DC suck?!

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

Jaguar, I'm a long time go-out-aloner too.  I'll tell you this -- when you're by yourself, *some* people do attach a certain stigma to that:  he/she must be desperate, a freak, etc.
 
 The key is to hang out where peeps don't think that way, and that means locals rather than people from the hinterlands who may just drive into town once in a while for a show and then leave immediately afterward.
 
 Your best bets are non-theme bars with a certain regular contingent.  Hang out more than a couple of times at a good bar and people will start to remember you.  Weeknights are better than weekends because a smaller crowd means less insularity.  Chit chat with the bartender.   Smile at people.  Offer a light.  The Velvet Lounge bar is good for this, Polly's, Townhouse Tavern, Fox & Hounds.  Sometimes too, the downstairs bar at the 9:30, on the right night.

[Bags]

Good suggestions, though I'm only interested in going alone to shows.  I have no desire to go to a bar myself.  But I should work harder at becomeing a regular at a bar at a club, huh.  Velvet, Back Bar, Red Room -- I hear you calling!
 
 They're my favorite bars anyway...      
 
 

Originally posted by Doctor Doom:
  Your best bets are non-theme bars with a certain regular contingent.  Hang out more than a couple of times at a good bar and people will start to remember you.  Weeknights are better than weekends because a smaller crowd means less insularity.  Chit chat with the bartender.   Smile at people.  Offer a light.  The Velvet Lounge bar is good for this, Polly's, Townhouse Tavern, Fox & Hounds.  Sometimes too, the downstairs bar at the 9:30, on the right night.

[SPARX]

Originally posted by Doctor Doom:
 
 
 The key is to hang out where peeps don't think that way, and that means locals rather than people from the hinterlands who may just drive into town once in a while for a show and then leave immediately afterward.
 
 

Hey,I thnk thats a bit stereotypical.I'm from the so called hinterlands and I've met many people in DC,some local,some from out of town.i do agree with you regarding hitting the smaller bars during the week though.When it's not crowded,people tend to strike up conversation,out of boredom if nothing else.

[Jaguär]

Doomie, thanks but I know all of that stuff. It just doesn't work as easily in DC as other places. Besides, it's a freaking 122 mile roundtrip for me so I can't do it too much. My loss, I know. My favorite places are the same ones that Bags named and I've been to them many times among a few others not mentioned. For the most part, I've found that if I'm alone in them, no one what's to have a damned thing to do with me. If I'm with even as little as 1 other person, it's a whole different story.

[PR_GMR]

I can attest to the fact that Baltimore sucks--I live here. I hardly can find anything to do on weekends. Not a good variety of places for singles to hang out and meet.. unless you count major obnoxious bar/clubs like Bohager's as a 'good' place to socialize. There's a strong 'artsy' scene but it's rather small. There's still room for many scenes to develop here in Baltimore.
 
 Lately, I've wanted to hang out in DC more often. Obviously, the 9:30 club is down there.. but there's just more going on DC. The problem is that tiring 45 mins to an hour drive back from DC at the wee hours in the morning after a good night of carousing. Unless I have a friend or two with me.. I'm not too keen in making that drive.   :cool:

[BlueEyedAndDangerous]

Here is my working theory of the social problems of this town. DC is all built around the idea of "Power" and attracts power-hungry people. I guess such type won't go out of their way unless there is something in it for them. Not your "smell the roses" kind of people.
 
 I moved here from the south three years ago, and knew hardly anyone. So I went out a lot by myself. I am extrovert but it still took a year before I made many friends. But I definitely became comfortable with going out by myself. It has its perks.

[Jaguär]

Originally posted by PR_GMR:
  Lately, I've wanted to hang out in DC more often. Obviously, the 9:30 club is down there.. but there's just more going on DC. The problem is that tiring 45 mins to an hour drive back from DC at the wee hours in the morning after a good night of carousing. Unless I have a friend or two with me.. I'm not too keen in making that drive.    :cool:  

Generally, the only places that I ever bother with anymore in Baltimore are The Ottobar and Fletchers. Some of the restaraunts are nice but for socializing, the place is dead as far as I'm concerned. Well, at least for an Indie person, such as myself.
 
 Oddly, it's the drive down that drives me nuts. I often enjoy that drive back. So much less traffic and no timelines to have to worry about. The gas adds up too, especially the past year or so.

[mankie]

Jags and Bags....I can give you the male perspective of going out alone and trying to meet people by trying to spark conversation. I can tell you this, in 90% of cases, when I tried to start a conversation with a woman, they would always give the once over before talking back to me. By that I mean, if they didn't find me attractive there would be a look and put down comment, if they did find me attractive it would be instant flirtations. When all I wanted was a beer and a chat with someone. I found it hard to start conversations with the men too because I have no interest in American sports, and for the most part, male conversation is either "look at the tits on that hunny" or "how 'bout them skins/O's". I ended up hanging around in Dupont because the gay community are very approachable and when it's obvious you're not gay they don't care as long as you're fun to hang out with.
 
 I think that's one of the things I really liked about New York, the idle conversation that you could have with a complete stranger.

[walkman]

Originally posted by mankie:
  that's one of the things I really liked about New York, the idle conversation that you could have with a complete stranger.

Of all the many wonderful things about NY, that probably tops my list. Although, to be fair, there are plently of cities where that's possible â?? just not really DC.

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

I guess never having lived anywhere else in my adult life, I'm used to DC, and have learned to swim expertly in its seas.  I dunno.  It doesn't seem that difficult.  
 
 As for all the notions about DC being a power-hungry town, and all about politicians and superficiality and yada yada, that's not the *real* DC.  Ya gotta find the peeps who grew up here.  Don't bother with the interns, the wonks, etc.  They're not real.

[Bags]

Originally posted by Doctor Doom:
 As for all the notions about DC being a power-hungry town, and all about politicians and superficiality and yada yada, that's not the *real* DC.  Ya gotta find the peeps who grew up here.  Don't bother with the interns, the wonks, etc.  They're not real.

I agree with you completely.  I lived here for 10 years before I had any friends who work on the Hill.  Most of my friends are in energy or do various kinds of international work.  
 
 In fact, I kind of like that the motivator in DC is power -- in NY it's money, and to me that's both more annoying and more difficult to compete with (because the money issue impacts your actual quality of life, and you see all those f*&^in' 24 year old traders flashing their cash...I just wait for their particular market or commodity to crash, cuz they all do).

[paige]

Originally posted by walkman:
   

Originally posted by mankie:
  that's one of the things I really liked about New York, the idle conversation that you could have with a complete stranger.

Of all the many wonderful things about NY, that probably tops my list. Although, to be fair, there are plently of cities where that's possible â?? just not really DC. [/b]

you think so? i guess that can be attributed to it's smaller size.. and the fact that the hordes of people on the metro every morning aren't always in a conversational mood. however, being as i am too voluble and glib for my own good, will talk to anyone that will listen. even people that won't listen. so, i guess it depends on how willing you are to be randomly conversational and talkative, even if the opportunity isn't right there in front of you.

[walkman]

Originally posted by paige:
   

Originally posted by walkman:
   

Originally posted by mankie:
  that's one of the things I really liked about New York, the idle conversation that you could have with a complete stranger.

Of all the many wonderful things about NY, that probably tops my list. Although, to be fair, there are plently of cities where that's possible â?? just not really DC. [/b]

you think so? i guess that can be attributed to it's smaller size.. and the fact that the hordes of people on the metro every morning aren't always in a conversational mood. however, being as i am too voluble and glib for my own good, will talk to anyone that will listen. even people that won't listen. so, i guess it depends on how willing you are to be randomly conversational and talkative, even if the opportunity isn't right there in front of you. [/b]

Yeah, I'm like that too...I'll pretty much strike up a conversation with anyone.  But it usually works best in a Black Cat type setting, whereas in NY I'll just be walking around with a friend and get in an excellent conversation with a hot dog vendor or some guy on a bus.  It never fails to surprise me.

[Samantha]

in New York, I always ended up in conversations with old black men on the metro.  I'd try to brush them off, and they'd ask if I had a problem with their colour.  little did they know I lived in harlem and was carrying a black baby.  so I always answered yes, I'm a racist.  Nazi, even.

[kosmo vinyl]

Originally posted by PR_GMR:
  I can attest to the fact that Baltimore sucks--I live here. I hardly can find anything to do on weekends. Not a good variety of places for singles to hang out and meet.. unless you count major obnoxious bar/clubs like Bohager's as a 'good' place to socialize. There's a strong 'artsy' scene but it's rather small. There's still room for many scenes to develop here in Baltimore.
 
 Lately, I've wanted to hang out in DC more often. Obviously, the 9:30 club is down there.. but there's just more going on DC. The problem is that tiring 45 mins to an hour drive back from DC at the wee hours in the morning after a good night of carousing. Unless I have a friend or two with me.. I'm not too keen in making that drive.    :cool:  

You should try out   The Mojo  in Baltimore.   It's like going a neighborhood bar that has top notch garage rock bands, etc play.  It's about the size of the Velvet Lounge but run with a friendly attidude.  The  owner, who is also the sound guy, is a working musician and from what I've seen bands really enjoying playing there.    If I were living in Baltimore I'd hangout there more often.  
 
 If 60's influenced rock is your thing you should get over there this Sunday for the Rainbow Quartz night. Rainbow Quartz is one of best labels for guitar pop these days.    Rockin' the house will be The Singles, The High Dials, and Three 4 Tens.