Shopping A-Z

Antiques

A few miles north of the city is not too far to go for the good deal or true bonanza you're likely to discover on Antique Row. Some 40 antiques and collectible shops line Howard Avenue, on either side of Connecticut Avenue, in Kensington, Maryland, offering every sort of item in a wide variety of styles, periods, and prices. If you don't drive or taxi, you'll have to take the Metro and two buses. From Dupont Circle, board an L2 bus and get a transfer from the driver. Ask him to tell you when you reach the transfer point for the L8 bus. Once there, board the L8 bus and ask to be let off at Connecticut and Knowles avenues. Howard Avenue is 1 block north of Knowles.

Art Galleries

Art galleries abound in Washington, but especially in the Dupont Circle, Georgetown, and Penn Quarter neighborhoods.

Dupont Circle -- The closest Metro stop is Dupont Circle. If you're in town the first Friday of the month, don't miss the Dupont Circle gallery walk, free and open to the public, 6 to 8pm.

Georgetown -- The closest Metro stop is Foggy Bottom; from there, you can walk, hop on the D.C. Circulator bus, or transfer to the Georgetown Metro Connection bus to get you the rest of the way.

7th Street Arts Corridor -- A couple of these galleries predate the renaissance taking place in this downtown neighborhood. To get here, take the Metro to either Archives/Navy Memorial (Blue-Orange Line) or Gallery Place/Chinatown/Verizon Center (Red-Yellow Line).

Beauty

Georgetown is the hot spot for the best hair salons and cosmetic stores, while spas are more evenly scattered throughout the city.

Books

Washingtonians are readers, so bookstores constantly pop up throughout the city. An increasingly competitive market means that chain bookstores do a brisk business, even though D.C. can claim more general-interest, independent bookstores than any other city.

Cameras & Film Developing

Photography is a big business in this image-conscious tourist town. A wide range of services and supplies, from inexpensive point-and-shoot cameras to deluxe German and Japanese equipment, is available at competitive prices. Some shops offer repair services and have multilingual staff.

Fashion

Children's Clothing -- If your youngster has spilled grape juice all over his favorite outfit and you need a replacement, you can always head to the downtown Macy's or H&M, or to the nearest Gap Kids: in Georgetown at 1267 Wisconsin Ave. NW (tel. 202/333-2411). Chic moms undeterred by expense shop at the Georgetown store, while practical moms shop at the midtown Kid's Closet.

Men's Clothing -- Local branches of Banana Republic are at Wisconsin and M streets in Georgetown (tel. 202/333-2554) and F and 13th streets NW (tel. 202/638-2724); The Gap has several locations in Washington, including 1120 Connecticut Ave. NW (tel. 202/429-0691) and 1258 Wisconsin Ave. NW (tel. 202/333-2657).

Women's Clothing -- Washington women have many more clothing stores to choose from than men. Stores selling classic designs dominate, including Ann Taylor, at Union Station (tel. 202/371-8010), 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW (tel. 202/659-0120), 600 13th St. NW (tel. 202/737-0325), and Georgetown Park, 3222 M St. NW (tel. 202/337-0843); and Talbots, at 1122 Connecticut Ave. NW (tel. 202/887-6973), and Georgetown Park, 3222 M St. NW (tel. 202/338-3510). Beneath their modest apparel, however, Washington women like to wear racy Victoria's Secret lingerie -- you'll find stores in Union Station (tel. 202/682-0686) and Georgetown Park (tel. 202/965-5457), as well as at Connecticut and L streets NW (tel. 202/293-7530).

Gourmet Goodies To Go

Demanding jobs and hectic schedules leave Washingtonians less and less time to prepare their own meals. Or so they say. At any rate, a number of fine-food shops and bakeries are happy to come to the rescue. Even the busiest bureaucrat can find the time to pop into one of these gourmet shops for a movable feast.

Malls

If malls are your thing, D.C. has plenty for you to choose from: Chevy Chase Pavilion, 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW (tel. 202/686-5335; www.ccpavilion.com; Metro: Friendship Heights); Gallery Place, 7th and H sts. NW (tel. 202/338-5200; www.galleryplace.com; Metro: Gallery Place/Verizon Center); Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW (tel. 202/966-6114; www.mazzagallerie.com; Metro: Friendship Heights); the Shops at Georgetown Park, 3222 M St. NW (tel. 202/342-8190; www.shopsatgeorgetownpark.com; Metro: Foggy Bottom, then take the Georgetown Metro Connection shuttle or D.C. Circulator); Tysons Corner Center, 1961 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean, VA (tel. 703/893-9400; www.shoptysons.com); and Tysons Corner II, The Galleria, 2001 International Dr., McLean, VA (tel. 703/827-7700; www.shoptysonsgalleria.com). Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Arlington, VA (tel. 703/417-8600; www.mwaa.com/National), has 100 stores to choose from, too, if you want to do some souvenir shopping on your way out of town.

Shoes

For men's dress shoes, try Brooks Brothers. There are local outlets of Foot Locker at Union Station (tel. 202/289-8364) and 1934 14th St. NW (tel. 202/319-8934). Nine West sells women's shoes from locations at Union Station (tel. 202/216-9490), 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW (tel. 202/452-9163), and 1227 Wisconsin Ave. NW (tel. 202/337-7256).

Emergency Shopping

You've just arrived in town, but your luggage hasn't -- the airline lost it. Or you're about to depart for home or another destination and you notice that the zipper to your suitcase is broken. Or you've arrived at your hotel all in one piece, only to discover you've forgotten something essential: underwear, allergy medicine, an umbrella. What's a lonesome traveler to do? One of these suggestions might prove your salvation.

CVS: This is Washington's main pharmacy and essentials chain. Among the items sold at CVS stores are pantyhose, over-the-counter and prescription medicines, toys, greeting cards, wrapping paper and ribbon, magazines, film and 1-hour photo developing, batteries, candy, some refrigerated food such as milk and orange juice, and office supplies. The stores are ubiquitous, so chances are you'll find one near you. Two conveniently located 24-hour branches are at 2240 M St. NW (tel. 202/296-9877; Metro: Gallery Place/Verizon Center) and at 6 Dupont Circle NW (tel. 202/785-1466; Metro: Dupont Circle); www.cvs.com.

Cobbler's Bench Shoe Repair: This shop on the lower (food court) level of Union Station is open daily, Monday to Friday from 7am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm, and Sunday noon to 6pm, to come to the rescue of travelers whose shoes or luggage need mending. The cobbler also cuts keys and sells repair items. Union Station, lower level. (tel. 202/898-9009). Metro: Union Station.

Macy's: This former Hecht's remains an old reliable and the only department store located downtown. But though it's been around a while, the store continually updates its merchandise to keep up with the times. Run here if you need cosmetics, clothes (for men, women, and children), shoes (but not for children), electronics, appliances, lingerie, luggage, raincoats, and countless other need-immediately goods. Open daily: noon to 6pm Sunday; 10am to 8pm Monday, Thursday, and Friday; 9am to 9pm Tuesday; and 9am to 10pm Wednesday and Saturday. 1201 G St. NW. (tel. 202/628-6661). www.macys.com. Metro: Metro Center.

Metro Stations: If it starts raining and you're scrambling to find an umbrella, look no farther than your closest Metro station, where vendors are at the ready selling umbrellas and other handy things.