Crepeaway=>Madhatter's=>Cafe Citron

This blog is usually about Columbia Heights but it just so happens I spent most of my yesterday outside my neighborhood so you'll have to bear with me...

Yesterday was a pretty interesting day. It started off with a trip to the Sprint store to pick up my Samsung Galaxy SII. Whitney was kind enough to repair it for me after an antennae malfunctioned (she is the best damn phone tech I've ever seen, by the way). While she was repairing my phone I stopped next door at Crepeaway, checked out their menu, and had an Obama Crepe for lunch. It was pretty good.

After that I headed to Chinatown to see The Avengers movie with a friend. It was two and a half hours of fantastic! It was over just in time to run over to Madhatter's  in Dupont Circle to catch the end of game six of the Miami/Boston playoff series. One of the best kept known secrets of DC is Madhatter's has $1 dollar Bud Light, and $5 Maker's Mark every Thursday night, all night. Eric, one of the best bartenders in town can make any drink known to mankind and never screws up my bill. I took my time with the bourbon so I could watch the Heat win 98-79 to tie up the series (3-3). Game 7 is sure to be a battle on the hardwood down in Miami this weekend so I'll probably drop into Lou's for that. Once the game wrapped up the DJ played Top 40 and some custom spins while ultra-tipsy, scantily-clad 20 somethings tried to dance well after midnight.

I left Madhatter's around around 12.30 am and on my way up the street, a gorgeous group of Latina's invited me into Cafe Citron for a margarita and some dancing. They bought me a couple of margarita's in exchange for a few rounds of salsa and merengue. Shirley was the bartender of choice at Citron and her Margarita's were strong and sour. I'd love to write more about rest of the night but I don't remember much of it, only that I had a great time.

I love Thursday nights in this town!

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