Washington, D.C
10 DC speakeasies, saloons and historical spots to toast 90 years since Prohibition
WASHINGTON – December 5 is the 90th anniversary of the end of prohibition, the “noble experiment” which got started in D.C. years before the rest of the nation.
The District went dry on November 1, 1917, while the rest of the country didn’t give up the booze until 1920.
But D.C. didn’t end up all that dry during Prohibition, with historians estimating 22,000 gallons of liquor entered D.C. every week to keep more than 3,000 speakeasies stocked.
Congress itself even employed its own bootleggers. George Cassiday, a bootlegger also known as The Man in the Green Hat, sold liquor for a decade to congressmen and senators, operating from the Cannon House Building and the Russell Senate Office Building.
On December 5, 1933, Amendment 21 of the Constitution – the “Repeal of Prohibition” – was ratified, repealing the previous 18th Amendment which had banned the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol nationwide.
While most of D.C.’s original speakeasies and social clubs are no more, there are still a few signs of the District’s history with prohibition that linger to this day.
BEUCHERT’S SALOON
Beuchert’s Saloon in Capitol Hill is housed in the same space as a former speakeasy run by John Ignatius Beuchert and his son Theodore from 1880 to 1934.
During Prohibition, the space was converted into a sewing shop. But when owners began renovating the space, contractors found hundreds of empty Prohibition-era liquor bottles.
Today, the farm-to-table restaurant has been decorated to bring back that touch of history, with a 19th-century look.
TUNE INN
The Tune Inn in Capitol Hill has seen a lot of changes over the years. The building that houses Tune Inn was a candy shop during Prohibition – but also operated as a speakeasy for the gentleman of Congress. Historians say that customers who knew the right word would be taken to the basement, where they could purchase bottles of alcohol.
Once Prohibition ended, The Tune Inn went by the books – they claim they have the second-oldest liquor license in D.C.
THE MAYFLOWER CLUB
During Prohibition, the fourth floor of 1223 Connecticut Avenue was a speakeasy featuring a 30-foot bar, decorated with a mural of Mahatma Gandhi and other famous figures playing piano.
The restaurant and bar today pays homage to the former speakeasy by adopting its former name, The Mayflower Club. The upstairs bar and club area, Zebbie’s Garden, is named after the building’s old proprietor, Zachariah “Zebbie” Goldsmith. The area is decorated with Insta-friendly flowers, neon lights, swings and a faux grass floor. While grabbing a drink at the current Mayflower Club will give more nightclub than speakeasy, you can still enjoy a taste of the past on your next night out in DuPont Circle.
THE HARLOT DC
Club Caverns started in the basement of a drugstore on the corner of 11 and U St NW in 1926. The club played host to many famous jazz musicians, including Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway.
In the 50s, the club was renamed Bohemian Caverns, and was transformed into the premier jazz venue of DC, booking acts like Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and Nina Simone.
Since its heyday, the site changed hands a number of times and saw some financial strains. In 2016, a vehicle hit the building, and Bohemian Caverns went out of business.
Today, the space is Harlot DC, a restaurant and bar that still features live music as well as events like Saturday Drag Brunch.
OLD EBBITT GRILL
Old Ebbitt Grill calls itself ‘the oldest saloon in D.C.’ and dates back to 1856, when it was a restaurant at the Ebbitt House Hotel, one of the first hotels in D.C. to remain open all summer. Old Ebbitt Grill moved multiple times throughout its history before landing at 675 15th Street NW in 1983.
While many of the saloon’s collection of antiques and memorabilia didn’t make the move in 1983, the antique clock over the revolving door at the entrance is an heirloom from their previous location at 1427 F Street NW, where they were located since the 1920s.
EXILES BAR
The location at 1610 U Street housed McCarthy’s Saloon pre-Prohibition, and is rumored to have been a famous speakeasy after Prohibition was passed in the District. Liquor bottles have been said to have been found in the basement with the address 1610 U Street on the label. In 1980, the space became Stetsons Famous Bar & Grill, but is now Exiles Bar, a 2023 Rammy Award winner for Best Bar in DC.
ROUND ROBIN BAR
The circular bar at the Willard InterContinental Hotel was established in 1847, back when the hotel was known as the City Hotel. The bar is known for playing host to a number of politicians, socialites and artists, including Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Mark Twain and Walt Whitman. It’s also known for their signature Mint Julep, which legend has it Henry Clay introduced to the D.C. bar.
THE RAVEN GRILL
Perhaps one of D.C. ‘s few true dive bars, the Raven Grill is also the holder of one of D.C.’s oldest liquor licenses. Even though it has ‘grill’ in its name, the spot doesn’t serve food – unless you count potato chips. The cozy Mount Pleasant spot focuses instead on serving up beers and rail drinks to locals.
THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
On February 28, 1934, the first of many liquor licenses in D.C. post-Prohibition was granted to the National Press Club in D.C. Press Club President William C. Murphy, Jr. received the first liquor license at midnight, which was broadcast live on the radio.
The National Press Building, in fact, was built on the same space as Old Ebbitt Grill in 1925, 9 years before the end of Prohibition in D.C.
Nowadays, the National Press Building hosts events and conferences, and is the location of SPIN DC Ping Pong Club and Bar.
TEMPERANCE FOUNTAIN
The Temperance Fountain at 7th Street and Indiana Ave NW was supposed to supply free ice water to visitors.
The fountain’s original location at 7th and Pennsylvania Ave was near a slew of saloons, where the hope was to entice passers-by to drink water – and not be tempted by whiskey.
The fountain features an inscription naming Henry D. Cogswell, a dentist who commissioned the fountain, as well as the words “temperance,” “faith,” “hope” and “charity.” The fountain is topped by a life-sized heron to join two dolphins, through which water once flowed before the city disconnected the supply pipes.
While you can’t wet your whistle at this fountain these days, it’s worth walking by for a bit of history before heading across the street to Penn Quarter Sports Tavern for a drink – alcoholic or not.
Five people were injured in a shooting in Washington DC following a “dispute between known parties”, police said. The injured included four men and a woman.
The incident occurred in the 1500 block of Harry Thomas Way NE. Preliminary investigation by police said four people – three men and a woman – were found “conscious and breathing” and rushed to a hospital.
“Shooting investigation in the 1500 block of Harry Thomas Way NE. Preliminary: Adult male and adult female located at the scene, transported conscious and breathing. Two additional adult males arrived at a hospital, both conscious and breathing,” Washington DC Police Department wrote on X.
Police said a fifth patient, a male, was also injured in the incident. “Preliminarily, this shooting stemmed from a dispute between known parties,” police added.
The shooting came three days after the US was rocked by three attacks on New Year’s Day.
A suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a US Army veteran, rammed a crowd in New Orleans with a truck and then opened fire at people, killing 15 and injuring at least 30 others. He was subsequently killed in a shootout with police after the incident.
Hours after the New Orleans attack, Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Armyman, died after he blew up a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. Police said Livelsberger died from a self-inflicting gun wound.
In a third incident, at least 11 people were injured in a mass shooting at a nightclub in Queens in New York City.
Expect to see more police officers and road closures in Washington, D.C., over the next few days as the city prepares for the certification of the presidential election at the Capitol and the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter.
“I want to be very clear that we will not tolerate any violence, rioting, destruction of property or any behavior that threatens the safety and security of our city,” Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference D.C. authorities held Friday.
Fencing is up around the U.S. Capitol and will remain in place until the inauguration on Jan. 20.
While officials say there are no credible threats, security will be high next week given the deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans and the car explosion in Las Vegas.
Road closures around the Capitol building are in effect Friday night through Monday for the counting and certification of electoral votes taking place Monday.
Closures will then expand down Pennsylvania Avenue on Tuesday for the motorcade carrying Carter from Join Base Andrews to the U.S Navy Memorial. Then, a public procession will take Carter from the memorial to the Capitol Tuesday afternoon.
Drivers should expect widespread road closures on Thursday for Carter’s funeral, especially surrounding the Washington National Cathedral in Northwest.
Security will also be enhanced above the city.
“I advise everyone that the Secret Service will use drones as part of our comprehensive security plan. Do not be alarmed if you see these assets during the upcoming events or training in the days ahead,” said William McCool, the special agent in charge for the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office.
While authorities said there’s no known threat, they are concerned about the potential for a lone wolf attack. A suspect who planted two pipe bombs near the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That person was never caught.
“We’re absolutely concerned that person is still on the loose and at large. Those were two viable devices left, not only outside of the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters, but in a neighborhood where people work and live and we have had a consistent effort alongside our partners to try to identify that person. That is going to remain a threat until we can identify that person,” said David Sundberg, assistant director in charge for the FBI Washington Field Office.
Road Closures
The following roads will close at about 8 p.m. on Friday:
- First Street between Constitution Avenue, NW, and Independence Avenue, SW
- Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd Street, NW, and First Street, NW
- Maryland Avenue between 3rd Street, SW, and First Street, SW
These roads are closed starting 7 a.m. Monday:
- First Street between Constitution Avenue, NE, and Independence Avenue, SE
- East Capitol Street between First Street and 2nd Street
- Constitution Avenue between Louisiana Avenue, NW, and 2nd Street, NE
- Independence Avenue between Washington Avenue, SW, and 2nd Street, SE
- D Street between First Street, NE, and 2nd Street, NE
- Maryland Avenue between First Street, NE, and Constitution Avenue, NE
- First Street between Louisiana Avenue, NW, and Constitution Avenue, NW
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at 4:30 a.m.:
- 13th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 12th Street from E Street to Independence Avenue, SW
- 11th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 10th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 9th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 8th Street from E Street to D Street, NW
- 7th Street from E Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 6th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 5th Street from E Street to D Street, NW
- 4th Street from D Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 3rd Street from E Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- Northbound 3rd Street Tunnel Exit 9 toward US Capitol
- 2nd Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 1st Street from E Street, NW to Maryland Avenue, SW
- New Jersey Avenue from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- Louisiana Avenue from Columbus Circle, NE to Constitution Avenue, NW
- Delaware Avenue from Columbus Circle to Constitution Avenue, NE
- North Capitol Street from E Street to D Street, NW
- 1st Street from Columbus Circle, NE to Independence Avenue, SE
- D Street from 9th Street NW to 2nd Street, NE
- Indiana Avenue from 7th Street to 3rd Street, NW
- C Street from 6th Street to New Jersey Avenue, NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue from 14th Street to 1st Street, NW
- Constitution Avenue from 14th Street NW to 2nd Street, NE
- Madison Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, NW
- Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, SW
- Maryland Avenue from Independence Avenue to 1st Street, SW
The following streets will close on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
- Independence Avenue from Washington Avenue, SW to 2nd Street, SE
The following streets will close on Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m.:
- 8th Street from F Street to E Street, NW
- F Street from 9th Street to 7th Street, NW
- E Street 10th Street to 6th Street, NW
The following street will be closed intermediately on Thursday from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
- Calvert Street from 29th Street to Connecticut Avenue, NW
The following streets will be closed on Thursday from 12:01 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
- Garfield Street from Massachusetts Avenue, NW to 34th Street, NW
- 34th Street from Woodley Road to Garfield Street, NW
- Woodley Road from Wisconsin Avenue to 34th Street, NW
- Wisconsin Avenue from Lowell Street to Massachusetts Avenue, NW
- Cathedral Avenue from Massachusetts Avenue to Wisconsin Avenue, NW
The following streets will be open for local traffic only on Thursday from 12:01 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
- Garfield Street from 34th Street to 32nd Street, NW
- Woodland Drive from Garfield Street to 32nd Street, NW
- 33rd Place from Cathedral Avenue to Garfield Street, NW
- Cleveland Avenue from 34th Street to 32nd Street, NW
- Cathedral Avenue from 34th Street to 32nd Street, NW
- Klingle Road from 34th Street to 32nd Street, NW
- Woodley Road from 33th Street to 32nd Street, NW
- 34th Street from Macomb Street to Woodley Road, NW
- 35th Street from Lowell Street to Woodley Road, NW
- 36th Street from Lowell Street to Woodley Road, NW
- Wisconsin Avenue from Macomb Street, NW to Lowell Street, NW
- Woodley Road from 38th Street to Wisconsin Avenue, NW
- 36th Street from Garfield Street to Massachusetts Avenue, NW
- 35th Street from Garfield Street to Fulton Street, NW
- 34th Place from Garfield Street to Fulton Street, NW
- 34th Street from Garfield Street to Fulton Street, NW
Parking restrictions
The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking from Saturday at 12:01 a.m. through Wednesday at 4:30 a.m.:
- 13th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 12th Street from E Street to Madison Drive, NW
- 11th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 10th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 9th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 8th Street from F Street to D Street, NW
- 7th Street from E Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 6th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 5th Street from E Street to D Street, NW
- 4th Street from E Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 3rd Street from E Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 2nd Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 1st Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- New Jersey Avenue from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- Louisiana Avenue from Columbus Circle, NE to Constitution Avenue, NW
- Delaware Avenue from Columbus Circle to Constitution Avenue, NE
- North Capitol Street from E Street to D Street, NW
- 1st Street from Columbus Circle, NE to Independence Avenue, SE
- F Street from 9th Street to 7th Street, NW
- E Street 10th Street, NW 6th Street, NW
- D Street from 9th Street NW to 1st Street, NE
- Indiana Avenue from 7th Street to 3rd Street, NW
- C Street from 6th Street to New Jersey Avenue, NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue from 14th Street to 1st Street, NW
- Constitution Avenue from 14th Street NW to 2nd Street, NE
- Madison Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, NW
- Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, SW
- Maryland Avenue from Independence Avenue to 1st Street, SW
- Independence Avenue from Washington Avenue, SW to 2nd Street, SE
The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking on Thursday from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
- Calvert Street from 28th Street to Shoreham Drive, NW
Pickup truck attack in New Orleans kills at least 10
At least 10 people were killed and more than 30 injured when a pickup truck barreled into crowded Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day.
WASHINGTON – Authorities in the nation’s capital are bracing for a series of high-profile events starting Friday, implementing tighter security after the fatal vehicle attack in New Orleans this week.
The events include Congress reconvening on Friday, lawmakers counting Electoral College votes on Monday, the late President Jimmy Carter lying in state at the Capitol Tuesday through Thursday and President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
“We have already been ramping up security, as planned, ahead of a busy month at the U.S. Capitol,” the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Thursday.
The Metropolitan Police Department heightened its security posture across the city “out of an abundance of caution” after the New Orleans attack, although there is no known threat to the city, according to Paris Lewbel, the department’s deputy director of communications.
“While we do not discuss specifics regarding operations, tactics, or staffing, the community will notice an increased police presence throughout the city,” Lewbel said.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. Friday to discuss capital security.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security declared the counting of Electoral College votes on Monday as a “national security event,” based on a request from Bowser, after a riot during that event in 2021 led to charges against more than 1,500 people. The inauguration is also considered a national security event. City officials said in September that they had been planning for it for months.
The designation calls for significant resources in a coordinated security plan by federal, state and local officials.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference with the mayor on Nov. 12 that the city hoped to have 4,000 police officers from other agencies to help provide security for the inauguration. She said city officials would meet with federal counterparts to share intelligence for the election certification on Monday and for the inauguration later this month.
In a Maryland suburb northwest of D.C., Montgomery County police said their department has a mutual aid agreement with U.S. Capitol Police and D.C. Metropolitan Police and “will provide assistance when asked.”
The FBI is investigating the New Orleans incident as “an act of terrorism” but officials said Thursday the driver, who was shot and killed by local police, apparently acted alone. Authorities have not found links between that attack and the explosion of a truck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Signs of tighter security for the upcoming events were apparent after the installation of chain-link fencing around the Capitol. Fencing has routinely been placed around the historic building following the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, which led to a temporary halt in Congress counting Electoral College votes. Security fencing is traditionally erected for the inauguration, with the Metropolitan Police Department taking the lead.
“While there is no known threat to the District of Columbia, out of an abundance of caution, MPD has heightened its security posture across the city in light of recent events,” Lewbel said. “As the nation’s capital, we maintain a heightened level of security at all times to ensure the safety of our residents, businesses, and visitors.”
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