Board Members’ Corner
The Board Members’ Corner is a column written by members of the TSO Board. The column will feature stories from the month’s activities as well as insight into living, working, and studying in D.C.
10 D.C. Newcomer Survival Tips
July 2011
Alden Wells, PPSA Vice President
This time last year, I was packing my bags and moving to a new city, leaving behind best friends, my car, my home, and my job. I was a little apprehensive. But one year later, I am incredibly happy I made the jump to D.C. Moving to a new city can be very overwhelming, but we’re here to help! Here are my ten favorite pieces of advice for making the transition to D.C. easier:
Getting Around D.C.
1. Get a SmarTrip Card
The best way to get around D.C is via public transportation. Leave your car behind and come prepared for outside commuting! To use the the WashingtonMetro system, you’ll need to to purchase a SmarTrip card, which deducts your fare when you get on the train or bus. Make life easier by ordering a SmarTrip card ahead of time. Be sure to register the card so if it gets lost or breaks, you can transfer the value to a new card. I suggest sticking about $50 on the card to start.
Your monthly transportation costs will depend on where you live. For my round-trip ride from Capitol Hill to GW, I budget about $100 a month. When you get on Metro rail, just look for the green arrows on the turnstiles and hold it over the sensor to enter the station. Buses have a card reader as well, and you’ll get a fare discount for transferring between bus and rail.
Be careful where you store your SmarTrip card! The card can get demagnetized and stop working if you keep it too close to a credit card or cell phone, so find a separate place in your wallet to store it.
2. Walk on the left! Move to the back!
If you’re not used to riding on public transportation, here are some important tips on proper Metro etiquette. Metrorail stations have escalators, and people want to get up or down them quickly! If you prefer to ride along, stay to the right. If you are ready to quickly move up or down the escalators, stay to the left. People who stand on the left risk embarrassment by rushed commuters who will start to shout at you, “Walk on the left!”
Likewise, be sure to let the people exiting the train or bus off before trying to get on. Finally, be sure to move to the center of the train car or the back of the bus so others can get on. Metro gets crowded during rush hour, so don’t cluster around the door unless you want to annoy your driver or fellow commuters.
3. Invest in the Proper Gear
You will do a lot of walking and standing in D.C., and you’ll have to do most of it in your work clothes. You are going to have some blisters those first couple of weeks from walking to networking and interviewing events. Invest in comfortable dress shoes and some band aids, unless you plan on huffing to work in your tennis shoes (I can’t pull it off, but maybe you can). Dr. Scholl’s makes some great anti-rubsticks that work even better than band-aids for blisters. Because you’ll be walking around in all kind of weather, another great item to have is a pair of comfortable rain boots. Remember to pack awesome wool hats, pea-coats and puffer jackets to keep warm in the winter.
Food and Drink
4. Restaurant Week
So you have a friend who wants to visit and is a foodie. How can you afford to go out to a nice meal on a grad student’s budget? Invite him/her for RestaurantWeek! Restaurant Week happens twice a year, in January and August. Traditionally, participating restaurants will offer three courses for $20 for lunch and $35 for dinner (not including tax and tip). Be sure to check the menu or readsomereviews before you go because some restaurants offer their entire menu for Restaurant Week prices, while others limit your choices. Reservations fill up quickly, so be sure to book as soon as the dates are announced! You can book your table online at OpenTable. Happy eating!
5. Food Trucks
Another D.C. staple are the massive number of foodtrucks! They cruise the city during lunch time, tweeting their location and daily specials. Most of them make stops downtown to feed hungry office workers. You can follow individual trucks on Twitter (you won’t be the only one – the Redhook Lobster Truck has 18,000 followers!) or use the FoodTruckFiesta website orthestrEATS smartphone app to see a real-time map of all the city’s trucks. Don’t be afraid to try a new one; they will not disappoint because competition is intense and only the best trucks survive!
6. Coffee at GW
There is a famous Starbucks on the first floor of the GW library. It is famous for long lines. You can avoid the lines by going to the “hidden” Starbucks in the GW hospital. When you pop off the Foggy Bottom Metro, look to the left. Just inside the hospital is a Starbucks with shorter lines and the hospital cafeteria with cheaper salads and soups! If you are coming toward the MPA building from downtown, there is also a Starbucks at 20th and Pennsylvania. Au Bon Pain is a favorite of professors and students alike and it is located just behind the MPA building. Three cheers for caffeine before lectures!
Fun Stuff
7. Branch Out
Make friends with peers at TSPPPA, but do not be afraid to venture out into the land of young professionals in D.C.! A great way to do so is to joinakickballleague. People are friendly and happy hour specials lead to amazing bonding! If you don’t like kickball, there are also leagues for all sorts of sports, from football to frisbee to bocce. Also, look up your undergraduate institution’s alumni club – it’s a great way to expand your network of friends! New people come every fall, and people in D.C. are incredibly warm and welcoming.
8. Stay Informed With Local Blogs
Want to know what is really happening in the city? Check out one of the great blogs about DC and enjoy some terrific articles on local news and events. My favorite is DCist.com. With updates many times a day, you can start to brush up on your D.C. knowledge before you even arrive in the District.
9. Get Coupons for Fun Stuff
It seems that no one pays full price anymore. Want to learn to dance? Want to kayak in the Potomac? Want to eat at your favorite restaurant for less money? Sign up for Groupon andLivingSocial. I got a CapitalBikeShare membership for $37 (half off) for a year. I am also able to continue my love of hot yoga for far less than I would otherwise pay!
10. See the City
The best and most beautiful way to learn the city is with a pair of sneakers. You can walk almost anywhere and enjoy the monuments all along the way. Try to go to a few Smithsonians (I suggest the NationalPortraitGallery in Chinatown or NaturalHistory on the Mall). Walk to JazzintheGarden on Fridays. I have worn through a pair of Converse sneakers just by trying to walk to all the museums. Want something more fast-paced? Jog along the Potomac or run toward EasternMarket for some fun art, jewelry and tasty fresh foods. Don’t stick to the Metro while you have a little spare time! It is a beautiful city, and I am so happy you decided to make the move!
