Happy Friday and Hello! I am Eric Einhorn, aka “the BallParchitect”; a sports architect by day, foodie and travel enthusiast by life. Welcome to Inside the Parch, A Sports Design, Travel, Food & Drink Blog’s initial post. Have never blogged before, but as an expert in stadiums with a passion for events, travel, food and drinks, this blog should be an entertaining resource for those with similar interests…
Post: 001
The Event: The 89th Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Where: Nationals Park, 1500 S Capitol St SE, Washington, DC
When: Tuesday July 17, 2018
The MLB All Star Game is at Nationals Park in Washington, DC this year and the official festivities kick off today! The BallParchitect is looking forward to the next five days of baseball themed activities in our nation’s capital. I am also looking forward to enjoying some of my favorite food and drink establishments around the Navy Yard neighborhood. So for those of you visiting DC for the 89th addition of the Midsummer Classic, our first addition of Inside the Parch, a Sports Travel, Food and Drink Blog, focuses on tips for where you should be eating, drinking, watching and staying, all within a 10 minute walk of the ballpark!
Where to Eat: The Salt Line
Located just off the first base gates to Nats Park, this local oyster and ale house is extending bar service during All-Star week and offers spectacular views of the Anacostia River. I recommend ordering a few of their daily rotating selection of both briny and clean oysters, as well as some of their very popular Stuffies, which are baked middleneck clams with smoked linguica, lemon, and parmesan. To drink order their frozen shandy, as you’ll find the lemon in the shandy not only pairs well with the lemon in the Stuffies, but is also a cool treat to help beat the DC heat and humidity this time of year. With your oysters make sure to try their housemade hot sauce which imparts a sweet heat!
79 Potomac Avenue SE
Where to Drink: BlueJacket
With 24 unique house brews on tap by their Beer Director Greg Engert, our favorite Navy Yard brewery delivers a beer style for any beer lover. And BlueJacket’s All-Star Week specials start today! Their taproom restaurant has 4 large flat screens within their 4-story brewing/dining/drinking area, and their air conditioning is cranked up high! If you have young ones enjoying the all-star festivities with you, they also offer a kids menu. I recommend enjoying a pint of their Anacostia Delta, a dry hopped saison with fruit and spice notes.
300 Tingey Street SE
Where to Sit: The Red Loft Bar and Patio
Located beyond centerfield at Nats Park, the Red Loft Bar and Patio offers local craft brews and tiered bar rail viewing areas for Nationals Games. Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge are probably the only 2 all-star participants with a chance of hitting a ball close to this area, but the view is as amazing as the social atmosphere at this prime location within the ballpark.
Between Sections 100 and 143 Inside Nationals Park
Concession to Enjoy: Ben's Half Smoke "All The Way"
As I mentioned in my June NACDA Guide to DC, no trip to Washington is complete without experiencing a Ben’s Chili Bowl Half Smoke; a quarter pound half pork and beef smoked sausage served on a warm steamed bun topped with mustard, onions, cheese, and their famous spicy homemade chili sauce. Make sure to order it “all the way”! Nats Park has 4 convenient locations along their concourses and this Washington institution has served hotdogs to everyone from Presidents to yours truly, the BallParchitect.
Sections 109, 140, 301 and 315 Inside Nationals Park
Where to stay: Residence Inn Marriott Capitol Hill/Navy Yard
After the game, relax and rest with a room at the Residence Inn Marriott. Located just one block from the Centerfield Gate, this all suite hotel is the perfect place to stay when traveling to this year’s All-Star game. Residence Inn manager John Chisman told the BallParchitect his hotel has “a vibrant food and nightlife scene out our front door, free breakfast daily, free WiFi, full kitchens in every room, plus complimentary beer, wine, and food on Monday through Wednesday nights”. (the All-Star Game is on a Tuesday, btw)
1233 First Street SE
Written by Eric J Einhorn
Eric is President and Director of Sports Architecture at BallParchitecture and writes the blog Inside the Parch, A Sports Design, Travel, Food & Drink Blog. You can email him at eeinhorn@ballparchitecture.com
Washington, DC