Be a Guitar Hero or Rock Star at a Bar Near You

Pairing games with alcohol is no novelty in the DC bar scene, but throw in a video game like Guitar Hero or Rock Band, which allow you to indulge in dreams of rock stardom, and you get a fresh, genius take on the classic formula—after all, booze and rock stars go together like bees and honey.

By Kristen Van Dusen , Alejandro Salinas

Capitalizing on the video game’s hype, some local bars have begun to host Guitar Hero nights. Here’s a list of places where you can go unleash the rock star within.

Champps Americana (11694 Plaza America Dr., Reston, 703-318-7600; 1201 S. Joyce St., Arlington, 703-414-3601). These two outposts of the national sports-bar chain have Guitar Hero nights every Tuesday from 9 to closing. There are no food specials during this time but plenty of booze for the Pete Doherty within.

Hard Times Cafe (14389 Potomac Festival Plaza, Woodbridge; 703-492-2950). Though a drive away from DC, this Woodbridge destination is worth the effort for its competitive spirit—in addition to being played on a giant projection screen, tournaments for cash and other prizes are held for medium- and expert-level competitors. Guitar Hero night is Friday from 9 to closing. Full band gear is available.

McFadden’s (2401 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 202-223-2335). Frat boys as rock stars? It sounds paradoxical, but this popular-among-the-preppy Foggy Bottom bar somehow pulls it off. In fact, with two nights devoted to Rock Band and Guitar Hero, McFadden’s is the place to be for aficionados. Monday night, known as Rock Star Monday, is devoted exclusively to the video games; specials include $2 Rolling Rock drafts and $7 pitchers. Wednesday is game night, with free rentals of video games, board games, and movies. Specials include $10 Bud Light buckets and half-price burgers. 5 PM to closing on both nights.

Rhino Bar & Pumphouse (3295 M St., NW; 202-333-3150). Every Tuesday, Rhino holds Guitar Hero competitions and karaoke. The DJs have an extensive catalog of karaoke music, but the main attraction is the video game Guitar Hero, with wannabe shredders lining up to play Metallica and more. Specials include $3 Heineken and Dos Equis products and $5 Three Olives cherry and grape bombs. 10 PM to closing.

UPDATE

Hamilton's Bar & Grill (233 2nd St., NW; 202-347-6555). Hat tip to our reader Jennifer for telling us about this Capitol Hill bar. Guitar Hero is available for free every night in their upstairs area. Drink specials during happy hour include $4 Jim Beam drinks, $2 rail drinks and $8 Yeungling pitchers.

UPDATE 2

Stetsons Famous Bar and Grill (1610 U St., NW; 202-667-6295). Rock Band is available at this U Street hangout every Sunday night at 7. Drink specials include $8 pitchers of Bud light and $2.50 rail drinks and Miller drafts.

The Nintendo Wii is another console making a dent in some DC bars.

Bedrock Billiards (1841 Columbia Rd., NW; 202-667-7665). At this Adams Morgan bar, you can play the Wii any day of the week, but there’s a price attached to your enjoyment. Sunday through Wednesday, game rates for the console are $6 for one person, $12 for a couple, and $16 for four. Thursday through Saturday, starting at 7 PM, prices go up: $10 for one, $14 for a couple, $20 for four. From 4 to 8, happy-hour drink specials include $3.50 Red Hook IPAs on draft, $3 Miller High Life bottles, and $3 rail drinks.

Cue Bar (1115 U St., NW; 202-332-7665). Playing the Wii is only half the fun at this U Street bar, where every third Thursday of the month, Laced, a video and live-art installation party organized by a group of artists and musicians known as the solSource Group (solsource.org), takes place. Check the web site for times and dates.

UPDATE 3

The Front Page (4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-248-9990). The Nintendo Wii is available at this Ballston spot Sunday through Tuesday from 5 to close. There is no sign up sheet. Food and drink specials on Mondays and Tuesdays include $2.50 Miller Lite drafts, $2.75 rail drinks, and half-priced appetizers.

Do you know of other local bars that have Guitar Hero or Rock Band nights? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll update the post with your tip.

For more posts on nightlife, arts & events, and more, click here.

Category Tags: Nightlife, Guides

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What: Rock Band Bar Night event! - Program starts at 9:00PM and ends at 1:00AM - Age is 21+
Where: Ned Devine’s Irish Pub in HERNDON, Virginia
When: TUESDAYS 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM

What: Rock Band Bar Night event! - Program starts at 9:00PM and ends at 1:00AM - Age is 21+ - Reston, VA
Where: Kalypso’s Sports Tavern in Reston Virginia
When: TUESDAYS, 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM

What: Rock Band Bar Night event! - Program starts at 9:00PM and ends at 1:00AM - Age is 21+ - Ashburn VA
Where: Finnegan’s Irish Pub in Ashburn, Virginia
When: WEDNESDAYS, 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM

What: Rock Band Bar Night event! - Program starts at 9:00PM and ends at 12:00AM - Age is 21+
Where: Ned Devine’s Irish Pub in CENTERVILLE, Virginia
When: THURSDAYS, 9:00 PM - 12:00AM

All of these events are run by Jim Robertson of Crooked Tree Entertainment

twitter @crookedtreeent

Posted by: Chris Pernicano, Aug 24, 2010 01:55:19 PM

Recess...Free Game Night & Ice Cream Social for Adults!

What: Think game night mixed with a party atmosphere. Something different and fun for the 21+ crowd. Singles, couples, groups...everyone is welcome its all about having a great time!

When: Saturday, April 18th 2009

Where: Continental Modern Pool Lounge, 1911 N. Fort Myer Dr, Arlington, VA 22209
(Right across the Key Bridge from Georgetown)

Time: 9pm - 2am

Cost: FREE ALL NIGHT with email rsvp to rsvp@host-dc.com or by visiting www.host-dc.com. Each individual name must also include an email addr for free admittance.

Live DJ, drink specials, late night food menu, free ice cream care of Cafe Gelato.

Powered by: Cafe Gelato, Coco and Lowe, Brazen Hussy, Hypegirl Ent, Macksamillions Video, and Foreverdc.com

For more info visit WWW.HOST-DC.COM

Posted by: Host-DC, Apr 10, 2009 10:51:08 AM

We are hosting a Rock Band night every Wednesday at Lotus Lounge from 8 - 2 am. There will also be a Wii bowling lane set up with $5 sake bombs all night and $5 food specials from the sushi bar. Prizes will be given out for top scores in bowling and Rock Band.

Lotus Lounge
1420 K St NW
Washington DC 20005
202-355-5998

Posted by: Will Fung, Feb 06, 2009 03:36:43 PM

The Reef in Adams Morgan is a very visual friendly place to eat and they have Rock Band on X Box 360 live, every first and last Tuesday of the month from 9:30-2am.
The Reef is located at 2446 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20009 check it out at www.thereefdc.com

Posted by: Chris, Jan 06, 2009 04:23:19 PM

How do all of these tournaments work? Are they by high score or are they head-to-head competitions? What are the rules for each?

Posted by: Joe, May 27, 2008 08:25:56 PM

Do not forget about Kirkpatricks in Ashburn they are doing guitar hero and wii sports on Weds nights starting at 9:30 with drink speicals

Posted by: DJ ME, May 08, 2008 12:40:20 AM

The Irish Channel (5th and H, Chinatown) has started guitar hero/karaoke nights every Monday.

Posted by: Nick, Apr 22, 2008 10:38:21 AM

Bunkers in Leesburg has long running trivia on Thursday evenings. Gift certificates for prizes

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Posted by: X, Apr 17, 2008 10:54:22 AM

Stetsons famous bar and grill will have rock band available starting in april.

Posted by: Big Jon, Mar 31, 2008 08:36:22 PM

looking for that Call of Duty 4 bar...still no luck.

Posted by: stu, Mar 25, 2008 12:23:45 PM

Man that Laced party is definitely a great time, good people too. Cue Bar is a sweet place too. They mostly have bowling up and it’s not a huge line to get to it. Cool thing too is it’s on a big video projector screen.

Posted by: Marc, Mar 17, 2008 04:29:25 PM

You can also play Guitar Hero at Hamilton’s Bar and Grill on Capitol Hill! They have Guitar Hero and a Wii stationed on the second floor, along with dart boards, video game machines, and other fun stuff.

Hamilton’s Bar & Grill
233 2nd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.347.6555

Posted by: Jennifer, Mar 06, 2008 11:23:47 AM

Wow, I’ve been looking for a place to play some guitar hero for a while. Thanks for finding all these!

Posted by: Pete, Mar 06, 2008 08:56:56 AM

Be a Guitar Hero or Rock Star at a Bar Near You

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