Decor at “A Very Potter Tavern.” (Photo by Town Tavern)
By DCist Contributor Lenore T. Adkins
Grab your broomsticks and get ready to sip some unicorn blood. The Town Tavern (2323 18th Street NW) is transforming into “A Very Potter Tavern” for October. Starting today and running through Halloween, the bar is serving up a magical list of drinks and events devoted to everyone’s favorite boy wizard.
The Adams Morgan tavern, which Gracie Anderson has owned for almost 10 years, has helmed a “Potter Party” every year in October for at least one weekend. This year, the tavern’s team — all rabid Harry Potter fans — opted for a longer event as a fun lead-in to Halloween, she tells DCist. Anderson says it’ll give patrons and staff a chance to really enjoy the elaborate decorations and soak up the atmosphere.
It also made more sense to stretch it out and invest more in the Potter theme so the team wouldn’t have to break down all of their hard work so rapidly.
Unlike the nearby PUB Dread (from the folks who brought the Game of Thrones, Cherry Blossom, and Christmas bars), though, they don’t consider it to be a pop-up.
“We are not a pop-up bar,” Anderson says. “We have been hosting theme parties year round for special holidays and events for the last 10 years. Our regulars and patrons have really enjoyed our fun events where they can dress up, get fun drink specials and cocktails all while partying in our festive atmosphere.”
Drinks are front and center of the experience. You can’t throw a Potter party without the famous butterbeer, so be sure to drink that to your heart’s content. Other beverages include Polyjuice Potion, Otter’s Fuzzy OJ, Felix Felicis, Muggle Mules, and the aforementioned Unicorn Blood. It’ll cost you between $9 and $15 for the Potter potions.
If these drinks aren’t your flavor—or if you’re feeling less adventurous—the tavern will continue to operate its full bar, with beer, wine and liquor galore.
The team has spent about a month getting everything together, which meant a string of sleepless nights for Anderson. She and the team, plus a bevy of friends and other reinforcements, were working right up to the end to pull this off. The most time-consuming task? Individually stringing candles into the ceiling.
The somewhat DIY decor includes a Three Broomsticks Bar, the Forbidden Forest with Aragog lurking above, The Great Hall, and a Hogwarts Express coming out of the bar’s DJ booth. On Friday and Saturday nights you’ll even spot a Honeydukes stand.
If you’re athletically inclined, the bar will offer Quidditch sets to reserve and use on football Sundays and Mondays. You’ll also get to flex your beer pong skills on your opponents with “Quidditch pong” tournaments. Moreover, the tavern will serve up Potter Trivia nights on Tuesdays for bookish patrons. Comedy shows, a paint night, a family party, and Sorting happy hours round out the events. All of this is a prelude to the event’s grand finale on Halloween, the “Great Hall Costume Party.”
Many events are already sold out, but spots remain for a handful of evenings and tickets will be available at the door as well. More events may also be added.
Costumes are encouraged and welcome all month, of course. But please, leave your swords, crossbows, three-headed dogs and dark magic at home. And don’t drink and fly.
The Town Tavern is located at 2323 18th Street NW. A Very Potter Party runs daily from October 5 through October 31. Tickets are available online or at the door The tavern’s general hours are 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays, 12 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturdays and 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Sundays.
