Exploring Washington, D.C.: Rooftop Bar Crawl in Shaw

This weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in a Rooftop Hawaiian Bar Crawl, right in my own neighborhood of Shaw.  When I go to my neighborhood favorites, I tend to only go to the same places, so I was excited to venture into new bars and restaurants.

The neighborhood of Shaw is considered the area bounded by Massachusetts Avenue NW, New Jersey Avenue, NW, Florida Avenue, NW, and 11th Street, NW.  If you’re not familiar, it’s very close to the bustling area of U Street, where the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl and Lincoln Theatre are located.

First Stop: DC9 (1940 9th St NW, 20001)

Bar crawlers gathered here, where we were immediately “lei’d” upon entering (I love a good theme!).  On the rooftop, we were able to enjoy drink specials and the speciality cocktail, the “Blue Hawaiian” – rum, pineapple juice, sweet and sour mix, and Blue Curacao. This bar had lots of tables and chairs to enjoy food and drinks with friends.

Second Stop: 1905 (1905 9th St NW, 20001)

1905 had a nice, quaint rooftop.  We mixed, mingled and enjoyed free snacks, including bacon-fat covered popcorn.  Yum!  Make sure you go to the second floor of this building, as the first floor is not associated with the bar.

Third Stop: Dunya (801 Florida Ave NW, 20001)

I loved Dunya’s rooftop and it was right in the heart of Shaw, at the corner of Georgia and Florida Avenues.  As I walked onto the rooftop, I took a peak into the restaurant and it seemed so chic that I’ve made a mental note to go back.  It looked like it had the perfect ambiance for an intimate date night.

Fourth Stop: Brixton (901 U St NW, 20001)

Brixton is one of my go-to bars when I want a nice, laid back atmosphere with good music.  Since it’s not quite in the heart of the U Street corridor but still close enough to the craziness, there’s always a fun crowd.

I gave my liver a break and decided to eat since they had food specials from 4-9 pm.  The sliders, fries and samosas were delicious and the perfect bite-sized bar foods.

Fifth Stop: Nellie’s (900 U St NW, 20001)

I was sad for the bar crawl to end but Nellie’s was a great place to finish.  While I had never been, this U Street mainstay is always crowded when I drive by and now I know why.  It has a large deck, great views, and a very friendly staff.

Nellie’s is known to have a fabulous Sunday drag brunch that I’ve been meaning to try.  By the way, don’t you just love these stairs? Great reminder!

If you’re visiting or living in DC, make sure you support these small businesses.  Great drinks, food, music, and atmosphere…everything you need for a fun day or night in DC!  Thanks to Lisa of Growth Matters and Shaw Main Streets for the invite.

Cheers!

Ashlee

Photo Credit: Ashlee Tuck

2014 National Harbor Wine and Food Festival Recap

By: Christie Cooper

As soon as I received my souvenir wine glass for the National Harbor Wine and Food Festival, I knew the day would be filled with great spirits, delicious food, and good times. The wine glass was the key to exploring and tasting the plethora of beers, liquors, and wines on display.  When I crossed the entrance into wine lover and foodie heaven, I began my mission – to find a new wine to take home and enjoy.  By the end of the festival, Far Eastern Shore Winery’s (Maryland) Ruby Wine helped me to accomplish my goal.

Located just minutes from Washington, DC, National Harbor is located in Prince George’s County, Maryland on the Potomac River. There was a great variety of samples to choose from – dry, off-dry, and sweet wines, hard ciders, vodkas, and whiskeys. There were also food trucks, vendors, and a stage for food presentations, but alcohol seemed to be the focus of the festival.  One of the many highlights for me was smoking (but not inhaling) a Grand Marnier infused cigar.  It was surprisingly delicious.

My first sample was one of my favorites, Cupcake Wines’ (California) Moscato D’Asti. This refreshing wine contains flavors including peach, tropical fruits and lychee.  Yum! Another familiar brand but one I’ve never tasted, my second sample was the low-calorie Skinnygirl cocktails.  I sampled the Sweet N’ Tart Grapefruit Margarita and White Cranberry Cosmo; two ready-to-serve cocktails and equally delicious.   Although both are low-cal options, they do not have a low-cal taste.  Anytime I can enjoy an alcoholic beverage without worrying how many pounds I’ll gain, it’s a winner in my book.

On the spirits side, I really enjoyed Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which is produced in Austin, Texas.  The vodka was smooth and when mixed with ginger beer, it was a simple, yet delicious cocktail.

Another light, simple, summertime drink I sampled was Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey and Crystal Light Peach Tea. Woodford’s Distiller’s Select variety is handmade in small batches, which gives it a crisp taste.  While sampling the whiskeys, I made sure to get a picture with none other than Mr. Jack Daniels himself.

As I continued making my rounds, I came across Pinnacle Vodka’s line of flavored vodkas and sampled Strawberry Shortcake, which I was told is among the most popular flavors.  The Strawberry Shortcake  was indeed very reminiscent of the dessert, and so smooth that it really didn’t need a mixer.

Other new favorites of the day were The Winery at Olney’s (Maryland) delicious fruit wines.  I sampled the Blackberry Merlot, Peach Chardonnay, Watermelon White Merlot, Green Apple Riesling, and Cranberry Shiraz.  It was difficult to select my favorite, but I narrowed it down to the Peach Chardonnay and Cranberry Shiraz.  I’ll soon add those to my collection of newbies.

If you’re in the area next year, I’d definitely suggest going to the festival.  You’ll come away with having tried many local and national wines and spirits.  It seems well-worth the $40 General Admission fee.  Cheers!

Photo Credit: Christie Cooper and wineandfoodnh.com