The Party Scene: Where to See and Be Seen

All right, raise your hand if you can explain to the class how to fringe. Anybody?

That's okay, says festival organizer Damian Sinclair. For Washington's first Fringe Festival, he and co-founder Julianne Brienza will do as much hand-holding as necessary to help audiences navigate the multitude of offerings. How? Throw parties -- lots of them.

"The whole thing is supposed to be a social event," Sinclair says. Although the artists are responsible for promoting and selling tickets to their shows, "it's our job to make sure they [festivalgoers] come downtown and have a good time."

Every day, Sinclair and Brienza will be your Fringe sherpas at happy hour (5:30 to 7:30) at the Hotel Monaco's Poste restaurant. The pair -- plus various performers -- will hold court at the bar, which offers patrons festival-themed drink specials and the opportunity to pose questions about the shows.

Night owls can hit the late-night parties at the Warehouse bar (the festival's HQ) Saturday and July 28, when a DJ spins and the theme is Fringe.

Closing out the festival will be a cabaret-style party on the third floor of Avenue nightclub July 29, with live performances -- and, one imagines, a very tired group of organizers. One thing's for sure: If you don't know how to fringe now, you will by the end of these parties.

-- Christina Talcott

HAPPY HOURS Daily through July 29 from 5:30 to 7:30. Poste, 555 Eighth St. NW. Free. 202-783-6060.

DJ NIGHTS Saturday and July 28 from midnight to 2 a.m. Warehouse, 1017-1021 Seventh St. NW. Free. 202-783-3933.

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY July 29 from 9 to 2. Avenue, 649 New York Ave. NW. Free until midnight with a festival ticket stub or pass. 202-347-8100.