Sweet (Local) 16

A few of my friends like to get together and discuss a trip we're taking in August-September at Local 16. It features a pub, a lounge, dining, and a rooftop deck. With spring arriving I expect the rooftop to become a main attraction. The $5 happy hour highlights were the Loose Canon IPA and the Hemmingway, both which paired well with roasted prime rib slider and the original pizza. Ed, one of the quick-handed bartenders, makes a mean Manhattan.

The atmosphere for happy hour was really laid back; the lounge and the rooftop were filled with mostly slender disheveled Europeans and exotic black hipsters smiling wide and bouncing from circle to circle talking to old friends. The music was provided by a friend that particular night so I had my choice of electronica and soul fusion sounds to pick from. The people were particularly interesting. I met a gorgeous dance theater director from the Philippines who did charity work for disadvantaged youth, and her demure friend, a software engineer with a dirty mouth who designed movement for video games. Two musicians, a sax player and a violinist, and I had an awesome conversation about some of the projects I'm working on and lent some great advice for playing venues in DC.

Overall it was a good experience. I'd love to see a DJ for happy hour on the rooftop and a couple more local beers on tap. I'll have to drop in in a few Thursdays for more of those Manhattans.

Flash!

Flash Lounge is a hip new lounge two blocks from the infamous U St corridor. An international group of friends and I checked the place out Saturday night and had a great time. Flash greets you with a small patio and as you cross the thresh hold, the long busy bar on the left is usually lined with a throng of 20-40 somethings indulging in the neighborhoods increasingly gentrified feel. To the left are various pose worthy seating areas where the young ladies will most certainly stop to get their mandatory selfies taken care of for their Instagram feeds. An amateur would think from the music and the chatty crowd that this is a perfect place to lounge for the night. This is a mistake. Walk to the very back of the venue and you will find a small line to a photo booth with a velvety curtain hosted by a pretty girl inviting people to step inside. Once you get your free snap shots, a sly back door will open to a set of stairs to the main event.

I was lucky enough to catch two awesome DJs spinning tunes. One from Serbia and one from Germany both who brought some amazing sounds to the night's young and beautiful. I really dig DJ M.A.N.D.Y.'s groove. it was amazing! My friends and danced for four hours straight under an awesome sound system and the eye-pillaging synchronized lights.

The place was full of various femme fatale'. Blonds, brunettes, Indian,  latin, and other flavors of lust danced

well into the darkness. The two women I arrived with boasted the men were the hottest collection of guys they'd ever seen. They'd be right as the ratio that night was about 4:1 guys to girls so fellas... bring your A game and a couple wing chicks with you to balance things out.

The drinks price in from $9-15 and up and the average wait could be improved on the 2nd floor but the wait was worth the well made cocktails. Even  my Russian Comrade Alex had to take his time with his drinks. Last call lights will catch you at 2a but the place doesn't close till 3am. Don't forget to get your after picture taken. #EPICSaturday

Tropicalia! The Global Dancehall

Tropicalia featured a live band and $5 caipirinha's all night. Matt did a great job behind the bar while The Global Dancehall kept all the exotic ladies on the dance floor through the night. I don't know what I expected when I found this little bar conveniently tucked under the Subway at the corner of 14th and U. I was walking by and heard this awesome music and at first I was puzzled because I thought it was the Subway itself. Ridiculous. After setting myself straight and climbing down the stairs into the brilliant psychedelic Brazilian decor, my ears got a treat as the 7 piece band belted out Brazilian music for the next four hours. I'll definitely be back here and often! The video was overwhelmed by the sound system so it doesn't do justice but I'll stick it up here anyway.