With the Stanley Cup Playoffs underway and the Wizards vying for a spot in the NBA playoffs, we would like to help you plan your game day viewing. After all, there is no “i” in team or outdoor sports bar!
Where to watch
Starting tomorrow, DC restaurants will be open to 100% capacity and bars will be allowed to open at 50% capacity. And as former Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle said,“Sports are like the reward of a functioning society.” So if you want to celebrate this societal milestone and the success of your favorite teams, we have recommendations for you!
If you want to enjoy the lovely weather outside with a cold pint of a local brew, check out The Brig in Navy Yard or Duffy’s Irish Pub on H Street. If these aren’t near you, the Eater wrote an article featuring 15 of the best outdoor bars for watching baseball!
If you are vaccinated and pining to pull up a chair inside at DC’s best sports bar, go 3 blocks south of Capitol One Arena to Penn Quarter Sports Tavern!
If you don’t live in the city, but feel like having a night-out away from the kids or even with the kids, you can try Bugsy’s Pizza in Alexandria, VA or Caddie’s on Cordell in Bethesda, Maryland. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and Caddie’s was voted Best Place to Watch a Caps Game by Bethesda Magazine!
If you’re staying in
Nothing says “Game Day” quite like delicious and high-calorie appetizers! If you are watching the games from home, here are some recipes worth trying:
Smashed and Loaded Crispy Potatoes from Bon Appetit
White Feta Dip with Spicy Honey from Serving Dumplings
Stadium seating
Now that I’m fully vaccinated I ventured to a Nats game—and it was great to be back! The stadium is still at limited capacity right now, so we had empty seats on every side of us and were very spaced out. Everyone also had to keep their mask on the whole time (except when you were eating or drinking). The contactless ordering system was also a game-changer. Download the MLB app on your phone and you can order your food and drinks when you are near a kiosk. I was impressed with how easy and quick the process was. I have to say, my favorite part was the contactless sauce dispensers…condiments of the future! Capacity goes up again soon, but for now if you are craving a good night of baseball I would 10/10 recommend. - Rebecca
if sports aren’t your thing
This year’s cub scout camping trip to Gettysburg was canceled but our Pack quickly pivoted to renting a bunch of individual spots at a nearby campsite at Little Bennett Regional Park. Only a 30 minute drive from Kensington, MD, this campsite was fantastic! The sites were private enough if that’s what you want but our kids were able to run around freely to visit each other. Clark started saying ‘I have to go meet up with my gang’ by the end of the weekend, which is fantastic to hear out of the mouth of a nine year old (talk to me in 5+ years about that one). We went on a hike which was shortened by swimming in a watering hole that we discovered and a dad rigged up a rope swing. My daughter discovered a bunch of creek critters. The parents chilled. There are nightly outdoor movies at their amphitheater (bring camp chairs for adults), gem mining, tie dying, and other treats at the camp store, an in-ground trampoline and some old school go karts. Every ‘loop’ (there are A through E) has its own very clean bathhouse with plenty of hot water. Highly recommend Little Bennett! It’s a short drive to feel far away from DC. - Molly
