With the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games, London has been the center of the attention this summer. More than 10,000 athletes from 204 national Olympic committees are expected to participate in the athletic and cultural celebration. As the motto of the London 2012, “Inspire a Generation,” reveals the spirit of the Olympics and urge the athletes to perform at their very best and inspire the world. For those of us in Washington, not making it to London, a number of Olympic-themed events will be going on from today throughout the weeks of the games.
Olympic Fun Day
Olympic Fun Day, an effort by first lady Michelle Obama to encourage kids to engage in physical activity, will be held at the National Museum of the American Indian, Imaginations Activity Center, third level. The event will take place on Saturday, July 28, at 12:30 p.m. The activities include several Native-American games, Amazonian games and more. There will be virtual skateboarding and a photo op in a kayak. Before leaving, make sure to head down to “Best in the World: Native Athletes in the Olympics,” an exhibit showcases actual gold and silver medals won by great Native-American athletes. Children under the age of 12 will receive their own miniature U.S. flag for participating.
Brix and Ale
Come watch the Olympic games at Brix and Ale, the official Tyson’s Corner viewing headquarters. Join the fun by participating in the “Corporate Olympics.” Sign up your team to compete against local businesses throughout Northern Virginia. The top three teams will win the gold, silver or bronze medals. The gold-medal winner earns a dinner for 12 in the Brix and Ale private dining room. The silver medal wins a dinner for four at Brix and Ale, and the bronze medal wins 20,000 Starwood Preferred Guest points. Brix and Ale is located at 8661 Leesburg Pike, Tyson’s Corner Va. 22182. Follow them on Facebook for the official Olympic viewing schedule and daily specials. Register your team before the Olympics begin; call 703-610-8275 or email Chelsie.Chemla@Sheraton.com for more information.
The Queen Vic
The Queen Vic invites you to watch the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics with them. There will be drink specials throughout the Olympics including $4 pints of Newcastle whenever Great Britain wins a gold medal. The party starts at 8 p.m. The Queen Vic is located on 1206 H St., NE. For more information, visit them at www.thequeenvicdc.com
The Pug
In celebration of the Olympic Games, The Pug bar located at 1234 H Street, will be promoting drink specials corresponding to the Olympics games themselves. These specials include $3 bud tall boys for the entire duration of the Olympics. For the US women’s soccer team tomorrow, buds will be $2 along with hot dogs at $1. Take advantage of these specials while they last, from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. For more information, contact tony@thepugdc.com.
H Street Olympic Bar Crawl
What better way to welcome the start of the Olympic games than with an Olympic bar crawl? This bar crawl, inspired by the Olympic torch relay, will begin today at the Argonaut at 5:30 p.m. with stops along the way at the Pug, the Star, Shamrock, and concluding at Queen Vic at 8 p.m. H street bars welcome all bar crawlers to join together to celebrate the Olympics in style. Admission is free.
Lincoln Restaurant
Lincoln Restaurant — at 1110 Vermont Ave., NW — will be celebrating the Olympic games by offering Olympic-themed cocktails. These include the gold, silver and bronze cocktails. Make sure to check them out while the games are in session. For more information, call 202-386-9200.
