The Lay of the Land

D.C. is separated into four quadrants: NW, SW, NE, and SE, the center point being the Capitol Building. Streets that run east and west are labeled alphabetically, and those that run north and south are numbered; both kinds of streets increase as you move away from the Capitol (i.e., H St. is closer to the Capitol than P St., 4th St. is closer than 14th). Diagonal avenues are named for states, and will often intersect with traffic circles. When looking at an address, the letters NW, SW, NE, SE, will tell you which quadrant you're in. (tip: There is no J Street.)

Here are some of the neighborhoods you should know:

Georgetown's M Street is the shopping center of the city, and also where you'll find the bold-faced names when they come to town. There's also a critical mass of college students from nearby Georgetown and George Washington universities. Wander off M to admire the brick rowhouses along the cobblestone streets and enjoy the newly built waterfront park.

Downtown has experienced a revival in the past decade, from a lifeless zone after work hours to a lively nightlife destination of theaters, upscale restaurants, bars, shopping, and hotels.

Adams Morgan is known for its rowdy bar scene, though the neighborhood is also home to Ethiopian and Latino eats and funky boutiques.

Capitol Hill is one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, sprinkled with interesting shops and high-end restaurants frequented by Congressional staffers.

The U Street Corridor was once known as Black Broadway, when Duke Ellington was king of the thriving jazz scene. The riots following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., lay waste to the neighborhood in 1968, and since then the neighborhood has struggled to restore itself to its former glory. In recent years, gentrification has brought an influx of new restaurants, shops, bars, and condos. Get a virtual tour of the area with our U Street photo gallery.

In the Gilded Age, Dupont Circle became the hub for the nouveau riche; this past can still be seen in its opulent mansions and stately brick town houses. After falling on hard times, the neighborhood was revived by the gay community, and since that time has become a bustling commercial center with boutiques, restaurants, and a weekly FreshFarm market.