Where to Go If You're Under 21 By Fritz Hahn washingtonpost.com Staff Writer Updated May 23, 2003

If you're heading for the club, make sure you bring a valid ID with you. (Kevin Clark/The Washington Post)

Most places on 18th Street are closed to anyone under 21. Same goes for U Street, Georgetown, Wilson Boulevard and King Street. But it's not all bad. There are options.

Concerts at venues like the 9:30 club, Black Cat, Galaxy Hut, HR-57 and the Birchmere are all-ages; although many smaller-club shows, such as Iota and Madam's Organ, as well as some shows at Nation, are 21-and-over.

If you want to go out and you don't want to see a band, it's more difficult. One all-underage, all-the-time option is the Planet Club, a dance club located in Chantilly. The pulsating lights and dance floor serve 11 to 15 year-olds on Fridays and ages 15 to 20 on Saturdays. And there are plenty of other mainstream clubs that open their doors to under-21s on certain nights. Here's a guide to the clubs that let everyone in to dance. Unless otherwise noted, all events listed are 18-and-over, and IDs are required.

Thursday

Alchemy -- Alchemy, a night for the goth and industrial music scenes, often features well-known live acts on Nation's large stage. When there's no band, however, admission is two-for-one between 9 and 10.

College Night -- It's College Night every Thursday at Apex, a staple of the Dupont circuit. DJ Timothy Mykael spins dance music from house to trance. Anyone with a college ID gets free admission, and it's $5 for everyone else. Doors open at 9.

College Thursdays -- Although the swank Platinum club calls it College Thursdays, the dance floot is often full of people who've already matriculated. DJs spin hip-hop on the main floor and house and Latin in the basement lounge. Get free admission before midnight with a college ID. Doors open at 10; and while jeans are allowed, athletic apparel isn't.

Earth -- Earth follows the established format of having a different kind of music on each floor: deep house on one; progressive house and trance on another; salsa, merengue and hip-hop on the outdoor deck; Middle Eastern dance music in the VIP room.

Polly Esther's -- If you're under 21, this is the only night of the week you can groove to retro '70s and '80s music as well as current dance tunes at the downtown branch of Polly Esther's. Afro wigs and bell-bottom jeans are optional, hats and athletic wear aren't.

Friday

Code -- The new Friday nights at Nation combine top-flight house and trance DJs in the cavernous main room; Latin and salsa music on the two-level wooden patio; and DJ Dirty Handz spinning hip-hop in the smaller front room.

College Fridays -- Formerly known as "the Spot" and "the Zoo," College Fridays is the latest in a line of multi-theme clubs to occupy Club Insomnia on Friday nights. In this incarnation, the club's two floors feature hip-hop, R&B and Latin music, as well as occasional live performances by hip-hop and R&B acts and, once in a while, a wet T-shirt contest. Doors open at 10, and the dress code is strict: no athletic wear, work boots, baggy jeans or sneakers (Get $3 off at the door by printing a coupon from http://www.panoramai.com/panorama.html.)

Paradise Fridays -- The main floor at Platinum is now ruled by hip-hop, with house, techno, HiNRG, trance and Latin in the basement and VIP lounge. Doors open at 10, and there's no admission charge for ladies until midnight.

Polly Esther's -- The smaller Rockville location of this retro club features two rooms of music from the '70s through the current dance charts. The club sponsors regular dance contests and other events.

Saturday

Beautiful Saturdays -- You'll hear house, techno, HiNRG and trance on the main floor at Platinum, with hip-hop and Latin in the basement. Doors open at 10.

Glow -- Saturday night at Insomnia features a rotating cast of "resident" DJs spinning trance, techno and progressive house for a young, diverse crowd. Doors open at 10. (Get $3 off at the door by printing a coupon from http://www.panoramai.com/panorama.html.)

Liquid Ladies -- One of Washington's most popular dance nights for lesbians and their friends finds DJ Bobby T at Badlands, spinning uptempo dance and party music.

Velvet Nation -- Largely gay, largely raucous. Famous touring DJs (and the local team) spin house, techno and other club music at Nation. Doors open at 10.

Rest of the Week
Glamorous Sundays -- The VIP Club provides a steady dose of hip-hop and R&B on Sunday nights. Please note the name: Jeans are allowed, but you should look good if you want to get in -- no athletic or rugged wear.

Spank Me -- An 18-and-over night at MCCXXIII, one of Washington's most discerning lounges? Apparently so. On Tuesday nights, you still have to dress to impress, but there's hip-hop and top-40 on the main dance floor; house and trance up on the third floor in the B.E.D.-like Spank. (Get $3 off at the door by printing a coupon from http://www.panoramai.com/panorama.html.)

Liquid Wednesdays -- DJ Super Slice and the Muzik Nashun (DC Live) spin reggae and soca on hump night at the Crossroads, while DJ Celo, the Super Funk Regulator (formerly of WKYS and WPGC), handles hip-hop. You must be 18 with a college ID to enter.

Washington's main Britpop, indie rock, and '60s soul nights are all 18-and-over as well. The Mousetrap, Bliss, Confusion and the Wag all happen one Saturday a month at the Black Cat. There are often Friday night DJ events as well. Check the club's schedule for more information.

Most regular swing events, such as those at Glen Echo or Chevy Chase Ballroom, are all-ages. (The exception is Lulu's, which is 21-and-over.) Sadly, many of the area's biggest and best salsa nights are off limits to those under 21.

Have you noticed the big problem? There are clubs full of throbbing music on the weekends, but the 18-to-21 crowd lacks places to just hang out and relax with friends. The possibilities include some of the swank restaurant or hotel bars, such as Topaz and Bar Rouge. While they can be pricey, these lounges generally don't have a 21-and-over door policy -- although they may on weekend nights.

Many downtown pool halls, such as Atomic Billiards and Bedrock Billiards, are now 21-and-over only. Buffalo Billiards is only all-ages from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. One 18-and-over billiards hall worth mentioning is Georgetown Billiards, located near the university. A virtual off-campus rec room, the bar has a variety of video games, darts, foosball, ping pong and an air hockey table.

Coffeehouses are another option. Try XandO, Adams Morgan's Tryst (although you have to be 21 after 9 p.m. on weekends), Glover Park's Zebra Lounge, Arlington's Common Grounds, Fairfax's Jammin' Java or Brookland's Cup of Dreams. Or chill in the Black Cat's Red Room. It's all-ages, serves good vegetarian food and has a pool table and a great jukebox.