Originally Posted by DCAstudent

As a current Georgetown senior, I can confirm that there are no independent bookstores in the area (assuming you mean "Lower Georgetown" as in the part by the universtiy where the main shopping drags (Wisconsin Avenue and M Street) meet. There is a Barnes and Noble at M and Thomas Jefferson.

Lots of good restaurants in the area. The Tombs, which was used as the setting of St. Elmo's Fire is the main student pub at night and a good American restaurant during the day. It's at 35th and Prospect. Bangkok Bistro on Prospect Street, and another Thai place in the Washington Harbor development are good bets. J. Paul's on M is good for seafood, and Clyde's on M (part of a DC-area chain) is very good also. Pizzeria Paradiso (one on M and another in Dupont Circle) always wins Washington Post awards for good pizza at low prices. Paolo's on Wisconsin is really good for Italian, and has a nice brunch. Finally, cheap and good burgers and fries can be found at Five Guys on Wisconsin.

If they like shopping, Gtown is the best area... UCB, Armani Exchange, American Eagle, J Crew, Polo, Puma, Diesel, etc. are all there. There are still some independent "trendy" places along M as well, although some of the stores on Wisconsin, especially north of Prospect, are a little sketchy. There's an indoor mall - albeit small - called Georgetown Park as well as a nice grocery store, Dean and Delucca, at Potomac and M.

You can also see some historic sites in the area - Stone House is the city's oldest house; the Kenndey's house; the house and church from "Exorcist"; the Kerry's house, etc. It's also common to see interesting people like Madaleine Albright walking around.