The government has shut down, but lots has happened in the DC bar scene in the past week or so:

• I had a comprehensive post about where fellow furloughed feds like myself should have went to drown their sorrows last Tuesday. I urge you to refer to more updated lists from the Post and the WCP if you want to see if your favorite spot is offering any furlough specials during the 2nd week of the shutdown.
• Bar News
  • City Tap House (Penn Quarter/Chinatown) (Twitter, Facebook, website) (901 9th St. NW) (mid November 2013): City Tap House, a popular gastropub in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia (serving Penn and Drexel students), will be opening its second location in the space briefly occupied by the restaurant 901 at 9th & I. Reportedly with 50 bars on tap and solid bar food.  The local DC UVa alumni group has an event scheduled there on November 14th; the bar told me it hopes to open in mid-November. 
  • The Alibi (Capitol Hill) (Facebook) (237 2nd St. NW) (Dec. 1, 2013): My Brother’s Place will not be re-named “My Place” after all. Instead, it will be called The Alibi, with a new bar, kitchen, and bathrooms and will not re-open until December. The hilarious dive shut down in July 2013 after a series of issues with ABRA.
  • Barcelona Wine Bar (U Street/Logan Circle) (Twitter, Facebook, website): new tapas spot/wine bar opened this week in an old gym near 14th and R St. NW. Chainlet originating from Connecticut, this spot will have a hugely popular patio (in the old outdoor fitness space). Remains to be seen if it’ll turn out more like a bar open late or a restaurant. (WCP)
  • Cause re-opened on U Street after a 6 week hiatus. Expanded bar and more curated drink list. If you recall, I infamously broke the news that the bar (which aims to donate profits to charity) was closing; this news led to a flurry of news articles which confirmed that it would be closing, albeit temporarily. WCP with the details about its re-opening. 
  • Roving martini cart at the freshly renovated J&G Steakhouse and Bar 515 wine bar (WCP) 
  • Duke’s Grocery (Dupont) establishes a very lengthy happy hour, Noon-7p on weekdays. $5 beers, wines and house cocktails.
  • A couple early reviews of the new neighborhood, family-friendly spot, Petworth Citizen (BYT, Post)
  • Granville Moore’s (H Street) will be expanding slightly (Eater)
  • Marvin (U Street) announces decent new happy hour for the bistro (first floor). Runs 5:30-7:30p weekdays, 1/2 price mussels & burgers, $4 Stella drafts, $6 house cocktail & wines.
  • DCist listed its 8 favorite DC hotel bars (Thanks, probably, to one of my tweets, the Tabard Inn was added to this list after being omitted as an oversight): Zentan, 14K, Quill, Bistro Bis, Bar Rouge, POV, Off the Record, & Tabard Inn. 14K sounds interesting, but Bar Rouge isn’t a great pick. It’s hard to trust a list that omits the Round Robin Bar at the Willard; I would have also added Urbana, the bar at Bourbon Steak (the Four Seasons), and maybe Firefly.
  • WCP with a short post about all the freebies bars handed out to feds last Tuesday.
  • Kabin, the new nightclub in Dupont, welcomed Mr. Belding on Wednesday.
  • U Street Liquor Moratorium request rejected, as expected, by ABRA (WCP)
  • Make sure you stop by Gordon Biersch this Tuesday or the next to get $2.50 half-liters of its beer. (Twitter)
  • Read the new Shaw spot Dacha Beer Garden‘s settlement agreement.
  • Justin’s Cafe in the Navy Yard was fined $2,750 and had its liquor license suspended for 2 days in mid-October for serving way too many people on its patio, in violation of its liquor license and settlement agreement (ABRA).
  • Libertine (Adams Morgan) received approval to serve booze on its sidewalk patio with extended hours. In an interesting (and potentially far-reaching) decision, ABRA ruled that a settlement agreement wasn’t required, but ended up including two important restrictions (that normally would be part of a settlement agreement) as part of the liquor license-no bar crawls & stipulations on noise.
  • National Tap House (Dupont) enters into settlement agreement with the local ANC and will get a liquor license. More details hopefully soon. 
•  Barred in DC activity
  • Acadiana (Downtown): discovered great $5 happy hour (great Cajun food and drinks, though ends early at 6p) and a huge secluded patio on the quiet part of K Street
  • Duke’s Grocery (Dupont): really enjoyed hanging out at here a recent Friday night, great chicken tikka masala, hospitable service
  • Jack Rose (Adams Morgan): Enjoyed some great tiki drinks on the last Tiki Thursday of the year on the 2nd floor back bar
  • Glen’s Garden Market (Dupont): grabbed a free furlough beer before noon, accompanied by a tremendous sandwich at this grocer/craft beer spot
  • Hank’s Oyster Bar (Dupont): spent a couple hours on a quiet Friday night at the upstairs Up Bar, classy spot on 17th Street
  • Federal Employee Furlough Shutdown Tuesday
    • Old Ebbitt Grill (Downtown): great spot with lots of DC character to grab a drink at 10a on a weekday (the bloody mary I had, albeit pricey at $12.50, was amazing and included a shrimp cocktail)
    • Marvin (U Street): took the 52 bus to U Street, where the great 2nd floor deck was open at noon for a DJ, a nice crowd and Stella specials (I had a few $1 and $2 beers)
    • Kangaroo Boxing Club (ColHi): Stop 3 was reached after a short DC Circulator ride followed by a nice stroll through the neighborhood; packed house, enjoyed some good eats and a free Screwdriver
    • DC Reynolds (Petworth): my first trip to this low-key neighborhood joint with huge back patio (a few blocks away from KBC). Enjoyed BOGO (till 9p) before taking the 64 bus back to P Street.