by contributor Wendy Gordon
Ah Saturday. A day for fun. A day for relaxation. And what better way to say all that, especially in the dog days of summer, than lots of cold beer, live musical performances and………did we mention lots of cold beer?
This past Saturday, the fine folks behind Taste of DC brought us Drink the District; and we all did just that.
As the name may imply, producers of suds from Yuengling to PBR were gathered together amidst a backdrop of food trucks and chain link fences in a lot between 5th and 6th on New York Avenue, to transform a parking lot into a virtual biergarten all day long.
Lines to fill the tiny tasting mugs snaked around the entire space in a virtual congo line of the hop soaked sample driven throngs. Is this Oktoberfest? Hells NO! It’s a celebration of a cold brew, a tasty bite and music. Did we mention Oktoberfest? Was there accordions and lederhosen? Hells no again!
Photo credit: Chris Lastnamerson
The foam laden celebration featured among the best local bands as well as some pseudo local imports, not the least of which was Something Wild, a Philly-area based up and comer. With original compositions as well as covers like a bluesy Crazy (Gnarls Barkley version as opposed to Patsy Cline), these kids rocked the house…uh…lot.
We loved the band’s Facebook page – description: “Surgeon General’s Warning: The music of Something Wild is clinically proven to cause increased coolness, feelings of euphoria and the urge to dance yer face off.”
Photo credit: Chris Lastnamerson
Although we managed to hold on to our faces (we did check a mirror and were relieved to find them still intact), we did join a number of folks in line, lining up to catch the tunes outside the chain link enclosure and on the rooftops overlooking the event, in bopping away. It would have been a tough call to remain still.
And of course, in typical DC fashion, a post concert chance meeting in the local Safeway provided a squealing moment when they were confronted by a gaggle of female Drink the District attendees…”ooooo! That’s the BAND! You were SOOOOO good!”
Something Wild and more can be seen later on this year at the premier event, Taste of DC, which will occur this fall on Columbus Day weekend. We’ll be thrilled to sample the plethora of food and beverages, and to not only taste DC, but to hear it.
