Want to dine out in Washington, DC and enjoy a casual atmosphere without spending a lot of money? The nation's capital has lots of wonderful restaurants and plenty of cheap options as well as expensive ones. The following guides will help you find some of the best cheap restaurants and dining establishments in Washington, DC.

• Diners
• Irish Pubs – (check the menus – some are more affordable than others)
• Happy Hours
• Burgers
• Pizza

Do you have a favorite cheap place to dine? Please leave a comment below and share your experience with inexpensive restaurants in DC.

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Food, Beverage and Dining in Washington, DC

This summer the Smithsonian celebrates the creativity and the power of imagination of Jim Henson with the exhibition “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World” in the Smithsonian’s International Gallery. Jim Henson (1936-1990)—artist, puppeteer, film director and producer—began his remarkable career in 1954 with a show he created for WRC-TV while a student at the University of Maryland. As time passed, the simple hand puppets Henson created for his first television show, “Sam and Friends,” evolved into increasingly more sophisticated characters—from the Muppets of “The Muppet Show,” “Sesame Street” and “Fraggle Rock” to the larger-than-life fantasy creatures of “The Dark Crystal” and “Labyrinth.”

“Jim Henson’s Fantastic World” will run through Oct. 5, 2008 and then continue on a 12-stop national tour through 2011. The exhibit features 100 original artworks, including drawings, cartoons and storyboards that illustrate Henson’s talent as a storyteller and visionary. Among the variety of exhibition objects are puppets, television and movie props, photographs of Henson and his collaborators at work and original video productions, including highlights from Henson’s early career and experimental films. An education resource room provides visitors with the chance to try their hand at performing a puppet show and developing their own storyboards.

The Smithsonian's Discovery Theater will offer family-friendly programs every Saturday from Aug. 2 through Sept. 6, 2008 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visitors can enjoy a selection of shows featuring highlights of Henson’s work and a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the making of the magic. The program features a variety of retrospective programs featuring the Muppets, “Sesame Street,” the Fraggles and much more.

Dining outdoors is wonderful this time of year. The Washington, DC area has lots of restaurants with outdoor seating, but an especially nice place to dine outdoors is at Washington Harbour, along the Georgetown Waterfront. The area offers spectacular views of the Potomac River, the Kennedy Center, Washington Monument, Roosevelt Island, and the Key Bridge. There are just a few restaurants along the Georgetown Waterfront, so you'll have to arrive early to get a prime seat.

_{Photo © Rachel Cooper, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

More About Georgetown

• Georgetown Sightseeing Tours
  
• Georgetown Picture Gallery
  
• Georgetown Neighborhood Profile

This year’s “Mars Day!” —July 18, 2008 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum—will bring the latest results and newest imagery of Mars directly to the general public. The mysteries of the Red Planet will be explored from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a variety of fun family activities at the museum’s flagship building on the National Mall. Visitors will learn about the latest Mars research and current and future missions. Eleven scientists in the museum’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies and Education Division and presenters from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and the University of Arizona will participate. Activities will include:

• maneuvering a small robotic rover
• a Red Planet quiz show
• a hands-on study of meteorites
• seeing the latest images from the Red Planet—some in 3-D
• children’s art workshops and story time
• opportunities to talk one-on-one with museum scientists about recent discoveries