Used to live in the area and frequent this one. Looked it up because of this post and it looks to be permanently closed (or is that an error?)!

Yang Market in Eckington is pretty cool, with a unique selection of stuff. There's also a deli there, though I've not tried it.

Not too far away (in LeDroit Park/Bloomingdale), there's also Cookie's Corner, which I can't speak for personally, though I have seen it come up in other posts. From the looks of the photos on Google, it's also got a deli.

I bet a fun excursion would be to hit up one of these two spots for sandwiches, and then take those to Crispus Attucks Park while the blossoms are poppin'. Might have to do that myself!

The SpotHero app might be useful for you, depending on your friend's neighborhood. I've used it to find short term parking (less than 12h) but there might be longer term options as well.

Otherwise, the airport seems like a good idea. DCA lists availability and prices on this page.

My bet is that you can find more convenient covered parking nearer to your friend's place and for a similar price through SpotHero.

There was a pretty popular thread about a month ago with lots of perspectives on this Alamo location.

I've only been once, and my experience was not so great. Based on the majority of experiences I've seen in these threads, it's hard to muster up interest in trying again. I worked in some of the OG Alamos in Austin, though, so my standards are probably unreasonably high.

Long story short, the original Alamo owners sold the franchise rights off back in 2009 or so and only retained ownership of the original Austin locations. Since then, the brand seems to have lost its integrity - not a surprise with a national franchise. This is why you'll have wildly different experiences if you go to different locations.

On a tangential note, the original locations came under fire in 2017 for some gross buddy-buddy sexual asssault coverup stuff - if you're interested to know more, check out this fairly comprehensive article.

As someone whose university years were defined by weekend shifts at the Alamo, the Bryant St. location is a huge disappointment, likewise the lack of response from management. I'll stick to Atlantic Plumbing Cinema for a similar enough experience without all the BS.

Had a very similar experience when I went before the "grand open" back in February or so. In addition to experiencing many of the issues you noted, like an incorrect check and never getting water in spite of ordering it multiple times, we also never got a corrected check after waiting for around a half-hour after the credits finished rolling and the lights came up. At that point, it wasn't worth the $10 so we just left.

I used to work at a couple of the original Alamos in Austin, and it's a shame to see how much the standard of service has dropped at some of these franchised locations - this one certainly included. A lot of my old colleagues agree, based on their own experiences, which they shared in a vent post I made to Facebook after the fact.

I also emailed the RI Ave general manager and never heard back from him - another red flag, if you ask me. Sucks to hear that months later, not much has changed.

Total Wine near Ballston is fairly easy to get to. I know for a fact that they have a decent Belgian selection!

Getting home is easier if you:

a) leave at or before any encore (beat the rush out), and b) walk down to New York Ave and meet an Uber or taxi in/around the McD's parking lot. This avoids all the mess right around the venue, and in the past, I've even had random luck hailing a taxi around there and foregoing Uber entirely.