D.C. Restaurants Embrace International Women’s Day

Just weeks after local hospitality workers made their presence known by participating in the #ADayWithoutImmigrants strike, the District Wednesday is expected to again face a diminished dining scene as local businesses support International Women’s Day.

The #ADayWithoutAWoman is being coordinated by organizers of the Women’s March on Washington; the guiding principle is to underscore the socio-economic clout women share by encouraging women to skip work (by taking paid or unpaid leave), and avoid shopping anywhere but at women- or minority-owned business.

Rather than shut down entirely, as many restaurants did a few weeks back, many hospitality ventures are taking symbolic stances — wearing red, as suggested by strike organizers; giving female employees the day off — and/or have elected to contribute a portion of sales to various aid groups.

Restaurants participating in this latest political act include:

• Ambar - all: Offering complimentary sparkling wine to female customers.
• Alta Strada - DC: Donating 10 percent of sales to My Sister’s Place.
• Bar Pilar/Cafe Saint Ex: Free glass of sparkly for females tonight and 10 percent of proceeds at both places today will benefit My Sister’s Place.
• Conosci: Donating 10 percent of sales to My Sister’s Place.
• Denizens Brewing Co.: Plans to open at noon and will extend happy hour pricing ($5 pints) all day for female customers.
• District Fishwife: Offering women 19 percent off on food orders in honor of the 19th Amendment.
• Eat The Rich: A special fundraising event from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. will donate a portion of the night’s proceeds to My Sister’s Place. Get a beer and a shot (called Badass Lasses) for $6.
• Fare Well: Donating 10 percent of sales to Ruth’s Place.
• Hank’s Cocktail Bar: Plans to open regular hours; founder Jamie Leeds last month pledged to donate 1 percent of sales (or $20,000) to the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood and the NAACP.
• Hank’s Oyster Bar - all: Plan to open regular hours; founder Jamie Leeds last month pledged to donate 1 percent of sales (or $20,000) to the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood and the NAACP.
• Hank’s Pasta Bar: Plans to open regular hours; founder Jamie Leeds last month pledged to donate 1 percent of sales (or $20,000) to the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood and the NAACP.
• Impala Cantina: Donating 100 percent of proceeds from sales of its Nasty Woman cocktail from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. to Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
• Little Red Fox: Donating 10 percent of sales to Emily's List.
• L’Enfant Cafe: Offering half-price drinks to women all day. Men wearing white in solidarity are eligible for a separate discount.
• Nido: Plans to operate at reduced capacity; full bar service, limited menu available from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Women will receive 20 percent discount on the bill (“To recognize the gender pay gap,” per co-founder Erin Lingle), and a portion of sales will go to Planned Parenthood.
• Pizzeria Paradiso - all: Founder Ruth Gresser is taking off and has offered paid leave to female employees interested in doing the same. Half the food and drink options are expected to be available, and 50 percent of the day’s profits will be split between My Sister’s Place and the National Organization for Women.
• Pleasant Pops: Adams Morgan location plans to donate 5 percent of sales to Planned Parenthood Action Fund while Downtown location will redirect 5 percent of sales to N Street Village.
• Policy: Donating 10 percent of sales to House of Ruth.
• RareSweets: Donating 10 percent of proceeds to Suited for Change.
• Right Proper Brewing Company - Shaw: Staff wearing red in honor of International Women’s Day. Guests wearing red will receive $1 off their first beer.
• Sauf Haus Bier Hall and Garten: Donating 22 percent of all net sales to the National Organization for Women. It’s also open early today (1:30 p.m. vs. its normal 4 p.m.) to welcome all protestors. (The beer hall has been running a "Bridge the Gap: Equal Pay" promotion since day one.)
• Smoked & Stacked: Donating 100 percent of proceeds to House of Ruth.
• Sticky Fingers Bakery: Donating 10 percent of sales to My Sister’s Place.

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