BANNED IN D.C.

Allegory, located in Eaton DC, Washington, D.C., debuted its highly-anticipated sophomore concept cocktail menu, “Banned in DC,” on February 27th, 2025.

Following its award-winning predecessor, "Down the Rabbit Hole," Allegory's new menu, "Banned in DC" continues the story of the now fictionalized Civil Rights leader Ruby Bridges.

"Banned in DC" is inspired by a now fictionalized Ruby Bridges, the first Black child to integrate into a school in Louisiana, whose experience features in Allegory’s bar's murals by artist Erik Thor Sandberg. Imagined in the context of "Alice Through the Looking Glass," Ruby's journey continues 20 years after her historic integration, as she falls down a new rabbit hole and has to navigate a post-apocalyptic Washington, DC, where her story and others like it face censorship. "Banned in DC" draws inspiration from the iconic aesthetic of Bad Brains, the pioneering all-Black punk/hardcore/reggae band from D.C.

For "Banned in DC," the Allegory team commissioned local artist Katie Miller to design 17 unique scenes depicting a dystopian future for the US Capital. Using only children's toys, Katie constructed each set with over 15,000 individual pieces, including more than 1,000 miniature books, to illustrate the sweeping, profound story of Ruby's journey. Each chapter was photographed by Miller for Allegory's new print menu. The entire project took Miller over 7 months to complete.

Art by Katie Miller | Story by Deke Dunne | Book Design by Dian Holton | Published by Spotz