There is quite a few good Thai restaurants in DC. Try Thai-Phoon in the upper Dupont Circle area, Sala Thai in the Dupont Circle area or Rice on 14th Street . For German food try Cafe Mozart downtown.

You're right JC, that was too good a set-up, and you're just the one to strike while the iron's hot (or whatever.) While I'm waiting for my own Thai delivery to arrive (the Jeopcon kind)and pulling myself up off the floor, I thought I'd actually try to throw in my $.02 worth.  Unfortunately, IMHO, the best Thai restaurants are in the 'burbs. Duangrat's/Rabieng on Leesburg Pike in Falls Church is/are consistently good, but very popular -- make a reservation if you feel like venturing 5 miles across bridges. Duangrat's prices also keep climbing. Downtown, Thai Kingdom (20th and K Sts.,NW)isn't bad. It, too, is a little pricey --not Mr. K's expensive, but not cheap. A fun, relatively "hip" place along Pennsylvania Ave is TenPenh (10th and Penn, NW, get it.) Not strictly Thai -- more SE Asia meets nouveau American -- but good food and atmosphere, again, IMHO. Then, there are always the Thai Tastes or Cafe Asias -- less expensive and not quite as good, but fun. The fact is, in the DC area we're blessed by having a lot of good restaurants from many cultures to choose from, certainly when compared to virtually ANYWHERE in Germany. For Italian, if someone else is paying, I'd choose Galileo (downtown)or Maestro (Tysons.) Don't even look at the check. Or Cafe Milano for "atmosphere", whatever that is. I'll let someone else cover shopping and sight(site?)-seeing. God, I must be bored. I wish my very hot and spicy steamed dumpling would hurry up and get here.

Depending on where you are in DC (SW for example), Arlington VA is not too far away. (Address: 3217 Columbia Pike). Great food, but not a 'fancy' restaurant if that matters.

The best Thai places are in No Va: Duangrat's (more formal), Rabieng (casual) and Bangkok 54 (more modern). Haven't been to the last one but it comes recommended; the first 2 I know are good.

Most of the DC ones are okay but nothing special. Rice (14th St near P) is one that's very good and unusual (very loud, though). Sala Thai is pretty good (several around town - Dupont, U St).

DC's not exactly shopping mecca, but Georgetown is probably the best overall shopping district.

Hope that helps...

try thaiphoon on conn ave and S st. That whole dupont kalorama area has everything including french(bistro de coin), and italian(anna marias)

Thai - Tenh Penh at 10th and Pennsylvania NW in the District.

Greek/Med - Zatinya at 9th and G NW in the District.  Lebanese Taverna in the Pentagon City Shops in Virginia.