Bar #11 Laughing Man
Time: Friday at 9
Cost:
- $4.50 Miller
- $6 decent
- $6 rail
Clientele: 150 libertarians (jk), professionals who work in the area, tourists on the weekend and a few locals
I arrived at Laughing Man a little late accompanied by Cupcakes and Gin Kitten. We were expecting pretty wild night as we were meeting about 150 libertarians who were in town for an event. As we all know, when libertarians are involved, all rules go out the window. We had no idea where the night was going to lead. Hell, I might come to in Columbia doing lines of blow off of peasant girls, with empty bottles of rum scattered around the room and armed to the teeth with automatic weapons. What I’m trying to say is that when hanging with libertards one needs to buckle your chinstrap, grit your teeth and brace yourself. When we walked in we realized that our group was downstairs. I don’t know of you are aware of this but I hate bars that are downstairs. It really does remind me of being led to my execution in the bowels of Lubyanka. I shook off the ghosts and descended into this section of the bar.
I stepped into a fairly well lit room that is dominated by a good size bar. Although it was crowded the service was good. I never spent more than a minute waiting to order a drink. At this point I must confess that although I’ve been to Laughing Man many times I’m not a big fan of the downstairs. It can be loud and the music sometimes sucks. The upstairs is much better. There is abundant natural light and if you are lucky enough to get a seat at one of the tables near the front you are golden. I’ve found the service at the upstairs bar to be just as good as the downstairs bar. Like many bars in the District they are working on getting a permit to have outside seating. Hopefully I won’t be dead before this happens.
They have one of the best happy hour specials in town. Appetizers are $4 from 3-7 and drink specials run from 3-8 ($3.25 domestic drafts, $4 premium drafts and $5 martinis). Recently I rediscovered my love of a dirty martini and let me tell you pimpin’ this place makes a great dirty martini. And they are cheap! What’s not to like about these prices? During the week you will be surrounded by professionals who work in the area but on the weekend it will be somewhat deserted other than tourists and very few locals.
As the night wore on the alcohol continued to flow freely and the conversation bounced from things like public policy to what people have been up to in the last few years. As we prepared to leave I couldn’t help but to think that although it wouldn’t be my bar of choice, I enjoyed it. Laughing Man is a good place to start off a weeknight of drinking.
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