any suggestions? I’m leaving here (NYC) friday nite, and heading straight down to DC, foggy bottom area?? staying at an inn and coming back late sunday nite, just thinking about seeing the memorial and monument and other wonderful attractions of americana, but anyone in the area or that has been there have any suggestions on where i might want to stop by? i’m a young army vet, and i’m interested in anything military, also an SF/comp geek, so anything related is cool, and a history enthusiast. I will definitely like to check out some clubs if i can, i love dancing, so any help with that would be appreciated as well. much appreciated in advance, thanx. 
I don’t know of any cool places to visit (Unless you find a way to get into the Pentagon), but I hope you enjoy it. When I went to DC for my brother’s wedding I ended up breaking my ankle. Tell us how your trip goes!
Check out this link: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/print/weekly/weekend
It’s the weekend section of the Wash. Post and will let you know what’s going on. http://www.washingtonpost.com also has links to the Metro system, and the “Entertainment” tab will let you know what’s happening in the clubs.
Go to Arlington Nat’l. Cemetery, of course - they have a tour that naturally stops at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Arlington is directly adjacent to Fort Myers, which is HQ for the Old Guard. They often put on those cute little marching-and-gun-twirling shows on summer weekends.
The Wall and the Korean memorial.
Despite being army you might find both the Navy Memorial (near downtown, and the “Camera Works” tab will give you a panoramic view) and the Washington Naval Yard, with its museum, might interest you as well.
And don’t miss the Air and Space Museum.
sandyr, thanx a bunch, all of it sounds interesting, i’ll be busy. (i really wonder if i could slip into the pentagon :D, hehe [that’s a joke mr.easedropper from the NSA/CIA/FBI guy!!!] yeah right, there’s no big brother! 
)
Well, we would offer to meet you but we are going up to NYC for the weekend. We plan on meeting DrMatrix and his other half (the Cajun Man), as well as Manhattan.
In DC, if you are a tourist go to the Smithsonians. They are free and interesting. I particularly liked seeing the Hope Diamond. I never would have guessed that it was blue.
You can tour the Pentagon if you have a valid picture ID. I believe those tours are free as well. You may get a special tour if you have a military ID, but I am not sure.
Have fun and don’t wander into Anacostia.
HUGS!
Sqrl
My recommendations:
-The Smithsonian is a must see, Natural History and Air & Space especially. http://www.si.edu/
-If you’d like to check out the zoo an the recent shooting hasn’t deterred you, their site is http://www.si.edu/natzoo/
-As far as military stuff, I recommend the Vietnam memorial and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. If you’re going to Arlington Cemetery, its a quick trip to Iwo Jima and the Netherlands Carillion (a large funky obeliskish bell tower). Most of the other military stuff (like the Pentagon) I’m not sure is open on the weekend.
-I strongly recommend taking the metro- Traffic is pretty bad but finding parking is much worse. I believe it’s now open til 2 AM on the weekends (not a big deal for you NYCers but its a big improvement around here). All the info you need for that is at http://www.wmata.com .
-I don’t know your musical/art tastes, but if you like old school hip hop, there’s a Geln E. Friedman exhibit at the Govinda gallery in Georgetown. Its a long walk but it is within walking distance of Foggy Bottom. http://www.govindagallery.com .
Unfortunately, you just missed the Dali exhibit at the Hirshorn.
-As for dancing, there’s tons of places in Adams Morgan (Chief Ike’s Mambo Room, Heaven & Hell, El Rincon, Crush, Cities, etc…). There’s also a Polly Esther’s downtown. The Washingtonpost.com link that someone else provided should have all the info you need to get yer groove on.
Enjoy your visit!
I believe the Dali exhibit is still at the Hirshorn which is next to the Air and Space museum. I was quite impressed when I saw it. It had practically all of Dali’s most famous paintings other than Persistence of Memory.
HUGS!
Sqrl
The Holocaust Museum is pretty overwhelming. In a good way. The architecture is really intriguing (looks like a prison camp, yet is still beautiful); the exhibits are well-done. I did bawl, tough.
Check out the American History Museum too… it has a big display on the history of computers that is interactive. Plus there is Fonzi’s jacket, Archie Bunker’s chair, the ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz…etc.
And Metro is the way to go…cleaner than safer than NYC but not open 24 hours.
You can also check out the City Paper for clubs and stuff at http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com
Especially if you visit the Navy Yard. Not the best area. But I do think there are some good dance clubs nearby.
What everyone else said is good. Especially the Natl’ History Museum - I drag my tourist friends there everytime someone visits me.
Can’t help you much with the SF/computer stuff, but there is an ‘Another Universe’ store in Georgetown (I don’t remember the address.)
I’ll 3rd everyone on the Metro. You’ll have to walk to Georgetown from Foggy Bottom (and the station marked Adams Morgan is not actually near Adams-Morgan,) but it’s a nice walk. Where are you staying?
Foggy Bottom isn’t far from most of the big stuff, like the White House. Skip the White House tour. It’s a long line, and not that interesting. The National Zoo is GREAT, if a little out of the way. The Orang-u-Tan towers are pretty neat, if you ask me.
The Smithsonian is a MUST. You could spend the whole trip there and not get bored.
For lunch one day, I suggest the Old Post Office. A neat little food-court is set up there. There’s some pretty good shopping at Union Station, which is a few blocks north of the Capitol. The National Archives is actually quite interesting, and an often neglected attraction.
And if you can get in, the Holocaust museum is, bar-none, the best attraction in the city. You will spend you’re whole day faterwards going “wow.” It’s terribly moving.
Of course, a lot just depends on what you’re interested in. A couple of things that haven’t been mentioned yet are the Dumbarton Oaks Museum (32nd Street, between R and S, in Georgetown) and National Cathedral (on Wisconsin Avenue).
ok, so i didn’t get to do everything suggested, though i did see some great stuff. i saw the monument, i took pictures, and the reflection pool, lincolns memorial, the capitol, the white house, i stayed a few blocks away from the watergate, though i didn’t bother to go into it, it’s just a hotel, i saw the vietnam and korean war memorials, the FDR memorial, Arlington cemetary and the kennedy memorial and flame, and unkown soldiers tomb…etc.
things i was impressed with.[ul]
[li]Korean War Memorial - at night, this is extremely moving and even spooky in a way, i was very touched.[/li][li]FDR memorial - both at night, and during the day, this touched me as well, quotes from his speeches on the walls said so much. I wish the world could see this memorial.[/li][li]How clean the city was, i only realised how bad NYC smells when i got back home. Not to mention the drams that occured in my absence here at home, DC seems so much more in control of itself. (maybe being only 10 square miles helps)[/li][li]Did i mention how clean the city was??? and it doesn’t smell so bad either. :)[/ul][/li]
what i learned:[ul]
[li]i want to live there in the near future.[/li][li]i want to work there in the near future.[/li][li]i want to raise my family in the area in the later than near future but not too much later as i’m feeling that need to find mate and procreate soon type of thing…[/li][li]NYC really does smell bad.[/li][li]i burn like thin slice of white bread in a bonfire when sorrounded by lots of white memorials in 90 degree heat with blaring sun above (aloe is my best friend right now)[/ul][/li]Thanx to all who recommended sites to see, i am going back for the 4th to see the fireworks down by the reflection pool, and barbee-q afterwards at my friends place in Foggy Bottom, camping the few days before somewhere in Virginia. I love DC
Well, not to rain on your parade or anything but having lived in DC for over 10 years now I would give you a word of warning. The place is nice to visit but dealing with the local bureaucracy is a nightmare. I made the mistake of buying a house here when I arrived. if I would have known I would have bought it in the VA or MD suburbs. Then you can come into town.
I assume you would rent first for a while and that would let you get acquainted with the local bureaucracy which is a disaster (just wait until you deal with the Department of Motor vehicles etc).
thanx sailor, i was actually thinking of the chevy chase area for living, and even for DMV, marylands, at least. As here in NYC, i just can’t live in the city, i live in Queens, and i much prefer that to Manhattan. I liked Chevy Chase, and even VanNess, i would think those are outside of DC enough.