price happy hour Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and 75 beers to choose from. Some of the most popular dishes include the “world’s best” tater tots, baby back ribs marinated and slow-braised for 12 hours, and an authentic lobster roll that Maine natives are sure to approve of.

CHAMPPS KITCHEN + BAR: 1201 S Joyce St. Arlington, VA; 703-414-3601; www.champps.com/locations/arlington/

BRACKET ROOM: 1210 N Garfield St. Arlington, VA; 703-276-7337; www.bracketroom.com

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Photo: Alanna Sheppard

COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP March 15th - April 4th

s l e v e 3l s r a S b v t 5 d h 45 includinghddc’psrojector t larges

k n i r D ood &

F

s l a i c e Sp

SHOWING EVERY GAME

1214 18th st nw washington dc /publicbardc /publicbar www.publicbar.co

from the Local Bars Pick Their March Madness Brackets

By On Tap Staff On Tap caught up with key players at bars around town to get an inside look at which teams they think have what it takes to make it to the Final Four – or even the final game – and why their locations are perfect for watching all the Madness.

What smaller school(s) in the area do you think may get in?

James Madison and Hampton

Name your final four teams.

Kentucky, Ohio State, Duke and UVA

What makes the March Madness viewing experience different at your bar than other bars?

With multiple TVs, a staff that is sports crazy, beers served by the pitcher or 100 oz. beer towers, cocktails served in pint glasses and great bar food including brick-oven pizzas and Stromboli, it really is hard to beat coming to The Ugly Mug around tournament time.

What smaller school(s) in the area do you think may get in?

GWU

THE UGLY MUG: 723 8th St. SE, DC; 202-5478459; www.theuglymugdc.com

JAMIE CHOI Bracket Room

What local teams are in your bracket?

Tech, UVA, UMD and GWU Who do you think will go all the way?

Kentucky

What makes the March Madness viewing experience different at your bar than other bars?

[We have] 45 great-quality TVs. BRACKET ROOM: 1210 N Garfield St. Arlington, VA; 703-276-7337; www.bracketroom.com

CHRIS LEFBOM Ragtime

What local teams are in your bracket?

Maryland, West Virginia and GWU Who do you think will go all the way?

WVU

COLIN LAVERTY The Ugly Mug

Who do you think will go all the way?

Kansas Name your final four teams.

Oklahoma, Kansas, Maryland and Villanova

54

Name your final four teams.

WVU, Miami, UNC and Xavier What smaller school(s) in the area do you think may get in?

GWU What makes the March Madness viewing experience different at your bar than other bars?

Ragtime is a WVU alumni favorite. The restaurant

ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

will be packed with rowdy Mountaineer fans come tournament time.

RAGTIME: 1345 N Courthouse Rd. Arlington, VA; 703-243-4003; www.ragtimerestaurant.com

JOHN MURDOCK

What makes the March Madness viewing experience different at your bar than other bars?

We’ve got 90 beers on tap, three 110-inch screens for the big games and another 11 55-inchers for the other games going on. Plus, for big games, we VJ the experience!

OLD TOWN POUR HOUSE GAITHERSBURG: 212 Ellington Blvd. Gaithersburg, MD; 301-963-6281; www.oldtownpourhouse.com/ gaithersburg/

Old Town Pour House Gaithersburg

What local teams are in your bracket?

I’ve got to give some love to the Terps, of course, who are looking to be a third seed.

However, they’re not looking as hot as the projected first seed – either Virginia or North Carolina.

Who do you think will go all the way?

I would love to see Maryland in the final, but we have some tough competition.

Name your final four teams.

I’m thinking that Kansas, Oregon, Xavier and Villanova [will] make it.

What smaller school(s) in the area do you think may get in?

A lot of schools are fighting for rank this year. There is no clear-cut champ, so it’s difficult for the smaller area schools to have a chance.

JOSH BOWEN Don Tito

What local teams are in your bracket?

Georgetown and UVA, but I’m from California, so [my] local team is San Diego State.

Who do you think will go all the way?

Michigan State Name your final four teams.

Michigan State, Kansas, UNC and Oklahoma What smaller school(s) in the area do you think may get in?

GWU What makes the March Madness viewing experience different at your bar than other bars?

[We have] three floors of TVs, [and our] second floor is dedicated to sound. All games are played on TVs in the bar,

ALUMNI

A FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT

Saturday, April 2

1

10 6 BARS

GOAL!

HOURS

Wear your school colors, RAISE MONEY FOR CANCER RESEARCH.

Prizes for Best School Spirit & School Most Represented THE LOOP Blackfinn Bottom Line Buffalo Billiards Elephant & Castle Front Page

M metro

James Hoban’s Mad Hatter Public Bar Rumors Sign of The Whale

Dupont Circle & Farragut Stations

Learn More at AlumniHoopLoop.com

Must be 21+ with valid ID. Complimentary Sodas for Designated Drivers.

Drink Responsibly. Corona Light® Beer. Imported by Crown Imports. Chicago, IL

and you can watch outside on the rooftop deck.

275+

DON TITO: 3165 Wilson Blvd.

Arlington, VA; 703- 566-3113; www.dontitova.com

Bourbons & Whiskeys

70+

Beer Selections!

New for 2016 The Armory bar at Rebellion Classic & unique cocktails done right.

Catch the Madness!

During basketball tourney games don’t miss:

What local teams are in your bracket?

Maryland and Virginia

March 17 - St. Pats!

Who do you think will go all the way?

Maryland

Celebrate at DC’s own home for whiskey: Rebellion!

703-892-0726 www.crystalcityrestaurant.com

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT HERE AT CCR

VIP Smoking Lounge Only Cigar Bar in Crystal City.

Cigars available in house.

We Offer Gift Cards Sports Market Board & Ten 42” Plasma TVs Entertaining Bachelor Parties, Retirements, Birthdays & You! ATM on premises.

422 23rd Street South | Arlington, VA 22202 56

On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

What makes the March Madness viewing experience different at your bar than other bars?

The ability to view games on over 17 TVs and drink a variety of craft beers from the states of the teams you love most!

WORLD OF BEER: 901 N Glebe Rd. #105, Arlington, VA; 571483-0422; www.worldofbeer.com

Union Jack’s

$

15 Domestic Buckets $ 6 Select Irish Whiskey Shots

Open 7 Days a Week NO COVER CHARGE

GARY OUELLETTE

What smaller school(s) in the area do you think may get in?

UVA

Name your final four teams.

Maryland, Virginia, Oklahoma and North Carolina What makes the March Madness viewing experience different at your bar than other bars?

Each event on their own [is] very strong for our store, but combined with the strength of Maryland this year, it should be off the charts.

UNION JACK’S RIO: 9811 Washingtonian Blvd.

Gaithersburg, MD; 240-7807139; www.unionjacksrio.com

SARAH KAYE World of Beer

What local teams are in your bracket?

Georgetown, Maryland and VCU Who do you think will go all the way?

Duke and Xavier Name your final four teams.

Duke, Xavier, Syracuse, Oregon

LEO GOMEZ Spider Kelly’s

What local teams are in your bracket?

Duke, George Mason and VCU Who do you think will go all the way?

Duke Name your final four teams.

Duke, Kentucky, Syracuse and Maryland What smaller school(s) in the area do you think may get in?

GW and VCU What makes the March Madness viewing experience different at your bar than other bars?

[We’re] open for a.m. games, TVs are on a first-come, first-served basis and specials run [throughout the day].

SPIDER KELLY’S: 3181 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; 703-3128888; www.spiderkellys.com

Shoot & Score When you play, everyone wins!

Get Ready for the Madness!

Play Corona Light’s Basketball Game Donate to a great cause, win prizes & more!

Look for us at your favorite NOVA bars during the first week of the tournament!

ontaponline.com/JimmyV for info

Relax responsibly.ÂŽ

Corona Beer. Imported by Crown Imports LLC, Chicago, IL 60603.

Must be 21+ to play. No purchase necessary. To benefit the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. 100% of your donation to the Jimmy V Foundation will go to supporting funding for cancer research. You may play multiple times and at multiple locations. Prize awarded by On Tap Magazine. Official rules and more info at www.ontaponline.com/jimmyv

g n i r sp

e u g a e l rec p u d n u o R p

By On Ta

58

W

staff

ork hard, play hard is a way of life in the DMV. The area’s sport and social leagues are a great way to blow off some steam, meet new people and try a new sport. Each spring and fall, On Tap reaches out to see what these fun-loving groups have to offer, and the range of activities available is impressive. Here, in their own words, is what their leagues are all about and why they think you should put a little more social in your sports. To learn more about each league, including how to sign up to play, visit their websites.

ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

All rec league listings were provided by the leagues.

Capital BBall www.capbball.com

Capital Basketball is an awesome way to stay in shape while meeting new people. We gather at the area’s best courts to shoot some hoops, socialize and share our love for the game. We have a variety of leagues that include men’s and coed/open, as well as our brand new ultra-level leagues. All skill levels are welcome, so lace ‘em up and ball. Beginners should look for coed/open leagues, and our seasoned vets should look into our new ultra leagues. We are all about basketball – coed, men’s, women’s or ultra leagues!

Capital Bocce www.CapBocce.com

Cap Bocce is all about the social – all day, every day! This league is here to provide young professionals an opportunity to meet new people and have a blast in the process. Our teams and players socialize both on the field and at the bar, all while playing bocce.

Games are mostly on weeknights in Arlington and DC. All leagues include some kind of drink or food special at our sponsor bars, team T-shirts and just enough of an alternative sports vibe to make your Italian uncle jealous. Our league is designed for people to socialize with others while having a blast in the process. Crazy bocce-stans should move on!

Capital Cornhole www.capcornhole.com

Capital Cornhole is a coed league with teams from four to six players in size. Games throw down at some really awesome bars like Penn Social, Carpool and Continental. Leagues typically run seven weeks and include a final tournament, player T-shirts, and a brag-worthy pilsner glasses for the champions. Skill is not a requirement, just the ability to have a good time. We’re all about cornhole over here.

Cap flag veterans, we heard you loud and clear. We are proud to announce brand new cap flag football ultra leagues. Flag football veterans now have a chance to prove their mettle on the gridiron. Captain a full team through the full season and get your registration fees back in USS credit, good toward select USS events and future leagues. Beginners and seasoned vets, we’ve got the league for you. We’re all about the Gridiron, baby! Blue 42, ready, set, hike!

Capital Rowing Club Capital Rowing Club is committed to bringing a variety of rowing

opportunities to the DC area. Never been in a boat before? Not a problem. Capital Rowing Club offers programs for new and experienced rowers at a variety of different times that can meet your schedule on the Anacostia River. Our boathouse is Metro accessible. We also offer options for your organization or company to learn to row as a group. For information about our “Learn to Row” program or one of our experienced rowing programs, please contact membership@capitalrowing.org.

DC Bar Sports www.DCBarSports.com

DC Bar Sports brings everyone together for a variety of fun events and activities based – you got it, being in a bar. Teams compete in various games like skee-ball, cornhole, shuffleboard and more.

You might even see a game of giant Jenga or a Connect Four pop-up, who knows? Looking for a new hangout? Leagues are located in Arlington, DC, Bethesda and Reston. No experience is needed to play bar sports, and it’s much better that way.

Capital Dodgeball www.capitaldodgeball.com

Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge. Capital Dodgeball is the ultimate nontraditional social sport league. It’s a high-energy, action-packed game with a kick butt attitude. Games are played downtown at Georgetown Law or in Adams Morgan, depending on your league, for eight weeks of ball-flinging fun and socializing.

Cap the night off with some post-game drinks at one of our awesome sponsor bars. If you can throw a ball and halfway catch, you are overqualified. Sign up today!

Capital Flag Football www.capitalflagfootball.com

Capital Flag Football is a fun and safe way to toss around the pigskin with friends. Our league offers a six-week regular season of games and an additional two weeks of playoffs. You will meet a ton of new people on the field and at the bar; everyone in each of our locations enjoys great specials at our sponsor bars after the game. From social to athletic, to our ultra leagues and our men’s-only division, we are the choice for flag football in the city.

Photo: Courtesy of DC Bocce

DC Bocce League www.dcbocce.com

Are you ready to join a sport that is fun, social and accessible to everyone? Look no further than DC Bocce League! DC Bocce League focuses exclusively on bocce so we can put all our effort into making ours the most fun league there is. With a beer in one hand and a ball in the other, you’ll learn firsthand there’s no better way to spend time with friends after work. Sign up for the spring season and get eight weeks of bocce, exclusive food and beer specials at the bar, weekly prizes and giveaways, and a free endof-season tournament and party. Plus, only DC Bocce awards its winning teams with donations to the charity on their behalf. No need to bring your sweats or cleats – this game is about finesse, not fitness. After you engage in a little friendly competition, your opponents go from adversary to drinking buddy. Celebrate your win or commiserate your loss at your division’s sponsor bar, and see how far the evening will take you. www.ontaponline.com | MARCH 2016 | ON TAP

59

DC Cityball www.dccityball.com

DC Cityball is a sports-first recreational sports league. We focus on providing a great game day experience for our players. We offer coed softball, coed flag football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, corporate/law firm basketball, coed basketball, coed volleyball and wiffle ball. The leagues are competitive but we offer recreational divisions as well. Our games are played on permitted fields/courts and we use certified officials in our leagues. Leagues consist of an eight-game regular season plus playoffs, and we host end-of-the-season parties as well as charity happy hours throughout the season. Most of our players are intermediate and experienced, but we welcome all types of players in our leagues.

DC Kickball www.dckickball.org

First, captains play for free. Second, DC K is hands down DC’s best kickball league. Period. DC Kickball is all about meeting other people and having a great time. New to town? Have you heard about this kickball thing? Yeah…that’s us! Games take place all over the DC and Va. area, including the National Mall, Adams Morgan, Dupont, Columbia Heights and Arlington. We play to be social, and we’re pretty darn good at it. If you’ve played kickball at any point in your life, you are DC kickball-certified.

DC Skeeball www.DCSkee.com

DC Skee is the easiest and most fun way to meet new people and make new friends in the DMV. What is skeeball, you ask?

Well remember that game at Chuck E. Cheese with the wooden balls and the tickets pouring out? That’s skeeball. Get your roll on, and become a legend. As with all leagues in the USS family, we welcome free agents, small groups and full teams. No experience needed. Your four-year-old niece could outscore you any given Thursday. You never know!

DC Soccer FC www.DCSoccerFC.com

DC Soccer FC is the fastest-growing soccer community in DC. We pride ourselves in delivering the best experience indoors and out. We offer indoor and outdoor grass and field six vs. six, seven vs. seven and eight vs. eight, men’s and coed soccer, with leagues playing in DC and VA. Sign up and get six weeks of game play and two weeks of playoffs, plus team shirts, end-of-season parties and super convenient locations. We work to make it as easy as possible for you to play the game you love. Registration is open to free agents, small groups and full teams. With both social and athletic divisions, we’ve got the league for you. As an added bonus, captains never get stuck paying for the whole team as they can opt for team members to pay their dues directly. Regardless of your athletic ability or skills, you will have fun in our league.

Northern VA’s (VA/MD/DC) Largest Adult Social Sports League with over 35,000 Players.

Visit PlayFXA.com or call/text 703-382-9111 for Registration and League Information.

On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com 60OnTap_FXA_spring2016-print.indd 1

2/24/2016 4:20:45 PM

DC Social Sports www.DCSocialSports.com

DC Social leagues are now powered by United Social Sports (USS)! This means more leagues at more locations than ever. Don’t sweat, your favorite DC Social locations are coming back, as well as your favorite tournaments and events – bar sports, basketball, bocce, cornhole, dodgeball, flag football, kickball, skeeball, soccer, softball, street hockey, tennis, ultimate Frisbee and volleyball. We have leagues for beginners and veterans. Looking to get social this spring with classic DC Social leagues? We are all about being social and having fun, so no need to sweat the little stuff.

DC Volley www.DCVolley.com

DC Volley plays at some of the best locations across the DC area, with a variety of team play options. We have indoor, sand, four vs. four and six vs. six, and now ultra leagues. Long-time volleyball veterans can now test their game against the best competition in town. After games, players head to one of our awesome sponsor bars for victory drinks, and USS league specials. We offer several levels of play including social, athletic and the newly added ultra level. We’ve got a spot for every skill set.

DC Softball www.DCSoftball.com

Softball is our game, and you can’t wear it out! We play on traditional diamonds or on open National Mall fields with bases and backstops. DC Softball leagues play in DC and VA, so just pick the league that’s most convenient for you. All are welcome, from newcomers to long-time softball fans. The best part is captains never have to front the whole team fee, as individuals pay their registration dues directly. Registration is open to free agents, small groups and full teams.

DC Street Hockey www.dcstreethockey.com

DCSH is a great balance of competitive street hockey with social interaction at the rink, at post-game tailgates or happy hours. On the rink, we offer by far the best and most competitive hockey and the area’s only men’s leagues, though women are highly encouraged as well. The rink offers DirecTV for NHL and NFL games to make the experience that much more exciting. There’s an annual golf tournament, happy hours, travel tournaments, local tournaments and other fun off-the-rink activities. Many players start in our lowest division or draft league, and learn from top players on those teams so they develop quickly. Though our leagues are always looking for new players, many of the leagues are for intermediate to advanced players. Our men’s leagues have a few different divisions and only the more advanced players play in the D1 top division. Many players start in D2 and work their way up to D1 in a few years. DC Street Hockey is a great place to play a fun/competitive sport and make a great new social network. Email waynebarrett20@gmail.com to be placed in the proper league and team.

Photo: Courtesy of District Karaoke League

District Karaoke

www.districtkaraoke.com District Karaoke is DC and Virginia’s first-and-only competitive, team-based karaoke league. It’s team-based, meaning you perform with friends and cheer each other on. And the competition?

You, your fellow singers and anyone else you invite score each performance using our matchup mobile scoring system. Teams compete over a 10-week season for a chance to go to the epic citywide finals. You can form a team, join a team or register as a free agent by going to the District Karaoke website and selecting a night and venue. No experience required.

DC Ultimate www.DCUltimate.com

DC Ultimate is the first social ultimate Frisbee in DC! This new sport is a cross between basketball and football – fast-paced and exciting. We offer several levels of play including social, athletic and the newly-added ultra level. We’ve got a spot for every skill set. Stay active and get social with this new sport. Players enjoy seven weeks of play with playoffs. Grab a friend and sign up for this new exciting sport. Now playing in DC and Virginia.

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Fairfax Adult Softball www.fairfaxadultsoftball.com

We are the largest ASA adult softball league in the nation! We have a league for every age and skill level, ranging from seniors to social to elite. We also run several tournaments and events throughout the year supporting several charities. We do not require any experience at all – we have a league for everyone! Click the “Join” tab on our site and it will walk you through the steps.

FXA Basketball www.FXABasketball.com

FXA Basketball is one of the largest coed and men’s adult basketball leagues in Northern VA (VA/DC/MD), averaging around 25 teams each season. We offer both team and individual (free agent) registrations for all levels of play. To keep competition evenly matched, FXA offers two different divisions (casual or competitive) for teams ranging in skill sets. All games are officiated by high school-certified and experienced referees, and played on regulation-size adult basketball courts. After the games, our sponsor bar provides beer and food specials for teams.

FXA Softball www.FXASoftball.com

FXA Softball is one of the largest coed and men’s adult slow-pitch softball leagues in Northern VA (VA/DC/MD), averaging over 50 teams each season playing on full-size adult fields with dugouts and an HR fence. We offer both team and individual (free agent) registrations for our spring 2016 season. To keep competition evenly matched, FXA offers several different divisions (social, casual, Competitive and elite) for teams ranging in skill. All games are officiated by ASA-certified and experienced umpires. After the games, our sponsor bars provide beer and food specials for teams to socialize and meet other players.

FXA Volleyball www.FXAVolleyball.com

FXA Volleyball is a coed volleyball league in Northern Virginia (VA/ DC/MD). We play indoor, grass and sand, four vs. four and six vs. six coed volleyball. We offer both team and individual (free agent) registrations for our spring 2016 season, and any skill level can play.

Goombay Kickball www.Goombay.net

FXA Football www.FXAFootball.com

Winter 2016 FXA Coed Football Champs Photo: Courtesy of FXA Social Sports

Goombay Kickball has been hosting coed, women’s and kids’ kickball leagues in the DC area since 2010. We have a competitive and social league which plays on Sunday afternoons, and after each game the teams cook out, play music, drink and socialize.

Each Sunday is like a big family reunion! When players first come out, they don’t need to have any experience. We always host two to three open practices before the season begins, and we teach everyone how to play and the rules. We also allow the older players to dust off the cobwebs and meet new players. Register by clicking the “kickball” link for Washington, DC on our site.

FXA Football is the largest coed, women’s and men’s adult flag football league in Northern Virginia (VA/DC/MD), averaging around 150 teams each season and playing on turf fields. We offer both team and individual (free agent) registrations for our spring 2016 season. To keep competition evenly matched, FXA offers several different divisions (social, casual, competitive and elite) for teams ranging in skill sets. All games are officiated by qualified and experienced referees and played on turf fields lined for flag football.

FXA Soccer www.FXASoccer.com

FXA Soccer is the largest coed and men’s adult soccer league in Northern VA (VA/DC/MD), averaging around 120 teams each season of coed 11 vs. 11 and men’s eight vs. eight leagues. We offer both team and individual (free agent) registrations for our spring 2016 season and play all games on turf fields. To keep competition evenly matched, FXA offers several different divisions (social, casual, competitive and elite) for teams ranging in skill levels.

All games are officiated by U.S. soccer graded and experienced referees and played on turf fields lined for soccer.

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l Photo: Courtesy of Goombay Kickball

Happy Hour Kickball www.happyhourkickball.com

We offer a plethora of social sports to the masses in the DMV area from kickball and softball to cornhole and bocce. This summer, the focus will be on our 10th kickball season with games taking place on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 and 7:15 p.m., and post-game fun and activities at The Barking Dog in Bethesda.

There will be food and drink specials, flip cup, pong and general merriment. Theme weeks will abound and friendships and partnerships will form. Join us, won’t you? Registration is done online and is just a click away on our registration tab. And stay tuned, “Happy Hour Softball Season Five” is coming this June!

Games will be on Monday nights, so look for details as we get closer to the summer.

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RASL www.playrasl.com

Recreational Athletics Sports League (RASL or “razzle”) offers coed sports for adults over 18 years old. Our leagues and tournaments are held in Montgomery County, Md. with players hailing from Rockville, Germantown, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Silver Spring, DC, VA and other locales. We offer coed, men’s and women’s flag football leagues. We offer registration for teams, small groups and individuals, and we are bringing back the women’s league.

RECLEAGUES.COM www.recleagues.com Photo: Courtesy of RECLEAGUES.COM

JCCGW Coed Softball League www.jccgw.org

We have two coed slow-pitch softball leagues at the JCCGW in Rockville. The first plays on Sunday mornings at local park fields.

The second is a weeknight league that is played on Monday and Tuesday on the JCCGW’s campus in Rockville. Both leagues are a mix of social and competitive. The teams have fun but like to win too. Some of our teams get together for happy hour after the games. It’s a great group of participants, and we are always looking for new faces to join our leagues. No experience required.

We get many new participants each year who have little to no experience but are looking to meet new people and have fun. You can register an entire team online or send an email to be put on the free agent list and get on a team that already exists. To learn more, click on the “Fitness and Sports” tab on the homepage, then choose “Sports Programs and Adult Leagues.”

Metro Sports Leagues www.metrosportsleagues.com

We offer soccer, softball and volleyball. Our leagues are fun because we have multiple divisions and locations so you can choose to play in a league that suits what your team is looking for and where they want to play. It isn’t fun to play in a league where you are either killing every team or getting killed each week. We focus on making sure the experience on the field/court/gym is what you hoped it to be when you signed up. Recreational players can join and have a good experience, and at the same time we have competitive leagues for players that take the game seriously and want a high level of play.

Morven Park Flag Football League www.MorvenParkSports.org

Play on the finest grass fields in all of Loudoun County. Morven Park’s flag football league holds its spring season on Wednesday evenings, April 6 to June 1. The nine-week season includes seven regular games and a single elimination tournament. The league attracts players of all skill levels. Register by March 23 for this season.

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Established in 1985, we’re the longest-running continuous provider of adult athletics in the entire United States, with the best-organized programs anywhere. Offering multiple divisions for our leagues, men and women of all ages/skill levels are always welcome to join. We offer flag football, softball, basketball, floor hockey, indoor soccer and volleyball, just pick your sport – and get in the game!

Social Sports of Bethesda www.socialsportsofbethesda.com

“More than just a game!” is our tagline. Social Sports of Bethesda (SSB) is a coed adult sports league for people who enjoy socializing and participating in organized sports. The league was formed to provide a venue for people ages 21 and older to participate in football, softball, volleyball, dodgeball and other sports in a safe, coed, well-organized and social atmosphere. We offer two or three divisions depending on skill level. The Miller division is for teams that prefer to be a little more competitive. The Lite division is a little less competitive and the Super Lite is for new teams or previous teams who finished sub .500 in the Lite division. Register as a team captain and have your teammates join your team. Or register as a free agent and we’ll put you on a team. Small groups (incomplete teams) are also welcome. Registrations are all online.

United Social Sports www.UnitedSocialSports.com

Photo: Courtesy of USS Softball

With more than 15 active sport leagues in play this season, United Social Sports (USS) is the District’s largest social sports community.

Our goal is to bring groups of friends and individuals together to connect socially and to play more often. From bocce to ultimate Frisbee to kickball, we have your sport/game of choice. We also host fun events like tubing trips and wine tastings. We will also have new tennis, street hockey and bowling leagues this spring.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned vet, we’ve got the league for you. For the first time, we are offering ultra leagues, so step up your game with our more competitive leagues or play in our infamously awesome social- or athletic-level leagues.

on the scene

For more pix from these & other events, visit the online gallery at www.ontaponline.com

WAKA Kickball and Social Sports kickball.com/dc

Club WAKA brings games, parties and friends together into one national sport and social club. With more and more people to meet, great parties, tournaments and events throughout the U.S., there’s never been a better time to join WAKA Kickball and Social Sports. Find leagues in the DC area by clicking on the DC tab online. We offer kickball, football, bar games, dodgeball and volleyball. We welcome all players of all experience levels 21 and over. See you on the field!

Washington DC Gaels www.wdcgaels.com

The Washington DC Gaels has been celebrating the long tradition of Irish sports in the DC metro area since 1988 as part of a much larger international sporting organization, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). We provide the sports of hurling and camogie, combining the skills of field hockey, lacrosse and baseball in a very fast-paced and exciting game. We also have men’s as well as ladies’ Gaelic football, which are sports that combine the skills of basketball, volleyball and rugby in another fast-paced and aggressive sport. No experience is needed to play with the Gaels.

Our experienced coaches and veteran players are more than happy to help you learn the sport and see you excel as a new player. Trust us, once you start playing these sports you won’t want to stop.

The season runs March to September, until our national finals on Labor Day weekend.

ZogSports DC www.zogsports.com/dc

Photo: Courtesy of ZogSports DC

ZogSports is the United States’ largest charity-focused, coed social sports league for young professionals. We organize sports leagues (basketball, cornhole, dodgeball, football, kickball, soccer, softball and volleyball), social events, and volunteer opportunities for young professionals in DC. Fun is our number one priority and the ZogSports staff is trained to ensure that you have a superb time on the court and at the bar. Plus, everything we do (from the sports to the weekly happy hours to our “Play For Your Cause” charity donations) exists for the sole purpose of bringing people together to create a warm, friendly and fun community. We have leagues for casual and competitive players, so you can choose your skill level when you sign up. You can register as an individual, with friends or as a whole team online. We take care of the rest!

A sold out crowd jammed out to the Marcus King Band at Villain & Saint. Some call him the next Duane Allman or Jimi Hendrix, and his guitar shredding certainly payed homage to that. Photos By Mark Raker www.ontaponline.com | March 2016 | On Tap

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The Transformation of

By Jackson Sinnenberg, Local Music Columnist

Photo: Timothy White

t 29 years old, Australian fusion musician Tal Wilkenfeld has

By Jackson Sinnenberg, a resume that musicians 40 years her senior would kill for.

Local Music Columnist After releasing her first album, “Transformations” in 2007, her first major outlet as a musician was accompanying keyboard legend Chick Corea on his tour of Australia. She has gone on to play with many other great musicians throughout the last nine years – Herbie Hancock, Ryan Adams, John Mayer and Prince among them – but her true break into the public and musical consciousness was during her tenure in the trio of blues and fusion guitarist extraordinaire Jeff Beck. Her performances with Beck were captured in significant recordings such as Beck’s live album “Live at Ronnie Scott’s” and the “25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts.”

After nearly a decade of growing musically alongside heroes and legends, Wilkenfeld is asserting herself as a virtuoso and bandleader, preparing a new album and embarking on a slew of headline tour dates. She will visit the DC area twice this month, headlining the Birchmere in Alexandria on Tuesday, March 15 and performing at the Verizon Center on Thursday, March 24, where she will open for The Who. On Tap spoke with Wilkenfeld in anticipation of her touchdown in the District come mid-month.

On Tap: Did either of your parents play instruments or records around the house [when you were growing up], or was it something you had to come to on your own?

Tal Wilkenfeld: I discovered guitar on my own. Neither of my parents are musicians, but my mum has a very musical ear and is also a great visual artist. My dad also has amazing taste in music.

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OT: When did you know that you were meant to be a musician?

TW: I knew music was my primary method of expressing my creativity after (or during) the first time I strummed a chord on the guitar.

OT: You started out as a guitar player. Was there something more freeing about the bass, a pattern of creative thinking associated with the instrument that fit you naturally?

TW: Everyone around me, myself included, recognized that I played guitar like a bass player. I was always the first one to run to a drum kit or a bass; I think I was just born to be a rhythm player. And that doesn’t exclude rhythm guitar.

Musically, interacting with these greats has informed my instincts; the way I respond in any given moment to what’s musically thrown my way. In reality though, everyone I interact with informs my perspective on music. They don’t even need to be a musician!

OT: What drew you to fusion? Was it listening to musicians like Herbie, Chick and Jeff Beck – was there something in their playing that resonated with you?

TW: I admire and enjoy their desire to move toward limitless musical expression.

OT: Did playing with [these great musicians] change your perspective on how you write and perform your own music?

TW: Musically, interacting with these greats has informed my instincts; the way I respond in any given moment to what’s musically thrown my way. In reality though, everyone I interact with informs my perspective on music. They don’t even need to be a musician!

on the scene

For more pix From these & other events, visit the online gallery at www.ontaponline.com

OT: As a bass and six-string guitar player, you had one of the best possible teachers in the form of Jeff Beck. Did playing with him in a trio change the way you approach guitar and bass?

TW: He was a walking reminder that one doesn’t need to open their mouth to sing.

OT: When you think about music you make now as opposed to on “Transformation” and before, has it changed?

TW: Thankfully, it’s forever changing.

OT: So let’s talk about the elephant in the room. You are opening for one of the biggest acts in music of the last century: The Who. What are you most looking forward to about that tour?

TW: I like elephants. I heard The Who was going on tour and I decided to email Pete Townshend and share some of my new songs that I’ve been working on. These are songs where I’m singing and playing guitar and bass. I told him if the opportunity was there, I’d love to open for The Who. He was extremely complimentary and supportive of this new music and invited me to open for them.

OT: You’re also going on your first headline tour around the same time. Who is in the band? Introduce us!

TW: First is Owen Barry, a very talented guitarist that Jeff Beck introduced me to; then Tamir Barzilay, a super versatile, grooving and interesting drummer that I actually met randomly when I went to see a friend of a friend perform in LA. Finally, the multitalented Chris Price is playing keyboards, guitar and singing. He’s our “everything man,” and he’s great at it.

OT: What will make these shows different experiences for people who have been following you? What are you looking forward to most about your solo shows?

TW: I really just can’t wait for people to hear these new songs! They really are the truest expression of my soul at this moment in my life.

After working on and off on this record for so many years now, it’s super exciting (and a relief ) to finally go out there and play!

Catch Tal Wilkenfeld at the Birchmere on March 15 for $25 or with The Who at the Verizon Center on March 24 (check Ticketmaster for ticket prices).

THE BIRCHMERE: 3701 Mt Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; 703-549-7500; www.birchmere.com VERIZON CENTER: 601 F St. NW, DC; 202-628-3200; www.verizoncenter.com JRAD (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead) played an outrageously fun show to a packed house at 930 Club. Photos By MARk RAkeR

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By Marcus Dowling, DJ Columnist

Photo: Courtesy of Elliott O’Donovan Photography

leven years in and Montgomery County-born DJ SAAM cites “[having] a pretty good following, being able to bring out people, establish great club nights and play consistently good sets at a high level” as his keys to becoming a wellregarded veteran and area professional.

The resident spinner at clubs including DC’s Ultrabar and Midtown, Arlington’s A-Town Bar & Grill and other noted area locations is also one of the headliners for the National ShamrockFest, taking place on March 12 at the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds.

The first two decades of the 21st century have seen a significant uptick in neophytes believing that they have what it takes to reach the success of someone like SAAM. In reference to what it takes to achieve that, or any level of success in the DJ craft,

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SAAM says, “You have to put in the time.

There’s that cliché saying about putting in 10,000 hours of time in order to develop your skills, and to become a good DJ, that’s true. Practicing and listening to other DJ’s sets will allow someone to pick up new techniques and allow their brain to make new connections that can improve their skills.”

SAAM puts an emphasis on something other than matching beats and knowing when to drop the perfect remix.

“It’s important to have great character as a person,” SAAM says. “DJs that are reputable, friendly, nice to staff and patrons, and reliable get booked often.”

SAAM notes that sometimes the success of a gig isn’t as much defined by what music is being played, but who the people are on the dance floor or at the venue.

Relaying a story from a recent set at A-Town Bar & Grill, his fanatical love of sports and his job behind the decks happily collided when a group of players from the Washington Capitals were in the room.

“I was working the Sunday brunch at A-Town, and it’s sometimes a wild party from [noon to midnight], or longer, with three DJs there,” SAAM remembers. “On the Sunday night in question, the entire Washington Capitals team came in. I’m a big sports fan and have been a huge Caps fan my whole life, so I knew their practice facility (Arlington’s Kettler Capitals Iceplex) was directly behind the bar. Nicklas Bäckström and others came into the DJ booth and were partying with me, and it was kinda cool! To have those guys hang out, tell me about artists they liked and what their taste in music was, it was cool!”

Regarding being in the city during dance music’s most recent boom generation, the DJ notes the national capital area’s history with the genre, and is hopeful regarding the present and future.

“DC’s a diverse and close-knit area of DJs, promoters and supporters that’s always been strong and supported many musical scenes. [Trance kingpin] Armin van Buuren’s first American gig was actually in DC, and now there’s local DJs and producers becoming known worldwide for making techno and deep house who are being supported at clubs serving as platforms like Flash, U Street Music Hall and Eighteenth Street Lounge.” Continuing, SAAM tells On Tap, “Also, there’s DJs like Tiesto and David Guetta who are big in the mainstream and play spaces like Echostage.”

When it comes to his big gig on March 12 at ShamrockFest, SAAM is excited.

“I’m looking forward to having a great time. I know a lot of the DJs playing there very well, and it’s my second time DJing the event. I’m going to see what the crowd is vibing with, and [given that] people will be drinking and looking to have fun, my mindset is to go with the flow. The crowd will dictate what I’ll play. When I’m done, I’ll have some beer and relax with the other DJs there.”

To learn more about DJ SAAM, follow him on Twitter: @DJ_SAAM.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 5

to their music, with two years together on banjo, bass, guitar and mandolin.

JAMMIN JAVA: 227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna, VA; 703-255-1566; www.jamminjava.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 8

Jason+: Jason Moran and Mason Bates These two young, talented composers are huge tastemakers for the DC arts scene as the artist head of the Kennedy Center’s jazz programs (Moran) and the Kennedy Center’s first composer-in-residence (Bates).

These two titans of the American music center join forces together, combining Moran’s encyclopedic jazz repertoire and Bates’ boundary-pushing electro-classical fusion to create a night of interesting musical explorations.

KENNEDY CENTER: 2700 F St. NW, DC; 202467-4600; www.kennedy-center.org

Anthony Pirog Guitarist, composer and looper Anthony Pirog is one of the rising figures in DC’s experimental music scene. A signee of Silver Spring-based, avant-garde vanguards Cuneiform Records, his guitar textures often veer into the realm of space exploration and angular oddities. He inherits the legacy of two key DC guitar gurus, Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan, and follows their lead in adapting his playing from a host of pop music styles.

IOTA CLUB & CAFE: 2832 Wilson Blvd.

Arlington, VA; 703-522-8340; www.iotaclubandcafe.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 6 DC Fusion DC Fusion is one of the area’s leading dance bands, made up of a cast of previous session musicians from the area. The group’s combined credits include playing with Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Angie Stone, Isaac Hayes, Chuck Brown and others. They’ve honed their skills over years of playing, all to play great dance music for locals.

BETHESDA BLUES & JAZZ SUPPER CLUB: 7719 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda, MD; 240-3304500; www.bethesdabluesjazz.com

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Adam Ezra Group It’s been quite a while since the full Adam Ezra Group lineup hit the District, and we’re ready for them. The Boston-based roots rockers often draw comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, and they’re not unfounded. They bring a level of boundless energy and enthusiasm for performance – and life – which is matched by few performers, the Boss among them.

GYPSY SALLY’S: 3401 Water St. NW, DC; 202333-7700; www.gyspysallys.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 10

Sweet Yonder Spend your Sunday afternoon at this bluegrass matinee featuring the dynamic female foursome behind Sweet Yonder, who will perform the perfect balance of their originals with their takes on folk, bluegrass and Americana classics. The DC area residents bring “guts, glory and soul”

DC Funk Parade The annual Funk Parade is a great kickoff to spring, and a reminder of the incredibly rich music and performing arts circles that

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we have in the DMV region. Leading the parade from the Tropicalia club is DC neo-soul crooner and producer Aaron “Ab” Abernathy with band Nat Turner, along with special appearances by Drew Kid &The Elevators, CMPVTR CLVB and Deborah Bond. These soul, funk and jazz musicians represent the legacy of the city’s music history, and will help parade it into the future.

TROPICALIA: 2001 14th St. NW, DC; 202-629-4535; www.tropicaliadc.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 11

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2

PETER ROWAN THURSDAY, MARCH 3

NICHOLAS DAVID BAND

Mount Moriah

North Carolina-based trio Mount Moriah is on tour promoting their third record, “How to Dance,” just released in February.

Heather McEntire, Jenks Miller and Casey Toll are one of those refreshingly original bands focused on creating their own sound, rather than repeating music history. Don’t miss Mount Moriah’s unique sound, blending rock, pop, country, folk and more, at Rock & Roll Hotel.

ROCK & ROLL HOTEL DC: 1353 H St. NE, DC; 202-388-7625; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 11 – SATURDAY, MARCH 12 Nasar Abadey’s Supernova DC drummer Nasar Abadey is one of the most prolific and prominent musicians on the scene. Abadey will bring his signature group, Supernova, to Twins Jazz for two nights of potent jazz music. The group consists of jazz musicians from all over the DC area. Two separate sets at 9 and 11 p.m. both nights.

TWINS JAZZ: 1344 U St. NW, DC; 202-234-0072; www.twinsjazz.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 Jazz Brunch featuring Marcus Johnson Marcus Johnson may not have been born in DC, but he was quick to make it home. A graduate of both Howard and Georgetown, the DC jazz pianist and entrepreneur has recorded a whopping 18 studio albums in the last 20 years, and help runs several media and entertainment organizations that revolve around contemporary urban music. He leads a smooth, satisfying set for the jazz brunch, helping that eggs Benedict go down with Continued on page 70

FRIDAY, MARCH 4

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JOHN KADLECIK & THE DC MYSTERY CATS THURSDAY, MARCH 10

JON STICKLEY TRIO FRIDAY, MARCH 11

RON HOLLOWAY BAND, BLUE MIRACLE TUESDAY, MARCH 15

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TUE APRIL 19TH

JAZZ IS PHISH MON APRIL 25TH

THURSDAY, MARCH 29

WALTER TROUT

THE MULLIGAN BROTHERS, CHRISTIAN LOPEZ BAND

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

THU MARCH 10TH

CHESAPEAKE SONS

WED MAY 4TH

FILTER FRI MAY 6TH

BUCKCHERRY BUY TICKETS AT THE BOX OFFICE OR ONLINE AT THEHOWARDTHEATRE.COM 202-803-2899

www.ontaponline.com | March 2016 | On Tap

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some Chocolate City soul.

HOWARD THEATRE: 620 T St. NW, DC; 202803-2899; www.thehowardtheater.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 15

groups in the DC area. Here he teams with youngster Marcus Anderson, making significant strides in the smooth jazz world as a sensuous sax player.

BETHESDA BLUES & JAZZ SUPPER CLUB: 7719 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda, MD; 240-3304500; www.bethesdabluesjazz.com

EDM group Definition of One, DC funk/jazz all-star lineup The Funk Ark, and DC’s eclectic, ethnic brass band Black Masala. While no specific Irish music is expected, the party cred is indisputable.

JAMMIN JAVA: 227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna, VA; 703-255-1566; www.jamminjava.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 19

Brian Fallon & The Crowes As the lead singer of the Gaslight Anthem, Brian Fallon has delivered heartfelt, heartland-meets-CBGB punk rock ‘n’ roll. As a solo performer, Fallon strips away much of the punk fury for Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen-influenced folk- and soul-laced rock. This is new territory for Fallon and his fans, but a chance worth taking.

9:30 CLUB: 815 V St. NW, DC; 202-265-0930; www.930.com

Politics and Art: A Jam Session This is a call to both musicians and lovers of the arts. Washington Performing Arts, working with Councilmember David Grosso, presents “Politics and Art,” a celebration of the rich diversity of DC’s local arts scenes. Whether you’re a musician, poet, dancer or other type of performance artist, all are welcome at this gathering of great local talents.

JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING: 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; 202-724-8000; www.washingtonperformingarts.org

Tortoise Chicago-based post-rockers Tortoise are back in DC, bringing their almost entirely instrumental repertoire to The Black Cat. The five musicians behind this prolific band – with seven studio albums since their 1994 beginnings – have backgrounds in indie and punk groups in Chi-Town, and are credited with being at the forefront of newer indie rock sounds like dub and electronic. Catch these seasoned rock progressives on the Black Cat’s main stage.

BLACK CAT: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; 202-6674490; www.blackcatdc.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 John 5 Renowned shredder John 5 comes to the City of Falls Church to perform songs from his repertoire, including seven guitar albums and upcoming solo album, “Guitars, Tits, and Monsters.” The current Rob Zombie guitarist has also worked with Marilyn Manson, Rob Halford and Dave Lee Roth, to name a few. Unlike many metal rockers, John 5 also dabbles in bluegrass, country and flamenco, so we’re guessing he’ll have a few surprises up his sleeve for State Theatre audiences.

STATE THEATRE: 220 N Washington St. Falls Church, VA; 703-237-0300; www.thestatetheatre.com

Yamato: The Drummers of Japan Seventeen-piece ensemble Yamato bring Japanese taiko drums, some up to six feet wide, to the Lincoln Theatre, along with cymbals, flutes and other traditional instruments. The percussive trailblazers are on their Bakuoun 2016 Tour, playing songs spanning their 20+ year career. Check out their new live record, “Bakuon: Legend of the Heartbeat,” on iTunes.

THE LINCOLN THEATRE: 1215 U St. NW, DC; 202-888-0050; www.thelincolndc.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

THURSDAY, MARCH 17

Marcus Anderson & Earl Carter As one of the founders of E.U., Earl Carter helped pioneer the powerful sound of DC’s go-go movement. His bouncing, pounding bass made E.U. one of the most successful

Jammin Java’s St. Patrick’s Day Party Jammin Java is throwing one heck of a jamming party for your St. Patrick’s Day pleasure. Featuring a cast of DC and Mid-Atlantic regional musicians, get your shamrock on with a show featuring

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On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Cassandra Allen Cassandra Allen is rising to become a significant presence as an alumna of Howard’s vocal program. She’s studied at Howard, Berklee College of Music and other prestigious music schools, crafting her signature sound: self-described Afro-Latin/Mediterranean and jazz/folk fusion. She’s the current Strathmore Artistin-Residence, and it’s easy to see why. Come experience her soothing vocal presence.

THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE: 5301 Tuckerman Ln. North Bethesda, Md.; 301-581-5100; www.strathmore.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 24 Emily West Emily West is a rising star in pop/country music, earning herself a spot as runner-up in the ninth season of America’s Got Talent and two spots on the country charts for her single “Rocks in Your Shoes” and “Blue Sky,” the latter a duet with Keith Urban. In 2015, she put out her own studio album, “All For You.” Catch the up-and-coming singer-songwriter at the Birchmere in Alexandria.

THE BIRCHMERE MUSIC HALL: 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; 703-549-7500; www.birchmere.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 25 Big Chimney The local musicians that make up Big Chimney try to keep the long-standing legacy of bluegrass and string bands well and alive in the DC area. The base is solidly rooted in the bluegrass tradition, with signature musical colors and harmonies, but injects a bit more of the modern folk and pop music sensibility.

IOTA CLUB & CAFE: 2832 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; 703-522-8340; www.iotaclubandcafe.com Rokia Traoré with Sinkane Genre-bending songstress Rokia Traoré will take the stage at George W a s h i n g t o n University’s Lisner Auditor ium, performing Malian blues, rock, jazz and folk. Traoré collaborated with Devendra Banhart, Led Zeppelin bassist/keyboardist/ songwriter John Paul Jones and multi-instrumentalist/songwriter John Parish (The Eels, PJ Harvey) on her upcoming album “Né So,” or “Home.” Sinkane will open for the Malian singer, with Ahmed Gallab at the helm playing global pop music.

LISNER AUDITORIUM: 730 21st St. NW, DC; 202-994-6800; www.lisner.gwu.edu

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Visit our Butcher Shop and Market!

FRIDAY, MARCH 25 - SATURDAY, MARCH 26

March Music Schedule: Mar 8 Mar 9 Mar 10 Mar 11 Mar 12 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19

TUESDAY TRIVIA Goin Goin Gone Mercy Alliance DYNAMO The Watt Brothers Radio Mosaic Harry Smith and the Bling TUESDAY TRIVIA Beechers Fault (Duo) ST. PATS DAY w/ The Johnathan Sloane Trio The Next Step KIDSROCK! Brunch and Concert w/Rocknoceros (8:30am)

Mar 19 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 29 Mar 31 April 1 April 2

Definition of one and Mary-eL TRIVIA TUESDAY No Better Off The Good Thing The Fuss and Go Mod Go Justin Trawick and the Common Good We Are The 9 Songwriter Series FUNKY THURSDAY w/ BullDog Alley Cats Jumpin Jupiter LauraLea and TrippFabulous

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GW LISNER PRESENTS

Bedroom Community

10 Year Anniversary with Nico Muhly, Ben Frost, Sam Amidon & Valgeir Sigurðsson

THE WHALE WATCHING TOUR TUESDAY

MARCH

29 8 pm

MARCH 23 • 8 PM

Johnny Clegg Rokia TraorE Sinkane WITH

MARCH 25 •8 PM

Visit lisner.gwu.edu or call 202.994.6800 for more information or to purchase tickets.

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On Tap | March 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

Afro-Bop Alliance Drummer and percussionist Joe McCarthy has worn a number of hats in his 20 years as a DMV area musician.

But the hat he’s most comfortable in is as the leader-behind-the-kit of Grammy Award-winning, Latin/AfroCuban powerhouse group, Afro-Bop Alliance. Get ready to get your groove on when you see this dynamite group. Two separate sets at 9 and 11 p.m. both nights.

TWINS JAZZ: 1344 U St. NW, DC; 202-234-0072; www.twinsjazz.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 26 Bells and Hunters Another name for Bells and Hunters may have been Kitchen Sink, because there’s everything but the kitchen sink in their bouncy indie rock. You may hear singer Kelly Ann Beaver spit a couple rhymes or lead guitarist Joel Murray rip into a furious solo – there’s a bit of everything here to try and catch your ear.

IOTA CLUB & CAFE: 2832 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; 703-522-8340; www.iotaclubandcafe.com The Family Crest San Fran-based Family Crest is aptly named, with seven core members and over 400 additional musicians who have collaborated with the band over the past several years. Known for recording their music along the West Coast in unique locations – churches and living rooms, to name a few – the orchestral indie rockers have made the short lists for Paste’s best new bands and NPR’s favorite new artists. Catch the band and their eclectic lineup of instruments – bassoon, vibraphone, etc. – at Rock & Roll Hotel.

ROCK & ROLL HOTEL DC: 1353 H St. NE, DC; 202-388-7625; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com Red Baraat’s Festival of Colors Last year’s festival of colors was canceled due to snow, but it’s back this month with a new crop of musicians to help you Continued on page 74

8 6 5 6 C O L E SV I L L E R D. , S I LV E R S P R I N G , M D 2 0 9 1 0 MAR 5 MAR 6

SLAYER, TESTAMENT, CARCASS

SOLD OUT

QUALITY CONTROL PRESENTS

MIGOS DAB TOUR JESSIE JAMES DECKER, TEMECULA ROAD SAOSIN FEATURING ANTHONY GREEN, LIMBS METRIC, JOYWAVE MAR 16 TINASHE, RYAN HEMSWORTH MAR 17 YUNG LEAN MAR 18 HOODIE ALLEN, SUPERDUPERKYLE, BLACK BEAR

MAR 10 MAR 11 MAR 13

BALTSOUND MANAGEMENT PRESENTS

MAR 8-9

JANAE, S.B.M., TITO STARR

MAR 11-13

MAR 24 TOKYO BOYZ VS BIG PAPER CHASERS MIA SPARROW, RESURRECTING QUEENZ, FUNSHO, SKATES, MAR 25 MAR 26 MAR 30

YELLOW DUBMARINE, START MAKING SENSE, SLOAN TRIO LIL DURK AND LIL UZI VERT SOLD OUT LIVE NATION PRESENTS

SOLD OUT THE DIVAS OF DRAG APR 1 APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE TO GUNS ‘N ROSES SOLD OUT APR 9 CHARLES KELLEY THE DRIVER TOUR, JOSH KELLEY APR 10 THE CULT APR 13 FRANKIE BALLARD APR 14 TECH N9NE’S INDEPENDENT POWERHOUSE TOUR 2016 KRIZZ KALIKO, RITTZ, MAYDAY!, STEVIE STONE, CES CRU

APR 19 APR 20 APR 21 APR 22 APR 29 APR 30

WAKA FLOCKA FLAME, 4B UNDEROATH, CASPIAN AMON AMARTH, ENTOMBED A.D., EXMORTUS FONSECA

JAILBREAK BREWING PARTY

DIRTY HEADS, RDGLDGRN

APR 2 APR 3 APR 5-6 APR 9

APR 24 SOLD OUT

MAY 17

FLATBUSH ZOMBIES, A$AP TWELVYY, REMY BANKS

STATE CHAMPS

FILLMORE FLASHBACK 80’S VS 90’S DANCE PARTY

BIZ MARKIE, HERE’S TO THE NIGHT, THE NEW ROMANCE MAY 31 EMBLEM3 WAKING UP TOUR JUN 15 THRICE, LA DISPUTE & GATES JUN 17 MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD’S SOULROCKER TOUR

BUY TICKETS AT FILLMORESILVERSPRING.COM TICKETMASTER.COM • CHARGE BY PHONE 800.551.7328

MAR 21

APR 20

MAY 12

MAY 21

MAR 19

APR 17

THE NOISE PRESENTS

THE NOISE PRESENTS

RAIN A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES JE’CARYOUS JOHNSON’S “MARRIED BUT SINGLE” KIRK FRANKLIN NATURAL BORN PRANKSTERS “A CONVERSATION ON MAKING A MURDERER” WITH DEAN STRANG & JERRY BUTING 2 SHOWS! THE MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET 2 SHOWS! AN EVENING WITH SANTANA I’M STILL YOUR MAMA STARRING KEITH ROBINSON & TERRON BROOKS

2 SHOWS!

NOFX THE HEPATITIS BATHTUB TOUR SOLD OUT SANTIGOLD WE BUY GOLD TOUR BRING ME THE HORIZON BABYMETAL: WORLD TOUR 2016 BOYCE AVENUE A DAY TO REMEMBER JUST SOME SHOWS

MAY 6 MAY 9 MAY 10 MAY 11

APRIL 28–30

KUMAR SANU & ALKA YAGNIK CHINA ORIENTAL SONG AND DANCE TROUPE “NATIONAL BEAUTY” GENERATION AXE: STEVE VAI,

ZAKK WYLDE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, NUNO BETTENCOURT, TOSIN ABASI

BON QUI QUI IN CONCERT, GROUP 1 CREW

MAY 3

PRESENTED BY ANJELAH JOHNSON

MAY 19-20 MAY 22

BRIAN REGAN

MAY 26

THE AMAZING TOUR IS NOT ON FIRE THE MONKEES GOOD TIMES:

JUN 3

MICHAEL CARBONARO LIVE

JUN 17

RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL STARR BAND

SEPT 27

IL DIVO AMOR & PASION

OCT 27-28

THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS

BUY TICKETS AT WARNERTHEATREDC.COM TICKETMASTER.COM • CHARGE BY PHONE 800.551.7328

IOTA Club & Cafe

Open mOn-fri 5pm / Sat-Sun 10 am =march=explOre=live muSic fOrever= sa 05 benefit for stillbrave 8:30 Donate!$10+ childhood cancer foundat’n 51 PeG Pharmacy ProPhets - mass relay - fuzzy hats su 06 anthony pirog w/ wanteD man 8:00 $10 m 07 ill uma naughty w/ tolva 8:00 $10 fr 11 sa 12 su 13

w/ evilartform

w/ Dj sam snow

clones of clones w/ wylanD the nris naked grace w/ heartracer todd daniel laura hammond (seckler)

9:00 $10 8:30 $12 8:30 $10

iota poetry series 6pm to 8 pm $free

th 17

rivers & rust featurinG 8:00 $12 Kyle cooK of matchbox 20 and sheilia marshall st patrick’s day party 8:00$10

fr 18

mayors of marble falls

m 14

featurinG

westmain

w/ jackie & the treehorns

w/ the feeD

9:00$10

=WelcOme ! bar craWl Sat 3/19 2pm-9pm= bobby thompson & friends 9:00$12

sa 19

feat:

ron holloway w/ bryan elijah smith

tuesDays lGbtuesDays happy hour til 9 pm weD’Days open mic 8 pm = two siGn-ups 7:30/10:00

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MARCH ENTERTAINMENT 3/3 3/4 3/5

DJ Paul Surreal For The Win Virginia Coalition (VACO) 9:30pm-11pm DJ Lingo 11pm-1:30am 3/10 DJ Jenesis 3/11 Screaming Monkeys 3/12 Footwerk 3/17 ST. PATRICK’S DAY Traditional Celtic Music: Paul & Neil 4pm-9pm DJ Lingo: 9:30pm-1am 3/18 3/19 3/24 3/25 3/26 3/31

Amaretto DJ Lingo DJ 2Nutz Timmie Metz Band Party Like Its… DJ Paul Surreal 2854 Wilson Blvd. 703-276-WOWE (9693) Clarendon Metro Stop (Orange Line) whitlows.com

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ON TAP | MARCH 2016 | www.ontaponline.com

celebrate. Bhangra brass band Red Baraat injects a strong dose of South Asian music into their party-ready rhythms. They’re on tour celebrating Holi, the Festival of Colors, only amplifying their energy and presence as one of the best live acts around.

THE HAMILTON: 600 14th St. NW, DC; 202-787-1000; www.thehamiltondc.com

MONDAY, MARCH 28 Haelos One of the underappreciate schools of electronic musicmaking in today’s music scene is the record you put on after the dance party or night at the club.

Haelos make the records you want to hang out to and catch your breath to. The London electro-pop trio’s echoing melancholic and dream-like sound is good for the after party – or ideal for a different kind of party all together.

U STREET MUSIC HALL: 1115 U St. NW, DC; 202-588-1889; www.ustreetmusichall.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 29 Bedroom Community: Whale Watching Tour 2016 Icelandic musicians Valgeir Sigurðsson, Nico Muhly and Ben Frost joined forces in 2006 to create record label and collective Bedroom Community. To celebrate their 10th anniversary, the three founders will be joined by five other Bedroom Community artists on the Whale Watching Tour, “an unusual and ambitious premise” that “is more like a musical conversation with aspects of a show-and-tell than a formal concert.”

Catch this one-of-a-kind performance at Lisner Auditorium.

LISNER AUDITORIUM: 730 21st St. NW, DC; 202-994-6800; www.lisner.gwu.edu Listen Local First: Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival Preview The 7th annual Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival is coming up on April 30 to May 1, but you can catch a glimpse of the strong local performers descending near Anacostia River this month at this event hosted

by DC area music initiative Listen Local First. Oh He Dead draw on the funky legacy of the DMV to make some funk-folk and Herb & Hanson inject more Americana into Virginia’s Blue Ridge sound.

KENNEDY CENTER MILLENIUM STAGE: 2700 F St. NW, DC; 202-4674600; www.kennedy-center.org

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30 – THURSDAY, MARCH 31

Black Violin Violin/viola duo Black Violin is on the cutting-edge of classical music, adding hip-hop beats to their sound. The classically-trained string instrumentalists will perform songs from their newest album, “Stereotypes,” and others spanning their decade-long music career. Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste will be joined by a percussionist and “turntable wizard” at the Barns at Wolf Trap.

THE BARNS AT WOLF TRAP: 1635 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; 703-255-1900; www.wolftrap.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

Chesapeake Sons Good local boys from costal Maryland, Chesapeake Sons are a bit like our region’s answer to Florida Georgia Line. They give country a bit of a rock ‘n’ roll injection and Nashville-infused pop brightness. Their sun-soaked, Chesapeake beach bum “brocountry” is an invitation to start celebrating summer a little early.

GYPSY SALLY’S: 3401 Water St. NW, DC; 202-333-7700; www.gyspysallys.com

Charlie Puth SingerCharliePuthlenthismade-for-popradio vocals to one of 2015’s biggest hits, “See You Again,” and made further ripples with his Top 40 hits like “Marvin Gaye,” which featured Meghan Trainor. U Street Music Hall has often become the proving ground for young pop artists trying to make it big, so see whether Puth will sink or swim at this smaller-scale pop smash show.

U STREET MUSIC HALL: 1115 U St. NW, DC; 202-588-1889; www.ustreetmusichall.com

Must-See Shows Thursday, March 17 – Saturday, March 19 U STREET MUSIC HALL: SIX-YEAR ANNIVERSARY U Street Music Hall is offering up a unique alternative to St. Pat’s celebrations around town, with a weekend-long set of performances in honor of the venue’s sixth anniversary. The festivities kick off on St. Paddy’s Day with Dutch DJs Detroit Swindle, back at U Street for the second time. The duo, both lovers of “Detroit-inspired deephouse,” will play modern takes on classic soul. On Friday, March 18, XXYYXX will play “dubby, experimental” tracks alongside JimE Stack. On the final night of the celebration, Daphni (producer Dan Snaith’s alter ego) will make his U Street debut.

U STREET MUSIC HALL: 1115 U St. NW, DC; 202-588-1889; www.ustreetmusichall.com

Thursday, March 17 THE YOUNG DUBLINERS Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Celtic rockers The Young Dubliners at the Hamilton. The self-described rock band with an Irish influence have been influenced by a myriad of musicians – from The Waterboys and The Pogues to Radiohead and Mumford & Sons – with two members from Ireland and three from the U.S. Of their upcoming show, the band says they’ll incorporate a lot of Irish songs in their set, but also balance it out with originals from their albums. The Danny Burns Band will open for The Young Dubliners, who say he’s “a great musician, songwriter and generally good bloke.”

“It makes a huge different to play with people you respect, so I’m delighted to have him with us,” say the band. “There will be a finale, [for] sure. We’ll work it out that night so it’s spontaneous and fresh.”

THE HAMILTON: 600 14th St. NW, DC; 202-787-1000; www.thehamiltondc.com

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