If You're Tired of the Usual Happy Hour . . .

It's time to break out of your happy hour rut. Lucky Bar's $2 Budweisers, Cafe Asia's $1-a-piece sushi deals and the Front Page's Thursday night taco bar are great at keeping interns well fed, but there is a world of specials out there that go above and beyond the usual. Here are four to get you started.

-- Fritz Hahn

Beyond

1633 P St. NW (above Skewers);

202-387-7400

The deals:$2 beers, $3 pomegranate martinis and $4 Ketel One martinis until 8 (add $1 after that), $2 small plates.

When: Wednesdays from 6 to 11.

When exploring Washington's DJ scene, you can find mixmasters working turntables at clubs any night of the week, though it's hard to find them before 10 or 11.

Unless, that is, you hit Beyond, a party where DJs spin Wednesdays from 6 to 11.

Mukisa Williams has spun in the past, but the information-technology worker comes to Beyond regularly because he says he enjoys the diverse DJs. As someone who listens to a lot of different music, "it's a plus," he says. "It's kind of refreshing to go somewhere and say, 'I don't know what this is.' "

Williams estimates that the crowd is split into two groups: folks who come because they like the music and those who pop in for the fantastic happy hour deals, including $2 bottles of Sam Adams and Yuengling, $4 martinis and a $2 menu of tapas, including mini filet mignon or lamb shish kebabs.

Beyond is above Skewers, a Middle Eastern-themed restaurant in the Dupont Circle neighborhood with fabrics draped on the walls and elaborate tiered lamps hanging over tables.

It takes only about 40 people to fill Beyond. DJ Dan Amitai and other hosts graciously try to find seats for new arrivals, sometimes squeezing them into empty seats at occupied tables. (Be prepared to make new friends.)