Cloture Girl is Back from the Dead, 2nd Column

What are some good bars where I can meet and network with other Capitol Hill staffers? -Happy Hour Happy

Dear Happy,

Some of the best bars to network for if you are working on the Hill are, quite logically, near the House and Senate office buildings.  Below I give a brief rundown of some of the more popular ones, grouped by personality and clientele. 

Union Pub and Irish Times: In general, Senate-side bars are a little less rowdy (because generally Senate-side folks are older) but Union Pub and especially Irish Times are the exceptions to this rule.  For Irish Times, talk about split personalities:  On the top level you will find typical Irish pup décor.  On the bottom level, you will find staffers and kickball players alike, reveling in a game of beer pong.  For Union Pub, go there for the dollar buckets of beers on Wednesdays, to sit outside after work or, to watch a sports game, just not for the food.  You will meet political types of all ages and professions.

Jonny’s Half Shell:  Hidden away off by the Phoenix Hotel, Johnny’s Half Shell attracts mid-20s and up on the Senate side.  It’s a popular spot for birthdays and coworker going away parties.  

The Monocle:  When you walk into the Monocle the first thing you notice are the pictures of famous Washington men and women of yesteryear.  The restaurant section has famous quotes and sayings like, “Washington is the Only City Where Sound Moves Faster than Light”.  Truer worlds were never said.  Don’t let this establishment’s name fool you.  It has more of an atmosphere reminiscent of Cheers.   That said, this isn’t an intern bar either as it tends to attract seasoned hill staffers and the older lobbying crowd.   Nor will you be welcome if you came purely to gawk at your favorite Senator trying to enjoy a quick meal between late night votes. 

House side bars:

Pour House, Tortilla Café, and Bullfeathers:  These bars are very intern-friendly, both in price and clientele.  If you are on a budget and can’t find a free reception you can grab some cheap eats at Tortilla Café and Bullfeathers.  The upper level of Pour House, dubbed ‘Top of the Hill’ often has decent events booked for staffers so if you see one, jump on RSVPing.

Capitol Lounge and Hawk & Dove: These bars cater to the happy hour crowd that stays out long enough to become the late night crowd.   You’ll meet 20-, 30-, and 40-something political types from on and off the hill at these places.

Sonoma:  Like nice wine and cheese? This is you spot.  The downstairs is a restaurant and the upstairs is often rented out for events.

Don’t like my reviews? Write you own (make it interesting) and maybe I’ll add it in below.

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This one is for the gals!

I just got a job as a Staff Assistant on Capitol Hill.  I was wondering if you have any advice on what sort of dress is appropriate and what isn’t.  -Confused Hill Girl

Dear Confused,

I have actually received a number of questions about fashion since starting this section, some more serious than others.  As a result I have decided to do a longer piece here on how to get a professional wardrobe started.  

Keeping within a young professional’s budget, I’ve had luck at Banana Republic, Club Monaco, Ann Taylor Loft, and J.Crew. I’ve also had some luck browsing online for designer brands like Theory at as much as 70% off. Look out for sales and discount codes for these retailers’ online stores and try to buy your suiting at a discount— then you can use that money saved to have pieces tailored to you! Try to keep away from large, oversized plastic buttons and if the buttons on your suit looks cheap, cut them off (carefully) and affix new ones. It’s as little as $12 and will make your suit look at least $100 more expensive.

Starting out, I would buy a black suit: blazer, dress pants, and knee length skirt. As a general rule, if you are petite I would advise you look for cropped and fitted blazers. If you are taller, you can pull off the classic blazer or even the longer “boyfriend” style as well. I would avoid any skirts that have a shapeless, boxy look to them. You will need some contouring so you visually don’t take on the shape of a heavy rectangle…so not what women want!  A pencil skirt should follow your body’s silhouette down to curve of the knees. A classic A-line is a very smart choice for women that feel self-conscious about their hips.  The best part about purchasing all three pieces together is that you have five different looks for the work week whether it is a full suited look or separates put together for the office.

Once you have your basic black suit, I would do another suit in a much lighter color such as ivory, camel or grey.  The benefit of getting a lighter, solid colored suit second is that your suit separates can easily be mixed with the basic black suit for year-round looks.  You can easily pair an ivory blazer with black dress pants, for instance.  You can pair these kinds of looks with several different kinds of tops that you find on sale, such as silk blouses, knit boatneck tops, and collared dress shirts.  If you have enough basics in your wardrobe, I’m a huge fan of blouses with details (pleating, light ruffles, or beading) along the neckline— they look great against a blazer and on their own tucked into a pencil skirt!  Of course, your own office culture will define what flies and what fails.  Take a look around you the first few days at what people your age are wearing and how they are received by their coworkers. 

I also can not stress enough how much of a difference a good cut makes.  I recommend taking your most comfortable work shoes with you when you go to get your pants tailored or hemmed so you will get the most accurate length. Usually, most women do not work in heels over 3″ if they have a pedestrian commute or are active while on the job.  I don’t recommend hemming your pants to the ground because it increases your chances of either staining the hems or even worse, stabbing a hole in the back of your pant leg with a heel.  I prefer 1/2- 1″ off the ground.  That way, whether you are dashing off to deliver a floor statement to the cloakroom, running a Dear Colleague around the Dirksen Building, or just out grabbing a badly needed latte at Nebs, you will stay looking your best.

Lastly, accessories are great for making the most out of your basic pieces.  Limit yourself to one or two pieces of flare to keep your look both polished and professional. 

Have fun shopping!

If you got a question, shoot them to cloturegirl@clotureclub.com – I’ll be answering your questions more often, I swear!