Eighteenth Street Lounge

Eighteenth Street Lounge Main Room

It's about 9pm on a Wednesday night and a few of Clement's friends are visiting from France. I think to myself where is the best place to take them tonight? I believe in being a good host and I know Thievery Corporation always spins good music so I send a text to Clement that the venue of choice would be Eighteenth Street Lounge (ESL). ESL, as its affectionately referred to by its regulars, is a cool little lounge with a very vintage feel. Thievery Corp did a great job with the sound system and they manage to fill it with some of the hottest music around. When I say hottest music, I do not mean the garbage you find on the charts these days, I'm talking about real good music, whether it be from the DJs themselves, to local artists, to international gems from all over. You never know what you'll hear but you won't hear any garbage that is for certain.

ESL Main Bar

Drinks were kind of pricey for a Wednesday night at 10 bucks a pop but the bartenders are pretty good chemists. The dress code is fashionable and you'll see everything from jeans and Kenneth Cole boots, to Armani suits with a pair of Chuck Taylor's. The ladies in particular have their very own sense of style and keep it pretty chic. When in doubt,clean up a little and be yourself. There's a main area, complete with logs, a fireplace, and parlor sofas. You'll find lots of cool kittens purring throughout the area chatting, people watching, and if you're lucky dancing up against you near the fireplace. There's also a Gold Room and a Jazz Bar to explore. This particular night they had a DJ on one side of the main area and a reggae band on the other called Rockers International. I ended up hypnotized by an awesome live band so I never got farther than the main room and gold room... except to the outdoor patio to find my friends when they wandered off to smoke and drag them back to the dance floor.

We had a great time. Thievery Corporation stole a good formula and is using it just like those those turntables they keep spinning. I'll be here often.

L.

Venue: ESL

Location: 1212 18th St, Washington DC 20036

Phone: (202) 466-3922

Map

New Digs in Columbia Heights

The Getaway in Columbia Heights DC

     So I just moved into the Elberon in Columbia Heights. The high ceilings, wood floors, and modern kitchen are the highlights of the new pad. I can't wait until the door buzzer gets fixed. Here's my take on the area.

     There a lot of things going on in this area right now and I can't see The Heights getting anything but better. For starters there is a huge retail center right in the center of Columbia Heights on the corner of 14th and Irving right across the street from Columbia Heights Metro Station (Green and Yellow Line). There's a Target, Best Buy, Marshalls, and a Bed, Bath, and Beyond to take care of the major retail needs. There's also a  Washington Sports Club (WSC), Vitamin Shoppe, and Modell's Sporting Goods to help the neighborhood fitness nuts stay in shape. A range of stores, banks, eateries, and restaurants radiate out from the central shopping center. Potbelly's, Panera, Panda Express, Pete's Pizza, and a couple other eateries that don't start with a 'P' fill the whole area and cater to a variety of tastes. There's even a Five Guys right above the metro station!

     Its a really diverse area too. I like that there's a mix of locals as well as people from all over the world that populate the area and I regularly laugh at the mix of children playing together in the fountain in front of the Froyo (I still can't figure out how they get the happiest music playing all day long. There's always little kids in there dancing). People are sometimes surprised at me greeting people as I walk by, but that is the way I was raised so I'd rather see the perplexed look of sudden politeness than make my grandmother turn over in her grave. she'd smack the living daylights out of me if I didn't greet an old lady passing by (they'll tell you a bunch of cool stuff about the area if you give them five minutes and a smile.)

RedRocks Pizza Columbia Heights

    My favorite restaurant is a tie right now between Redrocks Pizza on 11th and Park Rd, and The Heights on 14th and Kenyon. I swear Redrocks Pizza has the best damn pies in the universe and brunch at The Heights will make you go go home and take a nap afterward. The service at both establishments are really good. Acre 121 and Room 11 I heard are great too but I haven't had the chance to go just yet.

     A few watering holes populate the immediate as well. There's Wonderland Ballroom, Lou's City Bar, Alero, and the Getaway to name a few. so I guess what I'll do is start going to a different happy hour every night and posting a quick blurb or video about the places I check out. Stay tuned....it'll be fun!

L.