Washington DC

I live here and I don't really go to the city very often, but the National Gallery is a cool museum, and it's free. Be sure to check out the building next to the main building, where the contemporary collection is.

You can come to the Crystal City Restaurant Sports Pub on Sunday morning for brunch to hang out with a bunch of other BTers after we run Cherry Blossom Ten Miler. 

Georgetown is a bit of a younger crowd, college & early 20s ... Old Town Alexandria has a bit of an older, mid 20s - 30s crowd.

Don't forget, for straight up beer drinking, there is the Brickskellar over on P St as a destination.

Adams Morgan/U Street is pretty good for going out, also.

http://www.lovethebeer.com/brickskeller.html

Check out the beer menu...

It is just on the other side of the Potomac River.

DC
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River
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Old Town

(that was supposed to be a diagram) 

I will be in DC this weekend, too! We should all meet up somewhere! I think we are going to come on Saturday - maybe stay over to Sunday. But I am not in shape enough to run no stinkin' 10 miler!!

Free things are good. I plan to do as much free stuff as I can.

The 10-Miler is full anyway Lots of the museums along the mall are free.

I grew up in Alexandria and spent plenty of time in Georgetown and Old Town over the years.  You'll obviously enjoy more of a "big city" feel in G'town and there are plenty of places to eat, drink, be merry as well as numerous streetside shops to browse while "hopping."  A few of my favorite places in Old Town include Union Street, Fish Market, and Murphy's Irish Pub - all of these places are institutions in OT.  And like in G'town, there's plenty of good shopping in OT.

Depending upon where staying in DC, Old Town is a quick skip down the GW Parkway, just south of the airport.  Turn left on King Street and follow toward the river, park near the Torpedo Factory and let your feet carry you from there.  Speaking of the GW Parkway, if you have time, it's a gorgeous drive and especially as things are starting to bloom, it might be worth making the trip to George Washington's home, Mount Vernon (approx 10 miles south of Old Town).  The Parkway runs parallel to the Potomac River and you'll likely see lots of folks out on the run/walk/cycle path that runs along the same stretch.

As already noted, the DC Mall offers a number of alternatives in terms of sightseeing, people watching, just hanging out.

Have fun!!

Different kind of shopping, though. G'town is more "regular" stores - a lot of name-brand clothing stores (everything from H&M to BCGB and other designer-type shops). OT is more "random" stuff, so it depends on what you want to shop for.

Ditto - Adams Morgan is also a very "college-y" crowd - there are some good little restaurants, but a lot of the bars cater to students. You just have to look around to find the places that aren't full of girls in Ugg boots, and guys with striped, untucked shirts.

grrr. lost my first attempt at this post. Anyhoo, another try:

Chinatown: Rosa Mexicana (7th and F) has great pomegrante margaritas and the food is AWESOME. Go to the bar for the margs, expect a wait (worht it) for food. Jaleo (7th and... E?) has great tapas and sangria. Zengo on 7th and G is a great place, but it's a pricey fancy food kinda place. BUT SO GOOD! Matchbox is great a little american food/pizza joint on G street. For non eats: The Newseam is there, and that's my FAVORITE museam in the city. The Spy Museam is also there, check online for tickets; it's a ton of fun

Georgetown: Eh, whatever. If it's a nice day, go down to the waterfront (GTown Harbor) and people watch at Tony and Joes right by the river

Adams Morgan: Stay away from the places offering 25 cent jello shots and you'll be fine Again, if it's a nice night/day, Perry's (18th and Columbia) has a great rooftop deck for dinner and drankin'; For a quiet upscale bar where you can actually have a conversation go right down the street on Columbia: Cashions Eat Place. Good Indian Food in AM is right on 18th street: Jyoti. If you want to blast Guns and Roses from the jukebox and have some good beer, Dans Cafe on 18th (cash only)

Dupont: Raku for good sushi/asian food; Kramerbooks and Afterwards for afterhours dessert (open 24 hours); Pizza Paradiso on P street for great cheap pizza/italian (Expect a wait [it's small], get the house red) (paradiso is around the corner from Brickskeller, for nightcap). 

Old Ebbit is good, you won't be sorry you went there, but it's right downtown which can get a little ghosttown like on weekends -- not a lot of bars/entertainment right near by.

Hmm... that's all off the top of my head. Will post more when I can think of it!