Why drink the same old mass produced beer or standard recipe cocktail when you can have new, exciting choices to chose from that will quench your thirst and awaken your taste buds? In Washington, D.C., two new venues that you will want to check out recently opened their doors.
In the nation's capital, the working hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. rarely exist. To stay ahead in this district, you need to come early and work late. For those who need the crafted coffees to stay awake and the libations to de-stress, Slipstream is the place for you.
Opening its 14th St. NW location in late October, the venue aims to "elevate coffee and cocktails from seemingly common to extraordinary through engaging service, a comfortable atmosphere and a relentless focus on quality" per their mission statement.
Just one of multiple libations offered at the new D.C. spot Slipstream — Photo courtesy of Slipstream
Husband and wife owners Ryan Fleming and Miranda Mirabella aim to make their business a place where people can have one-on-one experiences with staff while learning more about beverage complexities and what goes into making their creative concoctions.
Their coffee selection comes from Michigan-based favorite Mapcap, and they will have two types on draft. Cocktails are made to the preference of the drinker, or you may sample from beer and wine menus.
Want to know what food will pair best with your drink? The staff will be able to gear you toward items on the venue's eclectic menu, including pastries in the morning, sandwiches at lunch and several entrees at dinner.
Make sure to check out the decor. Mirabella's brother, Montana, designed and built the bar top out of thousands of pieces of recycled walnut. Since Fleming grew up in Pennsylvania, they decided to commission chairs, stools and community table from an Amish community in the New Wilmington area.
Be sure to take in the pendant lights, which are actually repurposed steel woks, and the colorful mural painted by Los Angeles-based artist and Fleming friend Dante Marshall.
Another spot to hit up if you want creative cocktails is Second State: a farm-to-table, friendly restaurant, which is located where The Mighty Pint served the district nightlife scene for five years.
Serving craft cocktails and regionally grown fare, the venue takes its name from Pennsylvania becoming the second state to sign the Constitution. The M Street NW restaurant features lunch, dinner, brunch and spirit menus.
Oysters, salads and sandwiches make up the lunch menu, while dinner offerings include small bites such as short ribs and mushroom bruschetta and a la carte proteins like swordfish, roasted pheasant and roasted duck breast.
The spirit menu promises Pennsylvania-inspired and -named signature cocktails like Liberty Punch, Dutch Mule and Reading Railroad Fuzz. Other offerings include multiple choices of rye whiskey, bottle, can and draft beers.
So for those with a love of the state to our north, Second State is a venue to check out.
