DC Brau’s Pride Pils. (Photo by Mel Gold for DC Brau)
D.C.’s Capital Pride celebration seems to grow larger every year. It’s certainly more than just a Saturday parade and a festival. That’s especially true this year, with the Equality March for Unity & Pride taking place on the Mall this Sunday. And while gay bars will always be perfect places for Pride parties, there are a host of other bars and restaurants who are taking part in this rainbow of celebrations. Here are a few ways to celebrate being unapologetically proud at a variety of D.C. eateries and drinking establishments.
Beer
This June, 700 cases of DC Brau Pils will be repackaged as “Pride Pils” featuring a designer label that will be available throughout Washington. All proceeds from the sale of the special golden unicorn cans will benefit SMYAL, and (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) The Washington Blade Foundation.
More beer!
Come to the hoppin’ Dacha Beer Garden (1600 7th St. NW) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday June 10, for a Beads, Brats, and Beers pre-parade event. The $15 free includes one beer, one brat, and lots of beads. Post-parade, at 3:30 p.m., the bar is partnering with DC Brau to offer its limited-edition Pride Pils cans. Since you’ll need to be properly fed before Sunday’s march, the beer garden is also holding a Equality March Fuel Up from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The $10 combo nabs a pride pretzel and coffee. Beers, champagne, wines, and cocktails start pouring at 9 a.m., including the limited release DC Brau Pride Pils.
Pizza
At Declaration, a new spot in Shaw, you can pair a rainbow of Pride drinks with pizzas all week. It’ll be serving thematic cocktails through June 11 with names like Harvey Milk Tea Punch and Rocky Horror Cobbler Show. On June 11, there will be six different styles of mimosa—one for each color of the flag.
Rooftop cocktails
This weekend’s weather looks perfect for sipping cocktails on the roof, and the rooftop lounge at the Liason Capitol Hill hotel (415 New Jersey Ave. NW) has special Pride-inspired drinks all month long. The six drinks reflect the colors of the rainbow flag. Choices include cocktails like the What a Drag (with gin, chartreuse, cucumber, basil, and lime) and the The Homo Sensorium (rum, blueberry, vanilla, lemon verbena, and lemon). They’re also available at the downstairs restaurant, Art and Soul. For each one purchased in June, $1 will be donated to the Capital Pride Alliance.
EatWell
This gay-friendly community of restaurants is going all out this year. The Bird (1337 11th St. NW), Grillfish (1200 New Hampshire Ave. NW) and The Pig (1320 14th St. NW), as well as Commissary (1443 P St. NW) and Logan Tavern (1423 P St. NW), which are along the parade route, will all be serving Pride-themed food and drinks, including a special cocktail benefiting the SMYAL charity. The Bird is also set to host Flamingo Friday on Friday, June 9, 2017 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., featuring discounted cocktails and free bites.
Smoke
Espita Mezcaleria (1250 9th St. NW) is getting in the game this weekend, as well. It’ll be serving a pink-tinged mezcal cocktail called People of the Clouds, topped with a lavender jicama stick. Proceeds benefit the Trevor Project.
Nostalgia
Cocktail bar Quarter + Glory (2017 14th St. NW) is giving some throwback realness with its Trumpets Pop-up Reunion on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The party pays homage to Trumpets, which was a D.C. gay bar mainstay on 17th and Q in the ‘90s. It’ll features guest bartenders, one of Trumpets’ original DJs, and specialty drinks. Tickets are $20; all proceeds benefit the Human Rights Campaign.
Bottomless Brunch and Dancing
Urbana (2121 P St. NW), at the start of the parade route, is hosting “Pride & Shine,” a massive all-day Pride party on Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It starts with a bottomless brunch that includes pizza and charcuterie stations, but also, and just as importantly, rainbow Jell-O shots and Pride-themed Bellinis. The DJ starts spinning at noon. Later in the day, Roxxxy Andrews of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame will be performing. Tickets are $75 and include the open bar and food all day, as well as pretty sweet viewing spots. Proceeds benefit The Trevor Project.
