Washington is known for its great museums, its political hot air, its ethnic restaurants, its flowers and Parisian city plan, and its non-English-speaking taxidrivers. But beyond the usual great dining (Le Lion D'or, Yannick's in Annandale, Galileo, Red Sage, Jean Louis at the Watergate, Obelisk, Sam & Harry's), good “reasonably priced” dining (Austin Grill, Bistro Francais, City Cafe, Cottonwood Cafe, Perry's for sexy sushi, Pizzeria Paradiso, Cajun Bangkok in Old Town Alexandria—truly cross-cultural cuisine), and live theater (Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Folger Theater), little is known about the kinds of action visitors can find at night. Truth is, there's not much to know. The following is a brief and personal look at Washington nightlife. (P.S. The restaurant notes above are personal and very incomplete. For more information and incredibly useful indices, there's nothing better than the Zagal Restaurant Guide.)
Fifth Column: Really a dance place which must be listed as first, second, third, fourth, and fifth choice: Great music, sophisticated, exciting yet comfortable, and lively, interesting crowd. Downtown.
Tracks: Mixed crowd on weekends, largely gay during the week. Incredible music and dancing, complete with videos and volleyball. Great ambiance.
River Club: A truly elegant club—for D.C. Combination well-reviewed restaurant with dance floor, decorated in black and white. Music ranges from the '40s up through the pre-Reagan era.
Marquis de Rochambeau: A cabaret “full of antiques, white elephants, and musical acts” with a wild crowd to match, though the food is not yet completely reviewed. A bizarre blast in the heart of Georgetown.
Fifth Column: (see under “dancing.”)
Chaos: A bar and listening post for a “transthanatonic (Take note, Mrs. Klein) double postmodern experience” in Adams Morgan.
DC Space: A happening place, replete with live music, films and poetry, and unusual food. A nice bar, too, near enough to the National Gallery for an atmospheric drink before dinner.
WPA: Washington Project for the Arts with local avant-garde art exhibits, drinks, tableaux vivants, and more.
Blues Alley: A national treasure for jazz. You must book this brick-walled crowded Creole place in Georgetown. Whenever headliners—Dizzy, Ella, the Marsalis brothers—are in town, they play here.
One Step Down: Near Georgetown and even nearer heaven—great music with reasonable cover charges and drink prices. Weekend headliners.
Bayou: Great rock 'n roll, without dancing and with a young Georgetown crowd. Check who is performing, because sometimes the stars are really out.
9:30 Club: Rock for all ages, usually with stellar performers and lively crowd.
Birchmere: Worth a detour to Alexandria for this neo red-neck beer joint—and once in a while you can even catch Joe Cocker playing here. Great down-home spaghetti and meatballs.
Night life is easier if the kids you may have brought to the meetings had fun during the day—so here are some tips for kids to help parents get guiltlessly gone later on.
FBI Tour: Video reenactments of great crimes are only part of the scene, which includes firearms demonstrations and the current list of the “ten most wanted.” Great tour.
Discovery Theater: Saturday mornings at the Smithsonian, for kids under six. Puppets galore. Call for booking and times.
National Zoo: If the weather is right and the pandas are out, you can't beat this place (except if you're from San Diego). The reptile house is not to be missed.
Capital Children's Museum: Funky and user-friendly place with hands-on arts and crafts, Mexican streets, computers galore, and much much more.
Air and Space/Natural History: Two in one day is a lot—but go during the week. The movies are spectacular at A&S, and at Natural History current exhibits complement the familiar dinosaurs. Great book shops.