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It's so so variable. Being in your 30s is less of an indicator than, say, how far do you want to dress up? do you mind high-end events where by the end of a festive night of dancing night girls are holding each other's hair, narrowly missing their Manolo Blahniks? or are you lower key than that? are you more, say, on the glammy & posh vs. hip & subterranean vs. jazz & blues side of the tracks
For sort of inbetween check out the Black Cat (usually bands and DJs) or Rock n Roll Hotel (usually DJs). For a more local hometown DC indy flavor DC9 or Velvet Lounge, usually bands but NYE maybe DJs. I've not lived in DC for 5 years--but lived there 1993-2005 and those venues have stayed the same.
Honestly--the best thing about DC is the house parties on New Year's. There's a chance if you were to go to one of the cooler bars or restaurants or coffee houses in Adams Morgan or on U Street early in the evening or even late afternoon you might meet people willing to fold you into their plans and take you to their parties or tell you where there are some. Sometimes DC is that friendly and open, if you meet the right people, and are outgoing and chill. DCers are accustomed to people coming and going (due to high turnover in presidential administrations and Congress), so they're often "the more's the merrier." Your accent won't hurt either. If you see a crowd congregating that looks cool outside a large mansion-y type building (where many people in DC live--sometimes in groups--and those are the best parties in the city) or brownstone or old apartment building and they look like they're headed to a party and people you'd like to hang out with, just crash or ask them if they're going to a party and whether you can join them? Dinner at the more expensive restaurants is where you'll find people who are probably spending New Year's in a club or public place. If you go to a divier lower-key bar or a hopping coffee place you might meet peeps who'll turn you onto a party. Like go to Tryst in Adams Morgan on 18th Street in the afternoon. Find people who look cool and who you think you'd like and would like you, and sit down with or near them--and just ask them--say what you said here. If they are the types of people you tend to like there's a good chance like will recognize like and they'll tell you. And just go for it--particularly if it's a house party. But also have back-up plans. I mean if you ask lame-looking people what they're doing they're more likely to tell you about something lame, right? Also, just sheer numbers of asking people what they're doing.
Next to last thing: my favorite venue for years was a place called the Warehouse (1021 7th St NW). They had the greatest parties, opening, exhibitions, film screenings, and events. Last thing I went to there was the Art Ball for Obama's Administration (in addition to the Mid-Atlantic Ball and the Google Ball). The Art Ball was pretty wild. It can get sort of burlesquey and theatre-y so be forewarned if that's not your thing.
ALSO---there's 3 other distinct scenes:
(1) what I'd call DC Establishment--some politicos and important peeps with lots of money---all ages--they do know how to party; they'll have events at like the Old Post Office Building - conversations will be stimulating - you'll meet people who work for all sorts of people you've heard of, and some of the people themselves
(2) Black DC---and there's really 3 subcultures:
{a} wealthy ruling class aristo-as-shit black DC - very fancy, very expensive, good music, white people not always massively welcome, more because everyone tends to already know one another, like any small-ish clique of wealthy people, but I have gone to such parties (and am white) and if the music is good, food is tasty, and dancefloor starts hopping you're welcome--and when I say a "small" society, that means a New Year's party of this set will have 200-500 people.
{b} DC hip hop and go-go scenes--these are hit and miss--if you are a big fan of hip hop you will find a party that'll blast your boots off but be prepared this isn't lite or white boy hip hop--this is the real deal;
{3} Caribbiana and African--mostly Caribbean and African immigrants: you might get lonely because people might be really psyched to speak to each other in their native tongues but the music and food would be good and peeps would be friendly;
(3) anarchists punks activists hippies: sometimes clumping together, sometimes in their own subgroups -- a place like Busboys and Poets on U St NW
Last thing: DC is a city of neighborhoods. You will want to be in either: (1) in Northwest (and which quadrant you're in is totally necessary to keep from getting lost--you must know whether something is 15th St NW or SW, or SE or NE--the differences be radically sometimes dangerously different) Dupont Circle/Adams Morgan/Mt Pleasant/Columbia Heights/U Street Corridor; (2) also in Northwest, Georgetown; or (3) parts of NE and SE: Capital Hill. #2 and #3 are more traditional/preppier professional people from mid-20s to early 40s. #1 is the same age group but more eclectic and diverse---#1 is a wide geographic area but if you like walking you can cover all these neighborhoods easily and wander in and out of a bunch of things happening.
If I hear any inside scoop I can share I will do so. Please post back here what you ended up doing.
- swiss
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2010-12-24 08:18 by swiss.
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O.T: New Years Eve in Washington, D.C.
Posted by:
Mr Jimmy
()
Date: December 23, 2010 21:04
Hey folks,
Ok, so I'm taking a holiday next week, and due to flight scheduling etc, I'm going to be in D.C. on NYE on my own. Can any locals to the area recommend a good place to go for a solo British traveller? I'm in my early 30's, so would like something reasonably lively, nothing too huge I don't think... Just something fun to do on New Years Eve!
Any help, suggestions and advice would be really appreciated. Cheers!
_____________________________________________________
What's your favourite flavour?...........Cherry Red!!
Ok, so I'm taking a holiday next week, and due to flight scheduling etc, I'm going to be in D.C. on NYE on my own. Can any locals to the area recommend a good place to go for a solo British traveller? I'm in my early 30's, so would like something reasonably lively, nothing too huge I don't think... Just something fun to do on New Years Eve!
Any help, suggestions and advice would be really appreciated. Cheers!
_____________________________________________________
What's your favourite flavour?...........Cherry Red!!
Re: O.T: New Years Eve in Washington, D.C.
Posted by:
Edith Grove
()
Date: December 24, 2010 00:26
If you were coming to New Orleans, I could give you several suggestions.
Just wanted to say have a good trip!
Just wanted to say have a good trip!
Re: O.T: New Years Eve in Washington, D.C.
Posted by:
rollmops
()
Date: December 24, 2010 01:07
Hi Mr Jimmy
I checked out the 9:30 Club ;they have GogolBordello BUT it's sold out. The Black Cat(it's a club) they have a New Year Eve Party with several bands playing. Then you should go to Adams Morgan. It's a neighborhood in DC with lots of bars, restaurants, music and usually lots of people there. Unfortunately I'll be working that night(I am Chef/caterer).
Merry Christmas to you
Rock and Roll,
Mops
I checked out the 9:30 Club ;they have GogolBordello BUT it's sold out. The Black Cat(it's a club) they have a New Year Eve Party with several bands playing. Then you should go to Adams Morgan. It's a neighborhood in DC with lots of bars, restaurants, music and usually lots of people there. Unfortunately I'll be working that night(I am Chef/caterer).
Merry Christmas to you
Rock and Roll,
Mops
Re: O.T: New Years Eve in Washington, D.C.
Posted by:
ab
()
Date: December 24, 2010 07:07
Catch a train to New York and see Guided by Voices!
Re: O.T: New Years Eve in Washington, D.C.
Posted by:
swiss
()
Date: December 24, 2010 07:42
Quote
Mr Jimmy
Hey folks,
Ok, so I'm taking a holiday next week, and due to flight scheduling etc, I'm going to be in D.C. on NYE on my own. Can any locals to the area recommend a good place to go for a solo British traveller? I'm in my early 30's, so would like something reasonably lively, nothing too huge I don't think... Just something fun to do on New Years Eve!
Any help, suggestions and advice would be really appreciated. Cheers!
It's so so variable. Being in your 30s is less of an indicator than, say, how far do you want to dress up? do you mind high-end events where by the end of a festive night of dancing night girls are holding each other's hair, narrowly missing their Manolo Blahniks? or are you lower key than that? are you more, say, on the glammy & posh vs. hip & subterranean vs. jazz & blues side of the tracks
For sort of inbetween check out the Black Cat (usually bands and DJs) or Rock n Roll Hotel (usually DJs). For a more local hometown DC indy flavor DC9 or Velvet Lounge, usually bands but NYE maybe DJs. I've not lived in DC for 5 years--but lived there 1993-2005 and those venues have stayed the same.
Honestly--the best thing about DC is the house parties on New Year's. There's a chance if you were to go to one of the cooler bars or restaurants or coffee houses in Adams Morgan or on U Street early in the evening or even late afternoon you might meet people willing to fold you into their plans and take you to their parties or tell you where there are some. Sometimes DC is that friendly and open, if you meet the right people, and are outgoing and chill. DCers are accustomed to people coming and going (due to high turnover in presidential administrations and Congress), so they're often "the more's the merrier." Your accent won't hurt either. If you see a crowd congregating that looks cool outside a large mansion-y type building (where many people in DC live--sometimes in groups--and those are the best parties in the city) or brownstone or old apartment building and they look like they're headed to a party and people you'd like to hang out with, just crash or ask them if they're going to a party and whether you can join them? Dinner at the more expensive restaurants is where you'll find people who are probably spending New Year's in a club or public place. If you go to a divier lower-key bar or a hopping coffee place you might meet peeps who'll turn you onto a party. Like go to Tryst in Adams Morgan on 18th Street in the afternoon. Find people who look cool and who you think you'd like and would like you, and sit down with or near them--and just ask them--say what you said here. If they are the types of people you tend to like there's a good chance like will recognize like and they'll tell you. And just go for it--particularly if it's a house party. But also have back-up plans. I mean if you ask lame-looking people what they're doing they're more likely to tell you about something lame, right? Also, just sheer numbers of asking people what they're doing.
Next to last thing: my favorite venue for years was a place called the Warehouse (1021 7th St NW). They had the greatest parties, opening, exhibitions, film screenings, and events. Last thing I went to there was the Art Ball for Obama's Administration (in addition to the Mid-Atlantic Ball and the Google Ball). The Art Ball was pretty wild. It can get sort of burlesquey and theatre-y so be forewarned if that's not your thing.
ALSO---there's 3 other distinct scenes:
(1) what I'd call DC Establishment--some politicos and important peeps with lots of money---all ages--they do know how to party; they'll have events at like the Old Post Office Building - conversations will be stimulating - you'll meet people who work for all sorts of people you've heard of, and some of the people themselves
(2) Black DC---and there's really 3 subcultures:
{a} wealthy ruling class aristo-as-shit black DC - very fancy, very expensive, good music, white people not always massively welcome, more because everyone tends to already know one another, like any small-ish clique of wealthy people, but I have gone to such parties (and am white) and if the music is good, food is tasty, and dancefloor starts hopping you're welcome--and when I say a "small" society, that means a New Year's party of this set will have 200-500 people.
{b} DC hip hop and go-go scenes--these are hit and miss--if you are a big fan of hip hop you will find a party that'll blast your boots off but be prepared this isn't lite or white boy hip hop--this is the real deal;
{3} Caribbiana and African--mostly Caribbean and African immigrants: you might get lonely because people might be really psyched to speak to each other in their native tongues but the music and food would be good and peeps would be friendly;
(3) anarchists punks activists hippies: sometimes clumping together, sometimes in their own subgroups -- a place like Busboys and Poets on U St NW
Last thing: DC is a city of neighborhoods. You will want to be in either: (1) in Northwest (and which quadrant you're in is totally necessary to keep from getting lost--you must know whether something is 15th St NW or SW, or SE or NE--the differences be radically sometimes dangerously different) Dupont Circle/Adams Morgan/Mt Pleasant/Columbia Heights/U Street Corridor; (2) also in Northwest, Georgetown; or (3) parts of NE and SE: Capital Hill. #2 and #3 are more traditional/preppier professional people from mid-20s to early 40s. #1 is the same age group but more eclectic and diverse---#1 is a wide geographic area but if you like walking you can cover all these neighborhoods easily and wander in and out of a bunch of things happening.
If I hear any inside scoop I can share I will do so. Please post back here what you ended up doing.
- swiss
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2010-12-24 08:18 by swiss.
Re: O.T: New Years Eve in Washington, D.C.
Posted by:
Mr Jimmy
()
Date: December 24, 2010 14:07
Thankyou very much for the advice guys, this stuff is invaluable...
Swiss, wow that was some in-depth stuff there, cheers. In response to your question:
"Being in your 30s is less of an indicator than, say, how far do you want to dress up? do you mind high-end events where by the end of a festive night of dancing night girls are holding each other's hair, narrowly missing their Manolo Blahniks? or are you lower key than that? are you more, say, on the glammy & posh vs. hip & subterranean vs. jazz & blues side of the tracks"
Hmmm, I would say most likely jazz & blues, with a small helping of hip & subterranean, although very easy on the hip...
I don't mind getting dressed up, maybe in a nice suit if the occasion calls for it, kinda like posh/glam meets rock 'n' roll...?
I have heard of the Adams-Morgan neighbourhood, and that it's a great spot for bars etc., so I'll look into that and everything else you mentioned. Thanks again!
_____________________________________________________
What's your favourite flavour?...........Cherry Red!!
Swiss, wow that was some in-depth stuff there, cheers. In response to your question:
"Being in your 30s is less of an indicator than, say, how far do you want to dress up? do you mind high-end events where by the end of a festive night of dancing night girls are holding each other's hair, narrowly missing their Manolo Blahniks? or are you lower key than that? are you more, say, on the glammy & posh vs. hip & subterranean vs. jazz & blues side of the tracks"
Hmmm, I would say most likely jazz & blues, with a small helping of hip & subterranean, although very easy on the hip...
I don't mind getting dressed up, maybe in a nice suit if the occasion calls for it, kinda like posh/glam meets rock 'n' roll...?
I have heard of the Adams-Morgan neighbourhood, and that it's a great spot for bars etc., so I'll look into that and everything else you mentioned. Thanks again!
_____________________________________________________
What's your favourite flavour?...........Cherry Red!!
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