For
bars, try local favorite Madam's Organ. The bar has a friendly atmosphere, interesting
memorabilia on the walls, and occasionally a local band. Adams
Morgan also has several excellent wine bars. The bars can be hard to get into
because they hold relatively few people, but they offer a relaxing way to spend
the evening and chat with your companions. Like to dance?
Adams Morgan has most places beat. Chief Ike's Mambo Room ( 1725
Columbia Rd NW ) has two stories, downstairs for dancing and upstairs for playing
pool. You can sit on one of Ike's cushy couches or dance to the DJ's tunes, typically
hip-hop, R&B, reggae, and '80s music. If you're free
on Thursday night and you like 80s music, Heaven and Hell ( 2327 18th St. NW )
is the place to be. The club hosts an 80s dance party on Thursday nights, and
the place get jumping, noisy, and fun. A few Metro stops
nearby is Dupont Circle . Any beer fan will fall in love with the Brickskeller,
( 22 nd St. and Q, NW). The bar serves regional food and around 800 types of beers.
Their beer menu lists unique beers from countries around the world and of every
type. This is not a place for people who have trouble making up their minds. Another
popular Dupont Circle bar is Timberlake's (no, not that Timberlake). The restaurant
and bar has a relaxing, casual atmosphere and a large seating area. Nearby hotels
in Dupont Circle are the Hilton Washington, Jurys Normandy Inn, and Courtyard
by Marriott Northwest. If you're up for venturing a few
miles out of the city, then make sure to visit the Clarendon area in Arlington
, VA (Clarendon Metro stop, orange line). The closely packed shops and clubs give
Clarendon a party-like atmosphere on weekend nights. Visit the rooftop bar at
The Clarendon Ballroom, eat at one of the many Asian restaurants, or watch a second-run
flick at the Arlington Cinema n' Draft house. Need a hotel? Try the Hilton Garden
Inn Arlington , Hyatt Arlington , and Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge . D.C.
has several good options for live music. The 9:30 Club ( 815 V St. N.W. ; Green
Line, U St./Cardozo) shows well-known artists as well as lesser-known bands respected
by the music community. If you want to be truly adventurous, the Black Cat ( 1811
14th St. NW; Green Line, U St./Cardozo) features local and somewhat more obscure
groups than the 9:30 Club, but many of them are true undiscovered gems. Sports
fans can watch a game of professional basketball or hockey at MCI Center , ( Metro
Center ; red, yellow, green lines). The MCI Center is home to the Washington Wizards
(men's b-ball), Mystics (women's b-ball), and Capitols (hockey). This area is
in the center of downtown and thus offers many hotels to choose from, like the
Four Points Hotel - Downtown, Lincoln Suites - Downtown, and Marriott At Metro
Center. Washington D.C. also has a substantial theater
community. Its most famous theater is the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (
2700 F Street, NW ), which shows world-class shows and gives free concerts during
certain parts of the year. Nearby the Kennedy Center is Saint Gregory Hotel and
Suites. The best theaters of the rest are the National Theatre, Arena Stage, Ford's
Theatre, and the Warner Theatre, all located downtown. D.C.
has a bit of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in it. The city can be serious in the day,
but with its variety of nightlife, quite exciting at night. <<--Back
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