World Cup matches were picked this week!!! USA v England in group 3 matches! (this will be a hard one for me… as I’m an American, but LOVE England…)
Now back to business. So I think over the last few weeks I’ve developed a new trend with my blogs, the use of song lyrics for titles. It started with “A Weekend In the City” by Bloc Party and have gone on to include Matt and Kim, The Hombres, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. This week I’d like to thank The GO! Team for my blog title.
As my internship here in D.C. winds down, the work has picked up. We are coming ever closer to our deadline for Local Program Reports and with the cake contest at this year’s holiday part looming over head… there’s a lot to do! Literacy evaluations, meetings, and compiling of work samples took up my life at the office this week. It was hectic, it was busy, but despite that, it’s still a great time and there are really no words for how great that is.
So how does one end a hectic work week? With free tickets to the Washington Wizards of course! So you know how I’m always talking about looking for free things to do in the city… this is one of them. The fine folks at the Verizon Center donated 15 free box seat tickets to TWC and a couple friends and I were able to reap the benefits… thanks guys! This is one of those great perks that if you pay attention to your emails you’ll get to enjoy while interning through TWC.
Now if you’re not familiar with the Wizards, that’s understandable, before getting these tickets I really knew nothing about them. Having said that… check them out. They have some pretty cool things that go on during their games including the give away of free burritos, t-shirts, and a show by a group of guys called the “Secret Service Dunkers”. These guys are AMAZING! They run from the opposite end of the court, jump on a trampoline and while doing a series of spins and flips in the air, dunk the ball in an effortless display of talent.
The game was… GREAT! Now I know the Wizards aren’t the most phenomenal of teams (nor are the Toronto Raptors, their opponent this past Friday night), but both teams were on an even keel and as a result the game was pretty intense. Once again, I found myself completely caught up in the competitiveness of a sporting event. With my friends on either side of me, we yelled, we screamed, we cheered, we engaged in a running commentary throughout the whole game. I gripped my seat as I watched the Wizards try desperately to gain a lead on the Raptors and as the fourth period came around they tied up the game with two successful three point shots and we found ourselves entering into overtime.
Overtime quickly became double overtime as both teams refused to give up or let the other gain ground. By the time we were in the last minute and a half of the game, I was out of my seat jumping up and down, pumping my fist in the air cheering on the Wizards with a desperate hope that they could pull through. They put forth a truly valiant effort, but sadly the Toronto Raptors proved to be just a little bit better and ended up winning the game.
As the buzzer sounded, the heads of several TWC students suddenly hung low as we realized our team had lost. It was a sad moment but one we quickly recovered from, largely because of the chaos that ensued getting on the underground. All I could think of as I fought through an endless crowd of people and ran through Chinatown station on to a Metro car overflowing with people, was the walk to the underground after an Arsenal game back in London.
My family had come to visit me and my brother had treated us all to tickets to the most phenomenal football team ever… ARSENAL!
(Thanks mi hermano!) The game was phenomenal! Arsenal won, meaning they would be moving on to the championship at Wimbley, and the crowd had been amazing! (When you go to London, which I know you all will because it’s the coolest place ever, please, PLEASE go to a football match. It’s seriously one of the best experiences you’ll ever have!) As we left Emirate Stadium we found ourselves being herded like cattle away from the Arsenal Underground stop towards one a mile or so away. It would have been a quick walk except for the fact that the streets were literally flooded with people. There was no where to go and almost no space to move. As my family and I made our way slowly down the streets of North London and I share a plate of fries with a fellow Arsenal fan, we sang the team’s fight song and cheered with endless joy over their victory.
After a great Wizards game, I awoke the next morning to… SNOW!!! Yes that’s right, beautiful, wonderful, glorious snow, falling softly and swiftly on the ground of Rockville, Maryland!!! Now as a New Hampshire girl, I LOVE snow. I love it! Snow means winter, and while winter means shorter and much colder days, it also means sledding, snowmen, hot chocolate, and ice skating!
Winter is a truly great time of year! It’s no fall, lets be honest, but it’s great in a way all its own and just like fall, there’s nothing quite like a New Hampshire winter!
To celebrate the first snow of year my friends and I hit the skating rink. We braved the incredibly cold weather and made the long journey down to Pentagon City, trekked through snow and puddles for a few glorious laps on the ice. As we skated around the outdoor rink in skates that seemed very unsteady trying desperately not to lose our balance, the snow fell on us in a blanket that covered everything around us. It was a perfect way to get into the holiday spirit and spend a Saturday afternoon in the city.
Between work, jazz concerts, basketball games, ice skating, and commuting in and out of the city, this week was perhaps one of the busiest I’ve had since being here, but it was worth it. When you come to D.C. or visit any city for that matter, take part in absolutely everything! Anything you can find to do, whether it’s a museum, a free concert, a happy hour, a sporting event, a lecture, whatever it is, take part in it! These are thing things that make your experience in a new place. They open your eyes to so much and they make your time, wherever you are, truly wonderful. And don’t stay in one part of the District, be bold, be adventurous, get out there and see every part of the city, because when you wander off the beaten path you find the greatest things!
Oh and before I forget, the link below is a reason why you should always get out into the city while here. While rocking out at the Bishop Allen concert last week, I was filmed by the Washington Post’s “Scene In” series. I’m only in it for a brief second, but it made me feel momentarily bad ass. :) Make sure to check out the whole “Scene In” series!
Thanks WaPo!
This Weeks Top 2 Places to Visit:
1. Capital Jazz Project: If you like jazz (and I’ll assume you do) then while you’re in D.C. check out the Capital Jazz Project at the Kennedy Center. I had the privilege of going this past Wednesday and I LOVED it. This free forty-five minute jazz concert takes place on the millennium stage and is open to the public. The band is comprised of several students from local middle schools. These students are given the opportunity to work with professors of jazz from various universities in the area and are then able to perform live at the Kennedy Center and let me just say, these kids are PHENOMENAL!!! I was seriously impressed by these kids. They performed better than some professional jazz bands I’ve heard in the past and they loved what they were doing. Attending a show is not only something free and fun to do while you’re in the city, but it’s also a great way to support a program that helps bring music to public schools and develop education in the arts. Its something I HIGHLY suggest you check out while here!
2. 14th Street/ U Street Corridor: Located at U Street, home of the wonderful Bens’ Chili Bowl, and 14th street is the Corridor. Home to the Black Cat, Saint Ex (which have already made appearances on this blog), Bohemian Caverns and the Duke Ellington memorial, the Corridor is my favorite part of DC. Now, I like Georgetown, I like the Dupont Circle area, but the best part of D.C. is the U St/ 14th St. area. Its laid back, relaxed, and here you can go with the flow. There’s no rat race vibe, no feeling of needing to be dressed to the 10s. No, here is where you can go to listen to bands like Bishop Allen, to enjoy some live jazz, grab a drink at an underground bar, and get away from the competitive atmosphere that exists in most of the District. It's incredibly diverse and the vibe and atmosphere here is unlike anywhere else in D.C.
When coming to 14th St/U St, check out:
Black Cat
Saint-Ex
Ben's Chili Bowl
Polly's Cafe
9:30 Club
Busboys and Poets
This Week’s Top 5 Songs:
Now back to business. So I think over the last few weeks I’ve developed a new trend with my blogs, the use of song lyrics for titles. It started with “A Weekend In the City” by Bloc Party and have gone on to include Matt and Kim, The Hombres, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. This week I’d like to thank The GO! Team for my blog title.
As my internship here in D.C. winds down, the work has picked up. We are coming ever closer to our deadline for Local Program Reports and with the cake contest at this year’s holiday part looming over head… there’s a lot to do! Literacy evaluations, meetings, and compiling of work samples took up my life at the office this week. It was hectic, it was busy, but despite that, it’s still a great time and there are really no words for how great that is.
So how does one end a hectic work week? With free tickets to the Washington Wizards of course! So you know how I’m always talking about looking for free things to do in the city… this is one of them. The fine folks at the Verizon Center donated 15 free box seat tickets to TWC and a couple friends and I were able to reap the benefits… thanks guys! This is one of those great perks that if you pay attention to your emails you’ll get to enjoy while interning through TWC.
Now if you’re not familiar with the Wizards, that’s understandable, before getting these tickets I really knew nothing about them. Having said that… check them out. They have some pretty cool things that go on during their games including the give away of free burritos, t-shirts, and a show by a group of guys called the “Secret Service Dunkers”. These guys are AMAZING! They run from the opposite end of the court, jump on a trampoline and while doing a series of spins and flips in the air, dunk the ball in an effortless display of talent.
The game was… GREAT! Now I know the Wizards aren’t the most phenomenal of teams (nor are the Toronto Raptors, their opponent this past Friday night), but both teams were on an even keel and as a result the game was pretty intense. Once again, I found myself completely caught up in the competitiveness of a sporting event. With my friends on either side of me, we yelled, we screamed, we cheered, we engaged in a running commentary throughout the whole game. I gripped my seat as I watched the Wizards try desperately to gain a lead on the Raptors and as the fourth period came around they tied up the game with two successful three point shots and we found ourselves entering into overtime.
Overtime quickly became double overtime as both teams refused to give up or let the other gain ground. By the time we were in the last minute and a half of the game, I was out of my seat jumping up and down, pumping my fist in the air cheering on the Wizards with a desperate hope that they could pull through. They put forth a truly valiant effort, but sadly the Toronto Raptors proved to be just a little bit better and ended up winning the game.
As the buzzer sounded, the heads of several TWC students suddenly hung low as we realized our team had lost. It was a sad moment but one we quickly recovered from, largely because of the chaos that ensued getting on the underground. All I could think of as I fought through an endless crowd of people and ran through Chinatown station on to a Metro car overflowing with people, was the walk to the underground after an Arsenal game back in London.
My family had come to visit me and my brother had treated us all to tickets to the most phenomenal football team ever… ARSENAL!
(Thanks mi hermano!) The game was phenomenal! Arsenal won, meaning they would be moving on to the championship at Wimbley, and the crowd had been amazing! (When you go to London, which I know you all will because it’s the coolest place ever, please, PLEASE go to a football match. It’s seriously one of the best experiences you’ll ever have!) As we left Emirate Stadium we found ourselves being herded like cattle away from the Arsenal Underground stop towards one a mile or so away. It would have been a quick walk except for the fact that the streets were literally flooded with people. There was no where to go and almost no space to move. As my family and I made our way slowly down the streets of North London and I share a plate of fries with a fellow Arsenal fan, we sang the team’s fight song and cheered with endless joy over their victory.
After a great Wizards game, I awoke the next morning to… SNOW!!! Yes that’s right, beautiful, wonderful, glorious snow, falling softly and swiftly on the ground of Rockville, Maryland!!! Now as a New Hampshire girl, I LOVE snow. I love it! Snow means winter, and while winter means shorter and much colder days, it also means sledding, snowmen, hot chocolate, and ice skating!
Winter is a truly great time of year! It’s no fall, lets be honest, but it’s great in a way all its own and just like fall, there’s nothing quite like a New Hampshire winter!
To celebrate the first snow of year my friends and I hit the skating rink. We braved the incredibly cold weather and made the long journey down to Pentagon City, trekked through snow and puddles for a few glorious laps on the ice. As we skated around the outdoor rink in skates that seemed very unsteady trying desperately not to lose our balance, the snow fell on us in a blanket that covered everything around us. It was a perfect way to get into the holiday spirit and spend a Saturday afternoon in the city.
Between work, jazz concerts, basketball games, ice skating, and commuting in and out of the city, this week was perhaps one of the busiest I’ve had since being here, but it was worth it. When you come to D.C. or visit any city for that matter, take part in absolutely everything! Anything you can find to do, whether it’s a museum, a free concert, a happy hour, a sporting event, a lecture, whatever it is, take part in it! These are thing things that make your experience in a new place. They open your eyes to so much and they make your time, wherever you are, truly wonderful. And don’t stay in one part of the District, be bold, be adventurous, get out there and see every part of the city, because when you wander off the beaten path you find the greatest things!
Oh and before I forget, the link below is a reason why you should always get out into the city while here. While rocking out at the Bishop Allen concert last week, I was filmed by the Washington Post’s “Scene In” series. I’m only in it for a brief second, but it made me feel momentarily bad ass. :) Make sure to check out the whole “Scene In” series!
Thanks WaPo!
This Weeks Top 2 Places to Visit:
1. Capital Jazz Project: If you like jazz (and I’ll assume you do) then while you’re in D.C. check out the Capital Jazz Project at the Kennedy Center. I had the privilege of going this past Wednesday and I LOVED it. This free forty-five minute jazz concert takes place on the millennium stage and is open to the public. The band is comprised of several students from local middle schools. These students are given the opportunity to work with professors of jazz from various universities in the area and are then able to perform live at the Kennedy Center and let me just say, these kids are PHENOMENAL!!! I was seriously impressed by these kids. They performed better than some professional jazz bands I’ve heard in the past and they loved what they were doing. Attending a show is not only something free and fun to do while you’re in the city, but it’s also a great way to support a program that helps bring music to public schools and develop education in the arts. Its something I HIGHLY suggest you check out while here!
2. 14th Street/ U Street Corridor: Located at U Street, home of the wonderful Bens’ Chili Bowl, and 14th street is the Corridor. Home to the Black Cat, Saint Ex (which have already made appearances on this blog), Bohemian Caverns and the Duke Ellington memorial, the Corridor is my favorite part of DC. Now, I like Georgetown, I like the Dupont Circle area, but the best part of D.C. is the U St/ 14th St. area. Its laid back, relaxed, and here you can go with the flow. There’s no rat race vibe, no feeling of needing to be dressed to the 10s. No, here is where you can go to listen to bands like Bishop Allen, to enjoy some live jazz, grab a drink at an underground bar, and get away from the competitive atmosphere that exists in most of the District. It's incredibly diverse and the vibe and atmosphere here is unlike anywhere else in D.C.
When coming to 14th St/U St, check out:
Black Cat
Saint-Ex
Ben's Chili Bowl
Polly's Cafe
9:30 Club
Busboys and Poets
This Week’s Top 5 Songs:
- Temper Trap: Fader”
- Anya Marina: “Whatever You Like”
- Jamie T: “Sticks N’ Stones”
- Bombay Bicycle Club: “Ghost”
- Ben Folds: “Time”
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