Neighborhood Nightlife #13: Capitol Hill

Update: No need to tell you that the weather will be perfect tonight. A tad hot in the sun now but later on it should be ideal. We have confirmed that the cover will be waved at Hawk and Dove. We won't be doing the upper level at the Pour House, so we'll be rolling on the main and basement levels. At our initial venue, the upper blue couch lounge area has been reserved for us. For those that have visited our first venue before, you'll definitely note the great renovation work. For that reason, be sure to arrive on time and get a true feel for what Capitol Hill has to offer.

Capitol Hill is one of the oldest and most densely populated neighborhoods in Washington, DC. It was chosen by Pierre L'Enfant to be the centerpiece of the new Federal City due to its proximity to Jenkins Hill, the chosen location for the Capitol (initially known as the Congress House). Contrary to what most assume the Mall side (west) is not the front of the Capitol. The Statue of Freedom on top of the dome shows differently. This 15,000 lb statue faces what was at the time the center of DC. Some, however, have postulated that it faces east to symbolize the sun never setting on freedom. An initial population boom took place in this area when the government commissioned both the Capitol construction and that of the Washington Navy Yard. For this reason it was not East Capitol Street that became the main business thoroughfare, but rather Pennsylvania Avenue stretching southeast of the Capitol.

Capitol Hill has gone through many ups and downs since the turn of the 18th century. During the Civil War, support infrastructure boomed which included several hospitals for the wounded. Toward the end of the 19th century, DC introduced an electrical grid and plumbing to Capitol Hill. Down times included high crime periods during the spill over from the late 1960's riots and on to the crack epidemic of the 1980's. Today, like many neighborhoods in DC, the area has and is undergoing a major revival. The trend of late is if you work on the hill, you live on the hill.

So, enough about the history of the neighborhood! For our excursion, we will touch on local institutions that make capitol Hill what it is. You will see locals discussing politics (the topic of late being how corrupt the DC government is), congressional aids kibitzing, and bridge & tunnel college students burning through their parents cash. Stop one has the right blend of character and charm (think 1920's) sans the smell. It has undergone a notable renovation and is an excellent place to start a night out. They even offer $3 Miller High Life's due to the economic pinch. Insiders tip: the Miller High Life's are $2 in the basement level bar. It's a bit rough down there, but the venue is trying to spruce things up, Nintendo Wii and all.

Our second stop will be upstairs at the Pour House, know as Top of the Hill (http://www.pourhouse-.... While the main level gets overly crowded and caters to more of a kickball league crowd (only in DC), the upstairs offers more space and will have a guest DJ. Some say the upstairs reminds them of a GI bar, but a bit more upscale. Be sure to note the World War II decor.

Our last stop could be the most well known bar/club in the Capitol Hill area, Hawk and Dove (http://www.hawkanddov.... It features a maze of rooms catering to a variety of crowds. However, we'll be heading to the the upper level. The upper level at Hawk and Dove is the place to be on the weekends in Capitol Hill. We're aiming to beat the crowd and jump start the dance floor.

Reminder: Please remember to get to the first venue early enough to mingle, and certainly early enough to join us as we move on to the second venue. Due to the limited number of RSVP's available, please RSVP only if you plan to come out (likewise, if things change, please un-RSVP). Also, while we love meeting new faces, we encourage everyone to RSVP through the web site or be a guest of a member. We almost always have the cover waived for our group and the first thing most venues want to do that is our RSVP list.

Finally, Capitol Hill is very metro accessible. The first venue is about a block away from the Eastern Market metro (blue and orange lines).

See everyone soon!