Behind the Bar: Amico

American Ice Company. 917 v St NW.

Behind the Bar: Bedrock Billiards

Behind the Bar: Chief Ike's

Chief Ike's Mambo Room. Columbia Rd NW at Ontario Rd. When I first moved to DC I could be found here at least once a week. I'm here less often now, but this is a great place for football watchin' and they do have bands every now and again. The patio is a totally underrated place to have a drink and it is just far enough from the maddening crowd of 18th Street to be worth it.

Behind the Bar

Is at 11th and Kenyon Streets NW. Very "cozy" place on the weekends. Dancing and bands upstairs when they feel like it. Standing room only downstairs even though there are chairs and tables. Outside patio is nice even during not so hot weather. It's Wonderland.

Behind the Bar: La Tasca

Somehow I ended up here for lunch one day at the bar. 3 tapas for $15 with a free drink. Not bad. Happy hour is pretty killer too. Off the hook busy from about 4:45 till 8:00. More vegan options would be nice, but after a coupe of sangria, who's counting? This place is on 7th Street NW.

Behind the Bar: The Red Loft

Behind the Bar: The Black Cat

I'm a huge fan of the Black Cat. I sometimes feel like I'm cheating on Mount Pleasant when I go out in other neighborhoods, but there is no real equivalent to the Cat anywhere else in this city. Every other month or so there is a show I'll pay to see, but generally I hang in the Red Room. Food for Thought, the attached restaurant has so much vegan food, its a crime for people like me to stay away.

The Red Room is a place you can go to see friends or be anonymous. The last couple of years has seen the clientele broaden, for better or worse, but its still not a place for everyone. I still like the old fashioned cash-only policy and the utilitarian spaces of the Red Room are adequate and unpretentious. A definite departure from places like Love, Lima or Tattoo Bar. No $500 minimums here. Some trash it, but I give the Cat a thumbs up.

Behind the Bar

It's not on the 42 bus line, but an easy one...

Behind the Bar

Guess where