This place is quirky and extremely laid back. It is a refuge for artists, musicians, comedians, and anyone who just wants to relax and drink really good coffee or customized Italian Soda. If you can imagine an old mechanics garage converted into a haven for the left-brained... this would be it. You can buy art of all kinds or pay to share studio space there to create your own art. There is open-mic night, too. It is also worth mentioning, the bike trail is right behind this spot, so many bikers stop off here to enjoy a relaxing break. During the summer, the cafe is open air... as the garage door opens up and provides a wall in the winter or when its closed.
Review Source:I enjoy the Soundry so much! The Lemon Basil Fizz has been so great this summer! I've taken classes here, just hung around here, worked on my computer here, knit here... all my friends love it! I kinda wish there was a bit of outside seating, but the long driveway of this converted auto body shop is great for warm evenings chatting with friends. What a great creative space!
Review Source:I loved the plan I came on a Saturday and there was a bit of everything; belly dancing, a permanent art exibition, jewelry classes, a rock band playing live and stand-up / improv show. Really fun.
Artists are good. I tried a couple desserts and coffee (spent like $30) so price is about like a Starbucks.... coffee is better, though
Do NOT rent space here to practice music. Â There are much better deals that this. The owner is rude and they accidentally double booked our practice slot that we had for over 1 year. Â This mistake was the night before our first gig, and the practice was really important. Â She told us to get out and didn't even apologize for the mistake. Â She then stated that our parents probably pay for the place anyway and to deal with it. Â Um....WE pay for the place and will never go back there again. Â It was completely unprofessional and rude. Â Two of us are 18,the others are 19 and 20 in age. Â We live on our own, work full time. Â She treated us like trash and I say stay away from the Soundry! Â She doesn't hold up her end of the contract. Â After finding my new practice location, this place is a rip off and the practice studio is gross. Â Also, it isn't up to code, a HUGE fire hazard!
Review Source:This is a cool place to be. I've performed here a couple time. It makes you feel like your visiting your pot head friends house-which happens to be a garage.
I have also had the opportunity to eat there and I have 4 words for you "Big Ass Grilled Cheese"! If you ever wanted to test how well your heart works ask for one of these delightful giants.
The artist that attend there are very talented, the few time that I have been I remember walking by paintings or drawings and wanting to meet who did the work so I could buy it from them. I even wanted to put some of the doodles from a random locker on a t-shirt. All in all I would totally hang out there
After my last review that depicted this place as a less than favorable establishment, the owner implored me to reconsider open mic night. Giving it a second chance, I will upgrade my review by a star and a half. Admittedly still not my favorite open mic night, I'll at least give it second best. This has nothing to do with the people that run the place, as it turns out, they're top notch people and really doing a great thing for Vienna and northern Virginia as a whole.
My problems with the soundry's open mic are twofold. One, I have to sign up WAY early in order to play. You pretty much have to show at 7:30 to be guaranteed a spot to play, and if you show up past 8:30, getting a spot is damned near impossible. While this is detrimental to me, I find it is to the benefit to younger folks, like kids with curfews. This brings up my second problem with open mic, which was the prevalence of high school kids. These are kids who come out and are not respectful to the musicians performing.
Either way, my last visit saw a significantly lower amount of high school kids which actually made for a pleasant time. The audience was quiet and supportive of the musicians which varied from folk to goth to gospel to folk to electronic.
While this place still has it's quirks, it's still the most theoretically open minded open mic night, and if nothing else, the place is a testament to the arts scene in Vienna (somewhat fledgling, kind of hanging on).
Highly recommended if you play experimental music, or are looking for an open minded set of ears. You'll never know who you'll meet here.
I must be getting old. Â I love live music venues but I was hurting after a Saturday night performance. Â It's a cool venue, and for a total left brained person such as myself, it is awe inspiring. Â You realize that there is more to life then logic and order.
I think I would love this place if I were ten years younger and a bit more right brained. Â I do adore the concept of transforming a former garage into cafe/music venue.
The Soundry is everything an artist, a musician, or a lover for great coffee and teas would ever want. It is an art gallery, art studio, coffee shop, and performance stage. They have weekly events like comedy open mics, and music open mics. Many workshops and classes for poetry, art and music are held every week. They have a practice room for musicians.The staff is all fantastic. I often just go and sit at the coffee shop on the weekends to do some work on my laptop.
Review Source:Don't be turned off by the neighborhood (small industrial) or building (former garage/machine shop). Overall, this is an excellent local business that supports the arts in a meaningful, effective way.
The open mic night is busy and popular, with a mix of regulars and new guests. The crowd is mostly young (20-ish). The mood is very casual and laid back. Lots of ripped jeans and sandals. :-) Sound is a little rough but acceptable considering the performance area is really just a garage bay with concrete floors and cinder block walls. The engineer/host does well given the basic sound setup and wide range of music styles. Even the most entry level acts receive a respectful round of applause by the mostly attentive audience. Seating in the performance area is limited to a few stacking chairs. Most people sit on the floor or stand along the back, even when chairs are available.
There is adjacent art studio space as well as a coffee counter with snacks available. Art (for sale by local artists) hang on the walls. There is an equipped practice room that I haven't had a chance to visit yet.
Over time, I would expect the Soundry to build out and continue to improve its facilities. I am so happy to have found such a gem in my neighborhood.
I am an artist with no place to do art, and was thrilled to stumble upon the Soundry. Â I immediately signed up which means I can keep my artwork and supplies there, and I really enjoy being able to show up whenever I want to work on my projects. Â Everyone is friendly and welcoming and there is always something going on. Â I recommend the Soundry to anyone looking for a creative place for art, music, and community.
Review Source:The Soundry is so many things - art studio, gallery, performance space, coffee shop, rehearsal hall, meeting place. I am a member and have been going to The Soundry for over a year. As an artist I enjoy working in the shared studio space, either alone or side by side another artist. I love that people sometimes meander through, some who will stop to chat. The Soundry does a great job having different, interesting gallery shows on a regular basis. Additionally, there are several weekly events - open mic night, verbal assault, vinyl night, bluegrass jams, and more. Art classes and various workshops are offered. It's amazing.
I know of nothing else like it in the DC area. There is something for everyone and everyone should find time to stop by and check it out.
This place is awesome. After reading reviews i knew that i would love this place. When i got there, i imagined the coffee shop to be a little bigger but no worries. The guy behind the counter was really nice i told him i had never been before and he told me where everything was. I went on a tuesday night and had no idea that it was open mic night... there were actually a lot of people there.... great music... i got to see the art studio where there were actual artists working on their projects.... its just a great place to hang out... and i am a big fan of supporting locals.
I will definitely be back... the place is just really awesome. Only thing holding me back from 5 stars is... the place is kinda hard to find i got lost a couple times... it looks lik an old warehouse... parking isnt to good but other than that... i will definitely be coming back!
A great place to be!
Hosts great events, and features local artists. Â ANYONE can submit work, and you can buy some great pieces at a nice price. Â
As far as what the CM said, I get quite the opposite. Â I rarely see people under 18 there, if I have ever! Â
Great updates on facebook, so become a fan and try and keep up!
Very cool place to hang out and the coffee kicks ass! Â
I don't know when CM came in, but I've never gotten an adolescent vibe from the place, in fact their haunted house is 18+ only. Â
I really love that the art in their gallery changes often and that they have a lot of different things going on all the time. Â I don't know how someone couldn't find something they were interested in here. Â Also the whole staff is really nice and make you feel welcome, which I love!
On Hyunoo's recommendation, we stopped in here to check out the Baby Canvases event. Â It's a very laid back space, with some decent artists, and vaguely reminds me of a youth community center, in that there are younger art kids hanging outside smoking cigarettes, sitting in a circle, talking and playing with their phones. Â Basically the same stuff I did before I could get in to bars. Â Although when I was a kid, we had cans and string, not iphones. Â I really like this place as an alternative evening hangout space. Â Now if I could only convince more of my friends to come out here instead of boozing it up in DC. Â It's also steps away from the W&OD Bike trail!
Review Source:If you haven't been, the Soundry is getting better and better. Â The Open Mic nights are bringing in real eclectic acts. Â We got hippie guitar girls, experimental noise-rock bands, folk geetar, big country-singing truck drivers, Christopher the Avant-Guardian and sometimes even yours truly. And if you're the performing type, the crowd is supportive and kind. Â Tonight we had a 10 year old singer songwriter on stage who's first song was called "Beautiful Lola". Â That's 1 letter away from Loli. Â Which would have made it more amazing, but still, we're a receptive audience! The Baby Canvases gallery is still up in case you missed the memo (you can find my name misspelled if you look around). Â Some fine art by Matt S. still available too. Â So seriously, why haven't you been? Â Think you're too good for cheap food and free art/music events?.. damn, no wonder he left you
Review Source:Just when I thought Vienna would succumb to gas stations, banks, and mattress stores, I am pleasantly surprised by a new arrival, The Soundry!
This place can make one mean (or generous) cup of coffee! Or if you want something to nosh on, try one of their muffins, cookie sandwiches or be daring and try their skill at making P.B. and J for only a buck!
   The coffee is not the only thing The Soundry does well. The Soundry also promotes local (DMV) artists of all media types. They have free classes, and amazing art gallery, open mic nites, etc. This place has it all, even friendly people!
You must check out The Soundry!
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