The crowds are propelled through a gauntlet of panhandlers, doormen hawking their bars, and underage kids milling about tavern doors. An evangelist on a milk crate preaches about sin and salvation. Motorcycle cops, in pairs on corners, keep tabs with walkie-talkies. The bars don't change much in Georgetown, but the neighborhood does get new restaurants, and much of its nightlife revolves around cafes. By midnight, the tourists and diners are gone, giving way to younger patrons, who cruise M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, their trunk-mounted speakers thumping out music through open hatchbacks.
People come because Georgetown is such a scene on weekends.
While Adams Morgan is cutting-edge and hopelessly hip, Georgetown is young and wild. And although many clubs are for the young, there are refuges such as Martin's, Nathan's, and The Guards for crowds seeking a more civilized setting. Good if you like limbo contests and barstool basketball. If you prefer to talk to your companions rather than scream, try Clyde's. It's generally quiet after the dinner hour.