3. Drink alcohol that isn't a handle of Zelko:
Sure, Natty Light is great for parties, but some evenings call for something more. With an abundance of bars in the area, once you're of age (or perhaps have a little card that says you are), you can head out to some bars where you can drink to savor, not just to get wasted. The first name in D.C. drinking is definitely Brickskeller. This Dupont bar is actually in the Guinness book of world records for having the most varieties of beer readily available - with 1,000 choices, the options are staggering. Go there for the imported brews and sit down with friends to talk politics. Another option for high-class boozing is to try the swanky, sometimes-expensive lounges and bars in the Chinatown area. There are always interesting twists on classic drinks at places such as Drinx, Indebleu and Matchbox, where all manner of girlie pink cocktails can be found, as well as a variety of martinis and shots.
4. Try some theater:
D.C. is home to many theaters, and each has its own personality. Whether you're a hard-core drama queen, or think that you're about 60 years too young to go to plays, you'll find a production worth seeing. The Shakespeare Theater is the closest thing D.C. has to Stratford-upon-Avon's Globe, with both traditional and modern updates of Shakespearean plays, and other ancient playwrights. For more up-to-date fare, try Arena Stage, one of D.C.'s oldest theaters, which stages anything from musicals to modern dramas. For very contemporary plays, try Studio Theater and Woolly Mammoth Theater, where you'll find plays about post 9-11 angst and lots of swear words. And finally, for some really avant-garde shows with low production values, there's the black-box-style Warehouse Theater, where you never know what you'll get. Most theaters love young people in the audience, so you'll get all kinds of special ticket deals, with prices as cheap as $10.
5. Get outdoors:
Just because you've moved to the city doesn't mean you can't enjoy the great outdoors. There are a lot of chances to enjoy green spaces in D.C., and not all of them even require a car. The Mall, of course, is the first place to go when you need a little green grass, but you'll soon tire of it from the tourists clogging the paths. Instead, try Rock Creek Park - a great place to bicycle and take in the great outdoors. There are canoes available for rental in Georgetown for those who want to test out the waters of the Potomac. And for a national park experience that doesn't involve a lot of cameras flashing and children screaming, head across the Roosevelt Bridge and down the off-ramp to Theodore Roosevelt Island. It's a beautiful, wooded island that stays relatively tourist-free, and has a dog park so that you can pet another man's best friend if you miss your own pet back at home.
Sure, Natty Light is great for parties, but some evenings call for something more. With an abundance of bars in the area, once you're of age (or perhaps have a little card that says you are), you can head out to some bars where you can drink to savor, not just to get wasted. The first name in D.C. drinking is definitely Brickskeller. This Dupont bar is actually in the Guinness book of world records for having the most varieties of beer readily available - with 1,000 choices, the options are staggering. Go there for the imported brews and sit down with friends to talk politics. Another option for high-class boozing is to try the swanky, sometimes-expensive lounges and bars in the Chinatown area. There are always interesting twists on classic drinks at places such as Drinx, Indebleu and Matchbox, where all manner of girlie pink cocktails can be found, as well as a variety of martinis and shots.
4. Try some theater:
D.C. is home to many theaters, and each has its own personality. Whether you're a hard-core drama queen, or think that you're about 60 years too young to go to plays, you'll find a production worth seeing. The Shakespeare Theater is the closest thing D.C. has to Stratford-upon-Avon's Globe, with both traditional and modern updates of Shakespearean plays, and other ancient playwrights. For more up-to-date fare, try Arena Stage, one of D.C.'s oldest theaters, which stages anything from musicals to modern dramas. For very contemporary plays, try Studio Theater and Woolly Mammoth Theater, where you'll find plays about post 9-11 angst and lots of swear words. And finally, for some really avant-garde shows with low production values, there's the black-box-style Warehouse Theater, where you never know what you'll get. Most theaters love young people in the audience, so you'll get all kinds of special ticket deals, with prices as cheap as $10.
5. Get outdoors:
Just because you've moved to the city doesn't mean you can't enjoy the great outdoors. There are a lot of chances to enjoy green spaces in D.C., and not all of them even require a car. The Mall, of course, is the first place to go when you need a little green grass, but you'll soon tire of it from the tourists clogging the paths. Instead, try Rock Creek Park - a great place to bicycle and take in the great outdoors. There are canoes available for rental in Georgetown for those who want to test out the waters of the Potomac. And for a national park experience that doesn't involve a lot of cameras flashing and children screaming, head across the Roosevelt Bridge and down the off-ramp to Theodore Roosevelt Island. It's a beautiful, wooded island that stays relatively tourist-free, and has a dog park so that you can pet another man's best friend if you miss your own pet back at home.
