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Getting to Know DC
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Welcome to the Getting to Know DC guide, prepared by the Office of Student Affairs. While no guide can serve as a substitute for simply going out and exploring a city (an activity we strongly encourage), we hope this guide will prove a valuable starting point and continuing resource in your exploration.
Table of Contents I. General Information
Washington, DC is a city renowned for its broad array of museums, galleries, theaters, performing art centers, and other cultural attractions. As home to the Smithsonian Institution, Washington contains one of the largest and most comprehensive museum complexes in the world, housing 19 museums and the National Zoo. The National Mall connects most of the Smithsonian museums with monuments such as the World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. Washington, as an international capital, hosts over 130 embassies from around the world. The presence of foreign governments attracts many international agencies, such as the World Health Organization and the Organization of American States. The city is also a center of international business and finance; major financial institutions include the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Washington's large international community gives the city a diverse cosmopolitan flair. The federal government is the region's largest employer. In addition to the government, industries providing government-related services make up a huge share of the employment base. The District of Columbia is unique in that it has only limited powers of self-governance. Residents are allowed to elect a Mayor, a Council Chairman, 12 Council members, one non-voting member of the House of Representatives, and are allowed to cast votes for the President and Vice-President of the United States. Budget appropriations, local laws, and revenue measures are subject to the approval of the U.S. Congress. Full home authority is still an agenda item for many DC residents. Washington is divided into four quadrants - Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE), Southwest (SW) and Southeast (SE) - with the Capitol at the center. North and South Capitol Streets, running through the Capitol, divide East from West. The Mall and East Capitol Street divide North from South. Lettered streets run East-to-West and start at the Mall with A Street; there are no J, X, Y or Z streets. Numbered streets run North-to-South and start at First Street on either side of North and South Capitol Streets. Avenues bearing state names run diagonally through Washington. Before setting out, check the quadrant indicator (NW, NE, SW, SE) of the address. Due to the city's grid pattern, 500 C Street, for example, can be found in four different locations, since 5th and C Streets intersect in all four quadrants. As you move away from the downtown area, streets follow in alphabetical order. After the letters have been used, streets start with two-syllable names (Adams, Belmont, Chaplin) followed by streets with three syllable names (Albemarle, Brandywine, Cumberland), reaching out to the Washington-Maryland border in upper Northwest and Northeast. The Capital Beltway, I-495, is a circle, surrounding Washington, which connects with major roadways. Generally, directions on the Beltway are given by either the Inner Loop (closest to Washington) or the Outer Loop (farthest).
GUTS Bus The Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle, or GUTS bus, is a free shuttle service to both Union Station and Georgetown Main Campus. The van leaves for Union Station from the 2nd Street driveway every 20 minutes from 5 p.m. until midnight. You may also pick up the shuttle at Union Station, but you must show a Georgetown I.D. before boarding. The van runs to and from Main Campus periodically during the weekdays. Shuttle service is coordinated by the Office of Transportation Management on the main campus. DC Metro Metro Rail, the subway system, can be used to reach most major sections of the city, as well as many locations in Maryland and northern Virginia, including Reagan National Airport. The stops closest to Georgetown Law - Judiciary Square and Union Station - are on the Red Line. Other lines connect with the Red Line nearby at Metro Center and Gallery Place-Chinatown. Click here and here for quick-reference Metro guides. Metro Bus covers several popular areas not directly served by Metro Rail, such as Adams Morgan and Georgetown. As with Metro Rail, Metro Bus fares vary according to the distance traveled, but fares begin at $1.25. Exact change is required. Farecards, which can be purchased at any station or from the Law Center's parking office, are required to enter and to exit Metro Rail stations. Metro fares start at $1.35 (subject to change) and may be higher during rush hours. Metrorail operates Monday to Thursday from 5:00 a.m. to midnight; Friday from 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.; Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.; and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to midnight. Hours of operation vary on national holidays. Circulator Bus Circulator is a relatively new bus system operating in central DC, and can be used as alternatives to Metro Bus. Circulator fare is $1.00, exact change. The Circulator arrives daily every 5-10 minutes from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Virginia Rail Express (VRE) serves suburban Virginia during the week. The Fredericksburg line goes from Fredericksburg, VA, to Union Station. The Manassas line runs from Broad Run, VA, to Union Station. Maryland Area Rail Commute (MARC) trains serve the northern suburbs and outlying areas, with three lines all stopping at Union Station. The Penn Line heads northeast to Perryville, MD, passing through Baltimore's Penn Station and the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI). The Camden Line takes a slightly different route east to Camden Station in Baltimore, while the northwestern Brunswick line ends up in Martinsburg, WV. Taxis in the District are not metered, and fares are based on a zone rather than a mileage system. The District is divided into several zones, with fares determined by the number of zones through which a taxi passes. Surcharges are applied for additional passengers and for ridership during rush hours. Virginia and Maryland taxis are metered - however, you can only catch one of these taxis in their respective states and take them into Washington. You cannot pick up a Virginia or Maryland taxi in Washington and take it back to one of those states.
B. Traveling Outside Washington Airports There are three major airports in the DC area. The most convenient is the Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), located on the Blue/Yellow Line at National Airport, just 4 miles from downtown DC. The Dulles International Airport (IAD) is located in Chantilly, VA, 26 miles from downtown DC. The Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), which is 10 miles south of Baltimore, frequently features cheaper domestic flights. Airports can be reached by Metro, train, taxi, or SuperShuttle bus. Train A convenient way to travel to nearby cities is by train. Amtrak, Virginia Rail Express, and the MARC train all operate out of Union Station. See above for more information. Bus For those on a tighter budget, traveling by bus may be a better option, especially if you're interested in visiting New York City - both Vamoose Bus and the Chinatown Bus offer cheap round-trip fares. For more extensive travel plans, SuperShuttle buses service nearby airports, and the Greyhound station is located north of Union Station.
While the Washington, DC area proper lacks any true malls or major shopping venues, the city is literally surrounded by shopping opportunities. Those willing to venture into Virginia (west on the Metro's Orange Line) and Maryland (northwest on the Red Line) will be rewarded with a plethora of stores and malls. Driving to these areas - or even slightly further away from the city - is also recommended for those looking to shop. As far as everyday needs are concerned, most law students take frequent advantage of two local CVS pharmacies, one at 4th and H street (just west of the Law Center), and the other slightly further down H Street in Chinatown, at 801 7th St NW. The closest grocery stores are Giant at 1414 8th St. NW, and Safeway at 514 Rhode Island Ave. NE.
Nearby Chinatown offers a wide variety of dining options, and is a frequent destination for law students. Closer to campus are several popular burger-and-beer joints such as the Billy Goat, Kelly's Irish Times, the Dubliner, and Capitol City Brewing Company. DC also has an active nightlife, with major bar scenes in areas such as Adams Morgan, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and U Street. Click here for a sample list of some local bars. Also, check out these great listings from the Washingtonian for DC's 100 Very Best Restaurants as well as its Dirt Cheap Eats.
Outside of its museums and landmarks, DC has an active arts community, a wide range of movie theaters, and several A-list concert venues such as the Black Cat and 9:30 Club, both located near the U Street area. Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 (in Chinatown) and Phoenix Theaters Union Station are the closest multiplexes to the Law Center, while the Dupont 5 and Landmark's E-Street Cinema cater more to the arthouse crowd.
From bowling to tennis to horseback riding, the DC area offers recreational activities for every taste. Sports fans will also be able to enjoy spectator sports such as Nationals baseball, DC United soccer, and Wizards basketball.
With its diverse population, DC offers a wide variety of religious institutions to meet the spiritual needs of its residents. Click here for a partial list.
Last Updated: 8/11/06 |
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