Thousands jammed the streets of Shirlington on Saturday for the annual Oktoberfest celebration, which features beers from dozens of breweries and food from a number of local restaurants..
While the ID check/ticket lines seemed even longer than usual, the lines for beer seemed more manageable.
Despite the more readily-accessible beer, firefighters told us they responded to fewer intoxication-related medical calls than in previous years.
The Capital City Brewing Co. Oktoberfest in Shirlington is only four days away, but it’s never too early to stare in awe at the massive list of 60+ breweries that will be represented at the annual Teutonic suds celebration.
Adult beverages from the following manufacturers are expected to be available on Saturday: Capital City Brewing, Southern Tier, Woodchuck Cider, Fuller’s, Hacker-Pschorr, Rogue, Climax, Gordon Biersch, Old Dominion, Starr Hill, Tröegs, RJ Rockers, Laughing Dog, Harpoon, Sierra Nevada, Yuengling, Samuel Adams, Mad Fox, Legend, Abita, Allagash, Brooklyn, Heavy Seas, Stoudts, Alewerks, Duck Rabbit, Hebrew, Dogfish, Lost Rhino, DC Brau, Port City, Epic, Oskar Blues, Lagunitas, Delirium Tremens, St. Louis Framboise, New Holland, Victory, Hofbrau, Weihenstephaner, Erdinger, Avery, Stone, Foudners, Bells, Timmermans, Thirsty Dog, Terrapin, Shlafly, St. George, Smuttynose, Otter Creek, Olde Richmond, Trunstein, Corsendonk, Liefmans, Uinta, Original Sin, Long Trail, Lost Coast, Left Hand, Green Flash, Firestone Walker, Crispin, Clown Shoes, Boulder, Blue Point, Bitburger, Kostrizer, Blue Grass, Ballast Point, Sweetwater Tavern.
Of course, beer lovers will have to be choosy with their drinking plans. Each Oktoberfest attendee is only granted tickets for 10 beer samples. (At a cost of $25, which includes a souvenir tasting glass.)
In addition to beer, a number of local restaurants and groups will be offering food to the masses. And, as always, a German band will perform.
The Oktoberfest will take place on Campbell Avenue in Shirlington Village from noon to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Photo courtesy Amber Wilkie Photography
Beer lovers will gather at IOTA Club and Cafe (2832 Wilson Blvd) in Clarendon tonight for the official Arlington launch of draught beers from New Belgium Brewing of Fort Collins, Colo.
The launch party, which is being held from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., will feature brewery representatives and five New Belgium beer varieties on tap. Among the planned draught offerings: the brewery’s popular Fat Tire Amber Ale, the Hoptober Golden Ale, 1554 Enlightened Black Ale, Ranger Indian Pale Ale and Clutch Dark Sour Ale. Numerous New Belgium bottled varieties will also be offered.
Up until very recently, New Belgium beers were not available in the D.C. area. Tonight’s event will celebrate the arrival of New Belgium to D.C. and Arlington. Admission is free, but attendees must be 21 or over.
New Belgium fans will be able to buy beer for consumption on or off premises. Draught beer can be brought home in IOTA’s “Clarendon Growlers,” which are available for purchase.
In addition to the launch party, IOTA is hosting a number of musical performances tonight, including blues-rocker Jason Ager and the usual Wednesday open mic night.
American Tap Room (3101 Wilson Blvd) is putting the finishing touches on its new Clarendon location in hopes of opening after the long holiday weekend. Today the restaurant is doing a trial run for friends and family, but ARLnow.com got a sneak peak.
Dozens of taps line the wall of the bar, which opens up into a large dining room. Beyond the dining area is a glass-enclosed martini bar. During warm seasons, patrons can head outside to the sizable patio and get toasty next to the three fire pits.
“We’re excited to be a part of the Clarendon community,” said Vice President of Marketing Wade Breaux. “We can’t wait to see everyone in a few days.”
Breaux says there’s not any one thing that will set apart American Tap Room from the many other restaurants in the area. Instead, he said, it’s more about the overall experience. He notes the welcoming atmosphere, more than 60 beers on tap, martini room, patio and moderate prices as some of the special features.
“We’re not trying to be the cheapest and we’re not trying to be the most expensive,” Beaux said. “We want to have broad appeal.”
There are still some tweaks necessary before the expected opening on Tuesday, such as getting phone lines up and working. American Tap Room plans to hold a formal grand opening sometime in the next few weeks, when everything is running smoothly.
This is the company’s third American Tap Room location, in addition to locations in Reston and Bethesda.
Now that the first day of September has arrived, it’s time to start looking forward to some of the later summer and fall events that Arlington has to offer.
The first major event after Labor Day is the Rosslyn Jazz Festival on Saturday, Sept. 10. Jazz luminaries Dee Dee Bridgewater, Henry Butler and Grace Kelly will perform at the annual event, which is held in Rossslyn’s Gateway Park.
The annual Vintage Crystal wine and jazz festival is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18. The event, held in a Crystal City parking lot, features wine tastings and food samples, as well as jazz and dance performances, all with a “Latin twist.”
Clarendon Day, another local favorite, will happen on Saturday, Sept. 24 this year. Food vendors, live music, a 10K/5K race and family activities round out the day’s excitement.
The Capital City Brewing Shirlington Oktoberfest is back this year for more Teutonic debauchery in Shirlington Village. Sample enough Märzen-style beers and you’ll forget all about the boisterous crowds and long lines. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 8.
Finally, for the political wonks, Election Day will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 8 this year. Will Barbara Favola successfully fend off a challenge from Republican Caren Merrick? Will Democrats hang on to the Virginia state Senate? Local political types will be watching closely.
Which event are you most looking forward to?
Construction on Reston-based American Tap Room’s new Clarendon outpost is coming along.
The restaurant’s red facade, facing N. Highland Street, looks to be nearly complete, while interior construction is well-underway. A small red fence surrounds an outdoor patio on the north side of the future watering hole. Employees in Reston tell us that they’re pushing for a late-August or early-September opening date.
The “upscale comfort casual dining” restaurant, located across from the Clarendon Metro station at 3101 Wilson Boulevard, is replacing the shuttered Sette Bello Italian restaurant.
Monday Hopes to Enliven Rosslyn’s Restaurant Scene — Building owner Monday Properties is hoping to bring in some new restaurants to the Rosslyn area and shake off the “stigma” that there’s no nighttime foot traffic in the office-oriented neighborhood. The company just signed two new restaurants — Roti Mediterranean Grill at 1501 Wilson Blvd and Ahra Cafe & Sandwich Bar at 1100 Wilson Blvd. It’s hoping to find more restaurant tenants for its 1501 Wilson property. Ahra Cafe, meanwhile, is replacing three existing businesses, including a beloved coffee shop. [Washington Business Journal]
Stamos Handily Wins Fundraising Crown in Prosecutor Race — Theo Stamos has a nearly 30-to-1 cash advantage over David Deane in the Democratic primary for Commonwealth’s Attorney in Arlington. [Sun Gazette]
Sauca Now Serves Beer, Liquor — Sauca Restaurant (4707 Columbia Pike) has obtained its liquor license and is now serving a selection of beer and fruity cocktails. [Pike Wire]
Best Cellars in Clarendon Closes — Best Cellars in Clarendon opened its doors to customers for the last time yesterday. The wine store closed after being unable to reach new terms for a long-term lease renewal with its landlord, ARLnow.com is told. However, in the store’s window was a more humorous list of explanations for the closing. [Clarendon Culture]
Clarendon’s new salad-sandwich-and-cupcake concept, Rabbit Salad and Grill, now has a name and an opening date.
A web site for the new restaurant, located at 3035 Clarendon Boulevard, appeared online yesterday. A representative tells us that they’re hoping to hold a grand opening on July 28.
Rabbit will offer “quality salads, sandwiches and meals in a comfortable dining room,” along with a selection of beer and wine.” In addition, sweets will be offered thanks to an in-store Red Velvet Cupcakery counter (Rabbit and Red Velvet share the same owners).
The restaurant is now hiring cooks, dishwashers and servers.
Shirlington Oktoberfest Returns — A date has been set for this year’s Oktoberfest event in Shirlington. The annual celebration of all things German and beer-related will take place on Saturday, Oct. 8. Tickets are $25. [Shirlington Village Blog]
Pike Library, Career Center Renovations — A series of improvements is planned for the building on S. Walter Reed Drive that houses the Columbia Pike Branch Library and the Arlington Career Center. Over the next 9 months crews will replace the building’s windows and front doors, roof and drainage system and the entire heating and air conditioning system.
Firefighters Endorse Areizaga-Soto — The Arlington Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association has endorsed Jaime Areizaga-Soto for state Senate. “Jaime understands the needs of Firefighters in Arlington County and across the 31st
District,” said local union president Sean O’Connell. Areizaga-Soto is facing a tough primary battle against Arlington County Board member Barbara Favola.
Don’t Blame Metrobus Drivers — County Board Chairman and former Metro board member Chris Zimmerman says overpaid drivers are not to blame for the transit agency’s troubles. Metrobus drivers make more than their counterparts at suburban bus systems like Arlington’s ART or the Fairfax Connector service. [Sun Gazette]
Flickr pool photo by Chris Rief
About 500 people showed up at the American Legion post in Virginia Square on Saturday to chug beer, drink Crown Royal and sample bull testicles.
The Montana State Society’s 2011 Testicle Festival was a rousing success, said co-organizer Jed Link, who noted that last year’s event in the District — which lacked Crown Royal — only drew 200 attendees. Link also observed that the line for fried testicles was longer than ever.
Our photos from the event, for those who have already eaten their breakfast, are below.
More than 500 people are expected to show up at the Arlington American Legion post in Virginia Square (3445 Washington Blvd) this weekend to chow down on 60 pounds of “peeled, sliced and fried bull testicles.”
The seventh annual Montana State Society ‘Testicle Festival’ is being held from 6:00 to 10:00 Saturday night. A $20 ticket buys you “all the Crown Royal you can drink and all the balls you can eat,” as festival co-organizer Brittany Beauleiu told NBC Washington. There will also be all-you-can-drink beer and country music from the Wil Gravatt Band.
Also known as Rocky Mountain oysters or cowboy caviar, bull testicles are said to be chewy and taste like chicken.
The western delicacy might not be for everyone — but everybody has a price, right? How much would someone have to pay you to sample some bull baby makers?
Photo by Fernando Hartwig
