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Centrally located on the hot block of P between 14th and 15th, Commissary has a fantastic weekend brunch chock full of great food and cute customers. Alcohol service begins at 11, but after that the mimosas (and other juice & champagne variations) are great coupled with the limited but delicious menu choices. Real buttermilk pancakes, fresh pastries, and healthy meat selections made for a tasty meal. A tip: be prepared to wait for a table, as much of the indoor area is dedicated to some loungy-couch seating that the management would do better to clear away and replace with tables on busy weekend mornings.

Dupont Circle seems to be devoid of anywhere to go for breakfast on a weekday, but Kramerbooks & Afterwords is the one fabulous exception. The menu was short and sweet, but included some great omelets, benedicts, and other breakfast staples (my whole-wheat belgian waffle was terrific!). The Cafe area is in a glass enclosed outdoor patio that looks like it can be opened up in summer weather, and while simple, the decor was pleasing enough. Good wait-staff and happy customers made for a pleasant morning. And when you're though, you can browse the fabulous bookstore for anything from gay fiction to political commentary.

I'm not sure if JR's is officially a chain, but DC's JR's is similar in feel to those I've seen in Houston and Denver--a sort of gay "Cheers." Wood panelling, stained glass, and cute boys are common at JR's, and DC's is no exception. Monday Showtune night started off slow but ended up completely packed, and the VJ kept a steady stream of musical numbers going on the screens, ranging from TV clips to a rare Broadway bootleg. The staff was all cute, but a little rude--after waiting in line to close out the tab, we were told to go see another bartender who'd already left for the night and then ignored.

Dupont Italian Kitchen's location on 17th might just be its best feature. I went on a chilly fall night, so there was no outdoor seating, and inside the place could be nicer--older floor tiles, awkward tables and chairs that could be replaced with nicer ones. The service was fine if a bit disinterested (certainly no hot gay waiters here, the only attractive men were the customers), but the food made up for it: everyone at my table enjoyed their different meals, from pizza to pasta, even if we had a pretty small selection to choose from. I ordered a Cosmo and have to say it was the worst drink I've ever had in a restaurant--hopefully the bar upstairs has better bartenders!

Z/S (as the sign says) was a great time. After a short line and a $10 cover, you enter the downstairs space, which is huge and equipped with 2 bars and a great stage and floor area for Drag shows.. and voila, the naked penis of a stripper on the bar! The drag was good, although the queens only picked older songs that didn't really get the crowd going (except for a Miley Cyrus tune that the queen *clearly* didn't know the words to). Upstairs, lots of hot, fully naked men, a different body type for everyone, and a great dance floor space. Unlike lots of strip clubs, it didn't seem gross or icky though... everyone just seemed to be there to have a good time. Great bartenders, good prices, and $1 off the first drink with cover! My only quip: Lighting--upstairs it was a little too dark to see much of the dancers, and downstairs they kept turning on the garish fluorescents to see the crowd, who was probably better under dimmer conditions.

Duplex is a great mix of piano bar, neighborhood hangout, and cabaret theater. The piano bar downstairs is a fun place to hear up-and-coming New York singers (and once in a while a famous one) belting out anything from rock and roll to classic showtunes, especially on a Monday night when all the Broadway folks have a night off and Darius Frowner is playing the heck out of the piano. Upstairs is a more relaxed feel, with darts and games and a cozy hang-out space, and attached is an intimate cabaret space where you can catch all different kinds of shows, from one-man/woman cabarets to readings of full cast musicals. A fantastic spot for tourists and locals alike!

This store has some fantastic clothes, underwear, bags and shoes, but get ready to pay a high mark-up for them. All the current gay-friendly brands (G-star, Penguin, Ben Sherman, D&G), and even some than I've never heard of. A great underwear selection, although not as big as their New York store's. For the budget conscious, they had a sample sale going on my last visit, but every sample had a hole put in by the manufacturer to discourage resale... if you know a good tailor, it might be worth it! Tip: Check out the clearance section in the back... things are still overpriced there, but if you dig deep you might find a good deal.

My friends and I had a FABULOUS time at Play on Sunday nights for Drag Karaoke. Who doesn't love a 3-toothed Drag Queen doing Beyonce's "Soldia' Boy" followed by a lesbian rapping "Baby Got Back?" Great, cute staff, good drink prices, and a fun crowd make this a great place to go. Head to Tribe next-door for a pre-party cocktail, and then go sing your face off!

I'm not quite sure why this one building feels it has to have 3 names, but Cobalt/30 Degrees/whatever the first floor is called is a fun time. The music on the 3rd floor (Cobalt) was crazy loud, but the shirtless bartenders were hot, even if they had to make a drink twice 'cause they couldn't hear the order. The second floor (30 Degrees) had loungey seating and was packed with all they boys who wanted to hear themselves think. Fun!

If you like a good drag show, S4 is for you. One of the best Drag stages I've seen in the country, it's obvious that the ownership spent some good money on lighting and sound, and with good reason: these queens are amazing! Look for Krystal Summers, who was literally mobbed with adoring fans during her numbers, and was a fabulous hostess to boot! A great mixed crowd, big dance floor, and fun patio complete the scene. Expensive cover, but worth it for fun night out.