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Tyber Bierhaus Opening March 18 In Bethesda

By WTOP Staff

Tyber Bierhaus will open at 7528 Old Georgetown Rd. on March 18. Here, partner Mark Moore stands at the bar.

Mark Moore is aware of the poor recent track record of restaurants at 7528 Old Georgetown Rd.

But one look inside Tyber Bierhaus (which will open Tuesday, March 18) makes it clear Moore and his partners — the guys behind St. Arnold’s Mussel Bar in Cleveland Park — bring a bit more to the table.

There’s a bar with 20 overhead taps, a custom-made drip tray and communal tables delivered in from the Hofbrauhaus in Munich. The group hand-picked reclaimed wood for a section of church pew-style seating booths, which is in one of three different sound zones for music. Tyber’s emblem, a coat of arms featuring both the D.C. and Maryland flags, was carefully designed with the restaurant’s Czech and Bohemian themes in mind.

“This is not just a new coat of paint,” Moore said. “We’re really looking forward to making an impact and being here for 15 or 20 years.”

In other words, this isn’t the Box Bar and Grill.

The short-lived sports bar that opened in the spot in 2011 quickly gained notoriety for its waitresses and bartenders in skimpy referee uniforms and claim to having “the sexiest wings in Bethesda.”

“Hooters on Xanax,” is how one Yelp commenter described it. It closed in 2012 and was bought for a Dry Fried Wings franchise that lasted less than a month. Enter Moore and partner Paul Uppole, two Montgomery County natives with a track record of successful European-inspired restaurants and bars.

The bar at Tyber Bierhaus, featuring 20 overhead taps“We saw an opportunity,” Moore said. “We saw something that no one else saw.”

Since Tyber Bierhaus was announced, Moore said he’s heard lots of anticipation and some question as to whether the location — on one-way Old Georgetown Road in the first floor of an office building — could sustain a large bar and restaurant.

“This is not off the beaten path. You can chip a golf ball to the Metro,” Moore said. “Even a bad golfer like me can hit a golf ball to the Hyatt.”

Gulden Draak, Rodenbach, Ommegang Hennepin, Praga Pils and Hofbrau are a few of the beer brands. Potato cheese and onion perogies ($9), a pork schnitzel sandwich ($12), goulash ($15) and of course, the mussels ($18), shape the menu.

There will be cocktails, American beers and televisions full of sports, too. Moore wants to be careful not to exclude anyone in an area of town without many bar options.

“To me, it’s very important for everybody to be comfortable and get what they want,” Moore said. “We’re really looking for it to be a place for everybody to be. I think we’ve proven ourselves through our other ventures and if we do what we do, we’ll be fine.

“It’s the same stuff: How many people go into a place and you’re not greeted? You just want some attention and that’s what we do,” Moore said. “Everyone in Bethesda wants to quit on it at 10 or 11 [p.m.]. What about the traveler that needs something to eat at 11? What about the people that get off at 11? We want to service the whole neighborhood.”

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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