Penn Quarter, Washington, DC

Prior to the late 90s construction of the Verizon Center across the street in neighboring Chinatown, Penn Quarter (sometimes called “Old Downtown”) offered little to prompt a visit.

The completion of the massive sports and entertainment arena, however, brought with it a substantial revitalization of much of the neighborhood, now home to dozens of new bars, nightclubs, artsy venues, eateries, and designer stores.

Often referred to as the Times Square of Washington, DC, Penn Quarter explodes with sports fans and concert revelers after an event at the Center, as well as young professionals sipping wine flights or chomping French/Indian fusion, and the jersey-clad set pounding pitchers at any number of sports bars and pubs along the main 7th Street drag.

Although mid-range fine dining is Penn Quarter’s calling card, foodies flock to all four of internationally-acclaimed chef Jose Andrés’s restaurants both day and night, while neon-lit national chains leave budget-minded tourists and broke students with enough left over for a cheap beer, a movie, or a few rounds at the bowling alley.

Bond wannabes get their nerd on at The International Spy Museum, or join more refined museum-goers at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery or the Newseum, a museum dedicated to the news.

On Thursday afternoons in spring, summer, and fall, the FRESHFARM farmers market opens on 8th Street, enticing hordes of organic gourmands to leave their cubicles and spend some time shopping al fresco.