Photo courtesy of Eat The Rich.
For children, Halloween is all about spooky costumes and begging for candy. It’s the perfect combination of rebelliousness and self-gratification—something that we adults can attest is very lacking throughout most of the holiday season’s high points. So why should kids be the ones to have all the fun? After all, Halloween is the one holiday that truly improves with the celebrants’ ages, or at least once they reach legal drinking age, that is. The following is a round-up of Halloween events involving alcohol*, food, and costumes. Unleash your inner child.
Wicked Garden Party at Poste
Poste Moderne Brasserie is hosting a Wicked Halloween Garden Party on Saturday. The party is sponsored by Stella Artois and includes happy hour food and drink specials on the patio from 8 p.m. to midnight. Costumed partygoers can expect door prizes and wicked music from DJ Liu-Han. Additionally, head bartender Justin Hampton will be serving a Crown Royal apple punch called Bobbing for Apples, which comes in individual portions so you don’t have to dunk your head in the bowl. No tickets are necessary, but costumes are highly recommended.
Poste Moderne Brasserie is located at 555 8th Street NW.
Halloween Tap Takeover and Costume Party at Pizzeria Paradiso
On Halloween, the downstairs space of Pizzeria Paradiso Georgetown will host a costume party with festivities starting at 5 p.m. “Halloween-themed” drafts and cocktails will be served, along with an “Orange, White & Black“ pizza. Prizes will be given for best dressed, as well as those in beer-themed costumes. Beer varieties will feature drafts that embody the spirit of Halloween, including 3 Stars Ghost IPA, Fair Winds Howling Gale, Flying Dog The Fear, Great Lakes Nosferatu, Port City Maniacal, Left Hand Wake Up Dead, Smuttynose Frankenlager, and Old Ox Oxcersist. Cocktail specials include The Divine Image, made with blood orange infused blanco tequila, lime juice, blood orange juice, piloncillo simple syrup (an unrefined Mexican cane sugar) and fresh ginger, and the Devil Flip, made with Guajillo infused mezcal, Amaro Lucano, cinnamon-infused cold brew coffee, velvet falernum, agave nectar, egg and chocolate bitters.
Pizzeria Paradiso Georgetown is located at 3282 M Street NW.
Creepy Classic Cocktails at 2 Birds 1 Stone
2 Birds 1 Stone will be offering a themed cocktail menu the week of Halloween celebrating the aptly named classic cocktails including the Corpse Reviver 1 (the rare one made with calvados, cognac and bitter vermouth), Zombie, and Blood & Sand. Mixologist Adam Bernbach will debut his own frightening creations as well: There’s the El Diablo with tequila, cassis and house ginger beer; the Monster in the Parasol with berbere-spiced grappa, Gran Classico, lemon and honey; and the Darkside with gin, Peychaud’s bitters and Barolo Chinato.
2 Birds 1 Stone is located on the lower level at 1800 14th Street NW.
No Guts, No GWAR!, No Glory Costume Party At Eat The Rich
Gear up for GWAR at Eat The Rich on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Dress as intergalactic barbarians and listen to GWAR records with a theme-appropriate Zombie cocktail in hand. Head Bartender Paul Taylor will be serving an Undead Scumdog tiki on Friday and Saturday; true GWAR devotees can purchase the drink in a custom GWAR tiki mug from Richmond’s GWARbar for $42. A costume contest will be held from 9-11 p.m. for a chance to win a pair of tickets to GWAR’s November 9th 9:30 Club show.
Eat The Rich is located at 1839 7th Street NW.
Three Day, Three Headed Monster Weekend at Republic
Republic will be hosting their annual Halloween costume contest, featuring music and Halloween-themed drinks like the Zombie Killer Punch with Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum, house-made vanilla coconut milk, lemon syrup, whole oranges, angostura bitters, house-made wormwood bitters, pineapple juice, lemon juice, lime juice, cinnamon sticks and whole anise. The costume contest starts at 11 p.m. and the winner will receive a $250 gift certificate; the two runners will win $50 dollar gift certificates.
The restaurant will also host a Day of the Dead Hangover Brunch on November 1 featuring Mexican-influenced food specials (house-made chorizo chilaquiles, grilled corn with cotija cheese, paprika and lime, and churros) and special pours of beer and beer cocktails from Denizen’s.
Republic is located at 6939 Laurel Avenue, Takoma Park, MD.
Day Of the Dead Brunch at Masa 14
Masa 14 will be serving a Mexican Halloween brunch on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests are encouraged to dress up for the restaurant’s costume contest; the two winners will nab a $75 gift certificate. The restaurant’s usual bottomless tapas brunch will also be available for $39 per person.
Masa 14 is located at 1825 14th Street NW.
Nightmare on 18th Street Halloween Candy & Beer Party at The Black Squirrel
Dream of craft beer and Freddy Krueger this Saturday as The Black Squirrel becomes the epicenter of Nightmare of 18th Street for those who are brave enough to enter. All three floors will be open to revelers and will feature: Craft beer and Halloween candy pairings, pumpkin beer and food, a Fright-night movie marathon starring Freddy Krueger and Jason Vorhees, and drink specials. There is no cover charge.
The Black Squirrel is located at 427 18th Street NW
*But please don’t drink and drive after all this revelry. The Washington Region Alcohol Program is once again offering free cab trips through its SoberRide program.
