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!

Best of Washington, D.C. (Happy Hour Edition)

One thing newcomers pick up on quickly is how popular happy hours are in Washington, D.C.

Perhaps it’s the stressful high-powered jobs here or the fact that you don’t need to drive to get around, but either way there a few things Washingtonians enjoy more than a good happy hour. Almost all local establishments tend to capitalize on this demand, offering discounted appetizers and drinks during the after-work hours. With the variety of crowds and scale of deals, there is truly a happy hour to fit everyone’s need in D.C.

We’ll start our tour of happy hours in Dupont Circle, where the sports bar, Front Page, features $2.75 domestics, $2.75 rails, and half price appetizers Monday-Friday from 4:00pm – 7:00 p.m. Front Page is a great place to come if you’re in the mood for a chill night where you can hear friends talk without the distractions of loud music or dancing.

If you’re looking for something a little higher-end but still with great deals, check out McCormick & Schmick's in downtown D.C. Although it’s a national chain, you can still find some excellent seafood here along with great happy hour deals. In fact, Washingtonian Magazine designated McCormick & Schmick's as “the best happy hour” spot in all of Washington, D.C. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth here with appetizers as cheap as $1.95 and drinks $3.95 Monday – Friday from 3:30pm – 7:00pm. This place fills up quickly, so unless you want to stand you’ll need to get here early to grab a seat.

Over in Woodley Park make sure to check out Murphy's, a lively Irish bar with happy hour specials Monday – Friday from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. They offer $2 Bud and Budlight drafts and .25 wings. The best night to do happy hour here is Thursday or Friday when you can catch live Irish music for free. Another benefit of Murphy's is that it’s pretty easy to get a table here, unlike many of the popular happy hour spots in D.C. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating with heaters in the winter.

If you find yourself in the mood for a livelier crowd, then head over to Mr. Smith's in Georgetown which has half-priced appetizers, $2.50 rail drinks, and $3 domestic bottles and house wine Monday – Friday from 4:00pm – 7:00pm. Mr. Smith's has a great patio area out back which is also open year-round. This fun bar hosts nightly “sing-alongs” with live piano music and cover songs you’re bound to know.

Red Rocks Firebrick Pizzeria in Columbia Heights has great pizza. Take advantage Tuesday – Thursday from 4:00pm – 7:00pm and get a Neapolitan pizza for $6.50 and $1 off draft beer and wine. Mondays you can get ½ price bottles of wine. Red Rocks is a cozy restaurant where you can sit at the bar and eat, or if you get there early enough, you can grab one of the limited tables. If you arrive and find there’s a wait to be seated, stick around because the quality of pizza is worth the wait!

Down the street from Columbia Heights is Local 16 in the U St. Corridor. Local 16 features $5 specialty cocktails and martinis as well as discounted beer and wine. You’ll find a young crowd at this bar which tends to congregate on the covered rooftop which is open year-round. While Local 16 has a limited food menu, it’s a fun but low-key place to catch up with friends over cocktails after a hard day at work.

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

Well if you’re sick of museums but not ready for a nap, then it’s time to hit up some of Washington, D.C.’s best shopping. While the District may not necessarily be known for its shopping like New York or Chicago is, it certainly has enough to keep you busy and entertained. Plus, D.C. has its own unique variety of stores, where you can find treasures only the nation’s capital has to offer.

One of the first places you’ll want to stop is Eastern Market, the pride and joy of Capitol Hill. Tuesday – Sunday, you can stop at the indoor market where you will find vendors including bakers, florists, butchers, as well as café serving breakfast and lunch. You can find all sorts of unique treats at the market such as paella, gourmet pasta, Spanish tortillas, pulled pork, every kind of fish you could possibly imagine, marinated kabobs, and much more. If you are entertaining and want to impress your guests, stop by Eastern Market to select fresh and unique fare. Additionally, the market hosts a flea market every weekend where you can spend an entire day browsing artisans’ stands which hold gems such as jewelry, purses, clothes, art, books, furniture, and more.

Fans of the outlet malls will not find them within Washington, D.C. proper, but if you have a car you can find Potomac Mills Outlet Mall about only 30 minutes outside of the city. Potomac Mills has a great variety of discount stores including J. Crew Factory, Kenneth Cole Factory, Nordstrom Rack, Johnston & Murphy Factory Store, Kirkland’s Outlet, and much more. Plan to spend the whole day here and even bring your Christmas shopping list with you. At Potomac Mills, it’s possible you could get it all knocked out in one day!

Souvenir hunters must visit the Congressional Gift Shop located inside the United States Capitol. You can find trinkets such as coffee mugs, key chains, t-shirts, playing cards, collector dishes, and more all dressed in House and Senate décor. Please note that you cannot walk in and out of the U.S. Capitol freely, you need to get a stamped pass which you obtain by taking a tour of the Capitol (you may schedule this through your Member of Congress’s office or through the Capitol Visitor's Center). If you are not interested in taking a tour of the Capitol, visit the House gift shop located in the basement of the Longworth House Office Building, which you can enter freely 9am-6pm Monday – Friday.

Looking for something that no one else has? Head over to the U St. Corridor, which houses a number of funky thrift stores and artsy boutiques. For example, at Lettie Gooch Boutique, you can find chic women’s clothing and accessories that are moderately priced. If you’re in need of a creative piece of furniture that none of your neighbors have, then stop by Millennium Decorative Arts where you’ll find a number of modern pieces to warm up your apartment and give it some flavor. If you are in the need of more practical shopping, perhaps to fill your empty house if you’ve just moved here, hop on the Metro towards Columbia Heights where you’ll find DC USA. This is a newer shopping development which holds Target, Marshall’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, and Staples. If you’re planning to go on a weekend, be sure to wear your patient shoes because this place is always packed with long lines. If at all possible, aim to go on a week day week night.

The Best of Washington, D.C. (Live Jazz Edition)

We continue our ‘Best Of’ series with “The Best of D.C. Live Jazz edition.” If you’ve lived in the District for awhile, then you’re probably aware of the vital role jazz plays in enriching D.C.’s already unique culture. In fact, you can find live jazz in just about every neighborhood at least one night a week. So how do you sort through the all the options and make sure to hit the best spots? Luckily, that’s what New To...D.C. is here for.

We’ll start our tour of jazz clubs up in Adams Morgan where you can find Tryst, which hosts a jazz quartet Monday – Wednesday at 8pm for free. Tryst successfully marries together the cliché funky coffee shop with a full bar, creating a unique, fun venue where there is truly something for everyone. This place is always packed with groups of friends as well as loners who show up with only a book or laptop as their companion.

If you happen to be in the H St. Corridor, you won’t want to miss HR-57 which recently moved to this location from its old home on U St. HR-57 has weekly jazz sessions at 8:00pm on Wednesday and Thursday, which you’re welcome to join in if you are a musician. Otherwise, for $8 you can listen in on the jam session which is well worth the cover charge. Keep in mind they always start late, and if you show up right at 8:00pm, the place will likely be vacant (8:30 – 8:45pm is your best bet). On the weekends, HR-57 hosts local jazz bands at 9:00pm for $15 cover. You can buy your tickets at the door or online beforehand. The club is pretty cozy so if you know you’ll be attending a weekend show, it’s a good idea to purchase tickets online ahead of time. Also, for a $3 corking fee, you can bring your own bottle of wine but if you forget to stop by the liquor store, be prepared to pay $8/glass for cheap wine or beer.

Over in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, Bayou brings New Orleans right to your backyard. On Friday and Saturday nights at 10:00pm, you can catch some jazz, blues, or Dixieland, depending on who they have scheduled to play that night. Make sure you come hungry because you won’t want to miss out on their traditional Creole cooking.

A staple of the D.C. jazz scene is Bohemian Caverns on U St., which hosts everything from jazz vocalists, to harpists, to traditional quartets. Bohemian Caverns has live shows Thursday – Monday and tickets run a little more expensive here, around $20, though it depends on who is being featured. Let me just say that it’s worth the price. Bohemian Caverns lives up to its name, creating a dark cavernous atmosphere where musicians charm the audience with their dissonant, enchanting melodies.

Even if you’re not a die-hard jazz fan, I recommend checking out at least one of these scenes so you can get the full, quintessential D.C. experience. There is a huge jazz sub-culture in the District and it’s fun to experience it regardless of what your taste in music is. If you would like to learn more about jazz in the D.C. area, you can check out D.C. Jazz which has a full listing of jazz venues in the area along with a schedule of performances each week.