We promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  As future members of the DC Lawyers Assistance Program, we are proud to present a bi-weekly run-down of DC hotspots.

Before getting into this review, we'd like to re-introduce ourselves to you, our now faithful readers.  Set is a recent graduate of George Washington University and DC's very own former bar wench.  You might have already met her at Bar Review, since every Friday at least 10-15 new people know her by name and have an inside joke with her.  Lisa, fresh from the Chicago working world, is thrilled to be in a new city, with new bars.  You might also have met Lisa at Bar Review, especially if she torture racked you and asked for outlines.

So for our final review of the year we've decided not to do a review at all. Instead, here's a preview of the top five places you should plan on checking out this summer.

Summers in DC can be really fun if you know where to go, so to save you the trouble here are some places where you are guaranteed to have a good time.

1. Eighteenth Street Lounge: Wednesday night live reggae at ESL. Nothing sounds more like summer than a night filled with reggae and ice-cold beers. This weekly hump-day party has become a staple among DC yo pros and interns. Featuring the best live reggae bands in the metro area, a Wednesday night outing at ESL should top your list of things to this summer. Conveniently located on Connecticut Ave, this Dupont bar (housed in a townhouse that once belonged to Mr. Teddy Roosevelt himself) offers an upscale escape right in the middle of the workweek. The massive patio area is undeniably the biggest draw. With lights strung across the deck bar, the ambience is warm and inviting and you will likely find yourself conversing with some interesting characters throughout the night. One warning to the nicotine-averse: the patio bar is a smokers paradise, so you may want to stay inside to avoid the stench. Further, this is the only bar in town where joints get passed around freely (I mean, it is reggae night) so you law-abiding citizens may also want to steer clear.  That being said, you shouldn't miss out on arguably one of best weekly parties in DC.

2. The Waterfront Bars: This string of bars located down by the edge of the Potomac in Georgetown is the hands-down best place to spend a breezy Friday night this summer. Whether you crowd around the bar area or grab a table with some friends, the fantastic location makes these bars one of the biggest draws in DC over the hot summer months. Head over to Cabanas to sip a chilly margarita, but please do watch out for the stairs on your way out; we have witnessed many a spill on those things and it's not pretty. Or start your night off early with a seafood feast at Tony & Joe's and linger once the late-night crowd makes its way in. The only thing to keep in mind is that with such an awesome location, the bars do tend to get crowded and procuring drinks may take patience.  However, the beautiful views and friendly crowd more than make up for the long wait for drinks. Do like we do and pre-game, which makes waiting for drinks much less painful.

3. The Reef: We hate to even suggest you go to Adams Morgan in the summer, but if you find yourself in dire need for a last resort, the Reef located on the 18^th Street strip is one of the nicer A.Mo bars. This aquatic themed bar offers 3 floors of interesting spaces to spend a weekend evening. The first floor is lagoon-like and rather small and noisy. The second floor is a much more inviting space, larger, with fish tanks dispersed throughout. The second floor also has a very expansive, centrally located bar so getting drinks here is a breeze. Drinks are not cheap though, but those of you who are beer-connoisseurs will appreciate the rather large selection of gourmet beers.  The third floor, our favorite, features a nice big rooftop deck, but being in A.Mo, it will likely be crowded, so try to keep your group size to a minimum. And while you're here, make sure to stop by Jumbo Slice for some pizza after the bar closes. Mmmm...drunken food baby....

4. Marvin: This U-street hotspot has been a major draw for DC yo pros ever since its doors opened in 2007. Named after the king of getting it on himself, Marvin Gaye, this Belgian-soulfood restaurant/bar is the perfect place for a low-key summer night. The interior bar is well-appointed, but rather small, and you will find dancing and getting drinks to be a difficult task. The outside patio however is a different story. Although similarly crowded, the expansive space offers a lot more wiggle room and a few more bartenders to speed up the drink procurement process. Grab a stool by the bar and you will be guaranteed to meet someone with an interesting life story, as it seems most of the patrons here are open to chatting with people outside of their respective groups.

5. Gibson: Located right next to Marvin and also owned by the members of the electronica band, Thievery Corporation, Gibson's is an authentic speak-easy which we are certain will really catch-on this summer. You can't just walk in and you may even have a hard time finding the place, as the only identifiable mark is a small labeled buzzer outside an inconspicuous door. But if you find it, you will definitely enjoy the interior of this place. It's beautifully decorated and very cozy. And this place is known for its cocktail concoctions. Try the salad cocktail. Interesting to say the least.

It's been a pleasure advising you all on where to make poor-life decisions this year. If you're in DC this summer, look for us at these places, we'll be sporting Waldo-like sweaters just to make it easy for you.

XOXO,

S & L