The Nats continue their even-year streak of making it to the playoffs, and will be facing the Los Angeles Dodgers at
Nationals Park for the first two games of the series. Game 1 is Friday, Oct. 7 at 5:38 pm, and Game 2 is Saturday, Oct. 8 at 4:08 pm. (If necessary, Game 5 will be on Thursday, Oct. 13. But let's not think about that right now.)
GETTING THERE: If you are needing the latest news about getting to and from the ballpark for Friday and Saturday's games. Dr. Gridlock has put together
this rundown. (You'd like to believe that those start times will prevent a Metro-closing-time-apocalypse, but some of us do remember the
2018-inning 2014 playoff game...)
WHERE TO EAT:
My food map will help you if you haven't wandered around lately.
These are the special events I've heard about so far, but keep checking back, as I will update here when more information comes along:
YARDS PARK PEP RALLY: The Capitol Riverfront BID is hosting a free
Playoffs Pep Rally at the
Yards Park on Friday, from 3 pm to 5:30 pm, with live music from the Lloyd Dobler Effect, as well as games and activities. Food and beverages will be for sale from Bluejacket, Agua 301, Ice Cream Jubilee, and others.
FAIRGROUNDS DOINGS: The Bullpen will be
fully operational on Friday and Saturday. Gates open at 1 pm on Friday and noon on Saturday, and admission is free. There will be live music before and after games, and if you don't have a ticket to get into the ballpark, the Bullpen will be airing the home games with sound on a 9'-12' LED screen. And a happy hour during innings 3 through 7 will offer all drinks for $5.
DUE SOUTH OFFERINGS: There will be a special "curated playoff menu" inside the
restaurant at 301 Water St. SE, opening at 11 am every day, while the "outdoor bar and grill" will have draft beer and grab-and-go eats, starting three hours before first patch. And the Nats games will be shown on all TVs, with sound.
ALL THINGS GO FALL CLASSIC: Because the area right near the ballpark won't be hopping enough on Saturday, note that there will also be the
All Things Go Fall Classic music festival underway at
Spooky Park, aka the huge open space south of M and between 1st and New Jersey. It runs from 11:30 am to about 10:30 pm, and it
ain't free. (I'll save my rant for the dubbing of the Spooky Park site as "Yards Park" for another day.)