Good Lord – the February weather is about to send me over the edge! Hopefully by the time daylight savings kicks back in on the 8th we will be able to enjoy some decent weather instead of trapesing over packed snow and ice for an extra hour!I know that March is supposed to “come in like a lion and go out like a lamb” so let’s just hope it leans more toward the lamb part! There isn’t a lot going on here at the Harbor as far as events are concerned during the month of March. The big excitement so far is that they will be showing all of the March Madness basketball on the Jumbotron (I really don’t think that is the official name for it, but you get the idea) down on the plaza. It will be fun to watch if you don’t have to dress like Nanook of the North. The better option, however, is to head to Public House Restaurant on Fleet Street and watch all the round ball you want in a climate controlled facility where you can get a cold beer, some hot wings and everything else you sports nuts like. They have large screen HD TV’s all over the place and the mondo screen for the important games! More details are in their ad in this section. We can’t forget that we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th! I have to confess that this day ranks right up there with Fat Tuesday for me. Even though I have never been to Mardi Gras, I party like I’m there! Same with St. Patrick’s Day. I know that bartenders all cringe thinking about all of the “amateurs” that come out of the woodwork on that day and drink green beer like fools but I…
Well, winter is well underway and we have managed to dodge the major snow storm that hit our neighbors to the north. Here is hoping we dodge the next one on the horizon. I wonder if the winter weather had any bearing on proclaiming Valentine’s Day to be on the 14th back in the day! February is a good month to “warm up” your loved ones at any rate. Probably the most romantic place in the Harbor is the Old Hickory Steakhouse in the Gaylord. Their executive chefs continue to dazzle guests this February with romantic dining experiences on more than just Valentine’s Day. Couples can celebrate romance at the hotel’s signature restaurant on February 6th, 7th, 13th and the 14th. The award-winning steakhouse is offering a pre-fixe dinner menu featuring their signature beef as well as house favorites including crab cakes, lamb, and romantic desserts in honor of Valentine’s Day. Named one of the most romantic restaurants in the capital region, guests can enjoy breathtaking views of the Potomac River as they dine. The dinner costs $139 per couple (does not include tax and gratuity) and reservations are encouraged. I was lucky enough to take part in this dinner special last year and it was a very memorable occasion. Maybe I will get lucky again this year. Public House Restaurant on Fleet Street is bringing back their “Crazy. Stupid. Love.” Valentine’s special. This is a great place to take that date who is a sports lover as well as a romantic. If you are of the female persuasion it might just be the perfect place to take your sports crazy guy friend and visa versa! You will both enjoy yourselves either way. See their ad in this section for details. Harrington’s Pub and Kitchen is celebrating their third year…
Seems like just yesterday that I was racking my brain about what I was going to include in the July Harbor column and now I sit here pulling out all of the holiday stuff! Those of you who have been reading this column on a regular basis know that I regained my Christmas spirit a couple years ago after a stretch of leaning more toward the “Grinch” side the of isle. Last year was the discovery of The Elf on the Shelf for my great nephew and the year before that I credit the Shrek & Friends (most specially Puss ‘n Boots) themed ICE show here at the Harbor. Last month we gave you a preview of this year’s ICE extravaganza at the Gaylord, Frosty the Snowman, and once again it doesn’t disappoint. While I am not a fan of Christmas decorations, tree lightings, etc. happening BEFORE Thanksgiving, I have to admit that it does give way to making this December column a little more interesting since we go to press before the bird is on the platter. This means that we had the opportunity to see Frosty in action along with all of the other fun things that are going on here for the next 4 weeks. The photos on these pages don’t really do the ice sculptures justice. And….they look even “cooler” when you can hear the music in the background and see the expressions on the kids (young and old) faces as they walk through the maze. I didn’t do the ice slide this year because we were on a timeline but I recommend that you take the opportunity. Just be sure to lean WAYYY back on your parka (provided by the Gaylord) so that you get up to maximum speed! Gingy – yet another fabulous character…
Every year it seems that the holidays arrive earlier and earlier. I guess that’s a sign of my age – I’m starting to sound more and more like my parents…..it seems like yesterday that I was waxing poetic about summer here in the harbor and as I sit here writing this column, Halloween is only 5 days away with the subject matter of my column reflecting Thanksgiving and the approaching hullabaloo of the holidays! Much like years past, November starts out pretty quiet in the Harbor while retailers and restaurants gear up for the onslaught of the opening of ICE and lighting of the suspended glass tree at the Gaylord Resort on the 14th and the lighting of the beautiful tree on the plaza on Waterfront Street on the 15th. As much as I look forward to Christmas, I am sort of disappointed that the opening ceremonies are taking place before we have even started pulling together our Thanksgiving dinners. In fact, I don’t even know where I’m going to dinner. I may have to consider hosting it myself. If that does happen, I know that I will be doing some serious shopping at Stonewall Kitchen just around the corner from my condo here at One National Harbor. They have an amazing selection of both food items and clever kitchen adornments that are a must see if you need inspiration or just a few things to round out your traditional meal. For those of you who don’t have an inclination to cook at all, the restaurants at the Gaylord may have something that fits the bill. On Thanksgiving Day, parties can choose between the hotel’s alfresco buffet dining outlet, Pienza, an exclusive gathering atop the hotel’s 18th floor at Pose Rooftop Lounge or a fine dining experience at its signature…
Fall is in the air! Lots of activity is going on here in celebration of the season. Millers Farm’s has crisp local apples and a nice selection of mums on display every Saturday and Sunday along with their vast array of vegetables and baked goods; Stonewall Kitchen has their fabulous fall edibles and kitchen wares on display, football games are being aired on the Jumbotron down on the plaza and all sorts of football game day specials are being offered at Public House and Harrington’s Pub and Kitchen during the season. This is also a great time of year to take a spin on the Capitol Wheel for a beautiful view of the changing leaves up and down the Potomac River. Construction continues at a fast pace on the building of the much anticipated MGM National Harbor Casino and our new luxury apartment complex, The Esplanade, has opened a leasing office at 163 Fleet Street. I have been watching the progress on this project from the comfort of my balcony and I can attest that it is going to be a very high class structure. It will truly be a “complex” complete with retail shopping and a new restaurant from the Minnesota based Granite City Food & Brewery group taking up 11,000 square feet of the first floor. Granite City currently operates the Cadillac Ranch bar and restaurant here in the harbor. The Walrus Oyster and Ale House is finally open for business after an arduous build out of the former space occupied by Ketchup on the corner of American Way and Waterfront Street. This restaurant is a welcome addition to the restaurant scene with its offering of all things “Chesapeake Bay” and more. Like any other new operation, they are still working out some kinks but you can…
Miller Farms Farmers Market Saturdays and Sundays through October 10 am – 5 pm Fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, flowers and plants that suit the season. 11th & 12th Columbus Day Weekend: National Harbor Goes“Pink” In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Capitol Wheel, the Gaylord Resort and several stores will light up “pink” for the weekend. A portion of all ticket sales for rides on the Capitol Wheel will be donated to two local charities supporting Breast Cancer Research. 17th National Children’s Museum Free Family Night 5 pm – 7 pm Enjoy free admission to the museum for the whole family, as well as hands-on activities and interactive programming in the theater and exhibit areas. Tickets available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the museum box office beginning at 5 pm on the day of the event. The museum is located at 151 St. George Boulevard. 26th Halloween Trick-or-Treat Celebrate Halloween early at the Harbor. Trick or treating will commence at all participating retailers from 11 am to 1 pm. Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” will be the featured movie on the Jumbotron in celebration and the farmers market will have many small pumpkins for sale. There will also be a pumpkin decorating station on site. This event is for children 12 years old and under. Written by: Lani Gering
While I usually dedicate this space to what is happening in the harbor and information about new businesses opening, after I got a press release from my pal Molly that announced National Harbor’s hiring of a Director of Tourism I decided it may be a good idea to check him out! Josh Winston and I met at the Public House – one of the Old Town Crier’s favorite spots in the harbor – for a beverage in the late afternoon and got to know each other. This was one of those situations where you just know you are going to hit it off from almost the beginning of the conversation. National Harbor attracts approximately 11 million visitors each year, and was recognized for the first time in Cvent, Inc.’s “Top 50 Meeting Destination in the United States” 2013 list as the 26th most popular meeting destination in the country. With these figures and the continued growth of the Harbor since Tanger opened the outlets last fall, the Capital Wheel being erected this spring and the upcoming opening of the MGM National Harbor in 2016, Peterson Companies decided it may be a good idea to bring on a tourism professional. According to the press release, “In his new role as Director of Tourism for National Harbor, Winston will be responsible for heightening the awareness of National Harbor and all of its collective partners to the tour and travel industry. He will lead all sales initiatives to drive both domestic and international leisure travelers to the destination. Winston comes to National Harbor from his role as Director of Domestic Sales for The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. There, he facilitated and developed key strategic industry relationships for one of the country’s largest leisure travel destinations. Winston has received numerous awards for excellence” in…
The Harbor just keeps growing in leaps and bounds! The Capitol Wheel is fully operational and still generating a lot of buzz; the erection of the Jumbotron on the Plaza has added another dimension to the harbor experience; completion of the Esplanade luxury apartments is on the near horizon and construction on the new MGM Grand casino will soon be underway on the Plateau. It really is hard to believe that this place is only 6 years old. I have a hard time remembering what the shoreline looked like back in 2008. Dining in the Harbor is taking on a new dimension as well. The new Redstone American Grill is attracting its fair share of visitors and locals. Located right on the water on the north side of the Awakening, it provides another great waterfront dining experience. Redstone is billed as a upscale, casual dining venue serving steak, chicken, pork and fish. The outdoor bar and patio is gorgeous. Soon to open is the Walrus Oyster & Ale House on the corner of American Way and Waterfront Street (the old Ketchup location). The concept was inspired by the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s eastern shore and is based on the Lewis Carroll poem, “The Walrus and the Carpenter”. Local award winning chef and proclaimed godfather of seafood, Bob Kinkead, will be overseeing the food program. They hope to open their doors in early August (the renovation of this 6700 square foot space has been quite an undertaking) and will be serving local, moderately priced eastern shore style seafood and will, of course, feature an impressive oyster bar! American Way no longer has a weekly vendor based market but you can find Miller Farms selling a huge array of fruits, vegetables and baked goods at their stand every Saturday and Sunday from…
Gourmet Food, Drinks and Entertainment Benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospital Set along the banks of the Potomac River at the Washington, D.C. regions only waterfront hotel, Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center hosts the first annual “Taste of National Harbor” charity event to benefit Children’s National Health System, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital (CMNH), on Saturday, June 21 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Partnering with the areas local restaurants and brands to showcase the gourmet cuisine visitors can enjoy in National Harbor, proceeds will go to Children’s National, the non-profit children’s organization whose main goal is to provide the best possible health care for local kids. “National Harbor continues to grow in its culinary offerings,” said Vipin Khullar, Food and Beverage Director at Gaylord National Resort. “The “Taste of National Harbor” is the perfect way to showcase our various offerings, while also supporting a great cause that benefits the welfare of local children.” “Children’s National is thrilled to partner with the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center and all of the shops at National Harbor to make miracles happen for local patients,” said Patricia Jasper-Zellner, Director of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Children’s National. “It is wonderful to see all of these industry leaders come together to support our mission.” Attendees can enjoy a variety of gourmet food samples from the Harbor’s award-winning restaurants paired with domestic wines and craft beers on the hotel’s waterfront-venue, RiverView Terrace. With views of the sun setting over Old Town Alexandria and new The Capital Wheel observation wheel, guests also can participate in a raffle benefiting CMNH; watch a “perfect pour” demonstration by Stella Artois; experience live entertainment including dueling piano players from Bobby McKEY’s; and more. The event concludes with a stunning fireworks show. Participating restaurants and brands include Bond 45, Country…