Best of Washington, D.C. (Performing Arts Edition)

As the chilling breath of winter keeps us huddled inside over the next few months, we’re all susceptible to catching a little cabin fever. Instead of sitting inside watching the clock tick towards spring, why not get out in the community and mooch off someone else’s heating bills?  Being the fun and cultured city that it is, the District provides a number of opportunities to prevent us from going stir-crazy during these cold months. In particular, D.C. boasts a rich presence of performing arts. Sometimes it can be easy to get into the routine of life here without knowing much about the performing arts community, unless it’s something you take the initiative to seek out on your own. But it is really important to experience this, even if it may not be your first choice because it will help give you a better understanding of this city’s unique culture and the artists who help compose it.   

A great place to start is the Washington Performing Arts Society. For over 40 years, the Washington Performing Arts Society has charmed the local community with music and arts including classical, jazz, world, gospel, pop, and dance. In January, they will be offering piano and violin performances, as well as a Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert. Performances are held on the weekends and during the week. Artists are featured at venues across the city including the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Embassy of Switzerland, the Music Center at Strathmore, and more.

If you’ve never been to the ballet before, it is definitely something you need to cross off your bucket list. Washington, D.C. serves as home to a phenomenal ballet company:  The Washington Ballet which has been around since 1944. It consists of 18 talented dancers who will be performing Twyla Tharp: All American in February and Alice in Wonderland in April. Besides offering top-notch performances, The Washington Ballet seeks to give back to the community by providing dance programs for children across the city.

For all you Shakespeare fans, D.C. proudly hosts its own theater company solely dedicated to the playwright, the Shakespeare Theater Company, which will be celebrating its 25^th Anniversary this year. In January, the company will be performing: Much Ado About Nothing, Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Two Gents: A Rock Opera. The Shakespeare Theater Company provides teaching programs for children interested in theater. They also offer public speaking instruction for business professionals.  

If you’re looking for something a little more interactive, check out the Blair Mansion Inn Restaurant Murder Mystery Dinner Theater in Silver Spring, MD. They offer performances Friday and Saturday night and doors open at 6:00pm. The menu tends to change frequently and will depend on what night you attend, though they do provide a vegetarian option. In January, the performers will put on “The Art of Murder” and “Til Death Do Us Part” in February. Ticket prices run around $52 for adults and $37 for children. They discourage children under 5 from attending. Reservations are required.

There are a number of talented dancers across the District, some of which you can witness in their element at the Dance Institute of Washington. The Institute began as a youth outreach program and has since developed into a pre-professional school. Dancers perform a wide genre of dance including ballet, modern, hip hop, jazz and African. Classes are also open to the public and can be purchased by individual lesson for $15 or in a package of 16 for $210. This is a great way to not only see an excellent dance performance, but to support the local community as well.

Over on H St., you’ll find the Atlas Theater which was built in 1938 and still maintains its old-timey look. The theater features a wide range of performances including stand-up comedy, jazz ensembles, open mic, opera, and more. Not only does the Atlas Theater enrich the culture of the neighborhood, but it also offers adult and youth programs such as a stagecraft apprenticeship program and dance lessons.    

Another must-see is the Washington National Opera, which holds regular performances at the Kennedy Center. February – March, they will be performing Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte. Tickets run $50 - $300, though groups over 15 people are eligible for special group rates.

Although it falls just outside the boundary of D.C. in Virginia, the George Mason University Center for Arts hosts some pretty big names that you won’t want to miss. This venue offers a wide range of arts including traditional classical music, dance workshops, vagina monologues, and pop music. The Center opened in 1990 to accommodate aspiring artists at the university and the now the space is certainly utilized to full capacity, hosting performances nearly every night of the week. If you’d rather not drive, you can take the train to the end of the orange line at the Vienna stop, and from there take the CUE bus for $1.60. Click here to learn more.

Best of Washington, D.C. (New Year’s Eve Edition)

While it may not be on par with Times Square, Washington, D.C. still manages to offer a variety of fun New Year’s Eve celebration options. From clubbing to a quiet night at home, everyone has their unique own idea of what the best way to welcome in the New Year is. And being a big city packed with culture, the District certainly caters to all of these unique demands for the holiday. So fight the urge to hop on the Amtrak up to New York for the weekend because you can have just as good of a time in D.C. and avoid the panic attack that the crowds in the Big Apple will inevitably trigger.

If you want to go all out this year, you’re in luck because the Newseum is hosting the New Year's Eve Headliner's Ball. This is an opportunity to dress up in your fanciest ball gown or tux and dance to the music from the band, Round Midnight. Tickets are pretty pricey at $180 per person, though they include an open bar from 8:00pm – 2:00am, access to all of the museum’s exhibits, and appetizers from Wolfgang Puck.

Ball gowns and tuxes may not be for everyone, so another option is to check out the comedy scene and spend the last day of 2011 laughing. D.C. Improv will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Celebration featuring comedian Ralph Harris from Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, HBO, and the movie, Dreamgirls. Tickets for the 8:00pm show run at $35/person and include a free ticket to a future show. Tickets for the 10:15pm Count Down Show will cost you $75/person and include appetizers, midnight champagne, party favors, and a free pass to a future show. And D.C. Improv is always a good time, whether you go on New Year’s or any other night.

One thing that New Year’s Eve events tend to have in common is that they’re all ridiculously overpriced. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, consider Town Tavern’s Midnight Masquerade Party. For only $40, you can get an evening buffet, open bar 8:00pm – 10:00pm plus two drink tickets after 10:00pm, champagne toast, party favors, and music from a live DJ. While Adams Morgan certainly isn’t for everyone, but this great deal and might be worth be worth the trip there. Make sure to show up in masquerade attire so you can participate in all the fun.

If you’d rather avoid the bar scene, then head over to Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company to see Chicago’s Second City perform the hilarious “Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies.” Tickets will cost you $110-$130 and include the performance, desserts from Jose Andres Catering, open bar, midnight champagne toast, and giveaways.

For those with kiddos, take them over to First Night Alexandria where you can enjoy face-painting, live performances, clowns, dancing, magic, games, fireworks and more. There’s even a scavenger hunt with prizes. First Night Alexandria takes place on King St. and the fireworks will be on the lawn of the Masonic Temple. The event runs 1:00pm – Midnight and tickets cost $20/person, though children under 12 are free.

Best of Washington, D.C. (Holiday Edition)

As we start to layer on more and more clothes before stepping outside each day, it’s apparent that winter is here to stay in Washington, D.C. There’s no turning back –temperatures will only be dropping from here. The thought can be depressing to those of us who are summer-lovers, but instead of struggling to endure the cold season, why not try to make the most of it by taking advantage of some of the fun seasonal activities unique to this city. Even if you’ve lived in the District for awhile, there are always new traditions and events popping up each year.

If you haven’t been to National Harbor yet, now is the best time to go. Take a break from driving and catch a water taxi in Alexandria through the Potomac River Boat Company for $8/person. Once you step off the boat, you’ll feel like you’ve arrived in a magical Christmas wonderland. The Gaylord Hotel greets you extravagantly decorated for the holidays. Inside you’ll find a little Gingerbread house where you can decorate cookies or make your own house. The hotel also has restaurants and bars where you can grab a drink and bite. The main exhibit is ICE 2011, an indoor ice exhibit with a total of 2 million pounds of ice featuring characters from Madagascar. They even have ice slides that you can take a ride down. ICE 2011 is loads of fun and not only for kids. Tickets are a little pricey at $25/person, but the experience is worth it. You can purchase tickets ahead of time on the hotel’s website.

For those looking for a fun date idea, check out the 4th Annual Merriment in Georgetown, which runs from December 9 – December 20. Festivities include gourmet hot cocoa tastings, style contest, a fruitcake eating contest, and dining specials at local restaurants and bars.

The holiday season just wouldn’t be the same without the classic carols we all love. The Washington Chorus will be performing the holiday hits in their concert: “A Candlelight Christmas” at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts December 17 – 22. Tickets run $15 – $65. The Washington Chorus consists of 200 voices, brass, organ and percussion. Proceeds from ticket sales help support music programs in local high schools.

Aside from holiday music, part of the fun of the season is checking out local light displays. Instead of driving around all night looking for Clark Griswold’s house, stop by the National Zoo to see Zoo Lights 2011. The exhibit features light displays in the shapes of animals living at the Zoo. The sound of Christmas carols will accompany your walk, as community chorale groups have the opportunity to perform at the event. This is a great activity for kids and the best part is, it’s free.

For those without kids, or who want to ditch the kids for a break, participate in Snow Day Bar Crawl on December 17, 2011 from 1:00pm – 8:00pm. The crawl costs $30 which gets you a bar crawl mug, the list of bars, and drink deals throughout the day. You have to sign up in advance through the link listed above. They charge you $15 in advance and the rest at the door.

I hope you take advantage of all the fun seasonal activities here in D.C. If you’re new to the area or will be moving here soon, please contact us at info@new-todc.com so we can help streamline your move and overall transition to the District.

Best of Washington, D.C. (Hotels Edition)

As a tourist Mecca, Washington, D.C. has its fair share of hotels. Whether you’re in town to sightsee, work, visit friends, or even house-hunt, you’ll need a good, reliable hotel that fits your needs. Even if you’ve already moved here and have your own place, it’s still important to familiarize yourself with the hotels in the area so you can accurately advise your friends and family where to stay when they visit. The variety of hotels in D.C. is about as diverse as the types of neighborhoods here, making it challenging to know where to even begin your search, so hopefully this guide will help streamline that process for you.

Because the District is the home to government and in effect government contractors too, there are many extended stay options which provide comfortable accommodations for folks stuck in town on long-term assignments. As a forewarning, this type of housing does not run cheap, but if your work is covering the expense, then hopefully cost should not be a problem.

Interim Housing Solutions offers housing for those in transition, whether they’re moving in or out of D.C. and need somewhere to stay until their permanent housing is available. They also provide corporate housing solutions. Interim Housing Solutions maintains properties in almost all neighborhoods across the District and even the suburbs. The housing is fully furnished, including cookware, dishes, phone, and cable.

Another extended stay housing provider is Marriott Execu-Stay, offering housing for those planning to settle down for at least 30 days. Their fully furnished apartments include utilities, kitchen supplies, television, and even a gym. All you have to do is show up! Marriott Execu-Stay’s properties are located in Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Downtown D.C.

Of course not everyone needs long-term housing. Some need a place to stay just for a weekend while visiting or perhaps you need somewhere to put your mother-in-law up for a few days so she doesn’t have to bunk with you. If that’s the case, then you have more hotel options than you could possibly ever need, ranging in price, amenities, neighborhood, in-house restaurants, and more.

For those valuing price and safety, check out Capitol Hill Suites, just minutes away from the Cannon House Office Building. This hotel is tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood of Capitol Hill which you might walk right past, unless you go looking for it. Capitol Hill Suites runs about $150/night, which is a pretty good deal for a hotel in a safe neighborhood of D.C. It’s nothing flashy by any means, but they have a continental breakfast and sit right around the corner from the Capitol South Metro as well as major sightseeing.

If you’re looking for something a little more upscale, consider the Four Seasons in Georgetown. They offer a full spa including facials, massages, and salon treatments. Make sure to bring your gym equipment with you too so you can take advantage of the hotel’s pool and fitness facility. The Four Seasons’ in-house restaurant is Bourbon Steak, where you should stop in for a juicy steak even if you’re not staying overnight. This luxury hotel frequently hosts weddings, celebrations, business conferences and meetings, so consider reaching out to them if you have one of those needs. Also, the location really could not be any better – right down the street is Georgetown where you can find the C&O canal, shopping, Dumbarton Oaks Estate and Garden, hiking trails and more. 

Moving northeast of Georgetown, you can find a great bed and breakfast at Bed and Breakfast on U St. where you can lay your head for as cheap as $95/night. They offer wireless internet, television, and a continental breakfast. Another great thing about the Bed and Breakfast on U St. is the neighborhood. It lies right in the middle of the U St. business district which has a number of great restaurants and bars and it’s directly north of Dupont Circle which offers good shopping and nightlife.

If you’ll be taking the Amtrak into town and want something convenient to Union Station, check out the Phoenix Park Hotel. Not only is this place rich with Irish charm, but they offer a pretty decent deal with rates starting at $129/night. There is no in-house restaurant here, but right next door is the Dubliner Irish Pub which cooks up some delicious Irish cuisine. The accommodations at the Phoenix Park Hotel are comfortable and quaint, making you feel like you’ve temporarily stepped into Ireland for your stay.

Best of Washington, D.C. (Book Stores Edition)

Since the debut of the Kindle and other impressions, who needs real books anymore? They’ve become as obsolete as the VCR or record player, right? Maybe. The popularity of books has certainly taken a hit, but my guess would be there’s still some folks out there who enjoy reading a real book – holding it in their hands, turning the pages, or sharing it with friends. At the very least, there’ll always be the cheapos out there like me who remain faithful to the library simply for budgetary reasons. In any case, in a city like Washington, D.C. that’s proudly ranked as the most educated in the country, there is certainly a high volume of reading going on whether it’s in electronic or antiquated form.

To satiate this grand appetite for knowledge, a number of independence booksellers have set up shop in the District. Even if you’re not in the market for a new book, these shops can be fascinating to walk around in because you never know what treasures you will stumble upon. A great place to start is Capitol Hill Books, a used bookstore in the Eastern Market neighborhood. This place merges the worlds of Alice in Wonderland and a hoarder’s dreamland, as the owner has books piled up arbitrarily around the store and even along the creaky, sagging staircases. Don’t let this deter you from visiting though; its quirkiness is just part of the experience. Capitol Hill Books has a collection of used books including some ancient and newer titles, all for a great deal. You could affordably grow your book collection by visiting this staple of the Eastern Market neighborhood.

Over in Dupont Circle, you’ll find Kramer Books & Afterwords Cafe which has a much more corporate feel to it, even though it is an independently owned bookstore. Here, you’ll find readers camped out for the day, or at least a few hours, browsing over the collection of mainstream and independent titles that fill the store. It’s easy to lose a few hours in this place, getting sucked in by the great selection that Kramer Books maintains. Make sure to save time to stop by the café for a treat or even a meal. They have a surprisingly big menu with full meal options such as lamb chops and gumbo that you would not normally expect to find at a book store cafe.

Fighting for customers in Dupont Circle is Second Story Books, which offers a great selection of rare books. In fact, it claims to be one of the largest used and rare book-sellers in the entire world. Second Story Books will take used books off your hands and pay you for them, if they have any value. They offer appraisals too, if you believe you have a hidden gem. If you need any sort of book repair, bring it here and they’ll take care of it for you.    

Down the street in Adams Morgan, make sure to check out Idle Time Books which maintains a collection of both used and new books. This shop is open daily with three floors fully stocked with books. Idle Time Books has an antique feel to it with a volume of dust to match. If dust bothers you, you might want to skip this one. If not, then stop by and enjoy the jazz music playing in the background as you browse their wide selection.

Best of Washington, D.C. (Hiking Trails Edition)

We continue our “Best of Washington, D.C.” series with the Best Hiking Trails in Washington, D.C. For a big city, D.C. provides the outdoorsman with a number of opportunities to escape city life and stretch his legs. It’s really difficult to get cabin fever here because of the wide variety of hiking trails available and the impressive lengths they stretch on for. As we have a few lingering days of temperate weather, now is the best time to strap on your hiking boots and check out some of those changing fall leaves.

A great place to start your tour is the National Arboretum up in Northeast near Gallaudet University. The Arboretum is home to the original Capitol Building columns, which supported the former East Portico before expansion of the Capitol in 1958. This quiet get-away covers an impressive 446 acres including both flat and steep trails for your hiking pleasure. On your hike, you’ll notice plants such as bonsai, conifers, herbs, camellias, water-lilies, hibiscus, hostas, hydrangeas, crapemyrtles, and much more. You’ll certainly want to bring your camera along on the hike to capture some of the wildlife. Also be sure to pack water, snacks or a picnic for your trip as there is no food service available. The National Arboretum is not accessible by Metro, only bus. You can take the B2 from Stadium Armory Metro stop and exit the bus on Bladensburg Road at Rand Street. 

Moving southwest, the Capital Crescent Trail stretches from Georgetown all the way up to Silver Spring, Maryland. As a former ‘rail-trail,’ the Capital Crescent Trail  has its own unique character winding through secluded woods at some points and busy intersections at other points. If you have kids, you’ll want to keep them close by because there are points when they could run out into moving traffic, though the trail does provide signage indicating oncoming intersections. Don’t let that deter you though; the 11-mile trail is beautiful and offers a number of historic placards placed along the way to narrate important historical tidbits to the walkers, joggers, bikers, and rollerbladers that it hosts.

You definitely don’t want to miss Great Falls Park. Although it falls outside of the Washington, D.C. proper, it is truly one of the region’s best kept secrets. The 800-acre park sits only about 15 miles outside of D.C. and is more than worth the drive to get there. With some more challenging trails such as the Billy Goat, Great Falls Park will light a fire in your quadriceps if you’re up for it. If not, the national park is big enough that it offers more flat, mild trails, such as Patowmack Trail, which are more accommodating for children. As its name suggests, Great Falls Park is home to 3 scenic overlooks featuring small waterfalls. If you’d like to see some birds and seasonal wildflowers, explore the Swamp Trail. If you’re adventurous and decide to scale some of the more advanced trails, be sure to bring hiking shoes with you or at least gym shoes with good tread on the bottom, because otherwise you’ll find yourself slipping around on the rocks.

The Mount Vernon Trail is an 18 mile long trail that runs from Mt. Vernon in Alexandria, VA to Theodore Roosevelt Island in Washington, D.C. At Mile 3 of the trail, you’ll find Fort Hunt Park, which is a great picnicking spot. The Park also has 2 baseball diamonds as well as a playground. Another point of interest is Gravelly Point, at Mile 15 where you can catch a close glimpse of planes landing and taking off from Reagan National Airport. If you’d like bike the trail, but don’t have a bike then you don’t have to worry. There are several bike rental opportunities located throughout the Mount Vernon Trail.

I hope that you take advantage of all the great hiking opportunities the Washington region has to offer because you will not regret it. If you have any questions, or need assistance and consultation on an upcoming move to D.C., please contact us at info@new-todc.com

Interning in DC: How to Network for Your Dream Job

I’d like to take a brief break from our “Best of” series to introduce an exciting new opportunity that New To D.C. now offers to interns in the District:  Intern Networking Workshops. Students who intern in D.C. have big dreams to change the world. However, even if they build up an impressive resume of experience and education, they still have to face the fact that advancing their career is not about what you know; it’s about who you know.

Contrary to popular belief, networking is not an innate skill that interns simply pick up as a result of moving to the District. I’ve attended several events where I witness interns cowering in the corner, shyly sipping a drink by themselves. This is a devastating sight to see because they are wasting vital networking opportunities! But interns can’t be expected to network if no one has ever taught them. Networking is a muscle that must be conditioned over time with intentional practice.

There is no better time for students to learn how to network than during their internship in

Washington, D.C. Their time here is invaluable. This city is bursting with opportunities, even outside of the day-to-day internship. In fact, the internship is not an end in itself. There is never any sort of guarantee that an internship will lead to a job, which is why interns must learn how to network for themselves, so they can strategically utilize their contacts to soar wherever their wildest dreams take them.

Our workshop: Interning in DC: How to Network for Your Dream Job provides interns with a step-by-step tutorial on how to develop solid networking skills from start to finish. The workshop covers critical topics such as networking myths, how to approach new contacts, connecting through conversation, developing professional relationships, common networking mistakes, and how to use networking inside the internship. The workshop is offered weekday evenings at 7:00pm or weekends at 12:00pm, though scheduling depends upon availability. The workshop runs at only $325.00, but we would like to offer a generous discount of 20% off to those registering for the first time. University intern coordinators can schedule this crucial workshop for a group of students in D.C. or interns can schedule a one-on-one tutorial for themselves. Please email info@new-todc.com to schedule your session today.

I hope that you choose to take advantage of this great opportunity to teach your interns the tools they need to unlock the door to their biggest dreams!