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World of Beer Opens Next Week

By WTOP Staff

In one week, Ballston will be home to a new beer establishment. World of Beer (901 N. Glebe Road) is making its final preparations for opening next Monday (August 6).

Owner Evan Matz and his wife recently moved to Arlington from Florida. He enjoys the area and thought it would be the perfect place to launch Virginia’s first location for the Florida chain.

“I love Arlington. I think it’s a great area,” said Matz. “World of Beer looks forward to being Ballston’s neighborhood social scene, while being dedicated to the beer enthusiast.”

The coolers are stocked, thanks to a beer shipment that arrived last Friday. Later this week, kegs and tap handles will be delivered. In all, there will be more than 500 beers, with 50 rotating taps. New selections will come a couple of times every week.

Bartenders have to go through extensive training to become familiar with all the different types of beers. They should be able to give customers suggestions based on individual tastes, as well as giving the history of some of the more unique brews. Matz says the focus on the beer will make his place different from all the others in the area.

“We’re an upscale neighborhood sports craft beer bar,” he said. “Other restaurants will have a good selection of beer, but we are a place that has a phenomenal selection of beer, that happens to have food.”

Traditionally, World of Beer establishments don’t serve food, but this location will in order to comply with state law. The limited menu will feature gourmet sausages, small bites such as soft pretzels, and beer-infused desserts. There’s been a unique partnership set up to allow customers to order from other restaurants and have the food delivered inside World of Beer. Matz said with the offerings both from his menu and those of Vapiano, BGR The Burger Joint and P.F. Chang’s, customers will have plenty of variety when it comes to dining options.

Inside, sports fans can catch the games on the TVs throughout the establishment, and there will be free live entertainment on Wednesday through Saturday evenings. Those who want to get some fresh air can take advantage the outdoor seating. Happy hour will take place on weeknights, along with different daily specials such as trivia night or service industry night.

Because it reached its goal of 1,000 Facebook fans and 500 Twitter followers, World of Beer is holding a special pre-grand opening party for all the fans and followers on August 6. Social media followers or not, Matz invites everyone with a passion for good beer to stop by.

“We’re giving Ballston and Arlington a place where people can come and enjoy better tasting, better quality beer,” said Matz. “We want to make sure that everybody enjoys the music, the entertainment, just the laid back atmosphere of World of Beer.”

World of Beer in Ballston World of Beer in Ballston Bottle selection at World of Beer in Ballston Live entertainment area at World of Beer Back room beer cooler at World of Beer World of Beer in Ballston


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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