Theater
Flashpoint
Flashpoint is a non-profit, city funded "incubator" of local artistic talent and new cultural institutions. The bulk of the performances in their very small Theater Lab are theatrical, and of lesser known plays mostly foreign, but they also do stand up comedy, dance, etc. Their art gallery is a great place to see contemporary works by local artists, and is open Tu-Sa noon-6PM.
Ford's Theatre
This is where John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, and he was taken across the street to the Petersen House where he died. Ford's Theatre is not only a historic site, but remains a working theater, with regular performances. Theater here is usually the most traditional of the downtown venues, offering dramatic work that is "as eloquent, intelligent and respectful of humanity as Mr. Lincoln." The truly coveted tickets are for the annual Christmas Eve performance of A Christmas Carol. The daily tours take you through the theater and the onsite museum, and also spill across the street to the Petersen House, where Lincoln died.
National Theatre
First opened in 1835, many Presidents have come to see performances, with many famous performers back in is heyday. National Theatre is now the city's most likely host for Broadway shows and musicals, and other big-name visiting acts.
Warner Theatre
The Warner Theatre is a gorgeous old building. A former 1920s movie palace, having long languished in disrepair, was finally reopened in 1992 following extensive restoration. It's also the most likely destination for visitors who want to see a big-name popular act like Jay-Z or Lewis Black since the other main venues like the 9:30 Club and the Black Cat are more off the beaten path in Shaw. The Warner Theatre hosts broadway shows, concerts, dance, and stand-up, etc.
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
This is the top theater company downtown for seeing new plays. Drama here is edgy, takes real risks, and is almost always memorable. If in doubt, go to see the absurd, hilarious, infamous, long-running Chicago sketch comedy show Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.
You can go to the theater throughout the city, but the Theater District is in Penn Quarter. The most popular theater company in the area, and likely the whole D.C. area, is the Shakespeare Theatre Company, whose performances of Shakespeare and other classical plays rank among the nation's most renowned. Another very popular show is the long-running Capitol Steps (http://capsteps.com/live/) show of political satire, where everyone in the political spectrum gets roasted every F-Sa in the Reagan Building.
Shakespeare Theatre Company
D.C. can't get enough Shakespeare, to the extent that the Shakespeare Theatre Company had to open a second, enormous performance venue in 2007 at the brand new Sidney Harman Hall. Both venues are great, the Lansburgh being a long-time favorite and a smaller, intimate space, and the Harman Hall being big, flashy, and state-of-the-art. The performances here of Shakespeare, often set in present times, as well as other classics from Aeschylus to Marlowe, are almost always universally-acclaimed and top-notch. If you want to see theater in D.C., this is a great place to start. If you are in D.C. in the early fall this year, 27 Aug-12 Sep, look for the no tickets, first come-first served Free for All performances in the grand D.C. tradition of free cultural activities. The Free for All usually takes place outside at Carter Baron, but has been held at Harman Hall in recent years, to promote the new facility.
Cinema
Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14
The Regal cinema shows all the popular, current movies. Beware, though, that this movie theater is popular among the teens especially on weekends and in the evenings who can get rambunctious.
E Street Cinema
A Landmark Theaters cinema, showing independent films. The E Street Cinema is quiet, and does not draw the same youth crowd as the Regal cinema.
Lucky Strike Lanes
This is a combination bowling alley and lounge. After 9PM, it's 21+ only, and there is a dress code no sportswear, baggy clothes, etc.
verizon center
The Verizon Center, 601 F St NW, â +1 202 661-5000, (http://verizoncenter.com/) is home to both the Washington Wizards (http://nba.com/wizards/) of the NBA and the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals (http://capitals.nhl.com/). The Georgetown Hoyas (http://guhoyas.cstv.com/) college basketball team also plays games here, as do the WNBA's Washington Mystics (http://wnba.com/mystics/). As well, the it hosts major concerts, WWE wrestling, and various other events throughout the year. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster (http://ticketmaster.com/v...), or at the box office.
convention center
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Pl NW, â +1 202 249-3000 (http://dcconvention.com) hosts events throughout the year, including shows geared towards the public, as well as trade shows and conferences. The popular Washington Auto Show takes place annually in late January or early February, the Washington Home and Garden Show is in March, and the Washington Craft Show in November.