Soft spot in my heart for College Park Bicycles. I've known the manager there Chad for almost 15 years. Definitely some tude there, and they will charge you top dollar, but they do know what the heck they're doing. That is one of those bike shops everybody should visit once, they've got loads of vintage steel road frames (dozens and dozens) hanging from the rafters. The owner, Larry Black has been in the game for about 30 years.

Second the motions for Mille & Al's pizza, Asylum for Courierdom, Toledo Lounge to pick up normal chicks, throw in Madam's Organ too, esp. for Wednesday night Bluegrass and the occassional Robert Lighthouse show. Must mention Meskerem by name for Ethopian food, its no secret. Have had some good Thai food nearby at Star of Siam as well. Love Julia's empanadas. The Black Cat is where its at.

Citybikes can fix almost anything and has no discernable attitude, esp. the Adams Morgan shop with Paul and Mark wrenching, with Shawn working the front. Pro shop in Georgetown seconded for all that is road, fast, expensive, light, and tricky to fix. Those people love bikes (and the manager/owner loves to sell $tuff). I stay away from Revolution next door, the place is too mainstream for me now (trek Trek TREK), and I just can't relate to anybody there except (great wrench) Pinky, and I usually find him at the Clarendon shop. He can fix your bent frame real well (as he did mine) and he is old school.

Great network of bike trails, The Capital Crescent, The Mount Vernon Trail, The WO&D, The Custis Trail, The Four Mile Run Trail. You can go a long way out here without riding with cars. Must mention the Difficult Run trail in Viginia for off-road Reston-Great Falls.