Celebrate the Inaugural With These NoVa Venues

Authorities have asked that everyone celebrate the inauguration virtually and stay away from DC’s downtown areas, popular monuments, and the Mall, but you can still join festivities from home, tour online exhibitions to learn about inaugurations past and present, and participate in the edible commemorations from local bars and restaurants.

If you’re outside of DC — and avoiding the city this week as the Mayor suggests — here are some of our favorite places in Northern Virginia (some with DC locations) that have announced inauguration specials:

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

Even before its permanent storefront opened, Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken served Barack Obama-themed doughnuts for the 2013 inaugural festivities as a pop-up. It offered similar candidate-themed doughnuts during the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns. So the introduction of the Biden Doughnut ($3.95) coming available January 18-20, 2021 at both Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken’s Falls Church and downtown DC locations totally makes sense.

And the flavor is amazingly ápropos this year. Inspired by the President-elect’s famed love of ice cream, the 2021 treat is a “vanilla chocolate chip doughnut with vanilla glaze, mini chocolate chip sprinkles, and vanilla chocolate chip buttercream, topped with a mini ice cream sugar cone.” What a winning combination.

Pizzeria Paradiso

Ice cream is a theme this year! Pizzeria Paradiso’s Inaugural Parade menu (available from Jan. 19-21) features a selection of ice cream and soda floats — for both kids and adults — featuring scoops by Ice Cream Jubilee.

Among the options are Biden’s Back to Basics Root Beer Float ($7), with a scoop of vanilla ice cream floated in Boylan’s Root Beer; Harris’ Spicing It Up Ginger Ale Float ($7), this time floated in Boylan’s Ginger Ale; Cuppa Joe Beer Float ($10), with a scoop of the special Cuppa Joe Inauguration flavor ice cream floated in Port City Porter; and Banana Bourbon Ka(ra)mala Beer Float ($10), which boasts Jubilee’s Banana Bourbon Caramel ice cream in RaR Groove City Hefeweizen.

Additionally, on Jan. 20, 2021, all guests with a carryout, pick up, or outdoor dining pizza served, will receive a complimentary serving of Ice Cream Jubilee’s Vanilla Chocolate Chip.

Neighborhood Provisions

This grocer, wine, beer, cocktail and gourmet shop, and food delivery service has almost anything you need to watch the inauguration in style from the comfort, safety, and sanity of your own home.

From Neighborhood Provisions’ Ridin’ with Biden cocktail to Bluejacket’s special IPA release (aptly titled #46), to Pigs in a Blanket, Chips & Dips, Artisan Cheese Boards, Red Apron Charcuterie and so much more, this neighborhood provisioning place is here for the party and wants to be a part of your home swearing-in celebration.

We especially love the Inauguration Party Box ($75) with two servings of the Ridin’ with Biden Bottled Cocktail (Civic Vodka, Aperol, cucumber, lemon and salt), a Red Apron Slider Kit with six sliders topped with caramelized onions, pickled cucumbers, sautéed mushrooms and pimento cheese, two Patriotic Yo-Yos and your choice of either Biden Shades and Harris Chucks Scout and Indiana Mask or a Kamala Harris Acrylic “I’m Speaking” Pin. Orders can be placed now through Jan. 18 at 9 p.m. for pickup or delivery.

Trummer’s Restaurant

On Jan. 20, the Clifton eatery is offering an all-day happy hour with signature drinks for $8 and a special food menu of discounted snacks available for dine-in as well as takeout to celebrate the swearing-in.

Evening Star Cafe / Rustico

With indoor dining limited this year, everyone is relying on take-out and delivery and Evening Star Café/Rustico are both convenient and celebratory.

The Alexandria restaurant and Rustico’s Arlington and Alexandria locations are offering inauguration-themed specials starting on Jan. 18, 2021, that can be ordered through their websites. One popular item is sure to be the Biden Burger ($18), a ground turkey burger topped with muenster cheese, pickled cranberry relish, arugula and smoked Duke’s Mayonnaise on a challah bun served with French fries. Also interesting? A tuna melt, inspired by Harris teaching Mark Warner how to make a tuna salad sandwich. The Kamala Melt ($16) goes above and beyond, serving tuna, celery, onion, roasted red peppers, sharp cheddar, and herb aioli on sourdough bread, served with French fries.

Revelers can wash it all down with a Statehood Negroni ($15) with all District-made ingredients (Ivy City Gin, Capitoline Tiber and Capitoline White Vermouth) or the Ridin’ with Biden ($13) with Civic Vodka, Aperol, cucumber, lemon and salt. Or if you’re feeling Biden’s teetotaling vibes, there’s an NA Statehood Negroni ($13) with Seedlip Spice 94, Lyre’s Aperitif Ross and Lyre’s Blood Orange.

Cheers to the 59th inauguration!