A: Alliance Francaise—best way to get out of the country for a while. Plus, they party.

B: Black Cat. Hands down, our favorite place to see shows, play, drink, and carouse.

C: Crooked Beat records on 18th by Kalorama NW. Big selection of hard to find local music here. Bill, the owner, is awesome. Matt Joyner, who ruined my life and works there, is also awesome. My girlfriend, who works there, is way awesome. I think you get the picture.

D: Derby, as in the Red Derby, a bar/restaurant in Petworth (14th and Spring NW). Cash and canned beers only, but the drink selection is good, cheap and the bar food hits the spot. Plus, the folks there are super nice - like they care and want to get to know you. Depending on what kinds of bars you go to, this can be rare in DC.

E: Eastern Motors Commercials. You know, where your job is your credit. If you like that, go check out the 930 Club tonight.

F: Florida Ave. Aaron used to live just off 14th and Florida, and there was a gutted crack-house on the corner we used to break in and climb to the roof, running on rooftops up and down the city block. Also, the folks that lived at 14th and Florida Ave a few years ago and threw some massive parties are still doing their thing on Florida, just further east. Meet Gwen and find out.

G: Greenland. Best Band in the District (better than us). Why the fuck aren’t they bigger????? They should be, like, not playing the Nissan Pavilion - you know, because they’re too big.

H: House of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park. I guess this is technically Maryland. They have a huge accordion selection! Also lots of hand drums, pump-organs, and tribal instruments. It’s the opposite of Guitar Center.

I: Indoor patio at the National Portrait Gallery. Expansive indoor space, with awesome geometric skylights…

J: Jaleo. Sorry, I’m a sucker for chef José Andrés. Made in Spain! Plus, Steve’s girlfriend works there.

K: K Street. How many other cities can lay claim to such a well known street with such a mysterious and sordid reputation? Back room deals, bribes, and hot, frustrated sex, with pleated khakis strewn about conference rooms - if there was a K Street soap opera, I’d buy the DVD’s.

L: Len Bias. Not the late basketball player, but the band, which sounds kind of like early Sonic Youth mixed with District hardcore and math rock. We played our first shows together and they tear it up every time. Plus, they’re swell guys.

M: My Favorite Dress. Ok, so this is Holly, my girlfriend’s semi-occasional DJ night at Cafe Saint Ex on 14th and T NW, but she’s got awesome music taste (she and Kathryn Wildt play a lot of different styles, but also a lot of jangly pop tunes that for some unexplained reason have remained below the general public’s radar). Think anything from The Aislers Set to Sonic Youth to Lykke Li. Plus, the people that go to MFD are basically my favorite people in DC (MFpDc?).

N: NPR. Not only do we know a lot of super sweet people that work there, it’s also my go-to spot for news, since I don’t read many papers and don’t watch TV. And the programming is good. Carl Kasell sounds dreamy.

O: Oysterfest (St. Mary’s County, Maryland). Ok technically not in D.C., but best kept secret (and cream of crab soup) within a stone’s throw of the district. October.

P: Petworth. A real neighborhood place, where the people next door are super nice, the rent is (relatively) cheap, and we actually have a stand-alone house with a back yard and a wrap-around porch. Almost makes me feel like I’m getting away from it all when I come home. Plus, the neighborhood has its own rad blog. What does your neighborhood have - a bitchy community listserv? Keep that shit in Adams Morgan.

Q: Question Mark Man Matthew Lesko - say hi to him when you see him at Tryst typing away on his laptop in full regalia.

R: Rock creek parkway. The cure for road rage.

S: Salvadorian food - particularly pupusas, which are amazing cheese and meat pancakes, and which only cost about 75 cents each. Eat, wash down with horchata, and repeat. Big shout-out to Pupuseria Maria, which is located at 14th and Randolph St. and used be our jam when we practiced over on Arkansas Ave (boy was that short-lived - thanks neighbors!!!!).

T: Taqueria distrito federal. Best Mexican this side of the Rio Grande. Tacos Al Pastor literally makes me cry. A new one just moved in close to our place on Kennedy St.

U: United. As in D.C. United. Best tailgates in D.C. are with the Barra Brava fan club. Whiskey. Hot dogs wrapped in tortillas. Mmm.

V: View from 13th and Clifton. Gotta be one of the best views of downtown for my money (if you’ve got a better one, let us know). Makes me imagine the time when DC was a godforsaken swamp, when that hill would have been the outer limits.

W: (The) Wag. Also Soulfuck. These are both soul dance nights at the Black Cat Backstage - the latter is going on tonight! Good places to get bombed and do the twist until you fall over.

X: X’s for all ages shows - Black Cat and Rock and Roll Hotel both do them. Not only is it good for folks under 21 to be able to go out and see bands, it also helps cut the funk of sardonic hipster disdain that occasionally sets in sometime close to drinking age. I’m not trying to call anyone out. But seriously, these kids give a shit, and we could all take notes from them.

Y: Mr. Yogato. 17th and Church. New place with real tangy frozen yogurt and a bunch of flavors. Check it out before summer is up.

Z: Lindsay Czarniak, hot sports anchor for NBC4. Kinda makes you forget about our teams losing. I know I’m cheating by going phonetic here, but I really didn’t want to say the zoo - I can’t stand the zoo.

Oh yeah and…

be here Saturday: