So it is strange how they do this (to me strange). You buy your general admission seats, then as you check in - so come the earliest you can - you are given a check-in number. When they are ready to open the door to the performance venue, they stand at the door and start calling "who has ticket #1?" "who has #110", etc etc. So obviously the folks with the earliest arrivals get the best seats or at least ones of their choosing first. My husband and I were #99 in our last concert in December (Chris Botti), we had perfectly fine seats at the back of the first section of the venue, at the end of a long table with many other people that we did not know. Some folks dont like that. But the maitre-d will squish people in even if it's just one seat here, one seat there. So yes, you "probably" will be able to sit together at one table but NOT if you arrive late. The first time we came to a concert, we didnt know about this (that it was a restaurant and people come very early), so we got like the last 2 seats at a 4 seater table, way in the back. But we could see, hear perfectly and no one ever came and sat with us, we thought it was great.

The previous posted noted that Trip Advisor won't permit posting a link, so here are the instructions to find the menus: Go to birchmere site There touch Menus, which will take you to order-up Incidentally, i HIGHLY recommend the Pear, Bacon and Smoked Gouda flat bread!

The box Office doors open at 5 PM, and seating selection is done by order of the issuance of your concert ticket. The most serious attendees arrive as early as 3:30 to 4 PM. This is most common during the warmer months when you can comfortably sit on the outside benches that line the wall. Some folks even bring their own folding chairs. When I arrive as early as 4:30 PM, I am usually among the first 10 - 15 seating groups. This way I can easily select either a stage-front table or one further back.

I haven't had any bad experiences with staff at the Birchmere, and not sure who the Manager is or anyone named Stuart. The serving staff are really friendly, sometimes slow because of serving so many, but overall do a really good job.

One person can get a number and save seats or you might be able to ask for consecutive numbers to hold for when the group arrives bec seating doesn't start till 6:30. Each attendee needs to show a ticket to get seated

Hotels in Crystal City are closest. Can also check Pentagon City, and Old Town Alexandria (altho likely to be the most expensive. There is a Best Western (Pentagon-Reagan Airport) which quite close ..on Glebe Rd.

I would call the box office, and also get there when the doors open. (Normally that’s an hour prior) Have fun!

Yes! The reason you need to go early is to stand in line to receive a number to enter the concert hall. Seating is first come, first serve at the Birchmere. If you look at your tickets, you will see seating is reflected as general admission with no seat number. Go early, stand in line, obtain a number, your entry number for seating will be called at 6 pm. Be sure to select any table that is not reserved. There are no bad seats so enjoy the food, drinks, and great show!

They give you a stamp so you can go outside and come back in. Didn't see any vapor pens in the theater