Clarendon closings in 2014

 This past year was a tumultuous time for Clarendon with many surprise closings of some of my favorite venues. Here is a run down with the changes over 2014:


Sadly the fancy restaurant and rooftop Eventide suddenly closed one Sunday without warning. I wish I had a last chance at the excellent food in the second floor dining hall with the super high ceilings and booths with mini doors. Even worse this high end restaurant is planned to be replaced by Don Tito from the A-Town team, which sounds like it will be completely opposite of what Eventide once offered.

Twin quirky restaurants Tallula and Eatbar both shut down at the end of 2014. I enjoyed Tallula's menu, although it was often empty on that side of the building. Eatbar was a fun movie themed bar, but the food was overpriced and subpar and also suffered from being not close to anything. Texas Jack's Barbecue is set to take over the space in 2015.

We lost Wilson Tavern in Courthouse to a new hotel project this past year. I was sad about that as Social DC PR just started throwing fun themed parties there and it was the spot to catch the last episode of How I Met Your Mother.

Summers in Courthouse is set to close this year, and I have mixed feelings about the outdated soccer bar leaving us. It felt stagnant, but will miss the nights I spent there as a Marymount college student.

Java Shack will be turning into Commonwealth Joe in 2015. I felt luke warm on Java Shack so I am optimistic about this change.

And rumor has it that Carpool in Ballston my close in 2015 and may be demolished to make way for more high rise residential development. I hope that isn't true and we don't lose another quirky old favorite spot here.

Jay's is the clear winner in 2014 as they are still open despite years of talk of closing and the upper floor of the building being deemed unsafe.

NYE without cover in Clarendon

Don't feel like paying a cover charge or buying a ticket in advance to celebrate New Year's Eve tonight in Clarendon? Here is my short list of some of the local venues open for business and free to get into:

Bakeshop - For the anti-NYE crowd, this local cupcakery will have its doors open until midnight to server your final 2013 sugar cravings.

Bracket Room - Open at noon with no cover all night. My pick for one of the best free spots to go to, and probably will be crowded early.

Eat Bar - Complimentary toast at midnight

Fireworks - Good if you want Neapolitan pizza and beer one last time in 2013.

Fuego -  $5 Carlos Slim margarita all day, happy hour at 4pm

Hunan Number One - Giant beers!

Mexicali Blues -  Half price burritos all day and night; mini-champagne or Corona toast at midnight.

O'Sullivans - An early NYE celebration with an Irish Guinness toast at 7pm. After that live music by William Dickey at 9:30pm

Spider Kelly's - Bound to be packed tonight, with no cover or dress codes.

If I've missed any please tweet me the info.

End summer at Whitlow's Pig Roast

Despite many people being out of town for Labor Day weekend, there are still plenty of events going on in Clarendon. Tonight, Sunday September 1st, Whitlow's is having a pig roast rooftop party starting at 5pm followed by a pub quiz at 8pm. First prize is tickets to the October 20th show for the great indie band and one of my favorites The Dismemberment Plan.

Afterword go next door to Iota to see some local DC based musicians Lindsay Buckingham Palace and our own Derek Evry. $10 cover gets you in for both shows that start at 8:30pm. Another choice for spending the last weekend of summer in town is to catch a showing of Fast Times at Ridgemont High starting 8pm at Eat Bar's "Back to School Month" cinema series.

Eat Bar's Sunday Wes Anderson movies

Eat Bar, Clarendon's not to be forgotten unique little bar down Washington Blvd, is starting up their weekly Sunday Night Cinema series tonight staring movies by Wes Anderson.  The first installment will be The Royal Tenenbaums tonight, Sunday August 4 starting at 8pm. There is no cover charge, and you may be able to get concession stand treats for free too. If you can't wait until tonight, Eat Bar opens at 11am Saturdays for their Classic Cartoon Weekend Brunch. The schedule for the rest of August movies is:

August 4 - The Royal Tenebaums
August 11 - Rushmore
August 18 - The life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
August 25 - Fantastic Mr. Fox

Big Beach Blanket Wine Bash at EatBar

EatBar is celebrating their fifth annual Big Beach Blanket Wine bash this Saturday, June 22. The party goes from 1 to 4pm and features 20 different wines designed to be enjoyed on a summer day along with Blue Mountain Lager on tap. Snacks are also provided with BBQ pork sliders, mini  hot dogs with cole slaw & spicy mustard and other picnic themed bites. Cost is $27 and you can get tickets here.

Some Valentine's Day events in Arlington

While most restaurants are booked to capacity on this popular night, you may be able to squeeze into Northside Social's wine bar. Set in their cozy upstairs bar that oozes romance, they feature a wine happy hour that is from 5 to 7pm and features two reds, two whites and one sparkling wine for $5 each.  A cheeseboard and two glasses is $21. This little wine and coffee shop owned by Liberty Tavern also made the Washington Post's most romantic DC places!

For a non-traditional V-day, try Arlington Cinema Drafthouse for their comedy night. Comic Rahmein Mostafavi weekly "Cool Cow Comedy Showcase" starting at 8pm. The show features multiple comedians in their small bar area and has a $5 cover. Then they are showing the classic Princess Bride movie at 7pm and 9:50pm.

A-Town in Ballston has about five tables currently available for their $99 three course menu for two. This includes a bottle of champagne, see the flyer on the right for details.

Eatbar is hosting an "Anti-Valentine's" day party tonight, featuring some drink specials and a homemade anti-Valentine's Card contest.

Wilson Tavern is open again after expanding, and is throwing a Love Bites Valentie's Day party. From 8pm to midnight condoms & candy necklaces provided at the door, and I think if you print out this page you get two drink tickets.

Fright Night at Frontpage Saturday night

Halloween parties continue Saturday night in Arlington at the Frontpage in Ballston. Costumes aren't required, but there are cash prizes including $300 for first place. There is no cover charge to get in, and DJs Pat Premier and Clinton Matthews start playing at 8pm.

Also on Saturday night, EatBar is hosting their Funkadelic Halloween party beginning at 9pm with costumed cover band Parliament Funkadelic, aka P-funk.

The Sound Of Music @ EatBar

Tonight EatBar hosts its for its Sunday movies series, featuring The Sound of Music show and sing-a-long. Enjoy the classic with bratwurst and free beer steins.

This free event starts at 8pm. Next week EatBar will be showing The Princess Bride.