Capitol Riverfront is in full holiday-mode this year! This season, local retailers have you covered with enough festive events to keep you busy until the new year. From DIY holiday-gifting inspo to hot New Year's celebrations, there won't be a single dull moment in the neighborhood. Scroll down and start taking notes because we've got some serious seasonal specials in store.
Light Yards
Swinging Bells, this year’s holiday light installation at the Yards, invites guests to become part of the artwork by creating animated light displays and amplifying the cheerful sound of holiday bells as visitors swing. The five 13-foot-tall bells will illuminate The Yards’ Sun Deck (355 Water St SE) and are a picture-perfect spot to get in the holiday spirit. Light Yards will be open through January 1 daily 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm.
Noon Yards Eve
There’s no need to stay up until midnight - just celebrate at Noon Yards Eve at The Yards Park (355 Water St SE) instead! Ring in 2023 with complimentary family-friendly activities for kids of all ages, including train rides through The Yards, inflatable slide and bounce houses, glitter tattoo artists, carnival games, music by DJ Alex Love, crafts, a magic show, a performance from The Uncle Devin Show, and more. The event will culminate with a countdown and celebration at noon to ring in 2023. Saturday, December 31 at 12:00 pm. The event is FREE and open to the public.
Maxwell Park Christmas Bar
Book a heated outdoor table at the festive fun, and very Instagrammable Maxwell Park Christmas bar (1346 4th St SE).
Reserving a table gets you two drinks and a snack per person for 30-60 minutes as a starter outdoor table to get you going, then the chance to cut the line for indoor entry. Each table has an electric heater or tall propane heater. Check out the holiday drink menu and make your reservation now! Open through December 31. Fees only apply to reserved tables.
District Winery
In celebration of the holiday season, District Winery (385 Water St SE) will offer special Holiday Cookie and Wine Pairing classes led by in-house wine experts. For $50, participants will taste through six wine and festive cookie pairings including a sparkling Blanc de Blancs with buttery shortbread and a rich Cabernet Sauvignon with savory buckeye cookies. Classes will be offered on Saturday, December 17 at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm; and on Sunday, December 18 at 2:00 pm. The event is limited to adults 21 years and older. Tickets can be purchased here.
Holiday Wine Flights: The Restaurant at District Winery is serving tastefully composed Holiday Wine Flights all month long. These seasonal flights give diners a chance to sample District Winery’s rich selection of red, sparkling and still white wines. Reservations can be made through OpenTable, and full flight menus can be found below:
Holiday Gifting Options: District Winery is offering a range of holiday gifting options for wine lovers and burgeoning gourmands alike. Guests can purchase experiences including a tour and wine tasting at District Winery and dinner for two at the restaurant. In addition to their in-person experiences, District Winery is offering at-home tasting kits, gift boxes, gifted wine club memberships, and e-gift cards as well as discounted shipping with the purchase of three or more bottles of wine, all month long. Gift options can be found here,
and photos courtesy of the winery can be found here.
Midnight Mystique New Year’s Eve Celebration: Celebrate in style at District Winery and join for a night of festivities to celebrate the New Year! District Winery will be hosting two events: their upstairs New Year’s Eve gala and their downstairs pairing menu. Get your ticket for a night of indulgence and excitement at District Winery, including an open bar, decadent food throughout the night, fortune telling, sleight-of-hand, wine tastings, dancing, and live music. Saturday December 31 9:00 pm - 1:00 am. Early-bird pricing starts at $250.
Albi
This Christmas, let Albi (1346 4th St SE) handle the menu. Visit their tock page to preorder your Levantine Christmas feast available for pick-up between 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm on December 24. A selection of Albi’s sommelier’s favorite wines is available, as well as, specialty cocktails meant for sharing to help spread the holiday cheer. And on Christmas Eve, join Albi for a holiday edition of Chef Rafidi’s Sofra menu and a-la-carte selections crafted just for the season.
Shilling Canning Company
Looking to book a special evening for yourself or give the gift of a seven-course dining experience? Shilling Canning Company’s seven course Chef’s Counter tasting menu highlights the best of the season, as Chef Reid guides each diner through the evening. Check out Shilling’s Chef’s Counter menu here; and contact the team for gift cards.
Ring in the New Year with Shilling Canning Company (360 Water Street, SE) on Saturday, December 31. Offering “Shilling Classics” old and new, Chef Reid is putting the final touches on a special New Years Menu. Experience Reserve a table today on Resy.
Atlas Brew Works
Celebrate the new year with Atlas Brew Works (1201 Half Street, SE) at its Half Street Brewery & Tap Room location from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am on Saturday, December 31. All-inclusive $75 tickets include entry to the event with bottomless draft beers, select wines, and cocktails as well as the option to add on a 750ml of bubbly 202 Brett Lager for the ball drop toast.
Bluejacket
All Inclusive New Year’s Eve party
Bluejacket’s (300 Tingey St SE) annual New Year’s Eve bash is back on Saturday, December 31 from 9:30 pm to 2:00 am. Your $125 ticket gains you access to an open bar with all of Bluejacket’s drafts and casks, premium wines and spirits, specialty cocktails and a midnight sparkling wine toast. Also, their culinary team will have a full bounty of bites for everyone to enjoy. DJ sets and dancing will go on throughout the evening for nonstop entertainment. Get your tickets here.
YELLOW
Have a YELLOW Christmas this holiday season! With only a few more days left to get holiday preorders in, the pastry team at YELLOW have put together a number of delightful offerings to have on your holiday table, including Pomegranate Labne Cheesecake, Golden Date Coffee Cake, Assorted Levantine Cookie boxes. Visit YELLOW’s tock page to get your preorders in before midnight on Saturday, 12/17 to ensure having any or all of these Levantine treats! 1346 4th St SE
Gatsby
The upscale diner (1205 Half St SE) right will be open for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Brunch will be served from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm as holiday additions make their way to the menu for dinner with a chicory & arugula salad, braised boneless short ribs, and an apple crumble pie from Mah-Ze-Dahr. The full holiday menu can be found here. Delivery is available and happy hour is available for all guests during normal hours at the Bar Only.
Holiday Offers: Give the gift of reservations all year long with KNEAD Reserve! Reserve members are guaranteed reservations at any KNEAD restaurant with a minimum of one hours’ notice.
$150 Annual Membership includes exclusive perks and benefits:
- Complimentary appetizer with each visit. (Up to $15 in value. Valid for dining room reservations only. Not available at the bar or for takeout and delivery)
- Holiday perks – members will receive enhanced access to discounts, bonus gift cards and bonus rewards
- Access to pop-up events, chef dinners and a complimentary invitation to at least one KNEAD Friends & Family service, where you will be a part of a new restaurant’s pre-opening training experience.
- Invitations to special programs and events
To purchase membership, click here.
Holiday gift cards will be available through December 31. As an extra gift from Gatsby to you, you can receive a $25 Bonus Gift Card with every $100 Gift Card Purchase. To Purchase a Gift Card, click here.
Pink Taco
Pink Taco (100 M St SE) is now not only serving tacos with attitude, but a whole New Year's Eve menu! For $125 per person, you get your choice of one starter (Spicy Chicken Drumettes or guacamole), one salad (caesar or baby heirloom tomatoes), one taco (OG Pink, Brisket Birria, or Achiote Shrimp), one main course (lobster enchilada or carne asada fajita) with sides, a desert (churros), and last but definitely not least, a bottle of Poema Cava Brut for the bar. Talk about a bang for your buck!
Tap99
End 2022 and start 2023 at Tap99, Washington DC's Best New Bar with the Best Beer Selection. Join Tap99 on New Year's Eve for a night of fun, dancing and 99 taps of beer, wine, seltzers, cider, cocktails and shots. You won't have to worry about long lines to get drinks when you can self-pour your favorite drink. Ticket Includes: $50 Preloaded Pour Card(Beer, Wine, Seltzers, Cocktails, Shots), heavy appetizers served from 9:00 PM - 11:30 PM, music By Neil Nines 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM, and live Stream of the Time Square ball drop completed with a midnight champagne toast! Purchase tickets here.
Steadfast Supply
Steadfast Supply (301 Tingey St SE) is offering personally curated gift boxes this holiday season with the option to create your own gift box in-store. Gift boxes will be stuffed with black crinkle paper and tied with a satin bow. For ideas or pre-made boxes, shop here. Steadfast Supply also knows that gift giving can be tricky, so they’ve simplified things by offering e-gift cards to give out to loved ones. Let them choose what they want while also supporting small, local businesses. It’s a win-win!
As an extra gift from Steadfast Supply to you, get 10% off the next time you visit using promo code: M3D RDM. This reward expires on December 25, 2022 so get your holiday shopping in early!
