New To D.C.
Helping make your transition to the District seamless
Before you move to Washington, D.C., make sure to read this.
If you're interning in D.C., check this out first!
If you're interning in D.C., check this out first!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Best Tour Companies in D.C. Part 1
The sun is shining in D.C., daylight savings is right around the corner, and everyone is in a good mood. Spring is just about here. That means it’s time to turn off the space heater, throw off the heavy blankets, and get outside. We’ve already discussed a number of fun sightseeing activities in D.C., although some people might feel overwhelmed at the thought of approaching it all on their own. If you’re only in Washington, D.C. for a few days, how can you possibly get everything in? Well, you can’t. Don’t even try or someone’s bound to end up in tears, threatening to go home early. So don’t do it – it’s not worth it. One option you may want to consider is letting a tour company do the heavy lifting for you. There are several reputable tour companies in the District that offer a variety of fun tours.
Old Town Trolley Tours has almost become an icon in D.C. You can’t walk down the mall without seeing at least one of their trams narrating the highlights of D.C. What makes Old Town Trolley a great option is their “hop on, hop off” policy, where you can purchase a full day ticket (or even up to 3 days) and get on and off the trolley as much as you would like to. There are 3 routes that stop at major Washington, D.C. sites such as monuments, museums, and other historical landmarks. Hop off the trolley at whatever piques your interest, spend as long as you like there, then just head back to the trolley stop and wait up to 10 minutes for the next trolley to pick you up. Tours begin daily at 9:00am and end at 5:30pm. The one-day ticket price runs at about $35 for an adult, though you can get discounts by purchasing tickets online!
For you night owls out there, there are evening bus tours as well, with a similar “hop on, hop off policy.” D.C. Tours offers a double-decker bus tour of D.C. (as well as during the day). Evening tours will allow you to view all the monuments lit up, making for some great pictures. Evening tours last for one hour and depart from Union Station.
Bus tours are a great option for those with limited time in the city, wanting to pack as much in as possible. They are also a good option for those who cannot walk long distances. If you’re feeling adventurous, however, another fun way to cover some ground is by segway. Segs in the City offers a variety of tours featuring the monuments, city highlights, food, and more. Tours run both at night and during the day. A two-hour tour will put back about $70 per person and tours depart from different locations throughout the District. Another option is Capital Segway, where you can take a “Masonic Tour,” featuring several sites mentioned in Dan Brown’s Lost Symbol. Capital Segway also has tours of the traditional sites as well. The cost of a two-hour tour starts at $65 and goes up depending on the day and time you choose to tour.
Another way to tour the nation's capital is by a WWII amphibious vehicle, otherwise known as D.C. Ducks. The Duck Tour is great for families with kids, though be forewarned that everyone is provided with a duck quaker, which could drive you crazy by the end of the day. If you can put up with that, then this tour is otherwise a blast. D.C. Ducks departs from Union Station and drives you around to some traditional sites, before plunging into the Potomac River for a boat tour! Along the way, you will learn some interesting facts and stories about our nation’s history.
Before you commit to touring with one of these companies, first check out Living Social or Groupon because they frequently promote specials that you could take advantage of. There’s no point in paying full price when you don’t have to!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Best St. Patrick’s Day Activities in D.C.
March
is here, which means that it’s time to start making plans for St. Patrick’s Day
in Washington, D.C. This holiday is not just
celebrated on March 17th in the District,
but all month long! So you don’t have to worry about committing to just one fun
activity this year – you can celebrate the holiday to the fullest extent
possible throughout the entire month of March.
Check
out the District’s 41st Annual St. Patrick's
Day Parade on Sunday, March 11 at noon. Grab a spot along Constitution Avenue,
between 7th and 17th Streets, NW or better yet, purchase
grandstand tickets through the link above. This year’s grandstands will be
located between 15th and 16th Streets, next to the judges’
stands so you will get to hear each group announced and enjoy their
performances. The parade for this festive holiday will feature marching bands,
school groups, dance troops, floats, and a variety of other community
organizations. Because the streets will be blocked off, parking will be
difficult so driving is not recommended. Buses will also have a hard time
getting around, which means that Metro
is your best bet or if you are able to walk there, then that’s even better since
Metro will probably be packed.
Shamrock Fest 2012 is back at RFK Stadium
this year and you won’t want to miss it! Block off your calendar on Saturday, March
24 from 1:00pm – 9:00pm to check out over 50 bands and DJ’s including Gavin
DeGraw and Dropkick Murphy’s. This year’s fest also includes games, beer
trucks, food vendors, contests, and more. Tickets start at $24.99 per person
and group discounts are available for parties of 5 and up. You can purchase
your tickets ahead of time here.
St.
Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, which means that you have no
excuse to stay in! Stop by Shamrocks
& Shenanigans at Rumors
in Dupont Circle. Get there early (11:30am) to take advantage of $1.17 Coors
Lights and $2.17 Blue Moons. Don’t forget to wear your dancing shoes and
festive green gear because there will be contests for “Most Irish Garb” and “Best
Irish Jig.” Rumors will
also have a DJ and free souvenirs. There’s a $5 cover for this event.
Contrary
to popular belief, drinking isn’t the only way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
On Sunday, March 11, the Capital Running Company will hold the St.
Patrick's Day 8k at 9:00pm in Freedom Plaza. The start and finish lines are
on Pennsylvania NW between 12th and 13th Streets. The
event will feature bagpipers, Irish dancers, and a DJ. Prizes will be awarded
throughout the day – including a 4-day cruise for 2! Same day registration
begins at 7:00am, or you could register online in advance and pick up your
packet at 1427 P Street NW on Friday, March 9 from 11:00am – 9:00pm. There is a
bag check service for runners at the 14th Street side of Freedom
Plaza, though to avoid the chaos you may want to leave your stuff with friends
or in the car.
If
you’re in the U St. area, stop by Duffy's
Irish Pub which offers a full week of St. Patrick’s activities. Starting on
Sunday, March 11, the pub will supplement the parade celebration with an Irish
buffet noon – 3:30pm and live Irish music. Monday, March 12, Ronan Kavanagh will perform 9:00pm – midnight. Wednesday,
March 13, is trivia night at Duffy's, with a
St. Patrick’s Day theme, starting at 8:00pm. Thursday, March 14, you can drink
green beer while watching the NCAA tournament or listening to live Irish music at
9:00pm. On the big day, Duffy's will
have bagpipers, Irish dancers, and Guinness girls. Doors open at 11:00am and
there is a $5 cover all day.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Internship Programs in Washington, D.C.
As
the days begin to get longer and the weather warms up, intern season lies right
around the corner in Washington, D.C. Every summer,
the District hosts somewhere
around 20,000 interns from all over the world. Student, and even non-student,
interns flock to the nation’s capital in pursuit of their big dreams to change
the world. And they’re coming to the right place – D.C. is brimming with
opportunity in every field imaginable. Most people think that you only move here
to work for the government, but that’s not true! Interns and career
professionals move here for any and every professional pursuit such as non-profit
work, journalism, lobbying, consulting, law, and the list goes on! If you are
considering an internship in D.C., I hope you
will realize what a rewarding and thrilling adventure it truly is. The experience
you’ll have working in the nation's capital will forever
change the course of your career, providing you with rich opportunities you
wouldn’t be able to obtain anywhere else.
For
those flirting with the idea of an internship in D.C., the first
thing you need to know is that there are three main ways you could approach it.
First, if you’re a college student, then you can check with your academic
advisor to see if your university offers any sort of formal internship program
that you can go through. The benefit of participating in your university’s
internship program is the reassurance that your course credits are all
guaranteed to transfer. Sometimes your university will accept credits taken
through outside programs, though you need to verify this with your academic
advisor.
Not
all interns are college students, however, so not everyone has access to
university internship programs. If you find yourself in this camp, don’t give
up! You still have several other options. You could consider going at it alone,
which means that you would have to find your own internship (Yes, it is
possible to apply to internships as an individual and not through a program,
though there may be exceptions). Keep in mind there are several other factors
such as housing, making friends, acclimating to a new city, etc. that you would
have to coordinate on your own as well. Though one benefit to pursuing the
internship on your own or through your university is that it tends to be a bit cheaper
than going through one of the larger programs based here in D.C. At the same
time, there are a number of perks to enrolling through a formal program, so
your decision will just have to be based on your personal priorities.
The Washington Center is a
prestigious internship program where many leaders in both the public and
private sector got their start. This program helps to connect students with
internships in a number of fields such as international affairs, business, public
policy, and more. But The Washington
Center
is so much more than just an internship. It supplements your real-world
experience with classroom learning that you may be able to transfer over to
your university for credit. The Center holds cutting-edge seminars on relevant
topics, taught by industry leaders. Upcoming seminar topics include the 2012
political conventions and the 2013 presidential inauguration. The
Washington Center
recruits students from all across the country and even the world. They help
accommodate students’ housing needs by offering placement in shared apartments.
If you are intimidated by the hassle of organizing all the moving pieces of the
process by yourself, then The Washington
Center
is a great solution. It takes care of all the details for you, while providing
you with a solid launching pad for your career.
Another
excellent internship program to consider is The Fund for American Studies. It has been
around since 1967, providing patriotic youth with the opportunity to start
building their career in public service. They offer a variety of programs
including “Capital Semester,” which involves an internship, briefings with
movers and shakers at a variety of hot-spots such as the State Department and White
House, as well as a semester of classes at Georgetown University. If you
participate in Capital Semester, then you will also get to attend networking
events and hear lectures from leaders across the District. The program helps
to coordinate housing for participants. Another great thing about The Fund for American Studies is that they
offer scholarships to deserving students.
Since
1990, The Washington Internship Institute has been
helping students obtain real-life experience in both the public and private
sector. The Washington Internship Institute offers several
programs including: The Capital Experience, Embassy Scholars, Go Green, and
Faculty Fellows. This organization has an active alumni network which
participants are able to take advantage of.
You can find a blog of students’ internship experiences on The
Washington Internship Institute’s website. Check it out to get a
picture of participants’ day-to-routine and see if it might be something that
you’re interested in.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Best Mardi Gras Celebrations in D.C.
As
we’re all stocking up on mattresses and flooring this President’s Day in Washington, D.C., we have another
holiday right around the corner: Mardi Gras, which will kick off the Lent
season. You don’t have to make the trip out to New Orleans for a fun Fat
Tuesday celebration. There are plenty of fun activities celebrating the
debaucherous holiday right here in your own backyard.
Club Liv in the U St.
Corridor is going all out with a Louisiana-style party this year. Make sure to
wear your best masks and costumes because they will be holding a costume
contest with prizes. Club Liv
will have authentic Cajun food, music, and dancing. Doors open at 6:30pm and there
is a $20 cover charge, $10 if you sign up in advance.
If
you like parades, then you cannot miss the 15th Annual Clarendon Courthouse Mardi Gras Parade at
8:00pm, featuring performances from over 40 community groups including the Jim
Moyer Circus Group, DC Roller Girls, local bands, and more. The parade runs along
Wilson Boulevard from North Barton Street to North Irving Street. The parade
will be a family friendly event and the best part is that it’s free! If you’d
like to enjoy the parade from a distance, then head over to Whitlow's on Wilson Bar & Grill, where
you can watch the parade from a heated environment. Whitlow’s will offer Cajun
specials and feature Matt Waller Trio after the parade at 9:30pm.
Right
in the heart of downtown D.C. is Central Michel Richard's, which
will be holding its 5th Annual Mardi Gras celebration this year. Not
only will you get to enjoy Creole creations by a world-renowned chef, but you will
get to celebrate with live music from the Dixieland jazz quartet Laissez Foure,
specialty cocktails, and free beads.
The Anacostia
Community Museum will be hosting a family-friendly Fat Tuesday party on Saturday,
February 25 from 11:00am – 4:00pm. Bring the kids out to enjoy live music, arts
and crafts, storytelling, and a costume contest with prizes.
If
you’re trying to impress a date, then take them to Acadiana
which features a fixed price menu of crawfish, rabbit etouffee, jambalaya, and
more – all for only $45! The special runs from 5:30pm – 10:30pm Beginning at
3:30pm, Acadiana
will offer $5 specialty cocktails such as Dark and Stormy and Louisiana Tea. If
you don’t want to opt for the fixed price menu, you can still enjoy festive
appetizers at the bar such as southern sliders and Louisiana crawfish bread.
Check
out the crawfish boil at Hot n'
Juicy in Woodley Park. For every pound of seafood you get, they’ll give you
a free beer or order of Cajun fries. And be sure not to miss the Crawfish
eating contest at 8:00pm, where the winner will take home $200!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Best Free Activities in D.C.
Because
the cost of living is so high in Washington,
D.C., many residents here find themselves living life on a budget. But if
you plan ahead and do your research, then you don’t have to let that limit your
fun. It is absolutely possible to have a great time here without even touching
your wallet! While we’ve already reviewed some of the sightseeing highlights in
the District, it’s important to point out
some of the free activities in particular that are right at your fingertips. The
great thing about this city is it has so much going on, that there is no need
for overlap.
When
people are exploring D.C., I think it’s
common for them to have a national focus since this is where much of our
country’s ‘coming of age’ took place, but it’s important to zoom in our lens and
consider the city’s local history as well. A great way to do so is by following
the African
American Heritage Trail. The trail consists of 98 historical sites, all of which
have historical significance for African Americans locally and nationally. 13
new sites were just installed this past year and that number will continue to
grow over time. Cultural
Tourism D.C. offers a free booklet that outlines walking and driving tours
for the trail. You can download the booklet here
or pick one up at a neighborhood
location.
Since
we’re in the throes of winter, it might be good to have some affordable indoor
options in your back pocket too. The National Gallery of Art offers
free concerts weekly on Sundays at 6:30pm. The music ranges from classical
piano, to string quartets, to vocal performances. Doors open at 6:00pm and
guests are seated on a first-come first-serve basis. Once spring rolls around, National Gallery of Art hosts Jazz in the Garden, a
popular event featuring live jazz music in the sculpture garden right outside
the museum. Many visitors pack a picnic to enjoy while they listen to the music.
It’s a great summer activity that you can’t miss, but in the meantime be sure
to check out one of their excellent indoor performances.
One
of the many things that the District is
known for is the number of universities that it hosts. We often hear about
research these local institutions are conducting, and even see their professors
on national news, so it could be interesting to see where all the magic
happens. While some of the universities here are small and esoteric, (i.e. the National Defense Intelligence University
– though I hope I don’t get taken away for simply implying they have a small
campus), there are certainly others with campuses worth checking out. Make your
first stop Georgetown University. With
its manicured lawns and old Greek architecture, Georgetown has the quintessential university
feel. Another good one to see is American
University, which has a quad where you can throw the Frisbee around or even
just relax and people-watch.
Another
fun, affordable idea is to head over to the U St. corridor and check out Meridian Hill Park. With its
beautifully manicured landscaping and large cascading fountain, it’s easy to
see why this park has hosted a number of local weddings over time. On your
visit, you can take a guided tour or explore on your own. On Sundays, 3:00pm –
9:00pm, don’t miss the drum circle and African dancing. You’re even welcome to
bring your own drum and join in the fun!
If
you’re new to the area or haven’t had much time to tour it yet, then take a
walk, run, or bike-ride along the National
Mall. This is a must-do if you have not done it before. With the Washington Monument at one end and
the Capitol Building at the other
end, the experience is almost humbling. On your walk, you’ll pass a number of Smithsonian Museums, where you can stop to eat,
use the bathroom, or of course view the exhibits – all for free! Some of the
museums you’ll pass by include: Hirshhorn,
National Museum of the American Indian, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, Natural History Museum, National Gallery of Art East and
West Buildings.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Best February Activities in D.C.
Washington, D.C. has been graced with some
beautiful warm weather this winter, which serves as motivation to stop hovering
over the space heater and start enjoying some fun activities! During the month
of February in particular, there are several exciting events occurring
throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area.
For
all you car lovers, the Washington
Auto Show will be at the Convention
Center through February 5. This is your opportunity to check out over 700
new makes and models of vehicles from 42 foreign and domestic automakers. A
number of celebrities will make appearances at the Auto Show including: Redskins Cornerback DeAngelo Hall, WWE
Superstar Randy Orton, Washington Caps Center Brooks Laich and Defenseman John
Carlson. The show will also feature innovative exhibits on alternative energy.
Tickets will cost you $13 and the hours are as follows:
Mon. Jan. 30 -
Thur. Feb. 2, 2012 - 12:00 - 9:00 pm
Fri. Feb. 3, 2012 - 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sat. Feb. 4, 2012 - 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sun. Feb. 5, 2012 - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri. Feb. 3, 2012 - 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sat. Feb. 4, 2012 - 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sun. Feb. 5, 2012 - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Have
you ever done a scavenger hunt before? As an adult? They are just as much fun
as when you were a kid. Actually, maybe more! And now’s your chance with the 6th Annual Lindy 600 DC Limo
Scavenger Hunt on February 11. Teams of 10 will each get their own limo and
compete by visiting local establishments to find clues, take pictures, and
solve puzzles. Although it’s pretty pricey at $625 per team, the event will be
tons of fun. So pull together 9 friends and reserve your spot before they fill up.
You can't miss the Washington,
DC International Food & Wine Festival 2012, which kicks off with a "Sommelier Showdown" at Thursday, February 9 at 7:00pm. The amount of tickets released to the public are limited and will cost you about $150. But don't worry - there are some more affordable features of this event. On Friday, February 10, Federal Triangle's Aria Pizzeria will host "Cupid's Not Stupid," a mixology contest among local bartenders. Then the "Grand Wine Tasting" will occur on February 11 and 12 from 2:00pm - 6:00pm at the Ronald Reagan Building for $85 per person.
Once you've kicked your wine hangover, you can check out DC
Fashion Week February 20 - 26. Festivities include a fashion show at Woolly
Mammoth Theatre,a fashion networking party at Dirty Bar, a fashion concert at the Washington
Post Conference Center, and more. Whoever said that D.C. had no fashion sense? Let's prove those fools wrong!
By the end of February, you'll probably be ready to crash from all the drinking and partying you've been doing, so it's the perfect time to relax in front of a movie. February 29 - March 4 is the D.C. Independent
Film Festival. The festival includes a variety of activities such as film screenings, seminars, workshops, lectures, and more. Most of the festivities are targeted towards both beginner and advanced filmmakers. The D.C. Independent
Film Festival is a non-profit all-volunteer event, so they are always looking for extra help if you are interested in pitching in!
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