23
Donovan House Hotel 1155 14th St. NW
The exclusive Donovan House hotel’s
rooftop events have become notorious over the past year, with the path to the poolside parties frequently blocked by clipboard- clutching tyrants who scan guest lists be- fore allowing access to the special elevators that run to the roof deck. (Readers have complained repeatedly that, while they loved the parties, they felt put off by the heavy-handed door staff.) The reward for dealing with online
RSVPs and Facebook guest lists is the best- looking roof deck in town, all dark wood, sleek cabanas and glass walls surrounding a shallow pool that nobody ever gets in. There are gorgeous views of Thomas Circle, great soundtracks provided by guest DJs, and well-dressed crowds that seem to have stepped out of glossy magazines.
Left, on the rooftop at the Donovan House, from left, DJ Adrian Loving, Keisha Walcott and “DJ Saucee” dance at La Especiale, a free event that attracts a diverse crowd. Above right, Kristin Banks, left, and Ojo Oyebisi enjoy the sunset at the Donovan House as DJ Adrian Loving provides the music.
PHOTOS BY EVY MAGES FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
Every Thursday, DJ-about-town Adrian
Loving hosts a party called La Especiale: Kick Back and Enjoy, a free gathering with a diverse, arty crowd, occasional fashion shows and plenty of guests. It’s a fun, breezy way to welcome the weekend, espe- cially with happy-hour drink specials. To get in, RSVP on Facebook (www.facebook. com/
event.php?eid=118988344781278 by 2 p.m. Thursday.
Since last fall, DJs Shea Van Horn and
TMY have been indulging their love for Francophone house and pop music at a free monthly gathering called Maison. For the summer months, the duo is ditching the swanky confines of the Metropolitain champagne bar and taking the party to Donovan House’s roof on the third Friday of the month. Last month’s debut was packed, with lines stretching down the
block, and a smartly dressed, predomi- nantly gay crowd grooving once people had made it upstairs. Van Horn says he has heard complaints from regulars about the difficulties getting in, and they’re making changes starting with a guest list. “My parties are not about being VIP or exclusive,” he says apologeti- cally, “but we’re trying to get people in fast- er.” There are also plans to make the lobby “a fun place to be” for people waiting for ad- mission, including music and a bar.
La Especiale: Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Free; Facebook reservation required. Maison: 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. on the third Friday of the month (next event: tonight).
twitter.com/maisondc. Free. RSVP required.
Sarah Molinoff, far left, and Kelly Smallwood at the Clarendon Ballroom’s Weather or Not Wednesdays. Near left, Nick Jeffress drinks a beer at the Clarendon party with, from left, Stephanie Petrik, Richard Roopan, Bonnie Hamilton and Jessica Arrazola.
ON THE COVER: Arlene Manier watches the sunset during a rooftop party at the Donovan House in Northwest.
on
goingoutguide.com/bars
Clarendon Ballroom 3185 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Since 2003, the Clarendon Ballroom has hosted one of the area’s most enjoyable (and unpredictable) happy hours on its 4,000-square-foot rooftop deck. Weather or Not Wednesdays takes its name from the basic premise of the party: Every Wednes- day, the staff checks the weather forecast and posts a simple “Open” if the sun’s out or “Closed” if rain looks to dampen the fun. The 20-something locals who fill the place
to capacity on fine days always hope for the former. This year, happy hour got a little cheap-
er: The $1 cover was dropped. (That may not sound like much, but from 5 to 8 p.m., when domestic beers are just $1.50, it’s al- most like getting a free drink.) “I think it’s a great happy hour,” says
Jonathan Politte, a 23-year-old Arlingto- nian who works for the National Associa- tion of Broadcasters. “It’s $1.50 for a bot- tled beer, and the rooftop is nice: You can look out over Clarendon.”
“We come maybe twice a month,” says
Lindsey Michaels, a 24-year-old teacher. “We even came out in the 100-degree heat.” She likes the drink specials, “and the at- mosphere is great. That’s important. I’m more of an atmosphere kind of girl.”
Weather or Not Wednesdays: from 5 p.m. to midnight, weather permitting. See
www.clarendonballroom.com for weekly status. Free.
rooftops continued on 24
YOUR PHOTOS We’ll post your pictures of favorite outdoor bars in a gallery of photos from Washington Post readers. Send your images to
userpics@washpost.com.
OUR PHOTOS See more images from the bars mentioned in this
story at
goingoutguide.com/bars.
VIDEO TOURS Get a real sense of the scene with videos of our
favorite alfresco spots at goingout
guide.com/bars.
K
THE WASHINGTON POST • FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2010
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