Nightlife

Washington by day is a city so full of things to do that you'll never get to them all. Washington by night is no different. And the options get better and more extensive by the hour.

D.C.'s hip neighborhood repertoire now goes way beyond Georgetown to include the U and 14th street corridors, Penn Quarter, Adams-Morgan, Barracks Row on Capitol Hill, the "Atlas District's" H Street NE (just east of Union Station), Dupont Circle, and even the upper-northwest upscale residential Cleveland Park. Restaurants are destinations in themselves, serving up a sexy lounge alongside the dining room. Bars are as much about making the scene as having a drink.

Locals have always loved their live music venues and these strongholds continue to thrive. But if you prefer DJ-driven beats, you'll find all the best in the latest, hottest clubs. Spoken-word joints? Got 'em. Bowling alley for the drinking crowd? Got it. Classic fare, like Shakespeare, comedy, Broadway musicals, symphonies, opera, ballet? Whatever you want, Washington's got it.

Read over the listings that follow to see what most appeals to you. For up-to-date schedules of events, from live music and theater, to children's programs and flower shows, check the Friday "Weekend" section of the Washington Post, or go online, and browse the Post's nightlife information at www.washingtonpost.com. Also visit www.washingtonpost.com's "Going Out Gurus" blog, accessible from its City Guide link; the "GOGs" answer questions about nightlife live online every Thursday at 1pm, and transcripts stay posted for a time. The City Paper, available free at restaurants, bookstores, and other places around town, and online at www.washingtoncitypaper.com, is another excellent source. Finally, check out the blog www.dcist.com for an irreverent inside look at what's going on around town.

Tickets

TICKETplace, Washington's only discount day-of-show ticket outlet, has one location: at 407 7th St. NW, between D and E streets (Metro: Gallery Place/Verizon Center or Archives/Navy Memorial). Call tel. 202/TIC-KETS (842-5387) for information. You can purchase tickets at the booth or online at www.ticketplace.org. On the day of performance only (except Sun and Mon; see below), you can buy half-price tickets (with select debit and credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover; but cash, personal checks, and traveler's checks are not accepted) to performances with tickets still available at most major Washington-area theaters and concert halls, as well as for performances of the opera, ballet, and other events. TICKETplace is open Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 5pm; half-price tickets for Sunday and Monday shows are sold on Saturday. Though tickets are half-price, you have to pay a per-ticket service charge of 12% of the full face value of the ticket.

Tickets are available online Tuesday through Friday, between noon and 4pm. Again, the tickets sold are for same-day performances, at half-price, plus the per-ticket service charge, which for online sales is 17% of the full face value of the ticket. You must pay by credit card, using MasterCard or Visa, and then pick up the tickets at the "Will Call" booth of the theater you're attending; bring your credit card and a photo ID. TICKETplace is a service of the Cultural Alliance of Washington, in partnership with the Kennedy Center, the Washington Post, and Ticketmaster.

You can buy full-price tickets for most performances in town through Ticketmaster (tel. 800/551-7328; www.ticketmaster.com); expect to pay taxes, plus a service charge, an order processing fee, and a facility fee (if a particular venue tacks on that charge). Or you can visit one of Ticketmaster's numerous locations throughout the city, including Macy's Department Store, 12th and G streets NW (Metro: Metro Center), and the D.C. Visitor Center in the Ronald Reagan Building, at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (Metro: Federal Triangle); you usually will not have to pay a convenience or order processing fee when you purchase tickets in person. When you pay by credit card at TICKETplace and Ticketmaster, you have to show an ID to prove you are the credit card holder.

Another ticket outlet worth checking out is Tickets.com (formerly Protix). While Ticketmaster has a wider selection, Tickets.com offers some performances Ticketmaster doesn't. Call tel. 800/955-5566, access its website at www.tickets.com, or visit one of its D.C. outlets, including one inside the Olsson's Bookstore at 418 7th St. NW, directly across from the TICKETplace office, in the Penn Quarter.

Late-Night Bites

If your stomach is grumbling after the show is over, the dancing has ended, or the bar has closed, you can always get a meal at one of a growing number of late-night or all-night eateries.

In Georgetown, the Bistro Francais, 3128 M St. NW (tel. 202/338-3830), has been feeding night owls for years; it even draws some of the area's top chefs after their own establishments close. Open until 4am Friday and Saturday, until 3am every other night, the Bistro is thoroughly French, serving steak frites, omelets, and pâtés.

On U Street, Ben's Chili Bowl, 1213 U St. NW (tel. 202/667-0909), serves up chili dogs, turkey subs, and cheese fries until 4am on Friday and Saturday nights.

In Adams-Morgan one all-night dining option is the Diner, 2453 18th St. NW (tel. 202/232-8800), which serves some typical (eggs and coffee, grilled cheese) and not-so-typical (a grilled fresh salmon club sandwich) diner grub.

Finally, in Dupont Circle, stop in at Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café, 1517 Connecticut Ave. NW (tel. 202/387-1400), for big servings of everything, from quesadillas to french fries to French toast. The bookstore stays open all night on weekends, and so does its kitchen.