Spring 2007 CAPPP students get the hang of the DC Metro subway.

Life in DC is fast and fun—not as urban-intense as Manhattan, but more . . . monumental. And the UC Washington Center is right in the middle of it all. You might find yourself sharing an elevator with a senator. People walk. They dress up for work. Everyone’s got a Blackberry. Some of the world’s most influential people are concentrated here, and it seems like every organization, trade association, nation, and interest group on the globe has an office within the same few square miles. You can feel power, like an electrical charge, in the air.

But students are often surprised at how diverse, and how much fun the city is.  Because of the presence of numerous young interns and universities (including Georgetown University and historic Howard University), DC is also full of college-age young people out for a good time at the city’s numerous restaurants, bars, pubs, and clubs.

CAPPPer Sara Schwerin at the Lincoln Memorial.

A big difference between Washington and Los Angeles: Washington, DC is compact, walkable, and has a great subway system: the DC Metro , which connects with rail service to the greater Washington area and to Amtrak via Union Station, a wonderfully-restored building where lots of DC office workers go to eat lunch. Side-trips to places like Philadelphia (home of the historic Liberty Bell) and New York are easy via bus or train.

The UC Washington Center is just six blocks from the most iconic US monument of them all—the White House. Keep in mind that if you want a tour of the White House, you have to arrange it through your member of Congress at least a month, if not more, in advance. 

Sunrise at the Washington Monument.

You may even glimpse the President himself, landing on the White House lawn in Marine One. You’ll definitely have an abundance of opportunities to attend seminars, lectures, and conferences with all sorts of heavy-hitters. Some of these events happen right at the UC Washington Center, which has two great event series: Topics in Government, and the Center Forums, bring leaders in all areas of government, politics, business, international affairs, and policy to the UC Washington Center for informal talks and panel discussions.  Read about news and events at the UC Washington Center on Capital Connection, the UCDC blog.

The UCLA Club of Washington, DC makes CAPPP students feel at home with special events at local restaurants for getting together to watch UCLA football and basketball games, career development events. One of the UCLA Alums’ favorite hang-outs on game nights is the Ugly Mug Pub.

CAPPPers enjoy the UCLA v. Florida game at the Ugly Mug Pub, hosted by the UCLA Club of Washington, DC.

Recent CAPPPers have also spent many evenings at the Lucky Bar on Connecticut Avenue NW for inexpensive food and beer.  Other favorite destinations for affordable food: Fuddruckers on 18th Street NW, Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries on Dupont Circle, Naan and Beyond, near the Farragut North Metro station, and Café Citron near Dupont Circle for mojitos and Latin dancing.

Students like to watch the sunset over the Potomac at Georgetown’s Washington Harbour, 3000 K Street NW at 31st Street, where a number of restaurants offer patio seating and Happy Hour specials. You can also catch a sight-seeing river cruise there.
If you go to Washington during the spring quarter, you’ll have a chance to see the stunning display of cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, March 31-April 15, features  a parade, street festival, and fireworks. During fall quarter, don’t miss the historic opportunity to sit in the gallery of the Supreme Court and hear oral arguments during the court’s Fall Term.

CAPPPer Claudia Esqueda at the Liberty Bell exhibit in Philadelphia.

Washington’s appeal may surprise you. Like CAPPP alumnus Justin Edwards, you may find yourself a bit in love.

“Even now, I’m nostalgic,” says Edwards. “I’m a California boy, born and raised, but I still find myself being drawn back to Washington.”