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Hey everyone,

I just landed an internship at Capitol Hill for the summer!

So fill me in on what things to do in the city.

I will probably be living in GWU Student dorms, so I should have the living covered.

What's the daily life like? What is one thing (aside form the obvious monuments) that I MUST check out?

Thanks for any responses!

(Here are things I plan on doing so far:

-Nationals games
-Orioles games
-Redskins/Ravens training camp
-Redskins/Ravens preseason game
-Annapolis
-All the monuments
-Free museums
-Perhaps take a trip up to Philly, maybe even NYC)

That's all so far lol. I don't really know too much about the place

Welcome! Looks like you've already got a pretty big to-do list. You might want to also look out for free classic movies on the National Mall. If you're the outdoors type, there's pretty decent hiking at Great Falls. And don't forget about the National Aquarium at the Baltimore Harbor, plus the restaurants nearby were you can get an authentic MD crabcake (although they'll probably be really expensive this year).

Oh and if you do anything, you've GOT to drive on the Beltway around 4pm on a Friday.

I did respond to you in the OT thread, but I guess I'll say some of the same stuff again:

Since you're gonna be here for 2 and a half months, make friends quick. Most likely spots you're gonna go to are Georgetown (nice area, but overpriced), Adams Morgan (one of the IT spots in town, lots of bars/clubs, Jumbo Slice in case you need some food after a night of drinking),

Daily life is what you make it out to be IMO. My daily life, living in DC is basically working and going to the gym Monday-Friday, and then see what's going down on the weekend. Don't drive, use as much public transportation as you can.

Since you're working on the Hill, look into their kickball or softball program. Or the department you are working in.

Stay away from the hookers. They're all cops!

JWizmentality wrote:Stay away from the hookers. They're all cops!

Spoken like the voice of experience ?

LyricalRico wrote:Welcome! Looks like you've already got a pretty big to-do list. You might want to also look out for free classic movies on the National Mall. If you're the outdoors type, there's pretty decent hiking at Great Falls. And don't forget about the National Aquarium at the Baltimore Harbor, plus the restaurants nearby were you can get an authentic MD crabcake (although they'll probably be really expensive this year).

Oh and if you do anything, you've GOT to drive on the Beltway around 4pm on a Friday.

Agreed, Great Falls is a great place to go, I'd try to find black pond while you're there. I'd also try to go to the Shenandoah Valley during your time in DC.

Benjammin wrote:

JWizmentality wrote:Stay away from the hookers. They're all cops!

Spoken like the voice of experience ?

He's a hooker.

Benjammin wrote:

JWizmentality wrote:Stay away from the hookers. They're all cops!

Spoken like the voice of experience ?

I don't live in D.C, but every time I go to stay with some of my college buddies, it's the first thing they tell me. Just look at Blatche.

miller31time wrote:
He's a hooker.

I'm not in the mood tonight honey. I have a headache.

JWizmentality wrote:

miller31time wrote:
He's a hooker.

I'm not in the mood tonight honey. I have a headache.

You guys need to get a steel cage (or jello) - your preference.

If you landed a senate or congressional internship don't expect to have any free time. Sept probably drinking with other interns.

tkunit wrote:If you landed a senate or congressional internship don't expect to have any free time. Sept probably drinking with other interns.

I've heard that free time can vary. If you're stuck on the hill, there's a lot of history and fascinating architecture in the immediate area (if you like that kind of stuff). The Capitol is one of the most amazing buildings I've ever seen. Check out the Cannon, Longworth, and Russell buildings, the LOC, the Folger Theater.

Just a note - all the Smithsonian museums are free and most are terrific (Air & Space, Natural History and the National Gallery are MUST SEEs, but most others are great too). While you probably already know about the ones on the Mall, don't forget about the Udvar Hazy Center out near Dulles Airport off of Route 28 (take I66 to get there - its about an hour outside of DC). This is the auxiliary Air and Space museum and has a Space Shuttle, the Enola Gay, an SR171, lots of early planes, and lots of other really cool things like WWII fighter jets, IMax theater, watching airplanes take off & land from Dulles, etc.

For suggestions:

- Visit the monuments at night. They are truly awesome then, especially the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials

- If you haven't seen a truly stellar, humongous cave, consider Luray Caverns out in VA (take i66 to the 29/211 exit and drive another 40 minutes or so - about 90 minutes from DC)

- Visit the Reading Room of the Library of Congress. This is by far the most impressive room in DC, perhaps in the US. If you sign up as a researcher (which is free to do), you can go in without a tour guide and actually sit in there and do work! If you don't think "big thoughts" while hanging out in that room, you probably never will...

- Make sure you visit the Smithsonian Castle and the 1812 Worlds Fair building - both are very cool (the Castle moreso on the outside - it really looks like a Castle, but most seem to "not see" it)

- Definitely stop by to the National Archives to see our founding documents. This is worth doing at least once.

- Hang out outside the Verizon center at night. This is cool nightlife. Would of course be better if there was a game there, but such is life

- The Nats stadium is a terrific place to be. Enjoy a game!

- The high tech/open government community generally hangs out around Dupont Circle. If you're a techy, this is a good place to visit. Buffalo Billiards is a good starting point.

- To listen in on unintelligible, highlevel government meetings, hang out at the Caribou Coffee at 19th and Pennsylvennia, right outside of the Old Executive Office Building. This is where everyone meets to get around the new White House lobbying registry rules.

- Come back when the Cherry blossoms are in bloom - this is the best time to see the city.

Live at the 9:30 with occasional visits to the Black Cat, torpedo factory, chief ike's mambo room, the u street strip, the eighteenth street lounge, the IMAX at the air and space museum, wolftrap, great falls and the improv. That combo will keep you busy for decades.

sample the good eats. ben's chili bowl, ray's hellburger, mr p's ribs bus on rhode island ave, empanadas, jumbo slice, the fish market...

the zoo is underrated, especially at dusk.

and of course the aforementioned "bar districts" with gtown being the most college-y feel one. definitely hit up happy hours since they're the best bang for your buck. you can literally have dinner for about 5 bucks (if you don't order booze too).

I heard hellburger has been impossible ever since the prez went...

willbcocks wrote:I heard hellburger has been impossible ever since the prez went...

They moved to a bigger place in the same strip mall last summer (the space vacated when Rays the Steaks moved). I went a couple weeks ago on Sunday around 8PM and there wasn't much of a line.

Hellburger is way overrated, don't bother with it. Ray's the Steaks is worth your time and cash, however.

There used to be a thread on here about unique things to do in DC. Alas, it's probably lost forever.

For a place off the beaten path a bit, check out Roosevelt Island. You can walk there from Georgetown. Same goes for Gravelly Point.

There are tons of festivals, etc. going on throughout the summer, usually on the mall, so you won't have lack of options.

Also, enjoy the interns.

Hit Mario's in Arlington for a steak and cheese.

Thanks everyone!

The one thing I am most nervous about is making friends. I'm really outgoing and personable, but even then, I really dislike the process of "making friends."

I think I will be living in GWU dorms - I'm sure there will be other college kids there?

I know a few people my age who live in DC, but Im sure they will be preoccupied with their own internships/jobs.