Shaw

The good options for surfing the internet in this area are coffee shops or the neighborhood library.

Many locals have an impression of Shaw as being somehow very dangerous and run down. Rest assured that this impression is either outdated or just uninformed—it's as safe as Adams Morgan, and being, as it is, home to an impressive share of the city's high-end shopping and nightlife, it most certainly is not run down. That said, this is D.C., and the North Central neighborhoods are all places that have a significant problem with muggings, particularly around the nightlife districts.

U St is a fabulous nightlife destination, one of the best in the city, so plenty of visitors to the area will be here well after dark, and need to remain vigilant especially after drinking. If you are in a group of three or more, you are unlikely to have any problems. If you are not, avoid walking on dark side streets; even some more well-traveled areas like 9th St and parts of Florida Ave can get a little too quiet after midnight. Drunken club goers stumbling out of the 9:30 Club and Black Cat are often targeted for petty theft—keep an eye on your belongings, and remember to refocus your alertness upon leaving the club. And the bums, while annoying, will usually stop bugging you if you keep up your pace and just give them a polite smile and a "sorry."