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Mug Shots: Hotel Bars Serve People-Watching Fun

Nov. 19, 12 a.m.

Whether you’re sipping Champagne at the St. Regis or downing bourbon as you sway to blues at the Four Seasons, there’s something fun about a hotel bar. Drinking a cocktail among tourists and business travelers gives an interesting glimpse into the lives of those who pass through our fair city, and you never know what accent you’ll hear or what power deal you’ll see brokered in a corner.

Mug Shots: POV Is Fun, but Only on Weeknights

Oct. 15, 12 a.m.

A friend put it best when she referred to Point of View, the rooftop bar at the newly opened W Hotel, as a “weeknight spot.” On weeknights, the bar is a lovely place to be. One can enter the hotel and be whisked to the roof in a matter of moments. There is virtually no wait, the room is relatively quiet, and the servers are attentive.

Mug Shots: Not a Real Country Club

July 9, 12 a.m.

The H Street Country Club is a hybrid of sorts — it’s part bar, part restaurant, part amusement park. Customers can get their fill of quesadillas and guacamole or they can pound back a few top-notch margaritas and play a round of miniature golf.

Mug Shots: Thursdays Are Key on the Hill

June 4, 12 a.m.

One thing you will learn early on as a Congressional intern — so long as you are at least 21 years old — is the importance of Thursday nights. It’s easily the rowdiest night on Pennsylvania Avenue, not to mention the cheapest.

Mug Shots: No Need to Drink Indoors

May 13, 12 a.m.

Now that the weather is finally warming up, there’s nothing quite as good as sitting outside and enjoying a cocktail after a crazy day at the office. D.C. is awash with bars that feature rooftops, patios and sidewalk drinking — the trick is knowing where to go. Mug Shots, therefore, is serving up a list of bars and restaurants where fresh air and booze go hand in hand.

Mug Shots: A Toast to Spring

April 2, 12 a.m.

Cherry blossoms aren’t the only pink things to grace Washington, D.C., this week. As flowers bloom along the Tidal Basin, bartenders all over town will be pouring pink, frilly drinks in honor of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. From cocktails to flights of wine, Mug Shots is serving a round up of where to go and what to taste.

Mug Shots: If You Can Find It, the Gibson Is a Hidden Treat

March 5, 12 a.m.

If you’re having a secret love affair or negotiating a backroom deal on the down low, then the Gibson is the perfect place. This speakeasy-style establishment in the heart of the U Street corridor is unmarked and has a distinctly intimate feel, making it perfect for a private visit with a friend or colleague.

Mug Shots: From Candy Martinis to Jell-O Wrestling, Fun for All

Jan. 12, 12 a.m.

In recent years, Eighth Street Southeast has been working to transform itself from a small street that fell victim to the 1968 race riots to a commercial destination known as Barracks Row. This revitalization effort has yielded a cluster of fun bars that are convenient to the Capitol and also to Nationals Park.

Mug Shots: An Expert’s Adept Pour

Dec. 1, 12 a.m.

As the holiday party season gets underway, the bartender may be the most popular person in town.

Mug Shots: An Upscale Place to Drink on Barracks Row

Oct. 23, 12 a.m.

The House side of Capitol Hill is peppered with dive bars that offer cheap beer deals and an overwhelming number of interns. The newest haunt, Lola’s Barracks Bar and Grill (711 Eighth St. SE), offers a welcome respite for the drinker who has longed for an upscale bar with more options than a pitcher of Bud Light or the house white.

Mug Shots: Where to Wine and Dine in a Political Hothouse

Oct. 16, 12 a.m.

Washingtonians have never needed an excuse to drink or to eat. After all, this town runs on boozing and schmoozing at bars all over the city.

Mug Shots: They’ll Drink to That

Sept. 26, 12 a.m.

Hill staffers are known for loving two things: politics and drink specials. The upcoming presidential debates are the perfect chance to combine these two things as a few area bars roll out the specials and turn the television to the McCain-Obama showdown. Sure there’s talk that tonight’s debate might be canceled, but either way, there will be something — be it a debate, a debate about whether to have a debate or Obama all alone on a stage yammering on about change — to watch while you throw back a few drinks.

Mug Shots: Beyond Beer, Brasserie Beck Beckons Barflies

Sept. 11, 12 a.m.

The only thing that shines more than the food and cocktails at Brasserie Beck is the staff. From a sarcastic but charming bartender named Josh to a quirky waiter named Cesar who is quick to recommend a drink, the staff makes this Belgian restaurant a pleasure for drinking and dining.

Mug Shots: H Street’s Take On ‘Cheers’

June 5, 12 a.m.

While the H Street corridor has been inundated with bars in the past few years, some feel it has lacked a place “where everybody knows your name.” Duke Cross hopes to change that with his new jazz bar, Pap and Petey’s.

Mug Shots: Local Bars Serve Margaritas To Fit Every Taste

May 8, 12 a.m.

As the temperature in D.C. rises to that of an inferno this summer and appropriations season drags on, perhaps the one thing that will be able to cool Washingtonians off and keep them relaxed is a margarita. Be it frozen or on the rocks, traditional or strawberry, this city has a drink for everyone. But with all the Mexican restaurants in town, how does one know where to go? Mug Shots took on the task of tasting a bevy of frozen

Mug Shots: H St. Coffeehouse Adds Wine Bar

April 2, 12 a.m.

The closing of Murky Coffee may have left a void for many staffers. But never fear. A new coffeehouse has opened on the Hill, and this one also serves wine.

Mug Shots: A Change of Scenery for Happy Hour

March 10, 12 a.m.

If you’re a staffer, odds are you live on the Hill. And if you live on the Hill, odds are you never leave. It’s easy to fall into the habit of walking to work and then to the bar. With the newest Metro fare hike, who can blame you?

Mug Shots: Valentine’s Tips

Feb. 14, 12 a.m.

Once again, Valentine’s Day is upon us: that special holiday that singles dread and couples stress over. Perhaps you’ve been busy amending the FISA bill or listening to Members grill Roger Clemens, and haven’t had time to make plans for the evening. If so, Mug Shots has some fun — and dare we say adventurous — options for a romantic evening on the Hill.

Mug Shots: Spicing Up Tonight’s State of the Union

Jan. 28, 12 a.m.

It’s that time of year again when Members of Congress crowd the House chamber to hear the president deliver his State of the Union address. While Bush’s speeches are often on the shorter side, they still have the potential to get tedious. If you’re looking to have a little more fun while watching, grab a friend and try one of these bars.

Mug Shots: Happy Hour on the Hill

Jan. 14, 12 a.m.

January can be a tricky month. Money is thin after December’s rush of parties and gift giving. But there’s ample time and temptation to drink away the post-holiday boredom at happy hour.