Age: 24.

Occupation: Business manager.

I’ve lived here for: Nine years.

I live here because: There is no place like home.

My neighborhood: Dupont Circle.

My favorite restaurant is: Café Japone (202-223-2573).

If you go to this restaurant, be sure to order: Eel sushi.

My favorite museum: The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (202- 633-1000). Admission is free.

My favorite tourist destination: The Smithsonian Museums (www.si.edu), because the art is fantastic and the natural-history exhibits always spark my imagination.

Overrated tourist destination: The outside of the White House, because of rental Segways and protesters. All the amazing stuff is on the inside, so buy a ticket.

Best insider spot: Club Five (www.fivedc.com) is a must. It has a rooftop bar and two levels inside that include comfy lounge couches and a dance floor.

My favorite area: Dupont Circle.

Best place to go shopping: Georgetown (www.georgetowndc.com). The cobblestone streets make this area very quaint. There are many boutique shops on M Street, as well as big-name stores, like Banana Republic and French Connection.

When you visit, don’t forget to pack: Extra singles for the D.C. metro (subway) — they hike up the price when you travel during rush hour.

The one local cuisine you should try when you’re in town is: The Ethiopian restaurants in D.C. are wonderful. Try one in the Adams Morgan area — Meskerem (202-462-4100) is a good choice.

The best way to get around is: Subway or walking.

The one thing most outsiders don’t know about this city is: How wonderfully diverse it is.

I tell my friends to stay at: The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel (202-347-3000), which is conveniently surrounded by clothing stores, restaurants, and a metro stop.

They say “Virginia is for lovers.” So fill in the blank: D.C. is for...people who want to have everything they need within walking distance.