Drink. Dine. Do. September 2018
INSTAGRAM INFLUENCER @DCFOODPORN’S JUSTIN SCHUBLE
BRAND NEW BREWS STREETCAR 82 SANKOFA BEER
LINEBACKER LOWDOWN REDSKINS ZACH BROWN & MASON FOSTER
BOURBON
RISING
CRAFT COCKTAILS & ESSENTIAL BARS
+ BLACK CAT CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
GET OUT’S MICHAEL ABELS CONDUCTS NSO KISS GUITARIST PAUL STANLEY’S ART TOUR
Photos: John Gervasi PhotoArts, LLC
The Wharf celebrated the 30th anniversary of Shark Week at Shark Bites & Brews on Transit Pier with a mechanical shark and other shark-themed games. 7 Deadlies played upbeat rock hits and the Transit Pier beer garden poured ice-cold drinks like Landshark Lager.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS WHO IS ON TAP?
SEPTEMBER 2018: VOL 20 NO 11 BOURBON RISING Fall traditions have returned to the District despite the persistent heat. Oktoberfest is back, and we have you covered on where to get your festive drink on. Bourbon Heritage Month is upon us, and we covered it extensively in this issue, including an all-bourbon Behind the Bar column and a profile on the legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery, featured on our cover as the key ingredient in Pearl Dive Oyster Palace’s Bardstown Derby cocktail and photographed by Scott Suchman. This month, we also penned pieces about the founders of Streetcar 82 Brewing Co., went inside NoMa’s The Eleanor and spoke with the talented Georgetown grad behind Instagram’s @dcfoodporn. September also marks the start of football season, and we spoke to the Redskins’ defensive duo heading into 2018. As usual, the DC arts offer a scintillating fall lineup including Shakespeare Theatre’s The Comedy of Errors, the NSO’s live score of Get Out with composer Michael Abels and Signature Theatre’s Passion. For music, check out our collection of stories for Black Cat’s 25th anniversary.
Drink. Dine. Do. September 2018
INSTAGRAM INFLUENCER @DCFOODPORN’S JUSTIN SCHUBLE
BRAND NEW BREWS STREETCAR 82 SANKOFA BEER
LINEBACKER LOWDOWN REDSKINS ZACH BROWN & MASON FOSTER
BOURBON
RISING
CRAFT COCKTAILS & ESSENTIAL BARS
+
BLACK CAT CELEBRATES 25 YEARS GET OUT’S MICHAEL ABELS CONDUCTS NSO KISS GUITARIST PAUL STANLEY’S ART TOUR
On the cover: Bardstown Derby at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Designer: Alanna Sheppard Photo: Scott Suchman
Redskins........................................................... 4 Professional Bull Riding. . .............................. 8
n SEPTEMBER ROUNDUP
Lively Linebackers Zach Brown and Mason Foster ready for 2018 season
Bonafide Brewers Streetcar 82 strives for sense of community
Drink, Dine, Do............................................. 11 Oktoberfest Fun Fact.................................. 18
n DRINKS What’s On Tap?............................................. 20 Streetcar 82................................................... 24 Behind the Bar.............................................. 26 Distillery Guide. . ........................................... 28 Buffalo Trace Bourbon................................ 34 Bourbon Guide............................................. 36
n DINING
34
44
Buffalo Trace Bourbon
Tasty Tableaus
An inside look at an American staple
The man directing @dcfoodporn
Eleanor........................................................... 38 New & Notable.. ............................................ 42 Food Porn...................................................... 44
n STAGE & SCREEN Stage & Screen Events................................ 46 Passion........................................................... 48 Comedy of Errors......................................... 50
n MUSIC
52
58
Eerie Escalations
Black Cat’s 25 Lives
Get Out’s Michael Abels leads NSO through the film’s score in DC
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Celebrate the iconic venue’s anniversary
ON TAP | SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.ontaponline.com
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MANAGING EDITOR Monica Alford
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ASSISTANT EDITOR Trent Johnson trent@ontaponline.com
PRINT & DIGITAL DESIGN Nick Caracciolo Alanna Sheppard KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Tom Roth tomroth@ontaponline.com
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n SPORTS
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PUBLISHER Jennifer Currie
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Natalia Kolenko
IN THIS ISSUE
4
FOUNDER James Currie
Get Out. . ......................................................... 52 Paul Stanley. . ................................................. 54 A Day in the Life........................................... 56 Black Cat Turns 25. . ...................................... 58 Music Picks.................................................... 62
DIGITAL & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Kayla Marsh kayla@ontaponline.com
EVENTS & PROMOTIONS MANAGER Shannon Darling shannon@ontaponline.com
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Lani Furbank, Michelle Goldchain, Natalia Kolenko, M.K. Koszycki, Keith Loria, Travis Mitchell, Aja Neal, Fareeha Rehman, Langford Wiggins
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jay Abella, John Gervasi, Mike Kim, M.K. Koszycki, Kayla Marsh, Devin Overbey, LAFlicks Photography, Mark Rakers, Scott Suchman On Tap Magazine is published 11 times per year. ©2018 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. Go to www.ontaponline.com for more information.
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the 2 annual mcpaw party You are cordially invited to
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“the great gatsby” Join us for the best roaring twenties party of the year as an elite member of Jay Gatsby’s legendary West Egg Parties William F. Bolger Center - Franklin Ballroom 9600 Newbridge Drive | Potomac, MD 20854 Saturday October 13, 2018 | 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm Silent & Live Auctions Live Music, Cocktails, Dinner, Dancing Special Guest and More! : Costumes Encouraged, Black Tie Optional
dress code
dogs are welcome to attend
ticket prices Sale ends September 1
Early Bird Tickets:
Regular Tickets:
Single: $160
Young Professional (under 35) $125
Couple $240
Single $185
Table of 8 $1,100
Couple $300
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Table of 8 $1,400 (with name recognition)
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Call Celine Ryan or go online to purchase tickets: celine.ryan@excelservices.com 301-984-4400
Or purchase online: https://2ndannualmcpawparty.eventbrite.com
Shooting the Gap
LINEBACKERS LOOK TO RAISE REDSKINS’ DEFENSIVE LEVEL
Zach Brown
T
Mason Foster
Photos: Courtesy of the Washington Redskins
By Trent Johnson he Washington Redskins’ 2017 season wasn’t without setbacks. The squad dealt with numerous injuries on both offense and defense, as the team’s expectations for the NFL Playoffs dwindled by the time winter blew through FedExField. However, the team never quit as they traded wins and losses down the stretch of the season with a persistent roster. A key player during the home stretch was Zach Brown, who despite missing the last three games of the season with foot and leg injuries, led the team in tackles with 127 – a mark good for ninth in the league. With Brown and fellow linebacker Mason Foster returning to man the middle of the field, a defense that ranked last against the run can only improve, if health permits. “[We’ll] take it to the next level,” Brown says. “Last year was really our first as a defense, so now it’s like, let’s keep it going and step it up. We have a lot of good young players, so they have to stay disciplined and we all have to do our job.” Both Brown and Foster signed extensions in the offseason to stay with the Redskins. Before the ink was dry on Foster’s deal, he was already recruiting Brown to ensure their pairing would last longer than the five games they shared the field last season.
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“I love this team and all these guys are brothers,” Foster says. “I love playing football, and when your year is cut short like that – especially when I was set up to have a big year – it’s tough. Part of it is a blessing in disguise, because I was able to sit there and watch the game and get in shape.” Both players kept roots in Virginia this offseason, with Foster rehabbing his torn shoulder and Brown settling down with his family in McLean. Though they had different offseason experiences, both were ready for camp and eager to improve a defense not yet matching their standard for greatness. “Guys are playing hard, but it was little things here and there,” Foster continues. “Being up in the box and being able to see it from a coach’s perspective, you see the little angles you take and the little things you bring to the table every day. It definitely helped me bring my game to another level.” Though the pair is integral to the Redskins postseason goals, the hope is for their load to be lessened by the team’s top draft pick, interior defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne, who joins former Alabama teammate Jonathan Allen – Washington’s first pick in last year’s draft.
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ON TAP | SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.ontaponline.com
“With the young guys coming in and making it more competitive, everybody is in better shape and coming in strong,” Brown says. “Health is going to be really important, but everyone behind you has to stay ready too. If we can stay healthy, we can go a long way.” As for the veterans, Brown and Foster acknowledge an undeniable chemistry between them on the field. “He was a big reason I wanted to come back here,” Foster says. “I knew what me and him could do for the whole year. We see the game the same way, and it allows me to come downhill. We know who’s going to have an opportunity to take a chance. Sometimes I want to jump a route and he’ll cover for me, and vice versa. Stuff like that became natural for us.” Though the defense – who finished with the 12th-most yards allowed in the league – is set to improve, the old saying “a good offense is the best defense” may still apply to the Redskins. To bolster the offensive unit, the team added veteran playmakers in running back Adrian Peterson and QB Alex Smith, replacing Kirk Cousins. As inside linebackers, both Brown and Foster are essentially the quarterbacks of the defense, and each has had a chance to match wits with the new starting signal caller. “He’s what I thought he was,” Brown says. “He’s a great player and he’s going to surprise a lot of people. We have a lot of receivers that will go get the ball for Alex, and he’s really upped the game for those guys. He’s a great leader, and he has high expectations for the offense.” Despite the 7-9 finish to last season, neither of these players are lacking in confidence. They’re ready to prove the naysayers wrong. “I think we’re in the mix,” Foster says. “The sky’s the limit, but we have to go out and execute.” Brown echoes his teammate’s sentiments about the 2018 season. “We feel like we can be one of the best in the NFL if we bring it together.” Catch the Washington Redskins’ first home game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, September 16. Follow the team on Twitter at @Redskins and check out their 2018 schedule at www.redskins.com. FedExField: 1600 Fedex Way, Landover, MD 301-276-6000; www.redskins.com
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“For years we said, ‘It’s not a rodeo, but a one and only PBR,’” production manager Jim White says. “We’re a full entertainment package, and even have bands on occasion. We have the same sound systems as most rock ‘n’ roll bands, and our lighting is a lot like those concerts as well. It’s bull riding. It’s Americana. Anyone can enjoy it. It’s two-and-a-half hours of nonstop action.” Though the spectacle is not a rodeo, it does mirror more than a few of the same aesthetics including 300 tons of dirt stretched over 40 yards, loads of steel for pins and barriers, and of course, gigantic athletes weighing in at nearly 2,000 pounds each.
Cody Nance and Kick Out The Lights
Photos: Courtesy of PBR
By Trent Johnson You may have seen the slogan on the Metro buses taking you in and out of the city lately. The large sign reads, “And You Thought This Town Couldn’t Handle Any More Bulls#*t,” and with the most recent political developments, it seems like the marketing ploy couldn’t be more timely. However, the bull advertised isn’t the kind peddled by politicians or reported in news stories. It’s real and it involves actual bulls, riders and extensive pyrotechnics. The Professional Bull Riding (PBR) tour is here, and it’s time to take notice. “You can expect there to be a lot of action,” PBR rider Cody Nance says. “It’s a ton of fun and it’s funny. If you like exciting things, you’re coming to the right place. You see the top guys in the world against the best bulls in the world.” The PBR rolls through Northern Virginia on September 22 and 23 for the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. The stadium where George Mason athletics take place will be completely transformed into what sounds like a rodeo atmosphere on steroids.
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“They’re just like any other kind of athlete,” PBR stock provider Mike Miller says about the bulls. “It’s about diet and exercise. We feed them twice a day: low fat and high protein. We try to get them as much exercise as possible to build their lung capacity and muscles up.” Miller says that much like the riders who train to be flexible and durable for the strenuous task of riding atop a bull, the bulls themselves are bred to be athletes – part of the spectacle. “We look for intensity – how high they jump in the front and how hard they kick in the back,” Miller says of identifying the best bulls. “I guess if you’re in the business, you can notice [the difference between them] a little easier, and that’s your job to kind of know what the bull is and what the best bulls look like.” According to the PBR website, a bull ride in the league is an “eight-second contest of strength, balance, endurance and effort between the world’s best bull rides and the world’s best bucking bulls.” In order to score, riders must have one hand on the bull rope and one in the air, and if he makes it for eight seconds, he’ll receive a score up to 100 total points with a possible 50 points awarded to each the bull and the rider. “Most people think we’re crazy,” Nance says. “But once you explain what it’s about, they understand. It’s just a cowboy thing. A lot of people don’t understand how much goes into raising a bull. To be able to compete with a bull at that level is like playing in the [NFL] Pro Bowl.” Nance was the fifth ranked PBR rider in the world standings and the top ranked American as of August. Despite his unusual career path, he says it was one he yearned for from an early age as his stepdad rode bulls and served as a judge after he gave up the trade. “I got on bulls through high school at different levels, but couldn’t join the PBR until I turned 18,” Nance says. “In 10 years of riding, a lot can change. You get the heck beat out of you. Sometimes it’s a little more physically challenging, but mentally you go about it the same way.” Miller says that while the bulls themselves may not be aware they’re competing with one another, each has a
CATCH GREAT LIVE MUSIC Before These Home Games!
2018
BUDWEISER MUSIC SERIES 9/6 Scott Kurt & Memphis 59 9/7 The Reflex 9/20 Lloyd Dobler Effect AN
PRODUCTION
9/21 Turtle Recall Music @ 5:00 | Game @ 7:05
Photos: Kayla Marsh
Cody Nance and Deep Water
As the Nationals warmed up to play the Miami Marlins, fans enjoyed live music from 90s tribute band As If and ice-cold beer on Budweiser Terrace for the pre-game show.
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ON TAP | SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.ontaponline.com
unique personality. So temperamental bulls may be more challenging than others. “They’re like me, you or your friends,” Miller says. “Some are nice to be around, and some are really ignorant to be around.” So, if you’re into lights, music and cowboys riding atop giant, potentially annoyed animals, the PBR is right up your alley. And we promise we’re not just saying that, because frankly, that would be bulls#*t. “The newcomers in Virginia, they’re going to see Western lifestyle in a way that they’ve never seen it before,” White says. “It’s like a rock show with meat.” Don’t miss PBR’s U.S. Border Patrol Invitational at EagleBank Arena on Saturday, September 22 at 6:45 p.m. and Sunday, September 23 at 1:45 p.m. Tickets start at $71. Learn more about Professional Bull Riding at www.pbr.com. EagleBank Arena: 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA 703-993-3000; www.eaglebankarena.com
All Drink, Dine, Do event listings are provided by the venues hosting them.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Labor Day Weekend Music Festival The Labor Day Weekend Music Festival is a series of familyfriendly musical concerts at the Lincoln Theatre on Labor Day weekend. On Saturday, Pedro Biaggi will host Latin Flavor Night, which will include performances from Elena & Los Fulanos, Verny Varela and Pablo Antonio y La Firma. On Sunday Joe Clair hosts GoGo Fusion night, which will feature performances from The Experience Band, DuPont Brass, Full Throttle Band and The JoGo Project. The festival showcases the diversity of musical genres and styles performed in DC and the surrounding area and is free to the public. Festival begins at 7 p.m. The Lincoln Theatre: 1215 U St. NW, DC; www.dcarts.dc.gov
Page-to-Stage New Play Festival The festival is a free threeday celebration of local theater featuring more than 60 companies. Theaters and artists present open rehearsals, concert readings and workshops of new plays that are often still in the development phase. Audience members may choose to engage in the creation through participatory activities or partake in post-presentation discussions with the artists, helping to shape future productions of the playwrights’ works. This year, Page-to-Stage embraces the Center’s seasonlong exploration of the human journey by tackling subjects such as migration, identity and discovery. Various times. Free to attend. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: 2700 F St. NW, DC; www.kennedy-center.org
THANK YOU, #28 SEPTEMBER 8 • 7:05 PM JAYSON WERTH DAY
PREGAME RING OF HONOR CEREMONY
SEPTEMBER 3–5 VS.
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GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY AT nationals.com www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 DC Blues Festival The 29th DC Blues Festival returns to a new festival venue with headliner Memphis Gold and special guest Charlie Sayles. The Wunder Garten offers a perfect-for-the-blues party atmosphere with craft beer, food trucks, picnic tables, lawn games and nearby Metro stop and parking. Bring your festival chairs and family to enjoy a day of diverse blues styles under a large tent. Festival headliner Memphis Gold has been making blues for half a century. 2-7 p.m. Free admission. Wunder Garten: 1101 First St. NE, DC; www.dcblues.org
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 and THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Budweiser Music Series at Nationals Park On these Thursday and Friday home games, the best place to pregame is at the Budweiser Terrace inside the ballpark. As the Nationals warm up to play at 7:05 p.m., head to the Budweiser Terrace pregame show for live music from local bands such as Scott Kurt & Memphis 59, The Reflex, Lloyd Dobler Effect and Turtle Recall. Don’t forget to grab an ice-cold beer. Purchase Nationals tickets at www.mlb. com/nationals/tickets. 5-7 p.m. Nationals Park: 1500 S. Capitol St. SE, DC; www.washington. nationals.mlb.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Friday Night Concerts at Yards Park: Practically Einstein Spend your Friday night relaxing at Yards Park in Capitol Riverfront for the last show of the summer concert series. Spread a blanket and enjoy a night of rock hits from Practically Einstein. The stage is located on the boardwalk. Ice-cold Corona beers and wine will be available onsite at the
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outdoor tented bar! Must be 21-plus (no outside alcohol). 7-9 p.m. Free to attend. The Yards Park: 355 Water St. SE, DC; www.capitolriverfront.org
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Great Grapes Leesburg Great Grapes has grown to be Virginia’s premier casual wine festival with 150+ wines from 15 wineries, great live music, fun festival eats, arts and crafts, and a fun children’s play area. As you enter, take your souvenir tasting glass and stroll from tent to tent and table to table, tasting and sampling the rich heritage of Virginia vines. As you sip and savor the afternoon, relax in the beautiful setting of the Village at Leesburg. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tickets $30. Village at Leesburg: 1602 Village Market Blvd. SE, Leesburg, VA; www.uncorkthefun.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Gelato Festival Gelato Festival America selects the best gelato chefs through 24 touring festivals, spread over three years, with an American final in 2021 that will grant access to the world finals. The mission of Gelato Festival America is to spread the culture of Artisan Italian Gelato. Born in Florence, Italy, the biggest names in Gelatomaking compete against one another with a one-time flavor they have created just for the festival. Starting at 12 p.m. Tickets $20-$30. City Market at O: 800 P St. NW, DC; www. gelatofestivalamerica.com Purple Wave Festival The DC Department of Behavioral Health is hosting a one-day event intended to celebrate national recovery month by promoting healthy
ON TAP | SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.ontaponline.com
lifestyles and the positive impact of mental health, substance use recovery. Attendees will enjoy a new and improved wellness village, access to services and onsite connections to over 60 vendors. Other activities will include a free concert, kids’ zone, haircuts and dance lessons. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free to attend. RFK Stadium: 2400 East Capitol St. Lot 8A, SE, DC; www.dbh.dc.gov
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Capital Area Food Bank Food Truck Festival and Community Day Partnering with the DMV Food Truck Association, Twenty Tables and RFK Human Rights, Capital Area Food Bank is set to host the first ever Food Truck Festival. They’ll be hosting a food drive, so help out by bringing by some tuna, cereal, peanut butter or other canned goods. Enjoy games like cornhole and giant Jenga, tunes by DJ Francis, face painting, caricatures, a balloon twister, tours of the food bank and more. Purchase delicious eats from your favorite food trucks, like Captain Cookie & the Milkman, DC Pollo, District Falafel, Dolci Gelati, The Frenchman and more. 2-6 p.m. Free to attend. Capital Area Food Bank: 4900 Puerto Rico Ave. NE, DC; www.capitalareafoodbank.org
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Evenings at the Edge: After Hours at the National Gallery of Art Take a trip across the pond with an evening of Brit-inspired pop-up talks, live performances and an exclusive first look at the exhibition Rachel Whiteread before it opens to the public. Acclaimed bass player Ben Williams will set the stage for visitors to enjoy British hits throughout the building with DJ Adrian Loving and performances from awardwinning tap dancer Jason Samuels Smith. Dance under a silent film projection, snap
a selfie in the Gallery’s photo booth and unleash your inner artist with a communal art activity. 6-9 p.m. Free to attend. National Gallery of Art East Building: 6th Street and Constitution Avenue in NW, DC; www.nga.gov Rocklands’ Hot Sauce Contest and Pig Roast Come get piggy with Rocklands’ fifth annual Hot Sauce Contest & Pig Roast. Taste all the hot sauce entries and get all the barbequed pig, sides and craft beer you can eat and drink. All funds benefit the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation. To enter the Hot Sauce Contest, whip up your best batch of sauce and drop in at Rocklands on Washington Boulevard in Arlington by September 12. Trophies, gift cards and store swag will be awarded to the winners. 5:30-8 p.m. Tickets $25. Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company: 3471 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.rocklands.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Beckett’s Celtic Festival For the fifth annual Celtic Festival, Campbell Avenue will shut down for the day to host fantastic live music, dancers, pipers, and plenty of food and drink. All family is welcome, we will have food and drinks outside plus live music and dancers inside and outside the pub. Come early and get your table reserved. 11-1:30 a.m. Free to attend. Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub: 2800 S. Randolph St. #110 Arlington, VA; www.samuelbecketts.com DC VegFest Compassion Over Killing is proud to host the annual DC VegFest in the nation’s capital – the largest vegan gathering on the east coast. Each year tens of thousands attend DC VegFest, including vegetarians, vegans and meat-eaters alike – all are welcome! DC VegFest is a free event and features more than 100 vendors, celeb speakers,
cooking demos, a kids’ zone and more. The first 1,000 guests will receive a free tote bag filled with vegan goodies. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Yards Park: 355 Water St. SE, DC; www.dcvegfest.com DC Wine Fest Introducing the DC Wine Fest, an elevated wine tasting experience that aims to stimulate all of your senses. Come throw back some great food, take in some art and enjoy live music performances, while tasting some of the best varietals from all over the world. You’ll have the chance to sample wine to your heart’s content, enjoy great food, check out the art on exhibit and listen to some talented musicians. 12-10 p.m. Tickets $35-$60. Big Chief: 2002 Fenwick St. NE, DC; www.dcwinefest.com Virginia Cider Festival At the Virginia Cider Festival, you and your friends will be overwhelmed by hard ciders from all across the country.
The event will also feature even more Virginia Cider this year from cideries like Blue Bee, Cobbler Mountain, Foggy Ridge, Castle Hill, Albemarle Ciderworks, Buskey, Potter’s, Winchester Cider Works and Bold Rock. There will be a list of more than 25 Cider producers, pouring more than 60 ciders. Don’t miss local live music on the Safford of Fredericksburg stage for your listening pleasure. Rain or shine. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets $10-$40. Fredericksburg Fairgrounds: 2400 Airport Ave. Fredericksburg, VA; www.vaciderfest.com Wine, Spirits & Music Festival DC Nitelife is back hosting the Wine Spirits and Music Festival. Attendees will enjoy live and DJ music from bands like Be’la Dona, Junk Yard Band, Big Tony and Trouble Funk and more as well as exclusive wine tasting/ vendors, all types of food vendors, and premium spirit
vendors. 2-11 p.m. Tickets $30$100. RFK Stadium: 2400 East Capitol St. Lot 8A, SE, DC; www.eventsdc.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15-16 Fiesta DC Parade and Festival In its 47th year, Fiesta DC Latino Festival is an annual celebration of Latino culture featuring a Parade of Nations that displays and preserves the Native Latino cultural dance troupes as well as contemporary local groups from civic organizations, schools and performers. Come out for colorful performances and tasty Latino cuisine. The Parade of nations will take place on Constitution Avenue on Saturday at 1 p.m. Festival starts Sunday at 11 a.m. Free admission. Fiesta DC: Constitution Avenue and 7th Streets in NW, DC; www.fiestadc.org
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Boardwalk Block Party Have a relaxing Sunday along the Boardwalk, tasting food and beverages from The Yards’ very own restaurants. Food options include oysters and Italian specialties, pairing perfectly with the water view and wine. Later, walk down for some Ice Cream Jubilee all while hearing live music from Three Man Soul Machine. All proceeds from this first annual block party will benefit Project Sunshine, “a nonprofit organization that provides free educational, recreational, and social programs to children facing medical challenges.” 12-5 p.m. Tickets $35. The Yards: 301 Water St. SE, DC; www.osteriamorini.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Cosmo Couture DC’s all-things-design charity event is back for its ninth year
CHEERS TO NATIONALS BASEBALL SEPTEMBER 21 • 7:05 PM OKTOBERFEST
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GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY AT nationals.com www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Celebrity Waiter Night Ryan Kerrigan and his Washington Redskins teammates will step off the football field and into the historic Watergate Hotel to mix and mingle with supporters of Ryan’s foundation, DC’s charitable community and Redskins fans. Guests will enjoy a high-spirited cocktail reception, fine cuisine and exciting live and silent auctions. Kerrigan’s Celebrity Waiter Night event will benefit Ryan Kerrigan’s Blitz for the Better Foundation, whose mission is to provide support to seriously ill, special needs and physically challenged children throughout the Greater DC area. 6:30 p.m. Tickets $400. The Watergate Hotel: 2650 Virginia Ave. NW, DC; www.ryankerrigan.com with a new theme, “Lore,” of traditions and knowledge passed down through communities. Local interior design and architecture firms will create fashion to show off on the runway using their common construction materials: rubber, wood – none of it is off limits. Proceeds will benefit the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Interior Design Association and medical costs for designer Livi Pejo. 5:30-10 p.m. Tickets $125-$225. Washington National Cathedral: 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; www.cosmocouture.org
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Arts & Ales: Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival Everyone is invited to this free,
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Wiener 500 2018 Kick off Oktoberfest at the seventh annual Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash on the boardwalk at The Yards Park in the Capitol Riverfront. Cash and prizes will be awarded to the speediest dachshunds. Don’t have a dog? Come listen to the live DJ, drink ice-cold beer, participate in the steinhoisting competition, munch on great food and watch the funniest race around on a 17-foot jumbotron! This is a family-friendly event, but you must be 21-plus to drink beer and no outside alcohol is allowed. Race proceeds will be donated to the Humane Rescue Alliance. Festivities start at 1 p.m., free to attend. Yards Park: 355 Water St. SE, DC; www.wiener500.com family event in Downtown Hyattsville. The Festival features more than 100 jury-selected artist and artisans as well as craft breweries, food vendors, live music performances and children’s’ activities. There’s something for everyone at this event. From shopping, locally brewed beer, great food and fun activities, they have you covered. Ales are sold by the glass, ages 21-plus. 12-6 p.m. Free to attend. Hyattsville Community Development Corporation: 4312 Hamilton St. Hyattsville, MD; www.hyattsvillearts.com Black Owned Wine and Spirits Festival Never before has there been an opportunity where African American-owned spirit, wine and beer brands have been
ON TAP | SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.ontaponline.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Urbana Hosts Feast of San Gennaro Celebration In celebration of the Feast of San Gennaro, Urbana is giving Washingtonians an evening full of ItalianAmerican classics, Frank Sinatra favorites, and wine and Peroni specials. September also brings a new format for Executive Chef Ethan McKee’s “Cicchetti at Urbana” tasting menu and a new pre-theater (pre-teatro) menu. 5 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. Reservations encouraged. Urbana: 2121 P St. NW, DC; www.urbanadc.com unified in one place for a single common ground. The Black Owned Wine & Spirits Festival will lay a foundation of commerce and education that will inspire and propel a movement towards the widespread support of blackowned spirits, wine and beer. The narratives and creation stories of these brands are a reflection of the spirit and ambition of a people known to create, inspire and evolve by any means necessary. Now let’s raise a glass to that. Must be 21 and up to attend. 2-8 p.m. Tickets $55-$100. Dock5: 1309 5th St. NE, DC; www.blackownedspiritsfestival.com Old Town Waterfront Fitness & Wellness Festival The Old Town Waterfront Fitness and Wellness Festival gives attendees the opportunity to experience, first-hand some of the best local fitness studios and wellness companies. The goal is to show participants everything that Alexandria and the surrounding area has to offer in terms of fitness and wellness all in one place. Waterfront Park will be overflowing with a wide
range of local fitness studios and wellness businesses. The fitness studios will be featuring eight to 10-minute workouts every 20 minutes. 12-4 p.m. Tickets $19$44. Waterfront Park: 1A Prince St. Alexandria, VA; www.discoverthedistrictevents.com Reston Multicultural Festival Enjoy a celebration that brings the people of Reston together to celebrate its rich medley of cultures. Everyone is encouraged to dress in attire from their own cultural roots and share the stories that we gather on the pathways of our lives. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Free to attend. Lake Anne Plaza: 1609 Washington Plaza W. Reston, VA; www. restoncommunitycenter.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 Chesapeake Oyster & Wine Festival Taste top-rated American and international wines paired perfectly with the Chesapeake’s wild and farm-raised oysters. Experience an incredible selection of seafood dishes and plenty of great non-seafood dishes. This year, there will be the first ever Bloody Mary Pavilion where guests can get creative with garnishes and hot sauces as well as a wine selection from both international and domestic premium regions. All tickets include unlimited wine tasting with select beers and ciders. 21-plus. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. $40-$65. National Harbor: 165 Waterfront St. Oxon Hill, MD; www.oysterwinefest.com
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Pop-Up Magazine Pop-Up Magazine is a live magazine created for a stage, a screen and a live audience. Contributors tell vivid, neverbefore-told, multimedia stories accompanied by illustration, animation, photography and an original score performed onstage. They end the night
Join us Saturday, September 22 for craft beer, food, live music and fun. When: September 22, 2018, 12-6pm, indoor/outdoor - rain or shine Where: 14140 Parke Long Ct, Chantilly, VA 20151 Benefits: K9 For Warriors
For tickets and info visit msbrewing.com/ffxbrewfest #ffxbrewfest #LocallyPoured Presented by a part of
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gathered around the bar, performers and audience together. And nothing goes online after – you have to be there to see it. The show will travel to changing small-town America, consider the ethics of being mean to robots, attempt to bring a flower back from extinction, look at thirst traps through the ages and much more. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $29 and up. Warner Theatre: 513 13th St. NW, DC; www.popupmagazine.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 DC Chinese Film Festival The DC Chinese Film Festival, now in its fourth year, believes cinema is a powerful and universal language. This festival aims to encourage cultural diversity by discovering talented Chinese-speaking filmmakers, films in Chinese, and, or films about Chinese-speaking cultures. In an effort to bring together these filmmakers and other talents in the film market, DCCFF hopes to create an international platform for the creative minds behind films, as well as production and distribution companies from both China and the U.S. 7-10 p.m. Tickets $10.99$60. Landmark E Street Cinema: 555 11th St. NW, DC; www.dccff.org
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27 - MONDAY OCTOBER 1 DC Fall Salsa & Bachata Dance Festival The DC Salsa and Bachata Dance Festival is for everyone. Visit the Westin Alexandria for four days of dance workshops, performances and social dancing. Meet new people, learn to dance or improve your existing skills. Our artists will instruct more than 50 salsa, Bachata, Kizomba and Zouk workshops, plus you’ll get to enjoy performances every night. Times vary. Tickets $145-$779. The Westin Alexandria: 400 Courthouse Sq. Alexandria, VA; www.dcsalsabachatafest.com
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Devils Backbone Hoopla The Hoopla Adventures are activities, events and workshops that celebrate the seven amazing values that make up the Devils Backbone culture: beer positive, passion, adventure, family, humility, integrity and stewardship. Every activity starts with a question, “Where do you want to go and how are you going to get there?” Devils Backbone’s answer is doing things the right way, never losing focus of the destination and all the while having fun. Come check out the awardwinning beer, meet the 2018 artists and check out all the adventures. Various times. Tickets start at $20. Basecamp Brewpub and Meadows: 200 Mosbys Run, Roseland, VA; www.dbbrewingcompany.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Sonic Circuits Festival Sonic Circuits is a DC area promoter for experimental music. Sonic Circuits seeks to expose audiences to cutting edge contemporary music that defies genres and offer artists new platforms to present their music and opportunities to network and collaborate with artists from around the world. The festival details aren’t ironed yet, but rest assure it’s on the way. Various times. $50. Rhizome: 6950 Maple St. NW, DC; www.dc-soniccircuits.org
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 Oyster Wars Summer’s end doesn’t mean seafood is off the menu at Capital Riverfront. In the second annual Oyster Wars event, celebrate
ON TAP | SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.ontaponline.com
the scrumptious seafood fished right out of the east coast, from Virginia to New England. Despite the name, there’s no feuding here – just feeding. The name is based on a history of rebellious Chesapeake watermen competing for oysters. 3-8 p.m. Tickets $55. The Salt Line: 79 Potomac Ave. SE, DC; www.oysterwars.eventbrite.com
experience gospel, Blues, jazz, R&B (old and new school), rap, hip-hop, go-go, reggae, and Afrobeats through several musically driven stages. 8 p.m. - 3 a.m. Free to attend. Art All Night 2018: 3109 Martin Luther King Jr Ave. SE, DC; www.artallnightdc.com
SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER29 SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER29 Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival in Leesburg The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival will be a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’ and barbeque eatin’. Your admission buys you a sampling glass, so you can enjoy all-you-care-totaste samplings of beer and bourbon from table to table and tent to tent, featuring 40 bourbons and 60 beers on tap. Some of the best barbecue vendors are on-site if you get hungry all while enjoying seminars in the tasting theater and live music all day. The barbecue selection includes pulled pork from whole hogs, ribs, brisket, chickens, sausages and any fixins’ you could imagine. The portions are heavy and the prices low. 12-6 p.m. $39-$159. Village at Leesburg: 1602 Village Market Blvd. SE, Leesburg, VA; www.beerandbourbon.com
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29 - SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30 Art All Night 2018 Destination Congress Heights invites you and your family to Art All Night: Chocolate City Edition. Art All Night is a free overnight arts festival and this year, they aim to take you on a journey through Wakanda in DC. You will enjoy visual and live performances and a lot more. You’ll also get to
Hops & Harvest Festival Fall is the perfect time for a festival, and a festival is the perfect place to showcase the finest craft beer, music and food. Come out to The Hops & Harvest Festival located on the Columbia, Maryland lakefront will enjoy unlimited tastings of more than 100 Maryland beers, wines and spirits, and take home a souvenir cup. Additional offerings include live entertainment, fresh local food, artisans and vendors, games, and more. 12-9 p.m. Tickets $15-$160. Columbia Lakefront: 10227 Wincopin Cir. Columbia, MD; www. hopsandharvestfest.com
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30 ValleyFest 2018 New District Brewing Company is proud to present the second annual Valley Fest Street Festival. Valley Fest is a collaboration and celebration of the Four Mile Run Valley Arts and Local Businesses. Justin Trawick and the Common Good, Jane Franklin Dance and Educational Theatre Company will set the stage for entertainment, local artists will showcase their pieces, and food trucks will offer tasty delights. A kids’ zone will keep the family busy and beer will be in abundance. 12-5 p.m. The festival is free to attend, but tickets for beer packages start at $20. ValleyFest: 2709 Oakland St. Arlington VA; www.arlingtonvalleyfest.com
On Tap Presents the
7thAnnual
Wiener 500
DACHSHUND DASH FOR CHARITY! RACE PROCEEDS
BENEFIT HRA
SIGN YOUR DOG UP NOW!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
11AM-5PM YARDS PARK 355 WATER STREET SE, DC
#WIENER500
LIVE MUSIC COLD BEER HOT FOOD WANT TO RACE YOUR DACHSHUND? SIGN UP AT WIENER500.COM $25 per dog to race, proceeds of race will be donated to HRA. All breed contests are free of charge and do not require pre-registering. All dogs must be leashed when not racing and current on vaccinations. Unruly dogs will be excused. Must be 21+ to consume alcohol, no outside alcohol allowed.
Oktoberfest Edition
By Aja Neal
1. Oktoberfest 2018 runs from September 22 to October 7, marking the 185th anniversary of the festival. 2. Last year, a whopping 6.2 million visitors consumed 7.5 million liters of beer over 18 days during Oktoberfest.
4. A 17-year-old Albert Einstein worked with his father’s electric company as a lighting technician to install lighting fixtures in the Schottenhamel beer tent at Oktoberfest back in 1896.
6. The Oktoberfest that we know today originated as a wedding celebration between Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese von SachsenHildburghausen in 1810. The festival grew to include horse races, carnival rides and games, live music, and of course, lots of beer. 9. Paris Hilton is permanently banned from Oktoberfest after donning a golden dirndl to the fest and promoting her own brand of canned wine. Locals felt her self-promotion attempt “cheapened” the event.
12. Oktoberfest has held increased importance in Munich for health reasons. Up until the 20th century, water supplies in many places in Europe like Southern Bavaria were usually contaminated, often leading to the spread of serious disease. To avoid illness, locals relied on beer to quench their thirst.
15. Oktoberfest also holds the record for largest temporary amusement park, which hosts up to 50 portable mechanical rides.
3. Each year, thousands of items are left behind in the lost and found at Munich’s Oktoberfest celebration. In 2017, 4,055 items were collected including a drinking horn, a pair of leather pants and a vehicle number plate from the German district of Limburg-Weilburg.
5. It’s a rule that every Oktoberfest draft served at the festival must come from one of Munich’s six main breweries: Augustiner, Hofbräu München, Hacker-Pschorr, Paulaner, Löwenbräu or SpatenFranziskaner.
7. The largest Oktoberfest beer tent of all time was the Pschorr-Brau-Rosl tent in 1913, which held 12,000 people. Today, the Hofbrau-Festhalle is the largest tent, seating up to 10,000. 10. In the almost 200 years of its existence, Oktoberfest has only been cancelled 24 times – mostly due to epidemics of disease or war.
13. According to BeerAdvocate, the top five most popular Oktoberfeststyle beers in the U.S. are Great Lakes Oktoberfest, Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen, Spaten Oktoberfestbier Ur-Märzen, Ayinger Oktoberfest-Märzen and Samuel Adams Octoberfest.
8. Last year, Adidas released limited edition vomit-and-beer-proof sneakers inspired by Oktoberfest. They’re on sale now for 120 euro.
11. Despite the potential safety hazards that could arise from placing ridiculous amounts of beer and extremely dangerous weapons in the same vicinity, the ArmbrustschützenFesthalle tent hosts a crossbow competition at Oktoberfest every year.
14. If you can’t hop on a plane to Germany in time for Oktoberfest, you can at least get into the spirit by playing World of Warcraft and participating in Brewfest, the virtual homage to the German festival.
Facts courtesy of the following articles: #1: www.oktoberfest.de #2,3: www.oktoberfesttours.travel/2017/10/05/beer-consumption-oktoberfest-2017 #4,5: www.oktoberfesttours.travel/oktoberfest-trivia #6: www.bustle.com/articles/111473-what-is-oktoberfest-6-things-you-didnt-know-about-this-traditional-german-festival #7: www.foxnews.com/travel/2016/2014/10/01/fun-facts-about-oktoberfest.html #8,9,10: www.edreams.com/blog/fun-facts-oktoberfest, www.time.com/4065335/oktoberfest-history #11,12: www.momondo.com/discover/article/oktoberfest-facts, www.oktoberfest.de, www.dw.com/en/a-little-history-of-what-germans-drink-and-why/a-16880477 #13: www.thestreet.com/slideshow/14316082/1/oktoberfest-beers-in-us.html #14,15: www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2017/9/oktoberfest-10-bavarian-records-to-raise-your-beer-stein-to-494500
By Trent Johnson
All What’s On Tap listings are provided by the venues hosting them.
Greetings, beer nerds! As you likely know, there are a number of fantastic spots 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 what’s coming up at a few of these fine establishments.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 Wild Hare Hard Cider at Herndon Labor Day Festival Head to downtown Herndon for this annual Labor Day Festival featuring craft beers, great music, outstanding sponsors, delicious food vendors and lawn games. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Herndon Town Green: 777 Lynn St. Herndon, VA; www.wildharecider.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Beer Yoga Flow through a flight of brewery favorites during this hour-long power yoga class. Come for yoga, nama’stay for beer. Don’t forget to bring your own mat. Threeglass flights included in yoga class ticket purchase. This 21-plus class is suitable for yogis of all levels. 12-1 p.m. Tickets $15. Right Proper Brewing Company Brookland Production House + Tasting Room: 920 Girard St. NE, DC; www.rightproperbrewing.com
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Fairfax Beer Garden With over 700 people in attendance at the first Fairfax Beer Garden, High Side is excited to host another round. The garden will feature a 10-tap beer trailer with an amazing lineup of brews. Try out unique Asian street food or check out what Coyote Grille’s “Roaming Coyote” food truck will be serving. Play games like life-sized Jenga, Connect Four and cornhole, and catch some football games via livestream. 12-8 p.m. Tickets $19-$23. High Side: 4009 Chain Bridge Rd. Fairfax, VA; www.fairfaxbeergarden.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 The Aslin Three-Year Anniversary Pre-Party For those who can’t make the official anniversary party at Aslin, which will happen on September 15, come to
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ChurchKey on Thursday for an incredible lineup of out-of-market breweries to celebrate the third anniversary of Aslin Beer Company. ChurchKey will pour a slew of specialty beers from Aslin and friends, featuring hard-to-find kegs from nearly 15 different breweries. Highlights include Southern Grist, Dancing Gnome, Narrow Gauge, Deciduous and Resident Culture, with more to be announced. ChurchKey: 1337 14th St. NW, DC; www.churchkeydc.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Fonta Flora Brewery Tap Takeover at ANXO Fonta Flora Brewery in Morgantown, North Carolina was kind enough to send seven kegs of delicious farmhouse ales and lagers to ANXO Cidery for guests to try this month for a special event. The tasting starts at 5 p.m. along with the pintxo happy hour with pairings and flights, and continues all night until close. Don’t miss this opportunity to try some amazing beer from one of the best breweries in the country. 5 p.m. - 12 a.m. ANXO Cidery & Pintxos Bar: 300 Florida Ave. NW, DC; www.anxodc.com Spontaneous: The Art of Natural Wine & Beer Let The Sovereign introduce you to the incredible world of spontaneously fermented wine and beer by showcasing five natural wines side-by-side with five wild ales. The Sovereign proudly features a wide array of spontaneously fermented beers, from Belgian lambic to American wild ales, and a selection of natural wines from France, Italy and Austria. Don’t miss some fantastic avant-garde winemakers showcasing rarely seen varietals such as Negrette and Grauburgunder along with some American and Italian examples of spontaneously fermented ales. 5-11 p.m. Free to attend. The Sovereign: 1206 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; www.thesovereigndc.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Capital BrewFest Celebrate local beer, wine and music at Capital BrewFest. Each ticket includes your own tasting cup where you’ll get to sample more than 50 rare and seasonal beers from the region’s very best craft breweries, 30 wines including a ton of rosé varietals, and tons of cider and gluten-free options. There will be seven amazing food options available for purchase, plus live music all day on the mainstage and inside to keep the party going, and lots of fun outdoor games, activities and arts. 12:30-8 p.m. Tickets $19.95-$59.95. The Fairgrounds: 1299 Half St. SE, DC; www.brewfestdc.com End of Summer Beer Garden & Hoedown Come celebrate the spring with a rooftop beer garden event at Up Top Acres. Standing on a roof at a farm, you will enjoy a memorable day of good beer, delicious food and live music. So bring your friends and come and enjoy an afternoon at the farm and drink and eat until the sun sets over the city. Each ticket grants entrance to the venue and unlimited samplings of four beer and food pairings. 4-7 p.m. Tickets $35-$45. The Farm at 55 M Street: 55 M St. SE, DC; www.uptopacres.com
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Beer Dinner & Pairing Course Would you call yourself a foodie? Or perhaps a connoisseur of the ales? Maybe both? Heritage Brewpub will be hosting a private five-course beer dinner, handcrafted by Executive Chef Josh Ber, and expertly paired with Heritage brews by Michael Smythe. Settle in for an evening of sensory experiences as you’re taken on a journey of seasonal dishes and handcrafted treats: a total of five expertly paired courses, each accompanying an ale that was chosen to accentuate and build upon the flavors of the dish. 6-9 p.m. Tickets $88. Heritage Brewpub & Roastery: 1300-1398 N. Fillmore St. Arlington, VA; www.heritagebrewing.com
Bell’s Beer Dinner Zaytinya is thrilled to welcome back Bell’s Brewery for an evening of beer, food and conversation. Head Chef Michael Costa has created a unique five-course menu to pair with the brewery’s delicious array of awardwinning and fan favorite brews. Space is limited so be sure to book a seat soon. 6:309:30 p.m. Tickets $65. Zaytinya: 701 9th St. NW, DC; www.zaytinya.com
people’s champion will take home the coveted Märzen Cup and bragging rights until next year. You’ll also get a handsome commemorative glass stein to help you remember the festival, just in case the beers make it hard to do that on your own. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets $5-$29.99. Brew Republic Bierwerks: 15201 Potomac Town Pl. Woodbridge, VA; www.brewrepublic.beer
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Oktoberfest at The Republic Republic is once again bringing the worldfamous German beer festival from Munich to Woodbridge. Join them for great beer, delicious German-inspired food, traditional music, cool vendors, and fun in the tap room and outdoor biergarten. There will be a Märzen competition, featuring several locally brewed Oktoberfest lagers from the best regional breweries. Enjoy the beers and then determine which is the best – the
Crystal City Oktoberfest Swing by Crystal City for Northern Virginia’s largest Oktoberfest celebration. Try over 100 craft beers from over 50 regional craft breweries. And food will be more than just sausages and pretzels: satisfy your hunger with a wide assortment of food trucks from New York-style pizza to tacos and more. Tickets include 10 4-oz. beer sampling tickets (you can purchase additional beer tickets once you’re there), entry into
the festival and live entertainment. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tickets $15-$45. Crystal City Oktoberfest: 220 20th St. S, Crystal City, VA www.crystalcity.org District Oktoberfest Celebrate Oktoberfest in style with a beerfueled tour of Chinatown’s best venues. A different 12-oz. Oktoberfest beer at each and every venue is included in the ticket price. Start at the check-in location and then go on to five other great venues in any order and at any pace you choose. All guests receive specials on food pairings and $4 liquor pairings, and $4 specials on additional servings of the featured Oktoberfest beers. A portion of proceeds from this event will benefit local DC charities. Cheers! Check in from 12-3 p.m. Event is from 12-10 p.m. Tickets $50. Buffalo Billiards: 1330 19th St. NW, DC; www.buffalobilliardsdc.com
Brings West African Culture to Craft Beer Scene By Trent Johnson Ever heard of Sankofa Beer Company? With how large the DC brewing scene has gotten, it’s possible these brewers slipped through the cracks. However, just because they’re new and relatively small doesn’t mean their beer has failed to drum up interest. West African founders Amado Carsky and Kofi Meroe received almost $29,000 from a Kickstarter campaign last year, including donations from around the globe. Sankofa’s flagship Hypebiscus, a hibiscus pale ale, is now available in several DC locations. With two more beers on the way, On Tap decided to chat with Meroe about the pair’s unique influences, the international support they’ve received and what’s next for them. On Tap: What West African influences did you draw from? Kofi Meroe: The things we experimented with were cool and different and things we’d grown up with. We’ve done cola nuts, something that’s native to West Africa. [It’s] basically just a bigger nut with caffeine, so we’d use that to make porters and stouts. We used hibiscus because we wanted to experiment with that. Obviously, we’ve used spicy foods and peppers. We get these inspirations from our upbringings and it was easy for us, because it’s who we are. Sankofa is the Twi language of Ghana, and it means to go back and take. It’s not taboo to take your past to reinforce the future. You can’t have a strong future if you don’t know where you came from. For us embarking in this new industry, we wanted to be authentic.
OT: How did you get started in brewing? KM: I relocated to DC after I graduated. I left college with a passion for exploring craft beer. I started homebrewing, thinking I could save some money as opposed to going to stores to buy six-packs. It just so happens that my business partner, who is also my cousin [Carsky], was living here as well. We were brewing a German hefeweizen and we loved that process, and the beer came out pretty good. Since then, we’ve been homebrewing together for eight years. We never really intended to have a company, but two years ago we decided to go for it. OT: What spurred you toward turning your hobby into a business? KM: Essentially, we thought our beer was really good, and we were finally starting to make relationships with brewers and people in the industry. We finally got to the place where we thought it was good enough to put out there. We tried to hedge our process by taking little steps. First was to establish the business, second was to share our beer to people who matter and getting feedback from professionals. For most of 2017, we took our homebrews on tour and found private events and folks who didn’t mind if we set up in the corner and did tastings. We created the hashtag #SankofaSummer, but that excitement that we generated led us to the next step, which was figuring out what we needed to start a business.
www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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September 22nd thru October 21st 33rd annual
Oktoberfest Ceremonial Keg Tapping! Join us September 22nd for the 6th Annual Oktoberfest Kick-off Party with our ceremonial tapping of the first Oktoberfest bier keg at noon!
Pig roast Lunch September 22, October 6 & October 20 ($43 gets you roast pig, two sides, apfelstrudel and 1L of Oktoberfest bier!)
Live Music from Die drei german folk band September 23, October 1 & October 8 322 Massachusetts Ave NE • Washington, DC 20002 202.543.7656 | www.cafeberlin-dc.com
BRUNCH
EVERY SAT & SUN
11-3PM
Come watch your favorite sports on one of our many TV’s! Proudly Supporting the
VIKINGS! Siné Irish Pub 1301 S. Joyce St. | Arlington | Pentagon Row | Pentagon City
703.415.4420 | www.sineirishpub.com
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Sankofa founders Kofi Meroe (left) Amado Carsky (right)
Photo: www.facebook.com
OT: Your next step was starting a Kickstarter campaign for your business. How did raising almost $29,000 change things for you and Amado? KM: I had to ship a Kickstarter award to Denmark and other places I hadn’t been. At the end of the day, our friends really came through for us in ways that I wouldn’t have been able to imagine. Even if they couldn’t give, they were spreading the word and they were very fervent about doing that. We had a lot of help in facilitating that campaign. It was also scary, because we raised this money and now we have to do something. We have to go out and do what we know we can do. We’re excited. OT: Why do you think you were able to get so many donations from around the world? What about your product and background do you think resonates with so many beer drinkers? KM: We have generated a following. There’s not a lot of people that look like us in beer who own craft beer brands. A lot of people get excited when they see us for that reason. And the beer, on top of that, is really good. We’ve gone to a lot of cultural events, and we’re always in places with cultural diversity, so we’re starting to build followings in these other communities. If anything, it’s an homage to the regions here – that someone in another state or country would pick our beer up. OT: Where are you guys right now with the process? KM: We just launched [at the end of June], and we’re still going through our first batch. We plan to brew in the next two to three weeks [late August]. What we do now is brew at Calvert Brewing Company in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. We wanted to find someone who could work with our culture, and the technical part just involved figuring out a recipe to work with their system. For more information about future releases or to see the entire list of places Hypebiscus is currently available, visit www.sankofabeer.com.
GREAT TASTE LESS FILLING HOME RUN
©2018 MILLER BREWING CO., MILWAUKEE, WI Avg. analysis (12 fl. oz.): 96 cals, 3.2g carbs, <1g protein, 0g fat.
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Crafting Community at
STREETCAR 82
Photos: Lizzie Sorkin
By M.K. Koszycki The genesis of Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. is not unlike many other microbreweries that now heavily populate the DMV. What was born of a humble homebrewing project among a group of friends and Gallaudet graduates evolved into a brick-and-mortar brewery in the heart of downtown Hyattsville. Streetcar 82, newly opened in July, is named for an actual streetcar that connected bustling neighborhoods through DC and Maryland during its 70year run. While the streetcar itself is now defunct, the brewery’s namesake serves as a fitting metaphor for its ability to connect multiple communities in one place – over delicious beer, of course. The space aims to create connections among Gallaudet grads, the larger deaf community, Hyattsville residents and craft beer enthusiasts, to name a few. But what really sets co-owners Mark Burke, Jon Cetrano and Sam Costner apart is the fact that they place as much emphasis on creating a welcoming space for people from different communities as they do on their carefully crafted beers. “The sense of community that we hope to foster has been a driving factor in the creation of Streetcar 82,” Cetrano says. “Having a sense of place is very important. Gallaudet University is the only university in the world for deaf people, and the sense of community and bond that one gets there is very powerful. As a deaf person, it is an instant connection. Whether you attend there – or are just visiting campus to see and be in a place that welcomes you – [it’s] powerful.”
Their communities were integral in the actual creation of the brewery. The co-owners explain they were encouraged by a professor in Gallaudet’s Department of Business to open their own brewery, and even went on to win a fan favorite award at a university-hosted business pitch competition. Social media also proved to be an important aspect of the launch. They posted updates on the brewery’s progress via their Instagram account while preparing to open, including ways for thirsty future patrons to contribute to their launch through a Kickstarter page. That alone was indicative of the area’s desire for a space like this. Streetcar 82 raised over $25,000, surpassing their goal before the campaign even closed. Burke says they also received an outpouring of support from the Hyattsville community, including Kickstarter contributions and help from the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation to get the business up and running. He describes Hyattsville as a place where “we felt comfortable starting a business because we knew the community there would help us thrive.” Still, the support they received didn’t make them immune to the growing pains many new businesses face and the challenge of a more limited budget than they had hoped for. Costner explains that while they obtained loans in addition to the funding from their supporters, they still had to dramatically readjust their expectations.
“We worked hard to develop a place that is diverse, neighborly and intimate. When you’re there, you feel like you belong.”
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“The sense of community that we hope to foster has been a driving factor in the creation of Streetcar 82. Having a sense of place is very important.”
Streetcar 82 Brewing Co.: 4824 Rhode Island Ave. Hyattsville, MD; www.streetcar82brewing.com
Photos: John Gervasi PhotoArts, LLC
“We had to plan on doing a lot of the work ourselves to save money,” Costner says. “We did all the demolition work, a lot of physical labor and all the cosmetic work.” Their efforts included painting, building the bar and installing the walk-in refrigerator, all as a way to conserve funds. “In the end, this turned out to be a boon because we moved along a lot faster than if we waited for contractors to do the work. So not having all the money we wanted turned out to be a blessing in disguise.” Streetcar 82 has felt support from other local breweries and members of the DMV beer community. The teams at Shaw’s Right Proper Brewing Company and Baltimore-based Suspended Brewing, and local brewer Matt Humbard (formerly of Handsome Brewing Company), have offered their professional opinions and even lent equipment when needed. Streetcar’s brewers have also forged a friendship with their neighbors at Pizzeria Paradiso and are currently planning the release of a coffee stout with Hyattsville roasters Vigilante Coffee Company. As for beer options, the co-founders consider Streetcar to be Belgianinspired due to the prevalence of Belgian yeasts in their brews. While you can find those varieties shining in their interpretations of New England and farmhouse IPAs and a Belgian dark strong ale, don’t expect only one style from Streetcar 82. The trio is plotting to add Märzens and Oktoberfest-style beers to their roster this month and aim to have at least half a dozen beers on tap on any given day. And while their ties to the deaf community are strong and the presence of American Sign Language is apparent, Streetcar 82 is a place for everyone to call their own. “We worked hard to develop a place that is diverse, neighborly and intimate,” Cetrano says. “Our brewery is a place where people can really chat with each other and see people with their kids and dogs. When you’re there, you feel like you belong.” Check www.streetcar82brewing.com for more information about Streetcar 82. Follow them on Instagram at @streetcar82brewingco and Facebook at @Streetcar82 for the brewery’s most updated hours. At the ninth annual Chesapeake Crab, Wine & Beer Festival at National Harbor, guests enjoyed the all-you-care-to-taste event complete with over 65,000 crabs, beer, live music and family fun.
www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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BEHIND THE BAR
By M.K. Koszycki
Congress deemed September National Bourbon Heritage Month in 2007, and 11 years later, the nation’s capital is still celebrating one of the most American spirits each fall. The month-long occasion gives locals the perfect excuse to spend the District’s last warm days trying creative bourbon cocktails around town. We chatted with some bourbon-loving bar gurus to get you in the mood.
Photos: M.K. Koszycki
BLT STEAK
James Nelson, Beverage Director On Tap: How are you using your cocktail program to celebrate National Bourbon Heritage Month? James Nelson: In the fall, we like to do an off-the-wall bourbon cocktail, but we always have our Manhattan. It’s bourbon with chaiinfused vermouth and bitters. People come to a steakhouse and like to drink Manhattans, so this is our spin on that. It gives people a chance to try something different and not out of their comfort zone. OT: BLT is known for featuring fat-washing bourbons. What does that process entail? JN: We’ve featured an A5 Wagyu fat-washed bourbon and a foie graswashed bourbon. For that process, you seal it with the bourbon and whatever fat you’re using and then you cook it just under the boiling point of alcohol with an emergent circulator. That way, you’re not damaging the spirit, and raising the temperature increases extraction so you’re able to pull those flavors out more readily. OT: Have they been popular with your customers? JN: I know it sounds a little [strange], but it works. I think the most important thing is to have the staff behind it. If they’re excited about what we’re selling, people are more likely to try what’s being recommended to them. OT: What ingredients do you like to experiment with in bourbon cocktails? JN: It depends on the season. During summer, my favorite drink is the Bourbon Smash. You don’t think of bourbon drinks as summer drinks [until] you add things like our house-made huckleberry syrup, lemon and mint – all fresh and vibrant flavors – and a lighter bourbon. BLT Steak: 1625 I St. NW, DC; www.bltrestaurants.com
THIS GINGER IS THE PEACH Simple syrup Ginger beer Peach jam Bourbon Lemon Mint
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TRUXTON INN
Brian Nixon, General Manager and Bartender On Tap: How are you celebrating National Bourbon Heritage Month? Brian Nixon: We’ll be getting our barrel of Old Forester bourbon that we just picked out down in Louisville last week, so we’re going to do something fun with that. We’re going to do a big release party as well. OT: You have quite a few bourbon drinks featured on your menu now. Do you prefer working within bourbon-based cocktails? BN: I like to see what our guests like, and a lot of guests currently gravitate toward bourbon. It’s one of those things that’s in now, and that’s a great thing. It is such an American spirit, and there’s such a wide variety of cool drinks out there right now. OT: How do you keep your bourbon cocktails creative? BN: We have a lot of fun with a lot of different spirits. We’re always playing with different things. We’ve got a rye cocktail that’s been doing really well here, which has a really cool herbal bitter that’s made by monks with Angostura amaro and some chocolate bitters. It’s just super fun and delicious, and people have been really digging it. OT: Have any ingredients you’ve experimented with surprised you? BN: I’m always surprised by how things work. Our [drink made] with Cynar is really cool. I did one with pamplemousse and it came out kind of awesome. [With] a Gold Rush, you’ve got lemon, honey and bourbon, and it’s a similar cocktail [when made with] grapefruit, which for some reason is one of those things that totally works. OT: What’s your favorite drink on the menu right now? BN: We’ve got the Horizontal Mambo, which is a tiki drink. That’s my go-to right now.
Truxton Inn: 251 Florida Ave. NW, DC; www.truxtoninndc.com
THE SKIPPER Old Forester Bourbon Simple syrup Pineapple Lemon Cynar
THE OCCIDENTAL
Frankie Jones, Bar Manager and Mixologist On Tap: The Occidental serves more traditional fare, but your cocktail program is experimental. How does the program highlight the food menu? Frankie Jones: We’ve been delving into the history of the restaurant with the cocktails and the food. We will be 112 this year, so there’s a lot of history there. Our chef has started going back to that time period and reinventing and reinvigorating items that were on the menu or from that time period. With the cocktails, a lot of the names and mixing of the spirits goes back to historic events that have happened here. We try to not overcomplicate anything, and we let the products speak for themselves. OT: What are some lesser-known ingredients that lend themselves well to bourbon drinks? FJ: I like to add other liquors like tequila and gin. There’s a classic cocktail called the Suffering Bastard, and it has bourbon and gin in it. I think [it’s important to] not just limit it to being the spirit on its own, but open it up to playing around and pulling out all the flavors in bourbon. Bourbon itself is not a flavor, it’s comprised of many different ones that occur in the aging process. OT: What’s your go-to drink for someone who is unfamiliar with bourbon but wants to give it a try? FJ: I would choose a bourbon sour, because you still get that bourbon flavor but it’s tart and tangy. I like to make them the traditional way with egg whites, so it’s even a little bit creamy. It’s a very easy way to be introduced to bourbon.
Oktoberfest is around the corner! Join us
September 19th 5:30-7:30pm
as we kick off the season with a
FESTBIER Tapping Party! Navy Yard, Rockville and Tysons Locations!
OT: What sets your drink menu apart from other DC spots? FJ: The simplification of the cocktails themselves. I love all the crazy things that bartenders in the city are doing, but what I really like are simple drinks. Simple, approachable drinks with complex flavors. The main focus here is keeping it simple, clean and to the point.
Patio Now Open!
The Occidental: 1475 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; www.occidentaldc.com
THE SENATORS Jefferson’s Bourbon Dolin Blanc Vermouth Aromatic bitters Carpano Antica Benedictine Campari
Navy Yard
100 M Street SE | Washington, DC | 202.484.2739
www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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Distilling in the
I
A Guide to Local Distilleries t’s almost that time of year: the leaves start to change color, the days get shorter and people break out their sweaters for the first time in months. The glorious season that is autumn is returning. If you’re like us, you’ve been avoiding as many outdoor activities in the sweltering heat as possible. The good news is cooler days are soon to come, which means it’s time to venture outdoors and check out one of the many distilleries throughout the DMV. If you’re a spirits lover or just looking to change up your usual brewery or winery outing, our list below has a distillery for everyone. From Green Hat Gin at New Columbia Distillers to Cigar Blend Bourbon at Jos. A. Magnus & Co., the options are endless. Whether you’re in the mood to visit a bustling, urban distillery like Founding Spirits or the scenic countryside at Springfield Manor, check out what the DC area and beyond has to offer. So pick a spot, kick back and relax this fall with a refreshing drink.
A. Smith Bowman Distillery Fredericksburg, Virginia www.asmithbowman.com
Belmont Farm Distillery Culpeper, Virginia www.belmontfarmdistillery.com
Bloomery Plantation Distillery Charles Town, West Virginia www.bloomerysweetshine.com
Cirrus Vodka Richmond, Virginia www.cirrusvodka.com
Belle Isle Moonshine Richmond, Virginia www.belleislecraftspirits.com
Blackwater Distilling Stevensville, Maryland www.blackwaterdistilling.com
Blue Dyer Distilling Co. Waldorf, Maryland www.bluedyerdistilling.com
Cotton & Reed Northeast DC www.cottonandreed.com
Copper Fox Distillery Catoctin Creek Distilling Company 120 W. Main St. Purcellville, VA 540-751-8404 | www.catoctincreekdistilling.com Approaching a decade in business, Catoctin Creek Distilling Company was founded by husband and wife duo Becky and Scott Harris in historic downtown Purcellville, Virginia. As the first legal distillery since prohibition in Virginia’s Loudoun County, Catoctin Creek honors the agrarian character of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the heritage of Virginia distilling. The Harris’ source local and organic ingredients to craft a variety of small-batch spirits, including their flagship Roundstone Rye, which holds distinction as Virginia’s most awarded whisky. For more information, including tasting and tours, visit Catoctin Creek online.
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901 Capitol Landing Rd. Williamsburg, VA 540-987-8554 | www.copperfoxdistillery.com Copper Fox Distillery was founded by Rick Wasmund in 2005 with the idea of making whisky differently. At Copper Fox, they start from scratch – floor-malting locally grown barley, flavoring the grain with a variety of fruitwood smoke, then aging and finishing with a progressive series of hand toasted wood chips in used bourbon barrels. Visit them at one, or both of their unique locations and experience the whisky making process first hand. Their Sperryville distillery is housed in a rustic converted cider mill in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains just seven miles from the Thornton River Gap entrance to Shenandoah National Park. Or visit their newest location and experience the transformation of the former Lord Paget motel complex in Virginia’s Historic Triangle, located one-half mile from the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center. They invite you to tour, taste and experience the flavor journey that never ends.
Dida’s Distillery & Rappahannock Cellars 14437 Hume Rd. Huntly, VA 540-635-9398 | www.didasdistillery.com Gold-medal winning spirits made 100 percent from grape, Dida’s distill their vodka, brandy and gin from their Virginia wines, made at their Virginia farm winery and distillery – Rappahannock Cellars and Dida’s Distillery. Rated “Virginia Brandy Distillery of the Year” by the New York Intl. Spirits Competition, they’re located seven miles south of Front Royal on Route 522, a short one-hour drive from DC/NoVA. Come experience their world-class wines, spirits and craft cocktails all in the same building. Plan a day trip to visit other nearby wineries, distilleries, breweries, the Skyline Drive and other local attractions.
Falls Church Distillers 442 S. Washington St. Suite A, Falls Church, VA 703-858-9186 | www.FCDistillers.com You strive to live life to the fullest and demand satisfaction from all you experience, you yearn to breathe everything deeply into your soul and appreciate the resulting sensations – this is how the Paluzzi family lives and how they distill their spirits. Their spirits are meant to be sipped, with each drop lingering on the pallet for a fully enjoyable sensation. Falls Church Distillers is an award-winning distillery located in the Virginia suburbs just outside of the nation’s capital. As a uniquely licensed distillery, you are invited to stay awhile, enjoy a wonderful meal, plentiful and varied libations and all in the craft environment that is a small batch distillery.
Dragon Distillery 1341 Hughes Ford Rd. Suite 108, Frederick, MD 888-678-3724 | www.dragondistillery.com Visit Frederick, Maryland to experience the unique distillery that is Dragon Distillery. With a large product portfolio, there is certainly something for everyone, including several flagships like Basilisk Bourbon, Dragon Dog Rye, Fannie Tutt Lemon Meringue Moonshine and Canned Cocktails. Dragon is Frederick’s first and largest distillery and records a number of other firsts, including Maryland’s first distillery/brewery collaboration (with Flying Dog Brewery) and Maryland’s first canned cocktails. There is ample free parking and Dragon Distillery can be found directly across from Frederick’s Airport.
Founding Spirits 600 Massachusetts Ave. NW, DC 202-798-6007 | www.foundingspirits.com Founding Spirits is an award-winning distillery located in the heart of the nation’s capital. Enjoy a special sneak peek into their smallbatch distilling process every Saturday with tours and tastes which include behind-the-scenes of the distillery itself along with tastes of their spirits. As Founding Spirits distillery is located within Farmers & Distillers restaurant, they encourage you to stay for a meal in the main dining room before or after your tour. www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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Jos. A. Magnus & Co. 2052 West Virginia Ave. NE, DC 202-450-3518 | www.josephmagnus.com In 1892, Joseph Alexander Magnus set out to create the world’s greatest whiskeys, gins and other spirits through the founding of Jos. A. Magnus & Co., and in doing so, became one of the most successful pre-prohibition spirits producers in the nation. Joseph Magnus silenced his stills when Prohibition came knocking until a bottle of 122-year-old bourbon was discovered by Joseph’s great grandson. The journey then began to bring back “remarkable spirits for remarkable people.” Proudly re-established in 2015 in DC, Jos. A. Magnus & Co. produces award winning bourbon, gin and vodka and has garnered the nation’s top awards including 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition double gold medals for Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon and Murray Hill Club Blended Bourbon, 2018 American Distilling Institute Gold Medal for Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon and 2018 World’s Best Navy by World Gin Awards for Vigilant Navy Strength Gin.
District Distilling Co. Northwest DC www.district-distilling.com
Patapsco Distilling Company Sykesville, Maryland www.patapscodistilling.com
Don Ciccio & Figli Northwest DC www.donciccioefigli.com
Ragged Branch Charlottesville, Virginia www.raggedbranch.com
Faulkner Branch Cidery & Distilling Co. Federalsburg, Maryland www.faulknerbranch.com
Reservoir Distilling Richmond, Virginia www.reservoirdistillery.com
Filibuster Distillery Maurertown, Virginia www.filibusterbourbon.com George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill Mount Vernon, Virginia www.mountvernon.org/theestate-gardens/distillery-gristmill Gray Wolf Craft Distilling Saint Michaels, Maryland www.graywolfcraftdistilling.com James River Distillery Richmond, Virginia www.jrdistillery.com Lost Ark Distilling Columbia, Maryland www.lostarkdistilling.com
KO Distilling 10381 Central Park Dr. Suite 105, Manassas, VA 571-292-1115 | www.kodistilling.com Located in the historic City of Manassas, Virginia, KO Distilling operates a 30-foot tall continuous column still and a 550-gallon potand-column still to produce an award-winning portfolio of whiskey, bourbon and gin. Visitors can tour KO Distilling’s state-of-the-art distilling plant and barrel room, enjoy spirit tastings in their beautiful copper and oak themed tasting room and purchase bottles for offsite consumption. Their flagships include Bare Knuckle Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Bare Knuckle Straight Wheat Whiskey, Bare Knuckle Straight Rye Whiskey, Bare Knuckle American Whiskey, Battle Standard 142 Navy Strength Gin, Battle Standard 142 Standard Strength Gin and Battle Standard 142 Barrel Finished Gin. Looking to host an event? You can also rent KO Distilling’s Banquet Hall for your next gettogether. Come on by, it’s worth the visit.
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Lyon Distilling Company Saint Michaels, Maryland www.lyondistilling.com McClintock Distilling Frederick, Maryland www.mcclintockdistilling.com Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery Middleburg, Virginia www.mtdefiance.com Old Line Spirits Baltimore, Maryland www.oldlinespirits.com One Eight Distilling Northeast DC www.oneeightdistilling.com
Sagamore Spirit Distillery Baltimore, Maryland www.sagamorespirit.com Silverback Distillery Afton, Virginia www.sbdistillery.com Skipjack Distilleries Annapolis, Maryland www.facebook.com/ SkipjackDistill Spirit Lab Distilling Charlottesville, Virginia www.spiritlabdistilling.com Tenth Ward Distilling Company Frederick, Maryland www.tenthwarddistilling.com Twin Valley Distillers Rockville, Maryland www.twinvalleydistillers.com Vitae Spirits Distillery Charlottesville, Virginia www.vitaespirits.com White Tiger Distillery Forest Hill, Maryland www.squareup.com/store/whitetiger-distillery-llc Woods Mill Distillery Faber, Virginia www.facebook.com/ WoodsMillDistillery
MISCellaneous Distillery 114 South Main St. Mount Airy, MD 240-394-6472 | www.miscdistillery.com MISCellaneous Distillery is an artisan distillery located on Main Street in historic downtown Mount Airy, Maryland. Their bottles are filled with only the best, using ingredients grown on local farms, milled on stone mills from the 1800s and using techniques that invite conversation. Their flagships include Risky Rum, Dew Point Rum, Popi’s Finest Rum, Restless Rye Whisky, Diametric Rye Whisky, Gertrude’s 100% Rye Whisky, Virtuous Vodka and Gregarious Gin and have won numerous awards including for the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition where their Risky Rum was awarded gold, Dew Point Rum was awarded silver and their Restless Rye Whisky was awarded bronze. In lieu of charging for tours and tastings, they ask for a $5 donation that they pass along to a nonprofit partner. They also work with a new partner each quarter, raising funds and awareness of the important work of these organizations. Come by and taste what MISCellaneous is all about.
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.
MurLarkey Distilled Spirits 7961 Gainsford Ct. Bristow, VA 571-284-7961 | www.murlarkey.com Starting with a meager 23-gallon copper still and a dream, second generation Irish-American cousins Tom Murray and Mike Larkin set out to create a legacy when they established MurLarkey. Distilled in traditional, small-batch, artisan fashion, their spirits are recognized and certified by the American Distilling Institute. Today, MurLarkey produces vodka, gin, aged whiskey and eight types of 100 percent allnatural infused flavored whiskeys including banana, orange, lemon, cinnamon, coffee, cocoa, honey and Three Tea. Based in Prince William Country, they also have locations in DC, Baltimore and Northern Virginia. They also invite spirit lovers to come take a tour of their distillery, sample their spirits and learn about the distilling process.
For more recipe inspirations visit St-Elder.com | @DrinkStElder ©2018 Produced & Bottled By St. Elder, Ltd., BOSTON, MA. 20% Alc/Vol (40 Proof)
PLEASE ENJOY RESPONSIBLY.
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Virago Spirits 1727 Rhoadmiller St. Richmond, VA 804-355-8746 | viragospirits.com
New Columbia Distillers 1832 Fenwick St. NE, DC 202-733-1710 | www.greenhatgin.com New Columbia Distillers invites you to kick back and relax with a handmade cocktail while listening to vinyl in their working industrial atmosphere. They encourage a friendly and relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy any number of their flagship offerings including Green Hat Gin, Green Hat Spring/Summer Gin, Green Hat Fall/Winter Gin (“Ginavit”), Green Hat Navy Strength Gin, New Columbia Summer Cup, Capitoline White, Rose and Dry Vermouths. New Columbia have also won numerous awards for their spirits including a gold medal (SF World Spirits Competition) for their Spring/Summer Gin, a silver medal (Intl Review of Spirits) for their Green Hat Gin, a silver medal (American Craft Spirits Assn.) for their Fall/Winter Gin and a Best of Category (American Distilling Inst.) for their Navy Strength Gin. There is no charge for tastings or tours.
Visit the Virago Spirits distillery store in Richmond, Virginia for a taste of craft cocktails and experimental offerings. They specialize in classically inspired, creatively interpreted spirits, focusing on rum, gin, brandy and herbal liqueurs. Their tour features a direct-fire, 2,500-liter Charentaisstyle alembic still – one of only a few operating in the United States. They also blend a deep respect for time-honored, traditional production techniques with New World creativity, ingenuity and innovation. On a tour, you’ll sample Virago’s signature FourPort Rum with wonderful, complex and bold notes of vanilla and spice, leading to cascading waves of fig, dried coconut and crème brûlée, culminating in a pleasantly lingering, smoky finish. Virago is open to the public on Thursdays from 3-7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 3-9 p.m., and Sunday 12-5 p.m.
Springfield Manor Winery Distillery Brewery
Virginia Distillery Co.
11836 Auburn Rd. Thurmont, MD 301-271-0099 | www.springfieldmanor.com
299 Eades Ln. Lovingston, VA 434-285-2900 | www.vadistillery.com
Springfield Manor is a 135-acre estate with a convenient route 15 location that backs up to Cunningham Falls for great hiking and recreation. This country inn hosts weddings and seated events for 300 guests, overnight stays and much more. Completing the scenery are lavender fields and crops of corn for crafting farm-to-glass bourbon and rye. When you’re done taking in the natural beauty, visit their restored barn tasting room for intimate indoor and terrace seating. Their flagships include six seasonal craft beers, 12 awarded wines, they’ve been voted Frederick County’s best distillery and are a San Francisco double gold winner for their lavender gin, lavender vodka, straight bourbon, Maryland rye, rum and brandy. Come to taste, stay to enjoy wine, beer, spirit tastings, live music and food.
Virginia Distillery Company is an American single malt whisky distillery located in Central Virginia. Courage & Conviction, their American single malt whisky product, is currently being produced onsite using malted barley from the U.S. and water from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The target release date is spring 2020. While it ages, enjoy their Virginia-Highland Whisky series, made from 100 percent malted barley. Virginia Distillery Company marries single malt whisky made onsite in Virginia with aged malt whisky from Scotland. A focus on cask finishing adds depth and complexity. Their visitors center is open for tours and tastings daily. The Virginia Whisky Experience Tour takes you behind the scenes to learn how whisky is made from start to finish.
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WHITE WHITE VERSION VERSION 01 01
GRAY VERSION 01
BLACK BLACK VERSION VERSION 01 01
FOR RECREATIONAL USE ONLY
G13 IPA is a strange new strain indeed. We took an already dank IPA and married its hops with strain specific terpenes and natural hemp-type flavor. The result is an aromatic super-hybrid sticky IPA that’s ready to rip.
SweetWater Brewing Company • Atlanta, Georgia • SweetWaterBrew.com G13 IPA is an olfactory experience for sure, but there is no actual THC or CBD in this beer. Please enjoy responsibly.
SweetWater Brewing Company • Georgia • SweetWaterBrew.com • +21 Please Drink Responsibly
SWB-TAP-G13-Ad-7x10-180829-01.indd 1
8/29/18 10:52 AM
Photo: Courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery
By Travis Mitchell September is National Bourbon Heritage Month, a celebration of the uniquely American whiskey distillers have been producing and perfecting for hundreds of years. And while plenty of goods grow stale with age – passed over in favor of the shinier, modern creations (see: mezcal) – interest in bourbon has no ceiling. Take DC for example, where bourbon-based drinks like the Old Fashioned and Mint Julep are fast becoming menu staples. And many bars and liquor stores now make a point to appeal to customers with a variety of bottles, from the rare to the everyday. Some may take that as proof that society has reached peak bourbon. But there’s plenty of evidence its trajectory is still on the rise. “We are seeing growing demand driven in many ways by consumer recognition that Americans can make world-class whiskey [that’s] highly crafted and deliver an amazing array of enjoyable drinking experiences, whether neat or mixed,” says Mark Brown, president and CEO of Frankfort, Kentucky’s Buffalo Trace Distillery. Few sources are better plugged into the bourbon world than Buffalo Trace, which runs the oldest continually operating distillery in the U.S. The Buffalo Trace name was adopted in 1999 with the release of its namesake bourbon, but bourbon has been produced at the
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site for over 200 years. More than 200,000 visitors a year travel to its headquarters, which was named a national historic landmark in 2013. What started as a small, 50-employee operation has grown to 450 employees and earned more awards than any other distillery. The rapid growth is a telling snapshot of bourbon’s momentum as a coveted liquor. When asked what he loves most about bourbon, Brown points to its versatility and flexibility. Bourbon drinkers aren’t afraid of having a little fun. “I love the approachability, taste and mixability of bourbon,” he says. “We are not tied to stuffy traditions around how whiskey should be consumed.” As its popularity has grown, bourbon has also become a bridge connecting likeminded drinkers who bond and share experiences tasting and collecting new and favorite bottles. Creating those experiences is the result of art, science and many crafty hands. Just ask Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley, who’s worked at the distillery since 1995. “[Bourbon] is produced from the fields of farmers and brought to the table of consumers by craftsmen that are truly passionate about producing a quality product,” he says.
Wheatley still sees an opportunity to educate customers about the history and intricacies of bourbon. In addition to the manual work involved, for example, there are legal requirements to follow for a whiskey to be designated a bourbon. Among them: the spirit must be produced in the U.S., it must come from at least 51 percent corn and it must be aged in new American oak barrels. Each bourbon brand also comes with its own quirks, pedigree and way of doing things. That’s all the more important in 2018, when the sheer amount of bourbon choices can be overwhelming even for its biggest fans. “I think once people understand the history and stories behind the brands, they begin to respect and appreciate the brands a little more,” Wheatley says. Experimentation has become a bigger part of the bourbon world, too. As general interest expands, distilleries across the country – including One Eight Distilling in Ivy City – are inventing their own twists on the classic bourbon profile. Wheatley says that while it “would be easy to be distracted,” by these new offerings and styles, Buffalo Trace plans to stay the course going forward. If there’s one downside to the bourbon craze, it’s that consumers are seeing their unquenchable demand met with higher prices. Enjoying bourbon can become a rather expensive and overwhelming hobby. It’s not hard to find bottles for a hundred dollars or more. It’s a challenge Buffalo Trace, along with all American distillers, must embrace in 2018 and beyond. But as long as there are tasty bourbons being produced, its popularity seems far from peak. “We are only at the very beginning of bourbon,” Brown says. Follow Buffalo Trace on Instagram at @buffalotrace and learn more about the distillery at www.buffalotrace.com.
Pearl Dive’s George Sault
Photo: Scott Suchman
Pearl Dive’s Bardstown Derby, A Bourbon Hit Buffalo Trace bourbon is the featured spirit in the Bardstown Derby, a cocktail mainstay at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace in Logan Circle. The featured libation on our September cover takes its name from the historic town of Bardstown, Kentucky and has been on the restaurant’s menu for a number of years. It’s a clear customer favorite. “It’s a riff off a Brown Derby,” says George Sault, bar director for Black Restaurant Group, which owns Pearl Dive. The drink tweaks the standard Brown Derby formula of bourbon, grapefruit and honey with additions of tart fresh lemon juice and a floral, rich, house-made orange blossom honey syrup. “It’s our most popular cocktail after the Pearl Cup, which is a gin-based cocktail,” Sault says. Along with mixing up plenty of Bardstown Derbys on busy nights, Sault has plenty of experience steering bourbon drinkers of all levels toward a great cocktail or dram from Pearl Dive’s menu of both approachable and complex whiskeys. When it comes to bourbon newcomers, Sault says to “dive into what they usually drink.” Some people gravitate toward citrus-forward drinks or stirred boozy cocktails like an Old Fashioned. Others prefer a simple pour of whiskey, neat or with some ice. From that point, there are endless bottles to explore and taste. “If someone is well-versed in whiskey, then you start diving into some of the whiskeys that you don’t see on the everyday bar shelves,” he says. Follow Pearl Dive Oyster Palace on social media at @PearlDiveDC and check out their cocktail menu at www.pearldivedc.com.
The Bardstown Derby 2 oz. Buffalo Trace bourbon 0.5 oz. fresh lemon juice 1.5 oz. fresh grapefruit juice 0.75 oz. orange blossom honey syrup Add all ingredients into a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace: 1612 14th St. NW, DC 202-319-1612; www.pearldivedc.com
Photo: Scott Suchman
www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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H
appy National Bourbon Heritage Month to all you bourbon drinkers out there. We have set out to celebrate this month in style, with everything from exclusive interviews with Buffalo Trace Distillery’s CEO and master distiller to a comprehensive list of the best places to drink bourbon in DC (see below). We even featured Pearl Dive Oyster Palace’s Bardstown Derby on our cover, a fruity cocktail made with Buffalo Trace bourbon. Whether you’re a longtime imbiber of American whiskey or you’re looking to change up your usual drink order, you’re bound to find something that will excite your taste buds in the District.
Acadiana 901 New York Ave. NW, DC www.acadianarestaurant.com
Barrel 613 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, DC www.barreldc.com
Black Whiskey 1410 14th St. NW, DC www.blackwhiskeydc.com
Boundary Stone Public House 116 Rhode Island Ave. NW, DC www.boundarystonedc.com
b DC Penn Quarter 801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC www.burgersbeerbourbon.com
Basin Street Lounge 219 King St. Alexandria, VA www.219restaurant.com
BLT Steak 1625 I St. NW, DC www.bltrestaurants.com
Bourbon 2321 18th St. NW, DC www.bourbondc.com
Barley Mac 1600 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA www.barleymacva.com
Black Jack 1612 14th St. NW, DC www.blackjackdc.com
Blue Duck Tavern 1201 24th St. NW, DC www.hyatt.com/corporate/restaurants/blue-duck-tavern/en/ blue-duck-tavern-home.html
Bourbon Steak 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC www.fourseasons.com/washington/dining/restaurants/bourbon_steak
Truxton Inn Penny Whisky Bar 618 H St. Suite 200, NW, DC 202-802-5125 | www.pennywhiskybar.com Seductively looming above H Street in the heart of Chinatown, the Penny Whisky Bar is a breath of life found in a building you’ve been walking by for years. With an exclusive whisky list and the caliber of bartending mastery that has made Washington, DC a national destination, Penny Whisky Bar is going to be your first thought for happy hour and the last name you’ll ever need to learn for quality cocktails way beyond whisky.
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251 Florida Ave. NW, DC 202-733-4952 | www.truxtoninndc.com Truxton Inn, located in Bloomingdale, is the neighborhood’s premier cocktail bar. Offering original and classic cocktails, they also carry seasonal wines and a few select beers. Their happy hour specials are $6 Old Fashioneds, $5 house red and white wines, and $3 Narragansett cans offered all day on Monday and open until 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Other daily specials include $10 original cocktails on Sundays, seasonal beer-and-shot combinations on Tuesdays and half-priced wine bottles on Wednesdays. Enjoy your drink and company at the bar, at one of the tables inside or outside on the brand-new patio.
Civil Cigar Lounge 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC www.civillounge.com Copperwood Tavern – Shirlington 4021 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA www.copperwoodtavern.com
Dram & Grain 2007 18th St. NW, DC www.facebook.com/DramandGrain The Gibson 2009 14th St. NW, DC www.thegibsondc.com
Lost & Found 1240 9th St. NW, DC www.lostandfounddc.com
Reliable Tavern 3655 Georgia Ave. NW, DC www.reliable-tavern.com
McClellan’s Retreat 2031 Florida Ave. NW, DC www.mcclellansretreat.com
Root Cellar Whiskey Bar 515 15th St. NW, DC www.pineadc.com/rootcellar The Royal 501 Florida Ave. NW, DC www.theroyaldc.com
Crimson Whiskey Bar 627 H St. NW, DC www.crimson-dc.com
Harold Black 212 7th St. SE, DC www.haroldblackdc.com
The Next Whiskey Bar 2650 Virginia Ave. NW, DC www.thewatergatehotel.com/ the-next-whisky-bar
Denson Liquor Bar 600 F St. NW, DC www.densondc.com
Hill Prince 1337 H St. NE, DC www.hillprince.com
Occidental 1475 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC www.occidentaldc.com
The Dignitary 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW, DC www.marriott.com/hotel-restaurants/wasco-marriott-marquiswashington-dc/the-dignitary/5641402/home-page.mi
Jack Rose Dining Saloon 2007 18th St. NW, DC www.jackrosediningsaloon.com
The Partisan 709 D St. NW, DC www.thepartisandc.com
Kelly’s Irish Times 14 F St. NW, DC www.kellysirishtimesdc.com
The Pig 1320 14th St. NW, DC www.thepigdc.com
Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar 1104 H St. NE, DC www.littlemisswhiskeys.com
Prequel 919 19th St. NW, DC www.prequelrestaurant.com
District ChopHouse & Brewery 509 7th St. NW, DC www.districtchophouse.com
The Rye Bar 1050 31st St. NW, DC www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/ washington-dc/dining/the-ryebar Shelly’s Back Room 1331 F St. NW, DC www.shellysbackroom.com Smoke & Barrel 2471 18th St. NW, DC www.smokeandbarreldc.com Takoda 715 Florida Ave. NW, DC www.takodadc.com
BOURBON CLUB
HILL COUNTRY Get into the spirit of Texas nightlife with live Americana music!
LIVE!
UPCOMING SHOWS:
Sept. 4 Slim Cessna’s Auto Club & Kid Congo + The Pink Monkey Birds Sept. 9 Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs Sept. 28 Eric Lindell Sept. 29 Bumper Jackson’s 5th Anniversary Throwback Dance Party
401 F Street NW | www.hillcountry.com
Join ROCKLANDS Arlington's Bourbon Club! We have 50+ varieties and over 500 members. The Bourbon Club is free to join -you just have to love bourbon and barbeque! Complete a full tour of the bourbon list for special rewards. 3471 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA www.rocklands.com www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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NoMa’s
THE ELEANOR Offers Bowling and Bragworthy Bites By Michelle Goldchain
on’t label The Eleanor just a bowling alley. It’s much more than that, according to founder Adam Stein. Ever since he was a student at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, Stein dreamed of opening a lounge with a bowling component to make it a multi-use entertainment space. That vision is realized with The Eleanor. “You can come here for lots of different reasons,” Stein says. “You can come here because you want to bowl. You can come here because you want to play pinball games. You can come here because you want to have a three-course meal. We’ve got tons of events booked already and through the end of the year.” Since opening June 19 in NoMa, The Eleanor has offered a place to enjoy 20 beers on tap, well-crafted cocktails, a projector for movie nights and, of course, two minibowling lanes with duckpin-sized balls. The lanes are 45 feet long as opposed to the standard 60 feet, which Stein says can be harder, but it’s also a lower bar of entry. The floors aren’t waxed, so there’s no need to change shoes to play. Also, all of the balls are four pounds. While it’s best to reserve a lane and prepay online, walk-ins are accepted on a waitlist basis. Pricing is $10 per person for one hour of bowling with a $10 ball rental fee. If you’re not interested in giving bowling a spin, choose from arcade games like Mortal Kombat 3, Pac-Man and Battle Royale, or head over to the Skee-Ball lanes. When describing The Eleanor, Stein says
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Photos: Kelli Scott
he didn’t want anything “super slick” or “overly designed.” Instead, he opted for a laid-back but funky lounge with a hometown vibe. There are counter-height tables instead of low-tops to add to the casual atmosphere, and the local focus is found not only in the ingredients but in the name itself, which is a reference to DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.
The menu adds humor to the spot with cocktails like Wildflowers Don’t Care Where They Grow. Other drinks are named after friends and family such as Jody’s Appletini, inspired by Stein’s mother as appletinis are her favorite cocktail. There are also two refreshing vodka slushies made with Spring
44 vodka, one with house-made horchata and Zeke’s cold brew coffee and the other with a house-made lavender lemonade. The fare might seem typical at face value – burgers, nachos, fried chicken – but each dish has its own original twist. The buttermilk fried chicken thighs come with masalaspiced carrot puree and braised greens with a bacon and fish sauce. The chicken wings are coated in a General Tso’s-style sauce, the hushpuppies are made “elote loco-style” and the loaded hot dogs come with the optional add-on of kimchi. Along with its quirky menu, The Eleanor offers a very convenient location across the street from the NoMa-Gallaudet Metro station. There is also free, onsite parking. Stein considered Ivy City before settling on The Eleanor’s NoMa space on Florida Avenue. He was tempted by Ivy City’s warehouse spaces because they could fit full-sized bowling lanes, but he says he ultimately chose the right neighborhood. “[NoMa is] only going to see an explosion of growth in the next two-and-a-half to three years,” he says. “We’re looking forward to it.” Follow The Eleanor on Instagram and Facebook at @TheEleanorDC, and learn more about the bar at www.eleanordc.com. The Eleanor: 100 Florida Ave. NE, DC 202-758-2235; www.eleanordc.com
e g d n o a o r l B O is back for its final season
Photos: Mark Raker
The DC Burger Battle 2018 at Hill Country Backyard Barbecue sponsored by Budweiser included the best burgers in the city. Proceeds from the sold-out event benefitted So Others Might Eat.
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POWER COUPLE UPLE
ENJOY RESPONSIBLY © 2018 Anheuser-Busch, Budweiser® Lager Beer, St. Louis, MO
Photo: Courtesy of Brabo
By Lani Furbank On Tap keeps locals in the know about the hottest new food and drink spots around town and the top culinary happenings of the month. Read on to get the inside scoop on what’s new and notable in the DC area.
NEW
Photo: Courtesy of Augie’s
Augie’s Open: August 1 Location: Old Town Alexandria Lowdown: For the next several months, Alexandria has a hip new outdoor hang. Augie’s, a forthcoming restaurant from the team behind Mason Social, is temporarily serving mussels, frites, beer and more on their spacious brick patio draped with string lights. The building is undergoing renovations in preparation for a spring opening, but the team wanted to take
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advantage of their al fresco dining space during the favorable weather. The menu during the pop-up represents about a third of what will be offered when the full restaurant is complete. There’s a selection of small plates and entrees, but the main attraction is the various preparations of mussels in sauces ranging from a house broth with garlic-herb butter, bacon and beer to a fiery Thai green curry with purple eggplant, Thai chilis and coconut. To complement the mussels and frites, the beer selection focuses on Belgian and Belgian-inspired brews. The selection will expand to include approximately 200 bottles and 25 drafts when the restaurant officially opens. While the patio is the real draw, there’s also some indoor space upstairs with high top tables, bocce ball and board games. The popup will close in early winter. 1106 King St. Alexandria, VA; www.eataugies.com
The Green Zone Open: July 26 Location: Adams Morgan Lowdown: After four years of popping up around town, this Middle Eastern
Photo: Courtesy of Chris Francke
cocktail bar found a permanent home in the diverse Adams Morgan neighborhood. Owner Chris Francke says The Green Zone is, in part, an attempt to dispel the stereotype that people in the Middle East don’t drink or party. The spices and ingredients he’s showcasing in his 12 original drinks are ones commonly found in the region’s cuisine, but haven’t often been translated to cocktails. Some recipes are riffs on classic nonalcoholic beverages, like the seasonal frozen Mint Lemonade spiked with vodka or gin. I found it to be the ideal patio sipper, especially when enjoyed via the bar’s stainless steel straws. His signature creation is the Janissary
Corps, made with Green Hat gin, pistachio, lemon and “silky magic.” Downstairs, the colorful tile bar is the anchor of the neighborhood hangout, while the second floor turns into a dance club with featured DJs on weekends. In addition to cocktails, sample beers and wine from Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Georgia and Turkey. The food menu consists of Lebanese and Levantine street food like falafel, hummus, spicy wings and mana’ish, a thin flatbread that envelopes za’tar, labneh and vegetables. 2226 18th St. NW, DC; www.facebook.com/thegreenzonedc
es un Carnaval with papaya, raspberries, ginger syrup, lime and a blend of rums, but I’ll never turn down a classic daiquiri. The spot-on rendition at Little Havana hit all the right notes. 3704 14th St. NW, DC; www.littlehavanadc.com
Photo: Courtesy of BLT Steak
Photo: Liz Clayman
The Meatball Shop
Photo: Courtesy of Little Havana
Little Havana Open: August 10 Location: Columbia Heights Lowdown: Restaurateur Alfredo Solis has expanded his portfolio to include more than Mexican (El Sol and Mezcalero). He teamed up with Chef Joseph Osorio to bring a splash of Cuba to Columbia Heights. At Little Havana, a painted “neon” sign emulating the Miami Vice logo ties together the murals covering the walls, featuring Cuba’s colorful streets as well as some of the country’s cultural icons like Celia Cruz, the Nationals’ Gio Gonzalez, revolutionary Che Guevara and Osorio’s godmother Mimi, who was the inspiration behind the restaurant. Mimi taught Osorio the art of Cuban cooking, and her recipes have come to life on the menu. Classic dishes like ropa vieja, vaca frita and empanadas are offered alongside modern interpretations like Cuban rolls – essentially a Cubano sandwich crossed with a spring roll. Of course, Osorio also makes a traditional Cubano, which he says is perfect thanks to Mimi’s lechon recipe. Flashes of Colombia are present as well, with ají picante from Osorio’s parents’ hometown. The compact bar in the back of the restaurant is stocked with all kinds of rum from the Caribbean and Latin America, plus tropical ingredients like mango, hierbabuena and guanabana. There are original creations like La Vida
Open: August Location: 14th Street Lowdown: New York City’s Meatball Shop has rolled into town, bringing with it a menu of build-your-own meatball meals. Start by choosing your balls – classic, spicy pork, chicken, veggie or rotating specials – and then dress them in sauces like tomato, spicy meat, gravy, Parmesan cream or pesto. Next, pick a style: naked, in a bowl, over a bed of greens or in a sandwich. The customizable menu also has a few recommended plates, including combinations like spicy pork balls with Parmesan cream sauce over broccoli and rigatoni with an added kick of hot sauce. Round out your meal with appetizers and sides like crab cake balls, veggies, polenta and pastas. In addition to the saucy food offerings, expect a selection of beers, wines and cocktails – plus plenty of ball jokes. The 14th Street location is the first shop outside of New York. 1720 14th St. NW, DC; www.themeatballshop.com
NOTABLE Burger Board at BLT Steak Location: BLT Steak Lowdown: This downtown steakhouse recently added adventurous new burgers to their lunch menu, each satisfying carnivorous cravings. The Burger Board goes beyond the standard dry-aged beef burger with recipes like the Duck Double stacked with two beef and Moulard duck patties, cheddar, pickles and a zesty mayonnaise sauce. The Harissa Lamb Burger pairs a seven-spice
lamb patty with tahini cucumbers, tomato and garlic labneh. The Crab Bama Burger is an amped up crab cake topped with chicken-fried smoked salmon, cabbage slaw and Alabama white barbecue sauce. The king of the board is the “American” Wagyu Burger, which blends trimmings from the restaurant’s various steak offerings into a rich patty rounded out by American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and dijonnaise. 1625 I St. NW, DC; www.bltrestaurants. com/blt-steak/washington-d-c/
Photo: Courtesy of Brabo
Steak Frites Program at Brabo Location: Brabo Lowdown: Chef Sebastien Rondier has launched a new offering that is a mouthwatering study of an iconic French brasserie dish. The Steak Frites program consists of four distinctive, dry-aged butcher cuts from Creekstone Farms: ribeye, filet mignon, hanger steak and the show-stopping, 22-ounce bone-in côte de boeuf for two. Each of the steaks is served with whipped Roquefort butter or a black peppercorn sauce. And of course, every steak is accompanied by double-fried frites and dipping sauces. The menu will continue to grow with new cuts and sauces depending on market availability. 1600 King St. Alexandria, VA; www.braborestaurant.com
www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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From Freshman Foodie to Instagram Influencer @DCFOODPORN’S
JUSTIN SCHUBLE By Monica Alford
I
t definitely feels a little meta to watch On Tap’s assistant editor Trent Johnson take photos of @dcfoodporn’s Justin Schuble taking photos of Brothers and Sisters Pastry Chef Pichet Ong’s ornate The London cake at the LINE Hotel. This feeling is only intensified by the fact that our subject is on the stairs by the LINE’s iconic, off-kilter mirror – perhaps one of DC’s most Instaworthy spots to date – so there’s two camerawielding Schubles and two mouthwatering, crepe-stacked cakes in every photo. All self-referential insights aside, we decided to meet up with DC’s most successful food Instagrammer – with 246,000 followers and counting – at his location of choice so we could see him in action. The LINE has been high on his wish list for some time, so we pop down to the impossibly trendy AdMo hotel one afternoon in August to pick the 23-year-old’s brain about how he turned his college hobby into a booming millennial business. The Instagram influencer is soft-spoken and thoughtful, an adept multitasker who is constantly searching the room for the best angles while still giving us his full attention. He approaches food photography – and his entire @dcfoodporn brand – as a curated experience, bringing an artistic element to every shoot. A steady stream of decadent desserts keeps coming from Erik Bruner-Yang’s kitchen, the final one in the hands of the pastry chef himself, who chats with us for a few about photography on the LINE’s front steps. Schuble moves deliberately during the shoot, selecting a new location in the hotel’s lobby for each dessert and experimenting with countless angles. When he is sure he has enough options, we sink into two oversized armchairs and begin to talk shop – from his creative process for keeping his content engaging to how he grew his account from 100 followers as a Georgetown freshman to hundreds of thousands of followers as the owner of a profitable business.
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B
Photos: Trent Johnson
efore there was @dcfoodporn, there was @freshman_foodie. After growing up in a Potomac, Maryland household that rarely ate at home – save for takeout – and with zero interest in subsisting solely off of Georgetown’s dining hall options, it made perfect sense to Schuble to eat out a lot. And as millennials often do, he began snapping photos of his food and posting them to his personal Instagram account. Countless food posts later, he created the @freshman_foodie handle and a food-only account. By the end of the year, he had 100 followers and decided to rebrand with his current handle, which has now been used as a hashtag on Instagram in almost 272,000 posts. The business school student bought a camera that summer and taught himself some photography basics, like how to manipulate lighting. He remains a self-taught photographer even now, crediting his natural eye for knowing what elements need to come together in a successful post. Schuble has experienced steady growth since launching @dcfoodporn, reaching the 10,000-follower mark within a year. As his account became more popular, his plans to pursue a career in finance or marketing – real estate and working on Wall Street were among his considered paths – began to dwindle until he decided to try the Instagram influencer lifestyle out for one year. Fast forward to a little over a year later, and he’s running a successful media company through the @dcfoodporn brand. “It is crazy,” he says of his rapid rise to local fame. “I think I got really lucky with timing. I was lucky that I got to experiment with this in college. That really allowed me to let the passion drive the account and its growth. I was set up for success because I had the flexibility to do things that maybe weren’t going to work, and there was no financial pressure because I was in school.” But now that he’s in the real world – Bethesda, to be exact – he defines
success by a new set of metrics that includes being able to answer questions like, “Can I pay my rent?” in the affirmative. It wasn’t until brands began courting Schuble that he realized @dcfoodporn was a potentially viable business. Sweetgreen was one of the first to reach out soon after the 10,000-follower benchmark, a geek out moment for him since the chain was started by three Georgetown business students. As more brands hired him for projects, he became more selective and set a standard rate for his services. “A lot of what I’m doing recently is paid work with brands. They’ll send me a product, and I’ll have to shoot it and do all of the creative and figure out the style and what I want to pair it with, which I love. I think that’s more fun than going to a restaurant where the chef does all the creative work and I just have to do my best to make it look good.” A National Tequila Day-themed post with a bottle of Jose Cuervo nestled among fresh avocado halves and tortilla chips, a Potbelly Free Shake Friday promo filled with neatly stacked Oreos surrounding an Oreo milkshake, and a drool-worthy picnic shot for Voss water are among his recent brand projects.
W
hile Schuble loves trying his hand at art direction for brands, a huge percentage of his feed is still devoted to the local food scene. “It’s always different. Everything about what I do is different. There’s no typical day and no typical photo shoot, which keeps it fun. I love that.” Whether the visit is planned or impromptu, he says he always asks to be seated by a window with natural lighting. He inquires about the best items on the menu – although he usually researches options in advance – and proceeds to order both what he wants to photograph and what he wants to actually eat. This of course begs the question: how much of what he photographs does he consume? “I’m actually very healthy, so I don’t necessarily eat every single cake or whatever it is that I post,” he says. “I do prioritize my health. If I can bring someone along with me to help eat the food and be an extra set of hands, that’s always great. I’ll usually take a couple hundred photos at each restaurant. Then I’ll eat a little bit, pack up a ton of leftovers and bring them with me.” When he’s not saving a ton of money on groceries and eating like a king from his couch, Schuble strikes a balance between promoting hip spots he likes and maintaining a visual aesthetic. He often has to make a Sophie’s Choice between a dish that photographs beautifully but is lackluster in comparison to
an unphotogenic plate of nosh that piques his palate. Another crossroads he frequently encounters is whether or not to post about an amazing spot where the food is off the charts but doesn’t have Instaworthy presentation, or the interior is void of any decent lighting options. It’s evident he takes the role of accurately representing DC’s food scene very seriously, and as a fellow local who has watched the District transform into a burgeoning foodie city, I truly appreciate that. He makes an excellent point that while the DMV has long been home to a myriad of authentic ethnic cuisines, the ambiance was often less than optimal for foodies back in the day. But with a trendier, more millennial-driven food scene on the rise, ethnic flavors are becoming more approachable as they’re being presented in hipper locales. “I think it’s a lot easier now for people to be exposed to so many different things while still staying in their comfort zone. I also think it’s great that people in other cities actually see DC as a real food scene. It’s been cool to grow @dcfoodporn during that same time that DC has grown. When I started, my list of places to check out was not nearly as long as it is now just because every day, something new is popping up.”
U
ltimately, Schuble wants locals to recognize his brand. He’s proud of his DC following, and even notes that someone recognized him in the LINE’s lobby while he was waiting for our interview and asked if he was “that @dcfoodporn guy.” On the flipside, he says he never takes advantage of that recognition when stumbling upon a new spot; instead, he prefers to fly under the radar as a paying customer. When we start chatting about the road ahead, he says he’d love to reach a million followers.
“I think it’s nice to have huge goals that you can strive for. And if you don’t get there, don’t beat yourself up.” In the meantime, he’s been expanding his brand to include more lifestyle and travel content. “I posted a photo at the airport the other day and it got more likes than any of my food photos this week. I think people are hungry for different types of content and for me, it’s about playing around with that and figuring out what people want to see, what I want to post and how it relates to @dcfoodporn. How can I elevate the brand?” As for how long he wants to stay on the influencer career track, that’s TBD. While he loves having a profitable outlet for his creative side and enjoys the perks of frequent travel and friendships formed with other media personalities, he’s also realistic about the burnout rate of this type of gig and says that at some point, it’d be nice to settle down and keep a normal schedule. He’s even toying with the idea of starting another media company – something related to food, but the next step. “I do love the food scene, but for me it’s more about full experiences and being creative. I think food lends itself to that, but there are other areas I’d be interested in.” For now, Schuble is committed to growing the @dcfoodporn brand, even leading social media workshops around the DC area to teach local Instagrammers how to tell their stories in a more engaging way. Don’t miss his next class at Rosslyn-based pop-up The Alcove (19th and N. Moore Streets) on Wednesday, September 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Learn more at www.rosslynva.org/pop-up. If you aren’t already following @dcfoodporn on Instagram, you should be. Learn more about Schuble and his media company at www.dcfoodporn.com.
www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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By Fareeha Rehman
Through Sunday, September 23
Thursday, September 6 - Sunday, September 16
Small Mouth Sounds Six people sit in silence, escaping city noises and distractions in favor of necessary self-reflection. Cell phones? Not allowed. But then again, the retreat is led by a guru who can’t quite stick to the rules. Small Mouth Sounds serves as an adult edition of The Breakfast Club with a minimal set and sound. As you put your phone on silent and immerse yourself in the story, you might be surprised by your own self-reflection. Tickets are $51-$60. Round House Theatre: 4545 EastWest Hwy. Bethesda, MD; www.roundhousetheatre.org
DC Shorts Film Festival Experience 10 days of film with more than 130 movie options at the 2018 DC Shorts Film Festival. These indie films from around the world are also competing for titles like Best Local DMV Film, Best Animation and Best International Narrative. You’ll watch up to nine films in each 90-minute screening session, so attending just one or two sessions will expose you to many new perspectives from talented filmmakers. After watching, mingle with fellow film buffs at the various festival parties with cocktails, food and music included. Tickets prices vary. DC Shorts Film Festival: Various locations around DC; www.festival.dcshorts.com
Monday, September 3 Sunday, September 30 Gloria As a journalist, writing about the lives of others becomes second nature. But when tragedy strikes a New York-based magazine, who gets to tell the story? After stories from iconic newsrooms have hit the big screen (Spotlight, The Post), Gloria acts out a contemporary journalism story – especially in light of the recent horror faced by staffers at the Capital Gazette. Tickets are $20-$41. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: 641 D St. NW, DC; www.woollymammoth.net
Tuesday, September 4 Sunday, September 23 Macbeth Step away from the toil and trouble of daily life and get into the spooky season with this adaptation of Macbeth. Witches promise him a future of riches and royalty, but Macbeth is too hungry to wait. A hero turns into a murderer, and the psychological aftermath spirals him and others involved into madness. Under director Robert Richmond, the timeless tale takes on a more modern life with some newly added scenes. Folger’s production features music performed by the Folger Consort, and is adapted and amended by Sir William Davenant. Adapted or not, one lesson remains the same: don’t trust a witch. Tickets are $42-$79. Folger Theatre: 201 E. Capitol St. SE, DC; www.folger.edu
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ON TAP | SEPTEMBER 2018 | www.ontaponline.com
Friday, September 7 On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope Discussion Politics and Prose hosts a conversation removed from the Twittersphere on politics, culture and the Black Lives Matter movement with activist DeRay Mckesson. He was there at a pivotal moment for modern day civil rights – 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri – and now all of his experiences are bound in his new book On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope. The book “offers a new framework and language for understanding the nature of oppression,” according to its summary. Share in the discussion or come to learn. Each event on Mckesson’s tour will feature a special guest. Tickets are $10 for students, $26$28 for non-students. Book included in ticket price. GW’s Lisner Auditorium: 730 21st St. NW, DC; www.politics-prose.com
Saturday, September 15 Kevin Hart: The Irresponsible Tour Work hard, laugh hard. Except Kevin Hart’s the one working to make you laugh. The actor and comedian is stopping in DC for The Irresponsible Tour with all-new material. Twitter users have applauded the show online, saying the show’s worth every dollar. Hart also has a new movie with Tiffany Haddish out this month, Night School, making you wonder if he ran his jokes with her and was influenced by a fellow comedic genius. Despite his stature – the punchline to many jokes – Hart is only getting bigger in the comedy world. Tickets are $34 and up. Capital One Arena: 601 F St. NW, DC; www.kevinhartnation.com
Tuesday, September 18 - Sunday, November 11 Heisenberg When 75-year-old Alex gets a surprise smooch from a comparatively younger stranger named Georgie, it’s not exactly what he expected when boarding the train on this average day. Even less expected was her finding him at his butcher shop sometime after the encounter. Georgie is confusing. Alex is confused. And so is the audience – left in suspense as the play’s runtime begins to unravel her true intentions. This unlikely duo with romantic relations is just another experiment conducted by Tony Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens. He’s just letting the audience in on his conclusive results. Tickets are $40-$89. Signature Theatre: 4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA; www.sigtheatre.org
Friday, September 21 - Sunday, October 21 Born Yesterday For DC natives, Born Yesterday may seem like an all-too-familiar story about gaining political power in the hub of the power hungry. But
this satire set in the 1940s is more of a comedic retreat from the current stressful affairs, and the winnings don’t go to a who but to a what: the truth. Ford’s Theatre calls this production directed by Aaron Posner “political satire meets romantic comedy,” but all good stories are grounded in reality. Watch this for an entertaining mashup of unlikely allies and girl power to fight corruption. Tickets are $20-$62. Ford’s Theatre: 511 10th St. NW, DC; www.fords.org
Wednesday, September 26 Welcome to Night Vale Live Show First-time visitors and regular listeners of the Night Vale podcast have a chance to experience a brand-new storyline with a live show tour. The alternate reality podcast production “promises to find unexpected ways to bring the audience into the performance,” according to the Welcome to Night Vale site. Live music by Disparition and special surprise guests will get you totally immersed in the mystery and spooky wonders of the small desert town brought to the Lincoln Theatre stage. In Night Vale, anything can happen. Prepare by tuning in to past episodes online. Tickets are $35. Lincoln Theatre: 1215 U St. NW, DC; www.thelincolndc.com
LOOK WHAT POPPED UP IN ROSSLYN
NOW OPEN!
www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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Signature Theatre Stirs Actors and Audiences with
Passion By M.K. Koszycki
Natascia Diaz (Fosca) and Claybourne Elder (Giorgio) in Passion at Signature Theatre
hile an iconic work in the pantheon of Stephen Sondheim’s contributions to musical theatre, Passion is admittedly not an airy, feel-good musical. The hour-and-50-minute, one-act play asks much of its actors and its audiences as it tells the timeless story of wavering between the love of two different people. The new production, at Signature Theatre through September 23, is staged to mirror a runway. The audience will be split down the middle, facing one another while absorbing the characters’ anguish as they’re torn between multiple outcomes throughout the play. The musical, which made its debut in 1994 and holds the title of shortest-running show to win a Tony Award for Best Musical, is based on the recounting of an Italian author’s affair with an ailing woman while he served in the military. Giorgio (Claybourne Elder) swings from a dangerous pendulum between his carefully arranged relationship with his beautiful – and married – mistress Clara (Steffanie Leigh) and the allure of the reclusive, plain Fosca (Natascia Diaz). Signature Theatre Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner brings an intimacy and fierce intensity to the production, challenging audiences to face themselves and their perceptions of physical beauty. Every decision feels very deliberate, from splitting the stage in half to emphasize Giorgio’s gravitation toward both women to the unmoving lens on his transformation over the course of the play as the actor never once leaves the stage. “It’s very dynamic,” says Diaz (West Side Story, Threepenny Opera) of the play’s staging. “It already denotes one side and another – and being pulled in multiple directions. That is the dynamic. Giorgio is being pulled between these two women. It visually exists in a physical format that enhances that energy. Matthew is able to make things that are tangible and real, but it has this ethereal quality to it.”
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Photos: Margot Schulman
At first blush, the intricacies of the story may seem dated. A sickly, homely Fosca isolates herself from her surroundings and lives vicariously through books. Giorgio takes a military post far away from his beautiful Clara, but the lovers stay connected through impassioned letters. Though Passion is set in the 19th century, the painful missteps of romance and navigating the concept of monogamy are still very much familiar to us in 2018. As Elder (Sunday in the Park with George, Bonnie and Clyde) prepared for his role, he too found the subject matter relatable. “The novel was written in 1870 and as I read it, I thought to myself, ‘What a fascinating mediation on love and obsession, affection and passion,’” Elder says. “I’ve definitely found myself in the novel – like, ‘I have done that before, I have felt that way about a person before’ – which is very interesting. The feelings behind it all are every bit as contemporary as they would have been in the 1800s.” Fosca is widely regarded as one of the most unlikeable characters in modern theatre, making it a complex role for any actor. But much like Elder, Diaz looked past the surface and found common ground with the young woman, physical and emotional afflictions and all. While preparing to take on what she called the largest role she’s ever played, Diaz says she grew to feel as though she knew Fosca. “I looked at the page and thought, ‘I could have written this,’ meaning that I understand her completely. I not only understand her, but I love her. It’s the strangest thing to play a character as large and as previously judged as this. It’s just like any other slander case. They don’t know her until they’ve read it and seen what’s at the center of her soul.” The polarizing nature of Fosca lies not as much in her physical unattractiveness as it does in the fact that she embodies “pure, unadulterated feeling.” At the heart of the play, though, is Giorgio’s struggle between two women, two ways of life, his head and his heart.
actors, it “ As costs something emotionally every time you do a play.
“
You give a piece of yourself to it.
Claybourne Elder (Giorgio) and Steffanie Leigh (Clara) in Passion at Signature Theatre
The audience’s disdain for Fosca may be the initial visceral reaction, but the production holds another element that makes Giorgio’s role equally if not more so emotionally taxing. As the common thread that binds every character in Passion together, it makes sense to have Elder remain onstage for the entire performance – though the impressive feat does have its own physical and emotional challenges for the actor. “What Giorgio learns in this play is astonishing and very profound,” Elder says. “I connect to it greatly and I find it very emotional, and therefore it’s hard. As actors, it costs something emotionally every time you do a play. You give a piece of yourself to it. I’m grateful this run is only a few months, because living in this for a long time would be very challenging. I would need a lot of therapy. It challenges me to really face myself.” For audiences who are ready to experience a production that asks questions both timeless and timely, Signature is ready to take you on a journey in their intimate, inventive black-box space. You may learn something about yourself right alongside Giorgio. “Passion is not a show that gets done very often in regional theatre, because it’s not a big draw,” he continues. “It’s complicated, it’s emotional, it’s dark at times. It’s not a laugh-a-minute night out, so you need an audience that’s going to get excited and support it. I have absolutely no doubt that [Signature] is the best possible place to do this show. I feel very, very lucky to get to be a part of this.” Stephen Sondheim’s Passion runs through September 23 at Signature Theatre. Tickets are $40-$104. Pride Night is September 7, Discussion Night is September 12 and Open Captioning will be held on September 16. Learn more at www.sigtheatre.org. Signature Theatre: 4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA 703-820-9771; www.sigtheatre.org
by Garson Kanin directed by Aaron Posner
Sept. 21-Oct. 21, 2018 Generation Abe Night! Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. For ages 21-35 Get $20 tickets with code* Under3519 Join us for complimentary drinks after the show. Event Media Partner: *Discount code also good for Tuesday-Friday evening and Sunday evening performances throughout run.
www.fords.org
Tickets: (888) 616-0270 Photo of Kimberly Gilbert by Scott Suchman.
www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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STC Opens 2018 Season with Slapstick Farce
M O E C D Y E OF ER H T RORS By Monica Alford
T
he gang is back together may not be the first phrase that comes to mind when describing a collective of esteemed players teeming with talent who’ve reassembled for Shakespeare Theatre Company’s season opener. But when speaking with director Alan Paul about his casting decisions for The Comedy of Errors, it sounds more like a family reunion than a formal process. “It feels like a family of people,” he says. “I think the secret of the show is that when you get people that know each other, as well as this group knows each other and has that level of comfort and trust, it’s so much easier to be funny and collaborate.” STC’s associate artistic director saw the remounting of this early Shakespeare comedy, also part of the company’s 20052006 season, as “a joyful way to bring back a lot of people that I have loved and that have been important to the audience.” Paul is particularly sentimental about the start of this season as it marks artistic director Michael Kahn’s last one with the company after 32 years. To him, it only seemed fitting
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Artwork: Courtesy of STC
to bring together some of the actors Kahn handpicked over the years to celebrate his storied career. Paul’s production of The Comedy of Errors, at Lansburgh Theatre from September 25 to October 28, is a madcap comedy about identical twin brothers who have been separated. One brother goes on a sevenyear journey to find the other, and ultimately all hell breaks loose in some absurd cases of mistaken identity. While meant to make you laugh, the director says the premise of the play is actually not funny. “If you think about the need to find your other half, it’s an extraordinary way to begin the play,” he says. “There’s such a depth to it. I hope I capture something that is deep and real about what happens to these people, because I think the end of the play should make you cry. I just feel that underneath the comedy of this play is something really real that motivates it.” Paul’s connection to the play goes one level deeper, as he too is a twin. He says the remarkable thing about twins is you’re always at the exact same level of development as another person. Even now as adults, he and his sister understand each
other in a way that’s completely foreign to the outside world. “It’s such an interesting play, and I think I understand it on a deep level because I’m a twin. The dramaturg [Dr. Drew Lichtenberg] who helped me put the script together is also a twin. So we have two sets of twins working on the show.” Beyond the twin coincidences, another unique element of this remounting is Paul’s desire to make everyone in the play “a little bit more mature” than the last time around. He’s also drawing from his experience directing A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for STC several years ago, as both plays are based on works by ancient Roman playwright Plautus and include elements of slapstick and even vaudevillian humor. In Paul’s version of The Comedy of Errors, the players will navigate chaos in 1960s Greece. He’s asked composer and lyricist Michael Dansicker to write a half-dozen songs for the show; in the past month, they’ve been collaborating on a song for both the opening scene and the courtesan, as well as a big number for the different policemen in the show.
“It’s a treat to be able to work on a play like this where you get to show up for work and try to get people to laugh.”
ONE Great Day of Fall Fun!
RESTON TOWN CENTER RESTON, VA Saturday, October 6 | Noon - 11 PM
Perhaps the only part of the Bard’s comedy he’s not changing is his lead, Gregory Wooddell. The seasoned actor and STC-affiliated artist played the same role of Antipholus of Syracuse for the company more than a decade ago, but he says his approach this time around will be fresh. “One of the reasons I’m drawn to doing the role again after 13 years is that I feel like I’ve grown as an actor,” Wooddell says. “I’m personally excited to attack it with a lot more experience and wisdom under my belt. I think I’ve got new ideas, and I think I can bring a greater clarity to the role and the language.” He describes the play as a classic comedy, with a straightforward plotline that’s very accessible to an audience that might normally shy away from Shakespeare. The actor also loves the fact that he’s getting paid to tap into his silly side on a daily basis. “It’s a treat to be able to work on a play like this where you get to show up for work and try to get people to laugh. But as wacky and madcap as it can get, we have a really accomplished cast that I can’t wait to work with.” Wooddell and Paul both mention the bad rap the comedy sometimes gets, often disregarded as a lesser play for being one of Shakespeare’s earlier works. “There’s a sensibility about the play that it’s unsophisticated, and I disagree with that,” Wooddell says. Paul agrees, saying that the fifth act of The Comedy of Errors is just as perfect, whole and deep as the fifth act of Twelfth Night or The Tempest. “I hope what I can evoke in the show besides the humor, which will be there, is that the play has elements of what you see later on in [Shakespeare’s] plays about families coming back together,” the director says. “It is about the need to belong to a family and what length you will go to make yourself whole by finding your family. That’s the whole thing and the whole satisfaction of it. It’s a theme that Shakespeare came back to all the time.” From universal themes to a 90-minute, no-intermission run time, Paul is crafting a production to engage millennial theatergoers as much as any other audience. Most importantly, though, he’s hoping to give us a much-needed break from the outside world. “For all of us that go home and turn the news on every night and have to grapple with the chaos of this modern world, I want to give the audience 90 minutes of just pure joy to forget about all the nonsense going on today and just have a good time.” The Comedy of Errors runs from September 25 to October 28 at STC’s Lansburgh Theatre. Tickets are $44-$118. Check www.shakespearetheatre.org for details about special nights and discounts. Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Lansburgh Theatre: 450 7th St. NW, DC; 202-547-1122; www.shakespearetheatre.org
Live Entertainment ALL Day with Cover/Party Bands!
CRAFT BEER ALLEY!
CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT!
Come sit, sip and enjoy craft beer in our Craft Beer Alley. www.RestonFlavors.com for more info.
Grab a friend and sign up for the Cornhole Experience Tournament, play starts at 1 PM! www.RestonFlavors.com
Sunday, October 7, start time 8:15am
Get off the couch and debut your Halloween costume to get ready for the Pumpkin 5k & Kids’ Pumpkin Dash! Register online at www.RestonFlavors.com
Flavors of Fall is a FREE event! TICKETS ARE NEEDED FOR FOOD AND DRINK.
24 tickets for $20 Pre-order your Food/Drink tickets online at
www.RestonFlavors.com www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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GET OUT Composer
Michael Abels
Joins NSO For Live Score Photo: Todd Rosenberg
By Trent Johnson Capturing the right sound for a movie is essential to its quality. In every film you love, there are moments heightened through musical choices made by either the director or his composer. In 2017, there was not a more lauded movie than Get Out. The Jordan Peele brainchild racked up accolades and acclaim throughout the year, including an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director. The thriller-horror movie defied genres, and its subject matter tackled racial tension and societal issues. For any movie involving elements of fear and the unknown, music is an imperative element to building tension. For Get Out, Peele enlisted orchestral composer Michael Abels – a man who had never scored a feature film – after discovering him on YouTube. Now that he’s successfully captured the sound of Peele’s vision, Abels is at work on the writer-director’s second thriller Us, set to come out in 2019. But before moving on to the next picture, Abels is set to conduct the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in a live performance of the Get Out score paired with a screening of the film at the Kennedy Center on September 20. On Tap had a chance to speak with him about how Peele tracked him down, the film’s legacy and his relationship with one of Hollywood’s rising stars before he leads the orchestra through this eerie soundtrack. On Tap: With live music from the NSO accompanying the movie, what do you think the audience should expect from this performance? Michael Abels: I think you just asked the question of the hour. I have no idea, and I’m thrilled to find out. One of the fun parts of doing a horror movie are the jump scares. There are a couple really great ones here. If everyone has seen the film, they probably won’t be as scared, but I really want that for the live audience. At the same time, I think the audience will be people who are fans of the film, and also fans of the music.
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OT: Jordan Peele said in an interview that he discovered you on YouTube. What was your initial reaction when he reached out to you? MA: I’m a composer of concert music, live orchestras and performances, and somehow Jordan Peele saw one of them and had the Get Out producers hunt me down. I got a voicemail and I thought it was a prank. When I read the script, it was about 85 to 90 percent of the finished film, and it was amazing. He turned out to be about as great as he is in interviews – very funny and candid. He has a real understanding of people, and I admired that. I wanted him to be successful, and if he thought I could write the music to his film, I was on board. OT: What were some of the initial requests Peele made for the sound of his vision? MA: He saw a particular piece of mine called Urban Legends. It’s my most edgy sounding orchestral piece, and Jordan loves music that’s really out there. It goes with his love of horror and suspense. He’s a huge aficionado and fan of the genre – not in just how they’re directed, but of their music. In our first conversation, he said this music had to be scarier than shit, and it’s hard to mistake that clear direction. The second thing he mentioned was he wanted the African-American voice – both literally and figuratively – in the score. He heard this in my music and knew it was something I was comfortable doing – taking something that isn’t normally in a classical setting and putting it there and making it work. We talked about the character of the music, and it had to be clearly African American but not have the undercurrent of hope like in gospel and blues. He was looking for gospel horror that was scarier than shit. OT: So, he wanted the music to be unsettling. How did you two collaborate and nail the sound of this movie? MA: The film plays like a classic suspense film. Jordan had cited Rosemary’s Baby and The Stepford Wives, and each of those films have a slow burn. You know something’s not right, and it’s slowly revealed to you. The score has to measure up. The first queue I did was the hypnotism scene, and it’s
an iconic one. The audience has to get hypnotized and the music has to sneak in. Part of what a score does is inform the audience in a way that’s not on the screen. It does it in the subconscious. OT: At what point in the process did you guys settle on “Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga” as the song that opens and closes the movie? MA: Jordan likes to hear music in preproduction. It’s more expected that music is saved toward the end, not because it’s not important, but because it’s timed to the picture. Until a film is edited together, it doesn’t really exist in time. However, Jordan considers it as part of production design. I wrote “Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga” and a few others at the beginning to see what he liked. When he chose it as the main title, I was flattered. OT: What was your initial reaction when you first read the plot of the film, and then again when you saw the completed picture? MA: I thought it was good, but you want to feel that way. We thought it was like nothing else. Good films die at the box office every weekend, and if we knew why, fewer films would die. Personally, I had a sense some people would love it and others would find it polarizing. I was so proud of Jordan for taking so many risks with the film and hitting the ball completely out of the park.
OT: You’re also working on his 2019 film Us. There are iconic duos of directors and composers such as Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer. Do you feel like you and Peele could end up like that, and does it feel like you kind of hit the lotto on your partnership with Peele? MA: It’s so fun working for him. He never wants anything normal, and the notes that come back are like, “Take all of the normal shit out.” I can only hope [for a lasting partnership], but regardless of if that happens, my focus is one film at a time. The reason those relationships develop is because – and this is just my speculation – directors are mostly visual people, so when they’re talking with editors and cinematographers, there’s a shared language. With music, some directors aren’t as familiar with musical language, so they’re required to hand over this very important aspect of the film to someone they trust. If they find a person who’s able to realize their auditory vision, they’re really glad and they enjoy having that feeling of trust. Watch Abels conduct the NSO on Thursday, September 20 at 8 p.m. at the NSO Pops: Get Out performance and screening in the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall. Tickets are $29-$99. Learn more at www.kennedy-center.org.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: 2700 F St. NW, DC; 202-467-4600; www.kennedy-center.org
Photos: Mike Kim
OT: I really wanted Get Out to win Best Picture. I know winning an Academy Award wasn’t Peele’s ultimate goal, but I think in 10 years when people talk about cinema from 2017, they’ll point to Get Out as a breakthrough picture. Do you think the film will be remembered and revered as strongly as I do? MA: I think it’s going to be studied in film schools. It’s a movie that will stand the test of time, and someday when people watch old movies they’ll say, “Hey, let’s watch Get Out.” My original goal was to score it and have Jordan feel like I did his work proud. I wanted to not get fired. That sounds kind of facetious, but in the context of being a film composer, it’s a significant thing to hope for. I think it’s a movie that will be held up as a great example of a genre-busting film, and [especially] when you add the fact it paved the way for Black Panther, Sorry to Bother You, Blindspotting and BlacKkKlansman. Hollywood says it wants to be more diverse, and it’s flat-footed on following through, but all of this demonstrates there’s a whole creative world that hasn’t been mined at all. I hope it’s not a fad and is an actual sea change.
The Fridays at Fort Totten Summer Concert Series concluded last Friday with La Unica. Guests enjoyed bites from El Pollo Submarine and upbeat music outside The Modern at Art Place.
www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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KISS GUITARIST
PAUL STANLEY SHOWS ARTISTIC FLAIR By Keith Loria Photo and artwork: Courtesy of Wentworth Galleries
Members of the KISS Army know singer and guitarist Paul Stanley designed the iconic logo that has represented the rock band since the early 70s before rising to prominence and selling more than 100 million records worldwide. But what many might not realize is the legendary rocker behind such hits as “God of Thunder,” “Love Gun” and “Detroit Rock City” is just as comfortable with a paintbrush as he is with a Washburn guitar. “I started painting about 18 years ago,” Stanley says. “It really started out as a stream of consciousness and a way to purge while I was going through a tumultuous time in my life. I never planned on showing any of my work. It was for myself.” Inevitably, friends and family would pop over to his house and ask about the artwork, not realizing that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was the master behind them. “It was about 15 years ago when a gallery owner first asked me to exhibit, and I was pretty leery of it because I never had that in mind,” he says. “Curiosity got the best of me, and low and behold, people were taking some of my pieces home. I was surprised and thrilled.” There was so much love for his artwork that Stanley decided to put it on display more regularly. This month, his work will be showcased at the Wentworth Gallery’s two DC area locations: Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on September 14 and Tysons Galleria on September 15.
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“These are works from my entire career. It’s interesting to see the journey, so to speak. I’ve always made the rule with painting – just like everything in my life – that there are no rules. I paint from the heart and the soul.” His collection includes paintings, mixed media, limited edition prints and hand-painted acrylic sculptures at a wide range of price points. “I’ve had no schooling and I’m really not interested in the intricacies of documenting what I see. I’m more interested in creating an impression and letting the viewer see what they do. The one thing that all my work has [in common] is an abundance of color. I believe the more color, the more you are designing who you are and how you see the world.” The Starchild – Stanley’s KISS persona – understands that many of those interested in his art are fans of the band, and he expects a great deal of KISS Army members to attend. But he’s also attracting those in the art world and establishing himself as something of a critical darling. “I would be foolish to claim that KISS fans won’t come, and I welcome that and want that,” he says. “Still, the larger pieces ultimately are being acquired by collectors and many know nothing about KISS or don’t like KISS. I’m thrilled to see a piece go from the gallery to someone’s wall.”
“I’VE ALWAYS MADE THE RULE WITH PAINTING – JUST LIKE EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE – THAT THERE ARE NO RULES. I PAINT FROM THE HEART AND THE SOUL.”
For more information and pricing inquiries, visit www.wentworthgallery.com. To learn more about Stanley’s art, visit www.paulstanley.com/artwork.
Photos: Devin Overbey
The top collectors of Stanley’s art will have a chance to join him for dinner after each gallery show. Paul Stanley will be exhibiting his art at Wentworth Gallery in Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd. Bethesda, MD) from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, September 14 and from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, September 15 at Wentworth Gallery Tysons Galleria (1807 U. International Dr. McLean, VA). Admission is free, but RSVPs are highly suggested due to the expected large turnout. The Rock at the Row concerts at Pentagon Row benefiting SCAN featured amazing local bands, delicious bites from local restaurant partners and ice-cold craft beer and wine at the pop-up bar.
www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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A Day in the
Life
JUNGLE FEVER’S
MANE SQUEEZE & MISTA SELECTA By Aja Neal
A
Avanti Fernandez and Tommy Smolka
Photo: Aja Neal
vanti Fernandez and Tommy Smolka’s epic warehouse parties were just the beginning of a much bigger project. When a mutual friend introduced the likeminded DJs in 2013, the pair had instant chemistry. Fernandez (Mane Squeeze) and Smolka (Mista Selecta) quickly discovered that they shared numerous traits, including a penchant for drawing inspiration from musical genres heard around the world and an affinity for dancehall and trap music. Even their DJ monikers share the same initials. Not to mention, they’re both Geminis. On Tap: How did you choose your name? Avanti Fernandez: Jungle Fever is a party concept we created years back. The concept is tropical vibes exuding high, intense, animalistic and wild [energy]. Tommy Smolka: It’s a combination of world dance vibes incorporated into newer rap or trap. Everything we mix together as Jungle Fever makes it really like a jungle. We get all types of people at our parties, just like a jungle has all types of animals. I think it’s one of the most diverse parties out there, and that was a goal.
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The pair joined forces as Jungle Fever, curating and hosting DJ parties around the city and performing together at a range of local venues including U Street Music Hall. They’ve picked up momentum in the past five years, making waves in the DC scene that have rippled toward New York and Philadelphia where they’re now building a base. This month, they’ll be spinning at Trillectro Music Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion. On Tap sat down with the DJ duo before their September 22 show to talk teamwork, influences, plans for Trillectro and their favorite places in DC.
OT: How would you describe your individual styles as DJs? AF: When I first started, a lot of DJs specialized in one sound. For me, it was more about not limiting myself. I consider my style to be eclectic and I try to be as eccentric as possible. I am Jamaican and Puerto Rican, and I try to pull from my cultural characteristics – whether it be in a set, at a party or in a mix. TS: My name [also] comes from Jamaican culture. Dancehall and reggae were in very heavy rotation early on. That was a big connection we had. But, I’ve been DJing for 13 or 14 years now, so anything goes. I can play literally anything – any style.
OT: Who are your most major musical influences? TS: DJ Jazzy Jeff, Underdog, DJ Alize and DJ Blaqstarr. I look up to M.I.A. a lot. AF: Childish Gambino – how multifaceted he is as an artist and how he created his own path. I saw a lot of myself in that. DJ K-Swift from Baltimore was one of my greatest DJ inspirations, too. I remember going out to see her perform at The Paradox. I’d be mindblown there was a lady behind the decks. And I’d be like, “Yo, I wanna do that! I wanna be just like her.”
AVANTI’S MUST-HAVES My dog Pepito My boo Kelcie Water Sunlight Rice and beans OT: What made you both decide to link up and DJ together? TS: We were throwing the warehouse parties for like a year before we started Jungle Fever. AF: I was throwing events not too far from here, at 411 New York Ave. in the warehouse. I heard Selecta was looking to DJ and I was like, “Yeah sure, bring him on through.” He came and ripped it. I was in love with his set. As soon as he dropped some reggae I was like, “Look at this boy! Who the f--k is this? What is going on?” So ever since, we vibed. [We] figured out that we were both looking for a way to express ourselves together. OT: What’s your favorite part of working together? TS: Since day one, it’s been easy for us to work together. We get along very well. We never planned to do this; things just came naturally. AF: It was very organic. It’s great having somebody you can be open, honest and very transparent with, especially going through some of the obstacles we’ve gone through and dealt with together. He’s a great teammate, you know? That’s my boy. OT: How have your styles evolved over the years you’ve been DJing together? TS: We’ve been doing parties and stuff for six years, and I was DJing before that for eight years. I look at it as I would any other art form. You’re never going to stop evolving. You learn new techniques, you learn new sounds. AF: It starts with learning about [DJing], emulating others, learning from others and taking what you learned. For me, it was taking what I’ve learned, building on it and developing my own style. TS: It’s harder for me to talk about me. I’ve seen you evolve. I remember when you first started DJing. The first year or so, you were in your learning phase, but you were rockin’ though. AF: I could see him growing and really branching into a new sound, like exploring and experimenting with new sounds. You know, things I would never hear Selecta play, now I’m like, “Whoa, this energy – it’s different!”
TOMMY’S MUST-HAVES Weed Women Chicken My dogs Coca-Cola
OT: How would you describe the DJ scene and overall music scene in DC? AF: It’s monumental. I mean you feel it, you hear it, you see it. Every time you turn on your radio you hear GoldLink’s “Crew.” Artists are really putting on for the city and I think it’s nationwide, [even] worldwide. DC is seen as a new hub [for music]. Even travelling to New York, everyone is like, “What’s happening in DC? We love what you’re doing there. Can we bring that same energy here?” TS: Yeah, the music scene is at an all-time high for sure. I still think we have some of the best DJs in the world. That’s why I really appreciate the people who hold us to a higher standard, because we’re some of the best. Every time we go to different cities, I really see that. OT: What are some of your most memorable experiences while DJing? AF: I think we have the same one because we always talk about it. TS & AF (in unison): Afropunk. AF: It was that weekend! Trillectro on Saturday and Afropunk on Sunday. TS: That was in 2014. That’s probably our best shared experience, besides all the Jungle Fever parties. Every Jungle Fever party is like my favorite party, and your warehouse parties. AF: Oh yeah! TS: The parties she used to throw that I DJed at were like the craziest, literally. We’ll never get to do anything like that again. AF: It definitely was an era. OT: What do you guys like to do when you’re not DJing? AF: Travel. That’s kind of broad, but I’d rather just work, stack my money and travel. I like learning about myself and different cultures and broadening my horizons. I just got back from New Orleans, which was pretty cool. I’ve been back and forth between cities [like] New York. I was in Costa Rica this June. Whenever I can, I try to get out of here [and] live a little. TS: I like to watch movies, and I have another creative side that most people don’t know. I do photography, video and graphic design. AF: That’s the beauty of it. A lot of the work,
JUNGLE FEVER MUST-HAVES Weed Good sound system Positive environment Open-minded people Energy (the more people, the more energy)
we do ourselves behind the scenes like the graphics, the photos and the videos. OT: What are some of your favorite spots around DC? AS: For food I like Silvestre Chicken. I’m actually a pescatarian so I go there for the charbroiled shrimp. I also like Oohh’s & Aahh’s, Po Boy Jim [Bar and Grill] and Wiseguy [Pizza]. TF: Wiseguy is number one, and DCity Smokehouse. AS: For concert venues, I like 9:30 Club, Flash and U Street Music Hall. TF: Flash, 9:30 and Velvet are my three favorites. OT: How are you preparing for Trillectro? TS: We’re getting our special guest in order, and theatrics. AF: We want to outdo ourselves from the last times we performed. OT: Who are you guys most excited to see perform this year? AS: SZA for sure. She’s definitely the first female headliner. All the ladies that are rocking: Rico Nasty, The Internet, Sheck Wes and Carnage. TF: I’m definitely excited for The Internet, Playboi Carti and Snoh Aalegra. OT: What’s coming up for you two? AF: We’re going to take this party on the road. We’re excited to have Jungle Fever in New York. TS: Yeah. Jungle Fever is expanding. It’s going to be a regular in New York now, because we have a 50-50 base here and in New York and Philly. We’re going to keep expanding it. Other than that, definitely a lot of music, I know I’m about to put out a lot. Catch Jungle Fever spinning at Trillectro on Saturday, September 22 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Doors at noon, tickets start at $60. For updates on Jungle Fever, follow Mista Selecta and Mane Squeeze on Instagram at @mistaselecta and @manesqueeze. Merriweather Post Pavilion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Columbia, MD; 410-715-5550 www.merriweathermusic.com
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Photo: Bryan Whitson
clectic lineups of live music and DJ sets, vinyl-only dance parties, charity benefits, pinball, vegan and vegetarian eats, affordable drinks, and a resounding sense of community: these are just a few of the things that iconic 14th Street music venue Black Cat has brought to the District for a quarter-century. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, the multilevel space is hosting a two-day showcase of bands from DC and beyond that encompass the musical spirit of the Black Cat on Friday, September 14 and Saturday, September 15. DC-based indie rockers Des Demonas will take the stage on Friday, one of many musicians in an impressive first-night lineup including Ted Leo. Algiers, a political punk band whose members call multiple
locales home, will bring their inimitable and powerful sounds to the venue on Saturday along with Ex Hex and a host of other talent. Even Black Cat owner Dante Ferrando’s post-hardcore band Gray Matter will reunite onstage to celebrate the accomplishments of the iconic outpost. The future of the Black Cat is bright too. The venue continues to illuminate the best of DC’s burgeoning music scene, including local power pop band Bad Moves’ record release show on September 21. In honor of the space’s big birthday, we deep-dive into everything Black Cat-related below. Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, DC; 202-667-4490; www.blackcatdc.com
The 25 Lives of Black Cat By Fareeha Rehman Black Cat has sold out countless shows, with killer acts on regular rotation at the 14th Street music venue. Drawing big names like Radiohead, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Killers and more, the double-level DC mainstay hasn’t quit booking national tours and amplifying local bands since opening its doors in ’93. But its biggest accomplishment since opening? Owner and founder Dante Ferrando laughs on a recent call with On Tap,
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offering a blunt reply. “Managing to stay open for 25 years would be the first [accomplishment] to come to mind,” he says. “It is a tough business. There’s a lot of ups and downs. You have to constantly recreate little bits and pieces to make things work.” Black Cat is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month with a two-night lineup on September 14 and 15 of some of the venue’s
favorite bands to work with. Ferrando seems like he doesn’t want to favor any particular act, but mentions Mike Watt – who’s part of the Friday night lineup – as an example of a musician that means something to the Black Cat team. “We had a ton of good [musicians] that we asked and a ton of good ones that we got,” Ferrando says of how he culled talent for the anniversary shows. “It’s very tough unless you really want to blow huge amounts of money to get people to change their plans. Everyone’s on tour and has different things that they’re doing.”
Photo: Courtesy of Black Cat
As the drummer for local post-hardcore band Gray Matter, opening a music venue might have seemed like an obvious interest for Ferrando – but he’s also a natural entrepreneur. He owned Dante’s, a 14th Street restaurant and emphatic supporter of DC’s music scene, before opening the Black Cat. He says 9:30 Club monopolized the punk and alt-rock scenes at the time, but Ferrando had his own vision. In its original location on F Street from 1980 to 1996, 9:30 was a “good, tiny punk-rock dive” for a 200-person show, according to Ferrando. At the time, he saw a need for a DC venue that was more accommodating to both fans and bands performing there, like a dressing room and more space for the audience. “We did something that was needed in the city at that point in time. It was something we needed to have.” With some healthy competition, 9:30 Club has since moved and improved – and both venues were able to carve their own identities in the city. “My route was definitely more of the smoky bar or traditional club, [and 9:30 Club has] more of a concert production vibe,” he says. “I think it ended up balancing nicely in the end.” Ferrando describes their current spot as a Hail Mary; the Black Cat moved to the larger space, still on 14th Street, in 2001. “If you came to the area now and tried to get a space this big, I would be terrified to know how much that would cost.” In the 25 lives of Black Cat, Ferrando has witnessed some shifts in the music scene. He says their first five years were the height of indie rock, with a unified local and regional rise of independent record labels and bands feeding off each other’s energy and style. “I like times like that. It’s great to just have a great band. But if you have four great bands that all know each other and are bouncing stuff back and forth because they’re seeing each other’s shows, those sort of environments are very exciting to me. I just haven’t seen that to quite the [same] degree recently. I always hoped for those little hotspots to pop up and there’s not much you can do to create them aside from waiting for when they start happening.” He says the fan-musician dynamic has changed too. “Something that I kind of miss: there used to be a time where if a
band was pretty big, a member of that band [playing] with their new act would draw really well. Nowadays, nobody cares. They might like the band, but the direct relationship to the band isn’t as intense as it used to be.” But the volume of bands and people coming out is still growing, because new listeners can learn about an up-and-coming band through a few Internet clicks. With more venues popping up, local bands play more often now than they did before – and the venues are doing really well, according to Ferrando. His Friday night anniversary show lineup includes Des Demonas, Subhumans, Ocampo Ocampo & Watt, Ted Leo, Dagger Moon, Scanners, Honey, and Felix & Sam. Des Demonas guitarist Mark Cisneros calls the Black Cat an oasis in a changing district with new luxuries drawing people with wealth. “The Black Cat is a home for everyone who’s still here playing music left in the scene,” Cisneros says. “It’s still a stronghold for the DC punk rock scene. It’s one of the best clubs in the world and it’s a real privilege to play there. We’re all thankful that Dante is still going with it and making a home for us.” Ferrando’s band is set to play a couple of songs on Saturday night. “It has nothing to do with Black Cat particularly,” he says of Gray Matter’s mini-reunion. “It’s just an opportunity for me to fly old friends in and do a show, which we haven’t done since the 20th anniversary. I’m particularly psyched about that.” On Saturday, Ex Hex, Hurry Up featuring Kathy Foster and Westin Glass of The Thermals, Algiers, Hammered Hulls, Wanted Man, and Foul Swoops will share the stage with Ferrando. “You get to catch some of the best local bands we’ve got and some really cool out-of-town bands too,” he says. “There’s a lot of people who’ve been coming here for a lot of years. It’s good to have just a fun party sometimes.”
“The Black Cat is a home for everyone who’s still here playing music left in the scene. It’s still a stronghold for the DC punk rock scene. It’s one of the best clubs in the world and it’s a real privilege to play there.”
Don’t miss the Black Cat’s 25th anniversary shows on Friday, September 14 and Saturday, September 15 on the venue’s mainstage. Doors at 7 p.m. both nights. Tickets are $25 per night. Learn more at www.blackcatdc.com. www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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Algiers Break Barriers
Algiers’ Ryan Mahan, Franklin James Fisher, Lee Tesche and Matt Tong (left to right)
By M.K. Koszycki “How do we relate that sense of division that’s brought upon us from top down, from people in power who seek every day to divide us and categorize us as human beings and prevent us from collectively coming together?” Algiers bassist Ryan Mahan poses this question to me over the phone from his home in the UK. Now more than ever, I surely don’t know the answer. But through their genresmashing catalogue, Algiers might be close to finding it. The four-piece outfit was a sociopolitical force before they were ever a band. Atlanta natives Mahan, vocalist Franklin James Fisher and guitarist Lee Tesche formed in 2007, eventually adding drummer Matt Tong – formerly of Bloc Party – to the fold in 2016. Over the course of their 11-year career, the band has never been interested in what others call them. They’re more interested in using music as a unifying force, especially at a time when division is more common than ever in so many creative spaces. “We actually came up with the concept of Algiers before we ever had written a note of music,” Mahan says. “We were focused much more specifically on the social context of the music – how that relates to the actual sound that you’re trying to project and looking at music in spatial ways. That’s where the politics come from too, because there’s a politic to that in and of itself. We deal with issues like appropriation and colonialism within music itself, and exclusionary spaces where you maybe see a particular scene that has been built up.” On any given Algiers song, you’ll hear hints of post-punk, gospel, new wave and more. There are a lot of bands who could have
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Photo: Joe Dilworth
potentially influenced Algiers, but there are no other bands who sound – or think – like Algiers. When Mahan dissects the conglomeration of sounds that make up his band’s music, he explains, “It might sound a little bit analytical as an approach. But it actually allows us to be quite free with our music and play with our music in very different ways.” He continues, crediting the culture industry for creating this sense of genre “in its own twisted, distorted way.” “It almost polices these boundaries and prevents the fluidity of music and us from grasping music in a much more holistic way. We’re obviously engaged with history and our own histories and the history of oppression. How do we relate that sonically?” Mahan and company explore that question and more on the band’s most recent record, The Underside of Power, released last June. With members now living in the States and the UK, their sophomore effort was influenced by the disarray of politics in both places. Their songs directly deal with everything from police brutality to the 2016 election and the resurfacing of fascist ideals. They seamlessly reference and draw inspiration from the Black Panthers, Che Guevara and Albert Camus, to name a few. The band does important work using music as their vehicle, and their voices to give rise to others’ voices in turn. Algiers appears on the bill for Black Cat’s 25th anniversary show this month, and the band is looking forward to performing in a city that remains an epicenter for creative resistance. Algiers’ strength lies in their ability to embody the energies of these spaces, no matter the location.
“We’re very cynical in our approach, but through that cynicism there is a sense of light.” “It’s all about inserting yourself in these spaces, and that’s why playing this 25th anniversary show at the Black Cat is powerful for us,” Mahan says. “Dante [Ferrando, owner] and the people at the Black Cat see us within this scene. We’re playing alongside some of our heroes: Mary Timony in Ex Hex, Mike Watt, Gray Matter and Subhumans. This is all where we see ourselves, and maybe people from the outside – unless they’re fans – don’t really get that. I think that’s kind of a constant battle that we take on.” And while the band will continue to tackle subjects that very much need light shed on them – Mahan says they’ve recently begun to work on new music – their final goal is to be a unifying force among likeminded people. “As a band, we just want to connect with people. We really feel like there’s so many people who also feel that way. It’s not through a sense of naiveté. We’re very cynical in our approach, but through that cynicism there is – as we particularly try to reflect on our last album – a sense of light.” Algiers plays the second night of the Black Cat’s 25th anniversary event on Saturday, September 15. Tickets are $25. Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information on Algiers, visit www.algierstheband.com.
DC’s
Bad Moves Talks Power Pop Ballads & Collaborative Process for New Record
Bad Moves’ Emma Cleveland, David Combs, Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Katie Park (left to right)
Photo: Emily Chow
By Langford Wiggins By day, the foursome behind DC-based power pop band Bad Moves span career paths – from labor union organizer to NPR music editor. But by night, bassist Emma Cleveland, drummer Daoud Tyler-Ameen, and guitarists David Combs and Katie Park are focused on their budding music career. Still beatific from their successful SXSW showcase this spring, the band has been keeping busy with their upcoming LP Tell No One. The record comes out on September 21 via Don Giovanni Records in conjunction with a release party at the Black Cat. “A lot of the songs on the album deal with themes of having secrets that you keep inside, and the repercussions of either keeping secrets or coming out with them,” Cleveland says. The band alludes to a few family secrets of their own on Tell No One while still maintaining a degree of mystery. Secrets of sexuality and criminality are woven into the limericks set to the band’s peppy, kinetic beats. Yet the truth is, the album is not about divulging secrets. Instead, Tyler-Ameen says it’s about “exploring the things that are traditionally considered taboo [that you later realize] are markers of identity, yet you feel when you’re younger you’re not allowed to fully own.” Tell No One is expected to resonate with all, as did their self-titled EP. “I don’t know if we necessarily started the band thinking in particular about a demographic,” Combs says. “I don’t know if that’s a word we even used with each other.” Instead, Bad Moves relies on chance when creating music that sits well with their broad audience – the chance that their personal experiences, or the feelings evoked from those experiences, will be commonly shared. The bandmates have relied on each other to craft their sound over the past three years, drawing on 90s pop punk and rock sounds that resonate with most older millennials. Combs says he and Park were the
main collaborators on Tell No One, and then brought in the rest of the band to “shape it more in our own collective image.” Bad Moves has no lead singer, so the four musicians each share equal vocal responsibility in the band. “Our intention is to take the focus away from one particular identity as being the central face of the band,” Combs says. Picking a band name – on a car ride to a recording session at American University – was one of the only items on their ever-growing to-do list that didn’t require too much thought. “One name I remember pushing for – and now feel relief that we didn’t go with – was Bad Wiz,” Cleveland says. “That would have been bad.” Combs chimes in, “We also had Wet Hands. It’s hard to know what kind of name will suit your needs early on.” The process of forming their sound, on the other hand, was a different story. Cleveland says the band made a lengthy playlist of power pop – around 180 songs – that inspired their eclectic sound. The first track on the playlist, which coincidently had the most impact, is “Looking For Magic” by the Dwight Twilley Band. “You can tell from the lyrics that there’s a sort of desperation,” Combs says of the 1977 classic. “There’s this thing that eludes to magic. There’s a sadness to that sentiment, but the energy of that song is really lifting, inspiring and powerful. It’s a song that’s not ignoring that the world is a hard place to be in, but it’s also something I can put on that will push me through – and that’s what we want our music to do.” Don’t miss Bad Moves at Black Cat for their record release party on Friday, September 21. The Obsessives and Ultra Beauty will open. Doors are at 7:30, tickets are $10. Learn more about the band at www.badmoves.bandcamp.com. www.ontaponline.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 | ON TAP
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By M.K. Koszycki and Aja Neal
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Foxing One of the most impressive emo bands of the past 10 years joins some of the genre’s most exciting new voices on tour. Foxing celebrated the release of their third (and best) record, Nearer My God, last month. The album garnered critical acclaim and solidified the band as some of the most talented musicians in the post punk game. Joined by Kississippi (whose first full length album Sunset Blush is a hot contender for one of my favorite albums of 2018) and Ratboys, this show is the grownup emo kid’s dream. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $15. Union Stage: 740 Water St. SW, DC; www.unionstage.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
HOLYCHILD This duo of GWU grads are returning to their old stomping grounds to usher in the newest
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era of their sound, which vocalist Liz Nistico describes as a change of pace from the cheerleader-esque “brat pop” of their 2015 LP. The same fun, electronic-based heart is there, but with more emotional lyricism and introspection, as Nistico shifts to more selfanalytical content where she explores her ideas about love, her relationship with her father, and adjusting to becoming more prominent in the music industry and on social media. Check out the show to get a taste of this new material before their new album (which is still under wraps) drops. Show starts at 11 p.m. Tickets start at $13. 21-plus. Songbyrd Music House and Record Cafe: 2477 18th St. NW, DC; www.songbyrddc.com
Lil Baby & YK Osiris Since his release from prison in 2017, Lil Baby has been on the fast track to success. After some big-name collaborations from artists like Drake, Young Thug and Lil Uzi Vert, he’s embarking on his “Harder Than Ever Tour” aptly named after his debut LP that dropped in May. Eighteenyear-old YK Osiris will also be joining him on this tour. The
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recent Def Jam signee made his claim to fame from the buzz from his single “Valentine,” which caused record labels take notice of the young rapper/vocalist, especially after the single was remixed by Lil Uzi Vert. Be sure to check out these two up-andcoming stars when they come to the Fillmore. Show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $27.50. Fillmore Silver Spring: 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; www.fillmoresilverspring.com
U.S. Girls Righteous anger about the chaotic world we live in has never sounded so good. U.S. Girl’s Meg Remy gifted the world with her massive, sparkling and timely record In a Poem Unlimited and takes it to the city that needs it most this month. Remy meditates on themes of misplaced power, violence against women and righteous revenge that makes you think as much as they make you want to dance. Join the catharsis at Miracle Theatre, with Remy as your regal guide. Doors at 7:30. Tickets are $15. The Miracle Theatre: 535 8th St. SE, DC; www.themiracletheatre.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Jon B Jon B is coming to Birchmere this month to bless us with his smooth R&B sounds. Upon first listen you’d never guess that the “They Don’t Know” singer was born in suburban Rhode Island. He gained inspiration for his sultry R&B sound from listening to records in his grandparents’ record store and carved out his own niche by working alongside artists like 2Pac and Babyface in the late 90s. If you’re in the mood for a little 90s R&B nostalgia, don’t miss this show. Doors at 7:30p.m. Tickets are $45. The Birchmere: 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; www.birchmere.com
Still Corners Chillwave will never die and anyone who tells you otherwise just isn’t paying attention. Still Corners are proof of this. They’ve been crafting airy, dreamy songs since the early 2000s and haven’t stopped.
The duo is touring around their release of the album Slow Air last month, and there’s no better way to round out your summer than vibing with the band and their smooth sounds at the intimate DC9 space. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets are $13. DC9: 1940 9th St. NW, DC; www.dc9.club
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Top 100 with a cute summer bop. He and Migos are gracing the Capital One Arena with their presence this month for the Aubrey & The Three Amigos tour. It sounds like the title of a spaghetti western, but it’s unlikely they’ll follow through on that theme and come out donning cowboy boots and twirling lassos. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $65. Capital One Arena: 601 F St. NW, DC; www.capitalonearena.com
goddesses of pop for Robyn to plan a tour with a stop in DC, this dance party can tide us over and celebrate her iconic career. Doors at 10 p.m. Tickets start at $10. 18-plus to enter. U Street Music Hall: 1115 U St. NW DC; www.ustreetmusichall.com
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Rose is a unique and inimitable writer and performer, and has been highly lauded for her work, with nearly 400 shows in the past two years leading to international notoriety. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $10. 21plus. Writeup provided by venue. Gypsy Sally’s: 3401 K St. NW, DC; www.gypsysallys.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Yuno Do you ever see an opening band that totally blows you out of the water and makes you wonder how the hell they’re not headlining shows across the country? That’s how I felt after seeing Yuno open for Twin Shadow earlier this summer. The newly minted Sub Pop signee released a six-song EP full of white hot bangers that make the perfect soundtrack to your early fall vibes. Combining elements of pop, indie rock and R&B, Yuno’s universal appeal is going to catapult him into the mainstream any day now. Just try getting “No Going Back” out of your head. Doors at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com
Tigers Jaw Tigers Jaw is touring around the 10th anniversary of their selftitled album, and I am officially old. While I saw the band touring for their album Spin last year, I’m still keen on the idea of reliving my most emo years screaming the words to “The Sun” and “Plane vs. Tank vs. Submarine.” Take it from me, kids: you never really outgrow your emo phase. Embrace it. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 -THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Drake with Migos Drake has had a whirlwind year. It seems that neither a scalding diss track, nor the blowback from allegation of hiding his son from the public and appearing in blackface can keep this man from charting on the Billboard
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Robyn Riot No one at Robyn Riot will judge you for dancing on your own. DC area DJs MAJR and Jeff Prior are joined by Chicago native Greg Haus to bring you all of the Swedish pop queen Robyn’s greatest hits, all night long. The inimitable artist recently returned after almost a decade on hiatus with the sparkling single “Missing U” and the promise of a new album on the horizon. While we all pray to the
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Childish Gambino & Rae Sremmurd This concert is already legendary, and it hasn’t even happened yet. The multitalented Childish Gambino is joining forces with hip hop phenoms Rae Sremmurd for his “This Is America” tour. I’m hoping he busts out some of the choreography from the video, but I guess the only way to know for sure is by going to the show. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $49.50. Capital One Arena: 601 F St. NW, DC; www.capitalonearena.com
Whitney Rose Rewind to January 2017. Whitney Rose was primed to release her first recording of the year, South Texas Suite, a countrypolitan valentine to her hometown of Austin, Texas. Days before the EP hit the streets and Rose kicked off a four-month worldwide tour, the burgeoning songwriting force packed her boots for Nashville, where she entered BlackBird Studio A to reconvene with the Mavericks’ Raul Malo. In one short week, Rose, Malo and coproducer Niko Bolas crafted her acclaimed latest effort, Rule 62.
Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams Multi-instrumentalist-singersongwriter Larry Campbell and singer-guitarist Teresa Williams’ acclaimed eponymous 2015 debut, released after seven years of playing in Levon Helm’s band – and frequent guesting with Phil Lesh, Little Feat, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, brought to the stage the crackling creative energy of a decades-long offstage union. A whirlwind of touring and promo followed, and when the dust cleared, the duo was ready to do it all again. Which brings us to Contraband Love (released in 2017) a riskier slice of Americana. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $20. 21-plus. Writeup provided by venue. Gypsy Sally’s: 3401 K St. NW, DC; www.gypsysallys.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Owl City I’d like to make myself believe that I knew I’d have the opportunity to see Owl City perform live during adulthood. My younger self would say to me “You would not believe
your eyes...” I still hold a large amount of resentment in my heart for the DJ that came to my homecoming during my sophomore year of high school and played this song as the literal last song of the night. It made absolutely no sense, but my friends and I looked at each other in utter confusion and kept dancing anyway. The moral of this story is that “Fireflies” still slaps and always will. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com
Rooney Did you know that Anne Hathaway’s love interest from The Princess Diaries is in a band in real life? If you didn’t, you should get to know Rooney. Blessing Mia Thermopolis with her first foot-popping kiss isn’t the only thing Robert Schwartzman has done, as he’s also the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist in the band, an actor and a filmmaker. You could say the last bit runs in the family, since he is related to the Coppola family. Rooney formed during his high school years in L.A., and they have made some really feel good tunes in their almost 20 years as a band, such as 2007’s “When Did Your Heart Go Missing?” The Cosmic Interlude tour is all about Schwartzman finding the balance in his many passions. His film The Unicorn debuted this year at SXSW, and much of the new content Rooney is set to release this year comprises the movie’s soundtrack. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com
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Trillectro 2018 This star-studded festival is sure to be the highlight of this month’s musical performances. Artists like SZA, 2 Chainz, Young Thug, Rico Nasty, The Internet and many more are gathering in Columbia for this occasion, as well as a lot of local favorites like Jungle Fever, Girlaaa and Innanet Jamez. I would say more, but just know that if you miss this you’ll be missing out for sure. Doors at 12 p.m. Tickets are $79-$199. Merriweather Post Pavillion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Columbia, MD; www.trillectro.com
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
LIVE MUSIC
THE WHARF, SW DC DINER & BAR OPEN LATE!
SEPTEMBER CONCERTS SA 1 SU 2
THE NIGHTHAWKS FREE SHOW! THE ROCK-A-SONICS AND RAY APOLLO ALLEN BAND
F7
JAMIE MCLEAN BAND & HIGH AND MIGHTY BRASS BAND
SA 8 W 12
THE YAWPERS w/ THE OSYX SARAH SHOOK AND THE DISARMERS w/ SUNNY WAR
TH 13
ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER w/ PILL
SA 15 SU 16
HACKENSAW BOYS JASMINE GILLISON ALBUM RELEASE w/ LAURA TSAGGARIS & NARDO LILLY
4pm DOORS
W 19 F 21 SA 22 SU 23 Graham Coxon While he’s widely known as the guitarist for britpop greats Blur, Graham Coxon has accomplished a lot as a solo musician. In addition to four albums, Coxon recently lent his talent to the soundtrack of the Netflix original series The End of the F***ing World. He now embarks on his first ever solo tour in the U.S., and the intimate dates are not to be missed by Blur fans, Britpop enthusiasts or fans of original soundtracking. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets are $29.50. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com
JOLIE HOLLAND AND SAMANTHA PARTON w/ THE BROTHER BROTHERS BENCOOLEN & SURPRISE ATTACK w/ THE CHRIS CASSADAY CONCOCTION JUSTIN TRAWICK AND THE COMMON GOOD HUMAN COUNTRY JUKEBOX
FREE AFTERNOON SHOW! 12:30pm DOORS
SU 23
SOUTHWEST SOUL SESSIONS JAM SESSION HOSTED BY ELIJAH BALBED & ISABELLE DE LEON
M 24
SUPERSUCKERS w/ THE GLENMONT POPES
TH 27 SU 30
FRONT COUNTRY w/ LAUREN CALVE DENNIS STROUGHMATT AND CREOLE STOMP CAJUN DANCE MATINEE! 3pm DOORS
OCTOBER CONCERTS SA 6
BLACK MASALA w/ MY SON THE HURRICANE
W 10
JOEY DOSIK
TU 16 TH 18
HEATHER MAE & SARAH CLANTON w/ KATIE KUFFEL & BE STEADWELL JP HARRIS
SU 21
CHARLEY CROCKETT
W 24
QUINN SULLIVAN
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The Growlers The pioneers of all things cheery and sad return to DC on the heels of their most recent release Casual Acquaintances. The band is known for curating an impressive cast of like-minded musicians and encouraging fans to dress up in surreal and spooky costumes at their West Coast beach goth festivals. Now, DC is being treated to a stop on the wild ride that is the band’s self-described “psychedelic carnival.” We have no idea what to expect, but we’ve got our best beach goth costumes ready and we’ll see you on the dance floor for a night of surprises. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com
Jay Rock Jay Rock has been releasing some heat as of late. We still haven’t forgotten about the greatness that is “King’s Dead” from Black Panther, but he’s got some new songs for us to enjoy on his latest release. The new album features amazing solo tracks as well as collaborations from many TDE label mates and the rare J. Cole feature. Catch him at the Fillmore this month performing tracks from Redemption. Show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20-$75. Fillmore Silver Spring: 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; www.fillmoresilverspring.com
Photos: LAFlicks Photography, Jay Abella
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
The Capitol Riverfront BID features live musicians at Yards Park every Friday night with ice-cold Corona and wine at the tented bar, plus a special night in August featuring a Pacifico airsteam.
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Hana Vu “Bedroom pop” has become an overused buzzword thrown onto any artist with dreamy, DIY tendencies. More than a sound, bedroom pop is a feeling: wistful, wanting, staring at your ceiling while lamenting whatever’s on your mind. Hana Vu is the textbook definition of this, and her rich but mournful voice that sounds much older than her 17 years make for a perfect addition to her confessional lyrics. Artists like Vu give hope for music as an inclusive and all-consuming outlet for whatever weighs heavy on you. It’s impossible not to find your own feelings in these songs. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $10. Songbyrd Music House and Record Cafe: 2477 18th St. NW, DC; www.songbyrddc.com
Lenny Kravitz Lenny Kravitz is making his way to The Anthem for his Raise Vibration tour, which shares a name with the new album he’s set to drop this month on September 7. His DC stop is one of only eight dates for this leg of his world tour, so it’s definitely not one you should miss. Plus, each ticket purchase for the album comes with a free physical copy of the album. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $75-$125. The Anthem: 901 Wharf St. SW, DC; www.theanthemdc.com
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Diana Ross The legendary Motown diva is coming to Bethesda’s Strathmore theatre for two nights. Come see the only woman to ever have number one singles as a solo artist, as well as part of a duo, trio and ensemble as she performs some of her most timeless classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and more. Show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $69. The Music Center at Strathmore: 5301 Tuckerman Ln. North Bethesda, MD; www.strathmore.org
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
SALES I love SALES. I’m not just talking about when I go to the store and get discounts, though I love that too. SALES the band is an Orlando based guitar-pop outfit that stole this writer’s heart with their selftitled EP released in 2014. Since then, they’ve released their debut LP in 2016 and their most recent album Forever & Ever dropped this past July. They make ambient, stripped down pop melodies with light, airy vocals. Their Spotify description says it best: SALES is “all the pop, no industry bullshit,” and if you’re into that you should go see them live at Rock & Roll Hotel this month. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets are $17-$19. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com
Fickle Friends This upbeat, indie-pop quintet has some fun new material on their new album You Are Someone Else that debuted this past spring. Their brand of beachy synth-pop is slightly reminiscent of something that would’ve hit big in the 80s, paired with decidedly modern production, courtesy of the same person that worked on music for The 1975, Arctic Monkeys and Two Door Cinema Club. The English band made waves with their single “Swim” and scored a contract back in 2015. Join them at DC9 this month for what’s sure to be a fun performance. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $13-$15. DC9: 1940 9th St. NW, DC; www.dc9.club
Blood Orange Dev Hynes, the UK based artist and producer better known as Blood Orange, released his reflective third album just a few weeks ago. Negro Swan boasts an impressive 16 tracks, featuring artists like Diddy, A$AP Rocky, Janet Mock and more. More impressive than any collaborator is Hynes’s chops as a producer that truly let his political and timely lyrics shine. Don’t miss the virtuoso bring his music new and old to DC. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. Lincoln Theatre: 1215 U St. NW, DC; www.thelincolndc.com
Photos: Mike Kim
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
National Night Out in Mount Vernon Triangle featured live music from Justin Trawick and The Common Good, food tastings from the neighborhood restaurants and fun family-friendly activities.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Krantz After leaving his home state of Iowa, traveling the world, touring with a band called The Effects, Jeffrey Danger eventually landed in Nashville. He hit the studio between tapings of MTV’s music competition American Supergroup (where he eventually became a finalist). Following the release of his self-produced solo album, He joined forces with Erik Theiling, Tee Tallent and Adrian Flores, who he met on the Broadway circuit. Together they bring a psychedelic/pop/rock edge equipped with provocative lyrics. Krantz embraces frantic ecstasy and a meaningful look within. The new record takes on several personalities, drawing influences from pop to reggae. Doors at 7 p.m. Free. 21-plus. Writeup provided by venue. Pearl Street Warehouse: 33 Pearl St. SW, DC; www. pearlstreetwarehouse.com
Belly If I had to pick a favorite genre, it would be dream pop. The pioneers of that sound are making their way to DC and I am so excited to pay homage to Belly for carving out a space for the genre in the music world. Tanya Donelly and company returned this spring with their first album in nearly 25 years, Dove, that reminded fans why they’re the best at what they do. Come for the 90s hits, stay for the new jams – it’s sure to be a dreamy, psychedelic night. Doors at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com
SHAED DC’s very own are celebrating the release of their Melt EP at Rock & Roll Hotel. The trio is basically unstoppable and are surely poised for alt-pop stardom. Before they skyrocket into the music world and make their hometown proud, come spend your Saturday celebrating with them. Confession: I’ve seen SHAED three times and it’s a guaranteed feel good dance party each show. Catch me for round four front and center cheering them on. Doors at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com
Photos: Devin Overbey
Future Islands If in 2014 you were living under a rock and somehow missed Future Islands’ front man Samuel T. Herring’s oddly spellbinding performance of “Seasons (Waiting on You),” go look it up. Even if you’ve seen it, go look it up again. Be mesmerized. Take notes so you can dance like him at this show. Herring’s dance moves are just one of the reasons we’re looking forward to this Baltimore-based trio taking the stage at The Anthem. Their most recent release, The Far Field, was one of 2017’s best albums – chock full of bangers from start to finish, not to mention a collab with none other than Blondie’s Debbie Harry. Don’t miss the Baltimore band in action. Doors are at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $41. The Anthem: 901 Wharf St. SW, DC; www.theanthemdc.com
The Wharf hosted a salsa night edition of the Saturday dance series with dance instruction and demos by Salsa with Silvia, and the wonderful Latin beat of Sin Miedo.
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