Legislative Aid

As Congress gets down to business, bars on Capitol Hill are hoping to lure legions of new staffers to their happy hours. On Wednesday, the Hawk and Dove is playing up to the new Democratic majority -- remember, this is the bar that advertised it would be playing "Happy Days are Here Again" for election night -- with a list of specials tailored to the Hill's latest crop of overworked-and-underpaid arrivals.

Besides offering a rare midweek chance to dance to a DJ in the "club" upstairs, the Hawk's welcome wagon is dishing out free snacks, $1.95 bottles of domestic beer, $2 Miller Lite drafts and $2 rail drinks. The best part? Happy hour runs from 6 until 10 (instead of the usual 4 to 7), so all the legislative assistants won't have to worry about making the 6:45 version of last call.

While it's conveniently located near the Capitol South Metro station, this nonpartisan event is open to everyone and you won't have to show a congressional ID at the door -- just valid ID showing that you're at least 21.

-- Fritz