First news round-up of 2014, hope you follow me on Twitter (now with more followers than accounts followed!) and Facebook.

• Bar Openings
  • El Rey (U Street) – 919 U St. NW – opened Fri. Jan. 10th – (Facebook, Twitter, website) taqueria & beer garden from Hilton Brothers, made up a shipping containers and a patio with a retractable roof. 3100 square foot space. Lots of tacos and beers. (PoPville, WCP, Washingtonian, UrbanDaddy, WBJ, BYT, Eater, Post, Zagat)
  • Jackpot Tavern (Chinatown/PQ) – 726 7th St. NW (at H) – opened Fri. Jan. 3rd (Facebook) – low-key neighborhood spot from folks behind Iron Horse & Rocket Bar, but without any games and food. Solid beers and a fancy cocktail menu. (WCP, PoPville)
  • RiRa Irish Pub (Georgetown) – 3123-3125 M St. NW – (Twitter, Facebook, website) – opened Tues. Dec 31st – Only Irish bar in Georgetown opens in the old Mie n Yu spot. Chainlet (about 10 US locations, including one in Clarendon). Very nice space, I predict it will be a hit, though this bar opening has been completely under the radar. (PoPville, Eater)
• Bar Announcements
  • Compass Rose (U Street) – 1346 T St. NW (Twitter)  ETA early February 2014 – Street food + bar posts “Coming Soon” sign, hope to open early February. Has been delayed since fall (PoPville, Twitter)
  • The Alibi (Capitol Hill) – (Facebook, Twitter, website) ETA early February 2014 – new British-themed spot in old My Brothers’ Place. News of new opening date exclusively reported by Barred in DC
  • The Royal (Ledroit Park) – 501 Florida Ave. – ETA early summer – neighborhood spot with 40 seats in early 19th century building from Vinoteca owner (Washingtonian, WCP)
  • Bar di Bari (14th and R) to be replaced with new concept called Red Light (WCP)
  • DC Eagle – legendary gay bar to open in space east of the Anacostia River at Minnesota Ave. & Benning Road. Huge space in old warehouse accommodating 800, 4-piece bands, dancing, open-mike nights (WCP, Blade)
• Other News
  • As first reported by Barred in DC, the owner of Madam’s Organ is not a fan of the nearby Tryst. One of the comments on PoPville purports to be from Bill Duggan, the owner of Madam’ Organ. DC Reynolds chimes in with a characteristically entertaining Tweet. (Washingtonian, PoPville)
  • Thrillist has entertaining list of DC’s Bad Decision Bars. Lot of overlap with the douchiest bars, though some actual solid spots. McFadden’s, Rumors, Madam’s Organ, Cafe St. Ex (Gate 54-downstairs bar), Smith Point, Little Miss Whiskey’s, Sign of the Whale, Public Bar, Cafe Asia, Local 16, Lucky Bar, & Wonderland Ballroom make up the list.  (Thrillist)
  • BYT with a review of new Shaw spot Ivy & Coney
  • The Post with a review of the new RiRa Georgetown, predicts it will be popular for happy hour.
  • Duffy’s kicking off a new Monday happy hour: $1 PBR 16 oz. cans (Post)
  • ANC2B supported beer/wine liquor license for Amsterdam Falafelshop to open on 14th St. (Twitter)\
  • Neighborhood meeting this Wednesday, January 15th to discuss Bar Charley‘s request to have extended hours (Twitter)
  • Post reviews two new music venues in very different spots: Gypsy Sally’s (Americana music off K Street in Georgetown) & Tree House Lounge (in Trinidad near Galludet, not really near H Street)
  • Tom Sietsma reviews Bluejacket/The Arsenel; good reviews for space & beers, not so much food.
  • BYT with a roundup of H Street happy hour spots.
• Barred in DC Activity
  • GBD (Dupont) – had some $3-4 great cheap beers and punch, along with some $3.50 catfish nuggets at happy hour
  • Jack Rose (AdMo) –
  • The Pinch  (ColHi) – stop 1 of upper Columbia Heights bar crawl, my first trip to a 14th Street Columbia Heights bar. Very friendly Twitter feed. Interesting spot-definitely divey from outside, first floor is like a neighborhood bar (Stoney’s-ish), while the basement (at least night I was there) is like a wild college frat party (dark lights, dance floor, etc.) $4 Yuengling bottles regular price is pretty solid.
  • Mad Momo’s (ColHi) – stop 2 of ColHi bar crawl, very chill, yet nice, spot; seems more of a restaurant space than a late-night bar. Very cool patio and roof deck
  • Red Derby (ColHi) – last stop of mini-ColHi bar crawl, awesome dive bar, sad I haven’t been sooner. Narrow first floor and nice roof deck (heated during winter). Canned beers and cash only (at least upstairs).
  • Trusty’s Full-Serve Bar (Hill East/Potomac Ave.) – Holy shit, this is an awesome bar, especially the second floor-the bar upstairs is fashioned out of a school bus (order drinks through the open windows. One side of the upstairs is lined with school bus seats and cup holders. Draft beers are served in mason jars (they apparently started doing this before it was cool) and lots of craft can beers. Definitely a dive with a neighborhood feel and a mixed crowd (old, young, black, white, etc.). Worth a trip
  • Wisdom (Hill East/Potomac Ave.) – shabby chic-decor cocktail bar in residential neighborhood near the Potomac Ave. Metro; friendly bartenders, lots of cool little nooks; $8 Bluecoat American gin cocktails from 6-8p weekdays for happy hour and lots of other craft cocktails
  • Bar Charley (Dupont) – very nice Thursday night crowd here at this cocktail bar; enjoyed the Monk Buck $8 cocktail and a gratis Old Overholt Rye shot
  • Duke’s Grocery (Dupont) – nightcap here, very chill and cool after midnight
  • Glen’s Garden Market (Dupont) – had a great $4 Chocolate Stout from Southern Tier
  • Jack Rose (AdMo) – stopped by the upstairs terrace for the terrific NFL playoffs special. $5 beer, whiskey & c0cktails, along with 1/2 price bites. Definitely plan on making it to the DC Brau tap takeover (13 $5 beers) this Sunday for the NFC & AFC title games