Washington will swell with as many as 500,000 protestors this weekend, and Mike Haigis has a plan to help them drown their sorrows: a Capitol Hill pop-up bar he’s calling “Unpresidented.”
“I’ve done so many events for bars that I run, for State of the Unions and inaugurations, where we do stupid, toothless things, like blue and red shots, and ‘it’s gonna be great,’ but no one comes,” Haigis said, explaining why he chose a more provocative approach this week. “Rather than just focus on the absurdity and offensiveness of Trump, we started looking at his legitimacy and Russia.”
From there, a theme was born. The pop-up bar’s name is a reference to a famous misspelling in a Trump Tweet. Haigis and his pals have pulled together a Russia-themed cocktail full of vodka drinks, including a Moscow Mule and White Russian.
But most popular so far is a beverage they’ve called “This Drink Costs $29 at the Trump Hotel,” which they’re offering for just $14, “which is still a bit too expensive,” Haigis said.
The bar plays Russian parade marches over its speakers. It’s bedecked with portraits of Trump, as well as a custom mural, based on the Last Supper, featuring the new president, alongside Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Steve Bannon and others. Bargoers can also play Trump Tweet Mad Libs and trade baseball-style cards featuring Trump’s worst quotes, Haigis said.
So far, turnout has been lower than Haigis expected—he said he underestimated how many of Trump’s opponents would simply leave town this week—but attendees have appreciated the “gallows humor” of the pop-up bar.
“No one’s been upset so far,” Haigis said. “We have some people who are enthusiastic about giving their opinions. The worry is people who will come rip things down. We want to be provocative, but we don’t want to start a fight because everyone’s money is green. … This isn’t a polemic. It’s a joke. We hope that within reason, people on either side of the spectrum could come and laugh.”
One of the most memorable reactions so far: A customer suggested Haigis host a Benghazi-themed bar next, strewn with body part props.
Haigis said he did worry that the pop-up bar’s tongue-in-cheek antagonism might repel some regulars at Barrel, the full-time bar behind the event. But in the end, he decided to take the risk.
“Some people might not want to come this week, but some people might really want to come,” he said.
