Exclusive: Inside the political U Street bar that's riling up the internet
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Bipartisan-themed bar Political Pattie's is opening on U Street next Friday and D.C. internet is going wild.
Friction point: The political watering hole, which takes over its space from popular gay bar Dirty Goose, drew ire on social media this week when the new owners painted over the rainbow facade and hung their signage — donkeys and elephants included.
- Drew Benbow and Sydney Bradford, the couple behind the bar, didn't expect such blowback.
- "This bar is really personal to us, so it's important for folks to get to know who we are," Bradford tells Axios.
Why it matters: In D.C., even bipartisan intentions can get divisive.
Zoom in: Benbow and Bradford are Washingtonians, and yes, both lawyers from either side of the aisle. She's a registered Democrat, he calls himself "an incredibly moderate Republican."
- An Anacostia high school grad, Benbow retired from serving in the Army reserves in Afghanistan and penned a suspense novel, "The Devil's Politics." They met at a signing for the book at their Virginia alma mater, Hampton University.
- Bradford, whose mother is a former deputy Senate sergeant at arms, tells Axios: "We have an entrenched love of politics. The tone and tenor has gotten super divisive. We want to reinvigorate the nightlife scene and political conversation with the same energy that we hearken back to the Obama years."
Dig in: The three-story space, which includes a rooftop bar, will serve politically themed cocktails like a "Capitol Mule" and have plenty of entertainment — DJs, civic-themed trivia nights, an NPR-style Tiny Desk Concert space and election watch parties.
- Expect drinks and free popcorn to start, followed by a full food menu.
What they're saying: "D.C. can be stuffy, pretentious, and we want to poke fun at that," says Benbow. "We can 'put the lit in politics,' that's why it's our tagline. We want it to be a place where everyone of every political persuasion can come and enjoy themselves."
What we're watching: Decorative gavels. The owners are hoping a quick come-to-order bang will bring more "polite and friendly discourse," but who knows after a few Filibuster Fizzes.
The intrigue: The name stemmed from a typo. It was supposed to be "Political Parties."
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Benbow and Bradford are not married.