Why are you so serious, DC? – Eater DC

With a monumental presidential election just around the corner (77 days to be exact), there’s a laid-back bar steps from the White House where all walks of life can relax before taking a comedic rollercoaster ride home. With dramatic red walls and beautiful wood paneling, the former bar Off the record Rest in the depths of the historic There are Adams The hotel is a neutral playing field for powerful politicians, suited dealmakers, Hollywood celebrities, locals, journalists and tourists alike.800 NW 16th Street).

The Hay-Adams

All eyes are on Vice President Kamala Harris this week as she accepts the 2024 presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in ChicagoIn Off the Record, Harris’ current roller coaster ride pays homage to her Converse Fashion Whenever second gentleman Doug Emhoff comes over with the staff (which apparently happens often), Hay-Adams bar manager Rachel Sergi casually places his wife’s coaster under his wine glass. “We specifically put hers on the table when he’s here so he knows it exists,” she tells Eater, adding “it’s a charm and very personable.”

The underground hangout’s iconic cocktail coasters debuted a decade ago during the Obama administration, and a total of 50 distinct designs have graced the dimly lit space since. Similar to a beer coaster in size and material, each one depicts a headline-making political figure of the day. The luxury hotel taps three celebrated editorial cartoonists: Kevin Kallaugher, Ann Telnaes, and PoliticalMatt Wuerker creates each new cartoon in a timely manner and then reproduces the original as a colorful coaster.

While Off the Record classics like its pear martini aren’t going away, the current political climate is also forcing changes to the cocktail menu. The Midori-powered “Brat Summer,” which launched last week, was originally going to be called “Kamala Is Brat.”

“But I didn’t want people to think we’re calling Kamala a brat if they don’t know the reference,” she says. (In July, British pop star Charli XCX Harris declared that he is a “brat” — a Gen Z-approved compliment which refers to her hit summer album of the same name; Harris’ campaign fully embraced the viral lime-green meme.)

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Sergi describes this vibrant drink as “the epitome of ‘brat’: a little bit spicy, a little bit sour, a little bit sweet, definitely summery, and it’s the color of the season,” he says. A sparkling “Blue Wave” cocktail glass gives a subtle nod to the Democratic Party, composed of lychee, soju, lemon, Taittinger Champagne and blue glitter dust.

His new cocktail, “Brooklyn in the House (of Representatives),” combines a New York sour with Redemption bourbon, lemon sour and a lambrusco float as a tribute to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). “A lot of people don’t know who he is; he’s only been in the business for a short time, but he’s monumental for what he does and doesn’t get a lot of press,” he says.

The rotating set of coasters also features former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Biden and Trump with their fists raised, an artistic commission from Sergi herself.

Naturally, new coasters honoring each of the new vice presidential candidates (Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz) are expected to be added to the bar before the big election in November. “There are going to be some surprises,” he says, of the 4×4 images to come. (Something “weird,” perhaps?)

As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigned for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, his cartoon coaster was in high demand among visitors to the Sunshine State. “Not necessarily because they’re politically aligned with him,” he says. They just wanted to take one home as a souvenir.

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Sergi, who joined Off the Record in early 2023, is a well-known Washington DC figure in her own right. The veteran mixologist has been mixing drinks at a number of establishments across the city for more than a quarter-century, including José Andrés’ Zaytinya, dive bar Last Call and the swanky Watergate hotel.

His latest place of business in the nation’s capital markets itself as “the place to be seen, but not heard.” Needless to say, “I hear crazy stuff,” he says. While Off the Record guests are encouraged to “steal” his coaster, the old-school institution frowns on photos and phone use, in part, to protect its A-list clientele. Eater experienced this firsthand a few years ago, when billionaire Mark Cuban was spotted turning down a photo at the circular bar.

Recently, Sergi had to wave away some female groupies from taking a photo with Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn as he prepared for a meeting at the White House across the street, suggesting they meet him outside. “It’s not like I take a limo,” he says. The avid political and social activist is “very nice people,” he adds, and “comes here a lot.” His go-to order? “The crab claws,” he says.

A secret booth in the back, affectionately called “The Bench,” is framed with a gallery of current Supreme Court justices drawn by its in-house artists.

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Coasters arrive almost immediately along with a trio of silver-tiered bar snacks. A dedicated staff member spends hours each day preparing their crispy fries, and a spicy, peppery nut mix arriving soon will help usher in fall. They’re also toying with the possibility of adding oyster crackers made with Old Bay, the mid-Atlantic favorite, and a sprinkle of gold dust. Wasabi balls recently returned as a replacement for Jelly Bellies, which seemed a bit dated. “If you’re old enough, you’re more aligned with the [Republican President Ronald] “Reagan loved jelly beans,” she says.

As for the 46th president of the United States, who lives just across the tree-lined South Lawn, she predicts his lasting legacy remains to be seen.

“[Biden’s] “He has done many wonderful things during his time in office, but he has not yet received recognition for them. The history books will tell us that,” he says.

Off the Record is open daily from 11:30am to 11:30pm. See the current menu here.

The Hay-Adams

The Hay-Adams