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.