Spend happy hour outside

According to Accuweather, today's temperatures won't fall below 70 degrees until some time between 10 and 11 p.m. If, like me, you're dying to get out and enjoy the weather after work, here are five patios on my to-do list.

The Bullpen
Even if you don't have tickets to the Nationals' opening game, you can party at the Bullpen until midnight. You'll find banks of beanbag-toss games, flat-screen TVs and a bar under an enormous tent, and live music by local rockers Fools and Horses from 3:30 on. There's no cover charge.

Dogfish Head Ale House
More than 50 people can enjoy the great outdoors on Dogfish Head's two patios. Today would be a great night to sip the Aprihop Ale -- an IPA made with apricots -- or a refreshing Alehouse 75, a mix of Dogfish Head's 60 and 90 Minute IPAs. It's even better if you go during happy hour (4-7 p.m.), when all beers are $1.50 off and all wine and martinis are $1 off.

Galaxy Hut
I love the Galaxy Hut's tiny patio, which is about as wide as a downtown sidewalk. Seating options include a row of two-person booths and a large grain silo reclaimed from the late Dr. Dremo's. Tonight at 6 p.m., the Hut is wrapping up Real Ale Week with a firkin of Heavy Seas Siren Noir Imperial Chocolate Stout, which was rich and surprisingly balanced between sweetness and hops when I tried it at Pizzeria Paradiso last week. Grab a glass at the bar, then wander out onto the patio and enjoy the weather.

Public Bar
The most surprising March Madness in recent memory wraps up tonight with Duke and Butler playing for the national championship. The area's Butler alumni are gathering at the Penn Quarter Sports Tavern, which has a few TVs on its patio, but you'll have a better shot at actually seeing the game at Public Bar, where there are large flat-screen TVs on the rooftop deck. Don't forget about Public Bar's drink specials, either: get $3 Miller Lites and $5 burgers during the game. (Other sports bars with outdoor seating and TVs include Cleveland Park Bar and Grill and Grevey's.)

Room 11
Every Monday night, Room 11 taps a special guest beer. Tonight's pick couldn't be more seasonally appropriate: Hoffmann Helles, a light, crisp German-style larger from New Jersey's Climax Brewing Co. (All those Jersey jokes will stop as soon as you taste the beer.) Now that Room 11's large patio is back in action, it's a great place to be on a Monday night.

-- Fritz Hahn