Raise a glass. Start the dining experience with a toast at Proof, a "wine-centric" restaurant where the champagne trolley serves several by-the-glass bubblies each evening. (202) 737-7663; proofdc.com
Acting up. The four-venue complex known as the Studio Theatre is the place to experience plays fresh off the playwright's pen. (202) 332-3300;
studiotheatre.org
Be a mall walker. The National Mall is the jumping-off point for the Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington memorials and the Smithsonian Institution, to name just a few of the many attractions. nps.gov/nacc
When it comes to maps, D.C's Metro mobile website (wmata.com/mobile) helps users get from here to there, and several apps for smartphones are available, such as DC Metro Map from taapuna.com on iTunes.
All-in-one. Busboys and Poets is a restaurant, bookstore and fair-trade market where the words social justice are uttered often. Choose from three locations. busboysandpoets.com
On the Web The Going Out Gurus blog from the Washington Post features details about entertainment and dining in the city. voices.washingtonpost.com/goingoutgurus