Lincoln Theatre

One block past all the hip bars and restaurants on the newly revitalized U Street corridor stands the stately Lincoln Theatre, a reminder that this area once was a focal point of the city's night life. Saved from decay in 1994 by the nonprofit U Street Theatre Foundation, the Lincoln Theatre has been transformed from a movie house to a venue that embraces a bit of everything.

The theater's simple red awning is easy to spot among the shops and other establishments along the redeveloping avenue. Once you enter the theater, you're greeted by a spacious lobby with steps that circle around each side, leading to the theater and a concessions stand. Except for electric lights, nothing in the decor has significantly changed since the 1920s. A soft yellow light bathes the interior, which is decorated with a floral and bird wallpaper (sounds tacky but it's really kind of cool). Plaster profiles of the theater's namesake, Abraham Lincoln, line the walls above the private boxes.

With 1,250 mauve-velvet seats in rows A to Z, the relatively small theater is perfect for the many solo acts that play here. Performers reportedly like the intimacy of the room, as well as the latest technical innovations, including a hydraulic orchestra pit.

The Lincoln has hosted jazz and gospel concerts, plays, movies, dance recitals and even a circus (minus the animals). The hall also can be rented for graduation ceremonies and other community events. The theater is directly across from the U Street-Cardozo Metro station; ticket prices and dress vary with each performance.

-- Nicole Lewis