• May 25, 2012
ANOTHER DIVE BAR

February 12, 2009

Galaxy Hut: No Bros Here

by Malaka Gharib  

Every store, bar and restaurant on Clarendon Boulevard reflects the fact that the Arlington is a total a bro town, except for one: Galaxy Hut.

Located across the street from Whole Foods and a few doors down from Revolution Cycles, this tiny bar offers 20 taps of craft and imported beer, and more than 30 kinds of bottled beer. They don’t serve any hard liquor, so don’t ask.

There’s live music Sunday and Monday nights (how they fit the bands inside is a mystery; the bar can barely hold 15 people), Ms. Pacman, pinball and a vegetarian-friendly menu. The place is pretty festive and cozy — you have to appreciate the homemade decorations adorning the walls and the creepo murals in the smoking lounge. And best of all, Galaxy Hut patrons are not broskis. Hooray!

Galaxy Hut, 2711 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 [map]

{ 23 comments }

space stout February 12, 2009 at 4:46 pm

i heart galaxy hut- have seen Hope for a Golden Summer there a bunch of times, very intimate. You are so close to the band you could punch them, grab their instruments and join the band.

liquiddaddy February 12, 2009 at 4:51 pm

What no delicious Colt 45 or Olde English 40 oz. cool ones? No wonder.

qaf February 12, 2009 at 4:55 pm

Does that no-nonsense Amazon Campbell Brown, she who conquered Wonkette, drink there? ‘Cause I’d totally travel 3500 miles to witness that.

Iggy Plop February 12, 2009 at 4:57 pm

Glad to know the place still exists long after I left the area. I used to go check out the Graverobbers play there often. Always excellent beer.

pinkdc February 12, 2009 at 4:57 pm

Is this the place that has gelato in the summer?

fish with broken dreams February 12, 2009 at 4:58 pm

the only place where you can sit in an alleyway drinking Delirium Tremens under a leaky air conditioner.. awesome.

WindbagCity February 12, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Good to know- love to hear about the little unexpected gems. Next: Best of Ballston?

WallyPipp February 12, 2009 at 5:19 pm

Shhhh! Don’t tell! I mean…welcome, “new friends”. Make room under the leaky air conditioner/at the mysteriously vibrating table for me.

AppalachianWino February 12, 2009 at 5:21 pm

downstairs can hold a couple hundred tho. reminded me of a fraternity house basement sans ghb (i think).

dirtyboypdx February 12, 2009 at 5:28 pm

Is it common for bars in the DC area to not serve hard liquor? That seems…wierd. If a bar in Portland doesn’t serve hard liquor, it’s a standard restaurant. And if it does serve hard liquor, it has to serve food as well (one of the only good things about Oregon Liquor control – ALL bars must serve food, even late night!)

Capitol Hillbilly February 12, 2009 at 5:47 pm

i have played there and it is fine, kinda like playing in somebody’s basement. or kitchen.

flyingspaghettimonster February 12, 2009 at 5:47 pm

downstairs ??

thefrontpage February 12, 2009 at 5:49 pm

Most bars in the D.C. area do indeed serve hard liquor. Galaxy Hut focuses on its beers because they specialize in those beers. Most bars do serve hard liquor in the area.

AppalachianWino February 12, 2009 at 6:04 pm

since it’s in va they’d have to be a “restaurant” according to abc if they want to serve liquor (mixed beverage – restaurant license). further, regulations require a certain percentage of sales be food.

AppalachianWino February 12, 2009 at 6:05 pm

ok..maybe wrong bar. it was a hazy night.

Uncle Glenny February 12, 2009 at 6:51 pm

In this context, what, exactly, is a ‘bro’? In what respect, Malaka?

– Muddled in Massachusetts

el_chupacabra February 12, 2009 at 7:00 pm

props to my boy Bill if he’s still there. who knowz. i bailed on shitty dc years ago.

josereyes.theroof February 12, 2009 at 8:29 pm

Adding this to my to-do list for my next go-’round in DC.

Third_Law February 12, 2009 at 8:34 pm

No way! That’s right across the street from me!

HuddledMass February 12, 2009 at 9:13 pm

[re=242601]Uncle Glenny[/re]:

Bro:
Obnoxious partying males who are often seen at college parties. When they aren’t making an ass of themselves they usually just stand around holding a red plastic cup waiting for something exciting to happen so they can scream something that demonstrates how much they enjoy partying.

(Urban Dictionary)

Uncle Glenny February 12, 2009 at 9:42 pm

[re=242714]HuddledMass[/re]: Thank you. I did a little bit of that in high school – we crashed the weekly beer busts at the so-called “eating clubs” at Princeton. Bring some girls, you get in and get free beer. I got drunk and got to ogle horny college guys. I was never much into screaming though. Princeton was a good place to get weed back then. (I say this as a Certified Old Fart. But not like David Denby.)

WithMySFValues February 13, 2009 at 12:07 am

Hmm, I grew up in Arlington and remember when the location of GH (and assorted other hipster bars/grills/whole foods) was nothing but a tire store, Sears, and a non-chic vietnamese restaurant. No bros there either.

hrhkingfriday February 13, 2009 at 9:45 am

[re=242465]WindbagCity[/re]: Matsutake, Vapiano, and Tutto Benni are the best. The rest of Ballston though? Ech.

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