Art galleries
Most galleries in Dupont Circle participate in "First Fridays" of the monthâan open house of sorts throughout the evening, with a strong social bent cocktails, music, etc.. Check with any of the below to see what is going on where.
Foundry Gallery
A non-profit gallery, artist-run and funded, with modern, local art on display.
Hillyer Art Space
This is one of the hipper galleries in town, often sporting live DJs. It's mission is tied vaguely to international, cross-cultural communication, and puts on exhibits by established international artists, as well as locals.
Marsha Mateyka Gallery
Location is a plus at this gallery, housed in pretty old Washingtonian brownstone, rather than the usual characterless minimalist whitewashed galleries you find everywhere. Shows principally contemporary works, American and European, by some big names in the contemporary art worldâbuyers should expect high prices here.
Record stores
Melody Record Shop
A small store packed thick and dense with CDs very little vinyl. The music is a little more expensive than you'd pay at a soulless chain or online, but you get the added benefit of very knowledgeable service, and a great hand-picked selection. A great place to find jazz albums.
Red Onion Records and Books
The friendly owner is an afficianado with a huge second-hand vinyl collection and CDs and books about music. The store is quite small, so he has a carefully hand-picked selection on display, with some rare finds waiting for a browser to uncover. If there's a specialty here, it's indie.
Fashion
Betsy Fisher
Sorry stereotypes, D.C. has some great fashion boutiques. Ms. Fisher is a careful curator, with a fiercely loyal customer base, attentive service complimentary drinks, for one, and with clothes ranging from conservative to very trendy. You'll pay a price for this, though!
G-Star Raw
Men's and women's denim boutique, specializing in as you would expect trendy jeans and jackets.
Lou Lou
An affordable accessories and jewelry boutique much loved by locals for its trendy, very cute items.
Bookstores
Kramerbooks and Afterwords Cafe
A great independent bookstore and a tried and true Washingtonian experience. It's an odd bookstore, in that it has a full restaurant and barâpick up a travel guide inferior to this one and then sit down for filet mignon, perhaps? There is also one meager computer, at the bar, hooked up for public internet use. Live music on weekends.
Dupont Circle may not have a ton of bookstores, but those that are here are beloved city-wide.
Second Story Books and Antiques
This is the one and only great used bookstore anywhere nearby. The collection is big and well curated by very knowledgeable staff, and they have a section for rare and collectible books. It's one of the best browsing bookstores you'll ever come across.
Other
Tabletop
A quirky, stylish little gift shop with all sorts of items, but an especial emphasis on anything related to interior design. It's a fun place to browse even if you don't want to buy but this can be dangerous.
Biagio Fine Chocolate
This shop, tucked away on a lower level, carries a wide selection of chocolates, and has small art gallery.