Alphabet City

Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant, 6249 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, 703-538-3333; 1428 North Point Village Center, Reston, 703-318-8898. http://www.fortunebanquet.com/.

E

Eden Center. This Seven Corners shopping center has become the epicenter of the local Vietnamese community. The interior arcades are filled with tiny shops selling such varied goods as herbs and fancy jewelry, and Vietnamese restaurants abound. The experience at the eateries varies. Huong Que, for instance, is more Americanized, while places such as Hai Duong are more authentic.

Eden Center, 6795 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church. http://www.edencenter.com/.

F

Francophile. If you hear the word "French" and immediately think, "Je l'adore," then you'll love Le Village Marché, the recently opened home store in Virginia. Stocked with items one might find at a Parisian flea market -- fleur-de-lis bookends, antique armoires, wrought-iron trellises for the garden and smaller trinkets -- this shop has something for tout le monde.

Le Village Marché, 4150 S. 28th St., Arlington. 703-379-4444. http://www.levillagemarche.com/.

G

Gaelic football. A cross between soccer and rugby -- with hints of basketball and volleyball -- this Irish game is fascinating, if perplexing to the uninitiated. Players move the ball up the field toward the goal by kicking it to a teammate or passing it with a hand punch that resembles a volleyball serve. They can take only four steps while carrying the ball in their hands; to move it farther without passing, they must bounce it off the ground or off the tongue of their cleat. The D.C. Gaels, a group that runs Irish sports leagues in the Washington area, has men's and women's football teams.

http://www.wdcgaels.com/.

H

Hashing. This irreverent sport-cum-treasure-hunt -- or drinking game, depending on how you look at it -- has gained a cult following worldwide, but it's believed that British expatriates living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, held the first hash in the 1930s, based on the 19th-century British schoolboy game Hares and Hounds. In hashing, the leaders (hares) drop clumps of flour to mark the way. The runners (hounds) follow, watching for false leads. The reward for finding your way? Ice-cold beer. (Which is why hashers dub their subculture a "drinking club with a running problem.")

http://www.dchashing.org/.

I

Ikea. What, it isn't a country? This Swedish megastore is so big you might need a map, if not a passport. Ikea furniture is known for its modern, utilitarian design, DIY assembly and, above all, low price points. Products typically have Scandinavian labels, so you'll want to check out, say, the Dalselvs and the Gustavs if you find yourself in the market for a new bed and desk, respectively. Oh, and while you're there, grab a plate of Swedish meatballs from the in-house cafeteria -- you'll need some fortification for all that furniture assembly later, naturally.

Ikea, 10100 Baltimore Ave., College Park, 301-345-6552; 2901 Potomac Mills Cir., Woodbridge, 703-494-4532. http://www.ikea.com/.

J

Jambo. That's "hello," in Swahili. So say "jambo" to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art, home to an array of traditional and modern artworks, including a collection of masks with some dating to the 18th century and others made of wood, brass tacks, pigment and teeth. We figure you'll get so wrapped up in this exhibit, you'll never want to say goodbye.