The Washington Capitals return to the Stanley Cup finals Monday night when they take on the Las Vegas Golden Knights, and spots around the District are celebrating the long-awaited occasion. The Capitals will host free viewing parties at Capital One Arena for Game 1 (Monday) and Game 2 (Wednesday). Doors open at 7 p.m., and the games start at 8 p.m. (Before the games, you can stop by the Chinatown outpost of Taco Bamba and try the special “Lord Stanley” taco, which contains chorizo, fries, bacon, cheese and chipotle maple sauce.)
If you're looking for other places around the District that have as much camaraderie as Capital One Arena — but maybe a better beer selection — here are some options (in alphabetical order).
The Nats hangout will play host to Caps faithful with the games airing on its new big screen. Gates open at 7 p.m. with $5 drink specials. Pets are welcome all night, but kids can stick around only for the first period, as the outdoor watering hole will be limited to those 21 and older after 9 p.m. 1201 Half St. SE.
Celebrate the end of the “choking dogs"-era Capitals, a phrase coined by Chatter co-owner and former Washington Post sports columnist Tony Kornheiser. The Friendship Heights restaurant's TVs will be showing the games with sound alongside $5 Angry Orchard Rosé Cider pints and Blue Point Toasted Lager cans, as well as $7 Corona Familiar 32 oz. bottles. There will also be $5 fried pickles and corn fritters. 5247 Wisconsin Ave. NW.
The hidden courtyard bar will be lighted red starting Monday night, and the Penn Quarter restaurant will add TV screens to its patio, which will show the games. The drink menu pays tribute to rough-and-tumble winger Tom Wilson with “The Wilson Punch,” which costs $6 — with $1 going to the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation. 555 Eighth St. NW.
The Navy Yard restaurant will air games with sound in the bar area and will run its usual happy hour menu from 7:30 p.m. until the end of the game (happy hour food specials will be offered until the kitchen closes at 10 p.m.). 301 Water St. SE.
Penn Commons's Game 1 watch party starts at 5 p.m. and will feature $5 beers, $6 cocktails and $7 food specials, which include pulled pork hand pies and spicy Thai chicken wings. There is also a promise of a commemorative “Stanley Cup” game cup to take home.
Throughout the finals, the Alexandria brewery plans to project games on the wall of its beer garden, as well as show the games in the tap room. One of Port City's early spring seasonals, Metro Red, is still around to enjoy until late into the night, as the brewery will extend its hours of operation until the end of games. 3950 Wheeler Ave., Alexandria.