Erika "Kali" C.'s Profile

I've never taken a formal mixology class (mostly just thrown behind the bar and made it up as I went along...), so I was pumped to learn that our surprise company party was a class with H at the Boothby Center.

Even after working in a bar for over 3 years, I learned so much more about the history of the drinks we made, the reasons the ingredients were mixed together, and how to do it properly, as opposed to "ya, that looks right-ish" with H and his team. I feel way more knowledgeable and apt to mix PROPER drinks now.

My improved repertoire of drinks includes the Martini, Mojito, Manhattan, and Margarita. All H tested, Erika approved.

If you're looking for something different to do for an event, ladies/dudes night out, or just because you're curious, hit these guys up. TOTALLY WORTH IT.

I think I've been to BOTH more times in the last month than I have collectively over the years (thanks in part to NoisePop!), and it's been well worth it.

The venue it'self is pretty small, so no matter where you stand in the crowd, it feels like you're rightnexttotheband, which is really cool.  The small room in the back and the smoking porch are good places to escape to when the crowd gets a little too agro, and trust me, it will.  

Drink prices aren't bad at all, and the food is only a little overpriced.  I paid $6 for what may have been the weakest grilled cheese ever, but I was hungry so I'm not too bent outta shape about.  Also, the staff is super nice, always a friendly hello from the bouncer/ID checker/ticket collector folks.

Another cool thing about BOTH:  After sets, the bands usually hang out in the crowd afterwards, so you totally have a chance of chatting up the drummer from whatever band just played.  Wednesday night I found myself sandwiched between the bassist of Typhoon and the guitarist from local favorite Social Studies.  I felt special.

When trying to plan where to go for an immediate alcohol fix after a long day of work, The Phoenix is always up for the challenge and ready to help a gal out.  It serves it's purpose - drinks?  yes.  Cheap eats during happy hour?  yes.  Awesome bartenders?  totally.  a place in the back to unwind and decompress?  love it.

For anyone more than a block away, they have tv's, good food, and it's always a good time - cool crowd (mix of locals and curious yupsters from other parts of the city) and legit prices on drinks.  No complaints.

Blowfish has been on my to-do list for way too long, so last night I finally gave in and met a friend here for dinner and drinks.  All the anticipation, the waiting, the anxiousness.  Will it live up to the hype that I've created in my mind?  Will it be everything my roommate says it is?  Do I even like sushi?  Wait....

It's true, I'm not a huge sushi fan.  Never have been, prolly never will be.  But sometimes you just gotta try it and see if maybe, just maybe, this joint and it's fish is different.

Blowfish Sushi IS everything you've heard it is.  It's a cute spot with anime on tv, the staff is super friendly, and the food is AWESOME, and again, I'm not a sushi person.

The edamame was pretty legit.  Could have been more salty, but I liked it none the less.

The chicken wonton dumpling thingy's that are considered an appetizer?  SO DELIGHTFUL, and it's totally fine as your entree.  I also got an order of the white tuna, and WOW, I was shocked.  It was very mild (fishy wise) and very delicious. Next time I might even order 4 pieces instead of 2.  Pair it all with some of the dry sake, and it's just dreamy.

All in all, it was a great experience, and I will definitely be back for round 2.  I'm still kicking myself for waiting this long to dine there - silly bias towards sushi, how dare you, pfffftttt.

Flight lands at 6am.  First World Cup Match is at 7am.  Hotel room not ready until 9am.  What to dooooooooo....

Thank goodness Lucky Bar was a block away from the hotel, because otherwise we'd have been screwed.  Sure, they don't serve booze before 8am, but whatever, this place rocks.  So many tv's to watch the match on, the staff was super friendly regardless of the rowdiness that early in the morning, and hot damn if we didn't go back later that night....or the next day...or the day after that for more soccer matches and pints upon pints.

Mad props the the mustachioed door guy for putting up with people's BS/whining at not being let in due to capacity being full at the US-Serbia game.  I've been there/done that, and it's not fun.  You did it with grace sir.  Even if you didn't let my friends in, I still respect the job.

Came here for a rehearsal dinner.  Let me tell you, it's ALL ABOUT THE VIEW!  Gorgeous panoramic views of the Potomac, the atmosphere is great, and the ballroom where the dinner was held was amazing.  The bartenders were on point (can I have 80 more Dirty Shirley's please?), and the food was just ok.

Again, come here for the views and ambiance, have a few cocktails, and maybe stay for the food.

After having more beers then normally recommended at The Guards, my friend took me here as a joke so I could see what real yuppies party like.

I walked away thinking "I have seen the douche-factory, and lived to drink another day".

Honestly, I had no idea they served food here, so this review is strictly for the nightlife aspect which I had the awkward pleasure of experiencing last week while in DC for a wedding.

It seems the future bride and groom met one night at the Guards, and after their rehearsal dinner, decided to venture back to where it first started.  Naturally, the rest of us tagged along.

I remember the DJ not being very consistent with the music.  MJ one minute, Ting Tings the next, followed by a G&R medley.  Random, but ok, sure, I've had some cocktails.  I met some locals who had a love/hate relationship with the place, and were surprised to find so many fancily dressed ladies taking whiskey shots that aggressively (weddings have that effect on people).

The upstairs crowd and downstairs crowd were two totally different group of ppl/scenes, it was quite bizarre.  Either way, both were a generally "yuppie" crowd, but honestly, I didn't care.  Yuppies can have fun too, and can take some crazy minderaser shots like champs to boot.

Benders is pretty cool on a Sunday afternoon after laying out at Dolores Park sunning all day and you need that dark, dingy atmosphere and a cold beer and not a lot of people getting all up in your space.

Benders is kinda cool on weekends, although the crowd can be overwhelming and slighty agro.

Benders is the best on Wednesdays when you're feeling self destructive and you live 2 blocks away and need some beer, whiskey, more beer and more whiskey faster.

Oh Rosamunde, dear, sweet Rosamunde.....

The breakfast scramble in the mornings.  The various sausages and legit beers (Racer 5, hefe's, snake bites) in the afternoon or night.  It's never NOT a good time to come here and park yourself on a bench and enjoy their wares.

Seriously good food, friendly staff, and assortments of sausage dipping sauces your mom would be proud of.

Since right now is World Cup, I suggest coming here to check out the matches (especially Germany) as they put up a large projector screen in the back for all to see and cheer at.