The DC scene

The indie scene today continues to emanate from the U Street Corridor and such clubs as the Black Cat, DC9 and the Velvet Lounge. For acts on the rise, the oft-hailed 930 Club features touring bands in a venue long recognized as among the best in the nation. Live acts can be heard through any number of streetside windows every night of the week. And while the historic Ben's Chili Bowl may not host live music, it's half-smokes and cheese fries are an integral part of the music scene, before or after a show. Recently, a movement has spread the scene over to H Street NE, with new clubs like the Rock N Roll Hotel and The Red and The Black, hoping to create a new center for music and culture in the city.

Contemporary DC also hosts a cornucopia of jazz, blues, go go and funk that spreads across the city in pockets. From upscale nightclubs to back alley dives, good music and culture proliferates in the District. For club goers, there's no end to DC spots featuring local deejays, hip-hop, '80s nights, salsa dancing, drum and bass, and electronica. Being part of the DC nightlife really just involves stepping outdoors.