 |
|
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The City with the Hill
Washington, D.C., nation's capital and political nerve center, is a diverse and lively city recommended for its dynamic job market, livable neighborhoods, and copious cultural resources.
Washington, D.C., is nothing if not a government town, but the nation's capital is also much more. Alongside the pundits and politicos, people of every stripe work and play in this city as rich in art, greenery, and nightlife as it is in political intrigue.
|
Despite some rocky moments - including devastating race riots in 1968 - the world's first planned capital now thrives as an eminently livable locale. Among its assets are appealing neighborhoods; reliable public transportation; free world-class museums; one of the largest urban parks in the country; and annual events such as July 4th celebrations and the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Young people are integral to the fabric of district life, as they hold the majority of jobs that make the wheels of this city turn and maintain the diverse vitality of its recreation and nightlife. While much of the work recent graduates do involves assisting the city's power brokers - whether in government, nonprofit, law, or other industries - there are ample opportunities to distinguish oneself professionally, pursue career advancement, and contribute to effective change.
Neighborhoods
 Dupont Circle
The historic grandeur of Dupont Circle-palatial 1870s mansions, leafy streets of charming row houses-belies the bustling commerce and swinging nightlife of this urban hub. Long known as D.C.'s gay neighborhood, Dupont has a relaxed, amiable atmosphere. Conveniently close to the Farragut area - home to many nonprofits and law firms - Dupont Circle is on the Metro's red line and many bus lines.
Rent for a studio apartment averages $1,300 a month. Group houses, best found on craigslist www.washingtondc.craigslist.org and in the City Paper and the Washington Post, are most affordable. You will find easy access to restaurants and shops, grocery stores, and many bars and clubs.
Once a fashionable suburb, today Adams Morgan is a thoroughly diverse urban neighborhood. Mexican and Salvadorian restaurants crowd together with an eclectic collection of Ethiopian and Lebanese eateries, African and Indian stores, and hip coffee shops. Ubiquitous dance clubs and bars make Adams Morgan a popular nightspot.
Studios here average $1,200 a month; group houses are a good option. Find roommates on craigslist, listed in the City Paper, or posted in coffee shops. The moderate walk to the eponymous Metro station means residents appreciate the many bus lines. Everything you need is here, including a Saturday farmers' market, a Safeway, and an organic supermarket.
Columbia Heights
This neighborhood is rapidly rejuvenating after a few depressed decades in the wake of the 1968 riots. With development currently off the charts, Columbia Heights is quickly "gentrifying" as more residents with higher incomes move in.
The area offers relatively low rents, with studios averaging $1,100 a month. Group houses and apartment shares are common. Look on craigslist, www.columbiaheightsnews.org, or in the City Paper. On the green and yellow Metro lines, Columbia Heights is also serviced by buses, including the commuter-friendly 16th Street routes. A Giant grocery recently opened, and a Target store is coming soon.
The area surrounding the Capitol and congressional buildings - quiet avenues bearing centuries-old townhouses - makes a congenial and convenient home for government employees. Although urban blight affects sections, the Hill is generally pleasant, with some great restaurants and cultural attractions; the Library of Congress and Smithsonian museums are nearby.
Prices, amenities, safety, and transportation vary substantially block by block, so get to know the neighborhood before committing. Eastern Market is a lovely area on the blue and orange Metro lines, with rents averaging $1,150 per month for a studio. Look on craigslist, www.hillnews.com/for-rent, or in the City Paper.
Despite lying across the river in Virginia, Arlington is more urban than many parts of D.C. It boasts great shopping, abundant restaurants, and a booming nightlife. Home to the famous Arlington National Cemetery, this neighborhood is also close to natural areas like Shenandoah National Park.
Studios average $1,050 a month, but since apartments in the many high rises are larger, shares are common. Check craigslist or www.helloarlington.com. All amenities are convenient, and several Metro stations serve the neighborhood. A quick Metro ride gets you to most of D.C.'s employment and recreation areas.
Transportation
 D.C. is a relatively small city, easy to navigate, and good for walking. An efficient Metro system goes to many areas, and a network of bus lines covers the remainder. Metro fares are graduated by distance, so in central areas travel is affordable.
You do not need a car, particularly with the wide availability of car-sharing programs such as Flexcar and Zipcar. Bike riders are not abundant, although some roads now have bike lanes.
Local Lingo
Right smack in the middle of the east coast, Washington is purposely not northern or southern, and the local lingo reflects that. The accents run the gamut in America's capital, with representatives from all over the country. There is, however, a vocabulary of words specific only to people in DC, many of whom have government jobs in addition to proximity to The Hill (where the federal buildings are) in common.
The Hill is also used as a metonym to refer to Congress as a body and its goings-on. You might hear phrases such as "the Hill is dithering on this issue", or "I have to go testify on the Hill today", meaning speak before Congress as an expert on a certain issue.
To understand anything going on in DC, you need a basic vocabulary of government acronyms. It is alphabet soup in this town, and a knowing a few letter-combinations will keep you from confusion. These are some of the most frequently used: DOJ (Department of Justice), DOD (Department of Defense), DOS or "State" (State Department, not "Department of State"), USAID (US Agency for International Development), USDA (US Department of Agriculture), DHS (Department of Homeland Security), DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).
Staffers are the people who work in the offices of Congress, doing research, public relations, campaigning, administration, scheduling, and other tasks necessary for the work of governing the country. Each Senator, Representative, and congressional committee has an office manned by these staffers, who tend to be young, ambitious, poorly paid, and willing to work long hours.
Several blocks south of Dupont Circle is a street with a reputation that precedes it. Some may remember K Street from the 2003 HBO show of that name, which focused on the power-brokering action of the many think tanks, lobbyists, and law firms that reside here. The term "K Street" serves as a metonym for the lobbying industry, as in "K Street has been pushing this bill forward from the start."
The Beltway, also known as I-495, is a highway that circles the city, cutting through the suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. Referring to something as "inside the beltway" means either that it is located in DC or that it is related to federal politics and political culture. The chronically congested "outer-loop" and "inner-loop" refer to the lanes going either direction-guess which is which.
|
|
Government
• Federal Government-all branches
Politics/Journalism
• CSPAN
• Washington Post
• Gallup Organization
What do you love about working here?
There is always something happening, always a lecture or show.
Jen, 26
Knox College and Indiana University, Editor
|
