For food, at least, there is some pretty good pizza and you have a few good options: ellas which is around 9th street not too far from the metro, kind of in between metro center and chinatown metro and you have matchbox and grafiatos which are also close to the verizon center. Three of my favorite food places around the verizon center and all pizza! It has been a while since I lived in DC, and I lived there for 3 years, but I recall a solid dive bar with lots of graffiti on the wall made by customers, you will have to look but I recall it being behind the verizon center. I recall liking Silo which is north of the verizon center. If you can go as far as dupont/adams morgan I have tons of other advice. Let me think more, look for an edit. clydes not so much.