U of M Bars in DC/MD area

Submitted by remdies on

My girlfriend is coming to visit me labor day weekend and I just moved to Maryland. We both graduated from U of M and want to see the game and we thought it would be fun to go to a bar with other M fans. Does anyone know of any bars in the DC/MD area with a large M constituent? Thanks for your help!

Topher

August 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 PM ^

We all went to Bailey's at Ballston, or Rock Bottom which are both in the Ballston mall. The alumni association puts up a banner and has a raffle and stuff each time, check the DC area alumni association website (and I'm not even an alum!) It's fun.

Funny story about Bailey's...they are notorious for poor service, which I didn't really experience the first few times and doesn't bother me that much when I'm there for four hrs for a football game.

BUT...the day of the Ohio State game, I arrive to find our normal spot in front of the projection screen filled with Buckeyes. I asked the server and she said they just showed up and sat there. Apparently Bailey's didn't value our weekly attendance enough to ask these people to sit somewhere else (the place is like an acre large).

Then they brought me the wrong beer, were late putting in my sandwich order, etc so I left zero dollars in tip and wrote a note on the receipt chastising the restaurant for allowing our rivals to claim-jump the good seats when they know they can count on us to spend hundreds of bucks each week when we watch UM football.

Apparently this struck a nerve, because a friend of mine used to work there years ago said she heard about my angry missive through the grapevine. Doesn't bother me - I wouldn't treat a regular customer that way in my business.

OSUckSteverMSUcks

August 22nd, 2009 at 6:15 PM ^

I don't know a thing about any of these places, this is just what a friend of me gave me a while back when I was thinking of going out to visit one weekend. Apparently the list is from some of last year's game watching parties.

I'll keep a look out, and see what I come across.

The Pour House
319 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, DC
202.546.1001

Tommy Joe's
4714 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda
301.654.3801

SoBe Bar & Bistro
3100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington
703.527.1600

Buffalo Billiards
Dupont Circle, Washington, DC
202.331.7665

Rizzo

August 22nd, 2009 at 6:50 PM ^

These are all correct. I used to frequent the Pour House, but Cap Hill is out of the way, and we have now moved on to Buffalo Billiards. They have a room in the back for M fans and provide drink specials during games. We watch most of the football away games (I go back to A2 for the home games), basketball and hockey games there.

PeterKlima

August 22nd, 2009 at 6:16 PM ^

I watched the 2006 Um v. OSU game in DC (#1 v. #2). I contacted the alumni association and found a bar in the district called.... "The Pourhouse" I believe. It was packed to the roof with Michigan fans... we couldn't find a seat.... and that was 5 hours before kickoff.

Try that place.

P.S. - I ran into a guy there who was a fan of MGoBlog. It was a smaller MGoCommunity then. It was my first, but not last time talking MGoBlog with a fellow Michigan fan outside Michigan.

jmcwannab

August 22nd, 2009 at 6:22 PM ^

and the Pour House has gone downhill. Last year they decided to become a Florida bar too and there is simply not enough space when the games are at the same time or even back to back.

The new spot is Buffalo Billiards in Dupont. They have lots of room and dedicate a good portion of TVs to us.

The atmosphere during the basketball tourney was electric and will definitely be the place where me and all of my friends go.

Cheers and Go Blue!

VAWolverine

August 22nd, 2009 at 6:36 PM ^

You can email the DC Alumni Club at [email protected] and get the latest pubs of choice. I was at the Pour House three years ago to watch a Minnesota game at night. Place was jammed, beer OK, food less than OK.

The Crystal City Sports Pub is fan friendly no matter the team. Four levels of tv's with the top floor being non-smoking.

Rizzo

August 22nd, 2009 at 6:48 PM ^

I've lived across the street from the CCSP for three years. Aside from the plethora of HDTVs and the third floor Vegas-style odds boards, that place sucks. The food is overpriced and terrible. The beers will cost you an arm and leg, and they charge you for refills on pop.

ndhillon

August 24th, 2009 at 12:04 AM ^

I live just 15 minutes north of I-81 and I-66...exit 313. Grew up in Montgomery County, MD and now live here.

Dupont Circle is the best spot? I heard about Tommy Joe's in Bethesda...was thinking of hitting that place up too.

remdies

August 22nd, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^

I did, I work on the Patuxent River Naval Air Station which is actually in southern Maryland. I moved in March, and there isn't much in southern Maryland so we are willing to drive to take in the game. Where is your friend at?

VAWolverine

August 22nd, 2009 at 6:41 PM ^

Tommy Joe's is a nice place. Right off of Wisconsin Avenue very near the Bethesda metro stop.

It sits in the shadow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (my professional organization) on Montgomery Lane.
A Hyatt is next to the Metro if you party too much and need to sleep it off.

samsoccer7

August 22nd, 2009 at 8:10 PM ^

I was in D.C. last fall and went to Buffalo Billiards. It was great. I went by myself (only in D.C. for a month, no other Mich fans) and people were really friendly and invited me to sit with them. It was a good time, but unfortunately I saw the Toledo game there so I'm a little averse to the place. Anyway, back in Chicago so I don't have to worry about it...

Rico616

August 22nd, 2009 at 9:06 PM ^

I lived in Maryland the past 2 football seasons and I'd go to Tommy Joe's in Bethesda. It's not too expensive and usually there'd be about 20-30 UM fans there watching for the regular games. The games against PSU and OSU brought out more fans.

Why dont you just check out each place and when you find which place you like more you can frequent there regularly.

Big Boutros

August 23rd, 2009 at 11:06 AM ^

I think it's been well-covered, but just to state definitively: The Pour House, formerly a Michigan bar, is now a Florida bar, whilst Buffalo Billiards, in Dupont Circle below a Baja Fresh (!) is now the best active DC Michigan bar.

ChalmersE

August 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 AM ^

take the elevator rather than the escalator. The elevator lets you off right across the street. I've gone to Tommy Joe's several times, there are TVs everywhere and the food is pretty decent.

GoBlueMich02

August 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 PM ^

Is the "official" michigan bar in the district. I found that the other bars tend, however, to cater to older alumni, while Buff Billiards tends to attract younger ones. Just one observation, though.