GOAT Ugly Sweater Party

G.O.A.T is having an ugly sweater party starting at 9pm this Wednesday, December 19 featuring holiday drink specials and prizes for the best dressed.

Mister Days Customer Appreciation Holidy Party

From 5-8pm on Wednesday December 19, Mister Days is throwing their annual Customer Appreciation Holiday Party. They will be having holly jolly holiday specials, a DJ playing your favorite festive tracks, and more.

Candy Cane Crawl

The Candy Cane Crawl is a holiday season themed bar crawl based in Arlington on Saturday December 19 1-9pm. Thousands of participants will quench their thirst on exclusive drink deals as they explore Clarendon and celebrate the holiday season one bar at a time. Tickets are $20 which includes a refillable Santa mug, other drink specials, and a raffle. You can also donate unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots.  Festive dress and costumes are encouraged. Bars that are feeling festive this year include:
Mad Rose
Clarendon Grill
Clarendon Ballroom
Whitlows
Iota
Mister Days
Sobe
American Tap Room
Spider Kellys
Hard Times
Hunan Number One

Holidazed & Confused Holiday Live at Drafthouse

Although the holiday season is busy, you can still make time for festive comedy at the Arlington Cinema Drafthouse with multiple showings of the Holidazed and Confused live show. This must-see revue features original songs, brand new sketches and classic favorites made famous by Second City legends like Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell. The comedy troop is playing in Arlington for six days with a full list of showtimes here. Usually tickets are $30, but you can get them for $18 at Goldstar now.

It's A Wonderful Night at the Drafthouse

Every year Arlington Cinema Drafthouse hosts a series of showings for the greatest Christmas movie of all time, It's A Wonderful Life at the Drafthouse. The showings run for one week from December 17 to the 22. Tickets are $7.25, and a portion of the gate proceeds go to Patrick Henry Elementary School.

The Drafthouse is also offering four free movie asses (to a future movie) for anyone dressed as one of the following festive themes:
- Santa, Mrs. Claus or Santa Themed Outfit
- Reindeer (Must include more than just Antlers)
- Character from It's A Wonderful Life
- Ugly Christmas Sweater

A portion of the gate proceeds go to Patrick Henry Elementary School - See more at: http://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com/drafthouse/event.aspx?eid=1002#sthash.ogof2rFk.dpuf

Courthaus Social Toy Drive

This Sunday December 6, Courthaus Social is hosting a Brunch with Santa and toy donation drive for the 800 children in the DC General Children Shelter. From 12- 3pm on Sunday the OneUmbrella Foundation Toy Drive will be collecting toys or monetary donations for OneUmbrella to purchase toys. Contact Jessica Burns for more information.

Wilson Tavern Misfits Christmas Party

This Friday, December 27 Wilson Tavern is throwing the last holiday themed party this year for those of us who didn't travel out of town this winter break. Break out your Christmas sweaters and holiday swag one last time with the Misfits Christmas Party starting 9pm.

Christmas Bar Crawl for Cystic Fibrosis Dec 14

Yes, it may be a little early to get into the Christmas spirit, but it's important to keep your December 14th weekend open for OnTap's Holiday Crawl for Charity. This holiday themed bar crawl hits eight great Clarendon bars and raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Tickets are only $10 and gives you access on Saturday Dec 14 from 3-9pm to specials and prizes at Clarendon Grill, Mad Rose, Mister Days, Mexicali Blues, Hunan Number One, Bracket Room and Sobe. Dress up in your finest holiday costumes and prizes will be awarded for the most creative costume, dynamic duo, and best dressed group.

Justin Trawick and 9 Songwriter Series at Iota

Popular local musician Justin Trawick is playing at Iota this Friday, Dec 14. This is going to be a blowout party with co-headliner Taylor Carson and his full band as well as Cassidy Ford opening.  Music will start at 9pm with Cassidy, followed by Taylor and then Justin's band around 10pm.  Tickets are $12 and the show is 21 and up.

 

Then next week don't miss two nights in a row of the 9 Songwriter Series. These awesome traveling showcases was started by Justin Trawick and feature nine musicians in one night for a single cover charge of $10. They will be playing on Monday Dec 17 and Tuesday Dec 18 at Iota starting at 8pm. Both nights will feature holiday themed music to get you in the Christmas spirit!

Whitlows Ugly Sweater night and clothing drive

Thanks to ClarendonPatch for the flyer

Whitlows is partnering with Arlington Street People Assistance Network (A-SPAN) tonight for a Ugly Sweater party and clothing drive. Happy hour go-ers are encouraged to arrive in the tackiest sweaters possible along with clothing donations. Guests who donate will benefit from drink specials and we have prizes for the ugliest sweater. Here is the list of items Whitlows is hopting to collect for A-SPAN.

Hot Chocolate at Northside Social

I tried this delicious hot chocolate at Northside Social today made with dark chocolate. Perfect for a cold holiday break!

Most venues are closed for Christmas. But there are still some nightlife options if you are around, as Iota is open from 7pm to 2am on Christmas night with no cover charge.

Merry Christmas Clarendon!

Merry Metro Christmas

Thanks to Unsuck DC Metro for providing interesting local Christmas photos and movies like this one:


Video credit to Stacey Viera (StaceyViera.com)

Also, if you feel you need to escape your family today and listen to some local music, IOTA is open from 7pm to 2am with no cover charge.

Merry Christmas Clarendon!

Zoo Lights @ National Zoo

The National Zoo in DC is hosting a great night time event to help get you in a festive mood. ZooLights illuminates most of the park with thousands of lights decorating trees, animal silhouettes, and light shows synced up to Christmas music. Cost is $8 and runs from 6-8:30 p.m.

Schedule:
December 4-13 (Friday through Sunday nights)
December 18-January 2 (Every night except December 24, 25, and 31)

Also open nightly are many animal houses, including the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat, Small Mammal House, Great Ape House, Reptile Discovery Center, Think Tank, and Kids' Farm.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra @ Verizon Center

The very original and entertaining Trans-Siberian Orchestra performed at the Verizon Center in DC tonight to a crowd of 15,000.

The band is extremely talented at both playing impressive classical/metal tunes and head banging. The cast included a handful of skilled singers/dancers, three guitarists, bassist, two on keyboards, drummer, and Caitlin Moe leading a dozen DC local musicians on strings.

Even more impressive and memorable than the great music was the stage performance and light show. At one point the transforming and color stage shot lasers into a cloud of snowflakes falling on the center crowd!

The first half of their performance was dedicated to playing what they are known for best: their take on classic Christmas tunes. The second part of the night was a debut for their new non-Christmas themed album, Dark Castle.

A great night for very loudly getting into the holiday mood!

Mr. Greengenes @ Clarendon Ballroom

Ballroom was packed tonight as many Arlingtoners celebrated their last non-work night out before Christmas. The cold weather kept the rooftop closed and crowded people onto the sticky dance floor and the basement which was DJed by Pat Premier.

Cover band Mr. Greengenes made another appearance to the Ballroom, after their last show for DC101's Bad Holiday Sweater party a few weeks ago. They made loud and solid covers of Oasis and Blink182, but then angered the crowd with their Eagles flag waving.