Shopping in the U.S.
By Brooke Comer
America's capital city is known more for sightseeing than
shopping. With so many landmarks, from the White House to
the Lincoln Memorial, it's easy to get distracted from the
many shops and unique range of products that the District
of Columbia has to offer.
A few tips to remember before you set out to shop till you
drop: if you're looking for avant garde fashions, this isn't
the place to find them. Washingtonians sport a conservative
look (check them out next time you're watching US news on
TV). But if you favour basic colours and traditional styles,
you're in luck!
At Christmas time, look for the big tree on the White House
lawn and the special lighting ceremony that has become so
popular, it's now televised.
Department stores are the preferred shopping venue of D.C.
dwellers. Lord and Taylor, at 5225 Western Avenue, NW and
Neiman Marcus in Mazza Gallerie at 5300 Wisconsin Ave, NW,
represent the upscale shopping options available in D.C. Politics
is a busy business, and most of this city revolves around
governmental issues, which keeps everyone working at a hectic
pace. Big stores that can offer one stop shopping save time.
Hecht's at 12th and G, NW can be reached by taking the Metro
to Metro Center; then you ride up the escalator into the store.
This established store is a great place to pick up whatever
you might have forgotten to bring along on your trip (stockings,
lipstick, an extra blouse).
The cosmetic and lingerie departments in this store offer
a good range of supplies; you may find your favourite lipstick
here, be it Dior, Mac or Chanel. But you may not find innovative
designers like Betsey Johnson in the dress department.
 If
you're looking for something a little more unique than a grey
suit, head down to Khismet Wearable Art at 1800 Belmont Road,
NW next to Dupont circle. You'll find colourful clothing from
African inspired materials, the likes of which you're not
likely to see on presidential candidates.
Looking for something unique? Head down 18th and Columbia
Road, NW to a wonderful little second-hand store called Flying
Saucer Disks that sells used jazz, rock, pop and classical
from a basement-level shop. Don't be fooled by the word "disks";
the music for sale is not on vinyl.
Georgetown, with its tree-lined streets and charming brownstones,
and the adrenalin-packed energy of enthusiastic students from
Georgetown University, makes for an ideal shopping spot. Many
of the boutiques -- Ann Taylor, Gap, Donna Karan -- cater
to affluent students and young, successful lawyers, but you
can find some fun, off-the-wall, less expensive items too.
At Hats in the Belfry, at 1237 Wisconsin Avenue, you'll find
every kind of chapeau, from haute couture to outlandish, in
a tiny shop not much bigger than a closet.
Antique lovers must visit Antiques on the Hill (701 North
Carolina Ave.), which is easy to find if you take the Metro
to Eastern Market. You'll find a variety of old picture frames,
clocks and other collectibles here, while at Brass Knob (2311
18th Street, NW), you can pick up door and drawer knobs from
a wide assortment, culled from salvaged historic buildings
over the past century -- and you may even find a gargoyle.
 The
Indian Crafts Shop in the Department of the Interior (1849
C. Street NW, Room 1023m) is an excellent source for Native
American art and handcrafted jewellery; including bead necklaces
and turquoise and obsidian rings and jewellery (obsidian is
a clear, black glass-like volcanic stone). The range of selections
is so vast, that the prices range from $2 to over $1,000.
And in case you didn't get enough of the Bill and Monica
drama, you can buy transcripts of their testimonies at the
U.S. Government Bookstore (1510 H St. NW). It sells all sorts
of government documents, if you need a cure for insomnia.
For Flights and Airfares to the U.S - click
here for the Travel Homepage.
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