The Front Page in Washington, DC.

Known as the place to go for its great happy hour deals after a long day at work, The Front Page near Dupont Circle is the place to go.

Decorated in a consistent theme of black-framed photographs highlighting historical front pages of newspapers, the archives puts the bar’s name in context and is a reminder of the location of the bar, the political history-making city of the nation.

Walking into the front doors, you’ll see a dark environment where couples are on first dates and friends are chattering about either at the bar or at the cedar tables throughout the restaurant.

Every table and bar stool is occupied during the Monday through Friday happy hour that features some of the cheapest drinks in Washington, DC. Patrons can get $2.50 rails, beers and house wine as well as half-priced appetizers.

But, that’s not all on Thursday nights. From 5 to 7 pm, young professionals can grab $2 Coronas to go with their free tacos along with a full selection of toppings buffet-style.

Bar-goers sing along to the alternative rock tunes playing within the bar and watch politics and sports news on the eleven televisions scattered throughout. The bar in the back room’s ceiling-length windows overlook the busy streets of Dupont Circle and its passerbys envious of the signature drinks and exquisite meals that patrons consume.

While the front of the restaurant is relatively quiet and used for dining purposes during day, the ambiance is completely altered on Friday and Saturday nights when tables and chairs are removed to provide an open space for dancing to Dj’s by Chris Styles or local DJ RADYUS. Fluorescent lights flood the room and a screen for watching music videos is pulled down to provide visual entertainment.

Whether it’s free tacos or free music, DC locals will enjoy what The Front Page has to offer. The deals are so good that it may as well make the front page

Dodge City in DC

A dive bar located among a slew of popular concert venues on and around busy U Street, Dodge City brings in a large regular crowd of music-loving patrons.

Much-loved for its wide selection of microbrews, most patrons are found with an artsy-labeled bottle or can in their hands – no PBR up in here – while wandering from the first to second floor of dim-lit Dodge City where the vibes are often completely different.

On the bottom floor, a more laid-back vibe is given off. The DJ plays mellow blues, funk, or lounge music and casual-dressed yuppies sit and chat it up along the rustic bar or at the few tables and benches beneath funky artwork scattered about.

While walking up the old worn-down stairs and passing by the subdued bluish-gray walls, the music gets louder and a little faster. DJs on the second level play hip-hop, house, go-go, and more fun, up-beat tunes on Friday and Saturday nights and the open room fills with rowdier club kids looking to get their dance on.

The second level’s fully stocked bar from floor to ceiling shows that Dodge City doesn’t only specialize in microbrews, but offers a large selection of liquor, allowing a little more liquid courage to break a move on the dance floor.

When the groups of revelers need to cool off, they head to back patio where bar-goers escape the noise and chat with friends.

Though the patio is normally a relaxed space during the week, it’s also very popular for sports-lovers on Sundays, when the bar opens early to accommodate the NFL season and starts to look more like a good friend’s backyard party than a rustic watering hole. With a beer in hand, patrons walk out to the back patio, where heaters are present during wintertime, and grab some eats from the bar’s grill with meats provided by 13th St Meats, a local wholesaler.

Whether they want to chill with a few unique beers downstairs, bust a move to local DJs upstairs, or enjoy some backyard grilling without having to clean up after themselves, Dodge City keeps everyone entertained.