Ebbitt Oyster Riot - Friday Night2012

Back for the 18th consecutive year, the Oyster Riot is one of the greatest parties of the year in Washington. Always held the Friday & Saturday before Thanksgiving, the Riot is DC's preeminent food & wine event. Each night, nearly 1000 people devour tens of thousands of oysters while enjoying the gold medal winners of the International Wines for Oysters Competition and grooving to some awesome tunes. Friday night's Riot will feature our longtime friend, Mudcat and his Blues Band (www.mudcatblues.com). For Saturday night's Riot we are happy to welcome Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra (www.brotherjoscephus.com) . Also new this year - if you are looking to continue the party when the Riot ends, head next door to our sister restaurant, The Hamilton, where the party continues with a concert by Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra on Friday night and Mudcat on Saturday night. These shows will start right around the time the Riot is ending. Tickets for these shows are available now at : http://www.thehamiltondc.com/live.

A resounding success in last two years, the Saturday afternoon Matinee Riot returns for its 3rd year on Saturday, November 17th from Noon to 3 pm. A portion of these proceeds will go to benefit the Oyster Recovery Partnership (www.oysterrecovery.org). Since it is a matinee performance, we will turn the music volume down with Laissez Foure (www.laissezfoure.com) so those who want to slurp and taste without the usual cacophany of the evening Riots can do so. We will only be selling a limited amount of tickets to the Matinee as the attendance will be about half that of the evening Riots....Other than that it's the same old Riot: Great Oysters! Great Wine! Great Time!

Tickets for each of the Oyster Riot sessions will be $140 per ticket with a maximum of 10 tickets for each session. Tickets will go on sale (as they always do) on Tuesday, September 4th, the day after Labor Day. Tickets will be sold at the Old Ebbitt Grill between 7:30 am - 8:30 am. The remaining tickets will be put on sale at 10 am on line at www.ebbittoysterriot.com. Last year tickets sold out in less than 10 minutes!!

What happened to all those oyster shells? Will they be just thrown away?
The oyster shells were sorted and transferred to the Oyster Recovery Partnership. About 75 bushels of shells were collected for their use. Once the shells are aged, they will end up being planted with 1 million baby oysters.

When and where is the Oyster Riot?
The party kicks off at 6:30pm each Friday and Saturday night and lasts until 9:30pm while the Saturday Matinee lasts from noon until 3:00pm at Old Ebbitt Grill, 675 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20005.

How do I buy tickets?
Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, September 4th. You may purchase them beginning at 7:30am in person at the Old Ebbitt Grill and 10:00am online. Last year tickets sold out in less than half an hour, so please don't wait! Tickets are $140.00 for all the sessions (including the matinee). There will be a maximum of ten tickets per session per transaction.

When will I get my tickets?
Actually, you won't be getting tickets at all. Your order WILL NOT be mailed to you. Instead, your tickets will be waiting for you at will call under your name on the day of the event. Please be prepared to provide a valid picture ID to pick up your tickets.

What if I can't make the Oyster Riot or I need to give my ticket to someone else?
You may go to our Order Information Form and find the tickets you would like to transfer. In order to successfully transfer the ticket(s), you will receive an email to the same email address to confirm the transfer. Upon confirmation, you and the new recipient will receive an email announcement the successful transfer.
Friday Night Tickets - Order Information Page
Saturday Matinee Tickets - Order Information Page
Saturday Night Tickets - Order Information Page

How do I know if I have tickets? How do I know if my order was confirmed?
Anyone who would like to check their order can use our Order Information Form to check on the exact details of your ticket order.
Friday Night Tickets - Order Information Page
Saturday Matinee Tickets - Order Information Page
Saturday Night Tickets - Order Information Page

What is included in my ticket?
Your ticket includes entrance in the Oyster Riot on the event corresponding to your ticket and all the wine and oysters you can handle. There will also be some passed hors d'oeuvres and beer available.

What is the menu?
Oysters, oysters and more oysters. There are about 25 oysters from both coasts, shucked to order (last year over 50,000 oysters were sucked down in two days). While there are a few other items such as fruit & cheese, shrimp, crab claws and some hot oyster hors d'oeuvres, this is an event for oyster lovers. If you don't like 'em, and you still want to come, we suggest coming to the Ebbitt early and having a burger.

What wines will be served?
We don't know yet. The Riot is the celebration of the winners of the International Wines for Oysters Competition. During the Competition, wines entered from all over the world will be sampled with raw oysters by a notable panel of judges made up of wine and oyster lovers from the fields of politics, medicine, journalism and food. Each year a field up to 400 wines is narrowed through several rounds of blind tastings, with the top 10 gold medal winners being announced and poured at The Riot. To get an idea of the wines that typically perform well in the Competition, check out previous winners by looking at the past Wine Competition Results.

Is there a bar open to the guests at the Oyster Riot?
No, there is only wine to be enjoyed. No other liquor will be served or available within the Oyster Riot.

What should I wear?
While the traditional answer is business attire, over the years Rioters have been seen in everything from tuxedos to silk pajamas to cocktail dresses to designer jeans and stilettos. Originality counts.

Is there seating?
Not really. While there are several small cocktail tables throughout the room, the Riot is a standing room only cocktail party. Besides, you'll be too busy sucking down oysters and dancing to sit.

Can I buy tickets at the door?
Nope -- it'll be sold out. We only sell a limited amount of tickets for each event, and when they're gone, they're gone. Tickets go on sale each year the day after Labor Day and they go quickly.

Are tickets refundable?
No. Does Springsteen refund your tickets when your babysitter cancels at the last minute? Same rules apply at The Riot. Your tickets are transferable and the details for the transfer will be posted to this site as the Riot comes closer.

Which night is better?
Half say Friday night, half say Saturday night...and now half say The Matinee...Hey, isn't that 150%...yup, Riot math!!

Is there parking?
Yes. For the evening Riots the Ebbitt offers $10 valet parking. Unfortunately we are unable to offer valet parking for the Matinee Riot on Saturday, but there are public garages open right around the corner on F St. between 14th St. and 15th St. However, returning Rioters will recommend that you use metro or stay at one of the great hotels around the Ebbitt. The Old Ebbitt Grill encourages safety and asks that you do not drink and drive.

On November 5, 2012, a panel of judges convened in the Cabinet Room at the Old Ebbitt Grill for the final round of the Old Ebbitt Grill International Wines for Oysters Competition. Their task was to select gold medal winners from among twenty finalists. The remaining wines earned silver medals, and the bronze medal winners were chosen during the semi-final round a week earlier. An impressive 258 wines from all over the world were entered in this year’s Competition. Within the United States, 118 wines were submitted from 9 states. Wineries from eleven other countries entered a total of 140 wines—Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain. The ten gold medalists will be served with over twenty types of oysters at the 18th Annual Old Ebbitt Grill Oyster Riot held on November 16 & 17, 2012; last year, over 73,000 oysters were consumed by almost 2,700 guests.

Oyster Riot XVIII

Friday, November 16th 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Saturday November 17th Noon - 3 pm
Saturday, November 17th 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

The Saturday Matinee Riot returns

Ticket on Sale Information - NEW INFORMATION!!!!

DETAILS

International Wines for Oyster Competition

MERCHANDISE