Tales from the Trail

No work, no trash pick-up, no Circulator bus trips around town, but at least the “non-essential” federal employee can eat like a teenager in a buffet line if the federal government shuts down after the clock hits 12 tonight. 

Federal and Washington D.C. government services not deemed essential will close if Congress fails to reach a budget deal before funds run out at midnight. But local restaurants and bars are offering some compensation — deals and freebies for government workers if Republicans and Democrats fail to reach agreement.

Taylor Gourmet is offering 10 percent off orders at its H St NE location starting at 12:01 a.m. to anyone who presents a government ID and says “Shut it down.” (And check out that photo!)

Z-Burger near Tenleytown tweeted that federal employees will receive a free burger on Monday if the government closes. Capitol hangout Union Pub posted on Facebook that if there’s a shutdown, government workers can get penny beers all week between 5 and 6 p.m.

Keep an eye on event sites, such as Metromix and DininginDC.net, and Twitter hashtags like #shutdowndeals for more specials and freebies.

See Reuters’ budget battle live-blog to keep up with what’s happening on the Hill.

Some people are thinking of different ways to express their feelings about a shutdown –  for example a Facebook event for the protest-oriented: “If Boehner shuts down the government I am taking my trash to his house.”

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray has said district trash collection services will be temporarily canceled but will resume after one week in a way similar to the process during the Clinton-era shutdown.

And perhaps some residents will use the occasion to Party Like It’s 1995 after all.

Photo credit: Reuters/Eric Thayer (sliders backstage during New York Fashion Week)