When Washingtonians shell out a $100 for a New Year’s party and the liquor runs dry, expect chaos.
At least that’s what Late Night Shots and 20 & 30s Going Out Group learned when their parties took a turn for the worse with punches and improper bathroom behavior.
Let’s call the New Year’s party hosted by Reed Landry of Late Night Shots and Fritz Brogan “the letdown.” The Washington Post ranked the event at the National Building Museum “Editor’s Pick,” and Citysearch called it D.C.’s best place to party Dec. 31., but with long lines, chaos at the coat check and overcrowded bars, attendees had other thoughts.
Nick Massella, assistant director of public affairs at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, called it a “disaster,” saying 11 p.m. was the low point of the night when the liquor ran dry. He also noted space issues.
“Too many people for the number of bathrooms offered,” Massella said. “Also, men were going to the bathroom in the sinks.”
Hosts Landry and Brogan followed up Saturday with an e-mail offering guests a $50 gift card to George and Gin & Tonic.
Landry told Yeas & Nays the liquor never dried up. In fact, he said there were leftover bottles, but blamed the bar issues on inefficient restocking.
Since the flop, however, a page on Facebook popped up titled “Fritz Brogan and Reed Landry should not throw a NYE party.”
The party hosted by 20s & 30s Going Out Group at the Harman Center will be remembered as “the downfall.” The seamless event went from bliss to pandemonium in a matter of 30 minutes when the bar was temporarily closed. Bartenders stopped serving at 12:30 a.m. after two guests were transported for overintoxication. In a matter of 10 minutes, four to five fights broke out over the coat check, and there were two situations in which bartenders were accosted, according to the party hosts Jared Martin and J.T. Yaung.
“It’s unfortunate that the actions of a few determine the consequences for the many,” the hosts said in an e-mail to guests. “I hear it was a full moon last night, so perhaps that explains some of this.”
