Lively and energetic, Dupont emits an entirely different character than Adams Morgan or Georgetown. In a sense it’s more "Washingtonian" than either of those neighborhoods. It’s monumental in design and ornately decorated with almost ostentatious detail, yet it still succeeds in being among the most personable and intimate places in the city.
For city dwellers there’s no better place to catch a game of chess or go sunbathing than the circle itself. Not just a major road intersection, it’s a busy park and a prime example of the "urban room" phenomenon that’s responsible for so many great urban spaces in Europe but is much less skillfully employed in most American cities. Though the National Mall is more often noted as an example, Dupont Circle better fits the concept.
Some avant-garde types aren’t crazy about Dupont Circle. It’s got a lot of chain stores, can feel yuppiefied at times, and is a bit predictable. Still though, for BeyondDC it’s the most fab hangout in town.
