"F" is for furlough. (And another word; but right now - let's try to stay positive. 👊) To aid in this endeavor, check out this list of local businesses and restaurants in Hyattsville, College Park, Mount Rainier, North Brentwood, Brentwood, Cheverly and Washington, DC offering either free or discounted food, drink and activities for furloughed employees. Know of others? Add them to the comments below and I'll update ASAP. (And the puppy / cat image above? Brings more sunshine than an otherwise bleak "closed for business" image.)
*As these promotions are subject to change, please call or check social media to confirm their status before heading out! :)
Free Activities for Furloughed Workers
Free Open Sew at Hyattsville's
Three Little Birds Sewing Co. this Wednesday (1/9) through Friday between 11am - 6pm. Come work on a project, use the machines and studio tools from free. Email threelittlebirds.sewingco@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
[OVER] Free coworking at Hyattsville's
CAMPspaces on Wednesday (TODAY) until 5pm for all furloughed government employees on 1/9 (use the "GOVTFREE" discount code when register).
[OVER ] Furlough Friday (1/11) at Hyattsville's
Pyramid Atlantic, 3-6pm, where you can burn some creative energy in their studios as you learn form the pros how to pull a print, stencil ink, make a zine & enjoy an interview-based performance and mural creation at Studio SoHy with artist Josh Franco.
Try a free tap class (!) at Takoma Park's
Knock on Wood Tap Studio (two blocks from Takoma Metro). One free tap class per furloughed federal government employee during the government shutdown. Must present government ID to redeem.
Free Fitness Classes for Furloughed Workers
At Hyattsville's
Yoga Space, all classes will be $5 for furloughed employees for the duration of the shut down. The honor system prevails at Yoga Space, so no proof needed.
[OVER] Cheverly's
Greenleaf Fitness (who offers the
cool classes listed here!) is offering a free CIZE Cardio class on Thursday at 7:30pm for furloughed workers. Simply show up with your federal ID badge and enjoy this free class!
[OVER ] Free Spinning Class this Friday (1/12) at noon at College Park's
Posh Cycling & Fitness for all federal employees who show their badge.
Mount Rainier's
Joe's Movement Emporium is offering 50% off any adult (think Belly Dancing!) or youth classes during the government shutdown (including 10-class passes). Must purchase online using code 717208619364 when registering
here for Adult Classes and
here for Youth Classes.
College Park's
Numi Yoga is offering a free yoga class (any class!) for furloughed folks. Please show this post to the front desk to redeem this offer.
🍺🍷 Free & Discounted Food & Alcohol for Furloughed Workers
Vigilante Coffee's Hyattsville & College Park locations are offering 30% off all drinks for all impacted federal government employees for the duration of the government shutdown.
At nearby
DC Brau's tasting room, furloughed workers will receive a discount matching the amount of days of the shutdown, so January 10th = 20th day of shutdown = 20 percent off onsite or to-go purchases. (Note: The tasting room is not open on Mondays and Tuesdays. Also, the furlough discount is not valid on Fridays, since flagship pints are already 50% off.
Riverdale Park Farmers Market is offering furloughed federal government employees a $5 gift certificate for use at the market; just stop by the market information booth with your ID to collect. Offer lasts each Thursday until the shutdown is over.
Hyattsville's
&pizza at the
Mall at Prince George's (and all its other locations) is offering free pies for federal employees with a valid government-issued ID certain hours of the shutdown (please contact local &pizza directly to confirm hours of the promotion as they do change).
Hyattsville's
Pizzeria Paradiso is offering federal employees (show federal ID) and contractors (show business card) a "shutdown deal" - "pick any two appetizers and a 12" pizza for $30, running until the shutdown is over!"
Head down to
City Winery in nearby-ish Ivy City (NE DC), where government workers can enjoy $1 glasses of City Winery's label on tap.
Get happy hour pricing on drinks at
Brookland's Finest with government ID. (And while in Brookland, why not check out the beautiful
Franciscan Monastery, ideally before you're inebriated. 😉)
Hyattsville's
Maryland Meadworks is hosting a Feed a Fed Happy Hour on Sunday, January 13th (12-4pm) where all meads are $1 off! Matt Humbard (a federal government employee and a brewer who lives in Hyattsville with his wife Krissi (digital editor of the Hyattsville Life & Times and family)) will be working the taps, so be sure to tip generously!
Atlas Brew Works in DC's Ivy City is offering a "shut down solidarity discount" of 15% off in their tap room to federal employees and contractors who show government ID.
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I should also add that now's a great time to visit one of our many, great local museums and art spaces, like the
Prince George's African American Museum & Cultural Center,
Brentwood Arts Exchange,
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center,
Studio SoHy, just off the top of my precious head. And - they're all FREE!
Feel free to share this post with other folks in town and please let me know of other local places you hear of that are offering promotions for furloughed workers.
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Best of luck to all of y'all. Having been a federal employee who's gone through a furlough in the past (albeit way shorter than this one), I know how stressful this can be and hope these little measures help bring some sunshine to your days.)
In solidarity - Sarah.
