dg1: Within a few blocks either direction of your White House area location were the vibrant Dupont Circle area (where I live) and the up-and-coming old downtown/East End area. Both have TONS of activity after 6:00. Just a bit further afield, but still on the edge of downtown, each with its own flavor and late late nightlife, are Georgetown and Adams Morgan. You just needed to walk a little further.

Pattius: If you came to love City Lights of China more than a couple of years ago, note that they have changed hands. The food has gone way downhill and they're now TERRIBLE neighbors (believe me, if you walked down 20th Street behind their restaurant where they keep their dumpsters, you wouldn't patronize it). It's sad, but true. If you want downtown Chinese by the same people who used to own City Lights, they have a new restaurant (name escapes me) at the corner of New Hampshire and M. I haven't been, but it's really pretty and the menu has many of the same old City Lights dishes.

If you're going to tolerate a dirty place for Chinese, you might as well get authentic food. Best place by far is Mark's Duck House off of Route 50 in Falls Church. It's almost like being in Hong Kong -- it doesn't really cater to Western sensibilities at all. Great fun if you're willing to be adventuresome.

Charlie