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Here’s what you need to know about D.C. Beer Week

By WTOP Staff

If you are still nursing your food hangover after Restaurant Week, it’s time to man up. D.C. Beer Week is here and ready to provide an entirely different kind of hangover.

D.C. Beer Week is keeping the August food-and-drink event momentum going with more than 180 tappings, tastings and signature blowouts sure to please the region’s growing cadre of beer lovers. Here’s a mini-guide:

Highlights in non-local beer: The week celebrates craft beer of all origins, not just local, though local brewers are hosting their share of events. There’s a 30 Beers for 30 Years event at Longview Gallery Tuesday from Sam Adams, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Bell’s Brewery from Michigan, Lagunitas from California, Chicago’s Goose Island and others are doing tap takeovers and special tastings around the city.

For locavores who love beer: Those looking to support the local beer scene also have plenty of options, from the Virginia Brewers’ Bash at Mad Fox Brewing Company in Falls Church Wednesday to the third-annual D.C. Brau Crab Feast at the Quarterdeck in Arlington Monday evening (tonight)— though word has it that event may sell out, so get your tickets sooner rather than later. Capitol Riverfront brewpub Bluejacket will also be unveiling a number of special collaboration beers this week, including the official beer of Snallygaster 2014, the brewpub’s massive October beer festival.

Meet-and-greet: Lots of interesting beer personalities will also be in town from D.C.’s master beer rater Gene Bonaventre and the founders of Funky Buddha Brewery to Sheryl Yuengling, a sixth-generation family member from the Pennsylvania brewery that holds the title of America’s Oldest Brewery.

Drinking games: We’re talking less flip cup and more regular games while drinking beer. Beer Week events offer the options to participate in tournaments for pinball, frisbee beach game sensation Kan Jam, S kee-Ball, trivia and more.

Don’t forget the food: If you want to make sure you have something to nosh on while you sip, some participants have you covered. See “The Ultimate Pig’s Head Feast” at the Partisan featuring roasted pig head with rare New Belgium beers, the lower-brow but still pork-tastic Jerk the Belles event at Big Hunt featuring Jerkface Jerky and 3 Stars Beers, both on Thursday, or the $1 oysters that go along with two separate happy hours at Hank’s Oyster Bar in Dupont Circle.

(Oh and if food’s more your thing, plenty of restaurants extend their Restaurant Week specials further into August, so be sure to check in with any restaurants you missed last week.)

Hot tickets: The only event that’s definitely sold out is Right Proper Brewpub’s “Brewing with Bugs” dinner at the brewpub Thursday — an exploration of the different wild yeasts that can be used to brew beer (Go figure). The signature events require tickets, so check out D.C. Beer Week’s website for ticketing. So far, none of the major events have sold out, though things may be getting close for the 30 for 30 Sam Adams Event and the Crabfest, according to D.C. Beer Week reps.

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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