Happy Hour: Panache Pours Out The Specials

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Image: Shutterstock/Phase4Photgraphy

As the work week draws to a close, celebrate making it thus far (it’s Thursday, Thursday, gotta go out on Thursday!) with a trip to Panache at Tysons Corner.

Panache was voted “Best New Office Park Oasis,” it’s easy to see why. In addition to their stellar 4 to 8 p.m. weekday happy hour, Panache combines Mediterranean fusion with the likes of Italy, Spain and France to offer delicious and unique dishes.

From mini beef sliders and steaming fries to spinach and ricotta crepes, there’s a whole menu with the nightly food specials. At just $5 each, Panache promises to be wallet-friendly. Other food options include: steamed mussels, wings, fried calamari, mozzarella sticks and onion rings.

Check out the whole food menu on their site here.

Feeling happier yet? Pardon the pun but it was too good to pass up. On the drinks front, Panache offers a plethora of discounted beverages. Martinis (apple, Cosmo and French martini) are $5, while red and white house wine are priced at $5 as well.

In the mood for post-work cocktails? Pick your poison – gin, tequila, bourbon, rum or vodka – for the same price tag ($5). There’s also a selection of ten different bottled beers (think: Stella Artois, Blue Moon and Amstel Light) for $4 each. For a complete list of drinks, check out the full menu here.

So shut down your PC (after you’re done reading this, of course), grab your keys and head over to McLean’s after-work watering hole where you can scarf down some steamed mussels and laugh at the thought of sitting in Beltway traffic.

Panache at Tysons Corner
Pinnacle Towers South
1753 Pinnacle Drive
McLean, VA 22102
(703) 748-1919
www.panacherestaurant.com/tysons/contact.php

HH: 4 to 8 p.m. [only at the bar]

Prices: $5 food menu; $4 and $5 drink specials

-Lorin Drinkard

Happy Hour: Southern Specials In Old Town

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Happy hour is from 4 to 7 at Old Town’s Southside 815. More like hungry hour. With their down home Southern cuisine majorly discounted this evening, it’s the go-spot for an inexpensive night out on the town.

HH tonight? Held to Old Town. /Photo courtesy of Southside 815

Craving a juicy burger? They’re half-off tonight.  Grab The Old Town Burger, loaded up with lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions, for $4.25. Or try The Virginia Burger, paying tribute to one of our native foods, Virginia ham, smothered with cheddar cheese and hickory smoked BBQ sauce for $4.75.

If wings are what you have in mind, order a plate of French Quarter Hot Wings. At 35 cents each, they’re a yummy steal.

Southside will also be serving up pork – and lots of it – as well as seafood. Get your fix of BBQ with mini pulled pork sandwiches for just $1 each and mini pork nachos at $1.50, or order New Orleans-style mini oyster po’boys for $1.50.

To accompany the wallet-friendly food, Southside has several drink options for under $4, including: $3.75 Guinness and Bass drafts, $3.25 Sam Adams Boston Lager and Seasonal, $2.50 rail drinks and Molson Canadian plus $2 Miller and Bud Lite.

Southside 815 offers many selections on tap. /Photo courtesy of Southside 815

The one downside? Happy hour is only available inside, at the bar. Come early to snag prime seating and embrace one of the reasons we love being below the Mason-Dixon: good ole Southern cuisine.

Southside 815
815 S. Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 836-6222
www.southside815.com

HH: 4 to 7 p.m.

Food specials: $5 and under

Drink specials: $4 and under

-Lorin Drinkard

Happy Hour: Cool Off With Frozen Drinks

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, August 4th, 2011

Thursday, August 4, 2011

When the sweaty, sticky month of August finally rolls around, about nothing sounds more refreshing, happy hour-wise, than some ice cold frozen margaritas after work. Who’s in?

Hola, delicious drink. Photo courtesy of Shuttstock/Cappi Thompson

Stop by El Rey Tolteca in Manassas for their $1.99 frozen margarita specials. That’s right – for less than $2 you can sip an adult slurpie and pretend you’re at the beach somewhere with the cool ocean breeze blowing in your hair … or you’re laying out on a cruise ship deck, basking in the just-perfect-temperature summer sun … I could go on.

If that weren’t enough, they offer $5 and $10 off coupons on their site. Print and enjoy.

So grab a cheap drink (also offering $1.99 Bud and Miller special, for you beer drinkers), munch on some delicious fresh salsa and homemade chips and call it a (happy) night.

As they say in Mexico, “Bienvenidos Amigos!”

El Rey Tolteca
8412 Sudley Road
Manassas, VA 20109
703-257-7293
www.elreytolteca.com

HH: 5 to 9 p.m.

Price: $1.99 for frozen margaritas or draft beer

- Lorin Drinkard

Happy Hour: It’s Tee Time

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, July 28th, 2011

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Fore ... Photo Courtesy of Top Golf

No need to make a weekend tee time when there’s happy hour golfing. That’s right – after work, grab some coworkers and head over to Alexandria’s own golf entertainment complex, Top Golf, where you can swing – and drink – the night away. Snag a 30-day guest membership card for $5 and a bucket of 20 balls for $6 a game.

The Lucky Strikes of golfing, the Dave & Buster’s of putting games – call it what you will but one thing’s for sure: Top Golf has got game(s). Oh, and drinks.

Did we mention they have drinks? Keep reading for more details.

You and up to four friends can compete in one of several options: Top Drive, Top Chip, Top Shot or one of the other golf games that are the perfect opportunity to show off your Michelson-like skills.

It's 5 o'clock here. Photo Courtesy of Top Golf.

There’s no losing track of balls or guessing how far your last one went here. Thanks to Top Golf’s ingenious use of embedded computer chips, simply hit balls from your bay on the top tier and track of distance and scores on the bay’s flat screen monitor.

For driving range enthusiasts looking to get the most bang for their buck, consider buying the lifetime membership card. For $40 you’ll get $50 worth of game credits. With its SmarTrip Card appeal [read: reloadable], there’s less hassle on return visits.

With $2 Bud Light drafts and $3 premium drafts during happy hour, it’ll be a boozy good time on the driving range.

TopGolf Alexandria
6625 S. Van Dorn St.
Alexandria, VA 22315
(703) 924-2600
www.topgolf.com/alexandria

Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – midnight
Friday & Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 pm.

HH: 3 – 7 p.m.

  – Lorin Drinkard

Happy Hour: Girls’ Night Out in Leesburg

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Photo credit: GNO

Put the scorchingly hot, swampy workweek behind you and grab your gal-pals for a night out on the town tonight. Historic Downtown Leesburg merchants play host to Girls’ Night Out, a ladies only event full of discounts, wine tastings and a free, live concert by Virginia-born and raised pop star Zahra Universe.

Red or white? Or red? No need to pick just one vino. Tonight, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, eight shops participating in “Farm to Fork Loudoun” will uncork some of their best bottles, including:

Bluemont Vineyard – Carter Braxton Properties

Corcoran Vineyards – Otter Creek Collections

Fabbioli Cellars – Cooley Gallery

Loudoun Valley Vineyards – Lou Lou

North Gate Vineyard – Savannah’s

Notaviva Vineyards – Rose Manor

Tarara Winery – Leesburg Vintner

Willowcroft Farm Vineyards – Creme de la Creme

On the musical side of things, guitarist Emily Guagliardi will be performing at Photoworks while guitar duo Steele & Oglevee strum together at The Cooley Gallery. As in Chris Cooley,  Redskins’ very own tight end.

Head over to The Pink Shop at 6:30 PM to hear internationally-known recording artist Zahra Universe as she belts out her latest single “Dancin’ by the Fire” plus some of her other exotic, catchy tunes. Zahra, who pulls her musical inspiration from all around the world, has been dubbed “Princess” by the people in Cameroon, Africa, for the work she’s doing to promote HIV/AIDS education in the country.

Check out her red-hot video below for a sneak peak at tonight’s headliner.

Plus local massage therapy gurus Blue Lotus will be offering the chance to unwind and destress with f-r-e-e chair massages at their new location on King Street. Yes, please.

Bottom line: GNO, tonight can’t come soon enough!

Girls’ Night Out Leesburg
Historic Downtown
25 W. Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20175

Time: 5 to 9 PM

- Lorin Drinkard

Rock & Roll at NoVA Derby’s Fundraiser Tonight

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Friday, July 15th, 2011

Friday, July 15, 2011

NoVA Roller Derby's 1st All-Female League. Photo Credit: Pedro Alicea-Gonzalez.

Celebrate the end of yet another work week by heading to Fat Tuesday’s tonight for NoVA Roller Derby League’s Tits & Assault Fundraiser. We hear it’s going to be legen – wait for it, this is a How I Met Your Mother quote and I hope you’re not allergic to – dary!

Local bands The Scissor List, Lord and Love You Mean It will be rocking out throughout the event at what they’re dubbing their first annual female-fronted rock-travaganza (trying saying that five times fast . . . or not).

$10 admission includes a drink voucher for NoVA Roller Derby’s very own signature drink – “Hell on Wheels.”

Support Debi Does Dulles, Slade Ripfire, Loudoun Dirty and the rest of the Derby ladies while enjoying the live music, drinks and appetizer specials. Seafood appetizers are $7.95 til close and snow crab legs with corn are $9.95.

The newly formed NoVA Roller Derby League started skating together in April of 2011. They currently practice flat bank training at the Loudoun National Armory and are preparing for their first season of competitive bouts this fall.

Fat Tuesday’s
10673 Braddock Road
Fairfax, VA 22032
(703) 385-5717

Time: Doors open @ 8:30

Cost: $10

- Lorin Drinkard

Happy hour: Shirlington Village is Getting Jazzy Tonight

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, July 7th, 2011

Thursday, July 7, 2011

The streets of Shirlington will be in a lively, feel-good mood tonight, as the Village kicks off their annual Jazz Festival tonight. If you like a small town feel, wine tasting and snazzy tunes, there’s no other place to be. Call it a three-in-one deal. Count us in.

Every Thursday night, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, through the end of August, you have the opportunity to celebrate reaching the second-to-last day of the week by mingling with other Arlingtonians over a glass or two of vino.

Here’s the lineup for this year’s festival:

July 7th – The Oscillators
July 14th – Donato Soviero and Friends
July 21st – Dan Haas with Unified Jazz
July 28th – JMM
August 4th – Mistruada
August 11th – The Lovejoy Group
August 18th – Felicia Carter & Amy Shook
August 25th – Kevin Pace Trio

For $5, sample four wines (two reds, two whites) each week. Held near the library on Campbell Avenue, this isn’t your average happy hour event. Over the eight weeks series, “Shirlie,” the town’s affectionately-dubbed nickname, will be donating part of the funds raised to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC).

Now in its third year, the festival donated over $1,250 to the AFAC from last summer’s festivities, according to Jill Powell, who serves as the Village’s Senior Marketing Manager. So raise your glass and say, “Salute!,” as they partner to provide assistance to thousands of Arlington families.

While the music’s swinging, meander by the local storefronts lining the Village and enjoy additional specials and discounts from participating restaurants.

Shirlington Jazz Festival
The Village @ Shirlington
2700 South Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22206-2242
301-998-8178
http://www.villageatshirlington.com/events.php

HH: Thursdays, July 7 – August 25 from 6:30-8:30 PM

- Lorin Drinkard

Happy Hour: Angry Birds Is Coming To A Hotel Near You

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Happy hour at Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel is about to invaded by flocks of birds. Angry Birds, that is. Starting on Thursday, July 14th, the Arlington hotel is hosting a gaming tournament for all those who can’t-get-enough-must-play-again. The ubiquitously trendy smartphone app is #1 paid app in the United States, according to Rovio.

Image: Shutterstock/Rido

If your thumbs are up for the challenge, head over to Renaissance on Thursdays from 4 to 7 pm for a rousing competition with fellow addicts. Sip on bird-inspired cocktails, such as The Golden Egg or The Mighty Eagle, in the hotel’s SOCCi Urban Italian Kitchen + Bar while games are broadcast live via big screen.

After working up an appetite, enjoy specialty dishes such as “Northern fried” chicken wings and white bean hummus toast off the “Blue Ribbon Classics” menu.

The tournament, which runs every Thursday evening from July 14 through August 25th, is free to enter and open to anyone age 21 + up.

So make like Pelosi and brush up on your slingshot skills. There may be a free hotel stay or brand new iPad in your future.

Arlington Renaissance Capital View Hotel
2800 South Potomac Ave.
Arlington 22202
703-413-1300
http://renarlington.com

HH: 4 to 7 p.m.

– Lorin Drinkard

Happy Hour: PJ Skidoos Is The Funniest Bar

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

Thursday, June 23, 2011

It’s been a long, gross week—with the never-ending commuter traffic, summer tourists standing left on the Metro and other shoe-related incidents, not to mention the uber-sticky weather conditions (gee, warm and muggy?).

It’s about time to have a little fun[ny] in our week.

Image: Shutterstock/ Yuri Arcurs

That’s where comedian Matt White and the Seriously Clowning Comedy Group come into the picture.  They’re bringing their hilarious improv/stand up routine (appropriately titled “Summer Laughing”) to happy hour tonight at PJ Skidoos.  Enjoy $2 draft beers and $2.50 glasses of wine and well drinks while munching on appetizers (many are only $4.99) from 4 to 8 p.m. before the show.

It’s free to get in, and doors open at 7:45 for the show, which will be located in the dance floor area. Mr. “Whitey” White will start the jokes at 8:30.

PJ Skidoos
9908 Fairfax Boulevard
Fairfax, VA 22030
703.591.4515
http://www.pjskidoos.com/

HH: 4 to 8 p.m.

Comedy show: 8:30 p.m. (no cover or ticket needed)

Drink specials: From $2

- Lorin Drinkard

Happy Hour: This One’s For the Dogs

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

After work drinks aren’t just for people anymore. You and your pooch are both invited to Hotel Monaco’s Thursday night “yappy hour,” which will be serving up doggie snacks and drinks a la water bowl as well as refreshments for owners, too.

Head over to Old Town Alexandria from 5 to 8 PM for an evening of mingling with other Northern Virginian pet owners and setting up puppy play-dates. The canine-friendly festivities will take place in the Jackson 20 courtyard; enter on South Royale Street.

While the canines are munching on treats, you can lounge on the courtyard furniture and enjoy summer cocktails and brews from Jackson 20, the hotel’s in-house modern American tavern. Just make sure that Fluffy and Fido aren’t making any social faux paws [pun intended]. For a list of doggie do’s and don’ts, visit Hotel Monaco’s list here.

The Doggie Happy Hour season runs twice a week – Tuesdays and Thursdays – through the end of October, weather permitting.

Image: Shutterstock/cynoclub

Hotel Monaco’s Doggie Happy Hour

480 King St. [South Royale St. courtyard entrance]
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-549-6080; www.doggiehappyhour.com

Time: 5 to 8 PM

Price: free

- Lorin Drinkard