DC bars offer drink specials to furloughed federal workers: 'They can shutdown the government but they can’t shutdown your fun'
— -- Furloughed federal employees in Washington wishing to drown their sorrrows may do so at a discount for the duration of the government shutdown.
Once Friday's midnight deadline came and went without a deal to avert a shutdown, bars and restaurants in the nation's capital began courting civil servants.
Capitol Lounge, a popular after-work haunt for Hill staffers, tweeted its "Shutdown Cocktails" menu, consisting of $5 cocktails for federal employees with ID.
"I'm not expressing any political opinion here, but I am thankful I did get a drink special tonight," a federal employee, who declined to be identified, told ABC affiliate WJLA at Capitol Lounge.
The libations at Capitol Lounge include the "C'mon Chuck," a nod to Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. There's also a vodka martini in honor of Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., called "To Flake or not to Flake?" Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky also gets an honorable mention with "Rand's Neighborhood Affair," a cocktail consisting of champagne, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and grass clippings. And Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, is being honored with the "Durbin Soda," consisting of Kentucky Dale's bourbon, soda and snitch sauce.
Iconic Italian restaurant Carmine's, located in downtown Washington, has begun serving a "bittersweet beverage" called the "Hard Times Cocktail" for $12. It consists of Campari, bourbon, orange juice and thyme-infused simple syrup.
Any federal employee who orders a Happy Hour food item will get an extra jumbo meatball, the restaurant said.
"They can #shutdown the #government but they can’t shutdown your fun," Carmine's tweeted. "Federal Workers get All Day #HappyHour as Long as the shutdown continues."
At the Queen Vic, an English pub on H Street, draft beers are being discounted 30 percent for the duration of the shutdown for federal employees." Come scream at the tv and drown your sorrows!" the watering hole tweeted.
Granville Moore's, a gastropub on H Street, is also offering a 30 percent discount to federal workers. "The government's closed, but don't worry federal workers, we'll make this a little easier on you," the watering hole tweeted.
Another H Street establishment, weekend brunch hotspot The Pug, tweeted that it is extending its 30 percent discount for first responders and teachers to federal employees.
Hank's Cocktail Bar said federal employees are eligible for Happy Hour food and drinks all day long, as well as $9 hot toddies. "Let’s turn this shutdown around! Enjoy HAPPY HOUR FOOD & DRINK, and $9 HOT TODDIES ALL DAY when you show your Government ID," the Petworth neighborhood haunt tweeted.
In the Capitol Hill neighborhood, Union Pub, is offering $4 rail cocktails and shots to all customers for the duration of the shutdown.
