Blues Alley   

Blues Alley is Washington's legendary venue for live jazz -- not blues, as the name suggests. For the past four decades, this Georgetown supper club has been the premier local stop for jazz artists like the late, great Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis (both recorded live albums here), Charlie Byrd, Maynard Ferguson and Nancy Wilson. The atmosphere is intimate, dark and smoky, with exposed brick walls and only about 40 small, round candlelit tables. Make sure to purchase tickets early, as shows tend to sell out. Because of the marquee value of the acts booked here, be prepared for pretty hefty ticket prices. The crowd is decidedly mixed -- Japanese tourists share the space with hard-core, middle-aged African-American jazz fans and young professional couples. The food is expensive, but good, especially if you like New Orleans Creole cooking. Catch dinner, drinks and an early or late show seven nights a week. Show times are typically 7PM and 10PM, with lighter fare available at the late show. Occasionally there's even a late-late show at midnight on Saturdays. -- Teresa Gionis