The Frisky Guidebook: The Capital City
Posted by: Katie Knorovsky
Filed in:
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3:30PM, Thursday January 15th 2009
Coming down to our nation’s capitol for the Presidential Inauguration next Tuesday? Or considering a pleasure trip in the coming months? Don’t let Washington, D.C.’s buttoned-down reputation turn you off—just below the surface lies an unexpectedly fun city laced with edgy pockets and sexy surprises. After all, power can be the ultimate aphrodisiac (as an ever-growing list of fallen politicians would surely attest).
OFFBEAT DATES
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Eastern Market 7th St. and North Carolina Ave., SE Easternmarketdc.com A long-time favorite of locals and tourists alike, this historic market (since 1873) in view of the Capitol is the perfect way to while away a weekend afternoon. Browse the eclectic flea market, locally sourced farmers market, and leafy surrounding neighborhood; join the line at the South Hall’s counter for one of the best and most authentic lunches in town, a crabcake sandwich and giant sweet tea. |
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Comet Ping Pong 5037 Connecticut Ave., NW (202) 364-0404, Cometpingpong.com If you ask us, little tops the wonder of a smoky wood-fired pizza pie coupled with the rollicking, wholesome fun of table tennis. Add live music and a small but well-crafted beer and wine list, and we just might go home with you. |
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Palace of Wonders 1210 H St., NE (202) 398-7469, Palaceofwonders.com Contort your perceptions of conventional Washington as you gape at the freaky stars of this two-floor spectacle, complete with live vaudeville shows, burlesque, contortionists and more, plus a museum of oddities and full bar in a newly gentrifying corner of town. If hunger—or prudence—strikes, share sushi and tater tots at nearby Sticky Rice. |
SEXIEST HOTELS
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Hotel Rouge 1315 16th St., NW (202) 232-8000, Rougehotel.com Your go-to spot for a stylish one-night stand. The red-splattered walls and décor are as superficially romantic as your evening companion, but the colonnade of nine generic Venus statues out front offers a subtle reminder that if things don’t work out this time, there’s always tomorrow night. |
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Mayflower Hotel 1127 Connecticut Ave., NW (202) 347-3000, Marriott.com Back to that whole idea of power being sexy: Less than a mile from the White House, this plush bedpost has seen it all, from Camelot-era indiscretions to Eliot Spitzer’s career-ruining shack-up with a spendy call girl. |
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Tabard Inn 1739 N St., NW (202) 785-1277, Tabardinn.com If you can stomach its schmaltzy charm and rabbit hole implications, this adorable Victorian rowhouse is one of D.C.’s most quintessential and quirkiest boutique hotels. Cozy up by the bar’s crackling fire with (spiked) hot cider in hand, or refuel with homemade donuts the next morning at brunch. |
SINGLES SCENES
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Tryst Coffeehouse 2459 18th St., NW (202) 232-5500, Trystdc.com Before plopping down with a Cuban coffee and oh-so-intellectual read, survey your prospects among the speckled scenery of mismatched couches and wooden tables. That dude with a laptop very likely will chat you up, so take proper precautions to ensure that’s something you want. Not that you’ll have much choice among the always-crammed space in the heart of hook-up-heavy Adams Morgan. |
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Black Cat 1811 14th St., NW (202) 667-7960, Blackcatdc.com If hipsters hold the key to your emo-craving heart (or, uh, if you just like local music), take your pick at the Black Cat. Grab a cheap ticket to the indie music venue upstairs or kick it in the no-cover Red Room bar, with its well-stocked jukebox and pinball machine. |
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Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café & Grill 1517 Connecticut Ave., NW (202) 387-1400, Kramers.com Turn the page on seedy bar scenes for this Dupont Circle cultural cross-section that’s part bookstore, part restaurant and bar. Peruse D.C.’s finest offerings, from the latest political diatribe to that hottie browsing the South American phrasebooks. |
ROMANTIC DINNER A DEUX
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The Little Fountain Café 2339 18th St., NW (202) 462-8100, Littlefountaincafe.com A quiet refuge cached among the Jell-O shot crowd of Adams Morgan, this elegant eatery is a rare blend of good eats and lack of pretense. Tip: Score half-price wine with an entree on Wednesday nights. |
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Rasika 633 D St., NW (202) 637-1222, Rasikarestaurant.com In well-heeled Penn Quarter, indulge in chic, modern Indian dining that multiple critics have described as among the best in the world. Do yourself a favor and order the palak chaat (crispy spinach), the restaurant’s signature appetizer. |
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Two Quail 320 Massachusetts Ave., NE (202) 543-8030, Twoquail.com It’s far from hip but a classic spot for popping The Question. Housed in three Capitol Hill rowhouses, the cozy restaurant drips with a syrupy-sweet vibe (frilly décor, curtained-off booths, wingback chairs). |
SEXY SHOPPING
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Dascha Boudoir Boutique 1029 31st St., NW (202) 333-0013, Daschaboudoirboutique.com Straight-laced Washingtonians come here for help getting unlaced later, with pretty corsets and saucy nighties, oils, and adult “instruments of pleasure.” The owners are registered nurses who incubate a classy setting in preppy Georgetown. |
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Rue 14 803-A 14th St., NW (202) 462-6200, Rue14.com Stock up on party frocks and cool denim at this new second-floor Logan Circle boutique, wedged among the strip’s hip sources for home décor and vintage furniture. The married owners proffer a sprinkling of affordable and higher-end designers for the fashionable girl and guy about town. |
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Pleasure Place 1710 Connecticut Ave., NW Pleasureplace.com This locally owned purveyor of erotica (since 1979) is where you can find all the fixings for a naughty night—or, more likely, a bachelorette/bachelor party—from scratch-and-sniff underwear to phallic pasta. . |
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redhead722
wrote on January 15 2009 @ 05:31 pm: [report]
Pleasure Place is actually located at 1063 Wisconsin Ave in Georgetown. And i highly recommend it. Lots of variety and low key.
Amelia
wrote on January 15 2009 @ 05:40 pm: [report]
@redhead722 I think there are two locations in DC actually, at least according to the website.
EastCoastMale
wrote on January 15 2009 @ 06:36 pm: [report]
I agree, I love living 15 minutes from DC. Lots of fun things to see and do.
Chelle
wrote on January 16 2009 @ 10:45 am: [report]
If you go to D.C., I strongly reccomend that you mapquest every place you want to go (to there and back). Also, bring a map if you don’t have GPS. I was born there and have lived in Virginia most of my life. Every time I go there I get lost! The street design is weird. It’s also not hard to venture into the wrong neighborhood. Last time we went there, we went a little too far past where we were supposed to go. We stopped at a gas station and you couldn’t even go inside. There was a guy offering to wash windows outside and said you could go up to the window and just order what you wanted. Creepy!
Arty
wrote on January 16 2009 @ 11:02 am: [report]
Awesome guide! I had a great date at comet once. Warning that there are only three ping-pong tables so you do have to fight a bit for them. And I love Kramerbooks.
@Chelle
I actually find DC streets really easy to navigate, with the letters, numbers, and state names. I get horribly lost most places but I’m actually okay around here. I’d suggest walking and taking the metro to driving. Traffic is pretty horrible, and everyone rides the metro here.
@ECM
I saw in another comment that you live in Virginia. You probably live very close to me.
EastCoastMale
wrote on January 16 2009 @ 02:00 pm: [report]
@miss
You are correct have lived here my whole life. I may just be an across the street neighbor and we’ve never known it. I guess I would give it away if I changed my icon lol. Thats a definite on the “daypass” for metro or whatever its called, pay like one flat fee and ride all day instead of per line fees.
Chelle
wrote on January 17 2009 @ 10:32 am: [report]
@missinformation-I’m sure it’s easier if you’re used to the area. I live in a rural part of Virginia so I was like “ahhhh! wtf? Why are there streets with names between streets with letters? Are we supposed to veer to the left or right? That light is in front of the street sign, I can’t see it!”. It’s almost comical. I thought I’d warn people who aren’t used to that area. You’re right about one thing though, it is a lot easier once you’re walking!