The Birchmere
The Birchmere is a concert hall in Alexandria, Virginia, known for presenting performers in the bluegrass, country, folk, and jazz genres. The main stage has table seating with dinner service. The room seats 500 people and the tables in front are about two feet from the stage. The bandstand includes a dance area.
The Four Bitchin' Babes recorded two of their albums, Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair and Gabby Road, at the Birchmere. Riders in the Sky also recorded their live album there. Dave Matthews Band recorded songs from their album Recently at the Birchmere on February 21, 1994.
Contents |
[edit] Tap Water Policy
The Birchmere has a no tap water policy. They will only serve you bottled water and charge you $3.00 a bottle. The reason for this policy is unclear, but after speaking with their assistant manager he claimed it was "wasting water". Even upon request, the manager, bartender or server will refuse to fill up a glass with tap water and give it to you. Some speculate this may be a ploy to make more money by forcing the customer to pay $3.00 for bottled water.
[edit] Plans for expansion
[edit] Silver Spring, MD
During the redevelopment of downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, a plan was proposed to build a second Birchmere site, slated to be an $8 million, 800-seat venue.[1] After years of negotiations, the deal was rejected on July 25, 2007. At the time, Birchmere management claimed that Montgomery County officials breached a contractual agreement with the music venue,[2] but these claims were disputed by the developers and government officials who denied any contractual obligation for development.[1]
[edit] College Park, MD
In 2010, as a part of the University of Maryland's East Campus redevelopment plan,[3] The Birchmere plans to develop a new two-story, 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) dining and entertainment facility adjacent to the university's property.[4]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b Killian, Erin (July 25, 2007). "Birchmere cancels plans in Silver Spring". Washington Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2007/07/23/daily31.html. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ McKenna, Dave (July 25, 2007). "Birchmere Deal Falls Through". Washington City Paper. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2007/07/25/birchmere-deal-falls-through/. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ "East Campus Redevelopment Initiative". University of Maryland Division of Administrative Affairs. http://www.eastcampus.umd.edu/rfpm2010.cfm. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
- ^ "Request For Proposals: University of Maryland East Campus" (PDF) (Press release). University of Maryland. June 8, 2010. http://www.eastcampus.umd.edu/Image/rfp2/Amendment-A003-1.pdf. Retrieved November 3, 2010. "The Birchmere is currently planned as a roughly 25,000 sf, two story dining and entertainment venue. The proposed site is a standalone facility on Rossborough Lane, behind Ritchie Coliseum."
Coordinates: 38°50′24″N 77°03′41″W / 38.8400001°N 77.06141°W
