Advice for first night/new year's in DC

agentk13

I'll be heading to DC (northern Virginia, technically) to visit the GF from the 28th to the 3rd, and would like some suggestions on stuff to do. I'm sure she has some ideas, but she tends to like to make up our outings as she goes while I like to try to plan beforehand to try to maximize what we do together (also, I don't think her family does very much new year's stuff, as she doesn't know about much more than fireworks in DC and a festival in Falls Church or something). Anyway, any ideas or events you've heard about would be nice.

Darkewolfe

What sort of activities are you looking for? Best night club? Best cultural event? Best strip club? Best street for bar hopping? Are you looking specifically for something to do on New Year's Eve, or a weekend of activities?

Edit: Start here. I won't be doing any of this, but it'll give you some ideas maybe. Note that almost none of those ideas are cheap. An idea of whether you are on a budget or not is also helpful.

agentk13

Darkewolfe wrote: »

What sort of activities are you looking for? Best night club? Best cultural event? Best strip club? Best street for bar hopping? Are you looking specifically for something to do on New Year's Eve, or a weekend of activities?

Edit: Start here. I won't be doing any of this, but it'll give you some ideas maybe. Note that almost none of those ideas are cheap. An idea of whether you are on a budget or not is also helpful.

Stuff for a couple to do when both parties are under 21 (heh, I've spent long enough in Africa to almost write 18). Do DC nightclubs generally let in 18-year-olds? Boston requires special permits that most clubs don't bother with and the others do weekly at most. We're on a bit of a budget, so really expensive stuff is kind of out of the question. The stuff doesn't really need to be seasonal (one idea I've heard is lunch at the Smithsonian Native American Museum), but I'm more curious about events than the permanent stuff that my GF's likely to know about (but don't let that stop any of you). One big question I have is whether DC is as much of a first night city as Boston.

Edit: I notice swing at Fall's Church. I wonder if the GF still remembers how to dance.

Darkewolfe

There are very few nightclubs that legally and deliberately let in 18 year olds. Any that do exist I am largely unaware of.

Modern Man

agentk13 wrote: »

Stuff for a couple to do when both parties are under 21 (heh, I've spent long enough in Africa to almost write 18). Do DC nightclubs generally let in 18-year-olds? Boston requires special permits that most clubs don't bother with and the others do weekly at most. We're on a bit of a budget, so really expensive stuff is kind of out of the question. The stuff doesn't really need to be seasonal (one idea I've heard is lunch at the Smithsonian Native American Museum), but I'm more curious about events than the permanent stuff that my GF's likely to know about (but don't let that stop any of you). One big question I have is whether DC is as much of a first night city as Boston.

Edit: I notice swing at Fall's Church. I wonder if the GF still remembers how to dance.

Events held at bars/nighclubs/restaurants tend to be on the more expensive side for New Year's. And if you're under 21, bars/nightclubs won't let you in.

We've spend the last few years doing New Year's at parties put on by our friends (who run parties and events for a living), but we're both over 21. I fear your options might be limited if you're not of age.

adytum

You're on the late side to be arranging anything at this point for NYE; if there's any room anywhere, the tickets are generally ridiculously expensive.

However, there are any number of small venues in NoVA or DC you could walk into. Cover, in my experience, is $20 - $100 depending on the quality of the establishment.

As far as stuff to do, go pick up a copy of the Washington Post on Friday for the Weekend section. It's quite thorough.