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Plan It: Guys' Weekend in Washington, DC

No cleaning the gutters or mowing the lawn this weekend—you’re off to DC for a few days with the guys. We’ve got your what-to-do more than covered with some great spots for beer, billiards, music, and sports.

By Sara Levine ,    Emily Leaman    Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008

FRIDAY: GRAB THE GUYS AND HIT THE TOWN
Don’t waste a second of guys’-weekend goodness—drop your bags at the hotel and head out for a guys-only night done right.

5 PM: Blow Smoke at Ozio
Your first stop is Ozio (1813 M St., NW; 202-822-6000), a cigar bar and lounge near DC’s Dupont Circle neighborhood and one of the last places in the area where it’s still legal to smoke indoors. Bring your own cigar or choose from one of the 50 on the menu. During happy hour, drink specials include $5 and $6 martinis, $3 wine and beer, and $4 rail drinks. What’s better, the kitchen also sends out complimentary mini-pizzas to share. Sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself—the fun’s just getting started!

7 PM: Dinner
Hit the Dupont Circle branch of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (1801 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-797-0033). Sure, it’s cliché, and it can be a bit pricey, but what better way to kick off a boys’ weekend than with huge hunks of meat and family-style sides in this clubby, mahogany-paneled space? On a nice night, dig into steaks on the enclosed patio.

For a more wallet-friendly option, you might try Bistrot du Coin (1738 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-234-6969), a bustling neighborhood restaurant and bar. Here, you can still get your steak fix with a cut of rib eye or filet or be a little more adventurous with a steaming bowl of rabbit stew. Want to go even more French? Order a plate of escargot—it won’t break the bank at just $7.95. Entrées range from $14.95 to $23.95.

8:30 PM: Shoot Some Pool
Grab a pool table or belly up to the bar at Bedrock Billiards (1841 Columbia Rd., NW; 202-667-7665), a basement lounge and billiard parlor in DC’s Adams Morgan neighborhood. It’s just a short walk from the Dupont Circle neighborhood; head north on Connecticut Avenue and turn right on Columbia Road.

At Bedrock, beers on tap include Stella Artois, Boddington’s, Yuengling, Smithwicks, and more. The hourly rate for a pool table is $10 for a single player, $14 for two, $18 for three, $20 for four. Shuffleboard more your style? No worries—they’ve got that, too! Hourly rates for shuffleboard are the same.

10:30 PM: Bar Hop in Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan—18th Street between U Street and Columbia Road, Northwest—is DC’s nightlife mecca, with plenty of spots to sip a drink, grab a snack, listen to music, or dance the night away.

For an unpretentious dive bar with a decent beer selection, check out Toledo Lounge (2435 18th St., NW; 202-986-5416). Knock back a few at one of the two dozen or so tables inside, and if it’s warm, try to get one of the coveted patio seats out front. You can people-watch to your heart’s content.

Down the street is Club Heaven and Hell (2327 18th St., NW; 202-332-8899), a two-level joint where the upstairs bar (Heaven) caters to high-energy danceaholics and the downstairs bar (Hell) to a brooding billiard crowd. The highlight of Heaven is the Thursday-night ’80s dance party, which packs in a tight crowd. In Hell, the appeal is the dim lighting and relative quiet, which means it’s easier to have a conversation. Hell’s pool table is a bonus.

Across the street is the Reef (2446 18th St., NW; 202-518-3800), an aquatic-themed restaurant with cozy booths, a large bar with ample seating, and high tables overlooking 18th Street. The biggest draw is the aquariums throughout the place, which hold hundreds of colorful fish that give the room a glow at night. If it’s warm—and not too crowded—check out the upstairs roof deck for great nighttime views of the city.

Bars on 18th Street stay open late, so if you’re taking the subway back to your hotel, remember that it stops running at 3 AM on Friday nights. The closest Metro stop to Adams Morgan is Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan on the Red Line.

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