July 3 parties and events | July 4 parties with advance tickets | July 4 parties with no planning required
But those who aren't lucky enough to have an outdoor space of their own don't need to frantically try to find a friend-of-a-friend who does: There are plenty of outdoor parties in Washington, just in time for the fireworks. But remember that you're going to want to arrive early: The best spots are gone long before the National Symphony begins playing Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture."
And those lucky enough to have a holiday on Friday, there are numerous opportunities to start the celebrations early.
July 3 parties and events
Brunch and happy hours
El Centro: 1819 14th St. NW. 202-328-3131; 1218 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-333-4100. www.richardsandoval.com.
Boundary Stone: 116 Rhode Island Ave NW. 202-621-6635. www.boundarystonedc.com.
Since so many people in Washington have Friday off, a number of restaurants and bars are treating it like the beginning of the weekend – including offering special brunch deals. Richard Sandoval's restaurants, including El Centro and Masa 14, open at 10 a.m. with bottomless food and cocktails for $35 per person until 3 p.m. For something more low-key, try Boundary Stone, which opens at 11 a.m. with brunch until 3 p.m. All-day drink specials include $4 DC Brau, and $4 Rickey cocktails made with a choice of Green Hat Gin or Old Overholt Rye.
Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-337-4141. www.bluesalley.com.
Some people find Glen Miller's "In the Mood" to be every bit as patriotic as "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Washington jazz crooner and trombonist Eric Felten, who starred in a PBS special called "The Big Band Sound of World War II," brings his Jazz Orchestra to Blues Alley for a night of classic swing and jazz. Shows begin at 8 and 10 p.m.
Little Miss Whiskey's
1104 H St. NW. www.littlemisswhiskeys.com.
Okay, Moneytown at Little Miss Whiskey's isn't technically a July 3 party, but the party focuses on 1960s and '70s soul, funk, boogaloo and rare groove, which is some of the best music ever made in this country. This also happens to be Moneytown's seventh anniversary, so DJ Nitekrawler will be giving away original 45 RPM singles – yes, actual vinyl – from the booth, where he's joined by DJ Lunch Money. The first needle drops at 10 p.m., and there's no cover charge.
Marx Cafe
3203 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. 202-518-7600. www.marxcafemtp.com.
The all-American dance party Outlaws is back at Marx Cafe for a flag-draped night of country and honky-tonk, from Hank Williams to Florida-Georgia Line. Tables are cleared for the dance floor by 10 p.m.; a $5 beer-and-a-shot combo is offered all night.
The Park at 14th
920 14th St. NW. 202-737-7275. www.park14.com.
The Park at 14th opens early at 4 p.m. for a 1990s-themed day party and barbecue. Happy hour features a performance by the Fix, a local band specializing in smooth R&B and old-school hip-hop, "around 6:30 p.m." Admission is free when you RSVP to thecookoutatthepark.eventbrite.com.
Sign of the Whale
1825 M St. NW. www.pubcrawls.com.
Saturday's Red White and Brew Pub Crawl hits a number of the usual-suspect bars around Dupont Circle, including Buffalo Billiards and Sign of the Whale, for selected $2 American drafts and $3 American bottled beers. While the main event runs from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, there's an optional preview on Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $15 for Friday only, and you can pick up passes at Sign of the Whale.
U Street Music Hall
1115 U St. NW. 202-588-1889. www.ustreetmusichall.com.
Since 2010, local record label and DJ collective Fort Knox Five has hosted a pre-Independence Day dance party called the Big Boom at U Street Music Hall. This year's edition is extra special, as it's the official D.C. release party for Fort Knox Five's new album, "Pressurize the Cabin." As always, F5K's music freely traverses the boundaries between Latin, hip-hop, reggae and soulful electro – genre doesn't matter as long as the beats are funky. DJ Dan, promoting his own collection of remixed tracks, and Diva Danielle are also on the bill. Tickets for the 18-and-over event are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, and the party runs until 4 a.m.
July 4 events selling tickets in advance
Avery's Bar and Lounge
1370 H St. NW. 202-525-2827. www.averysonhst.com. $5-$10.
Avery's is throwing another social-media-friendly #4thAtAverys Independence Day Celebration with admission beginning at 3 p.m., $7 Ciroc cocktails until 9 p.m. and music spun by DJ Hamp the Stampede. The rooftop bar offers great views. A limited number of early bird tickets are $5 if purchased through Avery's Web site; regular tickets are $10 in advance and more at the door.
Blackwall Hitch
400 Sixth St., Annapolis. 410-263-3454. www.theblackwallhitch.com. $75.
For all its charms, Annapolis isn't big on rooftop decks - especially those within sight of the fireworks at the City Dock. If you need a place for dinner and a party, consider Blackwall Hitch in Eastport, with its fantastic views of Spa Creek and the Dock. You'll need to make a reservation for dinner to get in; the $75 charge includes a four-course meal and a glass of beer or wine. The fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.; stick around for a performance by the local cover band the Shatners.
City Tap House
901 I St. NW. 202-733-5333. www.citytaphousedc.com.
City Tap House's patio is the site of an epic DMV Beer-B-Q throwdown on July 4. Between noon and 5 p.m., Maryland's Evolution, Virginia's Adroit Theory and D.C.'s 3 Stars will offer grilled meat and refreshing beverages. A $15 ticket (sold in advance or at the door) is good from barbecue from each brewery, plus potato salad, cole slaw and watermelon; beers and John Daly cocktails are $5. The afternoon also features a corn hole competition: E-mail lcascone@publichouseusa.com to register.
Daylight
1314 K St. NW. 202-218-7540. daylightjuly4.eventbrite.com. Free.
Looking for something to do before the fireworks? Go dancing. DJ Divine, the selector at the long-running Daylight party, drops old-school hip-hop, soulful house, rare grooves and '80s and '90s R&B at 14K, the Hamilton Crown Plaza's restaurant, from 3 to 9 p.m. Tables will be removed to make room for dancing, and the patio facing K Street will also be reserved. Happy hour specials run all afternoon. Admission is free, but RSVPs are required.
Flight
777 Sixth St. NW. 202-864-6445. www.flightdc.com. $95.
Foodies who love fireworks should look into Flight's annual rooftop party. The Chinatown wine bar offers unlimited pours of a dozen wines - red, white, rose and sparkling - and four beers; a buffet that includes Southern fried chicken, fire-roasted corn and macaroni and cheese; and passed barbecue bacon sliders, veggie flatbreads and bacon-jalapeno deviled eggs. (The full menu is on Flight's website.) The gathering runs from 7 to 10:30 p.m., so there's plenty of time to eat and drink before and after the rockets' red-white-and-blue glare visible from the roof deck. Tickets are $95 plus tax and gratuity, and only 80 are available, so early booking is essential.
Gypsy Sally's
3401 K St. NW. 202-333-7700. www.gypsysallys.com.
A last-minute weekend trip to Chicago to see the Grateful Dead is beyond most people's finances, but if you want to hear the band's next-to-last concert, you can head to Gypsy Sally's for a live video broadcast of the show, with music piped through the club's high-end sound system. The band's two sets begin at 8 p.m. Admission is $15 in advance and $19 at the door. (Note that the club will also simulcast Friday's show, at the same time and price.)
Liv
2001 11th St. NW. 202-505-4548. www.livdc.com.
One of the city's finest retro nights, Reminisce finds DJs Underdog and Harry Hotter taking it back to the '90s with hip-hop, reggae and R&B jams at Liv. This is also one of the weekend's most economical parties: Admission is free before 11 p.m. with an RSVP on reminiscedc.eventbrite.com, and includes an open bar from 9:30 to 10:30.
Republic
6939 Laurel Ave., Takoma Park. 301-270-3000. www.republictakoma.com. $40-$70.
For the second year in a row, Montgomery County's restrictive alcohol laws will loosen up a bit on July 1: The latest update will allow restaurants and bars to sell growlers to go. To celebrate, Takoma Park's Republic is hosting a second "Freedom Fest," with beers from six Maryland and D.C. breweries, including the Brewers Art, Hellbender and Denizens; a barbecue buffet; and music. There are two sessions, each priced at $40: The lunch option includes admission from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a performance by the New Orleans-flavored Yamomanem brass band, while the evening ticket allows entry from 3 to 7 p.m. and live music by Human Country Jukebox. If four hours of food and unlimited beer just isn't enough, the $70 VIP ticket allows access from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. plus giveaway items. Tickets for all three sessions are available through Eventbrite.
Satellite Room
2047 Ninth St. NW. 202-506-2496. www.4thofjulypie.eventbrite.com. $15, includes pie and one glass of punch.
Because there's nothing more American than salted caramel apple pie, Satellite Room is hosting Pie Fest, an all-you-can-eat feast of sweet and savory pies from Whisked bakery and pizza pies by Timber Pizza. Since you can't live on pie alone, there also will be punch, karaoke and American films on the projection screen.
Things to Do
Boat departs from Washington Harbour, 3050 K St. NW. 301-519-8030. www.thingstododc.com. $110.
Young professionals group Things to Do chartered a boat for July 4, which promises relatively unobstructed views of the fireworks while cruising down the Potomac, checking out memorials, snacking on pizza and sipping margaritas. (Pizza is included in the ticket price, drinks are not.) After the fireworks, there's an optional "nightlife tour" of Georgetown.
July 4 events with no planning required
1905
1905 Ninth St. NW. 202-332-1905. www.1905dc.com. $20.
Believe it or not, 1905's rooftop deck has a pretty good view of the Washington Monument. See for yourself on July 4, when a cookout with Atlas Brew Works includes grilled sausages, pulled pork sandwiches, salads and sides. A $20 cover at the door includes three tickets good for food or beer; additional Atlas beers are $5 each.
Bluejacket
300 Tingey St. SE. 202-524-4862. www.bluejacketdc.com.
If you're going to the Washington Nationals' 11:05 a.m. game against the San Francisco Giants, you may want to head down to the ballpark a little early: Bluejacket is opening at 9:30 a.m., offering breakfast items, bar food and beer in the restaurant and on its patio.
The Brixton
901 U St. NW. 202-560-5045. www.brixtondc.com. Free.
There's no better way to say "Happy birthday, America" than shoving hot dogs down your gullet as fast as you can. The Brixton's annual hot dog eating contest, which begins at 4 p.m., offers a pretty sweet prize: Tickets to the Landmark Music Festival, which brings Drake, the Strokes and Alt-J to the Mall in September. Arrive early to sign up. Don't feel like gorging yourself? Doors open at noon, with $4 Bud Light and $5 Fireball shots until 9 p.m. (You'll want to be there early, anyway, to get a view of the fireworks.)
Brookland Pint
716 Monroe St. NE. 202-758-2757. www.brooklandpint.com. Free.
Smoke and Barrel chef Logan McGear is the special guest at sister restaurant Brookland Pint, smoking a whole pig for a barbecue on the restaurant's patio from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Burgers, hot dogs and vegetarian options will be available.) A portion of proceeds will benefit Miriam's Kitchen.
Cantina Marina
600 Water St. SW. 202-554-8396. www.cantinamarina.com. Free.
It's hard to beat the views from the Southwest Waterfront bar, which is why the waterside bar fills with customers eating fish tacos and drinking margaritas hours before sunset.
Clarendon Ballroom
3185 Wilson Blvd., Arlington.703-469-2244. www.clarendonballroom.com. Free.
The Clarendon nightspot's large rooftop bar will open at 8 p.m., weather permitting; the downstairs will be closed.
DC9
1940 Ninth St. NW. 202-483-5000. www.dcnine.com. Free.
DC9 teams with DC Brau on July 4 for the fifth consecutive year. Admission is free, and an $11 picnic ticket includes a brat or burger (both meat or veggie), two side dishes and a slice of watermelon. Whether you're eating or not, DC Brau cans are $4 all day.
Jack Rose
2007 18th St. NW. 202-588-7388. www.jackrosediningsaloon.com. Free.
Jack Rose and Flying Dog Brewing have teamed up for a pre-fireworks happy hour on the Adams Morgan bar's rooftop on July 4. From 4 to 7:30 p.m., they'll have half-price snacks during the "BBQ Pit Happy Hour," as well as $4 Flying Dog drafts and cans. Get there early and stake out a space at the rear tiki bar, which offers views of the fireworks.
Rebellion
1836 18th St. NW. 202-299-0399. www.rebelliondc.com. Free.
The Dupont whiskey bar kicks off celebrations at noon, with a long list of specials, including $5 Deep Eddy Vodka cocktails, $7 Jack Daniels drinks, and $20 mix-and-match buckets of Flying Dog bottled beer. To snack on, there's a choice between brats cooked in Flying Dog Dead Rise Ale and kabobs. Either way, it's $8. Important note: If you already have July 4 plans, the bar will be offering the same deals on Sunday afternoon.
Rock and Roll Hotel
1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625. www.rockandrollhoteldc.com. Free.
The Rock and Roll Hotel actually has two free events on Independence Day. The club's rooftop opens at 3 p.m., with DJs Remote CTRL and Ozkar dropping house and other funky beats from 5 to 8 p.m. After the fireworks, Rex Riot and Basscamp fire up the speakers on the second floor and provide party bangers from 11:30 p.m. until last call. No matter when you show up, there's no cover charge.
Meanwhile, on the main stage of the club, you can hear Black Alley's "hood rock" -- their own self-described fusion of heavy guitars; funk; the current textures of radio-ready pop, R&B and hip-hop; and a faint strand of go-go DNA. In an era where urban music has forsaken bands and groups for solo artists, Black Alley brings musical chops, showmanship, and the power of a fully locked-in band to bear on the sounds of today.