Chic shopping in D.C.'s Georgetown

On the outside, Washington, D.C. is monuments, museums, bureaucrats and tourists. Beyond the freeze-dried ice cream at the Air and Space Museum and a hurried peek past the White House security barricades, the nation's capitol takes second place for traveling urbanites. Unless you dig a little deeper.

Enter Georgetown. Beyond the direct reaches of the D.C. Metro system lies a bustling neighborhood that's too expensive for most people to live in but a true delight to play in. If you haven't been to Georgetown, than you haven't experienced D.C. Neither has one realized that the essence of fabulous New York City and the solution to dreary Baltimore lies just around the corner.

"Baltimore is abysmal and New York City is too far, but Georgetown is awesome -- and no one even knows it's there," says senior Seema Kaura. For die-hard shoppers like Kaura, who would rather shop online than venture into the retail scene in Baltimore, Georgetown's thriving boutique district is a welcome respite.

Not only does this shopping area offer reprieve from the doldrums of the Towson and Inner Harbor malls, but Georgetown is a saving grace from D.C. as well. The elite neighborhood offers respite from the stresses of Capital Hill, which is "a small pain in the ass," says junior Rushmi Ramakrishna. In Georgetown, "you could shop a lot and then get a nice cold pint after."

Since the colonial times, Georgetown has been just the answer. Hail it as a quaint reminder of colonial history, an immense collection of bars and boutiques, or a second 5th Avenue -- the town has got it all. Forget those tacky tourist t-shirts that hang alongside the hot dog stands on the National Mall. Forget, too, New York City. Georgetown can hold its own, especially in the field of retail.

What used to be a colonial commerce center along the Potomac has only changed in that coonskin caps and dried fish markets have been replace by Armani Exchange. You can still find tobacco. The bustle of shoppers remains.

The heart of the Georgetown shopping district lies at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street. NW, and the arteries of shopping pump consumers out in all four directions. Jaywalking can slow traffic to a crawl, and in turn, shoppers slow to a crawl as bags collect on their arms and weigh them down.

There is a lot to buy in Georgetown. From the staples of Abercrombie & Fitch to The Gap, JCrew and Coach, retail continues to span clothing, cosmetics and home furnishings. For the sleek, A/X Armani Exchange, Kenneth Cole, and Sephora. For the trendy, Diesel, Urban Outfitters, Betsey Johnson and Steve Madden. For others, European imports like Spanish retailer Zara and French cosmetic line L'Occitane.

For the 5th Avenue touch, fake handbags are plentiful. The spoils of Louis Vuitton, Prada and Kate Spade have invaded the street corners of Wisconsin Ave, and the bags delight young women who collect purses by the trends and toss them with the seasons.

When the bags have grown heavy and wallet light, multiple cafes and restaurants offer temporary respite before the next act. Fine French restaurants like Au Pied de Cochon and La Madeleine join with Italian cuisine and other light stops like Ben and Jerry's, Quick Pita and George's: The King of Cheesecakes and Falafel. Not far away are restaurants at the Four Seasons Hotel and the Georgetown Inn.

Nightlife picks up as the sky darkens, and young professionals join with students of Georgetown and George Washington Universities to fill the many bars and clubs.

Find Georgetown from the D.C. Metro stop Foggy Bottom/GWU by walking along K Street to Wisconsin Avenue, and continue on to the intersection with M Street. From the Rosslyn Metro station, simply cross Key Bridge to M Street and continue on to the intersection with Wisconsin Avenue. One can access the Metro directly from Union Station D.C., where the Marc train connects to Baltimore for only $7 on weekdays.

To dazzle the mind before even arriving, see Georgetown online at http://www.georgetowndc.com/index.php. The weather is beautiful and the weekday from train from Baltimore is quick and cheap. Stop lamenting that New York is too far and that Baltimore is dismal: Georgetown is waiting for you.