GW's Weekend Scene

I've spent this weekend at home in New Jersey, and it gave me time to think about how different my weekend here has been to those at GW. In honor of those differences, I give you a blog about the partying culture at GW.


A few things before I get into it. 1) GW is NOT a dry campus. Sorry mom and dad, but little Johnny will probably be exposed to alcohol at some point during his first year at college (GW or elsewhere). Obviously underage drinking is strictly prohibited and discouraged by the University BUT that does not mean it does not happen on our campus. It is up the individual should they partake in any kind of activity regarding underaged drinking (or drug use). 2) Many of the things I'm going to talk about involve drinking but you could easily participate in any of these things sober. 3) The object of going out/drinking is to have fun, so if drinking doesn't appeal to you, don't do it and have fun anyway! 

Okay, now that that's out of the way, on the good stuff. What is the deal, really, with the party scene at GW? Well, like many other things, GW is pretty different from other schools. I know, I know, GW is different blah blah blah--you get it. But seriously, GW is a city school. There are no massive Greek mansions with sprawling lawns and 24/7 parties. There are fraternity houses that hold pretty typical college frat parties; they just happen to be in brink townhouses in the middle of downtown DC. The frat parties are usually advertised by giant banners hanging on the house displaying the date, time, and theme. It's pretty much what you would imagine a college frat party to be, so I won't give you any more detail on that front. 

So what else? Greek life is not the end all be all of the party scene at GW. It's really just the beginning actually. There are myriad bars and clubs to choose from, ranging from the 18+ techno dance clubs to the 21+ chill out bars in DuPont Circle. For those under 21, a pretty big staple to nightlife in DC is Hawk and Dove. Located a few metro stops away near Capitol Hill, "the Hawk" as my friends and I refer to it, has a downstairs bar and upstairs dance floor that is always packed. The Exchange is also very popular, very close to campus and the White House. Lots of fraternities, when having a special party or event night, will rent out The Exchange or Hawk and Dove. 

Once you turn 21, you'll surely visit one bar in particular, McFadden's. It's sort of the GW student coming of age-- that unattainable bar that one simply cannot enter until legal. Newly 21 year-old students make the pilgrimage to McFadden's to enjoy one of their legendary Happy Hours (cheap drinks for certain hours of the night). Even my friends from American University and George Mason have made the trek McFadden's after becoming legal. Another great place to go when over 21 is Adams Morgan. Past DuPont Circle, Adams is a bit of a walk or a short cab/metro ride away. There are literally streets lined with bars--mostly filled with college students and young professionals. There is always something to do in Adams Morgan on the weekends, and even if you aren't 21, there are hookah bars and cute cafes up there as well. There are so many places in the city to go, whether 21 or 18, to enjoy a night out of the town.  

But all that going to clubs and bars can get expensive. So if you're looking for a cheaper or just different kind of night, stay in. If you're over 21, you can bring alcohol into your room and party with your friends as long as you aren't bothering your neighbors. Whether you end up at a club/bar, frat party, or a friend's place, most people like to end the night with some nourishment. 

And by nourishment I mean some form of junk food. While Domino's and Papa John's pizza are the old stand bys for delivery pizza, there is so much more out there. First of all, there's Manouch. No student can call themselves a GW student if they haven't been to Manouch. The man, the institution, Menuch sells the best hotdogs and pretzels on the corner of Eye and 21st Streets late at night. While the long line can be daunting at times, it's always worth it! If you happen to be in the Adams Morgan area (or not), you can treat yourself to the cheesey goodness of Jumbo Slice before calling it a night. When I say jumbo, I mean jumbo. Their idea of a "slice" of pizza is really about a quarter of a pie, and with about 5 or 6 different places offering these large slices, it's a quick late night snack. There's also a few 24 hour places, like the McDonald's on M Street or the CVS, also on M Street. Crepe Away and Pita Pit also do late night business, open till about 3 or 4 am on weekends. But if you find yourself at home, and not wanting pizza delivery do I have the answer for you: DC Sancks! Just hit up www.dcsnacks.com and choose from a crazy amount of foods, ranging from vegan cookies, frozen meals, PitaPit sandwiches, to Ben and Jerry's ice cream--all for delivery!  

Well, I hope this has been helpful in uncovering the party scene at GW. There are so may options--whether involving drinking or not. All you have to do is look!

--Abby