Thanks to New Columbia Heights Blog for posting this video from WUSA9.com. Good post as always.

Wonderland Bar can be found on the Green Line at the Columbia Heights Metro Station at MyMetroStop.com under the Nightlife Category.

We’d love to hear from those who have attended. It sounds like a great time.

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Email MetroMax at mymetrostop@gmail.com

Georgetown is an excellent area right off the Metro. Getting off at the Foggy Bottom stop, its a short walk to the heart of the action.

My first stop was a swanky bar called Mate. With a strict dress code and a Latin vibe, Mate is definitely a unique experience. The ambiance reminds me of being in a club in Las Vegas or NYC. It seems like an ideal place to take a date or meet some friends for a quick drink. Just be sure you’re not wearing shorts or tennis shoes. It’s a metrosexual dress code.

MetroMax then proceeded up the street to Old Glory. A polar opposite of Mate, Old Glory bills itself as the All-American barbecue spot.  The food is definitely worth a try. If you’re like me and occasionally get a craving for sweet tea and cornbread, Old Glory is your fix.

Upstairs of Old Glory is the Rooftop Deck. An open air bar, it becomes ‘the’ place to be in Georgetown on any given night. Be prepared for a large crowd and little personal space. The Rooftop Deck does not live up to the hype given to it. But it’s worth going to once to say you’ve been. Your best bet is to try Old Glory’s barbecue and then head off to another bar.

The final stop of my Georgetown excursion was The Guards. Located right on M street, this place is your typical, good time bar. With the quasi feel of a British pub, The Guards is unique in Georgetown. Upstairs is more laid back, with tables to eat at and room to move around. The downstairs is perhaps best described as ‘frathouse meets DC’. It is essentially one big dance floor with dozens of people dancing and having a wild time. You won’t be hard  pressed to find an attractive girl who will grab your hand and make you dance with her.

The dichotomy between the upstairs and downstairs at The Guards works quite well. When you tire of dancing and sweating away the pounds, you can move upstairs and regain your sense of normalcy.

All in all Georgetown is a great place to spend a Saturday night. The only advice I will bestow is that there appears to be bars with cover charges here than elsewhere in the beltway. $5 at the door appears to be a common practice. No biggie, but its worth mentioning to my readers.

Until next week…..

-MetroMax

www.MyMetroStop.com – What’s at Your Metro Stop?

I was lucky enough to attend the festival with two close friends and three utterly charming ladies. This ensured Friday Night Live got off on the right footing.

The city of Herndon is descended upon by hundreds of beltway locals with their children and families for a casual, fun Friday night. The town square becomes ground zero for blankets and picnic baskets. Circling around the square are vendors selling food and drinks. Unfortunately the beer is shut off at 9:30…a bit too early for MetroMax.

But in any event the highlight of the night was the entertainment, Crowded Streets. A Dave Matthews cover band, they were fantastic. If you closed your eyes you could actually believe you were at a DMB concert. They played a long and varied setlist, making sure to cover all of DMB’s hits.

Friday Night Live is an on-going event in Herndon. It’s the perfect remedy for a long week in the beltway. You can get out of town, relax in the grass with friends and listen to great music. All of this is free remember. The price makes Friday Night Live an even more attractive option.

Two words of advice for all those beltwayers thinking of heading to Herndon in recent Fridays, pets are not welcome on the square. Also, bring cash. The ATM’s are a bit hard to find and their fees are never fun to pay.

But by all means go to Herndon and enjoy yourself! Until next week….

-MetroMax

www.MyMetroStop.com – What’s at Your Metro Stop?

Pat Troy’s is located ten blocks from King Street Metro (111 N. Pitt Street) in Alexandria, VA. A landmark in the area, Pat Troy’s has been serving great food and cold drinks with an Irish twist for nearly thirty years. From the minute you walk in, you can understand why it is a local legend.

The walls are decorated with military uniforms, pictures of famous visitors, and an entire corner dedicated to President Ronald Reagan. I decided to sit in ‘Reagan’s Corner’ and soak up the atmosphere. Ordering a large Smithwick’s beer, I was ready for some live music. This was aptly provided by Brook Yoder. Yoder played a great setlist, covering rock’s greatest hits.

But the real treat of the night was Pat Troy himself. Taking the stage, Pat gave a wonderful speech in honor of Flag Day. He reminded the crowd of what we so often forget, how lucky we are to live in the United States. With a thick Irish accent, Pat led the crowd in a loud, moving version of God Bless America. By the end, the entire bar was singing along and cheering loudly.

Going to Pat Troy’s is an experience in many respects. It’s a wonderful Irish bar with a great selection of food and drinks and smiling faces. It’s also a place where the love and patriotism for the United States is alive and well. So when you’re in the mood for a cold Irish beer and the red white and blue, head off to Pat Troy’s.

Until next week, when Metro Max scouts out another hot spot, take care.

-MetroMax

www.MyMetroStop.com – What’s at Your Metro Stop?