U Street Crawl Review

Our first bar crawl was a TON of fun--thanks to everyone who came out!

Brief Bar Reviews:
Solly's
What a great place. It's shoe-box tiny, but it's definitely one of the most relaxed, unpretentious bars I've ever been to in DC. Definitely the place to take a "get-to-know-you-you're-kind-of-cool-but-I'm-still-feeling-you-out" dates to before dinner. Drinks are cheap and strong ($3 domestic bottles/$4 rail) and if you want live (but loud) music, head upstairs (yes, there is an upstairs). Bathroom is scary (hole in the door for those of you afraid of being watched) (and there's only one), so pee fast and move on, but you can order in food or bring it in since there isn't a kitchen.

High Points:
- Casual, come as you are
- Cheap Strong Drinks
- Good crowd

Low Points:
- One decrepit bathroom
- Live music is blow your ears out loud

Rating: 3.5 (Keep it in your portfolio)

DC9
DC9 made headlines lately after the terrible death that occurred a couple of months ago. However, I'd been a few times and had a great time at the Liberation Dance Party. Before the incident, you had to wade through frat boys looking to power hour before hitting bars better suited to their personalities. But now, the crowd is pretty manageable, the music is fun, and the atmosphere is generally pretty energetic without being overwhelming. It's a bit loud for good conversation unless you want to lose your voice.

High Points:
- Cheap drinks ($7 open bar, rail only)
- Good music
- Fewer frat boys

Low Points:
- Loud
- Rail drinks only (want a beer? head downstairs)

Rating: 3.5 (solid choice for drinking on the cheap)

Intermission: Ben's Chili Bowl
Amazing. Need I say more?

Cafe Saint-Ex
Let's be honest. By the time we got here after open bar rail drinks...I couldn't give you an accurate description of this bar if I tried. What I can tell you is this: dark, loud, crowded. And for the love of God, do not go down to the basement. It was like walking into a seedy sauna without lights and a hundred billion people writhing on each other. Remember that weird scene in one of the follow up Matrix movies where everyone is acting like a crazy meth head in a cave? That would be this.

Upstairs, someone managed to get drinks (I said eff it, I'd rather go home and have a beer) so we stood around upstairs and tried to avoid the overflow of the bar (3-4 people deep).  Atmosphere looked cool though. Will return.

High Points:
- Cool Name
- Wide Selection of Beer (I had a Magic Hat #9)

Low Points:
- Meth heads trapped in dark dance in basement
- Very crowded

Rating: 2.5 (should be tested out once more before getting the boot)

Next Crawl will be Friday, March 4. Sorry for the Friday...I've got a half marathon on Sunday morning and I'm betting boozing and running don't mix too well.

Cheers