Best Ways to Get Kicked Out of the Club
Surefire Ways to Get the Boot
There’s nothing like getting wasted and grinding on your girl while swinging her bra around your head… ’til you see the flashlight in your face and feel a bouncer’s arm around your neck. People watch in disgust as cabs drive by you in that puke-stained shirt. It has happened to the best of us, so here is what to avoid!
Underage Drinking
This is a no-brainer! What? The big “X” on your hand didn’t tip you off?
Though there are plenty of under 21 nightclubs in DC, save the drinking until your 21. Your waistline will thank you, and so will security.
If you must drink pre-21, hop the border to our neighbors in Mexico or Canada and enjoy the hangover!
The Runaway
Somewhere between the bar and the front door must lay the Bermuda Triangle.Why people guzzle down drinks then disappear without paying is a mystery.
It’s the same as walking into the mall and walking out with unpaid merchandise.Maybe a security tab stapled onto guest’s nuts would keep them from walking out.
Touching the Dancers
Look, but don’t touch!
Dancers like DC nightlife’s Glow Girls are there to get you dancing, not to get you off. Think of it like a zoo animal and keep your fingers out of the cage.
Sloppy Drunks
It can be hard with so many drink specials, but drinking past your limit is dangerous to your health and more importantly annoying to everyone.
Stumbling around like a drunken buffoon just leads to fights, messy puking and the risk of a DUI!
Fighting
Can’t we all just get along?
Alcohol + the typical macho douche bag =unnecessary brawls
Why get thrown out of the club and into a cop car?
Frisky Business
Save the aggressive PDA for your mom’s basement. Removing articles of clothing and/or humping like dogs in heat in the middle of the dance floor is gross.
Two thumbs up for your exhibitionist spirit, but it’s better suited for soft-core porn than a public place.
Geysers
Keep a lid on your bodily fluids.
Can’t hold it in? Try an adult diaper.
Throwing up is so High School! Know your limit!
Save the spitting for the baseball diamond and if the unspeakable is your issue, there is a nice room waiting at Shady Pines Retirement Village.
Inventive Weaponry
Carrying a weapon will make sure you do not enter the nightclub, though in the heat of an alcohol fueled rage clubbers creative senses may heighten.
Your new stiletto heels= Blunt Force Object
Hairspray= Easy mace in a pinch
That pic sticking out from your fro= Knife Fight
Disrespecting the Bouncer
Sometimes bouncers will give you a warning before kicking you to the curb.
This is your one chance to redeem yourself.
No need to dig your own grave by fighting with the bouncer, he may be an escaped convict, a bounty hunter, a cop, or just bigger than you.
Grab Bag
Unwarranted grabbing at other guests is a sure fire way to get thrown out.
Would you grab someone at Starbucks or in passing on the street? NO!
If you would, you are probably already shunned from society or sharing a cell at the DC Correctional Institution.
Hot Pockets
Busy bartenders may not get a moment to immediately pick up their tips off the bar.
Helping yourself to their money, or trying to pawn off another customer’s tip as your own is a great way to piss off the bartender and be escorted out, sober, and alone.
Wrecking Ball
AVOID!!!
Throwing glassware
Jumping on furniture
Destroying club property
Though a common practice of rockstars in hotel rooms, or gorillas in a cage, throwing property is a no-no.
Passing Out
The pass out is akin to the narcoleptic. One moment, fine, the next…
“Yeah! Party! Woo Hoo, I love this….” THUMP!
You definitely don’t want this to be you, especially if you are wearing a dress.
Murder on the Dancefloor
Clubs can be very territorial.
Make sure not to over step your bounds and try to move in on the owner’s wife/girlfriend.
Castration may follow!
Some people come to a nightclub looking for trouble. Others can’t handle their liquor interact socially with others. No one likes to be asked or told to leave an establishment, especially when they paid to get in. If security has reminded the guest several times about their conduct, it will come as no surprise when they’re finally asked to leave. remember, what gets you thrown out may also get you in trouble with the law!
DC Going Out Guide Part 3: Clubbing Essentials
DC Going Out Guide Part 3: Clubbing Essentials
Never know what you should or shouldn’t bring with you for a night out in Washington DC? Follow the clubbing essentials guide so the next time you are stuck at the velvet ropes getting your purse checked or your pants frisked you won’t be rejected at the door, stuck with an illegitimate child, or caught in the haze of a garlic breath assassination.
Should
Cash
It’s always essential to have cash on hand. You may want to ditch your ride and cab home. Stay over with your one- night-stand. Or tip your bartender. You never know when the ATM could be broken and you could be stranded.
ID
All DC nightlife is going to require a valid government issued ID, no matter how old you are. Even though there are many under 21 nightclubs in DC, you will still need your ID!
Club Passes
Many venues offer discounted passes and promotions on entry specials or even drink specials. So check the venues website before you head out and have your passes ready.
A positive attitude
This seems simple, but nobody wants to be around the Debbie Downer in the group. Bad attitudes foster tension between the venues staff and other guests. Luckily your options of clubbing DC are vast enough to make everyone happy.
Condoms
Take precautions! Nothing like waking up next to Chubaka then popping out his spawn 9 months later. Watch an episode of “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant” to scare you into packing the wrapper.
Breath strips
Some venues don’t allow gum. However, bad breath is a deal breaker. It seeps into every inch of the venue offending everyone from the doorman to the bartender, and your one-night-stand.
Should Not
Weapons
Leave your guns, tasers, and shanks at home. It’s not fight club, it’s a nightclub!
Secret Alcohol Stash
Airplane bottles of booze will never get past security. What’s worse, that flask in your pocket makes you look like a cheap alcoholic in which case you won’t be needing that condom after all.
Illegal Substances
Anything that makes your pupils dilate, should be left with the cartel.
Cigarettes
In 2006 comprehensive smoke-free laws went into effect in the District, banning smoking from restaurants, bars, lounges, and nightclubs. Some venues with outdoor patios allow smoking but nobody likes kissing an ashtray.
Food
Don’t be the chic in the bathroom wolfing down an old grilled cheese. It’s not kindergarten, no need to pack snacks. DC offers many options for late night eats.
Glow Sticks
Some venues provide glow sticks and some ban them all together. It’s a safer bet to leave the glow sticks at home for the next warehouse rave.
The Worst Ways to Order a Drink
The Worst Ways to Order a Drink
Bartending, one of the great social professions and also one of the quickest ways to become jaded and bitter. But, just like there are bad customers, there are bad bartenders. So, here are some pitfalls when ordering a drink to lesser the gap between bartender and guest and make DC Nightlife chock full of rainbows and butterflies for all involved! The bonus: Save your bartender a trip to an insane asylum and maybe score yourself a free drink!
Ants in the Pants:
Things that won’t get you a drink any faster at a crowded bar:
Waving money
Snapping your fingers
Shouting
It only pegs you as annoying and aggressive. No bartender is singling you out to be ignored, but these animalistic gestures will.
The PDA:
You order a drink then turn around and make out with somebody.
Seriously, can’t it wait until you pay and make room for the next guest?
Get a room!
No one wants to see that.
The Cell Phone:
Coming up to the bar mid call is annoying!
If your call is so important, then finish up and allow other guests to be served.
Extra scorn points for wearing a Bluetooth earpiece!
The No Ice’er:
Ordering no ice screams:
“I want more alcohol, but won’t spend the money on it!”
Drinks have the same amount of alcohol regardless of the quantity of ice. Yet, ‘no-icers’ always follow-up with a:
“This tastes weak!”
Yes, since you have more mixer…think about it.
The Disappearing Act:
Ordering a drink, then…
Turning around to dance with your friends
Going to the bathroom
Using the ATM
Come to the bar prepared, stay put and be ready to pay.
The Clairvoyant:
Assuming your bartender knows all your picky details without telling them. Unless you tell them PRIOR to ordering the bartender won’t know you like top shelf, less ice, lemon not lime, a tall glass and a partridge in a pear tree.
Give your server a break and have all your picky details ready when you order. Don’t wait until the short glass is filled with ice, the liquor is poured and the lime is squeezed to get particular. You can have it your way. Just ask up front!
Clueless:
If you don’t use the correct lingo to order a drink, you will receive the wrong drink.
If you order “a cranberry juice and a vodka” you’ll receive two drinks: a glass of cranberry juice and one of vodka.
If you order “vodka and cranberry,” you’ll get one glass containing both.
The Lost:
If you can’t decide what to drink, tell the bartender what type of drinks you like.
Because just saying “whatever if fine” is like throwing a blind person in the middle of the woods.
A good bartender will make suggestions, and probably introduce you to your next favorite drink, if you give them a direction to go towards.
The Grabber:
Grabbing a bottle and helping yourself.
Yes, this happens.
You will get thrown out.
Seriously people?
Strong Arm:
If you want fewer mixers, say so, but unless you’re ordering a double, you’re implying that your bartender should give you something for free.
Try it at a bank, ask the teller, “Hey would you mind topping my paycheck off with an extra $100?” See how that works!
The Drink Book:
Looking up some random shot on your iPhone that two people have heard about, has 9 different ingredients, and an embarrassing name is like nails on a chalkboard.
Shots like a brain hemorrhage, an alien secretion, a Puerto Rican prostitute, or a urine sample, slow the flow of the bar down. The drinks usually taste horrible; cost more than you want to spend, and make you look like this is your first time at the rodeo.
Birthday Shots:
Screaming out “it’s my birthday” ten times, then ordering you and your friend’s shots, and then being completely blindsided by the check after you downed your shots is a bit presumptuous.
A comped drink is nice, but much less so if you come to expect it.
After all, what did you get the bartender for their birthday?
“I used to be a bartender!”
This line is often used prior to ordering. But why?
Is it a wave of solidarity?
Is it a judgey stab at the way the bartender is making the drink?
Are you now a Congressman too good to be a bartender?
Usually it’s meant to get stronger, cheaper, faster drinks, which never goes over well with the staff.
The nickel-and-dimer:
It goes something like this:
First, you order two beers for Bob and Sally.
Once the bartender has brought you those, you order Becky’s martini.
Once that’s in hand, you ask for a vodka and Sprite.
And so on. You’ve just nickel-and-dimed the bartender. Try this technique at a fast food restaurant- it would never fly. However, people like to spread out an order with the assumption that the bartender has amnesia.
The Generalist:
“Can I have a beer?” Generically ordering “a beer” is the same as going to Pizza Hut and ordering “a pizza”.
It sounds ridiculous to the bartender, and you will immediately be asked what kind of beer you want.
This just slows down the whole process, and angers thirsty guests waiting in line.
The Accountant:
Interactions in this category would start out with queries that go something like this:
“What is the cheapest drink you have? Do you have any specials? How much is a beer? What about Grey Goose? How much is a vodka and soda? How much is a kamikazee?”
And then walks away…
Extras!
For those who want an added dose of humor, check out “The Bartender Hates You” on YouTube, it’s a comical look through the eyes of a disgruntled bartender. Try to keep in mind it’s just for a laugh!
Horrible Ways to Break Up With a Girl: The Break Up Guide for Guys
The Break Up Guide for Guys
Washington DC sex scandals have provided some great blueprints for the best way to break up with your girlfriend. Case and point: Eliot Spitzer, Bill Clinton (but she stayed), Newt Gingrich, Bob Packwood (what a name!) and more. We’ve watched carefully, taken notes and found the best methods to provide girls in DC with more single guys.
Get Wasted and Go From There
Yeah, we just used a picture of Big Ben.
Just get tanked and let go. Starting a fight at the bar would probably embarrass and piss her off, but you might get beat up and thrown in jail. Not recommended.
It’s probably safer to get wasted, say some really effed up things and then leave her stranded somewhere. Or you could just hook up with some random chicks… or one of her friends. That’d probably do it.
Be Nice – Lie
The truth hurts, so just lie. You probably do it all the time anyway. Just make sure it sounds good, but not too good.
• I think we need a break
• I love you, I just need some space for a bit, we’ll be back together soon.
• My mom/dad is really sick and I just can’t give you the attention you deserve right now.
Then just let it fade into darkness.
Be a Dick – Tell the Truth
You definitely might get hit, but hey, she’s the one who wants you to be honest with her.
• I just want to be friends
• I’ve found someone else
• I can’t stand the sound of your voice
• I no longer find you attractive
There’s probably a really nice way to say how you feel – so maybe tell the truth in a nice way or something (ie lie).
Start a Fight, Then Ignore Her
For all intents and purposes, this is the most f***ed up way to break up with a girl. You sure as sh*t better hope she’s not a psycho or you’re screwed.
Start a fight and wait for her to say something really messed up. It has to be close to unforgivable. Then blow up and tell her it’s over. You can’t believe she’d stoop that low. Tell her to go to hell and that’s that.
You’ll have to ignore any and all attempts by her to apologize. And you better pray she doesn’t start showing up at your work or home. Just make sure you don’t give in to the temptation of make up sex.
Take Her to a Nice Steak Dinner
And never call her again! Honestly, this could be the best way to break up if you want to remain friends or if you really do care.
Take her to dinner or have dinner together at home. Delicately bring up your issues. Be nice, be honest, be warm but firm (that’s what she said). At the end of your talk softly say that for those reasons you don’t think you can be together anymore. If you’re at home she’ll cry and you should console her. If you’re in public she may cry and you should probably run to avoid embarrassment.
Here’s a tip – pick up the check before you start the break-up. And maybe have a cab waiting or the valet ready.
Air It Out on Facebook
No need to post a rant on her wall. That just makes you look bad.
Simply change your status and wait for the fallout. You don’t even need to talk to her. But you will most likely have to block her cause the fallout ain’t gonna be pretty.
Send a Letter
You could write a heartfelt letter or you could draw a picture of you riding a giraffe.
In all seriousness, if you don’t have the balls to break up with her in person or follow one of the schemes we’ve already discussed, then you kinda deserve to be whipped.
And if you can’t even take the time to hand write a letter and you just send an email – then you’re just plain lazy.
Ask Her to Go Above and Beyond
Be careful, cause this could seriously backfire.
Ask her to move in with you. Ask her to marry you. When she says no tell her that if she can’t commit then you can’t be together.
This is reeeaaally risky for obvious reasons.
Disclaimer
We’re not necessarily telling you to actually do this stuff, then again, we know people who have. In all seriousness, you should probably be nice about breaking up. Karma is a b*tch, then again, she might be too.
How to Break Up with a Guy: The Break Up Guide for Girls
The Break Up Guide for Girls
“Breaking up is never easy,” that’s what ‘they’ say, but it can be. Just like Paul Simon said in his 1975 hit (later remixed by Kid Cudi) “There must be fifty ways to leave your lover”. Here are a few to get you started on the road to freedom!
Rip It Off
Just like a Band-Aid. Prolonging the situation only makes it worse. Tell him, simply, kindly, but firmly. Dragging the relationship out only makes it worse. You wouldn’t want a guy to waste your time, so don’t waste his.
Don’t Make a Big Production
Skip the blame game. It’s over, who cares who did what. Keep it short. “It’s not working out. Peace!” Then delete his number so you are not tempted to go on a month-long texting rant with him.
Don’t Make Up An Elaborate Story
Saying you are moving to Yemin or your grandmother is dying only makes life more complicated. Cut to the chase, tell him you don’t like his soul patch or the way he leaves the toilet seat up (total deal breakers), no need to beat around the bush.
Just…Give Up
Too much of a wimp to pull the cord on this relationship? Drive him away with your bad habits. Skip a shower, or ten. Start working on those dreadlocks. Ditch the razor. Don your Snuggie and Uggs (in public). Let your gas seep and your teeth rot. Pee standing up. It’s only a matter of time before he runs for the hills.
Go Greyhound
Some guys just don’t get it. Maybe it’s time to take that trip to Cabo. Or maybe it’s time to move, period. Who knows what kind of psycho you were dating. For the hard cases, if it’s just not sinking into his thick skull, there is no time like the present to flee to Mexico, dye your hair and claim a new identity!
The Classic Break-up
Using the old standby lines “It’s me, it’s not you”, “I need to focus on me now.” Those are classic lines and if you don’t care about this guy at all, go for it. The problem may arise when he thinks that when you are done ‘focusing on you’ you will come back to him.
Get Your Sh*t and Go!
If you live together, or have an oh-so-generous drawer at his place, get your things backs prior to the break-up. Make sure to line up new living arrangements if you live together or slowly take your things back to your place. This will avoid never getting that ‘Duran Duran Greatest Hits’ album back or being homeless. If he has a drawer at your place, place his belonging in a locker at a bowling alley or bus terminal and bring the key as a parting gift.
Bring Friends
Dating insurance! Make plans with a friend prior to the big sit down. This way you can break the news and get on with your night so he can’t lure you into an emotional boo-hoo never ending breakup conversation. Bring ’em too! There’s always strength in numbers!
Send a Tweet!
So it’s not the most politically correct way to dump a guy, but maybe you don’t really care about them, or maybe they are a crybaby, or a jerk. If you just don’t care, shoot a text, email, or tweet.
Go Public
Make a break-up date and stick to it. Go to lunch or for coffee and drop the hammer. Guys will be less inclined to cry or make a scene in public during the daytime. Then you can check that break-up off your to-do list and get on to the next victim…or boyfriend.
Whore-it-up!
A sure-fire way to lose a guy- sleep with his best friend! You will be on the receiving end on this one, but it will take the burden off of being the dumpee while getting some of your own action between the sheets.
Perhaps Nada Surf said it best “Be prepared for the boy to feel hurt and rejected. Even if you’ve gone together for only a short time, and haven’t been too serious, there’s still a feeling of rejection when someone says she prefers the company of others to your exclusive company. But if you’re honest, and direct, and avoid making a flowery emotional speech when you break the news, the boy will respect you for your frankness, and honestly he’ll appreciate the kind of straight forward manner in which you told him your decision. Unless he’s a real jerk or a cry baby you’ll remain friends!”
DC Area Best Live Music Venues
Washington, DC is not only the most powerful city in the world… it’s a capital of great live music! While often overshadowed by bigger cities, it has produced its share of incredible musicians, including conductor John Phillips Sousa, jazz pioneer Duke Ellington, and soul singer Marvin Gaye. The birthplace of Go-Go, a bastion for hardcore and punk rock, and home to a huge electronic scene, Washington, DC really does have it all!
Below is our list of the best live music venues in DC and the metropolitan area.
9:30 Club
Address:
815 V Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 265-0930
Website: 930.com
Hours: Check calendar for concert showtimes
The 9:30 Club has long been a staple of DC nightlife, first opening its doors to the public in 1980. Historically a rock venue, the 9:30 Club has featured plenty of legendary acts over the years, including Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and the Beastie Boys. For years, it has been regarded the best places to see live music in DC.
Echostage
Address:
2125 Queens Chapel Road, NE
Washington, DC 20018
(202) 503-2330
Website: echostage.com
Hours: Saturdays, 10 pm – 4 am
Echostage is Washington DC’s largest, dedicated concert venue. The new home of Club Glow, Echostage primarily hosted the world’s largest DJs during its 3 months of being open. Renovations in the first quarter of 2013, coupled with some exciting new partnerships will provide DC with a nightlife-oriented concert experience for all tastes.
Eighteenth Street Lounge
Address:
1212 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 466-3922
Website: eighteenthstreetlounge.com
Hours:
Tues-Thurs: 5:30 pm – 2am
Fri: 5:30pm – 3am
Sat: 9:30pm – 3am
Sun: 9:30pm – 2am
Set in an 19th Century Victorian mansion formerly owned by President Theodore Roosevelt, Eighteenth Street Lounge is one of DC’s swankiest nightlife landmarks. Home to live DJ act Thievery Corporation and anything from jazz, funk bands, reggae, Brazilian acts, and more, this lounge is hopping with live vibes!
Learn more about Eighteenth Street Lounge
U Street Music Hall
Address:
1115A U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 588-1880
Website: ustreetmusichall.com
Hours:
*Live shows: 7 – 10 pm
>(check website for calendar)
*DJ nights: 10 pm – 2 am, 3 am on weekends
U Street Music Hall has been setting the bar for underground dance clubs in Washington, DC. Owned by DJ/producers Will Eastman and Jesse Tittsworth, the venue was designed with dance music in mind, boasting perhaps the most heavenly sound system in town. Its no-photo policy and lack of a dress code suggests its customers should be more concerned about the music than with the door policy. “UHall,” as it is popularly known, is also home to numerous live bands and performances.
Learn more about U Street Music Hall
The Kennedy Center
Address:
2700 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20566
(202) 416-8000
Website: kennedy-center.org
Hours: Check calendar for full performance listings
The Kennedy Center is one of the world’s most premier venues for the performing arts. Comprised of three main theaters (the Concert Hall, Opera House, and Eisenhower Theater) and a handful of smaller stages, the Kennedy Center’s live music selection ranges from popular, classical, jazz, folk, and more. The Kennedy Center also regularly hosts theater, dance, and ballet productions.
The Fillmore
Address:
8656 Colesville Rd.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 960-9999
Website: fillmoresilverspring.com
Hours: Check calendar for concert showtimes
Opened in September 2011, The Fillmore is one of the best new venues in the DC area. In spite of its youth, huge names like Mary J. Blige, Deadmau5, LMAFO, Moby, Black Star, and more have graced its stage. With a great sound system, plenty of floor room, and great balcony views, The Fillmore is a great place to catch a show.
Learn more about The Fillmore Silver Spring
Jiffy Lube Live
Address:
7800 Cellar Door Drive
Bristow, VA 20136
(703) 754-6400
Website: LiveNation.com
Hours: Check website for concert showtimes
Jiffy Lube Live, formerly known as the Nissan Pavilion, is an outdoor amphitheater with a capacity of nearly 25,000 people, making it the largest music venue in the Washington Metropolitan area. With pavilion seating for 10,000 fans and a huge sprawling lawn, Jiffy Lube Live is a popular stop for big-name performers and music festivals during the summer. In early 2012 to many fans’ delight, the venue announced it was lifting its tailgating ban.
Wolf Trap
Address:
1551 Trap Rd.
Vienna, VA 22182
(703) 255-1900
Website: wolftrap.org
Hours: Check calendar for concert showtimes
Located on 13o acres of national park land, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts features numerous indoor and outdoor music venues. Performances are incredibly diverse, ranging from anything between popular rock acts to jazz, ballet and classical music!
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Address:
10475 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 715-5550
Website: merriweathermusic.com
Hours: Check website for concert showtimes
Located in Columbia, Maryland, Merriweather Post Pavilion has seen an incredible assortment of live acts over the years, ranging from Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead to Kid Cudi and Katy Perry. Perhaps best known in recent years as the home to the Virgin Mobile Free Fest at the end of every summer, this 19,000 person outdoor venue’s calendar is always lined with huge names.
DC Nightlife Going Out Guide Part 2: Picking the Right Venue
Location! Location! Location!
How to pick the right venue for DC Nightlife
Only when the music is blasting, the crowd is hot and the drinks are flowing can all the stresses of normal life disappear. But picking the correct venue amongst a seemingly endless sea in DC nightlife can be a daunting task.
Fear not, nightlife novices, for after reading this guide you will be equipped with all the information you need to conquer the finest dc clubs, lounges, and bars.
Pick your real estate
Don’t waste your time stuck in traffic, looking for a spot and waiting in line only to find you’re in the wrong place. Every DC venue offers a different vibe – reflective of the neighborhood it’s located in.
Upscale neighborhoods have upscale clubs and lounges. College neighborhoods have college clubs and bars. Gay areas have, you guessed it, gay clubs. Decide what sort of atmosphere you’re looking for and focus on the corresponding area of DC.
Penn Quarter | U Street Corridor | K Street | Adams Morgan | Georgetown | Midtown | H Street Corridor
You can check out clubs by neighborhood above or go through our DC nightclub club guide to see if any of these clubs are right for you!
Age Requirements
It’s ok to be under 21. There’s a wide selection of DC nightclubs, DC lounges, and live music venues in DC that are at least 18+.
Check out our list for 18+ clubs in DC.
Music
You always have to consider the what kind of music you like. If you’re into house music check out any of Club Glow’s weekly events, U-Street Music Hall, Sweet Spot or even District on occasion.
If you love hip-hop, Top 40, pop or Latin music check out some larger spots like Ultrabar, Fur, Love, The Park at 14th or The Lux Lounge that cater to specific crowds or have multiple rooms.
Dress Codes
What does dress code even mean nowadays? Some clubs say dress to impress, some say classy, some say casual, others don’t say anything.
Some places say no sneakers but let people in wearing pumas. WTF?! It works like this:
Wearing shorts or sandals out, in general, is never a good idea – the exceptions being giant festivals and college/dive bars.
Clubs don’t want trashy people that start fights, harass groups of people, and smell coming inside. If you look like you just stepped out of a dirty south hip-hop, raver, or death metal music video you probably aren’t getting in. There are exceptions – no dress code events, clubs catering to specific crowds – but if you’re just looking to go out and have a good time, why not look proper?
We made a men’s guide to dress code in DC clubs and a DC nightlife dress code guide for women just in case you had any questions!
Cost- Guest Lists, Cover Charges, and Drink Specials
Before choosing your venue, it’s wise to decide how much you are willing to spend. Nightclubs and lounges can tend to be pricier, but they often run free passes and drink specials.
It’s best to check out the venues website or Facebook for current offers. Guest lists usually run a special like ‘free before 11:30 for 21+’ or something like that. Sign up sheets are usually on the venues website.
The earlier you arrive, the more likely you’ll find a free/reduced, speedy entry with drink specials.
Transportation – Valet, Parking, Metro
Washington’s metro and bus system can get guests to most popular DC nightlife venues and help to avoid expensive trips and parking nightmares.
Unfortunately, the metro closes at midnight on weekdays and 2AM on weekends, whereas most venues close at 2AM on weekdays and 3AM on weekends.
Most parking garages cost $10-$20 (make sure to ask about closing time). Valet is also available for around the same price at most places.
Be careful parking on the street – DC has crazy parking laws
Read the signs on both ends of the street and stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk ($250 if you don’t)!
DC Area Ski & Snowboard Escapes
Winter is here, snow is coming, and mountain resorts across the area are kicking off the 2011-12 season! When the grind of city life becomes unbearable and you need to get away from it all, consider packing your bags and hitting these slopes!
— Skiing and Snowboarding Near DC —
With the Appalachian Mountains so close to DC, there are some great resorts in the area to choose from!
Liberty Mountain Resort — Carroll Valley, Pennsylvania
- Liberty is the closest place to ski outside Washington, DC, and can be reached by car in just over an hour and a half. With 100 acres of skiable area, 16 runs, and a top elevation of 1,200 feet, Liberty has long been a staple for DC snow fanatics and adrenaline junkies.
Whitetail Resort — Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
- Just two hours north of Washington, DC, Whitetail has been recognized for its environmental excellence in area design. With 21 different runs, the mountain was designed with goal of separating skiers according to performance ability for a safer downhill experience
Wisp Resort — McHenry, Maryland
- Tucked away in the mountains of Western Maryland, Wisp is the state’s most popular resort. Featuring 32 runs, a terrain park, and tons of other activities, it is an ideal getaway for both young adults and families.
Canaan Valley Resort — Davis, West Virginia
- Thanks to 39 ski runs, two terrain parks, and snow tubing, Canaan Valley Resort is one of the largest resorts of its kind in the area. In the 2005-06 season, it also became one of six places in the country that allows airboarding (an extreme form of sledding) on its slopes.
— East Coast Skiing and Snowboarding —
For getaways a little further away, you can shred the slopes in style at these great East Coast resorts.
Stowe Mountain Resort — Stowe, Vermont
- Stowe Mountain Resort bares no comparison on the East Coast, boasting 116 total runs and an incredible 2360 foot vertical . With tons of picturesque restaurants and shops nearby, this charming resort keeps visitors fully entertained during their stay.
Whiteface — Lake Placid, New York
- Whiteface, also known as the Olympic Mountain, has the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies! Home to the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, the resort is a mecca of winter sports activities, featuring anything from an outdoor ice skating track to bobsledding experiences.
— Best North American Skiing and Snowboarding —
North America is home to a disproportionate number of the world’s best ski and snowboard resorts. While it was incredibly difficult narrowing down this list, the below places the cream of the crop!
Whistler Blackcomb — Whistler, Canada
- Whistler Blackcomb is the largest resort in North America in many respects. Featuring 200+ runs, up to 2 million visitors in a year, and 8,000 acres of terrain, this is a must-visit destination.
Vail Mountain — Vail, Colorado
- Vail is the largest ski resort in the United States, with an incredible 5,300 acres of skiable terrain, 193 runs, and top elevation of almost 12,000 feet. Home to some of the world’s fastest chairlifts, the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame, and a hopping nightlife scene, Vail has it all!
Park City Mountain Resort — Park City, Utah
- Host to alpine skiing and snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics, home to several training courses for the U.S. Ski Team, and featured in video game Shaun White Snowboarding, Park City is a premier destination for downhill enthusiasts.
The Top New Year’s Resolutions…that Everyone Breaks!
New Year’s Resolutions that Fail!
Excitement is in the air! Plans for New Year’s Eve in Washington DC are buzzing! Let’s pop the champagne! Watch the ball drop! Steal that New Year’s Eve kiss! Wake up with a raging hangover and engage in an American pastime with an 80% failure rate – The New Year’s Resolution!
Four out of five people who make New Year’s resolutions will break them- one third won’t even make it to the end of January. Yet, statistics never stop the masses from reflecting on the past year and choosing that ONE thing they desperately want to change- even though the chance of follow through is slim.
Here are some of the most popular and wildly unsuccessful resolutions people will make and inevitably break.
Lose Weight
Quit Smoking
Save Money
Exercise
Pay off Debts
Drink less Alcohol
Read More
Sleep More
Eat Healthy
Volunteer
(Click on the slideshow at the bottom for captions)
According to a New York Times article, nearly 40 percent of those surveyed attribute breaking their resolutions to having too many other things to do, while 33 percent say they simply aren’t committed to the resolutions they set. But experts say the real problem is that people make the wrong resolutions. The typical resolution often reflects a general desire, rather than a specific goal.
So, this New Year’s maybe it’s best to just skip the resolution all together and focus on the DC New Year’s Eve events or at least take it one-day-at-a-time.
America’s Top Party Schools of 2012
America’s Top Party Schools of 2012
If partying is more important than classes, check out this list of the America’s Top Party Schools!
According to the Princeton Review’s annual list of top party schools, the University Ohio is the No. 1 party school in America. Seeing as there is nothing to do in Ohio, but go to the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame or figure out what a ‘Buckeye’ is, partying seems like the only option.
Southern schools, unsurprisingly, like The University of Georgia, The University of Mississippi, Florida State University, The University of Florida, and The University of Texas all came in strong. Penn State also made the list. The recent firing of beloved Joe Pa apparently turned the school in a bunch of ranging alcoholics. The University of Maryland also made this year’s list giving the Washington, D.C. area a feeling of local pride in the hard partying ways of area college students.
1. Ohio University
Location: Athens, Ohio
Mascot: Ohio Bobcats
Athletic Conference: Mid-American Conference
Party Scene: Whether any of the administrators want to admit it or not, OU is a party school. Drinking is the most popular student activity, thanks in part to the sheer number of bars that line Court Street. The drinks are cheap, the atmosphere is energized, and the people are outgoing. While there is only one dance club, most people don’t have a problem with busting a move in the middle of the bar floor or on nearby tables. For those students who enjoy a drunken time in an alcohol-soaked atmosphere, OU’s nightlife is a dream come true. Ou is also famous for their big Halloween block party which typically attracts at least 20,000 people to downtown Athens streets. Arrests and citations during the party, mostly for alcohol and disorderly conduct violations, have at times reached more than 200 in recent years.
2. University of Georgia
Location: Athens, Georgia
Mascot: Bulldogs
Athletic Conference: Southeastern Conference
Party Scene: The University of Georgia earns its party reputation from its balance of a strong Greek presence as well as its location in Athens, a hip city with dozens of fun—and cheap—bars with a local music scene (B52’s and REM are from Athens). Athens’ happening downtown area is extremely close to campus; it often only takes a two to five dollar cab ride to get you out there partying and get you back home safely.
3. University of Mississippi
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Mascot: The Rebels
Athletic Conference: Southeastern Conference
Party Scene: A New York Times article specifically featured Ole Miss’ tailgaiting scene, and quoted a woman after the Rebels lost—”We may not win every game, but we’ve never lost a party.”
4. University of Iowa
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Mascot: Hawkeyes
Athletic Conference: The Big Ten
Party Scene: Educational institute where learning comes third to drinking and football.It has been said that the weekend at UI begins on Wednesday night and ends Monday morning. Most bars in Iowa City allow anyone 19 or older through the doors. So even if you can’t legally drink, you can still head out to the bar.
5. University of California-Santa Barbara
Location: Santa Barbara
Mascot: Gauchos
Athletic Conference: Big West
Party Scene: A glamorous location on 989 acres of Pacific Ocean coastline overlooking the Santa Ynez Mountains. It’s the party school with an increasingly impressive academic reputation. Three faculty members have won Nobel Prizes in recent years. Besides beach parties and bon fires, downtown is what most students do on weekends. You can take a taxi or ride the bus to there. Students also go around Isla Vista where you can walk to all the night spots.
6. West Virginia University
Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
Mascot: Mountaineers
Athletic Conference: Big East, 2012 Season will be Big 12 Conference
Party Scene: A small town with 20,000 permanent residents and about 25,000 college students, the school and its surroundings have an atmosphere that is decidedly collegiate. In 1989, Playboy magazine purposefully excluded WVU from the top ten list, noting that the magazine does not rank professional partiers.
7. Pennsylvania State University
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
Mascot: Nittany Lions
Athletic Conference: Big Ten
Party Scene: The school is known in part for its football tailgate weekends and fraternity and sorority scene. In 2009 PSU finished #1 in the Princeton Review survey.
8. Florida State University
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Mascot: Seminoles
Athletic Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference
Party Scene: Florida has a huge football following amongst student and also landed on the Major Frat and Sorority Scene. On any given night, you can have your choice of live music, dancing, and drink specials. The Greeks on campus have a reputation of throwing some of the best bashes, and the off-campus parties often wind up being large and loud. Most students will hang out on the Tennessee Street Strip, but bars and clubs surround the campus.
9. University of Florida
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Mascot: Gators
Athletic Conference: Southeastern Conference
Party Scene: Students pour onto University Avenue every night. Even in the morning, before a game starts, UF students begin their partying. A student was once quoted in a New York Times article, saying, shortly before a game at 10:30am, “We will not let anyone drink under the influence. I mean drive under the influence. I’m sorry, I’m drunk already.” Enough said.
10. University of Texas
Mascot: Longhorns
Athletic Conference: Big 12 Conference
Party Scene: A focal point for constant student celebration is UT’s sports culture. The fraternity and sorority scene at UT is remarkable—the school is home to more than 50 different chapters. And, what’s more, UT’s main campus is centrally located in the self-lauded “Live Music Capital of the World.” Austin’s Sixth Street, similar to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, is lined with raucous bars, clubs, and music venues.
11. University of Illinois
Location: Urbana-Champaign
Mascot: Fighting Illini
Athletic Conference: Big Ten Conference
Party Scene: It is home to the largest Greek Community in the country with over 50 fraternities and 30 sororities. The bar and club scene is crowded every weekend, and they tend to be just as busy during the week. Closing time is 2 AM, but parties here do not start or end in bars for most students. Once the bars close, people often pour out to either an after-party at a frat or an apartment.
12. Syracuse University
Mascot: Otto the Orange
Athletic Conference: Big East Conference
Party Scene: House parties- The frats are very good proof of that. Those who like 100–200 people jammed in a basement waiting in line for the keg should head towards Frat Row on Comstock Avenue. Parties have games like Flip Cup, multiple Beirut tables, an area for Shotgun or Beer Bong challenges, a house drink, and multiple kegs.
13. Louisiana State University
Location: Baton Rogue, Louisiana
Mascot: Tigers
Athletic Conference: South Eastern Conference
Party Scene: Between the football, baseball and the tailgating, students at LSU have plenty of opportunities to party. Most of the places are bars as opposed to clubs. Students looking for great places to dance might be best served to make the trek to New Orleans. Live music tends to be at the center of most bars.
14. University of Wisconsin
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Mascot: Badgers
Athletic Conference: Big Ten Conference
Party Scene: UW is associated with two gigantic drinking fests: Halloween’s Freakfest and Mifflin Block Party. Both are two of the largest college drinking fests in the country, attracting thousands upon thousands of drunk students.
15. DePauw University
Location: Greencastle, Indiana
Mascot: Tigers
Athletic Conference: North Coast Athletic Conference
Party Scene: The frat party is king when it comes to weekend entertainment. Most weekends boast several different parties, generally themed, for which you’ll see costumed coeds running all around campus.
16. Indiana University
Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Mascot: Hoosiers
Athletic Conference: Big Ten Conference
Party Scene: The school was also ranked in the top 20 for schools with “lots of beer” and “lots of hard liquor”. There are bars on campus, plus the Greek social atmosphere is very enthusiastic with a much more cost-effective party atmosphere. House parties and apartment parties are also abundant. Over all, IU social life is exciting, intense, friendly, and never boring.
17. Arizona State University
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Mascot: Sun Devils
Athletic Conference: Pac-12 Conference
Party Scene: Pre-gaming for the Pre-game, Pool parties, a mere 4 hours from Mexico, 6 hours from LA, and 5 from Vegas. You do the math! Mill Avenue and the surrounding area are saturated with places to grab a drink and dance. Scottsdale is the place to go for students who to want to dress nicer and go to more sophisticated clubs.
18. University of Maryland
Location: College Park, Maryland
Mascot: Terrapins
Athletic Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference
Party Scene: With only a handful of bars in town and no bar on campus, it’s a good thing that there is plenty of nightlife 18 and over in D.C. and Baltimore that is not too far away. As for parties on Fraternity Row, times have changed: alcohol-focused parties are fading, and UMCP seems to be slowly changing into a barren, dry campus, as it continues to crack down on on-campus revelries. This is where living off campus comes in handy for students who crave alcohol and parties.
19. University of Vermont
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Mascot: Vermont Catamounts
Athletic Conference: America East Conference
Party Scene: There are a number of bars ranging from relaxed to loud. There are also several spots for under 21 nightclubs . Montreal is also about two hours away for students looking to go to clubs. Although Burlington isn’t a party Mecca, there are enough venues to keep students busy and enough variety to provide the little-city feel to the style of New York City. Parties on campus tend to be no more than a dozen people due to noise regulations and enforcements.
20. University of South Carolina
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Mascot: Gamecocks
Athletic Conference: Southeastern Conference
Party Scene: The nightlife in Columbia revolves mainly around Five Points and the Vista, where bars and clubs are abundant with social students and good times. While almost all of the bars prohibit underage students, some of the dance clubs permit entry to the underage crowd.
