OT: Going Out in DC

20MexicanosIn1Van · Post #1 » by **20MexicanosIn1Van** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:35 am

So, I am home for Spring Break and I turned 21 during the semester and I'm looking for a place to go out in DC. What I am looking for is a nice place to drink, dance, and mingle with good looking ladies. I am completely noob at this so I really have no idea where to go. I was thinking about just going to Dupont Circle or Georgetown and seeing what places looked good. Any suggestions would be great.

P'Oed · Post #2 » by **P'Oed** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:06 am

that row of bars in Dupont is pretty fun (Madhatter's, Public Bar...). Madhatter's is usually where I end up going, gets pretty crazy late at night. Adam's Morgan can be fun too but it's a long walk from the metro and you can get a lot of wierdos around that area.

pancakes3 · Post #3 » by **pancakes3** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:34 am

it depends on who you are. yes, i am asking for demographic information so i can stereotype you. then i'll use those stereotypes in conjunction with bar stereotypes to give you an answer.

camelot. ask for tatianna. not ashley.

keynote · Post #4 » by **keynote** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:47 am

(waits for Wes Tiny Abe to add his two cranky cents)

Post #5 » by **Rafael122** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:34 pm

pancakes3 wrote:it depends on who you are. yes, i am asking for demographic information so i can stereotype you. then i'll use those stereotypes in conjunction with bar stereotypes to give you an answer.

camelot. ask for tatianna. not ashley.

Good to know!

Adams Morgan - District Nightclub. You're welcome.

Halcyon · Post #6 » by **Halcyon** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:12 pm

If you want a club/bar type of scene there's Lima Lounge, Ultra Bar and The Park. Madhatters is a decent mix because there's a dancing area but there's a more chill area upstairs. I like Marvin on U-Street too.

20MexicanosIn1Van · Post #7 » by **20MexicanosIn1Van** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:08 pm

I ended up going to Ultrabar and had a pretty good time. It was extremely expensive and a bit of a learning experience, but I would certainly go again.

Post #8 » by **Rafael122** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:14 pm

20MexicanosIn1Van wrote:I ended up going to Ultrabar and had a pretty good time. It was extremely expensive and a bit of a learning experience, but I would certainly go again.

Is it a sausage fest that everyone seemingly says it is?

Wes_Tiny_Abe_ · Post #9 » by **Wes_Tiny_Abe_** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:01 am

People still go out?

Post #10 » by **penbeast0** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:37 am

20MexicanosIn1Van wrote:So, I am home for Spring Break and I turned 21 during the semester and I'm looking for a place to go out in DC. What I am looking for is a nice place to drink, dance, and mingle with good looking ladies. I am completely noob at this so I really have no idea where to go. I was thinking about just going to Dupont Circle or Georgetown and seeing what places looked good. Any suggestions would be great.

Blob Park is the place to go if it's still open. Great polka music and the girls there have a bit of heft to them unlike the scrawny versions found in Georgetown.

Polka will geübt sein

20MexicanosIn1Van · Post #11 » by **20MexicanosIn1Van** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 2:17 am

Rafael122 wrote:
20MexicanosIn1Van wrote:I ended up going to Ultrabar and had a pretty good time. It was extremely expensive and a bit of a learning experience, but I would certainly go again.

Is it a sausage fest that everyone seemingly says it is?

Not really. Maybe 60% guys 40% girls.

Halcyon · Post #12 » by **Halcyon** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:55 pm

20MexicanosIn1Van wrote:I ended up going to Ultrabar and had a pretty good time. It was extremely expensive and a bit of a learning experience, but I would certainly go again.

yeah most of the bars are not so friendly to the wallet, with the cover fees + drinks. Try to go before they start charging cover, which is around 11 for those clubish places.

pancakes3 · Post #13 » by **pancakes3** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:33 am

to cut costs, remember that a) cover bars are overrated and b) pregames are your friend. you should be looking to buy only about 1-2 drinks for yourself at bars anyway. nobody goes to bars to drink. you're there to DANCE.

went to Bar Code this weekend - 17th and L. exceeded my expectations. at first glance i thought i would hate it because the entrance logo has oomlauts over the "o" in bar code. the drink list was super hipster - green tea mojitos and $3 PBR's. BUT... decent sized, good number of approachable girls, and music was at an appropriate level.

Wizards2Lottery · Post #14 » by **Wizards2Lottery** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:29 pm

Avoid bars in Arlington and especially Clarendon. Spider Kelly's is just awful.

I haven't been to Clarendon Ballroom yet. I'll save that one for the summer.

GilArenas88 · Post #15 » by **GilArenas88** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:23 pm

Myself personally avoid Ultra Bar like a plaque, not only is it usually a sauge-fest like previously mentioned, but it's hypercrowded almost every time I have gone. Midtown loft is also pretty lame in my opinion, but can be fun on particular nights. Current is okay, their covered bar area at the top is probably the best place to hang when there. Ibiza and Fur suck, unless there is a good DJ playing, and even then the venues completely blow.

I'm quite picky when it comes to going to nightclubs, it takes quite a bit to impress me. Some of the better spots I have been to is the W's sky lounge, but even that can be a bore. Shadow Lounge is pretty good, I've usually always had a good time there. Adams Morg is fun solely off the fact that you have options and it can be quite fun. Georgetown can be fun but it will usually put a dent into your bank roll.

As others have also pointed out pregaming will be your best friend, it's not worth going into the city looking to get the first drink of the night into yourself. As with anything it also depends on the vibe you like, some trial-and-error and even the best of places have bad nights. Go out, explore and get to know the city for yourself.

Post #16 » by **Rafael122** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:26 pm

District is my spot in Adams Morgan. Beforehand, we use to bar hop but we pretty much decided District is the club to go to when going to Adams Morgan.

We've been to clubs up in Dupont, Midtown...meh. Kinda boring. Rocket Bar in Chinatown is also a bit boring. We avoid 18+ clubs at all costs. It's like high school.

Wes_Tiny_Abe_ · Post #17 » by **Wes_Tiny_Abe_** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:12 am

GilArenas88 wrote:As with anything it also depends on the vibe you like, some trial-and-error and even the best of places have bad nights.

Is it possible to have a bad decade?

Most of the best clubs have closed and the ones that are still open from back then have sucked for over a decade now.

pancakes3 · Post #18 » by **pancakes3** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:49 pm

i hate st. patrick's day so much for so many different reasons.

WTA, ever think that it's not the scene that's changing but rather you yourself? the swingset at my elementary school doesn't fit anymore either. dang hipsters with their narrow hips.

Wes_Tiny_Abe_ · Post #19 » by **Wes_Tiny_Abe_** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:40 am

pancakes3 wrote:i hate st. patrick's day so much for so many different reasons.

WTA, ever think that it's not the scene that's changing but rather you yourself? the swingset at my elementary school doesn't fit anymore either. dang hipsters with their narrow hips.

Nope its not me who has changed.

Its them.

These kids in the clubs today are the ones who were watching TRL on MTV and 106 & Park crap on BET on a daily basis as recently as 10 years ago but now most of them will deny they ever did that.

Induveca · Post #20 » by **Induveca** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 11:57 pm

For what it's worth, the club and bar scene in DC has always been horrible. People with money in DC are too money conscious to blow their cash, and the people without it blow what they don't have to begin with.

Means most spots are dangerous and cater to a lower class crowd and the problems that come with that scene. The only other people with disposable income are college students or young professionals who hang around the university areas for 2-4 years after graduation getting work experience, then head off to a more permanent place of residence. A very suburban immature "Irish bar" American vibe, equally as frustrating to me.....never found any spots in DC zi enjoyed going out in.

DC is simply too transient and family oriented for upper middle class 25+ single types.....which typically support/own the best bars and clubs in my experience. The metro closing early/not having a stop in Georgetown has also has never helped.

WTA, if you long for the "club scene" of 15 years ago you aren't too hard to please. Head up to The Bronx or Yonkers. You can revel in the glory of fat women, low education and not-too overpriced alcohol.

That all being said, it did amaze me to see how much money/investment had been pumped into the District downtown. Unrecognizable outside of the monuments compared to the 90s. On a Sunday afternoon in the 90s I remember newspapers flying by me walking to the convenience store downtown, and the only other people I would see would be bums/alcoholics and drug addicts. Place is full of outsiders now, and full of retail.