But the message was as clear as it was unsettling for a 20-year-old struggling with his own sexual identity: There were plenty of gay people in Washington, even at the highest levels of government. I wasn’t even sure what the congressman’s name was. “You know what they say about him,” said one of them, the inflection of his voice rising to a squeak so there could be no mistaking what he meant. I was a few blocks from Union Station when a congressman walked by and gave the reporters I was standing with a big, floppy wave hello. Pick and choose your favorite Washington, DC, date ideas and plan your budget-friendly weekend away by clicking here.WASHINGTON - My earliest sense of what it meant to be gay in the nation’s capital came more than a decade ago when I was a summer intern. The Fireplace, located near Dupont Circle, also has daily happy hour specials and one of the city’s coziest bars. In Logan Circle, Number Nine has two-for-one happy hour specials every day of the week. Or drop into JR’s Bar, another gay sports bar, for $3 beer and liquor specials, which encourage crowd participation on show-tunes nights. Wednesday is trivia night, so get there early. It’s known for contemporary works as well as creative takes on modern classics.Ĭatch a game at Nellie’s, DC’s first gay sports bar. The theater offers a variety of discounts and promotions. Across the street is Studio Theatre, an intimate place to see a show. The space is a hip yet comfortable spot to discover new pieces. Head over to the 14 th Street arts corridor and peruse artwork by established and emerging artists at Gallery plan b. The store has been a paradise for literary scavengers for more than 30 years. Idle Time Books has three floors of shelves filled with used, rare, and out-of-print books. The store has been a community mainstay for 20-plus years. Meeps on 18 th Street offers a huge variety of vintage clothing dating back as far as the 1960s. The staff knows its way around the store’s selection of new and used records. Crooked Beat Records makes vinyl cool again with its specialization in punk, indie, reggae, rock, and soul. You won’t find big-box stores or overpriced brands here.
Choose a spot, roll out a blanket, and enjoy a romantic, budget-friendly meal.Īdams Morgan is a neighborhood full of eclectic, independent shops.
Nicknamed P Street Beach, the park is 30 miles long and stretches across 2,100 DC acres, plus 4,400 acres in Montgomery County, Maryland. If you prefer dining alfresco, Rock Creek Park is a popular place for picnicking. The diner often plays host to LGBT events, such as drag shows. The restaurant strives to create a space where everyone can relax in a casual environment. If you swing by on Wine-O Wednesday, you’ll find half-price glasses of wine. Margaritas, macaroni and cheese, meatloaf, mussels, and other “M” menu items are half-price.
Stretch your long weekend until Monday and enjoy the “M is for Mondays” special. The Duplex Diner, at the corner of 18 th and U streets, serves simple comfort food with pleasing prices and specials.
Check out the list below of free (and almost free) activities for you and your partner. With DC’s mix of monuments, scenic spots, independent shops, and restaurant specials, you can turn a day trip into a weekend without emptying your wallet. Springtime brings the capital city to life with cherry blossoms blooming and people exploring the National Mall. Washington, DC’s location only two and a half hours south of Philadelphia by car – or 90 minutes by train – makes it an ideal destination. With all the woes we’ve weathered this winter, an early spring getaway could be just the thing to brighten your spirits.