DC WishBook
9:30 Club is one of DC's most popular live music venues, featuring up-and-coming bands and established acts. Bob Dylan, The Beastie Boys and Smashing Pumpkins have all graced the stage.

Pictured: Live music at the 9:30 Club

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Entertainment & Nightlife

By day, Washington, DC is known for its politics, power lunches and professional attire. But after dark the city’s sexy side emerges, transforming once-quiet streets into vibrant social scenes. From trendy dance clubs to intimate bars and lounges, DC is a place of seemingly endless nightlife options.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Calling all Beer Lovers!
We've rounded up the top spots with serious hops.
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A restaurant and dance club rolled into one, Policy offers a great option for all night long. Start the night at the bar then head upstairs to Libery Lounge where DJs spin old school, hip hop and top 40s.
Dance Clubs
Let your hair down & dance the night away in these DC's nightclubs
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The Passenger in DC's Shaw neighborhood serves up live music and a dining area that resembles an old fashioned train car.
Bars & Lounges
Wind down with craft beers and creative cocktails in cozy settings throughout DC.
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DC Travel Inspiration

Trip Ideas

Bars & Lounges
Nothing makes DC locals happier than Happy Hour. Do what the locals do then and start your night off right at any of DC’s popular bars and lounges. From intimate nooks and trendy rooftops to entertaining hotspots and chill settings, DC has some of th
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H Street Corridor Attractions
Experience novelties like restaurant mini golf, a concert venue that looks like a hotel, and an envelope-pushing art gallery in this edgy, up-and-coming neighborhood.
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Known for its raucous nightlife, international fare and edgy inhabitants, Adams Morgan is one of DC's most unique neighborhoods.
Adams Morgan Attractions
Relax for the day with yoga, then rev up the night with live music available almost every night of the week.
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A restaurant and dance club rolled into one, Policy offers a great option for all night long. Start the night at the bar then head upstairs to Libery Lounge where DJs spin old school, hip hop and top 40s.
Dance Clubs
Let your hair down & dance the night away at a variety of clubs offering beats for every musical taste. Whether it’s a night out with friends or salsa dancing with a partner, you’ll find the perfect place to bust a move in any of DC’s neighborhoods.
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Bowl like a celebrity! First made famous at its LA location, Lucky Strike in bustling Penn Quarter offers up a sophisticated ambiance for knocking down some pins while enjoying a creative cocktail or two.
Fun & Games
For a truly adventurous, and perhaps competitive, night out, gather your friends and feel like a kid again at one of these unique venues.
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Beer Lovers Welcome
Craft beers are a nation-wide phenomenon, and DC is one of America's city's leading the charge with creative concepts and forward-thinking experts. Taste the difference yourself at any of these proven public houses.
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9:30 Club is one of DC's most popular live music venues, featuring up-and-coming bands and established acts. Bob Dylan, The Beastie Boys and Smashing Pumpkins have all graced the stage.
Live Music Venues
Perhaps one of the best ways to spend an evening in Washington, DC is with some live music. As the home of our nation’s capital, DC is regularly on the circuit for major concert headliners and performing artists.
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The jewel of U Street, once known as "Black Broadway," the Howard Theatre reopened in 2012 after a dazzling $20 million renovation. The décor is inspired by the legends including Duke Ellington, The Supremes and James Brown who played on the original stag
Live Music Venues in Washington, DC
DC is home to myriad live music venues. On any given night, catch jazz, house music, rock and go-go.
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Since 2005, the Capital Fringe Festival has drawn more than 100 cutting-edge performing artists to theaters across DC.
Washington, DC's Arts Scene
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Leopold’s Kafe, a restaurant tucked amid the home furnishing and design shops of Cady’s Alley between M Street and the C&O Canal, offers not only Viennese-style dishes, coffee, and pastries, but also a refreshing retreat from Georgetown’s busy streets.
DC Itinerary: Explore the District's Diverse Neighborhoods
Follow this insiders' tour and dive into the diverse neighborhoods of Washington, DC.
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Washington, DC is a welcoming city with a rainbow of activities for every visitor.
GLBT DC's Neighborhood Picks
Make time for these insider picks in GLBT Washington, DC's neighborhoods.
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Just outside of the city, there are a number of malls perfect for a girlfriend getaway. Tysons Galleria in Virginia offers a number of shops, including Macy's.
Girlfriend Getaways to DC
Grab your girls for a fabulous trip exploring DC's culture, dining and of course - shopping scene!
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18th Street in Adams Morgan is home to a number of colorful murals, including this portrait of cabaret singer Aristide Bruant by Parisian artist Toulouse Latrec. The mural was painted from a photo by the restaurant''s original owner.
Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan is a global village of restaurants, lounges, live music and amazing boutique shop
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A popular gathering place ringed with benches and chess boards, Dupont Circle's fountain is the exclamation point for this exciting urban neighborhood. Shopping, dining, and a massive Sunday farmers market draw visitors and locals alike.
Dupont Circle
A cosmopolitan neighborhood with great bars and boutiques, Dupont Circle is DC's GLBT neighborhood.
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A Christmas Carol at historic Ford’s Theatre is a holiday tradition for many Washingtonians and visitors alike. The timeless Dickens tale follows the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge as he journeys through his life with the Ghosts of Past, Present and Future.
Theater & Performing Arts in Washington, DC
Washington, DC sets the stage for a thriving performing arts and theater scene.
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The Duke Ellington Mural on the historic True Reformer Building in the U Street neighborhood pays tribute to the city's contributions to the jazz age and in particular U Street's - once known as 'Black Broadways' - contributions.
Arts District / U Street / Shaw
Once known as "Black Broadway," this soulful neighborhood thrives with music, arts and culture.
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The bartenders at the cleverly named Madams Organ in Adams Morgan mix of crafty cocktails as live music is played in the background of this bawdy bar.
African American Music & Nightlife
DC's rich African American heritage is reflected in its music and nightlife.
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