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Nightlife: The best of 2012 From to-die-for cocktail menus to comfortable outdoor spaces, these nightlife destinations made for a great year.
Best new cocktail bar: Bar TNT
Tucked in the back of Eamonn's a Dublin Chipper on Columbia Pike, the 20-seat marble bar at Bar TNT features the inventive drinks we've come to expect from PX creator Todd Thrasher. For the mellow Metal Surrenders When Oak Trees Meet Fenders, Thrasher mixes bourbon, peach bitters and a sweet "sorghum pine cone water" made with pine cones from his front yard. The "Road Trip" menu stars drinks from the country's best cocktail bars, such as the Tippler (New York City).
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
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For The Washington Post
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Best new beer bar, Virginia: Spacebar
Galaxy Hut owner Lary Hoffman and his wife, Erica, brought an easy formula from Clarendon to Falls Church: great craft beer, a simple menu and a neighborhood vibe. The 24 taps at Spacebar regularly feature Virginia beers as well as gems from across the country. Vegetarians and carnivores alike enjoy the grilled cheese menu, with everything prepared on a flat-top grill behind the bar. Even better, live music is picking up steam and a rooftop deck is in the works.
Evy Mages
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For The Washington Post
Best new beer bar, Maryland: Of Love and Regret
Brian Strumke is the gypsy brewer behind Stillwater Artisanal Ales, a saison-heavy line of beers loved by critics and connoisseurs. He may not own a brewery, but he now has his own bar, Of Love and Regret , appropriately located on Baltimore's Brewer's Hill. Expect to find eight to 10 Stillwaters among the 23 taps, as well as selections from Denmark's Evil Twin and California's Stone Brewing. The setting is relaxed, the food delicious.
Fritz Hahn
Best new DJ bar: 1920dc
Every time I visited 1920dc , a two-level hip-hop bar near Ninth and U streets NW, I felt like I had stumbled into a house party.The crowd dances and raps along, the bartenders serve up strong drinks, and happy hours stretch longer than most places in the neighborhood. Regular theme nights (think DJs honoring Redman or MF Doom) are a bonus.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
Best new live music venue: Tropicalia
Tropicalia has been packed with Latin funk, samba bands, traditional African performers, Eastern European brass music and old-school soul groups. Most shows are free, making it easy to take an around-the-world tour at the corner of 14th and U.
Astrid Riecken
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For The Washington Post
Best new patio: DC Reynolds
Umbrella-shaded picnic tables line the large patio behind DC Reynolds , a new neighborhood bar just south of the Petworth Metro station. It quickly became a warm-weather destination thanks to one of the best-value happy hours around: Between 5 and 9 p.m., buy any drink in the house and get a second one free.
Craig L. Moran
Best new rooftop deck: The Brixton
Rooftops were the year's must-have. New decks sprouted atop established bars, while new arrivals, such as Mova Lounge and El Chucho, touted rooftop happy hours. But no al fresco spot was as impressive as the Brixton 's spacious deck. Views sweep from Howard University's Clock Tower to the Washington Monument. The design, with marble rails running along an iron fence, is attractive. Two bars with beer and summer cocktails helped revelers cool off as much as the fans overhead.
Lavanya Ramanathan
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The Washington Post
Favorite cocktail, summer: Forgetfully Fernet at the Eddy Bar at Hank's on the Hill
There are many reasons I can't wait for the return of warm weather. One is the return of the Forgetfully Fernet to the Eddy Bar at Hank’s on the Hill . A giant slushie pile of frozen Fernet Branca atop a coupe filled with Jameson, ginger and lemon juice. The most deliciously bitter and booziest brainfreeze I've ever had.
Fritz Hahn
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The Washington Post
Favorite cocktail, winter: Smoke Gets in Your Rye at Fiola
Fiola mixmaster Jeff Faile is the king of bitter Italian aperitifs. The star of this fall's menu is Smoke Gets in Your Rye, a cocktail that combines smooth rye whiskey and smoky mezcal, tempered by the citrusy bite of Cocchi Americano and caramel notes of Averna. Chocolate bitters and Faile's house-made habanero tincture offer sweet and spicy notes. Like a symphony, though all the parts play harmoniously.
Fritz Hahn
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The Washington Post
Best new happy hour: El Chucho
Frozen margaritas and a rooftop deck made El Chucho an instant draw, but what gets me coming back is the daily happy hour. From 4 to 6:30 p.m., all tacos are half-price, making them $2.50 to $4 per pair. The fresh, house-made margaritas - both draft and frozen - are $4, as are draft beers. You can stuff your face and drink well for less than $25, or just grab a snack before a night out.
Marvin Joseph
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The Washington Post
Best new late-night happy hour: Boundary Road
The buzz around this H Street eatery was already high before President Obama ate there. Boundary Road ‘s bar has been a highlight since its opening, with inventive cocktails and a well-curated beer selection. My favorite time to stop in is after 10 p.m., when the kitchen switches to a chalkboard selection of small plates, such as pig's head ragu. Selected beers are discounted, and the $5 boilermaker includes a can of Natty Boh and a shot of Old Overholt rye whiskey.
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
Bar trend of the year: Something (other than beer) on draft
Amazing Belgian brews and hoppy West Coast IPAs found their way onto D.C. taps this year, but so did plenty of spirits. The Passenger got the ball rolling in February when Fernet Branca, a bitter herbal liqueur beloved by bartenders, was given its own draft line. Then Jack Rose Dining Saloon added a custom system that allowed for Willett bourbon and cocktails. Over the summer, Bandolero and El Chucho both added margaritas on tap.
Fritz Hahn
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The Washington Post
Going-out-with-friends trend of the year: Game rooms
Proof that there is more to going to bars than drinking and staring at TV screens: Penn Social , which took over the Riot Act Comedy Club over the summer, offers everything from Skee-Ball to indoor cornhole. Dupont Circle's Board Room is a two-level bar dedicated to old-fashioned board games, such as Don't Break the Ice and Hungry Hungry Hippos. And for more nostalgia, visit Atlas Arcade and pump quarters into vintage arcade games.
Evy Mages
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For The Washington Post
Bandwagon of the year: Bars with Natitude
When the Nationals were in first place in the National League East on Labor Day, it seemed every bar in town discovered that Washington had a baseball team. Longtime fan gathering places, such as Duffy's and Tune Inn , were swamped, while latecomers pledged allegiance and offered cheap beer and wings during games. They might have been late to the game, but fans were the winners.
Evy Mages
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For The Washington Post
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