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, D.C., 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. For a longer listing of Dupont Circle art galleries, access the website, www.dupontcirclegalleries.com.

Georgetown -- The closest Metro stop is Foggy Bottom; from there, you can walk, hop on the D.C. Circulator bus, or transfer to a Metrobus, any of the 30 series, 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.

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 (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); 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).

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. 202/624-8627; 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.tysonsgalleria.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; www.footlocker.com) and 1934 14th St. NW (tel. 202/319-8934). Nine West sells women's shoes from locations at Union Station (tel. 202/216-9490; www.ninewest.com), 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW (tel. 202/452-9163), and 1227 Wisconsin Ave. NW (tel. 202/337-7256).