First of all, thanks to all who provided advice and assistance on my earlier inquiry concerning my job interview in New York! Unfortunately, I had car problems on my way and had to reschedule. In the meantime, I've been asked to go to D.C. for an interview next Friday!

I'm thinking about staying an additional night and leaving on Saturday instead, but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on things to do in the area on a Saturday, especially for someone on a relatively limited budget. Thanks in advance!

All of the Smithsonian Museums, the National Gallery, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the various memorials are free of charge, and all open on Saturdays. On Friday night, note that the Kennedy Center has a free concert on its Millenium Stage every night of the year at 6:00 p.m. -- check their website to see what's playing when you are there, and get there 5:30 -5:45 if you want a seat. Afterward, you might enjoy walking around/grabbing a bite to eat in Georgetown; the watefront area is very lively if it is warm. If the weather is nice, visiting the memorials at night is always moving, the Vietnam Memorial in particular. The Washington City Paper, the Washington Post Weekend section (comes out on Fridays) and dcist.com all have listings of special things going on around town.

Very cool... I realized shortly after posting that the Smithsonian is indeed open on Saturdays - I didn't realize that! I was in town for a weeklong vacation last year and saw most of the traditional sights, but I'll definitely want to spend a bit more time lingering among the memorials at night, especially the Jefferson Memorial so close to the peak blooming season for the cherry blossoms (or so I've heard). The company I'm interviewing with is putting me up at the Embassy Suites just south of Dupont Circle on Thursday night, but I'm going to need to relocate for Friday night as I can't afford those kind of accommodations myself just yet (I'm interviewing for an entry-level job coming out of college!). Any recommendations on local favorite places to dine in Georgetown?

If the cherry trees are in bloom while you are here, one of the least crowded and enjoyable ways to see them is to go early in the morning -- bring a breafast picnic! In Georgetown, if the weather is nice, I would go to one of the restaurants in the Georgetown Harbor complex and sit outside, to watch both the people and the river. I enjoy Sequoia the most -- the have the largest patio, and the wait time is usually much shorter than what they will say at the hostess stand. Otherwise, Bangkok Joe's (in the same complex) is rather fun. Cafe LaRuche is an inexepnsive French bistro with very good food. But the area is full of restuarants, you can have fun walking around to see what appeals.

We ate at Nooshi's, walking distance from your hotel. It's a mix of Asian cuisines, stylish and not expensive. It was full of young people!

Sounds great... I'll have to check out a few of these suggestions when I'm in town! I just wish there was a Metro stop a bit more convenient to Georgetown!

Just a Metro bus or walk, to/from Georgetown. It's pretty easy. Good luck with the interview. You'll find that there are lots of us Nittany Lion fans in the D.C. area.

As an alternative and chain or not a Washington mainstay for eating...any Clyde's.

Actually, transportation options into Georgetown are now much improved. First, I would note that if the weather is nice, and you are young and healthy, walking from the Foggy Bottom metro (down Pennsylvania Avenue, which eventually becomes M street) is an option. But there are also two relatively new bus services that connect Georgetown with metro stop and other tourist destinations. Note that the routes of both buses are changing slightly on March 26th. As of that date, Georgetown Metro Connection bus (blue school bus) will run down M Street, allowing easy access to Georgetown from either the Dupont Circle or Rosslyn Metro stops: http://www.georgetowndc.com/shuttle.php
The other option is the the DC Circulator Bus (large red bus) that runs runs from Union Station, through downtown, to Georgetown: http://www.dccirculator.com/news.html

I should note that Georgetown is not the only area of the city to have interesting night life -- Dupont Circle, Penn Quarter, and Adams Morgan each offer a "scene" of their own. However, I think if you are looking not not to spend a lot of money (e.g. eating at a swanky restaurant), Georgetown may offer the most interesting possiblities for strolling and people watching.

Walk the mall, cheap as dirt and incredible. DC is a place I go once a year and always look foreward to it. The art and mueseums are great, but you don't even need to go into them. Start at the Lincoln Memorial walk east to the capital and top it off with a pint or two at capital city in union station.