Goodbye Bracket Room (not really)

Update:
Not an April Fools joke, but Bracket Room announced on Instagram Monday March 30  that it is re-opening for carryout only. These are confusing times. Glad to have this Clarendon venue back though and hope all the other restaurants can eventually re-open too after the pandemic.

Original post:
The COVID-19 coronavirus appears to have permanently closed Bracket Room today, March 24. The sports venue on Garfield Street had previously reduced service for take out and delivery to help limit the spread of the virus. It is the first in what could be a series of permanent closures that will completely change the Clarendon nightlife and business scene in these dangerous times.

Bracket Room will be missed as it has been servicing drinks and throwing sports events for more than six years. I particularly remember an incredibly fun night in 2013 that turned into my favorite NYE in Clarendon ever. While relatively small and tucked behind Circa, it had a multitude of TV screens and often threw charitable events for suicide prevention and cancer fundraisers.

Thank you for Chris Bukowski and the other owners for the past six years! Sad to see Bracket Room shut down.

Goodbye Hunan Number One

Clarendon was sadly hit with another closing notice this week with Hunan Number One declaring their last day open will be Sunday August 11. This sudden announcement caught me by surprise as recently Hunan had bartender, server and delivery job wanted signs on their front window. It will definitely be missed as Hunan was one of the last dive-bar-ish old venues in Clarendon, which is quickly being dominated by high end sports bars and nightclubs.

Hunan was famous for its casual atmosphere and giant low cost 32oz beer mugs, usually $9 with happy hours lasting until 9pm. Hunan also had a minor renovation in 2015 adding arcade, pinball and a pool table to its rear bar.

Come down to Garfield Street this Friday and Saturday night to give Hunan a final sendoff!

Goodbye Mister Days

It 's a sad day to learn that the wonderfully down to earth sports bar Mister Days will be closing for good on Friday, April 12. It was shocking to read ArlNow break the news on the classic nightlife staple deciding to close after 18 years in Clarendon. Mister Days as a brand is actually 41 years old dating back to when it was started in DC as a happy hour spot.

Mister Days moved to Highland Street in 2001 just before Clarendon turned into the bustling nightlife spot it is now, attracting a young crowd to its multi-floor bar, infamous dance floor and many TV screens. Mister Days continued to be popular spot with poker, trivia, cornhole, DJs, game days, and VA Tech alumni.

The owner Robert E. Lee, whose grand mother actually has a building named after her down the street at Marymount University's Rose Bette Lee Center, decided to close up the bar and sell to another local Patrick Crump. Crump hopes to rekindle the glory days of Mister Days with a new restaurant "The Grill on Highland". The aptly named bar may take elements from the also closed next door former venue Clarendon Grill. With both Mister Days and the Grill closed up, the next few days will see a much quieter Highland Street at night between Lyon Hall and GOAT.

ATown Last Sunday Funday Onesie Party

Photo credit Anna Fowler @anna_fowler87

This Sunday Dec 30 will be the last Sunday Funday party that Ballston's A-Town is famous, or infamous depending on your option, for on a weekly basis since 2012. Like all the previous weekend parties, this last Sunday will include brunch buffet, a packed dance floor, lots of shots and bottle service, and plenty of antics and even some party goers arriving in onesies.

While A-Town will say goodbye to Arlington nightlife when its lease ends Jan 1, 2019, its owners are not leaving the scene. Unlike other recent sad closings of Clarendon venues, Scott Parker and the other owners are closing A-Town on their own terms and are planning a renovation with a new concept and new lease. We are all looking forward to what they will bring to Ballston, as Parker has been successful with venues like Don Tito, GOAT and Barley Mac recently.

You will have one last chance to say goodbye to A-Town as they host their 7th annual New Year's Eve party. Tickets are available here that include drink tickets, table service, champagne and more.

Another Loss For Live Music As Clarendon Grill Closes

Today's a sad day for Clarendon live music scene as another venue announced it is closing. Clarendon Grill, which has been a local mainstay for 22 years, confirmed that the August rumors were true and they will be closing in October.

Here is their Facebook post from today announcing their upcoming closure:
"So Long, Farewell...



It’s been an amazing ride. Our hearts are heavy as we share that the doors of the Clarendon Grill will be closing for good at the end of October. We were not ready, but sometimes things happen to change the course.

Some of you were around when the doors of the Clarendon Grill first opened back in the 1996 and some of you may not have been born yet. Either way we have truly enjoyed being the go to place for live music in Clarendon. When the Grill first opened there were few bars and fewer customers. As Clarendon grew in popularity, so did The Grill. We were extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to be a part of a community that has since blossomed into a vibrant collection of local businesses.

One of the most unique aspects of the Clarendon Grill is the staff. From our General Manager, to our bus boys, to our bartenders-the staff has remained the same for close to 20 years. That is a reflection of the unique culture and values that went well beyond a typical neighborhood bar. The Clarendon Grill was not just burgers, beers, and live music; it was a family to it’s staff and a “Night Out” for the community.
One of the many things we can be thankful for is all of the memories we have helped create, whether happy, funny, sad or forgettable (purposely or not). Thank you all for your support over the past 22 years.

It’s been a great run, but alas all good things must come to an end. There will be other bars, but none quite like the Clarendon Grill. Some things are replaceable like burgers and beers, but other things are intangible and we will argue that the staff and the experience we provided, will not be matched.

Cheers!

The Clarendon Grill Staff"

Goodbye Clarendon Grill?

ARLnow recently reported the possibly of long time nightlife staple Clarendon Grill closing soon as its address has been listed up for rent. This would be an incredibly sad development if it comes true that the Grill is leaving us, as it has been a major late night venue in Clarendon for over 20 years. The Grill holds a special place in this blogger's heart as well, since my very first Clarendon Nights post was of an 80s cover band there in 2008.

Clarendon Grill offers something for everyone, with a wide variety of events including Salsa class Mondays, trivia Wednesdays, and touring cover bands playing every Friday and Saturday night. With a central stage, multiple long bars, a renovated interior in 2010, a large outdoor rear patio, and situated in the center of Clarendon with plenty of foot traffic the Grill seems to have all the makings of a successful bar and restaurant.

Owner Peter Pflug opened up Clarendon Grill with its iconic vertical CLARENDON neon sign in 1996. He even lived in Clarendon just down the street from his venue for a while. It's hard to guess at what could cause the Grill's demise, as it could be the rent, or stiff competition from newcomers like Don Tito or the GOAT, or possibly the decline of interest in live music after the closing of Iota.

Last Show at Iota

Some of the big names that have graced Iota's stage

Saturday Sept 30 is the last day Iota will be open for live music and they are going out with a day long celebration of live music forever with more than a dozen acts. Starting at  noon, a $10 cover will get you in to see all these musicians and more:

Justin Jones
El Quatro
Alex Parez
Two Ton Twig
No Second Troy
Mike Ferrio
Lauren Calve
Jumpin Jupiter
The Cowards Choir
Mary Battiata and Little Pink
Delarcos
Gist
Metrosongs
Fuzz Queen
Margot MacDonald
Jose Miguel Contreras

Then on Sunday from noon to 8pm, a final closing and sale will happen on premises with beer and wine sales. Your last chance to take home a piece of Iota!

Goodbye Mad Rose

Another late night staple in Clarendon has shut it's doors this weekend with Mad Rose Tavern throwing its Last Call party Saturday Jan 21. This isn't as much as a tear jerker as other recent closings, as the next door Pampola owners Social Restaurant Group also are involved with Mad Rose and are planning on opening a Taiwanese food restaurant Bao Bar to replace Mad Rose.

Mad Rose opened in 2011 with a strange layout and mediocre food. They worked on focusing themselves on their patio hooka service and late night DJ's. In 2013 they made a splash by hosting a Sisqo concert, which I was hoping was going to lead them to more live music shows in the future. They did well with events and parties thrown by Social DC PR and others as well as frequently hosting popular DJs like Yezmin Soliz. Their back patio was their biggest draw, even if it was in an easy to miss location hidden behind 3100 Clarendon office building.

Looking forward to Bao Bar! Hope it opens soon, maybe later in 2017.

Wilson Tavern Closing Party

It's sad to say goodbye to any fun bar, but its especially crappy to have a closing party for a great place like Wilson Tavern. The bar has hosted dozens of themed events since they opened in Clarendon late 2011. After expanding to double their size in 2013, they have teamed with local promoters like Social DC PR to throw unique parties like:

"Daisy Dukes and Cowboy Boots"
"Condoms and Candy Necklaces"
"Prevent Cancer 5k Fundraiser"
"How I Met Your Mother Finale"
"No Work Monday Snowday"

Unfortunately Wilson Tavern's days were numbered once Arlington County approved that it could be torn down and replaced with an ugly hotel. So this Tuesday, May 13 there will be one last party before they shut Wilson Tavern's doors for good and VA Tech alumni will have to find another place to get Top Of The Stairs Rails.