A Breath of Fresh Air in Ballston

The list of nightspots in Clarendon that are smoke-free (or have a dedicated smoke-free bar) keeps growing: Clarendon Grill, Eleventh, Liberty Tavern, Tallula's EatBar.

By contrast, until recently, the list in Ballston has been short. In fact ... nonexistent.

While Ballston has some smoke-free restaurants like Pinzimini, Sangam, Ted's Montana Grill and Willow, there's been nowhere I'd go for a drink on a Saturday night. (As always, if I'm missing a place, feel free to correct me in comments.)

As someone who lives near Ballston, it's especially frustrating for two reasons:

• Bailey's, Front Page and Rock Bottom are all already set up with two separate bars. Why not make one smoke-free? Front Page and Rock Bottom even have outdoor patios they could reserve for smokers. Pretty ridiculous that they refuse to make any accomodation whatsoever for the 75 percent of us who are non-smokers.
  
  
• An unusually cold autumn. Do I bundle up and walk an extra 20 minutes in the bitter cold to Clarendon? Or put up with the smoke in Ballston?

Fortunately, I have a new option with the opening of Union Jack's in the Ballston Common Mall in the space formerly occupied by Romano's Macaroni Grill. I stopped by for the first time this week not knowing it was smoke-free and noticed it still had that new restaurant smell.

Sure enough, I got an email the very next morning from Union Jack's responding to an email I'd sent a few weeks back saying that yes, they are totally smoke-free!

To find more smoke-free establishments near you, check out FitArlington's Smoke-Free Restaurants Guide. (One warning -- some restaurants are listed in the guide even if they allow smoking at the bar.)

A Vice Happy Hour Debate

NEW - the Washington Post City Guide just published another guide for the upcoming debates tonight and next Tuesday.
I have cut and pasted the Arlington relevant information here. See entire post here.

Here is a guide to Debate watching events in Arlington:

"Bars
Busboys and Poets

All three locations of Busboys and Poets (14th Street, Shirlington and the new City Vista at 5th and K) are hosting watch parties with full sound. Ask about the special drinks created specifically for the occasion, like the "Obama" and the "Biden." U Street and Shirlington will have the debate on 10-foot projection screens, while City Vista will have it on all five TVs.

Summers Grill and Sports Pub
The "Non-Partisan Debate Watching Party" -- hosted by a McCain supporter and self-proclaimed Reagan Democrat -- splits Summers into two sides, with the Republicans in one room watching the event on Fox News and the Democrats on the other viewing CNN. Of course, the fun happens when seats are filled up and the Republicans have to squeeze into the Democrat side and vice versa. Attendees are requested to arrive by 7:30 to secure seats. One thing everyone can agree on: The restaurant will be non-smoking for the night.

Thursday's Partisan Parties
Bailey's Pub and Grille (Ballston)
The official (and smoke-free) gathering place for Arlington Democrats will play the debate on multiple TVs and feature games like buzzword bingo. Admission is free for members and $10 for everyone else, and that price includes one drink. Doors open at 8.

Bailey's Pub and Grille (Crystal City)
Bailey's Pub and Grille seems to be the fault line of Arlington politics. While the Democrats will be at Bailey's in Ballston, the Alexandria, Arlington and Falls Church Young Republican groups will be gathered in the back room of the Crystal City sports bar. An RSVP is requested to join the Republican event; admission is free and doors open for happy hour at 8.

Guarapo
The Latinas for Biden party in Guarapo's upstairs lounge kicks off with "music and mingling" from 7 to 9, and offers special drinks (including "shots of hope" and "shots of change") during the debate. Ladies receive gifts like lipstick, MAC cosmetics and hair products, though the event is open to everyone. There's a suggested donation of $25.

Tuesday's Partisan Parties
Bailey's Pub and Grille (Ballston)
Arlington Democrats are back for the presidential debate, with games in hand. Admission is free for members and $10 for everyone else, and that price includes one drink.

Some follow up from the Happy Hour Debate post...
Melanie let us know:
"Everyone who made it to the Arlington Dems party at Bailey's in Ballston knew they were at THE debate watch party in Arlington on Friday - and we'll be doing it again on Thursday, October 2 for the VP debate. Another perk besides the Obama-Biden friendly crowd? The debate watch parties are SMOKE-FREE events.

Check out all the details here or find us on Facebook and my.barackobama.com"

Know of a VP Debate watching event in Arlington (with or without a party affiliation)? Let us know!

A Happy Hour Debate

I have cut and pasted the Arlington relevant information from Washington Post City Guide's Going Out Gurus Blog. See entire post here.

Here is a guide to Debate watching events in Arlington

"Parties That Lean Right
Bailey's Pub and Grille (Crystal City)
Bailey's Pub and Grille seems to be the fault line of Arlington politics. The local branch of the Young Republicans will be gathered in the back room of the Crystal City sports bar, while the Democrats will be at its sister bar in Ballston. (More on that below.) An RSVP is requested to join the Republican event; admission is free and doors open at 7:30.

Parties That Lean Left
Bailey's Pub and Grille (Ballston)

The official gathering place for Arlington Democrats will play the debate on multiple TVs and feature games like buzzword bingo. Admission is free for members and $10 for everyone else, and that price includes one drink.

Busboys and Poets
All three locations of Busboys and Poets (14th Street, Shirlington and the new City Vista at 5th and K) are hosting watch parties with full sound. Ask about the special drinks created specifically for the occasion, like the "Obama" and the "Biden." U Street and Shirlington will have the debate on 10-foot projection screens, while City Vista will have it on all five TVs.

Nonpartisan Events
Cap City Brewing Company
All three Capitol City Brewing Company locations will be showing the debates, and it's no coincidence that the brewery just unveiled its new Election Ale, a light, crisp beer with a touch of hops. (On Nov. 5, Election Ale will be reformulated as InaugurAle with one additional ingredient: honey from the winning candidate's home state.) Expect the Cap City at Postal Square to be the most popular, as it's within spitting distance of the Capitol."

Let us know if you hear of any others!