Help wanted from DC local - need good dive bars in the Capital Hill area

[LynneSin]

We're down in the SE quadrant so I'd like to pick something in that area for a DU gathering. Would prefer something that is borderline dive bar with a good selection, excellent jukebox and not necessarily well known for getting a big dinner crowd.

I know some places that match this but they're all the way over in Foggy Bottom. Since this time I'm staying in Capital Hill I'd rather have someplace close to there

[sui generis]

1. Madame's Organ in Adams Morgan /nt

[LynneSin]

4. That looks like a kick ass bar but way too far away

We're talking metro transfers

What's funny is my original hotel would have been a few blocks south of there. But the price was outrageous and I opted for something less expensive hence a hotel in the Capital Hill region. Hell I never stayed in CH before, usually I prefer Foggy Bottom or Dupont

[northzax]

8. plus there's a cover...

not always fun.

[Jara sang]

2. Is this for the Sept meet-up/protest?

[LynneSin]

3. This is for the Friday pre-party event at the gathering

Brainshrub and I are putting some big stuff together

[Jara sang]

5. we should do it at Old Ebbitts Bar and Grill

across the street from the Whitehouse. That would be great to just move in and take that joint over.

[LynneSin]

6. Oh I love Old Ebbitts

It's a little bit pricy but I have so many great stories about that place. I use to work for a company that did alot of business in DC and they took me along since I was computer support. The hotel they always had us stay at was the JW Marriott (which I love that hotel but it's so fricking expensive).

Anyhow, most of the people I worked with were older & married so there I was single and no one to hang out with - so I use to go to Ebbitts since it was only like 2 blocks away from the JW. Man I'd meet some of the coolest people there. One night I got totally shitfaced with a bunch of lawyers who handling the lawsuit against the Tobacco Industry and since they were celebrating I drank for free all night.

[northzax]

7. on the Hill?

two choices, Pour House and Hawk and Dove. Staffer central, and cheap. plus, at teh pour house you can get pierogies.

[LynneSin]

9. I was looking at both of those.

But sometimes when I see them on those clearinghouse sites that show all the restaurants in the area I worry they'll be too commericialized. But I'll check the both out. Main thing I want is something cheap and with a good beer selection. Old Ebbetts is a great bar but they get too much of a fancy dinner crowd, I'd rather be someplace where we can let lose and not offend anyone.

Thanks for the tip, hope to see you there

[northzax]

11. old Ebbit's too expensive

don't get me wrong, I'll eat from their raw bar and drink their scotch, on someone else's dime, but it's also a little far from the Hill, if that's what you want. Pour House is more of a bar scene, H+D is more pubbish. But I really don't spend a lot of time on the Hill, so I can't give any other good suggestions. Now if you want to know about the best places for ethiopian food, I'm your guy. Or the best places to hear music, or even the best hipster psuedo-dive bars, I can help, but the hill is out of my baliwick.

I think I'm going to be at a conference that weekend, actually, we shall see.

[LynneSin]

12. Oh I know Ebbitt's is out of the question

Nothing may be perfectly near the hotel but I have to consider the budget of all folks coming. The best location to me would be near a metro stop and not only have some really good beers on tap but an amusing house brand bear you can buy cheaply by the pitcher.

It's easy to find that stuff in NYC and Philly, but DC seems to cater towards all the politico wannabes working for the government. I'd like to avoid those types of places

[LynneSin]

10. I like the Hawk & Dove

http://www.hawkanddoveonline.com/index.asp

That I think I can do, the Pour House didn't really do it for me, but I'm judging by websites so who knows, I could be wrong

[dcfirefighter]

13. Dive bar

Tune Inn

Or a bit bigger, Capitol Lounge - plenty of room in the basement.

Both on PA ave 'round 4th st, SE.

[OrwellwasRight]

14. Yup Tune Inn is pretty divey

but there is also:

Mr. Henry's (supposedly a gay mecca, but seems no more or less gay than other Hill bars to me)

Bullfeather's (on 1st SE)

Marty's, the Ugly Mug and Finn MacCool's (all on Barack's Row, which is 8th St SE)

But I like the Cap Lounge basement a lot (aka the Fez Room).