► FEATURED DUPONT CIRCLE HOTEL: www.hotels.com/affiliates/twogayexpats/thedupontcirclehotel ► LGBTQ+ TRAVEL GUIDE TO WASHINGTON, DC: twogayexpats.com/destinations/united-states/gay-washington-dc To save money, travel hack, and invest, check out a few of our favorite products and services that we use and trust: 💳 Learn about our favorite travel credit card: www.referyourchasecard.com/19o/1DFCMF614O ✈ Shop our travel essentials on Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/twogayexpats 🏨 Research and book hotels: www.hotels.com/affiliate/rILsjmZ 👟Find the best local tours like this one: www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/smithsonian-national-museum-of-air-space-small-group-tour-t128124/?partner_id=D7RFP6I&cmp=dc 🚙 Find the best prices on rental cars: www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=29081&id=1522763 💶 Get the best foreign exchange and transfer rates with Wise: wise.prf.hn/l/gAOw8oy 💰 Earn extra money as an Airbnb host: www.airbnb.com/r/traivorm1 🏥 Add travel insurance for peace of mind: safetywing.com/nomad-insurance?referenceID=24908185&Ambassador 💵 Get cash back at your favorite stores and a $30 bonus: www.rakuten.com/r/TRAIVO10?eeid=44971 📖 Read this book for financial freedom: amzn.to/43YMiSR 📈 Take advantage of free stocks at Robinhood: join.robinhood.com/traivom9 **These affiliate links help you support our channel as we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products and services we love and use ourselves, so feel free to ask us about any of these! Thank you for your support, and thanks for watching!
All that you showed was quite nice but nothing like we had back in the day.I was a young DJ with my partner in the 70's , we had the Pier 9 , the Lost & Found , the Plus One the Grand Central , the Follies ,i could go on and on , that's how we met people and we sure did have alot of fun , sorry you guys never got to see all that 😂😂
Love this!! I (Trai) feel the same way about Atlanta with Backstreet, Swinging Richards, and so many other legends! For DC, we were bummed Cobalt, Town, and Secrets are no longer which sound like they were after your amazing places!!! Thanks for sharing!!! 🙏❤️🏳️🌈🌈🤩
DC had, at one time, a fantastically exciting gay scene. Going to a DC cruise bar or dance club (with totally nude go-go boys!) was a true adventure. The end came when so many of the clubs were bulldozed back in the 2000s to make way for the baseball stadium. Now, gay nightlife in DC is just sort of sanitized and bland. But I am so happy that I am of the age to have experienced the thrill of going out in DC on a Saturday night when the city could match anything SF, Amsterdam or Berlin had to offer!
@@jaydarnell3095I agree with you. It was the best of times in DC back in the day. Lost and Found, Mr P’s, the Eagle, Annie’s for dinner and brunch, JR’s, the Pier, Tracks, The Rogue, and on and on.
As a native black gay Washingtonian, the gay community in D.C. has always been segregated and dominated by mostly white gay males. Black gays didn't feel welcome and this is why Black Gay Pride in D.C. was introduced in the early 90's on Memorial Day weekend. Black gays and lesbians enjoyed the Club House located at 13th & Upshur Streets, NW back in the 70's and 80's until it was closed. I remember visiting mostly white gay bars in D.C. in the 70's and 80's and I was carded at the door and my white friends were not. 😏The white gay bars mentioned in this video, black and Afro Latinos wouldn't feel welcomed in 2024.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Sorry to hear that. We’re back at uproar right now for beer blast during Capital Pride 2024, and there are plenty of Black and Latino folks here. We find DC quite mixed and diverse, especially the bars and clubs on U St!
Great recs! We include Bunker in our previous DC video from last summer and on our gay travel blog: twogayexpats.com/destinations/united-states/gay-washington-dc
You left out Larry’s Lounge, JRs, Green Lantern, Dirty Goose, Pitcher’s - there’s still so much more to try out. It doesn’t have to be “upscale” (overpriced) to be fun and worth a visit.
Thanks for sharing! We’ve been to all of those on your list and prefer our list (for us)! We also don’t consider beer blast at Uproar or Trade expensive or upscale with no cover and amazing beer specials. But to each his own. And I thought we had the Dirty Goose rooftop in the video, but either way, we do love it there and Kiki next door! We had mixed experiences at the others.
Thanks. I used to go out in DC all the time but so much has changed in the last 5 years. I did not know where to go and standard online lists aren't up to-date.
Looks so nice. I live in Maryland, only a few miles from DC and havent been to a gay club in many years. Back then, there were still quite a few but so happy to see it's even gayer now 🌈🌈😃😃
Hopefully the employee behind the bar has changed their ways but don’t go to Number 9 if you don’t wear chino shorts, button up shirts with no undershirt, or are remotely bearish. You will be asked ”do you know what kinda bar this is? Are you even gay?” Yeah that wasn’t awkward or anything. My friend and I finished our drinks and went to Trade. Great video! Our favorites when we go into town are Uproar and Greenlantern.
Thanks for sharing! Hopefully that was a one off! We also love Uproar especially Sunday beer blast and GL on Thursdays for shirtless (and pantless) night 😜
Wow, how silly is that? 😆That kind of behavior is especially off-putting in this day and age. Snobbery was protection in the late 20th century when urban gayborhoods were refuges and keeping creepy closeted homophobes out was often a matter of physical safety (I had experiences of gay "tourists" coming in and harassing people myself). However, in 2024 are we still at a point where bar fascists still dictate who and who can't come in based on trendy clothing alone? Oh, well. DC's scene has always been one of the most conservative of any major US city, so I guess these vestiges remain here and there. 🙄
Tourists beware: the food at DIK is awful! (Ok, just my opinion) … and the bar is populated by, uh, younger guys looking to, uh, meet much older men (if you catch my drift).
We’re going to give it another chance as our first trip wasn’t so great! Were told Shirtless Thursdays is the best time go! We also like the newest gay dance club Crush!!
@@TwoGayExpats make sure you come on the 3rd Saturday of the month. I have a Bear Event called The Bear Cave and I have Go Go Dancers (I'm DJ Popperz with a Z....Like LiZa!)
Red Bear Brewing is great if you’re in NOMA. We went last year for the Pride beer unveiling and Green Lantern for an underwear party 🙊 good times! Thanks for sharing! 🙏
We love the Dupont Circle Hotel. It’s super central and has a gorgeous cocktail bar called the Doyle: www.hotels.com/affiliates/twogayexpats/thedupontcirclehotel
Curious what is a "gay friendly" hotel? I can't imagine any decent hotel in a big city would not be gay friendly. In other words, being gay in this day and age should be a non-issue when staying at a hotel, no? Thanks.
Agreed if you’re in a global brand, they likely have had training, however that’s not always the case if locally owned and operated. As such, many hotels specifically designate themselves as LGBTQ-friendly 🏳️🌈 on Google maps! We love to see that. Also, when we refer to gay-friendly, we also mean the hotel is popular with gays so while not exclusively a gay hotel, you’ll see representation in the staff and guests. Hope that helps!
@@TwoGayExpats I used to have a condo where I could see the video screens inside Jrs from the window! lol And I remember Trumpets! which was in between Cobalt and Jr's. I miss that place
@ducheau100 love it, thanks for sharing! If they didn’t close, many of the old stomping grounds have such a different vibe these days!! Cobalt was a personal fave!
► FEATURED DUPONT CIRCLE HOTEL: www.hotels.com/affiliates/twogayexpats/thedupontcirclehotel
► LGBTQ+ TRAVEL GUIDE TO WASHINGTON, DC: twogayexpats.com/destinations/united-states/gay-washington-dc
To save money, travel hack, and invest, check out a few of our favorite products and services that we use and trust:
💳 Learn about our favorite travel credit card: www.referyourchasecard.com/19o/1DFCMF614O
✈ Shop our travel essentials on Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/twogayexpats
🏨 Research and book hotels: www.hotels.com/affiliate/rILsjmZ
👟Find the best local tours like this one: www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/smithsonian-national-museum-of-air-space-small-group-tour-t128124/?partner_id=D7RFP6I&cmp=dc
🚙 Find the best prices on rental cars: www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=29081&id=1522763
💶 Get the best foreign exchange and transfer rates with Wise: wise.prf.hn/l/gAOw8oy
💰 Earn extra money as an Airbnb host: www.airbnb.com/r/traivorm1
🏥 Add travel insurance for peace of mind: safetywing.com/nomad-insurance?referenceID=24908185&Ambassador
💵 Get cash back at your favorite stores and a $30 bonus: www.rakuten.com/r/TRAIVO10?eeid=44971
📖 Read this book for financial freedom: amzn.to/43YMiSR
📈 Take advantage of free stocks at Robinhood: join.robinhood.com/traivom9
**These affiliate links help you support our channel as we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products and services we love and use ourselves, so feel free to ask us about any of these! Thank you for your support, and thanks for watching!
Tracks, Eagle, JR's, Frat house, Brass Rail, Ziegfields, Logans, Bachelors Mill, and of course Results gym.... The " REAL " gay life.
This is a trip down memory lane! RIP Ziegfeld’s/Secrets, Eagle, etc. JRs is still going strong tho 🙌
Thanks a lot for sharing, really great job! 👍😄👏
Thank you! Cheers!
@@TwoGayExpats It is my pleasure, thanks to you too! Happy travels! Cheers! 👍🥰🙏🍻
All that you showed was quite nice but nothing like we had back in the day.I was a young DJ with my partner in the 70's , we had the Pier 9 , the Lost & Found , the Plus One the Grand Central , the Follies ,i could go on and on , that's how we met people and we sure did have alot of fun , sorry you guys never got to see all that 😂😂
Love this!! I (Trai) feel the same way about Atlanta with Backstreet, Swinging Richards, and so many other legends! For DC, we were bummed Cobalt, Town, and Secrets are no longer which sound like they were after your amazing places!!! Thanks for sharing!!! 🙏❤️🏳️🌈🌈🤩
DC had, at one time, a fantastically exciting gay scene. Going to a DC cruise bar or dance club (with totally nude go-go boys!) was a true adventure. The end came when so many of the clubs were bulldozed back in the 2000s to make way for the baseball stadium. Now, gay nightlife in DC is just sort of sanitized and bland. But I am so happy that I am of the age to have experienced the thrill of going out in DC on a Saturday night when the city could match anything SF, Amsterdam or Berlin had to offer!
The best years of our life , period 😂😂@@jaydarnell3095
I won’t forget the Green Lantern off 16th St 😉
@@jaydarnell3095I agree with you. It was the best of times in DC back in the day. Lost and Found, Mr P’s, the Eagle, Annie’s for dinner and brunch, JR’s, the Pier, Tracks, The Rogue, and on and on.
As a native black gay Washingtonian, the gay community in D.C. has always been segregated and dominated by mostly white gay males. Black gays didn't feel welcome and this is why Black Gay Pride in D.C. was introduced in the early 90's on Memorial Day weekend. Black gays and lesbians enjoyed the Club House located at 13th & Upshur Streets, NW back in the 70's and 80's until it was closed. I remember visiting mostly white gay bars in D.C. in the 70's and 80's and I was carded at the door and my white friends were not. 😏The white gay bars mentioned in this video, black and Afro Latinos wouldn't feel welcomed in 2024.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Sorry to hear that. We’re back at uproar right now for beer blast during Capital Pride 2024, and there are plenty of Black and Latino folks here. We find DC quite mixed and diverse, especially the bars and clubs on U St!
Boy, do i remember those days! Clubhouse Dj Tito/Tyrone, my friend Dj Mandrill, Andre the owner. Those were GREAT days! Cherish them always!
you missed bunker DC 14 and U street & nellies bar on U as well - freddies beach bar in arlington Va near DCA
Great recs! We include Bunker in our previous DC video from last summer and on our gay travel blog: twogayexpats.com/destinations/united-states/gay-washington-dc
awesome!
JRs too
You left out Larry’s Lounge, JRs, Green Lantern, Dirty Goose, Pitcher’s - there’s still so much more to try out. It doesn’t have to be “upscale” (overpriced) to be fun and worth a visit.
Thanks for sharing! We’ve been to all of those on your list and prefer our list (for us)! We also don’t consider beer blast at Uproar or Trade expensive or upscale with no cover and amazing beer specials. But to each his own. And I thought we had the Dirty Goose rooftop in the video, but either way, we do love it there and Kiki next door! We had mixed experiences at the others.
@@TwoGayExpats went to trade recently and it was just awful. Bartender had the personality of bent piece of cardboard.
That’s a bummer! Sorry to hear. It’s one of our favorite places in DC! Hopefully, it was an off night!
Thanks. I used to go out in DC all the time but so much has changed in the last 5 years. I did not know where to go and standard online lists aren't up to-date.
Our pleasure! While many cities are seeing gay bars close, DC has so many new places and events!
I’m from WDC & Idk all those restaurants & bars are here. Thanks!👍🏾
Our pleasure!! Thank you ! 🙏
Thanks!🙏🏾
Looks so nice. I live in Maryland, only a few miles from DC and havent been to a gay club in many years. Back then, there were still quite a few but so happy to see it's even gayer now 🌈🌈😃😃
100% the whole scene has changed but exciting to see so many new places!
Thank you for this post. I'll be traveling to DC in 2 weeks, so this was really helpful.
Your video covers a lot in >12 minutes for 2024.
DC is wonderful city with many facets that visitors find appealing enough to keep coming.
Thank you!!! 🙏 ❤️
Hopefully the employee behind the bar has changed their ways but don’t go to Number 9 if you don’t wear chino shorts, button up shirts with no undershirt, or are remotely bearish. You will be asked ”do you know what kinda bar this is? Are you even gay?” Yeah that wasn’t awkward or anything. My friend and I finished our drinks and went to Trade. Great video! Our favorites when we go into town are Uproar and Greenlantern.
Thanks for sharing! Hopefully that was a one off! We also love Uproar especially Sunday beer blast and GL on Thursdays for shirtless (and pantless) night 😜
Wow, how silly is that? 😆That kind of behavior is especially off-putting in this day and age. Snobbery was protection in the late 20th century when urban gayborhoods were refuges and keeping creepy closeted homophobes out was often a matter of physical safety (I had experiences of gay "tourists" coming in and harassing people myself). However, in 2024 are we still at a point where bar fascists still dictate who and who can't come in based on trendy clothing alone? Oh, well. DC's scene has always been one of the most conservative of any major US city, so I guess these vestiges remain here and there. 🙄
honorable mention Dupont Italian Kitchen DIK bar.. great food and nice bar with Kareoke upstairs.
A classic!
Tourists beware: the food at DIK is awful! (Ok, just my opinion) … and the bar is populated by, uh, younger guys looking to, uh, meet much older men (if you catch my drift).
@@rw7668 i have not been there in a number of years, but the food at the restaurant is actually (was actually) good. and the crowd was always mixed.
Back in the late 70's and 80's, Lost and Found, Grand Central,Pier9, Rascals,Frat House,and favorite for dancing, The Exile.
You guys missed my favorite dance spot- Green Lantern!
We’re going to give it another chance as our first trip wasn’t so great! Were told Shirtless Thursdays is the best time go! We also like the newest gay dance club Crush!!
@@TwoGayExpats make sure you come on the 3rd Saturday of the month. I have a Bear Event called The Bear Cave and I have Go Go Dancers (I'm DJ Popperz with a Z....Like LiZa!)
JR’s Bar!! Not just because that’s my name. lol
You forgot Green Latern you can drink free on Thursday nights!!!! and don't forget Red Bear Brewing!!!!
Red Bear Brewing is great if you’re in NOMA. We went last year for the Pride beer unveiling and Green Lantern for an underwear party 🙊 good times! Thanks for sharing! 🙏
I'm a big fan of Larry's Lounge!
Daddy's going to Zipolite next month because of you both. Be my throuple!
Love it!! Enjoy 😉
The gay bar my favorite 🏳️🌈❤️
Im gay and moving to dc this year
Awesome! You’re going to love it! Exciting place to be! 🤩🌈🥳
@@TwoGayExpats do you have any neighborhood recommendations?
@jayson1geek479 Logan Circle, 14th St NW are our favorites! Dupont Circle
@TwoGayExpats what about columbia heights or brookland area?
@jayson1geek479 not familiar 🤷♂️
What are some gay friendly hotels there
We love the Dupont Circle Hotel. It’s super central and has a gorgeous cocktail bar called the Doyle: www.hotels.com/affiliates/twogayexpats/thedupontcirclehotel
Curious what is a "gay friendly" hotel? I can't imagine any decent hotel in a big city would not be gay friendly. In other words, being gay in this day and age should be a non-issue when staying at a hotel, no? Thanks.
Agreed if you’re in a global brand, they likely have had training, however that’s not always the case if locally owned and operated. As such, many hotels specifically designate themselves as LGBTQ-friendly 🏳️🌈 on Google maps! We love to see that. Also, when we refer to gay-friendly, we also mean the hotel is popular with gays so while not exclusively a gay hotel, you’ll see representation in the staff and guests. Hope that helps!
@@TwoGayExpats thank you
“Not pretentious crowd” 💀💀💀
Love how u skipped Nellie's , their owner is horrible
There’s always a reason we omit places in our videos and blog 😜
Shirtless, sweaty gay men..👍👌
I only remember Jr's
Yes! It was a blast from years ago with Cobalt, Secrets and Town! We prefer the newer ones now, but JRs is still going strong! 💪
@@TwoGayExpats I used to have a condo where I could see the video screens inside Jrs from the window! lol And I remember Trumpets! which was in between Cobalt and Jr's. I miss that place
@ducheau100 love it, thanks for sharing! If they didn’t close, many of the old stomping grounds have such a different vibe these days!! Cobalt was a personal fave!
Mi Vida has a better location on the Wharf 🫶🏼
We’ll have to try that one! 14th is so close to the gay bars and clubs tho 🙌🤩🏳️🌈🌈🔥