Bars & Parties
Meet the queen of free D.C.
Blogger helps locals find free or cheap area events
There are more than a dozen yoga studios throughout the metro area that offer free, low-cost or pay-what-you-can classes. More than five locations that project free movies outdoors throughout the summer. And at least three days per week, every week, professional musicians and actors at venues across the city play for free for those lucky enough to know where.
How to find out where, exactly?
Follow Amy B. Melrose, the founder and sole blogger of the site “Free in D.C.,” on Twitter.
Or become her fan on Facebook.
Or find her highly trafficked, searchable site with Google.
Melrose provides many options to find the event information she aggregates. For free, of course.
The energetic, quick-tongued Melrose spends more than 20 hours per week sifting through online invitations, e-mails and paper fliers looking for events that fulfill her criteria: the event is in the D.C.-metro region, costs less than $10 and is accessible by public transportation.
And to make the cut an event must be “funky,” a loose term that encompasses think-tank lectures, art exhibits and “Kostume Karaoke.”
“Somebody cared enough to offer the event. Somebody cared enough to create a sign or invitation for it. And I care enough to post it so people know about it,” Melrose said in an interview. Melrose is in her mid-30s and works part-time as a freelance new media marketing consultant.
Melrose’s self-described blog “baby” was born in October 2007, while Melrose was between jobs, after a few glasses of wine during a birthday party.
“‘You always know all of the cool stuff going on. You should just start a blog,’” Melrose said her friends told her that night.
Over the prior five years she had fleetingly thought about creating a website that listed inexpensive events in the District, but a lack of time and computer skills inhibited her from actually starting.
That night, after the revelry ended, a friend created a blogger template for Melrose.
“It was the kick in the butt I needed to get things going,” said Melrose. Melrose still uses the original template her friend created for the site, which averages about 800 unique visitors per weekday.
When Melrose started the site, most of the events she posted came to her by bills posted in coffee shops, bulletin boards outside restaurant bathrooms, hyper-local newspapers and word-of-mouth.
Today about half of the events she posts come to her as Facebook invitations. On Saturday, she had 58 invites sitting in her inbox, waiting to be reviewed for posting.
Melrose, a native of Philadelphia, moved to the District in 1993 as a transfer student to George Washington University, where she majored in psychology and worked at the university’s Lisner Auditorium.
She did not plan to stay in Washington after graduation, but the city’s accessible culture had her hooked.
“You don’t have to be 21, have a car, or have a lot of money” to take advantage of D.C.’s culture and recreation, Melrose said.
Melrose compiles her blog with newcomers and tourists in mind.
“I write it with the idea that the stork just dropped [readers] in D.C. and there’s everything on my site they need [to find entertainment]: location, price and directions,” Melrose said.
In addition to her blog, Twitter feed and Facebook updates, Melrose posts twice weekly on ReadysetDC and occasionally on Borderstan. Melrose has also entered into an agreement with WashingtonCityPaper.com for a weekly feature column.
Melrose sees her passion for collecting and distilling inexpensive, accessible events as a community service.
“I do the work, put these events into a digestible format, so that other people don’t have to,” Melrose said. “People expect information to find them now.”
But the amount of time she spends finding, posting and confirming the facts of events has led her to ask for donations from users via PayPal. In addition, Melrose now has several local businesses sponsoring her site with small advertisements on the page margins.
Melrose is also, somewhat jokingly, looking for an unpaid intern. She can be contacted through her website, freeindc.blogspot.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/FreeinDC or via Twitter at twitter.com/FreeinDCBlog.
Halloween weekend is here, and here’s a list of just some of the local events if you’re looking to have a spooky good time.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Halloween Party” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant. This is an opportunity to mingle with LGBTQ folk and allies. Halloween costumes are encouraged or casual beach attire is fine. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Mixtape Sapphics will host “Bad Witch, Good Butch: A Sapphic Halloween Dream” on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. at Revolt DC. This is a halloween party for sapphics from the ages of 35 and above. There will be costumes, connection and dancing. Tickets are $13.26 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Taste Takeover will host “Abuela Halloween Party” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. at 639 Florida Ave., N.W. DJ Yani will play music and there will be a costume contest with prizes to be won. Tickets cost $17.85 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Metro Cabaret Club will host “Spookshow Spectacular: Dance Place After Dark Halloween Party” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. at Dance Place. This is D.C.’s Halloween nightlife and draglesque showcase, featuring live performances, creative marketplace, and costumed revelry. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.
Punch Bowl Social will host “Halloween Bash” on Friday. Oct 31 at 9 p.m. at Punch Bowl Social Arlington. This will be a night of hauntingly good times with a killer DJ, vendors, and a costume contest. Tickets cost $12.09 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Thrust Lounge will host “Nightmare on 14th St.” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. DJ Tryfe will play music, and there’ll also be a costume contest with prizes. For more details, visit Thurst’s Instagram.
Nellie’s Sports Bar will host “Halloween Scariest Costume Contest” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 10 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring their scariest, creepiest, most haunting look for a Halloween night they won’t forget — fueled by Casamigos and Nellie’s signature spooky fun. For more details, visit Nellie’s website.
Kiki DC will host “Kiki’s Halloween Costume Contest” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 10 p.m. This event will be hosted by Pirouette and there’ll be prizes for the top three costumes. For more details, visit Kiki’s Instagram.
Sinners and Saints will host “Heaven’s On Fire (Queer Pop Dance Party)” on Friday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. There will be two floors and music by Sonali Dawar, DJ Noons and Aria McIntosh. There will also be drink specials all night.
Crush Dance Bar will host a Halloween costume contest on Friday, Oct. 31 at 11 p.m. Drag queens Empress Lena and Sasha Adams will host the event. For more details, visit Crush’s Instagram.
Arts & Entertainment
D.C. bars step up to offer discounts for fed’l employees
Deals, freebies, events, and happy hours galore
(Editor’s note: This list was compiled on Wednesday afternoon and is not meant to be comprehensive. If you would like to add your bar’s specials, please email [email protected].)
As the federal government comes to a standstill, the DMV restaurant and bar community has come to the aid of furloughed workers, who suddenly have plenty of time on their hands. More than a handful of spots are offering deals, discounts, freebies, events, and more. Many do require an identification to validate employment status. Plus, this shutdown looks like it’s here to stay for some time, so take advantage.
Franklin Hall: This sports bar on Florida Avenue is kicking off the shutdown hard: offering $6 Mixed Drinks, Canned Beers, and “furloughed Shooters” – as well as a free food buffet 4PM-6PM.
Carmine’s, located downtown, is offering steep discounts – $5 meatball sliders, and $8 cocktails: “Here We Go Again” and “The Essential Worker.” Carmine’s specifically noted that the specials are open to all, not just affected workers.
Compass Coffee is offering a free pastry with a drink purchase.
Cork Wine Bar and Market on 14th Street is offering a long happy hour – from 3 p.m. to close with wine specials, plus discounted fries and snacks.
Union Pub is providing steeply cheap beer ($3), alongside discounted hot dogs.
Two locations of Hank’s Oyster Bar are serving up all-day happy hour at the bar, along with $2.50 oysters and a percent off checks for federal workers.
Boqueria DC is giving federal workers with ID happy hour pricing all day long: meaning cheaper sangria, wine, beer, and lots of tapas.
Osteria Morini in D.C. is offering a “Federal Employee Appreciation Special” with $15 pastas for federal employees; Cucina Morini has $10 “primi pastas.”
Duke’s Grocery is offering a complimentary drink: A free shot of bourbon or a glass of house wine when you buy any burger or entrée. Plus, there are $5 select beers.
Thompson Restaurants is offering all government employees 20% off their bill by showing a valid government ID. The offer spans 11 of Thompson’s restaurant brands and more than 65 locations across the DMV, including Matchbox, Makers Union, Wiseguy Pizza, Big Buns, and more.
Shaw’s Tavern: $5 beers, $6 wine, $7 Deep Eddy, $10 burger and pizza, with ID.
LGBTQ BARS
Crush: This bar is offering a “Pouring it forward” event with a free vodka hour, 10-11 p.m. this Friday.
Number Nine is offering $9 cocktails all night after 9 p.m.
Bunker has free entry for anyone with government, contractor, military IDs this weekend.
District Eagle offers 30% off drinks for anyone with government, contractor, or military IDs this weekend.
Kiki has free Deep Eddy happy hour 8-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Her Diner offers all-night drink specials with ID.
Bars & Parties
Blade’s 18th annual Summer Kickoff Party set for May 16
Rehoboth Beach event to feature politicos, journalists, special guests
The Washington Blade’s 18th annual Summer Kickoff Party is scheduled for Friday, May 16 in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
The event, held at the Blue Moon (35 Rehoboth Ave.) from 5-7 p.m., is a fundraiser for the Blade Foundation’s Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism, which funds a summer position reporting on LGBTQ news in Delaware. This year’s recipient is Abigail Hatting, a rising senior at American University.
This year’s event will feature remarks from state Sen. Russ Huxtable, who recently introduced a state constitutional amendment to codify the right of same-sex couples to marry. CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Kim Leisey and Blade editor Kevin Naff will also speak, in addition to surprise guests. The event is generously sponsored by Realtor Justin Noble, The Avenue Inn & Spa, and Blue Moon.
A suggested donation of $20 is partially tax deductible and includes drink tickets and light appetizers. Tickets are available in advance at bladefoundation.org/rehoboth or at the door.
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