The birds are chirping and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is about to begin! Get those brackets ready and start scoping out prime spots to watch the games. Visit these local establishments to score great deals on drinks and bar food while catching the action on giant flat-screen TVs and projector walls.
Clarendon Ballroom
Actual dancing is on hold at the ballroom as sports fans gather to watch “The Big Dance” on a 50-foot projector wall and a 20-foot video wall. Clarendon Ballroom will host a rooftop watch party for tip off, Thursday March 20, with food and drink specials, giveaways and rooftop TVs. // 3185 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Crystal City Sports Pub
This spirited pub on 23rd Street hosts multiple university alumni associations—Hokies, Huskies, Hawkeyes and Buckeyes, plus many more—so you can cheer on your team with old (and new) college chums. Just don your school’s jersey and find your tribe. With an 18-foot video wall and multiple large-screen televisions showing games with volume, you can keep an eye on multiple contests simultaneously. Happy hour is Monday to Friday, 3 to 6:30 p.m. On Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., enjoy March Madness specials including $4 drafts, $14 pitchers, $22 buckets of select beers and $7.99 appetizers. // 529 23rd St. S., Arlington (Crystal City)
Dogwood Tavern
March into March Madness at this rustic bar with an outdoor sky patio in the City of Falls Church. During happy hour, from 3 to 7 p.m. weeknights, enjoy $4 Miller Lites, the micro of the month or house spirits for $5, house wines for $6 and a Moscow mule for $8. // 132 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Dudley’s Sport and Ale
This behemoth Shirlington sports bar has more than 40 televisions and a 20-foot projector split screen, so you’re assured a great view of the action no matter where you’re sitting or standing. There’s also a huge rooftop (perfect for spring temps and a game of cornhole) with more screens. Weekday happy hours from 3 to 6 p.m. bring $15 pitchers, $10 pizzas and $10 wings. // 2766 S. Arlington Mill Drive, Arlington (Shirlington)
First Down Sports Bar
This Ballston watering hole is running its own bracket competition alongside the NCAA contests. All 50 of its wing sauce flavors will go head-to-head in matchups to determine the sauce of the year. Vote daily on their Instagram page to help determine this year’s champion. Specials (available for dine-in only during the NCAA Division 1 games) include a combo of six boneless wings plus fries for $11; pretzel bites for $7; and mixed drinks made with Tito’s vodka, plus various tall stadium cans for $10.25 each. // 4213 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Ballston)
Mix Madness in Ballston
Ready to taste test some seasonal cocktails? This tourney is shaking things up by throwing booze in the mix. Cast your vote online for your favorite cocktail and send your favorite Ballston restaurant to the final four. All voters will entered for a chance to serve as a guest judge at the VIP live finale at Ballston Exchange on April 2. Last year, Ted’s Bulletin took the title with its Herbs & Berries cocktail. Check out this year’s cocktails to make your pick, and then keep an eye on the standings to see who’s in the lead.
Rhodeside Grill
Join a watch party on Friday, March 21, noon to 4 p.m., at this neighborhood bar known for its hearty meals, craft beers and cocktails. Think mac and cheese, fried chicken, soups and sandwiches. Find happy hour deals Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m., with $5 rail drinks, $3.50 Miller Lites and $5 micros of the month. // 1836 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Courthouse)
Shipgarten
This indoor/outdoor biergarten features four separate food and drink experiences, each in their own 40-foot shipping container. And for March Madness, find four different deals to fuel up game-watching parties of any size. For $99, the four-person Slam Dunk Package comes with three pizzas and 10 drink tickets. Or feed eight people with the And 1 Package, with three pizzas, 50 cheeseburger sliders and 30 drink tickets. Bringing even more friends? Try the 10-person 3 Point Package for $600, which includes 100 boneless wings, 50 cheeseburger sliders, French fries, the beef and chicken taco bar and 50 drink tickets. Feed a watch-party of 25 people with the $750 Alley-Oop Package. Enjoy 100 boneless wings, cheeseburger and chicken sliders, French fries and funnel cake fries and 75 drink tickets. // 7581 Colshire Drive, Mclean (Tysons)
Smokecraft
If hoops madness leaves you hungry and hankering for barbecue, this Clarendon eatery is a top seed. Build-your-own nachos, wing platters and full barbecue buffets for takeout and earn props as the host with the most as March Madness gets underway. Order your gameday package here. // 1051 N. Highland St., Arlington (Clarendon)