On Tap Magazine // July 2017

Drink. Dine. Do. 07.17

TASTELAB’S

RYAN HANSAN WEWORK’S

ALISSA AVILOV

WHERE WE LIVE

HIP APARTMENTS TRENDING NEIGHBORHOODS

HOW WE WORK COLLABORATIVES INDIE INCUBATORS COWORKING SPACES

THE

LIVE WORK

ISSUE

+

MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION TURNS 50 311’S SUMMER TOUR | SECOND CITY’S SATIRE

on the scene

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

DC JazzFest at The Yards marked the culmination of the 2017 city-wide festival. For nine days in June, over 90 bands and 300 artists performed at venues across DC. The closing weekend at Yards Park featured Black Violins, Kandace Springs and Grammy winner George Porter, plus great food, drink and an array of crafts, clothing and interactive displays. Photos: Brittany Thomas

SPIKE your cocktail ST. Elder rita 2 oz. Silver Tequila 1 oz St. Elder .5 oz Fresh Lime Juice Shake all ingredients with ice & pour into a chilled glass and garnish with lime.

For more recipe inspirations visit St-Elder.com | @DrinkStElder ©2017 Produced & Bottled By St. Elder, Ltd., Boston, MA. 20% Alc/Vol (40 Proof)

PLEASE ENJOY RESPONSIBLY.

Table of Contents who is on tap

July 2017: Vol 19 No 9

on our

cover

Models: Ryan Hansan and Alissa Avilov Venue: WeWork Wonder Bread Factory

Photography: Lindsay Galatro Design: Alanna Sheppard

The Live/Work Issue This month marks our first ever “Live/Work” issue, and we’re very excited to highlight such a timely theme in On Tap. How we work and where we live in the DMV is shifting, from coworking spaces and unique business models to burgeoning neighborhoods taking apartment living to the next level. Courtney Sexton delves into how we cowork in the DC area, Alex Thompson walks us through the local food incubator trend and our very own Trent Johnson chats with WeWork’s Alissa Avilov. In keeping with our “How We Work” theme, Keith Loria writes about the business of brewing beer and we pick the brains of bartenders at coworking-friendly spots around town.

We also handpicked some of the hippest ‘hoods on our radar and what makes them worth visiting/moving to, and apartments offering an elevated experience. Plus, the iconic Merriweather Post Pavilion turns 50, 311’s back on tour, Second City brings satire to the Kennedy Center, tiki cocktails are back for the summer and much, much more.

Founder James Currie Publisher Jennifer Currie

jennifer@ontaponline.com

Managing Editor Monica Alford

monica@ontaponline.com

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Trent Johnson trent@ontaponline.com

Print & Digital Design Alanna Sheppard alanna@ontaponline.com

Nick Caracciolo KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Tom Roth tomroth@ontaponline.com

Events & promotions manager Shannon Darling

In this Issue

shannon@ontaponline.com

n Stage & Screen Stage & Screen Events........................... 4 Second City’s Satire................................ 6

n JULY Roundup

6

25

Second City’s Satire

How We Cowork

America’s state of disunion

In the nation’s capital

Did You Know? Coworking Edition... 20 Creating the Cover............................... 21 A Day in the Life.................................... 22 How We Cowork.................................... 25 Hip Neighborhoods.. ............................ 28 Apartment Living. . ................................ 38

n Sports Mountain Biking the DMV.................. 64

n Dining New, Notable, No Longer.................... 44 The Rise of DC Food Incubators........ 48

28

48

Where to Live Now

Culinary Collaborations

Hip ‘hoods in the DMV

Rise of DC food incubators

n Drinks Summertime is Tiki Time. . ................... 52 Behind the Bar....................................... 54 What’s On Tap?...................................... 58 Brewing Up Business.. .......................... 62

n Music Sax Player Elijah Jamal Balbed................70 311’s Summer Tour.....................................74 Merriweather Celebrates 50 Years.........78 Music Picks....................................................82

62

78

Brewing Up Business

Merriweather Turns 50

The work of brewing local

MPP celebrates anniversary

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Events & promotions ASSISTANT Elizabeth Elder elizabeth@ontaponline.com

Digital & Advertising coordinator Kayla Marsh kayla@ontaponline.com

OUTREACH COORDINATOR Kelcie Glass kelcie@ontaponline.com

Contributing Writers

Michael Coleman, Jake Emen, Lani Furbank, Jon Kaplan, Keith Loria, Kaitlyn McQuin, Reem Nadeem, Nicolas Rodrigo, Courtney Sexton, Alex Thompson

Contributing Photographers

Gevar Bonham, Josh Brick, Jake Emen, Lani Furbank, Linsday Galatro, Michelle Goldchain, Jessica Meyers, Devin Overbey, Mark Raker, Nicolas Rodrigo, Drü Thomas On Tap Magazine is published 11 times per year. ©2017 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. www.ontaponline.com for more information.

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Stage & Screen Events

By Kaitlyn McQuin and Reem Nadeem

RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 2 DeRay Davis Hailing from the South Side of Chicago, DeRay Davis is said to be one of the best live shows to catch at DC Improv.

His credits include 21 Jump Street, Barbershop, Jumping the Broom and MTV’s Wild ‘N Out, just to name a few. Basically, this dude is talented and funny, and you should go check him out. Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 7, 9 and 11 p.m., and Sunday at 6 p.m. Tickets are $35; VIP for $45. DC Improv: 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; www.dcimprov.com

is described as a “fun and odd and not like any other evening with Neil Gaiman.” It makes me wonder what typical evenings are like with this man. Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$65. Filene Center at Wolf Trap: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; www.wolftrap,org

FRIDAY, JULY 14 - SUNDAY, JULY 30

FRIDAY, JULY 7 - SATURDAY, JULY 8

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert This one is for all you Harry Potter fans out there. Join the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap as they perform every single note from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone while you watch the film in high-def – it’s sure to be a hit for wizards and muggles alike. Audience members are encouraged (and expected) to dress the part, be it your favorite character or sorting house (Hufflepuff all the way). Think of this as a drive-in movie, minus the cars. Don’t forget to bring your blankets and invisible cloaks, and settle in for an evening of entertainment. Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. with a pre-performance discussion on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35-$58. Filene Center at Wolf Trap: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; www.wolftrap.org

SUNDAY, JULY 9 Neil Gaiman The bestselling author of Coraline, American Gods, The Sandman and The Graveyard Book comes to Wolf Trap to “amaze, befuddle and generally delight” audiences by reading, telling stories and answering questions from the crowd.

If you’re a fan, you will love this up-close-and-personal event that, by his own words,

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Bon Voyage! A Happenstance Escapade If you’re in the mood for a European adventure, but your bank account begs to differ, then don’t miss this performance. Bon Voyage! follows the hilarious misadventures of a group of travelers in the 19th century who meet en route to Paris. Follow the escapades of a group of unexpected friends as they contend with catacombs, Moulin Rouge and the 1889 Universal Exposition. Various show times and dates. Tickets are $16-$26, including two pay-what-youcan performances on July 17 and 24. Round House Theatre: 4545 East-West Hwy. Bethesda, MD; www.roundhousetheatre.org

TUESDAY, JULY 18 Tim and Eric When I first saw this, I had an immediate flashback to my younger days when I spent hours watching this ridiculous duo do funny sh-t. Now there’s an opportunity to see them in real life, and it’s awesome. Tim and Eric’s 10th Anniversary Awesome Tour is going to be a silly night of “new spoofs and goofs, riffs and bits, [and] songs and dances.” I couldn’t even summarize this event into my own words, so I had to quote the website.

Just go. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show. Tickets are $45. Lincoln Theatre: 1215 U St. NW, DC; www.thelincolndc.com

TUESDAY, JULY 18 - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I In 1860s Bangkok, the King of Siam brings about a British schoolteacher by the name of Anna Leonowens to teach his many children and wives. Over a series of events, the King begins to fall for Anna in what sparks the beginning of a tumultuous relationship. Directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher and laden in a timeless score, this show is not to be missed. Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $49-$159. Kennedy Center Opera House: 2700 F St. NW, DC; www.kennedy-center.org

SATURDAY, JULY 22 - SUNDAY, JULY 23 Prakriti: The Faces of Goddess Earth If you’re into movement pieces and getting in touch with your spiritual side, Prakriti: The Faces of Goddess Earth is for you. A visualization of the spiritual cycle from creationism all the way to liberation, this performance piece will take the audience on a naturalistic and philosophic journey of the human experience.

Based on the infamous Indian classical dance form Bharata Natyam, this dance utilizes traditional speech to translate ideas across all communities by intertwining visual design aspects with dance and lyrics. Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15-$30. Dance Place: 3225 8th St. NE, DC; www.danceplace.org

SUNDAY, JULY 23 Imomsohard Okay, I’m not even a mom (unless you count being a mom to a constant food baby), and I want to go see this show. Imomsohard is a comedic take on motherhood brought to you by two funny mamas: Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley. Their combined show is all about motherhood – the good, the bad and the ugly (four days’ worth of dry shampoo ugly, although this totally sounds like the current state of my hair). Guaranteed to make you laugh, Imomsohard will be a ridiculously hilarious evening that shan’t be missed! Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $39-$49.

Warner Theatre: 513 13th St. NW, DC; www.warnertheatredc.com www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

5

Second City’s Satire

America’s State of Disunion

By Reem Nadeem Facebook fights, Twitter beefs, and the Right and Left Poles of social media have never been as bitter as they are today. It seems only fitting that comedic theatre group Second City is performing at the Kennedy Center this summer, delivering their hilarious take on America’s state of disunion.

An Almost Accurate Guide to America: Divided We Stand is a collectively written, satirical look at politics in the U.S. today. The one-hour-and-45minute show is similar to a play, with several connected vignettes and a lot of improvisation. Part of the show even includes taking suggestions from audience members.

So, who gets raked over the coals by the theatre group, known for their searing satire? According to long-time Second City actor Ryan Asher, everybody does.

“We want everyone to be able to, laugh at the show; we don t want to isolate part of the audience.“

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“We’re actors, artists and comedians, so generally we are leftleaning, but we have a lot of fun making fun of the left as well as the right,” Asher says. “We want everyone to be able to laugh at the show; we don’t want to isolate part of the audience.”

The show’s inclusiveness is part and parcel of Second City’s overarching goal to be diverse and all-encompassing. The theatre group offers fellowships, comedy camps and opportunities for underrepresented groups in their multiple locations – Chicago, Toronto and Hollywood. And because the show was written collectively by its actors, different perspectives made their way into Divided We Stand.

On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Photos: Teresa Castracane Photography

“In politics, it’s mostly old, straight, gray-haired white men,” Asher says. “And that’s not a reflection of the country. I think our show is much better at having different kinds of voices from different backgrounds who are like, ‘Hey, I’m a person that exists and this is how I’m affected by the politics that are going on.’”

But the push to amplify a range of voices onstage is not unique to Second City. Angela Alise, a recent addition to Second City’s cast, says it’s been going on for awhile, and will hopefully continue to do so.

Divided We Stand is Alise’s second show with Second City; she performed in her first, Black Side of the Moon, at Woolly Mammoth in 2016.

“It was about the black experience,” she says of the show. “It was us telling stories and talking about the black voice in America, and how we’re not all a monolith – we’re not the same, there’s not a set way to be black.”

There’s no shortage of people who are angry about the issues that some of Second City’s shows deal with, and rightfully so. But taking a comedic approach to a heavy problem can sometimes be just as productive, especially when it comes to representation.

“It’s hard to be a female comedian and not be called a female comedian,” Asher says. “‘Oh wow, that woman was funny; what a f--king surprise,’ or ‘Oh wow, it wasn’t all just white people. What a surprise.’”

Representation makes a difference, but laughter does too – even though it may seem like laughing about politics is out of the question for many these days. But seeing emotions that mirror yours expressed onstage, especially in a way that has you wheezing with laughter, is catharsis. For example, Black Side of the Moon was performed just after a long, tumultuous election.

“We got here the day after the election, and I remember people seeing the show and being like, ‘Thank you,’” Alise says. “But I think that’s what comedy does. It gives you that release. And even though our show gives thought-provoking ideas about politics, it still allows people a chance to just laugh and relax for a bit.”

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Second City’s Ryan Asher

, “But I think that s what comedy does. It gives you that release. And even though our show gives thought-provoking ideas about politics, it still allows people a chance to just laugh and relax for a bit.“

Theatre has been in the spotlight frequently since last year’s election. And public figures who endorse – or even advise – any side of the political spectrum, especially onstage, are bound to get some hostile reactions. Despite this, reactions to Divided We Stand have been positive thus far. Asher says she hopes politicians attend a performance in the nation’s capital.

“It’s important for them to actually look at the response that the people are giving them – [to] see what we wrote about, what the people are laughing about – and maybe they’ll get to laugh too.”

Alise added, “They probably really need it.”

So do we all.

Catch Second City’s Almost Accurate Guide to America: Divided We Stand at the Kennedy Center through August 13. Tickets are $49-$69.

Show times, dates and tickets are available on the Kennedy Center’s website.

| 5:30 - 8:00 PM

Discover the incredible world of our ocean’s top predator with marine conservationist Jess Cramp, oceanographer Camrin Braun, and National Geographic Pristine Seas International Policy Manager Dan Myers, as they share how their work has brought them daringly close to this exceptional creature. Find out why such a formidable predator is also so vulnerable, and what we can all do to help protect them.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

natgeo.org/natgeonights

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Farragut Square Metro stops on the Orange, Blue, Red and Silver lines.

Kennedy Center: 2700 F St. NW, DC; 202-467-4600; www.kennedy-center.org www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

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on the scene

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

All Drink, Dine, Do event listings are provided by the venues hosting them.

THURSDAY, JULY 6 Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue

Hill Country Barbecue Market is excited to revive its Backyard Barbecue, a summer pop-up at the National Building Museum. After a brief hiatus last summer, the Backyard Barbecue returns to the West Lawn for the third summer season, making it the place to chow down on authentic central Texas-style barbecue, imbibe and enjoy live music. Starts at 4 p.m. Free to attend. National Building Museum: 401 F St. NW, DC; www.nbm.org

THURSDAY, JULY 6 SUNDAY, JULY 9 Doah Fest

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Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Young Prose Night gave the under 35 crowd the chance to see School for Lies, and to enjoy a complimentary beer courtesy of Tröegs.

Photos: Trent Johnson

On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Doah Fest is more than a music festival – it’s an opportunity to get away and relax, get in touch with nature,

and be exposed to new ideas, music and art. Above all, Doah Fest is a beautiful community that comes together to celebrate all that is worth celebrating. Doah Fest cannot be described as just the sum of its parts, but with bands like Band of Tomorrow set to perform, plus tubing and yoga, this festival is sure to have something for every patron. July 6 at 10 a.m. through July 9 at 12 p.m.

Tickets are $49-$219. Doah Fest: 920 S Page Valley Rd. Luray, VA; www.doahfest.com Smithsonian Folklife Festival

This free festival takes place for two weeks every summer, overlapping the Fourth of July holiday. It is an educational, research-based presentation that features master artisans and other tradition bearers.

Visitors are invited to sing and dance along, try craft

Experience Gaylord National’s VIP Das Best OktoberFest Package and Enjoy Traditional German Music, Food and Beer.

Experience the Das Best OktoberFest in National Harbor, Maryland with this exclusive VIP Package. Enjoy live music, VIP access, a one-night stay at Gaylord National Resort and more!

Gaylord National Resort’s exclusive VIP Das Best OktoberFest Package includes: • 1-Night Room Accommodations on September 30

• Souvenir Tasting Glass

• 2 One-Day Das Best OktoberFest VIP tickets for Saturday, September 30

• Unlimited All You Care to Taste Beer, Wine and Schnapps Sampling

• Specialty VIP Beer Samplings

• VIP Access from 11am – 5pm

GaylordNational.com or call 301.965.4000 ( refer to code YQ7 ) **Valid September 30 2017. Limited number of rooms are available for this promotion. Applicable tax, resort fee and parking additional. Offer does not apply to groups of 10 or more rooms. Limit (1) one resort credit per stay. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotions. Blackout dates may apply. Advance reservations required. Other restrictions apply. Rates are per room, per night, double occupancy and based on availability at time of reservation.

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DRINK | DINE | DO and game workshops, learn traditional recipes, ask questions, and take part in this unique cultural exchange.

This year a rich history and diversity of American circus arts to life will be represented on the National Mall. Visitors will see more than just a performance – you’ll go behind the scenes to learn from generations of circus families, emerging artists and contemporary visionaries.

Various times. National Mall: Between 7th and 12th Streets in NW, DC; www.festival.si.edu

MONDAY, JULY 10

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12 Extreme Event Game

Extreme Event is an in-person role-playing game about disaster resilience that is full of twists, turns and challenging surprises. Work together with other players to prioritize resources, solve challenges and balance trade-offs. Do you have what it takes to survive an Extreme Event? Come play and find out. Registration and photo ID required. 6:30-8:30 p.m. National Academy of Sciences: 2101 Constitution Ave. NW, DC; www.koshlandscience-museum.org

Honeysuckle Tiki Pig Roast

The Overachievers Comedy Show Hosted by Martin Amini

Ever wanted to fly to a remote island, dance in front of a fire with the locals, drink your weight in tiki drinks, and enjoy a whole roasted pig with your friends while listening to the ukulele, all while a sleepy volcano erupts slowly in the background?

Well, wait no longer! Come to Honeysuckle and join for the Tiki Dinner Pig Roast. 7-10 p.m.

Tickets are $60. Honeysuckle: 1990 M St. NW, DC; www.honeysuckledc.com

The Overachievers is a monthly showcase hosted

by Martin Amini, featuring comedians from Comedy Central, MTV and NBC. Music is provided by DJ Bo. This show features Denise Taylor, Matt Brown, Chris Alan, Kasaun Wilson, Rahmein Mostafavi and Tony Woods.

Doors open at 8 p.m. 8:3010:30 p.m. Registration is free.

Drafthouse Comedy Theater: 1100 13th St. NW, DC; www.drafthousecomedy.com

Match Mixology Monday

Don’t grab drinks for the first date – make them. A mixology class is a great icebreaker for a first date and can help you become a home bartender.

Design your own cocktails and compete with other cocktail enthusiasts. No experience necessary. 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $65. Wicked Bloom: 1540 N Capitol St. NW, DC; www.wickedbloomdc.com

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THURSDAY, JULY 13 American Beauty: USA’s Best Cheese & Craft Beer

Spend an evening with Righteous Cheese in an intimate class discovering and savoring seasonal cheeses.

You’ll explore the world of cheese pairing by tasting four artisanal U.S. cheeses paired with four craft beers from the good ol’ US of A, as well as paired accompaniments.

Fromager and beer aficionado Melissa Provinsal will delve

On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

into the story behind each cheese, as well as give advice about selecting, serving, pairing and more. 7 p.m.

Tickets are $49. Righteous Cheese: 1309 5th St. NE, DC; www.righteouscheese.com

Movie-goers are welcome to bring picnics, and a selection of food trucks will be invited to park along East Capitol Street so that attendees can purchase food and beverages.

North Lawn: 10 1st St. SE, DC; www.loc.gov

John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon is a comedy institution. Most people know him from TV and movies — he’s the crazy father figure from Friday and The Boondocks. He’ll do anything to entertain his fans – he once cut a rap album, and he had his own internet cooking show. And he continues to tour as a great standup comedian.

Spoon is endearing and honest, and he knows how to send a crowd home happy.

Doors at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $27-$32. DC Improv: 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; www.dcimprov.co Mezcal: Small Batch, Big Flavor

Mezcal has a reputation as a bit of an outlaw in the spirits world — it’s been periodically banned and restricted — and its edgy flavor notes match its history. Miguel Lancha of José Andrés ThinkFoodGroup joins Joe Yonan of the Washington Post to explore the booming popularity of this Mexican import and the intriguing story behind tequila’s smoky sister. 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $40-$50. Smithsonian Castle: 1000 Jefferson Dr. SW, DC; www.si.edu Summer Movies on the Lawn: The Princess Bride

The north lawn of the Jefferson Building provides a comfortable space for people to watch the feature films.

Union Brewing Old Pro HoleIn-One Invitational

Come show off your skills at the Union Old Pro Hole-In-One Invitational at the Canteen pop-up beer garden. The rules are simple: get a hole-in-one, and your first Union beer is on the house. Gently tart with a dash of salt, this incredibly refreshing beer is perfect for the warm summer months. In honor of the occasion, there will be five different beers from the Baltimore brewery.

Highlights include hard-tofind kegs of Cosmic Giggle, an Imperial IPA hopped with Citra and Galaxy lupulin powder, and Tea Time, a limited release Old Pro variant finished with peach tea.

Canteen: 1923 9th St. NW, DC; www.unioncraftbrewing.com

FRIDAY, JULY 14 Take a Chance on France: Exploring French Regions and Varietals

This event is aimed to host a select gathering of likeminded wine and food lovers who are eager to share wine, stories, laughter and friendship. You’re welcome whether you are an entry-level wine drinker or a well-traveled wine connoisseur. The wines sampled are carefully hand selected by a premier winebuying team. Please, consider coming in the midst of a busy week to unwind and take a break from the routines of

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Code has no cash value, and cannot be refunded or exchanged. MillerCoors, On Tap Magazine and Cantina Marina assume no liability for any claims arising from the use of the Uber car service. Must be 21+ to participate. Please enjoy responsibly.

your normal day to sample some amazing wines while listening to an incredibly well-informed speaker about regions and varietals you may not yet have visited or tasted. 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Cork & Fork: 7344 Atlas Walk Way, Gainesville, VA; www.corkandfork.com

SATURDAY, JULY 15 New Orleans Fun & Food

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Take our complimentary shuttle to Nats Park.

The Embassy of France welcomes Washingtonians to Bastille Day with a spicy gumbo of irresistible dance music and, as always, an exceptional selection of food prepared by the best local chefs. New Orleans’ premier band, Don Vappie and his Creole jazz quintet, will perform, followed by a DJ to make everyone dance the night away. The evening will be spiced up with amazing online and silent auctions and the traditional Tombola, offering many exciting excursions to New Orleans, Paris, NYC and more.

7:30-11:30 p.m. Tickets are $95-$175. Embassy of France: 4101 Reservoir Rd. NW, DC; www.franceintheus.org Wine & Beer Festival at Tysons Biergarten

More fun than driving.

Save your ticket for a FREE Corona after the game.

cantinamarina.com

600 Water Street, SW • Washington, DC 20024 • (202) 554-5000

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ON TAP | JULY 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Join in for Tysons Biergarten’s first ever wine and beer festival, featuring over 50 beers and wines from local breweries and wineries. There will be live music, contests, prizes and yard games, as well as food like bratwursts, pretzels and wings. This event is both dog and kid-friendly.

1-6 p.m. Tickets are $20-$30.

Tysons Biergarten: 8346 Leesburg Pike, Tysons, VA; www.tysonsbiergarten.com

SUNDAY, JULY 16 Crab Feast on the Patio

Join in by doin’ it up on the patio Maryland style. Tables will be covered in newspaper, mallets will be out and the crabs will be ready to be picked. Ticket includes all-youcan eat crabs, chili, cornbread, vegetables, sides, dessert and non-alcoholic beverages.

There will be live, tropical entertainment and the cash tiki bar will be open for business. 5-9 p.m. Tickets are $50. The Music Cafe: 26528 Ridge Rd. Damascus, MD; www.the-music-cafe.com Hands-On Pasta-Making Class, Demo & Dinner

How strong is your pastamaking game? Join pasta master Matt Adler (also Alta Strada’s Executive Chef ) and learn how to make, shape and cook your own pasta.

You will leave armed with skills to impress your family members or guests at your next dinner party. The class will conclude with a familystyle, pasta-focused, threecourse dinner. The table will be filled with salad, antipasti, pasta, wine and dessert. Bring a date, a group of friends or come solo. 3:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Tickets are $75.40. Alta Strada: 465 K St. NW, DC; www.altastradarestaurant.com

MONDAY, JULY 17 BEHOLD.HER

Behold.Her is a private happy hour for women. Through conversation and an intimate portrait experience, these gatherings are built to foster a foundation for self-love, communal support and storytelling. The evening will begin with a small cocktail hour with drinks, then you’ll

on the scene

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

proceed to sit down with treats and open the discussion with introductions and dive into the topic at hand shortly after. The discussion will then lead into a oneon-one portrait session with photographer Leah Beilhart, where she’ll conduct a short interview and take your portrait as part of the ongoing series. 5:30-9 p.m. Tickets are $60. Shopkeepers Gallery: 1231 Florida Ave. NE, DC; www.shopkeepersgallery.com

TUESDAY, JULY 18 The Alliance Summer Showcase

The Alliance Summer Showcase gathers DC’s young change agents and gives them voice to share what they are doing to make their city, country and world a better place. The Summer Showcase is an evening where entrepreneurs, creatives and activists can put aside their talking points and be inspired.

Join to listen, learn, share and build a better future. Opening remarks at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20. Busboys and Poets: 1025 5th St. NW, DC; www.busboysandpoets.com

THURSDAY, JULY 20 Brew at The Zoo

Music, beer, wine and waterfront views are on the schedule every Thursday night at The Wharf. The free concerts are a great start to the weekend.

Photos: Devin Overbey & Drü THOMAS

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Drink beer and save wildlife.

Join Friends of the National Zoo at Washington DC’s best beer festival on July 20. Enjoy great times and great brews with unlimited beer tastings from more than 70 breweries, exotic animal encounters, live music and entertainment, and fare from popular food trucks – it’s a unique after-hours zoo experience. Proceeds benefit the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology

THURSDAY, JULY 20 Nat Geo Nights: Sharks

Discover the incredible world of our ocean’s top predator with marine conservationist Jess Cramp, oceanographer Camrin Braun and National Geographic Pristine Seas International Policy Manager Dan Myers as they share how their work has brought them daringly close to this exceptional creature.

Find out why such a formidable predator is also so vulnerable, and what we can all do to help protect them. 5:30-8 p.m.

Tickets $20. National Geographic Museum: 1145 17th St. NW, DC; www.nationalgeographic. org Institute’s mission to save species. 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $50-$100. National Zoological Park: 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; www.nationalzoo.si.edu/ events/brew-zoo

FRIDAY, JULY 21 Reductress Presents Mouth Time Live

Join Reductress editors Quenn and Dikoda for a dish-sesh on the latest in fashion, pop culture, lifestyle, trends and pictures. With sassy catchphrases, non-threatening debates, huge special guests, silent hot guys and bold life advice, Reductress gives

In-House

|

4C |

8.5˝w X 11˝h

summer where DC meets this

Join us this July for Summer Sounds and Waterfront Workouts at Gangplank Marina Park, 600 Water Street SW—and celebrate The Wharf’s grand opening year.

Summer Sounds and Waterfront Beer & Wine Garden E V E RY TH U RS DAY, 6 : 3 0 – 8 : 3 0 PM

Thursday, July 6: Tom Lagana

Enjoy refreshing drinks in our Beer & Wine Garden while you listen to some of the area’s best live music.

Thursday, July 13: Uncle Jesse

Must be 21 or older to consumer alcohol.

Thursday, July 27: Monster Band

Thursday, July 20: Moose Jaw

Waterfront Workouts E V E RY SATU R DAY, 8 : 0 0 –11: 0 0AM

July 8, 15, 22, 29:

Greet the morning beside the water with our energizing workout program every Saturday.

8:00am: Dragon Boat Training with DC Dragon Boat Club 9:00am: Yala Fitness with Laurent Amzallag 10:00am: Outdoor Yoga with M Street Yoga

Summer Sounds is produced by On Tap Magazine. All summer activities and waterfront workouts are FREE and managed by Hoffman-Madison Waterfront, developers of The Wharf—a new world-class waterfront neighborhood now under construction. Phase I of The Wharf will open in October 2017. When complete, The Wharf will feature approximately three million square feet of new residential, office, hotel, retail, cultural, and public uses including waterfront parks, promenades, piers, and docks. More information is online at www.wharfdc.com. General information is available at 202.688.3590. The Wharf is within four blocks of the L’Enfant Plaza and Waterfront Metrorail stops.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , F O L L O W U S ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND VISIT WHARFDC.COM.

DRINK | DINE | DO you everything you’ve come to expect from a women’s magazine podcast in 2017. 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. Kennedy Center Atrium: 2700 F St. NW, DC; www.kennedy-center.org

& The People and H Street Country Club. Get your tickets early — only 32 teams can compete! This event is open only to individuals 21+. 2-7 p.m. Tickets are $10-$80.

Mary Graydon Center: 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, DC; www.nvrdc.org

SATURDAY, JULY 22 NVRDC’s Cornhole for a Cause

You and a friend can enter as a team or you can just come to watch and enjoy the event. Teams will compete in a double elimination-style tournament with prizes for the winning teams. Prize baskets include items like a cocktail class for six, a onehour stretch therapy session, and gift certificates to great local restaurants like The Pub

16

SUNDAY, JULY 23 Peruvian Festival

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Arlington Peruvian Festival. It’s a free event for the entire family, and a full day celebration of Peruvian’s rich cuisine, music and culture through music, dances and delicious food. Come and get ready to be transported to Peru

On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

through the rhythms, colors and flavors of this wonderful country. No alcohol is sold during the event. 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Gunston Middle School: 2700 S. Lang St. Arlington, VA; www.eventbrite.com Sip & Dip Sunday Pool Party

Summer is officially here!

The Liaison is launching a favorite pool party for 2017 at the hotel’s rooftop pool. Sip on a drink and take a dip in the pool. Grab your favorite floatie and take your Sunday back. Chill at a cabana while listening to fresh tunes from some of DC’s most talented.

1-7 p.m. Tickets are $22. The Liaison Capitol Hill: 415 New Jersey Ave. NW, DC; www.dcswimweek.com/show

TUESDAY, JULY 25 The Winery at Bull Run’s Historical Tour & Tasting

Walk an historic estate while tasting Virginia wines, and learn about the rich Civil War history behind these breathtaking hallowed grounds with the historical tour and tasting. This outdoor walking tour lasts about an hour, and includes tasting eight Bull Run wines and a souvenir wine glass to take home. A minimum of six people required to book tour. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Tickets are $26.50-$36.50.

The Winery at Bull Run: 15950 Lee Hwy. Centreville, VA; www.wineryatbullrun.com

Look for ice cold Corona & Corona Light this summer at the following locations!

AGUA 301 ALERO RESTAURANT & LOUNGE BUFFALO BILLARDS CANTINA MARINA DIRTY MARTINI BAR EL TIO FRONT PAGE RESTAURANT & GRILL GUAPOS MEXICAN CUISINE & CANTINA H STREET COUNTRY CLUB LAURIOL PLAZA RESTAURANT

LOST SOCIETY NICK’S RIVERSIDE GRILL ORANGE ANCHOR THE PROSPECT TONY & JOE’S SEAFOOD PLACE CACTUS CANTINA 801 RESTAURANT LOCAL 16 FLASH POLICY

Happy Hour

The Schvitz: Summertime Trivia Night

Monday - Friday: 3-6 pm

Drink Specials $ 5 Select Appetizers 52 TVS + 27 DRAFTS = EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A PERFECT SEASON

Flatbreads Deviled Eggs Chips & Queso Spin Dip Potato Skins Chicken Tenders

It’s the start of schvitzing season – cool down indoors at a summertime-themed trivia night where your knowledge will be challenged on all things summer, from Jewish summer camp shenanigans to summertime hit songs, and more. Check in at 6:30 p.m., trivia starts at 7:15 p.m. $5 cover at the door gets you drink specials.

Trivia teams are four to six people. Don’t have a trivia team? Write in “need a team” when you register. 7-9:30 p.m. $5 cover. Four Courts: 2051 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.eventbrite.com

THURSDAY, JULY 27

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Chocolate Feast in Spain: Exquisite Chocolates & Truffles Paired with Wine

Join for a fun-filled evening to feast on exquisite chocolate and truffles masterfully paired with cava, red and white wine from Spain for a match made in heaven. Whether you come on your own or with friends, indulge in a delectable feast to please your palate as you share the experience and make new friends at an intimate chocolate studio. As you indulge in the finest chocolate from around the world, learn about the fine art of chocolate tasting as well as how chocolate is produced. 7-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $50. The Chocolate House: 1904 18th St. NW, DC; www.eventbrite.com

THURSDAY, JULY 27 SATURDAY, JULY 29 Smithsonian Asian American Literature Festival

Held through July 29 at the Smithsonian, the Phillips Collection, Dupont Underground and the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Asian American Literature Festival will be an historic event, the first national festival of its kind.

12-9 p.m. Free admission.

National Portrait Gallery: Various locations around DC; www.smithsonianapa.org/lit/

FRIDAY, JULY 28 Chef’s Table with Chef Gérard Pangaud Settle in at Hill Center’s 12seat kitchen for an intimate, unique dining experience featuring the haute cuisine of France. Two-star Michelin chef Gérard Pangaud will serve a four-course tasting menu that reflects the choicest products in season. Each course is paired with select wines representing the premier regions of France. 7-9:30 p.m.

Tickets are $135. Hill Center: 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, DC; www.hillcenterdc.org

SATURDAY, JULY 29 Taste of Springfield Feast-ival

The Taste of Springfield Feast-ival is a community celebration of tasty food, exhibitors, performances and live music! This event allows you to stroll through the dozens of fun exhibitors outdoors at the beautiful Springfield Town Center at your leisure while sampling some of the delicious offerings of local restaurants

and chefs. Entertainment for all. 12-6 p.m. Tickets are $10-$50. Springfield Town Center: 6500 Springfield Mall, Springfield, VA; www. springfieldtowncernter.com

SUNDAY, JULY 30 Chop Bar: A Global Food Experience

“Chop Bar” is a local West African phrase for makeshift small restaurants where people gather over food, music and positive vibes. This encapsulates Dine Diaspora’s pop-up food experience, where attendees will enjoy a four-course tasting menu prepared by Chef Jerome Grant, executive chef of Sweet Home Cafe, and recently nominated for a 2017 James Beard Best New Restaurant award. Come enjoy Chef Grant’s tasty menu, drink a bit, dance a lot and have a great time. 1-4 p.m. Tickets are $35$45. Big Chief: 2002 Fenwick St. NE, DC; www.bigchiefdc. com Juicy Yoga

What could be better than doing cow pose with an actual cow, followed by having a refreshing drink and nibble at a farm-fresh juice bar, which will feature herbs, fruits and veggies from a gorgeous garden? Join for this new event series at the Calleva Farm, where trained yoga instructors will lead an energizing yoga class right on the farm, followed by a garden tour with healthy snacks, juices and infusions.

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Tickets are $30. Calleva Farm: 19120 Martinsburg Rd. Dickerson, MD; www.calleva.org

Parks and Vets Picnic

Come to the inaugural Parks and Vets Picnic at Lake Fairfax Park. This event not only allows you to meet and connect with veterans and their families, but also supports women veterans and their children in need of housing after their military transition. There will be bouncy houses, face painting, corn hole, mini golf, balloon artists, horse shoes, football toss, raffles and more. This is a family-friendly event and food, drinks and activities are included in the price of admission. 12-5 p.m.

Tickets are $35-$100. Lake Fairfax Park: 1400 Lake Fairfax Dr. Reston, VA; www. fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ lakefairfax

on the scene

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

Pints & Puppies Pup Crawl

Drink one down with your hound! Looking to socialize, enjoy great drink specials and show off your four-legged friend? Look no further. Bring your pup to the pub with Pints & Puppies Pup Crawl.

Pints & Puppies brings all your favorite things together: craft beers, a social setting at your favorite watering holes and man’s best friend. A portion of the proceeds will go toward local charities supporting dog rescue. Currently supporting local dog rescues with events in more than 20 cities nationwide. 1-4 p.m. Tickets are $10-$20. Wet Dog Tavern: 2100 Vermont Ave. NW, DC; www.pintsandpuppies.com

Rosslyn rocked each Thursday night in June at Central Place with local bands and cold brews, all to benefit ASPAN.

Photos: Josh Brick, Gevar Bonham & Devin Overbey

www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

19

By Trent Johnson

There are currently about 13,800 coworking spaces worldwide, as opposed to only three in 2005.

About 80 percent of people using coworking spaces are under the age of 40.

WeWork has eight locations in the DC area, and two more on the way.

X10 DC has more than 70 options for coworking, as of October 2016.

As of 2015, California had the most coworker centers with 616 total.

California programmer Brad Neuberg started the first coworking space in 2005 as a reaction to “unsocial� business centers.

20

On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

By 2020, more than 40 percent of the American workforce will consist of freelancers, solopreneurs, independent contractors and temps.

The Active Collaborative Workspace at Brooklyn Boulders in Massachusetts is at the top of a 22-foot-high climbing wall.

The WeWork Weihai Lu in Shanghai, China was originally an opium factory in the 1930s.

Nearly 1.2 million people worldwide will have worked in a coworking space by the end of 2017.

Fun facts courtesy of following articles: #1: www.statista.com/statistics/554273/number-of-coworking-spaces-worldwide/ #2: www.theworkpub.com/blog/10-interesting-coworking-facts/ #3: www.wework.com/l/washington-DC #4: www.dcist.com/2016/10/map_more_than_20_new_co-working_spa.php #5: www.download.intuit.com/http.intuit/CMO/intuit/futureofsmallbusiness/intuit_2020_report.pdf #6: www.forbes.com/sites/eustaciahuen/2017/03/31/5-most-beautiful-coworking-spaces-in-the-world/#44454eee5524 #7: www.statista.com/statistics/554169/states-with-most-coworker-offices-us/ #8: www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/11/07/11-coolest-coworking-spaces-around-world/93433434/ #9: www.deskmag.com/en/the-complete-2017-coworking-forecast-more-than-one-million-people-work-from-14000-coworking-spaces-s #10: www.deskmag.com/en/the-history-of-coworking-spaces-in-a-timeline

on the scene

For more photos From these And other events, visit the online gAllery At www.ontaponline.com.

Photos: Lindsay Galatro

We can’t think of a more fitting spot for our July cover shoot than WeWork Wonder Bread Factory in Shaw. In keeping with the theme of our “Live/Work” issue, we asked WeWork’s Alissa Avilov and TasteLab’s Ryan Hansan to be our cover models. Learn more about Avilov and the new WeWork space at Apollo in the H Street Corridor on page 25, and Hansan’s experience running a food incubator on page 48. Go to www.wework.com and www.tastelab.co to learn more. And a huge thanks to photographer Lindsay Galatro and designer Alanna Sheppard for making this yet another memorable cover.

On Tap celebrated the first official day of summer at Blackwall Hitch in Alexandria with the annual On Tap Patio Party.

PHOTOS: DEVIN OVERBEY

www.ontaponline.com | JULY 2017 | ON TAP

21

A Day in the

Life

WeWork’s

ALISSA AVILOV

T

oday, cult classic Office Space is nearly obsolete, and the plotlines in The Office feel like they were plucked from 30 years ago, rather than the past decade. The reason these office-centric themes are no longer relevant to the way we work? We don’t congregate around the watercooler anymore.

Instead, we’re sipping micro-roasted coffee on a swanky tufted couch or enjoying craft beers on draft at the sleek kitchen bar, and we’re not chatting up our colleagues – we’re talking to entrepreneurs, freelancers and creatives that share our same coworking space.

WeWork is at the helm of the coworking movement, with eight DC area locations and two more on the way. We caught up with Reston, Virginia native Alissa Avilov, community manager at WeWork’s brand new Apollo location in the H Street Corridor, about her role at the company, the local coworking landscape, and some of her favorite things to do in and around the city.

On Tap: How does WeWork operate?

Alissa Avilov: WeWork is a coworking space, but our whole premise is to build communities within. All of our spaces are built and designed so that we can foster community and encourage networking; customers can meet new people, and come to and host great events. We want people to make a life, not a living. We want people that are living their side hustle full-time.

OT: What does your role as community manager entail?

AA: I was the community manager at WeWork Crystal City, and that was a different

2

Photos: Lindsay Galatro

By Trent Johnson

ON TAP | JULY 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

experience because those actually have living spaces as well. As a community manager, my biggest responsibility is that we are thriving on sales. It’s not like traditional sales; we’re just trying to bring people into our community and see if they fit. You’re really listening to people, and seeing if there’s a way you can help them and their needs. I have to know our members, know their birthdays, where they live, and milestones they reach personally and professionally. We have to curate events that aren’t just business-focused, but also include things like yoga and partnerships with people from our community. We’re

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT Exploring new cities on foot Building community Supporting people’s passions Food education Spending time with loved ones really fostering a welcoming, inspiring environment.

Must-Have Items Cell phone Calm space Cooking Knives (for cooking) Vegetables OT: How did you get involved in community work spaces?

AA: I worked for a small food startup.

I ran a food truck and restaurant, and I was drawn to it because I loved working in the industry. While I was there, my best friend in college worked at a WeWork in Boston, and we partnered by connecting our communities. It got to a point where I was looking to move, and I was ready to make a career move, and what really struck me was the community she built. Her day-to-day was listening to and speaking with [her community], and it struck me how little I see from that otherwise. Sometimes, we forget to talk to people around us. I really wanted to work for WeWork. I started here last April, and I’ve been loving it ever since.

OT: How will your role be different at the new Apollo WeWork space?

AA: I definitely have the same goals. I’m motivated by the people who are working in what they believe in. I love that aspect of being with WeWork. WeLive [furnished apartments and rentals in Crystal City and Lower Manhattan] is a great new project, and it’s so exciting to be a part of a new project and system. I’m really excited about the Apollo.

I’m also the person that supports events in DC, and working at the

Apollo will give me a little more time to focus on events and content that are really exciting, but also really helpful. We want to bring everything that we can to our communities.

OT: Do you see coworking spaces as a trend? What are the advantages to sharing space with other businesses?

AA: Absolutely. I think what I love so much about touring is that you show people the space, and they’ll be skeptical, and we prove them wrong. I love those members, because they can come in and see it for themselves. It’s just a culture with WeLive, with the coliving. We live in these neighborhoods and apartments where we don’t know anyone; it’s rare to find someone living in your neighborhood. It’s special to sit at a breakfast with 20 strangers, and people are seeing the value in

WeWork Essentials Notebook Computer Key card Cold brew coffee Vegetables (again) that in both their professional and personal lives. We all need support from other people and communities that we can be a part of.

That’s what makes WeWork such a special place.

OT: Why do you think WeWork spaces have been so successful in DC? AA: I think DC has been a really special www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

23

on the scene

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

The Apollo WeWork

Photo: www.wework.com

place. From my experience, all of our buildings have personalities.

We attract people in businesses that are attracted to those spots specifically. We’re getting a lot of people from H Street in Apollo, as opposed to our White House location, which is more buttoned up and government-like. We’ve found a lot of success here, and there’s a WeWork for everybody, but at the same time, WeWork is a community in and of itself. I think that’s the best thing that I’ve seen about DC. OT: Are you ever surprised at just how diverse the clientele is at the spaces you provide?

AA: No; I think that’s part of what’s so exciting. The space can make sense for anyone. It can be a mom blogging who just wants to come in, or it can be a huge enterprising company. It’s exciting for everyone, regardless of the size of their company. And the more diverse we are, the better, because you can stand to learn something from anyone.

OT: When you’re not working, what’s your go-to spot to grab a meal?

AA: I love Sally’s Middle Name. I think it’s really special; it’s super authentic and honest. It’s such a reflection of what’s in the market, and it’s also delicious, which definitely helps.

OT: Do you have a favorite drink?

AA: I love anything from Dogfish Head. I don’t really discriminate, but I don’t really drink that much either.

OT: What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?

AA: I love to listen to anything live, but my favorite artists are The Lumineers, Sara Bareilles – any kind of folk, but with really strong lyrics. The Lumineers are my favorite band, and I’ve seen them twice. I saw them in Richmond and at Madison Square Garden.

OT: Do you have a favorite venue to catch shows?

AA: DAR Constitution Hall; I saw The Head and the Heart there. I like all of the intimate settings in the city. I also really like the 9:30 Club.

Learn more about WeWork Apollo at www.wework.com/apollo.

On Fridays people often enjoy a free concert, cold beers from the Modelo Especial Tent at Yards Park.

Photos: Devin Overbey & Gevar Bonham

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

WeWork Apollo: 810 7th St. NE, DC 202-759-7745; www.wework.com/apollo

The

TIMES They Are a

CHANGIN’ How We

(Co)work in the Nation’s Capital

By Courtney Sexton

Cove

F

or many years, Washington was known as a “bridge and tunnel” city (sans the tunnels), catering largely to government, political and NGO commuters from the surrounding suburbs.

But the recent influx and staying power of a new generation has dramatically altered the ways, sectors and venues in which we live and work.

As more people call DC their permanent home – according to Census Bureau estimates from December 2016, the population of District residents is at a 40-year high and has increased more than 13 percent since 2010 alone – nearly all aspects of capital city living have shifted. Notably, how and literally where Washingtonians are making their hard-earned dollars. And I mean hard-earned – as of 2015, we have the country’s second longest work week, not counting commute time.

And though many of those dollars are spent on booze and brunch and boozy brunch to alleviate the stress of said-prolonged workweek (cheers to the restaurant and food service industries that employ eight percent of us), many working Washingtonians and their employers are embracing “alternative” work structures to increase what I like to call the employee contentedness quotient (and, theoretically, in turn, productivity).

What do some of those alternatives look like? At the most extreme end, we see individuals leaving high-paying/higher stress jobs in traditional sectors like finance and marketing to pursue passion projects – some of which, like locals District Dogs and Timber Pizza, have grown into successful neighborhood and community-based businesses.

Next, we note that even many of DC’s traditional workplaces are not so traditional anymore; in fact, the enterprises that topped 2017’s lists of best places to work in the DMV include those that offer perks beyond 401ks and pension plans. Instead, the area’s most satisfied

Photo: Courtesy of Cove

employees are seeking companies and organizations that incentivize their staff with benefits like social outings, meals, paid volunteer time, sabbaticals, flexible schedules, easy teleworking options and even pet insurance.

B

ut the real change is manifested in the middle ground between striking out into uncharted territory and attempting to alter the labor machine from within – and that is the universe of coworking.

As any coffee shop owner can tell you, coworking is not a novel concept. But with more than 40 percent of the American workforce now employed on a contingency basis, and with the gig economy growing ever stronger, coworking as a concept has evolved into an industry in and of itself.

Over the past five years, creative coworking establishments in the metro DC area have grown by 195.9 percent annually. In just one year, from 2014 to 2015, DC saw a 17.2 percent increase in coworking desk space. And as of July 2016, coworking space within the District alone (not including the suburbs) totaled 1.8 million square feet.

As a steadily growing urban industry, coworking bolsters other industries in the area as well, most significantly the commercial real estate market. But less obvious city services and local businesses are thriving in the boom, too. Take Marta Staudinger, founder and director of Brookland’s Latela Art Gallery. Several clients who lease space in the coworking offices around town have commissioned Staudinger and her team, who offer commercial art and design services.

“We specifically find pieces with energies that match those of the businesses we work with, as the visual space is both a reflection of companies' goals, and also impacts their employees' productivity,” says Staudinger, who even sometimes offers her own her gallery at the Monroe Arts Walk to those seeking a mindful, collaborative work environment. www.ontaponline.com | JULY 2017 | ON TAP

25

We’re not trying to replace traditional workplaces, but to augment them. We want to be a space for startups and/or new businesses to get off the ground without the overhead cost of renting an office space.

Eastern Foundry

It is important to note that not all of that space looks – or costs – the same. As in any industry, owners of coworking spaces have learned to match their brand and price point with target audiences.

Around Washington, the most visible coworking brands can largely be separated into three alliterative (and admittedly generalized) categories: hipster haunt, startup sanctum and big-time boutique.

From the first, we have coffee shops, including neighborhood favorites Slipstream, Compass, La Colombe, Tryst, The Coupe and Colony Club; and small creative co-ops and co-labs like Beyond Studios, H Street’s Femme Fatale pop-up and this past winter’s iteration of Steadfast Supply, to name a few. While space at such establishments can be limited, these coworking options offer a comfortable, yet often inspiring environment in which to work outside of the home – a perk for the city’s rising class of freelancers and independent creative industry professionals. Though you won’t find printing rooms or conference call lines, the bonus is a relaxed vibe and cheap rent; these are largely available for the cost of a couple cups of coffee, a pair of headphones and a messenger bag.

Next, we have coworking spaces that resemble the “campus” feel of many of the city’s new residential developments – one-stop shops with social, recreational and dining options all in one complex; the manifestation of a meta-desire to maintain the safety net of college life that those now comprising the majority of the workforce were thrust out of and into the cold hard world of the Great Recession? Perhaps.

W

hen most people imagine coworking in DC, the image that comes to mind is that of WeWork’s trendy Manhattan Laundry and Wonder Bread Factory buildings full of sexy startups.

To be sure, WeWork has taken DC by storm, with eight buildings within the District and Virginia, and two more on the way. The company offers a suite of membership options, from a $45/month plan for one day, to private offices with 24/7 access starting at $400/ month. But more than space, WeWork offers a culture – with amenities like dry cleaning, craft beers on draft, putt-putt golf cubbies, yoga and member retreats – that is designed for “fresh ideas and organic growing” defined by “personal fulfillment.” The chic factor of the

26

On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Photo: Courtesy of Eastern Foundry

WeWork’s real estate matches their ethos, and their brand is a favorite among DC’s burgeoning tech and startup industries.

But WeWork isn’t the only game in town. Adam Segal, cofounder and CEO of Cove, says his company is about getting to know their neighbors and finding out who their coworkers are.

“We are a neighborhood space fit to bring neighbors together, meet each other, say ‘Hello’ and feel comfortable doing that,” says Segal of his company’s five locations around the city. “We don’t see ourselves as an incubator or an accelerator in the workplace sense, but in the sense of tapping into the unique communities in the unique neighborhoods throughout DC.” Plans at Cove are up to $249/month, but with fewer frills than other coworking options. Segal likens being a member of a coworking space to having a gym membership, and hones in on similar visual cues to productivity that Staudinger stressed.

“For independent workers, we separate home space from workspace,” he says. “We’re not trying to replace traditional workplaces, but to augment them. We want to be a space for startups and/or new businesses to get off the ground without the overhead cost of renting an office space.”

But coworking is not just for the oft-denigrated “dream-chasing” millennials (aren’t we over that trope yet, anyway?)

A

sizable portion of those nearly 2 million square feet of coworking space in the District (and more beyond) are colonized by our third category of businesses.

These coworking spaces cater to demands from niche markets and established companies facing and/or embracing shifts in corporate structure and subsequent real estate downsizing. With locations in Crystal City and Rosslyn, Eastern Foundry, for example, offers collaborative workspace tailored specifically to government contractors, one of the largest sectors of the DC area workforce.

“Geoff and I started Eastern Foundry to create a community where government contractors large or small and government agencies could convene to exchange ideas, opportunities and work together to smooth out the government contracting process,” says CEO Andrew Chang.

Now Leasing

Spaces at Uline Arena

Photo: Courtesy of Uline Arena

Among the area’s other boutique brand companies are those that market to high-end, mostly corporate consumers that don’t want to be locked into long-term leases on expensive space that ends up empty due to a more mobile workforce. Founder and CEO of Serendipity Labs John Arenas describes his company – with strategically chosen locations around the country in areas like Bethesda, Maryland – as an “upscale work club for what we call trusted knowledge workers – people who can choose how, when and where they want to work.”

Workers like those who occupy space at the Bethesda location, Arenas says, have been given a lot of freedom to become consumers of the workplace, and he is selling a “hospitality brand that can serve as an extension of the corporate workplace – not what coworking has been.” His goal is to “raise the bar on coworking.”

“That’s where the largest demand is and will be because we’re serving across industries,” he says. “Heineken, Airbnb, Deloitte [and] Accenture all are trying to support mobility to retain employees, but also to reduce real estate costs.”

One of Arenas’ main competitors in this tier, Spaces, is owned by his former company Regus Americas. Spaces recently opened a location at the Uline Arena in DC’s NoMa neighborhood, and will be opening another in Arlington in the fall. Kristin Nori, Spaces’ DC area manager, says many of their clients are coming from other coworking spaces in search of a better product, one with flexible space that can grow or shrink with a company’s needs, provide large event areas and has a luxury feel.

“Historical features of [the Arena] and the vibe we’ve created is attractive to people,” Nori says. “We differ from [other coworking spaces] in that we’re a couple steps up; we have more mature clients.

Companies search for space with us to take it to the next level.”

Clearly coworking is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor; and as diverse as DC’s workforce is, it’s no surprise that more and more spaces are cropping up to fit equally diverse needs. But whether you’re a looking for a creative community, a high-energy laboratory or a flexible corporate arm, everyone seems to agree that coworking is not a flashin-the-pan trend, but rather, the way of the future and the norm from here on out, both within the DMV and beyond.

Let Your Life In ORE82 is a spacious, industrial-inspired apartment building offering light-filled apartment homes with floor-to-ceiling views of Capitol Hill and Southeast D.C.’s riverfront. ORE82 brings to life all the values of the modern D.C. dweller: From contemporary, industrial spaces with comfortable, luxe finishes to its central location, it’s the next generation of district living.

Learn more about these coworking spaces at their websites: Cove: www.cove.is Eastern Foundry: www.eastern-foundry.com Serendipity Labs: www.serendipitylabs.com Spaces: www.spacesworks.com WeWork: www.wework.com

82 I Street SE Washington, DC 202-488-3000

www.ore82.com

www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

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WHERE TO LIVE NOW

HIP ‘HOODS

Chelsea & Drew Xeron at Studio 52

Photo: Brandon S. Hunter

By Courtney Sexton and Alex Thompson It’s quite common to chat with someone who grew up in the DC area and hear stories about how M Street in Georgetown and the main drag in Adams Morgan used to be some of the only spots in the city known for quality restaurants, a pulsing nightlife and the always sought-after hip factor. But the nation’s capital is experiencing a cultural and culinary renaissance, and neighborhoods such as the H Street Corridor, Ivy City and Capitol Riverfront are emerging as sought after locales. At the same time, DMV neighborhoods more known for residential living such as Merrifield/ Dunn Loring and Bethesda are undergoing major transformations with thriving town center areas like Mosaic District and North Bethesda. We highlighted some of the cool things happening in each of these neighborhoods, and caught up with a few of the people living and working in them to get their take on why you may want to call them home too.

BETHESDA/NORTH BETHESDA AMP by Strathmore Music and dining is combined, with neither outshining the other at AMP, a venue overseen by the Strathmore. The gorgeous venue space allows you to come and get a delicious meal and cocktails thanks to an above par menu, and listen to a live act without needing to make other plans. The venue benefits from the Strathmore connections with musical talent, showcasing a variety of classic rock, blues and jazz artists, as well as urban R&B and Latin. Notable acts that have come through include the late Chris Cornell, NRBQ and Noah Gundersen.

11810 Grand Park Ave. North Bethesda, MD; www.ampbystrathmore.com Barrel & Crow A good/excellent review from Washington Post restaurant critic Tom Sietsema was well earned back in 2015, when Barrel & Crow opened in Bethesda, and not much has changed since. The restaurant’s elevated Southern coastal cuisine includes such highlights as fried Amish chicken and waffles with seasonal fruit compote; spiced roasted moulard duck breast; and quail and andouille gumbo. For cocktails, you can’t go wrong with the Golden Rule: Filibuster bourbon, Meyer lemon, ginger-honey syrup and Cointreau. 4867 Cordell Ave. Bethesda, MD; www.barrelandcrow.com Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club Built in 1938, this intimate concert hall underwent an $8 million renovation to now accommodate 300 seats for dinner and live music, along with an additional 200 seats for performances. Featuring an impressive array of blues and jazz performers, along with some talented tribute performances (hello, Billy Joel), the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club is a truly unique place. Regular concertgoers can take advantage of their loyalty reward program. 7719 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda, MD; www.bethesdabluesjazz.com

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Pike & Rose This complex combines retail, restaurants and living all in one, and is expanding just as rapidly as it is growing in popularity. The Residences at Pike & Rose offer three apartment communities for rent, while 930 Rose are condominiums for sale, both of which are steps away from everything.

Nearby shopping includes REI, Nike and Francesca’s, while popular eateries include local favorite &pizza and Del Frisco’s Grille, with a “second phase” of development bringing even more restaurants and retail. There are always outdoor events and community gatherings in the complex, and for an amazing music and dining experience, head to local hot spot AMP. 11580 Old Georgetown Rd. North Bethesda, MD; www.pikeandrose.com Summer House Santa Monica The tastes and feel of Southern California comes to North Bethesda at this popular restaurant, with relaxed beach décor and fresh, seasonal dishes. An open kitchen gives a view of the wood-fire grill that serves up center-cut filet, rainbow trout and prime burger. Other highlights of the menu include ahi tuna and watermelon tostadas; local burrata with tomato jam and grilled bread; and caramelized Brussels sprouts.

For cocktails, try the InSandiary: jalapeno-infused tequila, watermelon syrup and lime cordial. 11825 Grand Park Ave. North Bethesda, MD; www.summerhousesm.com

NOW LEASING Timeless Modern Living In Chevy Chase Have it all in the heart of historic Chevy Chase, where you’re minutes from capital couture, wooded walks and a calm cup of coffee on a timeless Sunday morning. Focus on the moments that matter in our studio, one, or two bedroom apartment homes.

Live minutes from the Friendship Heights Metro.

5333 Connecticut Ave. NW

5333Conn.com 844.211.2522

COMMUNITY AMENITIES

APARTMENT FEATURES

24-Hour Concierge

Floor to ceiling glass windows

Community room with fire place & billiards table

Kaindl Heritage Concord Hickory wood floors

Rooftop terrace with fire pit

Tufted loop carpeting in bedrooms

Rooftop dog walking area

Bosch stainless steel appliances throughout

Penthouse indoor recreation space

High gloss white cabinets

Fitness Center & Yoga Room

Torquay from Cambria countertops

Business Center

4x12 Glaciar White glass backsplash

Covered Parking

MAAX bathtub

Artwork from local artists in common areas

American Standard Serin fixtures

Light filled rooms

Capitol Riverfront

CAPITOL RIVERFRONT Jay Farrar performs at AMP

Photo: Jason Hornick

Sam Brumbaugh Director of Programming, Strathmore On Tap: How would you describe the atmosphere at AMP by Strathmore?

Sam Brumbaugh: It’s designed in a way that you are able to enjoy a nice meal and see a show, and the two things aren’t mutually exclusive; rather, they blend into one great experience. You are there the whole night. You can go after work, grab a drink, sit down, and then stay for dinner and a show.

OT: How does AMP fit in with the neighborhood?

SB: Besides Strathmore, geographically there really isn’t a live music venue around here where you’re going to get pretty serious artists on a very intimate scale. We draw a lot of different crowds at AMP, and the music program brings a lot of different groups into the Pike & Rose complex. People will come, walk around a bit, grab a drink and then come in for a show.

OT: What do you look for when booking musicians?

SB: You have to get on the map locally before you can nationally, in some ways. We’ve always stressed a lot that if you build your audiences locally, that’s your first building block. We do a lot of tributes and local R&B. We have a biannual Luther Vandross tribute that is hugely popular, and all of that is a building block with different audiences and genres.

OT: What is your go-to spot in the area when you have downtime before a show?

SB: The cookies at Summer House [Santa Monica] are amazing. You can split one between two people, they are so big. When I’m over there at sound check and I get two minutes, I’ll run down there and get one.

The best are the oatmeal and apple or cheesecake cookie.

AMP by Strathmore: 11810 Grand Park Ave. North Bethesda, MD www.ampbystrathmore.com

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

A Waterfront Gem DC is surrounded by water, and yet, aside from Georgetown Waterfront Park completed in 2011, riverfront property in the District has been largely underutilized during the past several decades. That is one of the reasons why the redevelopment of the Southeast quadrant’s Capitol Riverfront has made such a splash – it’s not since World War II that the neighborhood has seen such action.

Dog-Friendly Capitol Riverfront is one of DC’s most pup-friendly neighborhoods, with ample places to walk your canines from Lansburgh Dog Park to Virginia Avenue Park and Yards Park. Dogs are welcome at several restaurant and bar patios around the ‘hood like Agua 301 and Willie’s Brew & Que, not to mention year-round dog-themed events like Pups in the Park at Nationals Park, the Wiener 500 at Yards Park. Plus neighborhood retailers such as Unleashed by Petco and Wagtime have all you need to be a good pet parent. For more information on dogfriendly parks and events, go to www.capitolriverfront.org.

One of DC’s First Wineries Adding to the bevy of beverage and dining options already available, District Winery – one of DC’s first – will open its doors in Capitol Riverfront later this summer. District Winery: 385 Water St. SE, DC; www.districtwinery.com Parks Galore The Yards and Yards Park play a large role in creating this new community to live, work and play, with amenity-to-the-max apartments, office and retail space, and a seemingly endless list of events (including free outdoor concerts every Friday). Canal Park, too, hosts activities including a winter skating rink and outdoor movies in the summer.

The Yards: 355 Water St. SE, DC; Canal Park: 200 M St. SE, DC; www.capitolriverfront.org Sports Mania Capitol Riverfront is Metro accessible, so sports fans can easily get to Nationals Park and the forthcoming Audi Field for D.C. United games at nearby Buzzard Point.

Audi Field: 32-60 R St. SW, DC; www.dcunited.com/audi-field Nationals Park: 1500 South Capitol St. SE, DC; www.washington.nationals. mlb.com

YOU’RE INVITED

GRAND OPENING

Celebration

of Belvoir Square Apartments

Join us

THURSDAY, JULY 27TH | 47PM • Light Fare • Beer & Wine • Live Music Experience the one of a kind FX Well Fitness Center and Outdoor Fitness Yard

RSVP at www.belvoirsquarersvp.com

9142 Richmond Highway, Fort Belvoir, VA. 22060 www.belvoirsquareapts.com • (844) 913-6986

H Street Festival Steadfast Party

Photo: Emma McAlary

Virginia Arrisueño Creative Director, Steadfast Supply On Tap: How would you describe Steadfast Supply?

Virginia Arrisueño: Steadfast Supply originated last year as a pop-up, and this time around, it’s kind of an extended pop-up retail concept store. We created it to highlight local and independent brands, business, retails consigners, etc., and to highlight The Yards and bring people into the area because The Yards itself is such a gem. It’s such a cool part of DC that not many people know about, but when they come here, they fall in love.

OT: You must have liked the space and neighborhood a lot to come back; when did you start planning that?

VA: The first time around, we were brought into the space and it was a white box. And I just fell in love with it. I’m a visual artist, so with this kind of space, I was able to create a concept. After the first installation, we knew it was well-received by the community – by The Yards and DC as well – so when we were provided the opportunity to come back, we absolutely without a doubt, without any hesitation said, ‘Yes, of course.’

OT: In Steadfast’s first iteration last winter, there was coworking space. Is that part of the concept this time around?

VA: It’s all about taking it to the next level. We didn’t really need a coworking space [this time], but what we did need was to keep was a classroom setting – a place where we can have workshops, gatherings and different kinds of events. We wanted a place to provide an educational component that is also an experience, so when people come in, they feel both comfortable and engaged, and treated properly.

OT: Is there anything you would want readers to know about the neighborhood?

VA: People need to realize that [The Yards] appeals to all demographics, and if they go to the right places, they’ll see that. I just got a list of all the events being planned in the area, and I’m like, “Wow, this is awesome.”

Single, coupled, married, have kids – there are so many things anyone can do here.

Steadfast Supply: 300 Tingey St. #140, SE, DC www.steadfastsupplydc.com

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H STREET AVA H Street Close to all of the H Street restaurants and bars, AVA H Street is a brand new apartment complex with an industrial design and modern feel.

Grill outside in the barbecue areas, or take part in one of the many community-sponsored social events for residents and friends. The building is extremely pet-friendly, with a variety of amenities for your pets including grooming services and pet sitting and walking. 318 I St. NE, DC; www.avaloncommunities.com Biergarten Haus The beer garden is one of the best in the area, with a massive outdoor space that accommodates sports viewing, with ample outdoor television screens and seating. Grab yourself a liter for $15 of one of their 12 German beers on draft to clench your thirst, while ordering up from the menu of German classics, including their famous sausage wurst platters ($12-$20). 1355 H St. NE, DC; www.biergartenhaus.com H Street Festival The annual festival has grown from a neighborhood gathering to one of the most highly anticipated events in the District. Nearly 200,000 people attended last year’s event, and the number is sure to rise. Held in mid-September, the festival showcases the food, drinks and music of H Street, with area businesses offering a variety of food and drink specials, plus food trucks, pop-up specials, and live music and DJs all day. 729 10th St. NE, DC; www.hstreetfestival.org Maketto The brainchild of famed DC chef Erik Bruner-Yang and Will Sharp, founder of the street wear company DURKL, this 6,000-square-foot, multi-level, two building space is unlike anything the neighborhood has seen, and likely why it immediately became a goto for all. The Asian-inspired communal marketplace combines retail, restaurant and café, with patrons able to grab a coffee and spot to work; purchase some pretty cool clothing and kicks; and then in the evening grab dinner on the second floor, with Bruner-Yang’s glorious Ta i w a n e s e - C a m b o d i a n fare. 1351 H St. NE, DC; www.maketto1351.com

Rock & Roll Hotel This three-floor independent music venue has grown a reputation for hosting original bands from the DC area, as well as nationally and internationally, with an eclectic sound. Tickets for events generally run you $15 and shows are standing room only, unless otherwise noted, with a full schedule available on their website. Live music takes place on the first floor, with the second floor housing a dance space with DJs, and then a rooftop bar that gets packed come summertime. 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

NOW LEASING

DisCoVer brooklanD Press Where The ease oF moDern liVing meeTs The Color oF YoUr liFe Photo: Rey Lopez

Erik Bruner-Yang at Maketto

Erik Bruner-Yang Chef, Maketto On Tap: What is special about living on H Street?

Erik Bruner-Yang: I’ve lived in this area for almost 10 years, and it’s great to see so many families that have put their roots down here and had their first date at one of my places, and then got married and had a kid.

Thoughtful Details, Modern Spaces Choose from one of our tastefully designed studio, 1, or 2-bedroom residences, with an unparalleled list of amenities for workdays and weekends alike. With a penthouse entertainment deck, fullsize in-unit washer-dryers, an on-site bike shop, dog park, a 24-hour fitness studio, 5-minute walk to the Red Line Metro and major retail brands, this is the new urban lifestyle, your way.

OT: What makes Maketto work in this neighborhood?

EBY: I think people were happy to have a nice, new, big place to go to that just has delicious food. And for us, it was really important to have the retail experience because it ties to the history of H Street. In the 50s and 60s, H Street was one of the most important retail corridors in DC, and we wanted to emulate that.

OT: What are your favorite places to eat on H Street?

EBY: Sally’s Middle Name is great; our friends are the owners and our kids play together. And now with two kids, we eat differently, so having the Whole Foods opening down here is great too.

OT: How has the neighborhood changed since you’ve been here?

EBY: You see a lot of great businesses close and a lot of great businesses open, and there is a lot of good and bad to that. There was a lot of anxiety during the construction of the trolley, so it is nice to see it completed, and it has changed the neighborhood. This is a place that is constantly evolving, but not too rapidly. It has a natural growth.

Maketto: 1351 H St. NE, DC; www.maketto1351.com

Make your Mark 806 Channing PlaCe ne, DC brooklanDPress.Com | 202.836.8797

www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

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Hecht Warehouse

IVY CITY Behind the Name Ivy City got its namesake from a Civil War-era poet and author who was apparently really into ivy (his home was called Ivy Hall). While the parcel of Northeast DC is no longer as green – having long-since been converted into one of the city’s few industrial neighborhoods – it is seeing a renaissance.

Easy Access & Nearby Green Space There’s easy access in and out of town via New York Avenue or Union Station, and for those craving green space, the National Arboretum is right around the corner. Could this be DC’s (much cooler, obviously) version of NYC’s Meatpacking District? United States National Arboretum: 3501 New York Ave. NE, DC; www.usna.usda.gov Industrial Chic Noted DC developer Douglas Jemal has no-so-slowly and surely transformed the 30 acres into an edgy, urbanite community, complete with legitimate industrial fixings. The cornerstone of the community is the former Hecht Warehouse, now a hip residential and retail center. Hecht Warehouse: 1401 New York Ave. NE, DC; wwwhechtwarehouse.com Libation-Making Multiple distilleries and breweries (Atlas Brew Works, Jos. A. Magnus, New Columbia Distillers, One Eight Distilling and Republic Restoratives) have laid claim to the abandoned warehouses and started a new industry for the city. Check out their websites for information about tours, tastings and events.

Atlas Brew Works: 2052 West Virginia Ave. NE, DC; www.atlasbrewworks.com Jos. A. Magnus & Co.: 2052 West Virginia Ave. NE, DC; www.josephmagnus.com New Columbia Distillers: 1832 Fenwick St. NE, DC; www.greenhatgin.com One Eight Distilling: 1135 Okie St. NE, DC; www.oneeightdistilling.com Republic Restoratives: 1369 New York Ave. NE, DC; www.republicrestoratives.com Thriving Nightlife Ivy City’s nightlife is picking up rapidly, with New Orleans-meetsBrooklyn-inspired bar Big Chief from the team at Tin Shop (complete with a vintage airstream on the roof and home to themed events like the Pancakes & Booze Art Show) and soccer fan mecca Dock FC. Even the neighborhood’s blow dry bar, Sip & Dry, has a bar inside of it offering cocktails to customers and folks who just want to pop in and have a nightcap with Sahar Bozkurt.

Big Chief: 2002 Fenwick St. NE, DC; www.bigchiefdc.com Dock FC: 1400 Okie St. NE, DC; www.dockfcdc.com Sip & Dry Bar: 2004 Hecht Ave. NE, DC; wwwsipanddrybar.com

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Chelsea and Drew Xeron Owners, Studio 52 Photo: Brandon S. Hunter

On Tap: What first put Ivy City on your radar?

Chelsea Xeron: What drew us to Ivy City was that every time Drew had to go to New York City for a job, we would drive down New York Avenue and see Hecht Warehouse under construction and think, ‘What’s it going to be like?’

OT: What’s it like to live at Hecht?

Drew Xeron: We love it. We have a corner, sunset-facing unit with views of the Monument, the Capitol and the Basilica. And our terrace is 1,600 square feet. It’s ridiculous. And it was so reasonable because we were in so early. You could literally run – honey, what do you call them?

CX: [Laughs] Side sprints on our terrace.

OT: What inspired you to open your event venue and video production company, Studio 52?

CX: We really loved the whole vibe of the neighborhood. We drank the Kool-Aid and moved in, and it wasn’t too long after we moved in that we started looking for a retail space for Studio 52. There was just so much opportunity and they were willing to work with us to help us find the perfect retail space, which is nice.

OT: Tell me a little bit about the community in Ivy City.

DX: The unofficial name for me is the Mayor of Ivy City, and you can ask a lot of people and they’ll tell you that. Chelsea, is that true?

CX: Yes, he knows everyone. And everyone knows him.

DX: We frequent all the restaurants and bars. We got to Dock FC and watch UFC, and we have dinner at La Puerta Verde all the time. There’s so much more activity and there’s so many more faces and a lot of energy, which we didn’t necessarily feel at first. We just rented our space from someone who walked by coming out of yoga looking for an event space. The garage is only $7 all day, and the first two hours are free.

OT: What else is coming to the neighborhood?

DX: It’s about to turn a corner as soon as the Compass Coffee plant opens. That’s a 50,000-square-foot processing plant along with other businesses that are about to pop up, and that is going to be a shift; really turn it to turbo.

OT: If I only had an hour, what’s the one thing I should do in Ivy City?

DX: I’d go see Chef Carlos at La Puerta Verde and eat the steak and chorizo. That’s like, my favorite thing to do.

CX: And the elotes.

DX: Oh my god, yes. Just go see Chef Carlos; he’ll fix you up.

Studio 52: 1508 Okie St. NE, DC; www.studio52dc.com

LEASE NOW Move in August 2017

A

t The Modern, we’re creating inspired spaces that you’ll want to show off. Let’s start at the top…the rooftop. Here you can host friends at the shimmering pool, on the shaded deck or in the gaming lounge. Inside, our designer gallery is ready for billiards tournaments, poetry nights and everything in between.

AMENITIES INCLUDE Lounge with kitchen Rooftop lounge & pool Concierge service Clubroom with gaming area Business center

MAKE IT YOURS

Fitness center featuring a cardio & weights area Yoga studio & personal training studio Three outdoor courtyards featuring a Zen garden & a bocce ball court Real-time transit display in the lobby Retail space including XSport Fitness and a Children’s Museum

400 Galloway Street NE, DC 844. 238.7617 | www.themoderndc.com

on the scene

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

Modera Mosaic

MERRIFIELD/DUNN LORING Alta Strada This popular Italian eatery from restaurateur Michael Schlow has a menu filled with heavenly housemade pastas, mouthwatering pizzas, and authentic regional specialties inspired from Schlow’s work and travels through Italy. The interior décor with handmade tiles, reclaimed wood tables and warm ceiling is reminiscent of the Italian regions of Campania and Tuscany. Menu highlights include old-fashioned lemon chicken; grilled octopus with a salsa verde; pizza bianca with housemade ricotta; and squid ink lumache. 2911 District Ave. #150, Fairfax, VA; www.altastrada-mosaic.com Angelika at Mosaic This stadium-designed seating cinema offers the perfect mix of mainstream films and independent features, with an impressive variety of smaller budget features not available in larger theaters. The upscale food and drink offerings at concessions, including craft beers and wine, take the entire viewing experience up a notch. They also host special weekly events and viewings, including “Crybaby Matinee,” where parents can bring their babies and not worry about unexpected tantrums. Sign up for their newsletter and get additional discounts and information about free screenings. 2911 District Ave. Fairfax, VA; www.angelikafilmcenter.com/mosaic Modera Avenir Place Located literally on the Dunn Loring Metro stop, this complex is perfect for those working in DC who then want to come home to a neighborhood where they have everything they need. Right outside your apartment door is a 24-hour Harris Teeter, retail shops and food, including District Taco and the newly opened Black Squirrel. Outdoor social areas, sundecks and pools (yes, plural) along with grilling make this the perfect spot for your friends to gather. And the complex is just five minutes from the Mosaic District, with ample restaurants and shopping.

2677 Avenir Pl. Vienna, VA; www.moderaavenirplace.com

Views and brews were the highlight at a rooftop party at Union on Queen’s apartments. Craft beer, music from Justin Trawick and the Get Snap’d photobooth kept the party going.

Photos: Mark Raker

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Mosaic Central Farm Market Located on District Avenue, the Mosaic Central Farm Market has over 60 vendors during the April to December season, including beef, baked goods, dairy products, home goods like

candles and more. Operating on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the market also features music, chef demos, wine tastings and seating to enjoy your purchases. 2910 District Ave. Fairfax, VA; www.mosaic.centralfarmmarkets.com

DO+ DARE

Strawberry Park Situated in the heart of the Mosaic District, Strawberry Park offers a year-round schedule of activities for the community, including free yoga in the park, story time sessions and live performances. From June to September, Spark Yoga offers complimentary yoga in the park on Sunday morning and Thursday evening for all levels. The park is also a popular location for outdoor picnics, with tons of area restaurants and food spots to grab your al fresco meal. 2905 District Ave. Fairfax, VA; www.mosaicdistrict.com

LEASE TODAY Studio, 1 & 2 bedroom floorplans Modera Avenir Place

Photo: David Madison Photography

Todd Zylka General Manager, Modera Avenir Place On Tap: What do residents love about Avenir Place?

Todd Zyika: I think they love the one-stop convenience, and it is a great central hub location being at a Metro station, right near 495 and 66, and having a grocery store literally in your building. And then you have all the various neighborhood retail located at your door. I joke with some folks that you really don’t have to leave.

AN ICON IS NOW A DESTINATION Welcome to the new Ivy City, where you can dine in, go out, shop around, and sleep in the next day.

OT: What was here before the complex, and how has the area changed?

TZ: About 10 years ago, it was very commercial. Where our property stands now used to be a giant five-acre parking lot. And now, through these land deals that Metro has done throughout the DMV, there is the creation of transit-oriented developments that are mixed use with residential, retail and grocery. We even have an Inova complex right here, so you get to urgent care and then go back to bed.

OT: What are some popular retail and food spots?

TZ: District Taco seems to have the most popular flair here with our residents. We just had a new restaurant open within the past week, Black Squirrel, and it’s jam-packed. With their DC reputation, residents were really pumped for it to get here, and it is the first full-service restaurant and bar in the area featuring lots of beer options and microbrews.

1401 New York Avenue NE, DC 571.267.2905 hechtwarehouse.com

Modera Avenir Place Apartments: 2677 Avenir Pl. Vienna, VA www.moderaavenirplace.com www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

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Apartment Living in the DMV

Enjoy outd

By On Tap staff Apartments buildings are popping up all over the DC area, and they’re not just providing the bare essentials anymore. Each location is creating an elevated experience for its residents, from speakeasy-style bars and art lounges to rooftop pools and conservatories. We highlighted some of the newest and hippest buildings out there in a range of different neighborhoods, that together are making the DMV such a unique place to live.

5333 Connecticut Courtyard

5333’s stunning courtyard offers warm light and the perfect backdrop for a post-work glass of wine

5333 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC www.5333conn.com

ACADIA Rooftop

Sink into the comfy couches on Acadia’s rooftop and enjoy the beautiful Arlington views

575 12th Rd. S. Arlington, VA www.metacadia.com

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

w

BROOKLAND PRESS Patio

Enjoy a skyline view on the swanky outdoor patio at Brookland Press

806 Channing Pl. NE, DC www.brooklandpress.com

THE APOLLO Conservatory

The Apollo’s conservatory features hip furniture and burgeoning greenery

600 H St. NE, DC www.theapollodc.com

DOCK 79

Rooftop Pool Enjoy a breathtaking view of the DC skyline from Dock 79’s rooftop pool

79 Potomac Ave. SE, DC www.dock79.com

www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

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FORT BELVOIR Outdoor Gym

Think outside the box during your workouts in Fort Belvoir’s outdoor fitness area

9142 Richmond Hwy. Fort Belvoir, VA www.belvoirsquareapts.com

THE MODERN

Exterior Design

The Modern offers an exterior worthy of its namesake, with a sleek and contemporary design

400 Galloway St. NE, DC www.themoderndc.com

FENWICK

Art Lounge

Hang out in Fenwick’s Art Lounge, complete with vivid artistic creations on display

8616 2nd Ave. Silver Spring, MD www.fenwickapts.com

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

MALLORY SQUARE Spacious Pool

Enjoy plenty of room in Mallory Square’s spacious pool, or lay out in the expansive poolside area

15251 Siesta Key Way, Rockville, MD www.mallorysquarerockville.com

MODERA MOSAIC Courtyard

Modera Mosaic’s masterfully curated walkway is full of lush shrubs and charming stonework

2920 District Ave. Fairfax, VA www.moderamosaic.com

M.FLATS

Rooftop Pool Take a dip in m.flat’s rooftop pool and enjoy the surrounding views

505 18th St. S. Arlington, VA www.mflatscrystalcity.com

www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

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ORE82

Rooftop Pool ORE82 is a spacious, industrial-inspired apartment building offering light-filled apartment homes with floorto-ceiling views of Capitol Hill and Southeast DC’s riverfront

82 I St. SE, DC www.ore82.com

HECHT WAREHOUSE

Speakeasy Bar

Entertain guests in Hecht’s oneof-a-kind speakeasy-themed bar

1401 New York Ave. NE, DC www.hechtwarehouse.com

UNION ON QUEEN Courtyard

Union on Queen features a cozy courtyard with a welcoming ambiance perfect for any occasion

1515 N. Queen St. Arlington, VA www.uniononqueen.com

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

on the scene

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

CLASSIC

STYLE LIVING ARTFUL

PHASE II COMING SOON! Our gorgeous Phase II apartment homes will offer new floor plans including lofts. Relax by the pool or outdoor courtyard and watch the action below at Mosaic District’s Strawberry Park. Move in today and enjoy new retail options that include Williams Sonoma Home, Z Gallerie and Alta Strata restaurant!

C A L L TO S C H E D U L E YO U R V I P TO U R !

2920 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031 P. 877.502.1863 | ModeraMosaic.com

Rooftop Hop in Capitol Riverfront was one of the District’s biggest open houses. Guests toured apartments, sampled food and drinks, and then partied in Canal Square.

Photos: Devin Overbey

www.ontaponline.com | June 2016 | On Tap

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New | Notable | No Longer

The Salt Line

Photo: Greg Powers

By Lani Furbank On Tap keeps locals in the know about the hottest new food and drink spots around town, the top culinary news of the month and recent closings. Read on to get the inside scoop on what’s new, notable and no longer in the DC area.

NEW

The Capo Special

Photo: Lani Furbank

Capo Deli Open: June 1 Location: Shaw Lowdown: While going to college in Boca Raton, Andy Seligman got hooked on the sandwiches at V&S Italian Deli.

So he and his partner in A&B Hospitality, Brian Vasile, decided to team up with the V&S owners, Vinny and Sal Falcone, to

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bring the concept to Shaw. Capo Deli is modeled after the Falcones’ deli, including the most important detail: the bread. Sal flew his deli’s signature Italian bread, still warm, from Florida to Lyon Bakery so they could replicate the recipe. It makes all the difference in the sandwiches, which are artfully stacked with Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, sliced to order. The Capo Special, with sopressata, mortadella and provolone, was a winner in my book. The deli cases display a medley of pastas and antipasto, and behind the counter, there’s a selection of imported Italian products for sale, from biscotti to olive oil. If you know the right people, you might be able to get in to the invite-only BackRoom bar.

715 Florida Ave. NW, DC; www.capodc.com

Farmbird Open: June 5 Location: H Street Lowdown: You’d be hard-pressed to find people who are as passionate about poultry preparation as Dan Koslow and Andrew Harris. While working in New York, the pair ate a lot of not-so-great chicken from fast casual restaurants and figured there had to be a better way. Koslow went down the poultry rabbit hole when he

Farmbird offerings

Photo: Rey Lopez

brought a massive commercial oven into his 400-square-foot apartment. The high humidity cooking contraption turned his bedroom into a sauna, but the end result was a perfectly moist, flavorful piece of chicken. That chicken is the star of Farmbird, a fast-casual joint with a laser focus. The meat comes from Bell & Evans and Coleman Natural, farms that humanely raise birds on vegetarian feed with access to the outdoors, and never give antibiotics (this is a step up from “antibiotic-free”). The plates, salads and sandwiches feature chicken that is brined, roasted, and seared for optimal flavor and moisture. Signature sauces include avocado basil, barbecue ranch and spicy roasted Fresno, which was my favorite.

625 H St. NE, DC; www.farmbird.com

Five to One drinks

Photo: Trevor Frye

to the public, the kitchen will serve a bounty of seafood, from Chesapeake blue crabs to Dublin Bay prawns. Also expect cherished summer traditions like clambakes, crab boils, fish fries and oyster roasts. I’m definitely planning to spend more than a few afternoons on the patio with Todd Thrasher’s sparkling slushies and the daily fish special. 220 South Union St. Alexandria, VA; www.hummingbirdva.net

Five to One Open: June 2 Location: U Street Lowdown: Cocktail authority Trevor Frye has made his first foray into bar ownership with Five to One, an homage to the 9:30 Club. He says this concept has been brewing for a while, but he was waiting for the perfect location. “I grew up attending shows at the 9:30 Club, and when the building became available, it felt like all the stars aligned,” he says.

Named after The Doors’ song, the bar has a music-inspired menu with the cocktails broken into categories: Originals (house creations), Covers (drinks from bartenders around the country), Throwbacks (classics) and Freestyles (staff choices). The offerings change regularly to match the artists playing at the neighboring concert venue.

It’s not just about cocktails though – Frye says he wanted to give equal attention to beer, wine and spirit offerings. There will also be small bites available, like jerky, pickled vegetables, olives and kolaches.

903 U St. NW, DC; www.fivetoonedc.com

Hummingbird cake

Photo: Vina Sananikone

Hummingbird Open: Mid-summer Location: Old Town Alexandria Lowdown: Chef Cathal Armstrong and Eat Good Food Group are expanding their Alexandria empire with a waterfront restaurant within the Hotel Indigo.

Hummingbird’s crown jewel is the spacious outdoor patio benefitting from a gentle breeze off the Potomac River.

Inside, the bar and dining room have a subtle coastal theme, with navy and white splashes on the furniture and walls, as well as copper weathervanes adorned with the namesake bird. Soon to open

The Salt Line

Photo: Greg Powers

The Salt Line Open: June 1 Location: Capitol Riverfront Lowdown: Situated a stone’s throw from Nationals Park with a front row view of the Anacostia River, The Salt Line is a veritable people magnet. The New England-style oyster and ale house is the latest from Chef Kyle Bailey and Long Shot Hospitality. The menu has all the expected seafood classics like lobster rolls, clam chowder, Johnny cakes and clam stuffies, but there are a few breaks from tradition, like a Nashville hot chicken soft shell crab and seafood charcuterie. The stocked raw bar also features out-of-the-box oyster shooters.

Turf is not outshined by surf – I found the Boston roast beef sandwich to be the most crave-worthy offering. Bailey is dedicated to sustainability in the kitchen, so he’s become the area’s founding member of Dock to Dish, which connects fishermen and chefs in a supply-driven sourcing system that often highlights underutilized fish. The nautical motif runs through the dining room, and outside there’s a sprawling patio with a dedicated bar. 79 Potomac Ave. SE, DC; www.thesaltline.com

NOTABLE Cicchetti at Urbana Dates: Saturdays at 7 p.m.

Location: Dupont Circle Lowdown: Chef Ethan McKee has been given free reign at Urbana’s new chef’s counter concept. Each Saturday, 10 guests take a seat in front of the hearth oven and let McKee whip up a six-course tasting menu while regaling them with tales of the week’s harvest from the

Urbana pasta

Photo: Courtesy of Urbana

restaurant’s 1,000-square-foot rooftop farm. Cicchetti (pronounced chi-KET-tee) are small snacks typically served in an Italian osteria. The menu changes each week, but you can expect dishes that push the boundaries of Italian cooking with fascinating flavors and seasonal ingredients from the rooftop or local producers. “Cicchetti offers the flexibility to cook the foods I’m enjoying at the time,” McKee says. The entire meal is just $65, which is a steal considering what you get.

2121 P St. NW, DC; www.urbanadc.com

Game of Thrones Pop-Up Bar

Game of Thrones pop-up

Photo: Farrah Skeiky

Dates: June 21 - August 27 Location: Shaw Lowdown: Derek Brown, Angie Fetherston and the Drink Company team have outdone themselves with their latest popup, and the wait times to get in to the hotly anticipated Game of Thrones-themed bar will likely rival Daenerys’ journey across the Narrow Sea. Once inside, fans can explore the icy territory north of The Wall, cower under smoke-breathing replicas of Khaleesi’s dragons, scan the Hall of Faces in the House of Black and White, and bend the knee to a Great House in the Red Keep’s Armory. Best of all, you don’t need an army of Unsullied to ascend the Iron Throne – just a little patience. The cocktails are, of course, endlessly clever, with the “Dothraquiri,” a daiquiri variation, “The North Remembers,” a Scotch-based drink served in a horn tankard and “Shame,” a hefty dose of tequila with a grapefruit tonic and a miniature bell. On your way out, don’t forget to hold the door for your fellow patrons. 1839-1843 7th St. NW, DC; www.popupbardc.com

www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

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on the scene

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

Now Open 15th & Eads 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Arlington, VA www.15thandeads.com

Mission BBQ 6482 Landsdowne Centre Dr. Alexandria, VA www.mission-bbq.com

2 Bros Soul Food Kitchen & Lounge 7305 Richmond Hwy. Alexandria, VA www.facebook.com/ TwoBrosSoulfood/

Mola 3155 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, DC www.moladc.com

Charcoal Town Shawarma 2019 11th St. NW, DC www.charcoaltown.com Chicken + Whiskey 1738 14th St. NW, DC www.chickenandwhiskey.com Choolaah 21438 Epicerie Plaza, Sterling, VA www.choolaah.com

Q by Peter Chang 4500 East West Hwy. #100, Bethesda, MD www.qbypeterchang.com Sequoia 3000 K St. NW, DC www.arkrestaurants. com/sequoia/ Sugar Factory 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE, DC www.sugarfactory.com

Franklin Hall 1348 Florida Ave. NW, DC www.franklinhalldc.com

Takoma Beverage Co. 6917 Laurel Ave. Takoma Park, MD www.takomabevco.com

French Quarter Brasserie 1544 9th St. NW, DC www.frenchquarterbrasserie. com

True Food Kitchen 7100 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda, MD www.truefoodkitchen.com

Honeyfish Poke 1615 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD www.honeyfishpoke.com

Upper West Side Café 2233 M St. NW, DC

The Black Squirrel Opens Virginia Location

At SAVOR, attendees indulged in distinctive craft beer and culinary creations from a diverse lineup of 86 breweries, and mingled with the personalities behind the beers.

Photos: Mark Raker

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

After the success of The Black Squirrel’s DC location, the restaurant and craft beer bar has opened a spot in the state for lovers. The Virginia branch is headed by chef Thomas Crenshaw, who’s seeking to redefine the idea of farm-to-table with products from the Shenandoah Valley and West Virginia Panhandle, all with the aim to provide honest food. “There’s a certain romanticism associated with farm life nowadays, especially among urban millennials who maybe are a generation or two removed from the land,” Crenshaw says. “I can tell you there’s nothing like the taste of a vine-ripened tomato, as opposed to one that was picked while green and shipped to our area from California. I want to give you the vine-ripened experience at The Black Squirrel.” With craft brews and fresh food, the sparkling new spot in Vienna definitely belongs on your “should visit” list. 2670 Avenir Pl. Vienna, VA; www.blacksquirreldc.com

Summer Pop-Ups Canteen 1923 9th St. NW, DC www.facebook.com/canteenDMV

Dot’s Spot at BKK Cookshop 1700 New Jersey Ave. NW, DC www.facebook.com/dotsspotdc

Gorsha at Union Market 1309 5th St. NE, DC www.eatgorsha.com

Hogo at The Passenger 1539 7th St. NW, DC www.passengerdc.com

On Toast at Union Market 1309 5th St. NE, DC www.unionmarketdc.com

Porrón by ANXO 525 8th St. SE, DC www.anxodc.com/porron

NO LONGER Café Carvy at 19th and K Streets

Pedro & Vinny’s in Arlington

Carluccio’s in Alexandria and North Bethesda

Restaurant Nora near Dupont Circle

Da Luft Lounge on H Street

Ripple in Cleveland Park

Maso in downtown DC

Tortilla Coast in Logan Circle

SOPHISTICATED GOURMET FOOD. AUTHENTIC GERMAN LAGERS. PERFECTLY CRAFTED. Gordon Biersch Navy Yard 100 M Street SE, Washington, DC 202.484.2739

Nam-Viet in Cleveland Park

www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

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Culinary

Collabora�ions

The Rise of DC

Food Incubators

By Alex Thompson

TasteLab’s Ryan Hansan

burgeoning food mecca worthy of Michelin stars and an entrepreneurial spirit that launched the likes of Sweetgreen and &pizza on a national stage make it no surprise that the food incubator trend has taken hold in the nation’s capital.

These coworking commercial kitchen spaces offer a home base to entreprenuers interested in learning how to run a food business. They’ve helped lower the barrier of entry for those looking to put a great recipe or idea out on the market, leading to the creation of hundreds of DC-made products and concepts in the last few years.

Photo: Lindsay Galatro

TasteLab started out just like some of the startups currently occupying its 9,000-square-foot industrial kitchen space in Northeast DC. Founder Ryan Hansan had a great idea, but lacked the infrastructure or space to execute it.

“I had a dinner kit delivery company called scratchDC that we launched in 2012,” Hansan says. “We actually started out of a very small bar kitchen in National Harbor and grew out of the space. We had some contacts in the industry, but unless you get really lucky and find a restaurant or bar that would allow you to come in and use their space during offpeak hours, there was really no commercial facility at the time that was licensed and

TasteLab in 2015.

“We looked at where our revenue was coming from, and the commercial kitchen business for us was booming, and we were getting so many inquiries and people moving in,” he says. “If we shut down scratchDC, we would have much more room for people to come in, and that’s ultimately the decision we made and we haven’t looked back.”

Now, TasteLab has over 80 small business entrepreneurs operating out of its space, with companies in the pipeline that the incubator is working with to get up and running, and daily inquiries into renting kitchen space.

The incubator caters to clients at every stage of the process, whether they already have a

DC is a really solid place to start these businesses because people have disposable income, there is a wide variety of tastes in the city, and people living here have high expectations and want quality food. It’s quite ripe for the growth of any sort of food company.

Union Kitchen paved the way, opening the first food incubator in DC in 2014 in NoMa and more recently, a second location in Ivy City. Since then, four other incubators have come onto the scene: Mess Hall, EatsPlace DC, TasteLab and the upcoming Tastemakers from the owners of Captain Cookie and the Milkman.

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ON TAP | JULY 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

ready for a small food startup to move into.”

Realizing there were others in the same position, Hansan decided to go out and build his own commercial kitchen and rent out extra space to his industry friends. After a yearlong search for the appropriate space, Hansan settled on a wide-open plumbing warehouse in Northeast, and launched

license in place or are starting with just an idea. Hansan says TasteLab covers everything from “walking [clients] through registration with the government to ordering and packaging food to how to build a website.”

TasteLab is essentially a one-stop shop to come and launch your food business.

Along with shelving space and use of the

These coworking commercial kitchen spaces have helped lower the barrier of entry for those looking to put a great recipe or idea out on the market, leading to the creation of hundreds of DC-made products and concepts in the last few years.

Restaurant Brain Trust

kitchen, clients have access to the depth of knowledge Hansan and his team have developed over years with hits and misses in the food startup industry. This includes an established relationship list with major packaging and food vendors, marketing associates, licensing, and attorneys.

“DC is a really solid place to start these businesses because people have disposable income, there is a wide variety of tastes in the city, and people living here have high expectations and want quality food,” Hansan says. “It’s quite ripe for the growth of any sort of food company.”

In April, TasteLab opened up its first retail space at Union Market, showcasing 130 different DC-made products; it’s currently the only booth in the market to do so. Everything from root beer and popcorn to jerky and chocolates is featured at the space.

“It’s been a great benefit to our clients interested in retail,” Hansan says. “We’ve gotten them on the shelves and given them some revenue, and hopefully the confidence to go out and sell their products to any grocery store in the area.”

Bethany Kazaba, cofounder and managing principal of Neighborhood Retail Group, explained that the increasing success of food incubators in the District could very well push restaurateurs, especially ones expanding, to build out larger kitchens to service multiple restaurants rather than building a larger restaurant and kitchen space.

“The challenge is where is that affordable space, and where will you put a larger format production kitchen that is close enough to the market with easy access?” Kazaba says. “Landlords will need to be flexible and understanding, and think outside the box.”

Kazaba, whose real estate firm’s clientele includes restaurants and retail, is one of five cofounders of Restaurant Brain Trust, a

Photo: Duane Heaton

collective effort from several active members of the DC area restaurant community to develop an educational and networking series geared toward restaurateurs and their staff.

“We thought there was a void in the DC market, where there really wasn’t a great educational or networking program for the restaurant industry, and so we thought we could fill that void,” says Restaurant Brain Trust Cofounder Trish McHugh.

The new group kicked off with a March 7 inaugural event to a huge turnout, featuring

TasteLab marketplace

an impressive panel that interacted with the audience on topics of importance to the local restaurant community, McHugh explains.

“One takeaway from this is we aren’t just allowing anyone to be on the panel,” she says. “It’s a very committee-driven process and an absolute requirement that panelists speak honestly and freely about the questions we are asking. Because the honest response, although it can be brash

and difficult, is extremely important to help other entrepreneurs and startup restaurants.”

Restaurant Brain Trust followed their inaugural event with a June 1 industry panel and networking happy hour event on Bar Deco’s rooftop, showcasing a notable panel of DC restaurateurs discussing leasing and labor issues. The group plans to host quarterly events; the next one is slated for October and will have a financial focus, with experts on the panel including lawyers, accountants and restaurant owners.

“I think it’s important to hear from

Photo: www.tastelab.co

someone who is in the trenches, who started like everyone else did and expanded,” McHugh says.

Learn more about local culinary incubators at their websites: EatsPlace DC: www.eatsplace.com Mess Hall: www.messhalldc.com TasteLab: www.tastelab.co Union Kitchen: www.unionkitchendc.com www.ontaponline.com | JULY 2017 | ON TAP

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Cowork & Dine You don’t have to be in the restaurant industry to enjoy the perks of DC’s collaborative food scene. Spots around the DMV offer coworking spaces to locals looking for a unique way to work that involves good food and maybe even a libation or two. Our short list of coworking spaces with stellar dining options is below.

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5

Busboys and Poets With multiple locations around the DMV, Busboys and Poets prides itself on being a neighborhood gathering place for “artists, activists, writers, thinkers and dreamers.”

All locations offer ample seating, a variety of delicious menu items (including many vegan and gluten-free) and free Wi-Fi, making it an ideal location to sit and work for awhile. The Takoma location offers a coworking space with available computers and a self-service area for ordering drinks. Various locations in the DMV; www.busboysandpoets.com CoworkCafe at Boccato The concept, which operates in a reserved space of Boccato, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., gives you a functional workspace with the comforts of a coffee shop. For $150/month, members get a $50 food credit, reserved comfortable seating with tons of floor outlets, high-speed Wi-Fi, private booths for calls and basic office amenities. 2719 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.coworkcafe.com Indique This renowned Indian restaurant offers “chai + Wi-Fi,” a membership-based cowork space at their Cleveland Park location, available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For $35/month, members take advantage of unlimited masala chai, tons of outlets, high-speed Wi-Fi and a comfortable workspace. Try it out for $8 your first time, or a one-week trial for $15. 3512 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; www.indique.com Mulebone From the owners of Busboy and Poets, Mulebone hosts a free community workspace with a full menu of healthy treats including all day brunch, free Wi-Fi and color printing, and $3 coffee with unlimited refills.

Spread out your work and get things done at one of the many booths or communal tables. 2121 14th St. NW, DC; www.mulebonedc.com Northside Social Award-winning baked goods, free coffee refills and complimentary Wi-Fi for customers, along with two levels of communal seating, make Northside Social one of the go-to work and meeting spots in Clarendon. And on a sunny day, you’ll find patrons taking advantage of the outdoor picnic tables for al fresco meetings. 3211 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.northsidesocialarlington.com

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

e m i t r e m m Su is

e m i T i k Ti in D C

Photo: Courtesy of Archipelago

By Jake Emen

W

hile I’d strenuously argue that there’s never a bad time for Tiki, summertime is undoubtedly Tiki time in the nation’s capital.

Tiki has never been hotter than it is right now, and here’s where you can take part.

“It was time for DC to get [a Tiki bar],” says Owen Thomson of Archipelago, which opened last spring and filled the void in the city where Tiki always should have been.

After the closure of Hogo, the city had been lacking a true year-round Tiki haven.

In came a team of bartending buddies, Thomson included, to open Archipelago, and the problem was solved. Since then, the skyhigh Tiki trajectory has only become more prominent, as well as more diverse.

“There are just as many styles for this new interpretation of Tiki as there are regular bars,”

says Thomson. “We skewed more toward the laidback neighborhood style.”

They serve multiple, highly popular large format drinks meant for between two and four people, as well as their own takes on classics like the piña colada and mai tai, and a range of additional inventive house creations.

In Alexandria, Captain Gregory’s – tucked away inside Sugar Shack Donuts – has held a number of Tiki Night events spurred on by assistant beverage director Rachel Crossno.

“Reviving Tiki was the natural next step when people wanted to look past preProhibition drinks,” she says of the category’s emerging prominence. “Tiki cocktails held sway in the U.S. for half a century, and for good reason. At their core, Tiki drinks are social and escapist, and when done correctly, they are highly complex and delicious.”

“At their core, Tiki drinks are social and escapist, and when done correctly, they are highly complex and delicious.”

Photos (L to R): Jake Emen, Farrah Skeiky, Rachel Crossno

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ON TAP | JULY 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Her go-to favorite Tiki drink is one you likely haven’t heard of – the Roman Twist. “[It’s] a lovely concoction of bourbon, coffee liqueur, orgeat and citrus created by Joe Scialom in 1963,” explains Crossno. “Not only does it showcase the fact that Tiki drinks are not exclusively reliant on rum, but the interplay of the roasted coffee and toasted almond notes really sets the drink apart from its peers.”

Once you start dabbling in Tiki, you’ll see that alongside its chilled-out, come-asyou-are vibes, it’s a world filled with such time-honored traditions as Tiki mugs, and elaborate and ornate garnishes and decor.

So when Crossno has a Roman Twist, she’ll probably sip it from her personal favorite Tiki mug, the Moko Moai from Tiki Farm, a replica of a Tiki sculpted by Ben “Benzart” Davis.

Back to the city, at the newly opened Truxton Inn, Brian Nixon is debuting a new two-month Tiki menu starting July 1. His previous menu already had a Tiki diversion or two, such as the JFK on Vacay, a supercharged daiquiri riff made with Maui Pineapple rum, rhum agricole, passion fruit, lime and mulled simple syrup.

“I’m always thinking Tiki,” he says. “It’s fun and whimsical. And that’s part of why I like bartending.”

He relishes those ideals himself, while equally enjoying people’s reactions as he helps them to partake as well.

Jack Rose’s annual rooftop Tiki bar is back for the season as well. It’s open Thursdays through Saturdays, including a special Tiki Thursday happy hour, a weekly four-hour bash where everything is half-priced.

Expect seven original Tiki cocktails plus a lineup of Tiki classics.

Even the booming DC distillery scene couldn’t keep away from Tiki time. Enter Cotton & Reed’s Allspice Dram, their take on the popular Tiki cocktail staple. Pick up a bottle for some at-home Tiki experimentation, or head to Cotton & Reed to try one of local cocktail wiz Lukas B. Smith’s latest creations.

And speaking of Hogo, it’s back. After a three-year hiatus, Tom Brown has transformed the top floor of The Passenger into a Hogo revival.

It’s expected to last through the summer, but could end up sticking around even longer than that.

Still thirsty? Across the street at La Jambe, their springtime Tiki cocktail menu has been replaced, but they retain a “La Surprise” cocktail on their menu where you can request something, or have the bartender get creative. You may want to call back to one of their previous libations – try the Ana’s Ananas, with pineapple-allspice shrub, ginger, jalapeno and a blend of agricole rhums.

on the scene

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

Find Your

Tiki Check out these local spots for the most creative tiki drinks in and around the city.

Archipelago: 1201 U St. NW, DC www.archipelagobardc.com Captain Gregory’s: 804 N. Henry St. Alexandria, VA www.captaingregorys.com Cotton & Reed: 1330 5th St. NE, DC www.cottonandreed.com Hogo (At The Passenger): 1539 7th St. NW, DC www.passengerdc.com Jack Rose Dining Saloon: 2007 18th St. NW, DC www.jackrosediningsaloon.com La Jambe: 1550 7th St. NW, DC www.lajambedc.com Truxton Inn: 251 Florida Ave. NW, DC www.truxtoninndc.com

Jose Andres’ Dine-N-Dash to benefit World Central Kitchen drew thousands of foodies to 14th Street, Penn Quarter and National Harbor for a night of food and fundraising.

PHOTOS: DRÜ THOMAS

www.ontaponline.com | JULY 2017 | ON TAP

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BEHIND THE BAR

By Trent Johnson, Reem Nadeem and Nicolas Rodrigo

In a city full of coworking options, we picked some of our favorite spots to grab coffee, a cocktail or a little bit of both while collaborating or working independently. Trust us – every now and then, a spiked coffee can boost your creativity.

Photos: Trent Johnson

Aaron Herencia

Coleene Rosenbach

On Tap: How would you describe The Coupe’s environment?

Aaron Herencia: We strive to have something for everyone, so if you want to come have dinner or drinks with friends, or sit on your laptop and work, you can definitely do that. There’s a true sense of community.

On Tap: Slipstream just opened a second location in Cap Riverfront.

What was the motivation behind that decision?

Coleene Rosenbach: We wanted to create a little bit more of a spatial difference between the coffee and the bar side.

OT: Is there a similar sense of community at the bar? What’s the vibe?

AH: It’s not going to be high volume, but at the same time, we like to have fun with the music. It’s very eclectic. You can be listening to Queen and then you’re listening to Biggie. Honestly, we just kind of go with the flow. Depending on how the night goes, we might crank it up and make it a little more fun.

OT: How did you land on this spot on I Street, and what was the design process like?

CR: We are really fortunate that we got in right as this building was being built, which was how we managed to snag this amazing corner location. You can’t miss it. Everything inside here was built to our specifications, and we had a big say as to where we wanted things.

Bartender and Floor Manager, The Coupe

OT: How do you choose your beers?

AH: We try to stay local. Breweries in the DMV area are thriving right now. We have 16 beers on tap, so we try to stay seasonal too.

OT: What’s a popular drink on your menu that combines coffee and spirits?

AH: The most popular one is the Irish coffee. It’s a very simple cocktail: coffee, sugar, Irish whiskey and heavy cream. Whenever you take a sip, you’re going to get that warm spiked coffee and a little bit of that chilled heavy cream.

OT: What’s your most interesting coffee drink?

AH: We have a very good lavender coffee soda. It’s an espresso drink with lavender syrup, a little bit of lime juice and soda. It makes it refreshing – a bit bitter, a bit tart – and perfect for summer.

Aaron’s Pick

CHOCOLATE CITY TODDY Pig’s Nose Scotch City black tea Demerara syrup Heavy cream Cacao powder

The Coupe: 3415 11th St. NW, DC; www.thecoupedc.com

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Beverage Manager, Slipstream

OT: Do a lot of non-coffee drinkers come in?

CR: Oh yeah, sure. As we get toward the end of the week, when people find it a little more okay to have a few more drinks at the end of their work day, our happy hour really kicks off.

OT: Any spiked coffee concoctions on the menu that are customer favorites?

CR: Our staple Simply Irish, which is our take on an Irish coffee. We do Jameson with a touch of sugar with one of our coffees, hot or iced.

OT: Why do you think people like coming to Slipstream?

CR: I think we’re inviting friendly people who want to go somewhere where they are treated like human beings and not like, “Ugh, what do you want?” sort of a thing. They can grab something fast or spend hours in the back; it really doesn’t matter. We can afford that kind of space where there’s a spot for everyone.

Coleene’s Pick

THE ONE WITH THE FLASHBACK Old Overholt Rye Whiskey Nitro iced coffee Bitters

Slipstream: 1333 14th St. NW, DC and 82 I St. SE, DC; www.slipstreamdc.com

on the scene

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

Andrew Larsen Bar Director, The Royal

On Tap: How does the Royal differ from other spots offering a place to work, but also to enjoy coffee, cocktails and food?

Andrew Larsen: We really try to tie everything together as much as we can. In our cocktail program, I try to incorporate the coffee and tea, and the cooking area and cooking techniques. We try to be an all-day coffee shop/restaurant/bar. You can get any service, and it’s high quality.

OT: How do you keep your cocktail menu fresh?

AL: I try to have a spectrum of as much as I possibly can. I try to have something citrusy, something boozy. We’re always trying to modify and improve our classic cocktails as well. We do actual menu changes about every two months.

OT: Do you offer coffee-based cocktails?

AL: I’m trying to incorporate them into the menu, because I think it’s fun. One we have on the menu right now is The Monks Made Me Do It, and it’s such a complex cocktail. It’s easy to crush, but you don’t want to, because there are so many intricacies. For our next menu, we’ll do a cold brew negroni that is delicious.

OT: What kind of patrons do you bring in, and does that change dramatically after 5 p.m.?

AL: We try to be very neighborhood-friendly with the menu and the pricing. We’re trying to be your first stop on the way to Shaw, and your last stop on the way back. As we get more accolades, we’re seeing more people come from farther away. It’s definitely nice having that. After 5 p.m., I don’t want to say it gets rowdy in here, but it’s pretty packed.

OT: What regular events do you host?

AL: Every second Monday of the month, we have a big event called Royal Nights. We bring in guest bartenders and they come up with four cocktails, and I come up with four cocktails, and basically go head to head. The cocktails are cheap too; they’re $8.

Andrew’s Pick

THECOLDBRONI

Devils Backbone’s Thru Hike made its way through DC with a fun week that included Campfire Karaoke at Wundergarten and Pours and S’mores at Monaco. Photos: Devin Overby and Michelle Goldchain

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Cold brew concentrates Cocchi di torino Campari Smoked with cherrywood

The Royal: 501 Florida Ave. NW, DC; www.theroyaldc.com

September 16, 2017, 12pm-6pm

For tickets and info visit www.msbrewing.com Benefits K-9 for Warriors and VAVETS.

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All What’s On Tap listings are provided by the venues hosting them.

By On Tap staff Greetings, beer nerds! As you likely know, there are a number of fantastic establishments in the DMV where you can grab a pint, and their menus are always evolving and adapting to your tastes. If you’d rather avoid the guessing game, check out some of what’s coming up on tap at a few of the area establishments below.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 5 Summer of Sour Series: American Solera DC Debut Starting in July and continuing all summer long, the Sovereign is rolling out a slew of rare sour beers every Wednesday. Join each week as the bar showcases some of its favorite producers of Belgianinspired sour beers from across the globe. The Sovereign kicks things off with the official DC debut of American Solera. Recently crowned the best new brewery of 2016, American Solera specializes in mixedfermentation farmhouse ales aged in oak barrels. Don’t miss this incredibly rare opportunity to try Ahoma, Foederville, Amber Canyon Magik and Grissetta Stone. 5-11 p.m. Free to attend. The Sovereign: 1206 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; www.thesovereigndc.com

On Tap: What launched your career in the beer industry?

Nicole Waugh: I think my career really took off when I moved from the draft department to the sales team after four years.

SATURDAY, JULY 8

OT: What is your dream job?

NW: I’m doing it!

Fourth Annual Port City Brew Old Town Alexandria Pub Crawl The fourth annual Port City Brew Old Town Alexandria Pub Crawl will be an open house-type crawl, which means you can visit participating bars and restaurants in any order. Show up at any participating venue between 2-3 p.m. to get passes. Find the Port City team at each location to get your pass stamped. The reward for visiting all the stops will be a limited edition pint glass. 2-6 p.m. Free to attend. Port City Brew Old Town Alexandria Pub Crawl: King Street in Alexandria, VA; www.portcitybrewing.com

MONDAY, JULY 10 Atlas Brew Works Craft Beer Invitational Join on July 10 at Kapnos Kouzina in collaboration with Atlas Brew Works as they launch the first edition of the Craft Beer Invitational.

There will be a four-course dinner with a welcome beverage, featuring select craft beer pairings from Atlas Brew Works. There will also be famed dishes from rising culinary star Chef Kat Famoso.

6:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $65. Kapnos Kouzina: 4900 Hampden Ln. Bethesda, MD; kapnoskouzina.com

TUESDAY, JULY 11 Food & Beer Pairing with Drinky Events at 801 Restaurant Summer in the DMV is hearting up, so why not cool off with a beer tasting? Taste six beers from Franklins Brewery (Hyattsville), paired with six tasty bites from 801 Restaurant. Join in for a fun, educational evening. 7-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $35-$40. 801 Restaurant: 801 Florida Ave. NW, DC; www.drinkyevents.com

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Nicole Waugh

Field Service Representative, Premium Distributors of Virginia

OT: Where do you enjoy drinking a Corona or Modelo in your free time?

NW: On the beach in Key West, Florida. I also like to drink them at Jiffy Lube Live on the Modelo deck.

OT: What’s the best Constellation incentive trip you’ve been on?

NW: When I went to Huntington Beach, California – hands down. Although I was disappointed I didn’t get to visit Compton.

OT: What are a few local breweries you enjoy, and what makes them unique?

NW: Old Ox Brewery, because when I was in the draft department I put their draft system together. And of course, Old Bust Head, because they have amazing beers and baby goats running around sometimes. I must also give love to Flying Dog; they have such a unique style and great beers.

OT: What’s your favorite part of the DC area to hang out in, and why?

NW: I’m more of a country girl, and I enjoy the surrounding areas. I love going horseback riding with my daughter.

OT: What does your perfect Saturday in July look like?

NW: An early morning horse ride, then grilling at the pool enjoying a nice cold Corona with my friends and family.

MORE TASTE, FEWER CALORIES AND HALF THE CARBS OF BUD LIGHT.

©2017 MILLER BREWING CO., MILWAUKEE, WI Av. analysis (12 fl. oz.): 96 cals, 3.2g carbs, <1g protein, 0g fat. Per 12 fl. oz., Bud Light has 110 cals, 6.6g carbs. Taste testing performed by Institute for Perception, May 2015.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12 The AleSmith Speedway Stout Extravaganza Join as Rustico Ballston hosts their friends from AleSmith Brewing Company. There will be 15 different beers on tap, and a cask from the San Diego brewery. Not to be outdone, the bar will also pour a number of beers rarely seen on the East Coast. Don’t miss the Hall of Fame .394, an amped up version of AleSmith’s ode to legendary San Diego Padre Tony Gwynn. 5-11 p.m. Free to attend. Rustico Ballston: 4075 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.rusticorestaurant.com

THURSDAY, JULY 13

take home. 12-3 p.m. or 4-7 p.m. Tickets are $15-$30. Mustang Sally Brewing: 14140 Parke Long Ct. Chantilly, VA; www.msbrewing.com Seventh Anniversary Party Come join the fun as Mad Fox Brewing celebrate seven wonderful years with seven exceptional beers at their flagship location in Falls Church. In honor of this special occasion, Mad Fox is releasing some new beers and rare editions of their favorite beers. There will be live music and the annual anniversary glass giveaway, and cake too. 11 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Free to attend. Mad Fox Brewing Company: 444 West Broad St. #1, Falls Church, VA; www.madfoxbrewing.com

Tiempo De Fiesta: A Spanish Tap Takeover ChurchKey will pour no less than 30 exceptional drafts from six of the best craft brewers from Spain. To celebrate the occasion, they invited Estadio’s Executive Chef Rufino Bautista to add a few of his favorite dishes to ChurchKey’s menu, available for one night only. There will also be a five-course tasting menu paired exclusively with Spanish beers, available in Birch & Barley downstairs. 4-11 p.m. Free to attend.

ChurchKey: 1337 14th St. NW, DC; www.churchkeydc.com

Taco, Beer, Tequila Festival This festival features over 20 taco trucks, 50 craft beers and 40 tequilas. There will be two sessions, one from 12-3 p.m. and the other 6-9 p.m. See the list of regional craft beers on the event’s website. The Tequila Pavilion will have producers of tequilas/mezcals pouring. VIP will have an hour early access and exclusive tastings. Margarita bars will also be available throughout the event. 12-9 p.m. Tickets are $45$75. The Yards Park: 136 N St. SE, DC; www.tacobeertequila.com

SATURDAY, JULY 15

SUNDAY, JULY 16

Jambalaya and Beer Festival Mustang Sally Brewing Company and the Jambalaya Bros. are putting on their first Jambalaya Festival. Brew fans and food lovers can enjoy this Cajun-inspired event, including plates of chicken or pork jambalaya and a side, as well as a three-hour open bar. There will be free brewery tours, live jazz music and a special Mustang Sally glass to

Firestone Walker Barrelworks Sour Beer Brunch This one-of-a-kind beer and food pairing experience with Firestone Walker Barrelworks will feature a four-course brunch paired with four barrel-aged sour beers from the Southern California brewery. 11 a.m.

- 2 p.m. Tickets are $55. The Sovereign: 1206 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; www.thesovereigndc.com

The Midlands Beer Garden’s

Trent Allen, Peyton Sherwood & Robin Webb, Owners

By Nicolas Rodrigo On Tap: What makes Midlands different from other beer gardens?

Robin Webb: Barbecue.

Peyton Sherwood: We have a 20-foot diamond-plated steel smoker that was custom fabricated for us by a guy down in Georgia. They know their barbecue down there, and he built a fantastic piece of equipment. We have such a large indoor space. I think the giant mural is a plus as I don’t know anywhere else that has a giant mural of the “Garden of Bee-den.”

OT: Why did you choose a “bee” theme for the beer garden?

Trent Allen: Because it’s a bee-r garden. We told the artist to make the mural happy and have a bee in it. That’s what he came up with.

OT: What kind of barbecue offerings do you serve?

PS: Today, we have St. Louis-style ribs, burgers, brats, shrimp skewers, grilled pineapple and cider glazed-duck with a can of Crispin Cider inside. We’ve got all sorts of stuff.

OT: How do you choose your beers?

TA: We always keep some local and German ones. The rest is filling in different beer styles with whatever the coolest things our distributors

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have. We rotate every week and often change two taps a day. We’ll have an amber, stout, dunkel, saison and double IPA on to keep the range of beer we carry.

OT: What gives Midlands its neighborhood feel?

RW: The space, free pool and darts, and bluegrass on Sundays.

TA: DJs on Saturdays.

PS: It’s a very laidback atmosphere. The cool thing about this space is that big groups just show up. Everyone’s really chill and the people are some of the nicest customers I’ve dealt with in my 25 years in this business.

OT: Any upcoming events in July?

TA: A whole hog roast on the Fourth, and live music on Friday nights.

We’ve just started to organize a dog adoption event with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

The Midlands Beer Garden: 3333 Georgia Ave. NW, DC; www.midlandsdc.com

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3/24/17 3:14 PM

By Keith Loria

he craft beer market has grown into a $23.5 billion industry, and the Washington metro area is growing right alongside it.

In 2016, more than 5,300 breweries were in operation around the U.S., and represented approximately 12 percent of market share by volume for the overall beer industry, according to recent data released by the Brewers Association. Overall, craft brewers’ production accounted for nearly 24.6 million barrels, and increased 10 percent in sales and 6 percent in volume over the previous year.

In our region – be it Virginia, Maryland or DC – there’s been an influx of microbreweries, brewpubs and regional craft breweries, and each is attracting customers through innovation and unique offerings. Take Right Proper Brewing, a small brewery company brewing beer in two DC neighborhoods.

“We have both a brewpub in the Shaw neighborhood (The Shaw Brewpub and Kitchen) and a production brewery with a tasting room in the Brookland neighborhood (Brookland Production House and Tasting Room),” says Nathan Zeender, the company’s head brewer. “We have a different set of beers at each location, so there is good reason to

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visit both. We brew a wide range of styles, with a strong focus on beer fermented with our house wild yeast and lactobacillus cultures.”

The production house is equipped with a shiny new 15-barrel brewhouse, six 30-barrel stainless steel fermentation tanks and three 45-hectoliter French oak foudres. One of the ways Right Proper separates itself from other breweries is by hosting events such as beer yoga, and by showcasing its three huge French oak fermenters used to ferment some of its beers. Zeender says that since the company operates both a brewpub and production brewery, it uses two different models – direct sales and wholesale distribution.

“We brew highly drinkable beers with good personalities,” he continues. “Smallscale, locally supported brewing seems to be driving the industry these days. We continue to see healthy growth in the DC metro area that is supporting an ever-increasing trend toward small breweries.”

Jeff Ramirez, co-owner of Denizens Brewing Co. in Silver Spring, Maryland, which launched in 2014, says the genesis of the business was to bring the camaraderie of the brewery taproom to the DMV. The brewery offers 200 seats, a dog-friendly beer garden and a two-level taproom.

“In the beginning, we tested out further

into Maryland and DC, but we learned that it’s better to focus on a more local feel,” Ramirez says. “I feel there’s a big hops focus among the brewers around here, but we focus on doing a variety of beers that are true to tradition.”

At any given time, Denizens has 10 taps open, filled with diverse beer offerings, including at least three seasonal beers and mixed-culture beers. Overall, it has 65 beers and counting.

“We have an events manager that plans fun things to bring people in, and our bottom floor has outdoor seating and a private alleyway, so people can hold events,” Ramirez says. “We try to focus on having fresh, local food.”

Sean Arroyo, CEO of Heritage Brewing Co. in Manassas, Virginia, says the microbrewery is veteran-owned and operated, and looks to provide the same level of attention to detail and passion that its founders brought to serving our country. Established in 2013, the company opened a brewpub in Clarendon this past April, following the success of its microbrewery operation.

“It’s always been a part of our business plan to open a brewpub, and we just wanted to make sure we had the right location picked out and had the right team to do it,” Arroyo says. “For us, we have found that and are making great, on-style, approachable beers.”

“Small-scale, locally supported brewing seems to be driving the industry these days. We continue to see healthy growth in the DC metro area that is supporting an ever-increasing trend toward small breweries.”

When Heritage opened just four years ago, Arroyo says there were less than 50 breweries in the state of Virginia, and only four in Northern Virginia. Now, there are nearly 200 in the state and 40 in the NoVA area.

“It’s really been an explosion, as people enjoy going to the breweries and trying craft beer,” he says. "We have noticed a trend of going backwards a bit in terms of craft, with people drinking more of the lighter beers and lagers, but we always make sure to have what people are looking for.”

Heritage Brewing was one of the first breweries in the area to can its beer, and has helped lead the way for the canning explosion that most customers crave.

“Our brewpub is an all-encompassing

experience,” Arroyo says. “We do fresh coffee in the morning and then serve world-class beer throughout the day. We also do a hot barrel series at our brewery, with hundreds of barrels brewing at any one time.”

The secret to success, he says, is to follow consumer trends and listen to your patrons.

“We try and create products that represent them and the needs of the marketplace. The brewpub is a great expansion of who we are. Part of that is that we think of what we are putting in a consumer’s body, producing a better product that not only tastes great, but also is made in a responsible and sustainable way.”

Another brewery finding success in Northern Virginia is Old Ox, a family owned and operated commercial brewery in Loudoun County, which just celebrated three years in business.

“Our business model includes the tasting room and distribution in both draft and package formats,” says Chris Burns, president of Old Ox. “We brew beer we want people to enjoy every day. But we also have fun with our specialty beers by exploring the more creative side of craft beer. For example, we have a series we call Funky Face, which is a collection of tart and sour ales. Our Cooper’s Cloak series features barrel-aged brews. In our tasting room, we always have something on tap that is a bit extraordinary.”

When Old Ox opened, the owners wanted the tasting room to be a place where friends and families gather to connect with each other and celebrate special occasions. The brewery also hosts events in the tasting room that support other local businesses and raise money for good causes.

“What we hear from our tasting room customers is that the feeling they get when they walk through the door at Old Ox is unique,” Burns says. “They feel welcome and part of the Old Ox community, whether they are a regular or from out of town. Our accounts appreciate the time we spend with them and the help we give them in promoting sales in their businesses.”

According to Burns, the craft beer business in Northern Virginia and DC is still growing, and he doesn’t see an end in sight.

“We see new breweries in the pipeline and established breweries expanding their footprints,” he says. “There’s a lot of discussion around how hyperlocal the craft beer business has become. Both residents and visitors to this area want to drink what is produced within just a few miles of where they are located. We also see more and more accounts responding to this demand by offering more tap handles and shelf space to local beer.”

on the scene

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

Learn more about these local breweries and brewpubs at their websites.

Right Proper Production House 920 Girard St. NE, DC www.rightproperbrewing.com Denizens Brewing Co. 1115 East-West Hwy. Silver Spring, MD www.denizensbrewingco.com Heritage Brewing 9436 Center Point Ln. Manassas, VA www.heritagebrewing.com Old Ox 44652 Guilford Dr. #114, Ashburn, VA www.oldoxbrewery.com Right Proper Brewpub and Kitchen 624 T St. NW, DC www.rightproperbrewing.com

The 36th annual Celebrate Fairfax! featured concerts from Bush, Everclear and Vertical Horizon, plus food, beer, games and carnival rides, and a nightly fireworks show.

Photos: Jessica Meyers

www.ontaponline.com | July 2017 | On Tap

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V M D Photos: Will Niccolls Photography

By Michael Coleman n an early summer Saturday at Rosaryville State Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, a half-dozen early risers congregate in a parking lot, stretch their limbs, and strap on helmets and gloves before climbing onto brightly colored mountain bikes.

Moments later, excited hoots and hollers pierce the muggy morning air, followed by a whoosh of kinetic energy as the group drops single file into a dense forest trail under a cooling canopy of hardwood trees surrounded by fragrant wildflowers. The 80-minute ride around a 10-mile loop – just a half-hour from downtown Washington – sends these riders hurtling down ravines, chugging up hills, blasting through creek beds, and hopping over occasional logs and rocks. It will also leave them flecked with mud, covered in sweat and grinning from ear to ear.

It’s a scene that plays out hundreds of times each week throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, which over the past decade or so has become one of the nation’s premier mountain biking locales. Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland offer dozens of excellent trail riding options an hour or less from DC, a fact that surprises some considering the region’s relatively low altitude and urban setting.

Martin Fernandez, who has written three outstanding books about biking in the DMV area – including Mountain Biking Virginia and Mountain Biking the Washington, D.C./Baltimore Area – told On Tap that the region is “a virtual mecca for mountain biking.”

“We’re lucky,” Fernandez said. “In Virginia, coupled with the riding trails available in Maryland and bordering Pennsylvania and West Virginia, you could spend several years and not ride all of what is available.”

A big chunk of the credit for the sport’s growth in the area can be attributed to the Mid-Atlantic OffRoad Enthusiasts (MORE). Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the nonprofit recreational organization started out as a club of about 30 mountain bikers; it now boasts more than 1,500 members and is steadily growing. Ernie Rodriguez, who has served as MORE’s president for the past four years, said the group’s mission is reflected in its slogan: “Riding bikes and building trails since 1992.”

“Everything goes under that – the social experience, the advocacy effort, the communication with public land managers, and the building and maintenance of trails,” Rodriguez explained over hamburgers and beers at MORE’s annual summer celebration at Seneca Creek State Park in Maryland last month.

As we talked, about a hundred people of all ages were heading out for, or returning from, trail rides

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EVERY CLIMB DESERVES A REFRESHING FINISH

©2016 COORS BREWING COMPANY, GOLDEN, CO

“In Virginia, coupled with the riding trails available in Maryland and bordering Pennsylvania and West Virginia, you could spend several years and not ride all of what is available.” in the lush green park. They milled about – chatting and laughing, swapping bike and trail tips, and professing their love for the sport. Local bike shops and national bike manufacturers showed up to provide free bike swag, bike maintenance and demo rides on fancy new models.

MORE’s work is entirely volunteerbased, and its members don’t just ride bikes and rock cookouts – they get to work. MORE volunteers devoted more than 6,000 hours of labor on area trails last year alone. The group maintains more than 400 miles of natural-surface trails in 41 state and county parks throughout the region, and has constructed nearly 100 miles of new, sustainable trails. The club also leads hundreds of rides each year at area parks, ranging from beginner to intermediate to advanced.

MARYLAND

While men often seem to outnumber women on area trails, that could be changing. Anne Mader, owner of The Bike Lane – a full-service bike shop with locations in Reston and Springfield – said she is selling more mountain bikes to women than ever before, and that manufacturers are making bikes specifically designed for them. Mader sometimes teams up with MORE to offer riding clinics for women.

“Twenty years ago, when I started mountain biking, there were very few women,” she said. “And now I go to some trailheads and there are almost more women than guys. The sport is definitely growing for women. A lot of women are coming to it in their 30s and 40s, getting into it later in life – maybe because they’re not running anymore but want to be out in nature.”

Mader also said there is a misperception of the sport as death-defying and dangerous. It can be that, certainly – but it doesn’t have to be.

“Mountain biking can be as easy as going on a nice single-track trail and riding just to be outside,” she said. “There really is a trail for every ability level.”

Rodriguez encouraged anyone interested in the sport to check out MORE’s website at www.more-mtb.org. He said even if you don’t have a bike, the group could help you find a loaner for an initial ride and then a good deal on something used if you take to the sport.

“It’s a good way to meet some really great people,” he said. “It’s really exhilarating to ride, and you get to be out in nature. What more could you ask for?”

Fountainhead One of the most revered mountain biking destinations in the region, Fountainhead, near Fairfax Station, Virginia, has a little something for everyone: easy, flowing single-track, moderately difficult technical areas and an expert section that will put even the most skilled of riders to the test.

Patapsco Located in a big valley near Ellicott City, Maryland, Patapsco features an appealing mix of fast-flowing trails, rock gardens, bridges, and switchback curves with well-maintained berms and trails. This park also features a pump track where riders can practice their jumps.

VIRGINIA

Rosaryville Rosaryville in Upper Marlboro, Maryland is an excellent trail for beginners and intermediates, featuring a 10-mile perimeter loop through a beautiful forest with a fun, easy flow, a few moderate ascents and a generally mellow vibe. Be careful to look for equestrian riders who share the park.

Learn more about all three tracks at www.singletracks.com.

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on the scene

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

Washington Nationals fans enjoy more than a ball game on Friday nights when the DMVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best bands play at the Budweiser Terrace before the team takes the field. Photos: Devin Overbey

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Elijah Jamal Balbed Embraces DC Music Scene

By Trent Johnson

Photo: Trent Johnson

scattered about – a harmonica over there or a xylophone in that corner.

Nearly two decades ago, a sixth grader left his saxophone at a “She’s from DC, and went to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Maryland bus stop on his way to school. where she went through the classical percussion program and hated Elijah Jamal Balbed was sure his mother had taken his sax with her, it,” he says. “When I got interested in music, she wanted to always have and that he would practice upon returning home, but he was wrong. it around.”

Instead of it awaiting him, it was seemingly lost forever.

Apart from the classical genres, Balbed’s first inclination was toward What followed were three weeks of music class with no instrument. hip-hop. When he adopted the sax, his tastes matured rapidly.

This incited suggestions from the teacher to switch classes. One day, “One of my favorite groups was Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Balbed was approached by a homeless man at the very and it makes sense because they were so melodic. When same bus stop. The middle schooler had seen the man I started playing saxophone, I was in concert band, before, regularly in fact. The man extended his arm, “I was in and there the roles were pretty limited. After a few gripping the lost saxophone, and said, “I think this belongs to you.”

New York for two years, I decided I wanted to pursue jazz.”

The nearly prodigious saxophone player is “That was an integral moment, as far as me years, and I love quick to credit his teachers. He first mentions taking music seriously,” Balbed tells me, sitting the now closed Dale Music, which served across from me in a wooden chair in his that scene, but every as a notable institution for 64 years in Silver Northwest DC home.

Spring, Maryland. At the family-owned Fast forward to this summer. Balbed’s pad time I went up there, store, he studied under numerous teachers, is clearly that of a serious musician. There including manager Morgan Russell. Eventually, are odd instruments lying around, and his it felt like DC he moved on to Howard University’s jazz record player is one you can’t buy in the stores program. anymore, including an old Cam’ron record atop was calling “While I was working at Dale Music, I met a lot a pile of more wax. A John Coltrane poster hangs of educators,” Balbed says. “I ran into Charlie Young behind the couch where I sit. my name.” while I was there, and he’s a renowned classical sax “You’ll be hard-pressed to find a sax player who player. I just kept bumping into these world-class musicians doesn’t love Trane,” Balbed says. “It’s in large part to him that who live in the DC area. I was so close to U Street and Adams Morgan, I picked the saxophone.” and I got to sit in with the musicians and get my feet wet.”

At 27, Balbed is already a fixture in DC’s jazz and go-go music scenes.

Within the scene, Balbed took advantage of as many gigs as possible; He played with Chuck Brown before the godfather of go-go passed in he was set on performing all the time. But now as an established 2012, and now fronts his own JoGo Project, a mix of jazz, R&B and goperformer, he teaches at Suitland High School in Prince George’s go established during his residency at Strathmore.

County and privately for Washington Performing Arts, and promotes Balbed’s mother passed on her love for music to her son. Like his and even curates performances at local venues. current living situation, there were constant little musical reminders

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Photo: Mark Gorman

“I just kept bumping into these world-class musicians who live in the DC area. I was so close to U Street and Adams Morgan, and I got to sit in with the musicians and get my feet wet.”

“I used to hate teaching,” Balbed says. “Now, I’m at a performing arts school and I don’t have to get people as motivated, so I enjoy working with them.”

Balbed says that the DC scene has always embraced him, and it seems that he’s embracing it right back.

“Since college, I’ve been able to stay busy doing something musicrelated. I was in New York for two years, and I love that scene, but every time I went up there, it felt like DC was calling my name.”

Part of DC’s draw was his opportunity to play with Chuck Brown.

Though he always heard go-go music growing up, he never really played it before being thrown into the deep end of the pool. Luckily for him, Brown was incredibly enthusiastic and encouraging.

“He was very warm and welcoming,” he says. “He could tell I wasn’t used to it, because I wasn’t playing anything as high energy as gogo. He was appreciative of my jazz background, but was also open to helping me get more of a sound that fits with the genre.”

One message of encouragement came via voicemail.

“He just said, ‘Hey man, you’re doing a fine job in the band, and you sound beautiful, and I can’t wait to play with you again,’” Balbed says smiling. “When he passed, it was really scary. He was such an institution and legend, and when it happened it felt like the city was in a gloomy mist. Less people were out on the streets; everyone was at home.”

As time went on, he felt the need to carry on the legacy. Now, he’s working on standalone projects, which he’s ready to record, and performing regularly with the JoGo Project. The group is set to perform at Jazz in the Garden concert series at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden on July 21. Oh, and that almost lost sax from his childhood?

“I ended up selling it to get my current sax.”

For more information on Elijah Jamal Balbed and his music, visit www.elijahjamalbalbed.com.

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By Jon Kaplan

For 311, it’s a family affair.

The multi-platinum, alt-rock band just embarked on the Unity tour, with a two-night stop at the Fillmore Silver Spring on July 24 and 25. In a recent phone interview with On Tap, bassist P-Nut, born Aaron Wills, told us that the band had just practiced their new song “’Til the City’s on Fire” – and his mom Joan loved it.

“It’s a good mom song,” he said. And then he added, surprisingly, “My mom is actually here with me right now, so you’re interviewing both of us.”

Mom has a lot to be proud of.

Over the course of their 27 years together, 311 has sold over 9 million albums and DVDs in the U.S. alone. Their last nine albums have reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200 Album charts, and they’ve had nine Top 10 radio hits, including three that climbed to the No. 1 spot. But numbers alone don’t speak to the intangible factor that the band has going

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for it: the passion of their fans.

“They just want to be with each other,” P-Nut said of the band’s fans, “because when you’re at a 311 show, you’re surrounded by friends. And they all know it, so they want to get together all the time. It’s a really cool thing.”

The band started in 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska and consists of P-Nut on bass, Chad Sexton on drums, Tim Mahoney on guitar, and S.A. Martinez and Nick Hexum sharing vocal duties.

While the band has been so successful with their recent albums, their intention has always been to evolve and grow. In the case of their brand new release, Mosaic, that meant opening up to new ideas and people, and giving up the controls more than ever before.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen us, in our writing core of Chad and Nick, really letting go,” P-Nut said, “and having it be like, ‘Let’s let someone else control it a little bit – the direction of the songs.’”

To that end, the band brought in John Feldmann from the band Goldfinger, who P-Nut called “a 20-year friend of ours who’s turned into this top-list producer.”

P-Nut said that Feldmann pushed the band to revisit some of their most rocking hits, and to see if they could write another one together. He felt that the outside angle really brought a whole new energy to Mosaic, or at least renewed what was already there.

“It’s kind of cool to hear it from someone else’s perspective,” P-Nut said, “and then see what they come up with. It’s just really fun.

It’s cool to have control of the collective, but also know that we’ve been around so long that other people might have these great ideas about what’s possible.”

Before the interview with P-Nut ended, his mom wanted to bring it back to the fans. Part of the reason she was so proud, she explained, was that 311 fans make up a positive, charitable group who give back to their communities, motivated by nothing but love.

Photos: Brian Bowen Smith

A Summer Tradition 311 Brings Annual Caravan to Silver Spring

Three Concerts, Three Countries, One Cause* See the show, buy a special edition chalice and provide clean water to a woman in need.

July 20

White Ford Bronco (Brazil)

August 3

Pebble to Pearl (Cambodia)

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“In Atlanta last year, they had a diaper collection,” she said, “and they collected disposable diapers from fans who were coming to the show to donate to homeless shelters in Atlanta. Because families make up a large part of the homeless. Just imagine having a baby and not having diapers. And they collected a truckload of diapers from 311 fans who were coming to the show.”

She explained that the band didn’t provide any kind of reward for this outpouring of giving; it was just because 311 fans are generally good people.

“The band doesn’t give you anything for doing something nice,” she said. “But they generated that themselves, because that’s the kind of people that they are and that’s the kind of music that they like.”

It’s cool to have control of the collective, but also know that we’ve been around so long that other people might have these great ideas about what’s possible.

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It turns out there is a reward, though. Sure, maybe not for that specific charity event, but in general, 311 rewards fans every other year with a concert on March 11 (a.k.a. 3/11). It was a fan-generated idea at first, but the band embraced it. They play more songs each time, old favorites and rarities, requests and whole albums. P-Nut said it’s just one way the band gives back to the people that have given them so much.

“It’s its own little lifestyle,” he said, “and we are endlessly thankful for the opportunity. We love the way our community represents the band so well with a positive message.”

And with that, they signed off. Any mom would be proud.

Catch 311 with opening act New Politics at Fillmore Silver Spring on Monday, July 24 or Tuesday, July 25. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50. Learn more about 311 at www.311.com.

Fillmore Silver Spring: 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; 301-960-9999; www.fillmoresilverspring.com

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Info & Tickets devilsbackbonehoopla.com Lineup Subject to Change

#DBHoopla

By Monica Alford

The Who,1970

T

he Who and Led Zeppelin only shared the same stage once, in May 1969, and The Who’s crew had to ask Zeppelin to get off the stage so the band could squeeze in their own set.

Former President Jimmy Carter sang “Georgia on My Mind” twice with Willie Nelson at the same venue. Janis Joplin performed three weeks before Woodstock at a show reviewed

by Carl Bernstein for the Washington Post prior to his Watergate investigation fame.

Helicopters were brought in to dry out a giant mudslide on the lawn of the venue hosting The Grateful Dead during a two-day show in 1983.

What do these stories have in common? They all happened at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

The iconic outdoor venue turned 50 this year, celebrating five decades as one of the DC area’s favorite spots to experience live music.

Not only have dozens and dozens of legends graced Merriweather’s mainstage – from Lou Reed and David Bowie to Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner to Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix – the Columbia, Maryland venue nestled in Symphony Woods has been a mainstay of our local music community since the 70s.

And since I.M.P.’s Seth Hurwitz (9:30 Club, Anthem) began operating the venue in 2003, Merriweather’s summer lineups have become among the most eclectic and alternative that

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Photo: Gordon Snyder Photograph

the DC area has to offer.

On July 15, Merriweather will hold its 50th anniversary show with Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson and Family, Rockville native Father John Misty, and special guest host Grace Potter. The concert will be Potter’s first U.S. public appearance in nine months, and she says this is a really special way for her to return because she’ll be performing with “some of my favorite people on Earth.”

“It’s just such an amazing collective of people who really have carved their own paths,” she says. “It seems like everyone performing are troubadours who march to their own drum.”

When asked if any of the musicians will join forces onstage, Potter’s response is open-ended.

“I think it’ll come together in that really classic Woodie Guthrie way, where if there’s a conversation that needs to be had onstage, it’ll be in the moment.”

The anniversary show marks Potter’s fifth performance at Merriweather, and her enthusiasm for the venue is evident.

“I got a phone call [to host the show] and I was like, ‘F--k yeah.’ People come out of the woodwork for Merriweather shows because it’s a special place. It’s worth making a pilgrimage for it.”

Potter is one of many musicians who feel like part of the I.M.P. family, through great experiences at Merriweather or 9:30 Club, or

Posters: Cour

tesy of I.M.P.

Most Appearances Jimmy Buffett The Allman Brothers James Taylor The Beach Boys Barry Manilow (17) Santana (16) Phish (15) O.A.R.

(46) (19) (18) (18)

(17)

both. Hurwitz and his team have a stellar rep for creating a home away from home for visiting artists, and have worked to breathe new life into the venue for the past 14 years. Rolling Stone even named Merriweather one of the top five amphitheaters in the nation in 2013. A year later, a long-awaited renovation plan was launched; the five-year, $55 million project has included everything from a rotating stage and swanky backstage area for artists to new parking garages and concessions.

Seth Hurwitz & Green Day’s Billie Jo Armstrong

The Cure,2016

Photo: Dave Barnhouser

Photo: Courtesy of I.M.P .

Photo: Gor don Snyd

Willie Nelson & President Carter

er Photog raphy

Photo: Courtesy of I.M.P.

The Grateful Dead

Janis Joplin,1

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Photo: Courtesy of I.M.P.

The renovation and I.M.P.’s operation of the venue are huge victories for the local community, who had to fight to keep Merriweather alive. Ian Kennedy, the executive director of the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission, has a 15-year history with the venue that began with a grassroots campaign in 2003 to save Merriweather from closure by then-owners the Rouse Company and ended with the Howard Hughes Corporation transferring ownership to the commission at the end of 2016.

“They handed me a big fake key that said, ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion,’ and the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission officially became the owners of the venue,” Kennedy says. “We are now six months in to being landlords of this amazing venue, and occasionally we’re still pinching ourselves trying to see if this is really real.”

Kennedy, who’s been to nearly every Merriweather show since 2015, says it’s critical for the commission to see the renovations through, and to expand the venue’s artistic, cultural and community programming. His goal is for the commission to hold up a cultural and community-based mirror to what Hurwitz is doing with the music lineups. He says there’s a magic to keeping things cool, eclectic and maybe sometimes even a little weird.

“Seth has [that magic] and I.M.P. has it, and I’m hoping to just bask in some of that reflective glow for a little bit and maybe it will

Unexpected Pairings 1.

2.

3.

4.

The Who/Led Zeppelin Wilco/The Roots Madonna/Beastie Boys Rage Against the Machine/Wu Tang Clan 5. The Monkees/“Weird Al” Yankovic 6. Ziggy Marley/Queen Latifah 7. Fall Out Boy/50 Cent 8. Tom Tom Club/Ramones/Debbie Harry 9. Alanis Morissette/Radiohead 10. Tom Jones/Gladys Knight and The Pips rub off on me.”

Kennedy reiterates the sense of family at the venue, and credits the I.M.P. team with welcoming artists and concertgoers with open arms; in particular, venue director Jean Parker and production manager Brad Canfield.

Parker, who started working at Merriweather in 1977, says his favorite part of the job is watching each concert come together, from start to finish.

“There are a lot of jobs where people can feel like a cog in a never-ending wheel, but

Clipping: Courtesy of I.M.P .

being able to see the life cycle of a concert or event is something that always, still to this day, impresses me,” he says.

Parker is also fascinated by watching the same bands transition over the years, and uses Rockville natives O.A.R. as a prime example.

“We’ve played O.A.R. almost annually for over a decade now, and I remember in the beginning, that crowd was fairly raucous, with younger kids pregaming. Now, those same fans are 10 years older and they’re married with kids, so the atmosphere is just completely different.”

O.A.R. has played Merriweather 15 times, and frontman Marc Roberge says it’s easy to remember each performance. He and his bandmates had always had their hopes set on playing the venue after years of seeing shows there while growing up. He recalls their first performance on Merriweather’s side stage during a Bob Dylan show.

“We told everybody we were opening for Bob Dylan,” he says, laughing. “We weren’t technically opening for Dylan. We weren’t allowed within 100 yards of the guy. But that day, all of our friends came out and I’ll never www.ontaponline.com | JULY 2017 | ON TAP

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Merriweather Fun Facts 1.

The only time The Who and Led Zeppelin played on the same stage was at MPP in 1969.

2.

Carl Bernstein reviewed Janis Joplin’s July 1969 performance at MPP for the Washington Post.

3.

President Jimmy Carter took the stage twice to sing “Georgia on my Mind” with Willie Nelson.

4.

Jimi Hendrix played “The Star-Spangled Banner” at MPP the summer before he played it at Woodstock.

5.

Animal Collective named its 2009 album Merriweather Post Pavilion, and played at the venue for the first time in 2011.

6.

MPP ripped out all of the seats in the orchestra for a mosh pit to win Green Day’s American Idiot tour in 2005. The mosh pit lives on today.

7.

Jackson Browne recorded Running on Empty live at the venue.

8.

The venue’s first pop concert was odd novelty act Tiny Tim with psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge. The second “pop” act was Jimi Hendrix, and his set had to be cut short due to a lightning storm.

9.

MPP permanently expanded the number of seats in the pavilion in 1970 in order to win a seven-show run of Tom Jones.

10. The venue was designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry.

forget it. We had a good little handful of people dancing around, and I remember looking down the hill and thinking, ‘One day, we’ll be down there.’”

Roberge speaks passionately about Merriweather’s originality as a venue, and how he feels cut off from the world and in the moment when he’s onstage there.

“I don’t feel like anyone is trying to sell me anything. The only thing I’m buying is the music, and that’s something that Merriweather has always had. That’s what separates a place like Merriweather from a lot of the corporate venues around the country: care. And I think you know that [as a musician] when you arrive.”

It seems that everyone I spoke to has at least one favorite Merriweather memory. For Potter, it’s getting stuck in the elevator at a nearby hotel with a group of Phish heads and a pizza delivery guy after the band’s performance at Merriweather, and how it took a grand total of 15 minutes before they all devoured the poor delivery guy’s pizza. For Roberge, it’s “opening” for Dylan and putting a live feed of Baltimore native Michael Phelps in the Rio Olympics on the big screen during his set, and hearing the audience erupt into the loudest cheers he’s ever experienced at the venue.

Kennedy can’t choose between playing guitar and singing on Merriweather’s mainstage during high school graduation and seeing his favorite artist, Brandi Carlile, on his birthday last year. And for me, it’s a tie between hearing “Just Like Heaven” echo ethereally through the Symphony Woods during The Cure’s encore and watching Jack White interact with a spider crawling up his arm during a guitar solo at a White Stripes show. Whether you’ve been once or dozens of times as an artist or a music lover, Merriweather makes a lasting impression, one that keeps the live music experience a powerful, integral part of what makes the DC area community one to be proud of.

Catch Merriweather’s 50th Anniversary Concert on July 15. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $55.

Merriweather Post Pavilion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Columbia, MD; 410-715-5550; www.merriweathermusic.com

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By Trent Johnson, Jon Kaplan, Reem Nadeem and Nicolas Rodrigo

FRIDAY, JULY 7

Ruben Studdard For all those American Idol fans who have been missing the show’s first male winner, Ruben Studdard heeded your calls.

Fourteen years later, he is still at it, bringing R&B, pop and gospel full circle, album after album.

With a score of hits as well as an appearance on The Biggest Loser, the spotlight has never dimmed on Studdard. Expect a lot of heartfelt vocals and soul out of the singer as his sound has only become humbler and more defined. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $37.50-$69.50.

Howard Theatre: 620 T St. NW, DC; www.thehowardtheatre.com

SATURDAY, JULY 8

Rooney The brainchild of singersongwriter (and sometimes actor) Robert Schwartzman, Rooney is top-shelf indie pop

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from Los Angeles. Schwartzman is Hollywood royalty himself: brother of actor Jason Schwartzman, nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola and cousin of Nicolas Cage. With opener Run River North. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

SUNDAY, JULY 9

Mingo Fishtrap Blending funk and soul music with a hint of bluegrass, Mingo Fishtrap is a throwback to simpler sounds. Originating in Denton, Texas, the group is a melodic, fun show featuring well-timed chords and blaring horns – basically playing music from all eras. 60s soul? Yep. New Orleans funk? Definitely. There’s even a hint of Motown in the more sensual tunes. Normally, when a band attempts to encompass a ton of influences, the sound can lack direction, but Mingo Fishtrap avoids this by mastering a perfect formula.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20. The Hamilton: 600 14th St. NW, DC; www.thehamiltondc.com

ON TAP | JULY 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Violent Femmes For those who grew up listening to the Violent Femmes, it might be hard to believe that the band has been around for almost 40 years. Various drummers have been in the band, but the duo of singer/guitarist/songwriter Gordan Gano and bassist Brian Ritchie have been there since the beginning. Last year, they released their first album in 16 years: We Can Do Anything.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com

THURSDAY, JULY 13

Laura Tsaggaris Laura Tsaggaris has been gracing the DC area with her amazing songwriting for over a decade now. She recorded her latest release at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street, which was funded with

contributions from fans. And her most recent studio album, EVERYMAN, includes backing vocals from Ryan Adams and production from Jamie Candiloro. Tsaggaris’ songs are always meaningful and always moving. With Alex the Red Parez and The El Rojos. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. IOTA Club & Cafe: 2832 Wilson Blvd.

Arlington, VA; www.iotaclubandcafe.com

FRIDAY, JULY 14

The Cactus Blossoms This band of brothers from Michigan is in a league of its own when it comes to country music. With strong, harmonizing vocals backed by a slight touch of drums and a little bass, it can be downright tough to dislike this band. Years of songwriting and work went into their 2016 album, You’re Dreaming, which culminated in a sound that’s reminiscent of the Everly Brothers with a distinct, modern touch. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15-$25. Jammin Java: 227 Maple Ave. E. Vienna, VA; www.jamminjava.com

Les Nubians The iconic Francophone duo will bring their smooth voices and hypnotic R&B beats to DC this summer. Though their themes of African roots and self-love are occasionally in French, like their classic song “Makeda,” a dance floor will be cleared for the show, so you can dance the language barrier away.

With their distinctive sound and emphasis on intercultural empowerment, Temperature Rising barely begins to cover it. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20.75-$25.75. The Hamilton: 600 14th St. NW, DC; www.thehamiltondc.com

The Morrison Brothers Band These DC natives will be rocking their way back home for a visit after their successful migration to Nashville. If you’re into exploring the obscure spaces between multiple genres, then this performance is for you. As residents of the space in between mainstream pop, country and good old rock ‘n’ roll, this is sure to be the perfect summertime show. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. Gypsy Sally’s: 3401 K St. NW, DC; www.gypsysallys.com

for a pun, but seriously, the Australian garage/punk band brings the speed and pace of traditional raucous punk music and combines it with the almost homemade sound of garage rock. Never too fast to understand or dance to, Royal Headache is a tremendous band to go out and enjoy controlled chaos with. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $15. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; www.blackcatdc.com

OPEN MIC EVERY TUESDAY IN OUR VINYL LOUNGE

SATURDAY, JULY 1

FUNK VS BLUEGRASS FT. GRAND OLE’ DITCH VS SWIFT TECHNIQUE & GRAND OLE’ DITCH WEDNESDAY, JULY 6

SATURDAY, JULY 15

BACKBEAT NDERGROUND, 8 OHMS BAND THURSDAY, JULY 6

DEADPHISH ORCHESTRA (DEAD & PHISH TRIBUTE) FRIDAY, JULY 7

NOCODA (LED ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE), CAPITAL FUNK SQUAD

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW! www.unionjacks annapolis.com or www.ticketweb.com

SATURDAY, JULY 8

NERO In a world of electronic dance music (EDM), it can be extremely difficult to separate oneself from the pack with samples and drops coming at you left and right. NERO has been able to do just that in spectacular fashion with a string of top hits and a Grammy under their belts.

Composed of members Daniel “Dan” Stephens, Joseph “Joe” Ray and Alana Watson, NERO has carved out their own unique sound combining sharp, eerie piano keys and a more melodic formula to produce music that electrifies you. If you are looking to dip your feet into the EDM pool and experience a more approachable and danceable act, NERO might just be for you.

Show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25-$35. Echostage: 2135 Queens Chapel Rd. NE, DC; www.echostage.com

CAPITOL ISLAND FEST FT. THUNDER BODY, JOINT OPERATION, GANG OF THIEVES WEDNESDAY, JULY 12

CHRISTIAN LOPEZ THURSDAY, JULY 13

NORA JANE STRUTHERS & THE PARTY LINE FRIDAY, JULY 14

THE MORRISON BROTHERS BAND TUESDAY, JULY 18

AMY BLACK: A MEMPHIS MUSIC REVUE WENDESDAY, JULY 19

THE NIGHTOWLS

“It All Started w/A Beer” &“Sunshine & Whiskey”

THURSDAY, JULY 20

MOOGATU, LITZ FRIDAY, JULY 21

HOOTS & HELLMOUTH SATURDAY, JULY 22

BONERAMA W/ DAVE KLINE BAND TUESDAY, JULY 25

VURRO

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26

PRESSING STRINGS, THE DRUNKEN HEARTS THURSDAY, JULY 27

Son of Gregg Allman w/Mile High Club Band

DYNAMO, NIK GREELY & THE OPERATORS FRIDAY, JULY 28

ALL GOOD PRESENTS: PERPETUAL GROOVE SATURDAY, JULY 29

WATKINS GLEN REUNION SHOW FT. THE ALLMAN OTHERS BAND & STEAL YOUR FACE

Royal Headache Sometimes punk rock gives you a Royal Headache. Okay, perhaps too on-the-nose

Town Mountain Described as being “raw, soulful and with plenty of swagger,” Town Mountain is a band that pushes the boundaries

“Love You Like This” & “Hole In A Bottle”

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Music Picks

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Brunch every Saturday & Sunday

of country twang. Though the group subscribes to the Southern genre of country, the band is more than a Southern guy singing about his lost love.

The band features a guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin and a double bass, meaning the instrumentation is explosive, especially in a live setting. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12-$17. The Hamilton: 600 14th St. NW, DC; www.thehamiltondc.com

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July Entertainment 7/1 .......... DJ Killabeats24 7/3 .......... Tommy Gann 7/6 .......... DJ 2Nutz 7/7 .......... Lovely Rita 7/8 .......... The Relatives

THURSDAY, JULY 20

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19

T&H is the place for Pittsburgh Sports!

We are the neighborhood spot that makes you feel at home!

567 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202 | (703) 979-1872 info@tortoiseandharebar.com

they do know is peaceful indie music. Actually, it’s dope music for when you want to paint. Just don’t bring your stand, canvas and oils to DC9 because you might get kicked out. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10-$12. DC9: 1940 9th St. NW, DC; www.dcnine.com

Sawyer Fredericks In 2015, Sawyer Fredericks became the youngest winner in the history of The Voice when he won the show’s eighth season at the age of 16. But Fredericks was already what some might call a veteran of the music business, having started performing at age 11, and releasing his first studio album at 13. With Gabriel Wolfchild and The Northern Light, and Haley Johnsen. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. The Birchmere: 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; www.birchmere.com

Amadou & Mariam Amadou & Mariam are many things: a couple, a Grammynominated duo from Mali and purveyors of the Malian blues.

They met at Mali’s Institute for the Young Blind, where they both were being treated after losing their sight. Amadou handles guitar and vocals, and Mariam sings. The duo has played all over with world, and with artists as diverse as Stevie Wonder, TV on the Radio and Damon Albarn. With opener Redline Graffiti. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com

FRIDAY, JULY 21

7/13........ DJ Paul Surreal 7/14........ Jeff From Accounting AMAZING BRUNCH BUFFET! Saturdays and Sundays

ROOFTOP TIKI BAR Open Weather Dependent

7/15........ DJ Killabeats24 7/20........ DJ Lingo 7/21........ DJ 2Nutz 7/22........ Thunder Buddies 7/27........ DJ Cabezon 7/28........ For The Win 7/29........ Odeon

2854 Wilson Blvd.

703-276-WOWE (9693) Clarendon Metro Stop (Orange Line)

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On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Ultimate Painting What is the ultimate painting?

Is it a masterpiece gawked at for centuries crafted by a legendary person who is long dead? Is it an unknown mural in an abandoned barn, never to be seen by museum eyes and those of hungry tourists? I don’t know, and I doubt the band Ultimate Painting knows either. What

The Aquabats It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s The Aquabats! This troop of superhero rockers are bringing their crime fighting and jumpsuits to Silver Spring. With strong ska and rock roots as well as a knack for fighting super villains onstage, this Orange County group is sure to deliver a show unlike any other. Their music has evolved since the

Music Picks 90s from ska to a more rock and synth-pop-influenced sound with the addition of new members. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets start at $23. Fillmore Silver Spring: 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; www.fillmoresilverspring.com

Hoots & Hellmouth This folk rock group plans to thaw our frozen hearts with their combination of mellow melodies and emotionally charged lyrics. The feelings that their songs evoke range from reflective and peaceful to overwhelming. If you’re in the mood to sway and discreetly wipe tears on your sleeve all night, Hoots & Hellmouth has your back with the band’s captivating ballads. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12-$15. Gypsy Sally’s: 3401 K St. NW, DC; www.gypsysallys.com

7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15-$17.

Songbyrd Music House & Record Cafe: 2475-2477 18th St. NW, DC; www.songbyrddc.com

Merriweather Post Pavilion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy.

Columbia, MD; www.merriweathermusic.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26

MONDAY, JULY 24

Algiers If you were to combine Elvis Presley’s iconic, crooning voice, Malcolm X’s timeless call for revolution, and William Faulkner’s Southern Gothic imagery of poverty and damnation, you’d get Algiers.

The band uses their Southern roots as inspiration for their soul-filled, gospel-tinged, experimental rock music. In their most recent single, The Underside of Power, lead singer Franklin James Fisher describes the power of elites as a game that can’t go on. Here’s hoping Algiers’ unique sound will go on and on. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; www.blackcatdc.com

at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. Gypsy Sally’s: 3401 K St. NW, DC; www.gypsysallys.com

LFO Back in the 90s, boy band fever was in full swing, and the world couldn’t get enough. LFO was one of the few rising stars that shined through the shadows of NSYNC and Backstreet Boys, and were no strangers to the Billboard charts either. With 4 million records sold thanks to songs like “Summer Girl,” “Every Other Time” and “Girl on TV,” it was only a matter of time before the boys of summer came out to play once again. Though only comprised of remaining members Devin Lima and Brad Fischetti, expect a show that will take you back to when all the girls wore Abercrombie & Fitch.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15-$25. Jammin Java: 227 Maple Ave. E. Vienna, VA; www.jamminjava.com

Ben Gibbard Ben Gibbard has been leading Death Cab for Cutie since 1997, and has made a name for himself in the world of indie rock. He’s also released a solo album, Former Lives, and collaborated with Jimmy Tamborello as The Postal Service. This is a rare chance to see Gibbard in a more intimate setting, as he is only playing two solo dates on this tour. With Jon Glaser. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. Lincoln Theatre: 1215 U St. NW, DC; www.thelincolndc.com

TUESDAY, JULY 25

Tank and the Bangas Recently (and rightfully) crowned NPR’s Tiny Desk 2017 contest winners, Tank and the Bangas is a musical experience unlike any other. Their infectious level of energy and never-missa-beat bouncing makes them one performance you can’t miss this summer. Hailing from New Orleans, the collective infuses their funky, spoken wordinspired sound with lyrics that are sometimes humorous, sometimes profound and often both. The vocals are tag-teamed

by Tarriona “Tank” Ball and Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph. Doors at

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John Legend Originally scheduled for June, this can’t-miss performance has been rescheduled. Grab a date and show some “P.D.A.” at the R&B icon’s show. With more recent hits like “All of Me,” classics like “Ordinary People” and Legend’s role in beloved movie La La Land, there won’t be a better night to slow things down and dance it up all summer. Doors open at 6 p.m.

On Tap | July 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

Vurro With magic flowing from his fingers through his guitar, this virtuoso will get the Gypsy Sally crowd gliding across the dance floor. Did we mention his fingers? Yeah, but we didn’t mention his propensity for playing keyboards, cymbals, horns and powerful drums. So basically, this man is a human instrument, somehow turning chaos into undeniably pleasing sounds. Doors at 7 p.m., show

Conor Oberst Conor Oberst is a talented fella.

This dude pulled in the title for best songwriter in 2008 from Rolling Stone. In fact, there is some Bob Dylan influence in his music. Oberst is the quintessential contemporary folk artist with a heavy pen, beautiful strums of the guitar and the occasional harmonica explosion. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $36. 930 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com

Music Picks

on the scene

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

Regina Spektor & Ben Folds Two singer-songwriters both known for their piano playing and quirky but heartfelt songs will grace the stage together for one night only this summer at Wolf Trap. Spektor, originally from Russia, writes energetic songs that meld well with her soft but staccato delivery.

Folds is known for his work with Ben Folds Five, but the North Carolina native has worked with orchestras and reality TV stars as well. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35-$65. Filene Center at Wolf Trap: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; www.wolftrap.org

Toad the Wet Sprocket Toad the Wet Sprocket started in Santa Barbara and took their name from a Monty Python sketch. They hit it big with breezy, catchy pop tunes like “Walk on the Ocean” and “All I Want.” In 2013, the band returned to releasing new music, and they show no signs of letting up again. Also appearing Thursday, July 27. With Beta Play. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55. The Birchmere: 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; www.birchmere.com

THURSDAY, JULY 27

Alt-J If triangles are your favorite shape, then don’t miss this British art-rock collective’s sure-to-be-amazing performance. Their freshly released album, Relaxer, has caused a stir in the music world thanks to their unique sound and symbolic lyrics. The complexity of Alt-J may not be for everyone, but hear their cryptic music for yourself before coming to a decision. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $45-$65.

Merriweather Post Pavilion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Columbia, MD; www.merriweathermusic.com

Mount Vernon Triangle’s Tunes in the Triangle brings hot sounds and cool vibes to the neighborhood all summer long. Catch shows July 6 and 20 outside Busboys and Poets.

Photos: Drü Thomas

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Music Picks Jagwar Ma Hailing from Australia, this electronic indie trio has toured with the likes of the xx and Tame Impala. Jagwar Ma gives audiophiles a fresh take on indie sounds, offering fantastical rhythms with the occasional funk/ disco vocal. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18-$20. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

SUNDAY, JULY 30 Belle & Sebastian, Spoon and Andrew Bird with Ex Hex This trio of indie rock and pop bands will fill the outdoor spaces of Merriweather with alternately dreamy, edgy and danceable tunes this summer. Belle and Sebastian will be testing out new music that they’ll be releasing later this year on Matador Records, their first since 2015’s Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. With opener Ex Hex. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $45-$55. Merriweather Post Pavilion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Columbia, MD: www.merriweathermusic.com

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ON TAP | JULY 2017 | www.ontaponline.com

MONDAY, JULY 31 Grace Mitchell Known among her fans for her constantly evolving style, Mitchell isn’t afraid of trying new things with her music.

From an 80s pop princess aesthetic in “Now” to her fingersnapping, break-up anthem “NoLo” to the slower, bass-heavy hit “Cali God,” Mitchell will keep fans moving all night long. Expect an eclectic performance, with each song catchier than the last. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. Songbyrd Music House & Record Cafe: 2475-2477 18th St. NW, DC; www.songbyrddc.com Queen + Adam Lambert When Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen appeared on American Idol in 2009, they saw their future. Contestant Adam Lambert had the pipes to belt out the band’s hits, doing his best to honor the memory of Queen’s original, inimitable singer Freddie Mercury. While no one can ever replace Mercury, Lambert has been welcomed by the band’s longtime fans and continues to tour with Queen. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $49.50. Verizon Center: 601 F St. NW, DC; www.verizoncenter.com

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2017 Music Schedule July

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Turtle Recall + Darcy Dawn & Co.

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Herr Metal + Dr FU

21

The Reflex

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August

4

Sam Grow Band + Phillip Parsons Band

11

Love Seed Mama Jump

18

Social Call + 7 Deadlies

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