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Interesting areas of Washington DC
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There are many interesting areas around DC, providing dining, drinking, cultural, and artistic opportunities for visitors and locals. Some general areas to explore are as follows.

Adams Morgan

Adams Morgan is a diversely populated neighborhood of DC that abounds with restaurants, bars, and clubs. The dining options include a variety of both American and international cuisines. On the weekend evenings Adams Morgan generally draws a younger crowd (20-somethings), though there are interesting things to do and see for visitors of all ages, including: Transit directions from conference hotel:
  • From L'Enfant plaza, take the Orange line in the direction of Vienna, or the Blue line in the direction of Franconia / Springfield.
  • Change to the Red line, in the direction of Shady Grove.
  • Exit at the Woodley Park-Zoo / Adams Morgan stop.
  • $1.45 peak, $1.35 off-peak, a little more than 15 minutes.
  • Walk: Straight on Connecticut Ave. to corner, left on Calvert St. to Adams Mill Rd., bear right to Columbia Rd. NW (about 5 minute walk)

Capitol Hill

The Capitol Hill area, immediately around the US Capitol building (mainly to the east), is alive with the people who work for/with all levels of the US government. It is not uncommon to find senate and representative staffers unwinding in many of the various bars and restaurants here. Some things to do and see include: Transit directions from conference hotel:
  • From L'Enfant plaza, take the Orange line in the direction of New Carrolton, or the Blue line in the direction of Largo Town Center.
  • Exit at the Capitol South stop.
  • $1.35, under 5 minutes.
  • Walk: North two blocks along 1st Street and East several blocks along Independence Ave.

Chinatown

Washington DC's
Chinatown is small, but hosts a number of fantastic Chinese, Mongolian, and Burmese restaurants. It is located along H street in northwest DC, between 6th and 8th street and is easily accessible by public transit. Transit directions from conference hotel:
  • From L'Enfant plaza, take the Green line in the direction of Greenbelt, or the Yellow line in the direction of Mt. Vernon.
  • Exit at the Gallery Place / Chinatown stop.
  • $1.35, under 5 minutes.

Crystal City / Pentagon City

Crystal City is an urban village with vibrant street and night life, frequented primarily by professionals in tech industries. Spreading from its heart at 23rd and Crystal Drive, Crystal City offers an streetscape of restaurants and other retail businesses, and a broader mix of corporate tenants in the buildings above street level. Points of interest include: Pentagon City (just north of Crystal City) offers a large mid-scale shopping mall (with full wireless access for $9.95 a day). The mall is directly accessible from the Pentagon City metro stop.

Transit directions from conference hotel:
  • From L'Enfant plaza, take the Yellow line in the direction of Huntington.
  • Exit at the either Crystal City or the Pentagon City stop.
  • $1.35, a little under 10 minutes.

Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle is a popular and quite trendy area of DC that hosts a number of art galleries, upscale shopping, and coffee shops. Restaurants in Dupont range from elegant to casual, and many offer outdoor seating. Things to see and do here include: Transit directions from conference hotel:
  • From L'Enfant plaza, take the Orange line in the direction of Vienna, or the Blue line in the direction of Franconia / Springfield.
  • Change to the Red line, in the direction of Shady Grove.
  • Exit at the Dupon Circle stop (use the North exit).
  • $1.35, a little under 15 minutes.

Eastern Market

Eastern Market is both and area of the city, as well as a 19th century era market place. Of great historical significance to the DC area, Eastern Market is an collage of cultures in the form of shops, restaurants, residents, and visitors. Even more reason to visit it: it is very close to the conference!
  • A trip through market place itself is an interesting experience
  • Obviously, there are a variety of shops and restaurants in and adjacent to the market
  • Murky Coffee is a nice coffee shop with free, open wireless access
Transit directions from conference hotel:
  • From L'Enfant plaza, take the Orange line in the direction of New Carrolton, or the Blue line in the direction of Largo Town Center.
  • Exit at the Easter Market stop.
  • $1.35, under 5 minutes.

National Mall

The National Mall is a wonderful green, open area extending from the US Capitol building to the Lincoln memorial, connecting museums, monuments, and gardens. Mere blocks from the conference hotel, it hosts well more attractions than there's time to visit in a week. The WikiPedia entry for the National Mall is very extensive, and we defer to it. The conference hotel is 2 blocks south of the Arts and Industry building, number 13 on the WikiPedia "Landmarks" figure.

Walking directions from conference hotel:
  • Walk: North along 7th street for 3 blocks.

U Street

Historic and contemporary hotspot for DC jazz, this area around U Street where Duke Ellington grew up now offers an amazing, very urban dining and art scene. Transit directions from conference hotel:
  • From L'Enfant plaza, take the Green line in the direction of Greenbelt.
  • Exit at the U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardoza stop.
  • $1.35, under 10 minutes.