Fashion
Dekka
A boutique run by an artist collective of designers, visual artists, and even musicians, offering funky fashions from only local designers, well-hidden off street-level in a townhouse! The unique jewelry here is especially popular and affordable. Your boyfriend can even stay happy here, as they have a "listening station" where anyone can check out the really interesting selection of music they have for sale.
Junction
One of the better vintage stores in the city, with a rather small, but thoughtful selection at better prices than you'd find for this quality in most vintage stores.
Redeem
Boutique offering luxury casual wear with a strong indie-rocker bent. You might be tempted to contemplate the inherent contradictions of boutique counterculture, but catch yourselfâit's that same political preoccupation that keeps D.C. stuck in drab suits. That's also presumably why the store has the name it does.
Blink Optical
A small store with a small selection of very high quality designer glasses, for a price, naturally.
Caramel Fashion
An "eco-friendly" boutique sporting men's and womens' clothing from lesser-known designers. Their casual clothes are noticeably stylish, but still the type you'd feel comfortable wearing while walking down the street daytime.
Nana
Perhaps the most consumer friendly boutique on U St. Nana has a still fashionable, but less eccentric selection, renowned customer service, and a rather less pretentious crowd.
Galleries
The two blocks of 14th St just above Rhode Island Ave in recent years have become the center of D.C.'s high-end contemporary art scene. In the late 80s and early 90s the area was better known for buying drugs, but today it's already host to some world-class exhibitions.
Galleries at 1515
Curator's Office
This is in fact the Curator's Officeâshe's devoted a wall and a half of her small room to small exhibitions.
G Fine Art
The building's most popular stop, which sees some exceptional photography exhibits, and which hosts very well-received opening receptions.
Hemphill Fine Arts
The block's swankiest gallery, which usually exhibits contemporary works by more established artists.
Gallery Plan B
A delightfully casual space, with exhibitions that tend towards the quirky and humorous.
Irvine Contemporary
Run by a Georgetown professor, and dedicated to works by emerging artists.
Transformer Gallery
A non-profit gallery whose mission is to provide opportunities for emerging artists, focused on new, experimental works.
Other
Greater Goods
D.C.'s greenest store, specializing in a whole wide range of eco-friendly home goods, as well as items designed to raise awareness of how you can minimize your carbon footprint, decrease waste, etc. The book section is also worth a browse, and the owner is very friendly.
Ruff & Ready Furnishings
Lying somewhere between an indoor flea market and a nice antique store, this place is a lot of fun for browsing! Items range from very cheap to very expensive, and you'll be wading through the dust and clutter.
Simply Home
Eat. Drink. Shop. Yes, it's a good place for upscale Thai, cocktails, eccentric gift shopping, and equally eccentric t-shirts.
Friendship Heights and Georgetown have a lock on the capital's conventional, high-end shopping, but U St is the place for the more funky, local, boutique shopping that you probably never expected to find in D.C. The same goes for the 14th St art gallery scene, which has by far the most exciting contemporary exhibits in the city. If you are up for some seriously exotic shopping, head down 9th from U to sample the various Ethiopian video/record stores and food markets and don't miss the delightful Convention Floral at 1920 9th St NW.