The first event on our St. Patrick’s Day Guide is coming up tonight. Kicking off the festivities is Ri Ra Irish Pub and Restaurant (2915 Wilson Blvd), which is hosting traditional Irish band The Dirty Pints.
The band is expected to take the stage between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m.
Check out our full guide to St. Patrick’s Day (over 21) fun at 16 bars and clubs here.
A natural gas leak has been reported in Clarendon. Firefighters have responded to the intersection of Clarendon Blvd and N Garfield Street, two blocks from the Clarendon Metro.
A Washington Gas crew is heading to the scene. Initial reports suggest a 4 inch gas line ruptured, perhaps due to construction in the area.
Many an Arlington resident is longing for the return of Dr. Dremo’s, the character-building, frathouse-like home of beer, abandoned vehicles, and totem poles. Dremo’s closed down two years ago, as its landlord planned some grand new development that never came to fruition thanks to the recession.
Last year we heard that a new Dremo’s was in the works. Apparently, the Clarendon location that was settled on has fallen through, but now investors are looking at another possible location, according to DCist.
Shiny new brasseries are great, but here’s hoping for the return of an old-fashioned, grungy Arlington hangout.
Here’s our favorite comment from the aforementioned DCist story.
Note: See our latest news on Lyon Hall here.
Lyon Hall is announcing its presence to the world. The French-style brasserie, located a block from the Clarendon Metro, just erected some retro-themed outside signage. It has also launched a presence on Facebook and Twitter.
The owners, who first made their mark in Clarendon with Liberty Tavern, hope to open Lyon Hall by the end of the month. Their other Clarendon development, Northside Social, is expected to open around the same time.
Perhaps trying to distance itself from similar but pricey DC establishments like Brasserie Beck, Lyon Hall is promoting itself as a “casual and affordable” neighborhood restaurant.
Lyon Hall will feature seating for 231, including an outdoor patio and a private dining room. Food will be of the “French brasserie fare” variety, with a heavy German influence. The menu will include burgers, steaks, schnitzel, a variety of sausages and a raw bar.
The drink menu will feature 20 wines by the glass, 40 wines by the bottle, 20 beers on tap and a “wide variety” of bottled beers from France, Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic.
The restaurant is named after Frank Lyon, who developed the 1940s Streamline Moderne building in which Lyon Hall is housed.
Today the Clarendon Alliance announced that in lieu of this year’s Mardi Gras parade, which was canceled due to snow, Clarendon will host a St. Patrick’s Day parade.
The parade is being held on Tuesday, March 16, the night before St. Paddy’s Day. It will kick off at 8:00 p.m. on Wilson Blvd at N. Barton St. The parade will then head up Wilson Blvd to the Clarendon Metro.
The official details are yet to be announced, but we’re told to expect homegrown floats, people in costumes, and marchers from various local organizations. We’re also told that this may turn into an annual event, if it proves to be successful.
See updated articles on Lyon Hall here and here. See more on Northside Social here.
Liberty Tavern’s owner is expanding his presence in Clarendon with two new storefronts, expected to open in a few weeks. Northside Social, a high-end coffee shop and wine bar, will be located at Wilson Blvd and Fairfax Dr, across from Silver Diner. Lyon Hall, a “European-style brasserie,” will be located at Washington Blvd and N Highland St.
Washingtonian has the details on two of Liberty’s new culinary hires, both of whom hail from well-regarded Manhattan restaurants.
Watch out, Bakeshop. Another cupcake shop is coming to Clarendon, and they’re bringing along a loyal following.
Manhattan-based Crumbs Bakery is opening seven stores in the Washington area. As first reported by Washingtonian, one of the stores will be in Clarendon.
A Crumbs representative told arlnow.com that the Clarendon location is scheduled to open in May. She said she was unsure of the future store’s exact location.
Clarendon’s Screwtop Wine Bar received a flattering write-up in today’s Washington Post.
One local’s conclusion about the two-month-old wine bar and cheese shop? Screwtop is “just what the neighborhood needed.”
Along with the recent additions of American Flatbread and Bakeshop, also on N. Fillmore St., it’s getting harder to argue that the neighborhood is missing much of anything food, drink and trend-wise.
The Clarendon snowball fight proceeded as planned this afternoon. Police, who were called to area for a report of people — shocker — drinking and throwing snowballs, did not interfere with the informal gathering.
Attendance was modest: about two dozen people showed up for the hastily-organized event. Half the crowd lined up on one side of the tiny park, representing points south of the Clarendon Metro. The combatants on the other side represented points north.
Sure, it wasn’t much compared to the 3,000-strong Dupont Circle snowball fight. But at least there weren’t injuries. Or people pelting passing cars with snow. Or (like during December’s U Street snowball fight) guns drawn.
Update: 2:40 PM – Police are responding to the area of the Clarendon Metro for report of people seen drinking and throwing snowballs.
Word is spreading fast on Twitter and Facebook about a snowball fight happening outside the Clarendon Metro station. It’s planned for 3:00 PM. According to this Craigslist post, there will be two teams: those who live south of the Clarendon station, and those who live north of it.
There was a festive atmosphere among those hardy or crazy enough to brave the elements in Courthouse and Clarendon last night. There were people making snow angels in the middle of Wilson Boulevard, people sledding down N. 13th Street, a mother and her young son making a snowman outside an office building at 1:00 AM, and, of course, lots of random shouting and general revelry in the streets.
A number of the popular bars that stayed open, including Whitlow’s and Four Courts, were packed with people. Those leaving the bars seemed especially susceptible to the allure of starting snowball fights.
All of this partying was set against a stunningly beautiful backdrop. With snow largely undisturbed in the side streets, urban-dwellers got a rare chance to marvel at a winter wonderland uninterrupted by stretches of slushy asphalt.
The wet snow clung to tree branches to a degree that the powdery snow of December’s Snowpocalypse could not match. There seemed to be a museum-worthy photo around every corner. After the jump are some of those scenes from last night.
