Recommendations: fun nightlife for 2 40something year old women in Washington DC on the weekend.?

We're both love music and want to get out friday and saturday nights. But I don't want to end up somewhere too "young" Also still deciding where to stay - Alexandria is the leader right now. And restaurant suggestsions would be great too. Help!

You don't say what kind of music you like - there area all kinds in DC!

If you are in Alexandria, and like folk, country and bluegrass music, then Tiffany Tavern, one of the best folk venues is in the area, as is the Birchmere, which is likely the #1 place to hang out and hear great folk and folk rock music. Tiffany Tavern tends more toward bluegrass, the Birchmere more toward rock. Another venue for folk, in Arlington, is Iota.

In DC, the U Street Corridor is the place to find a good Jazz club. Take metro to U Street/Cardozo/African American Civil War memorial - Lincoln Theatre is across the Street, Ben's Chili Bowl next door, and Bohemian Caverns a block south, plus plenty of other things. The 9:30 club is just south of here, with lost of rock groups.

Adams Morgan is another area, with Madams Organ as a live music venue, and Heaven and Hell a dance club. This last might be a little bit young.

Don't also forget the Kennedy Center, where a free concert occurs every day at 6, and there are jazz evenings. Their ongoing play "Shear Madness" is great, too. And don't dismiss theatre in washington - there is plenty, from Shakespeare in several venues, to Arena Stage and Wooley Mammoth and Source Theatre. Half Price tickets are available from the cultural alliance of Washington at 7thh and D streets I believe.

Pick up, if you can, a Friday Washington Post, or a City Paper. I find the listings easier to navigate in the Post, but both can show you the richness of this town!

There are also comedy clubs - check out the Improv.

On Restaurants, I won't give you many restaurants, I'll give you neighborhoods. Chinatown Penn Quarter [Metro: Gallery Place Chinatown]; Adams Morgan [Metro: Woodley Park Zoo, then walk over the bridge and on to 18th St], U Street [Metro: U Street] Report It

My favorite Restaruants in DC include

Bistro Bis, Cafe Berlin (near Capitol Hill)

Zaytina, Jaleo, Teaism, Eat First, Tony Cheng's, Lei Garden [Chinatown/Penn Quarter]

Vidalia, Kaz Sushi Bistro [Foggy Bottom]

Nora, Meskerem, Fasika's [Adams Morgan] Report It

Its hard to add to the above poster...yes pickup a Friday Wash. post and look at weekend section or a City paper.Old town Alexandria is nice to walk around and pop in and out of shops and restaurants..and clubs.Just Metro in to K street and walk around Gtown area or whatever you are into....Its hard to make recommendations since you did not mention your food or music tastes ..or your budget! Old town is a nice place to stay on the water or Clarendon Metro area of Arlington......right across from DC...pretty safe areas.