Penn Quarter is D.C.’s neighborhood for entertainment. From the Verizon Center to the National Portrait Gallery, the fluid parameters of Penn Quarter house a spectrum of art, culture and performance that draws and enthralls D.C.’s crowds of fanny-pack tourists and bespoke lobbyists. Not to mention, a stroll down 7th street will captivate any casual people watcher.
Penn Quarter’s showmanship is furthered by two first-rate theaters, the innovative and edgy Woolly Mammoth Theatre presenting contemporary works and Shakespeare Theatre Company in its Lansburgh Theatre and Sidney Harman Hall, which stages imaginative reworks of the Bard among its offerings. Both spaces have brought high entertainment to the D.C. area for over a quarter-century and both are ensconced among D.C.’s marquee restaurants.
Next up for Shakespeare Theatre: The Winter’s Tale at Sidney Harman Hall (August 19 – 31) and from South Africa, The Magic Flute and Venus and Adonis from Isango Ensemble at the Lansburgh Theatre (Sept 12 – 21). At Woolly Mammoth Theatre: Marie Antoinette (Sept 15 – Oct 12) and Metamorphosis from Alliance for New Music-Theatre (Sept 10 – 21).
When in Penn Quarter, stop by these eateries for a pre-show bite or a post-performance drink.
If D.C.’s chefs all decided tomorrow to become politicians, José Andrés would be Speaker of the House. Chef/Owner of Oyamel and the half dozen other restaurants and concepts in the ThinkFoodGroup suite, Andrés enjoys record-level approval ratings as a James Beard Award Winner and thought-leader within the realm of food advocacy and education. One of Andrés standouts, Oyamel centers on small-plates tapas style dining with creative spins on classic urban and rural Mexican dishes. The drink menu often features a seasonal flavor with classic tequila and mescal cocktails being reconstructed to commemorate cultural holidays like Day of the Dead. Oyamel artners with Woolly Mammoth Theatre to provide prefixes menus to ticket holders. Diners will want to make reservations and allot plenty of time before show time.
Open Thursday-Saturday 11:30 AM-2 AM;
Sunday-Wednesday 11:30 AM- Midnight
401 7th Street NW
Washington DC 20001
Price $30-$40
Website
Hill Country Barbeque
Central Texas never felt so close with Hill Country Barbeque. Convincingly down-home and darn-good, Hill Country serves every variety of beef and pork a carnivore can dream up, all with a signature dry-rub and classic Lone-Star sides. Hill Country’s “meal ticket” concept allows guests to put together their dinner market style, choosing their cut of meat, sides and desserts from the different vending stations. During the summer months, Hill Country hosts a back-yard barbeque on the National Building Museum lawn with grilled on-site victuals, buckets of cold ones and live music from a twangy outfit usually in tweed vests and playing banjos.
Open Sunday-Thursday 11:30 AM-10 PM;
Friday & Saturday 11:30 AM-11 PM
410 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
Price $20-$25
Website
District of Pi
When pizza and beer get together all they do is win. District of Pi has this combination down with a menu of pies that come topped with the gourmet and the fresh, complimented by a draft list that pulls selectively from all corners of the craft-beer universe. I have had good experiences with the Berkeley (mozzarella, portabella mushrooms, onions, kalamata olives, red bell peppers, garlic, zucchini) and Western Addition (mozzarella, spinach blended with ricotta & feta, mushrooms, onions, garlic). District of Pi is a good place to go with a large group.
Hours Monday-Saturday 11 AM-Midnight;
Sunday 11 AM-11 PM
910 F St NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Price $20-$25
Website
Iron Horse Taproom
Just saw something thought-provoking and heavy at Woolly and need to lighten the mood? Head to Iron Horse to leaven some of that post-theatre catharsis with one of their choice drafts and the lively atmosphere Enjoy some shuffleboard and arcade games. Relax. Don’t take it all so seriously, its only entertainment! As part of DC Beer Week, Iron Horse will hold a tap take-over tonight with Chicago brewers Finch’s Beer Co., who will be pouring their craft starting at 6 PM at the small bar.
Open Monday-Thursday 4 PM-2 AM; Friday 4 PM-3 AM;
Saturday 3 PM-3 AM; Sunday 5 PM-2 AM
507 7th St NW
Washington, DC 20004
Price $15-$20
Website
What are your favorite restaurants around Woolly Mammoth and the Lansburgh?
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