Barred in DC

Live from a hidden gem a bit northeast of DC

D.C. breweries worry about effects of a bottle-deposit bill Lawmakers are considering the measure to help clean up the Anacostia River.

Right Proper brewery co-founder Thor Cheston knows that advocating against D.C.'s proposed bottle bill might put him on the wrong side of environmentally conscious customers: "We have to take that risk to be judged in the court of public opinion because if we do not fight this, we do not exist.”

Ride Flyer for Adults only Ride

Did you know Hill Family Biking is hosting an adults-only ride next Saturday night?

eventbrite.com/e/1644323829...

A followup to my post about how Boundary Stone discontinued their bottomless brunch.

Super cool event in Union Market area this weekend and next. Each of the 16 rooms in the former Motel 6 (4th and Penn St. NE) is being designed up. Free admission. Cash bar from Bar Betsie

Crazy that in <1 year we went from plans for dedicated lanes to improve performance to ceasing operations. I don’t think the streetcar was particularly well executed, but stuff like this makes me feel despair

Rachel Weiner of the Post confirms that the DC Streetcar will shutter in 5 months, in March, about a year earlier than expected because DC budget cuts + early termination of contract costs.

Operational for a decade, tracks were laid back in 2007.

wapo.st/4q3VtNf

Dos Toros is doing $5 breakfast burritos this week (ends tomorrow)

Anna Spiegel with some details on how the shutdown specials are doing for some spots - for Carmine’s they’re selling well but not enough to offset loss of dining and private parties.

www.axios.com/local/washin...

2 year old U St. sports bar Sports and Social (former The Smith) rebranded its menu “Upstate FTW” with folks from ChiKo, I Egg You.

One of best wings I’ve had in DC. Incredible beef on weck 1/2 off M-F 4-7p during shutdown. Lively scene, DJ during commercials

#compd #hosted

Tremendous farewell column by Tom Sietsema

wapo.st/46WGWtW

NEWS: Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto announces that she’s running for D.C. delegate to Congress, becoming the second member of the D.C. Council looking to replace longtime Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton. (At-Large Councilmember Robert White is also running.)

Barcelona Wine Bar on 14th expanding to 2nd floor, adding 82 more seats to capacity for a very large 309 total

SNALLYGASTER | Kraken Pass Order $75 per person. Your Kraken General Admission Pass grants you:

Sadly out of town this year but if you haven’t been to Snallygaster it’s an incredible beer festival. $75 for 4 hours tickets still available for next week

www.giftrocker.com/secure/Order...

Obviously a nice gesture but I did lol at first glance at the highly specific nature of the shutdown special offered by Compliments Only:

A free Diet Coke with any purchase

Who woulda thought that a spot called “Doobie District” would skip the step of having a customer self-certifying when selling them weed (first I’ve seen this charge)

After nearly 4 years closed, Lucky Bar appears to be reopening soon (I believe new owners/management)

Finally made it to Lobby Bar (old Boxcar Tavern across from Eastern Market).

Quite lively, great shutdown deals for Feds with ID - $12 double smash burger (normally $20), $7 gin or vodka martini.

Less than 3 hours till the album drop at the sold out Taylor Swift listening party at Barrel. TS tunes on till late

Real convo this morning

“Go get your jacket.”

“She doesn’t need a jacket when she has a cape on”

#falloween

An obligatory Government shutdown specials post.

A few I haven’t seen others mention:
Free boozy punch at Mi Vida, Succotash, Gatsby, The Grill
$12 double smash burger + fries, $7 martini at Lobby Bar
75% off select wine bottles at Hawk n Dove

barredindc.com/2025/10/01/d...

Franklin Hall opens early at 2p today for a Government Shutdown party. Free food buffet 4-6p

Where the Rock & Roll Hotel Once Stood, Transmission Rises 618 Productions, the company behind the DIY nightclub 618, is opening a new venue in the space that formerly housed the H Street NE spot.

Details about Transmission coming to old Rock and Roll Hotel space

washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7717...

Several folks have asked where to watch MLB playoffs, ideally with sound. Here are some crowdsourced possible options

Nice roundup of all the great DC restaurants that opened ten years ago in the Post (I think key year for bars was 2013)

wapo.st/3WdFRsH

Trying to get details on places as I’ve gotten this request a bunch.

Sox bars like Whitlows on U and Dirty Water

Prob brig, Walters, Ivy and coney

Wonder how many people went to Cap One Cafe today to try to get their free MLB promo coffee today (last week was last week)

NEWS: The fight over the tipped wage in D.C. isn't over yet. I've learned that proponents of Initiative 82, which was approved by voters in 2022 to phase out the tipped wage, are looking to call a referendum on the D.C. Council's summer bill that partially repeals the initiative.

Traveled far this Sunday morning