Your DC Holiday Weekend: 2 Holiday Markets, 27 Bars, and the Free Museums Make DC a Perfect Winter Destination

By Bill Malcolm*

Washington, D.C. is dressed up for the holidays. 2 holiday street markets (Dupont Circle and downtown on F Street by the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery/Museum of American Art are necessary in the most walkable (and gayest) city in America. Plus, the crowds are gone tourists are exceedingly rare during this off season).

Getting there

I took American Airlines into Reagan National (DCA) which is a 20-minute Metro ride into the city (if that). And the Metro station is steps from your gate. I love American, my new fave. You can get around on the Metro or the Metro Bus. Or walk. DC also has great Amtrak service including the Acela express train to New York City.

What to do

Check out the happenings of GoGay D.C. They meet for a bar social every Friday and have other events. They toured historic Whitmore House in Dupont Circle, which is home to the Women's Democratic Club and features pictures and memorabilia of former first ladies. Two ghosts also haunt it!

Run or walk with Frontrunners up Rock Creek Park. They meet at 23/P at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays.

Portrait Gallery exhibits

Enjoy the National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian American Museum of Art of Fifth Street in Chinatown. Enjoy the Star Power photography collection from Hollywood's Golden Age. The Struggle for Justice highlights Stonewall and more.

DuPont Circle Holiday Market

The nearby Downtown DC Holiday Market runs through December 23. You will find it in F Street NW behind the National Portrait Gallery. Over one hundred vendors. Enjoy a jar of hot cocoa from S'Mores and N'more. (downtowndc.org/holidaymarket).Grab a cocktail at the Hotel Monaco's Dirty Habit bar (follow the red carpet). It's in the heart of Penn Quarter.

Enjoy the farmers market at Dupont Circle Sundays until 1pm. And Dupont Circle also has its own Holliday Market.

Keep an eye out for celebrities. I ran into Chris Mathews leaving an interview at CNN. Congressman Andre Carson was on my plane home.

Walk around historic Logan Circle (just north of the hotel) and enjoy the historic homes.

Walk around the holiday displays at the newly renovated Franklin Park.

Check the National Zoo for the holiday lights display.

Check out the national Christmas tree.

Nightlife

Bartender at Trade

With twenty-seven bars (including two nonalcoholic bars) there is something for everyone. Leather at the Eagle, dancing at Bunker, a great happy hour on the newly expanded Trade, a fun crowd at the Number 9.

Most of the bars are in the 14th St NW/Logan Circle area.

I liked Trade the best. They frequently have events (like the Let them Serve event they had on the Sunday I was there). A new basement bar, a new dance floor, and expanded patio are great auditions. And happy hour with a glass of wine for just $6 (half off) runs until 8 or 9pm daily.

Spark Social House on 14th Street NW is the new non-alcohol bar. It is also near the other bars including Crush, Bunker, District Eagle, and Revolt (all near 14th Street NW and U).

Where to stay

I stayed in the Washington Plaza Hotel at One Thomas Circle. It is right near all the bars and shops on trendy 14th Street NW. The friendly professional staff are great. The rooms are quiet (get one facing away from Mass Avenue). Winter rates are as low as $98 (not a typo) with no resort fee/destination charge/amenity junk fees like some other hotels. My other bargain fave, the Comfort Inn (at M and 13th Street NW) was sold out. The Capitol Hill Hyatt is nice but there is not much to do around there unless you are headed to the Hill. Ditto for the Kimpon Monaco on Fth Street although the rooms are incredible and feature stone statutes in the room. Their bar, the Dirty Habit, is fun especially for happy hour.

What to eat

As a solo traveler, I skip the restaurants and grab a salad or breakfast bagel at Wawa (on Thomas Circle) or at the Streets Market (off Mass Avenue at 13th St NW at 1221 Mass Ave), steps from the hotel. Try the old bay shrimp (Old Bay is a Maryland seasoning).

14th Street NW has every kind of restaurant you could want if you are interested. The new Wonder has gourmet food to go.

I had an empanada at DMV Empanadas ($5 each) and Zeke's Coffee at the Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Then I got some local Pennsylvania pears and apples for later.

Annies Paramount Steak House in the gayborhood (17th Street NW) has great food and has been around for 75 years.

More tips

The Washington Blade (online and in print) is great as is Metro Weekly (online only) for the latest events and happenings. The Washington Post also has local happenings. For political news, Ilike The Hill and Politico.

You cannot beat a winter trip to D.C. The Smithsonian Museums are free. The crowds are gone for the winter (and tourism is down overall). So, you will have the museums to yourself with just the locals. And the temperate weather means it is not particularly cold. There has never been a better time to visit one of the gayest cities in the world, Washington, D.C.

And who says gay bars are dead. D.C. has gotten more bars in the last 5 years - now up to 27! Let's party!

*Bill Malcolm is a syndicated travel columnist (as a hobby) whose columns have appeared in over one hundred websites and online postings including IGLTA. He resides in Indianapolis.

About the Author

Bill Malcolm Bill Malcolm is North America's only syndicated travel columnist. He focuses on value and pays his own way. He takes local transit and seeks to go where the locals go. He has appeared 100 times in LGBTQ publications and on websites including the IGLTA travel blog. You can find his work in GRAB Chicago, Erie Gay News, Seattle Gay News, and other places. He does this as a volunteer and does not charge for his work. He boycotts hotels and hotel chains with resort fees, amenity fees, destination fees, and other made up junk charges. He resides in Indianapolis. Follow him on Facebook.