First, I have to say, in all the years I’ve been here, I’ve never gotten into the DC scene. Parking is impossible, which leaves you stuck with metro, which isn’t that great, and it’s only been in the past couple of years that they finally extended their weekend hours past midnight. Given the choice between going into DC for the night and staying home and reading a book, I can’t help but lean more towards the book. Actually, other than getting to the occasional happy hour, I’d pretty much rather stay in than go out in a group of people about 99% of the time. That being said, it’s probably a miracle that I am even dating.
So, the big guy gets an IM from a friend, wants to go out. I say OK, then find out we’re talking about going into DC proper. Crap. Well, at least he’s going to drive. Wait, we’re doing metro. Crap. I have to run a few errands, and in doing that, develop a spectacular headache.
Get home, take Advil, decide that if it’s not better by 6, I’m staying in. Find out that we’re not just doing some beers, this is full on dinner then another bar afterwards. Feel like someone is putting an icepick through my eye at this point, and realizing that there isn’t really enough time to take a shower *and* lay down for a few minutes. Hop in shower just praying that the Advil kicks in.
Small miracle - headache goes away!
At this point, I also haven’t eaten all day. (Probably a contributing factor to the headache.) We had to stop at the gas station, so I run in and get something to snack on in the car. There is no way I can wait until we get into DC.
Get to metro. Get on train. Sit for freaking 10 minutes before actually going anywhere.
Get up to Chinatown, find the place we’re supposed to be - RFD. First thing I notice when we get in is that something smells bad. Not in the ‘this place is going to give us all food poisoning’ kind of way, just something that smells bad to me. Fortunately, whatever it was - it was only near the entrance. Weird, but by the time we got to our table, I couldn’t smell it anymore. I think it was just whatever they had on the grill at the time I walked in.
Now, this place is cool in that they’re run by the same people that do the Brickskellar, so they’ve got something like 300 beers. This place is NOT cool in that they didn’t have Xingu - of course not - I’ve had it at the Brick once, and they’ve never had it in stock again. So, I just continue down the list, end up having a Black Radish, a Blackend Voodoo, and a Turbo Dog. (Variations on a theme…figure if I at least stick with the same beer genre, I won’t end up with mixed alcohol sickness…it worked.)
Perusing the menu, I see that most of the dinners are in excess of $15 a pop, and of course, the item that catches my eye is $19. I’m just not in the mood to spend that much on dinner, and considering the chowing down I did in the car, I’m figure I’m not really hungry enough to finish it anyway. So, I end up getting an appetizer - little crab cakes. Very good, and a hell of a lot cheaper. My wallet is still $40 lighter by the end of dinner.
So, dinner is done, and now we’re supposed to go over to the bar next door. At this point, I’m just not really into this, but the big guy is having a good time, so that’s good, and a pint or two isn’t such a bad thing.
We get into the bar and the place is packed. Of course. Somehow, it becomes MY responsibility to find us a place to sit. Great. We keep moving around, I don’t see any open space anywhere.
The gal that was with us: Well, this means it’s a good bar, right?
Me: No.
To me, overcrowded does not necessarily mean good, it means it’s popular and trendy. It could still be good, but it’s not a defining factor.
Finally we find a table with someone sitting there with their bill, looking like they’re getting ready to leave, so I go over and ask if we can please claim their table. No problem, finally we sit.
This place is LOUD. Several beers and strange conversations later, it’s starting to get on to the point where we need to go, because of the metro. My wallet is damn near empty at this point. Gal we’re with wants to go to Chaos. Seriously. I don’t think so. I am now counting to see how much money I’ve got to get home, and for the first time in the evening, getting visibly annoyed. It’s 1:30 in the morning, we’re running out of time to get to metro, we’re supposed to be going to Harrisonburg today, and she wants to go to a drag club. I don’t think so.
Finally convince them that I am NOT going anywhere but the metro, because it’s late and I don’t feel like getting stranded in DC. Chaos gets put off until another night.
We finally get home at 3 AM. I go straight to bed.
It was an evening that was perfectly OK, but not one that I’d be chomping at the bit to repeat. I am just not the party girl anymore. (Not that I really ever was…)
In review:
RFD (Chinatown) - Good food, but too expensive. Odd atmosphere. Like it can’t decide if it wants to be a dress up place or casual.
Fado (Chinatown) - 20 oz Guinness, very crowded, very loud. No clue on the prices, didn’t actually see the check.
