DC Tips: CiviCRM User Summit

We are ready to welcome everyone to DC for the CiviCRM User Summit on September 24-25!  If you want to catch Pope Francis, you will have to arrive earlier. I want to share a few DC tips with you all, and if you live in the DC Metro area, please feel free to comment below and share some tips too.

Getting Around
If you plan to use the Metro bus or train, purchase a SmartTrip card and add money to it as you need to.  You can also register the card in case it gets lost and stolen. The fares are higher if you get a paper ticket and you can't use it on the bus.  When you transfer from the train to the bus or vice versa, you get a discounted rate.  You can transfer for free from one bus to another bus as many times as you like within two hours.  Not sure how to get from point A to B? No problem, just go to WMATA and put in your starting address, destination address, start time or arrival time, and you will get several suggestions. If you're waiting at the bus stop and wondering when the next bus is arriving, go to NextBus and select the bus number, route and stop. By the way, there is a red Circulator bus from Union Station all the way to Georgetown, and there are some other routes. If you prefer to ride a bike, you can rent one at Union Station from Bike and Roll and Capital Bike Share. For car service, download the Uber, Split or Lyft app on your phone. 

Go Local & Explore
DC is wonderful when it comes to local restaurants and shops. Think Local First features some local businesses that you can check out. If you feel like trying Ethiopian restaurants, go to 9th St. For music and nighlife, check out Adams Morgan and U Street. Take a ferry from Georgetown to Alexandria. Go for a walk in Rock Creek Park. Check out one of the meetups in co-working spaces like We Work, 1776 and the Cove. Go on a neighborhood walking tour with Washinington Walks. Get discounted theater tickets and catch a show. If you stay the weekend, head to Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park for a picnic, people watching and the drum circle on Sunday. For some shopping, go to Eastern Market on Saturday or Sunday. If the weather is not great, check out the museums, including the Native American museum and the Botanic Gardens nearby.  

Favorite Eats
Everyone has their own pick when it comes to the best local restaurants. My bias is towards spicy vegetarian food, but I am sure others in the community can share their own favorites. Here are a few of my favorites. 
- Sakana - Japanese restaurant in Dupont 
- Banana Leaves - Asian Fusion in Dupont
- Himalayan Heritage - Nepali/Indian in Adams Morgan 
- Tabard Inn - Eclectic in Downtown
- El Rey - Mexican on U Street
- Big Bear - Coffee in Bloomingdale
- Tryst - Coffee in Adams Morgan
- Pete's Pizza - Italian in Columbia Heights
- Radius Pizza - Italian in Columbia Heights
- Bacio Pizza - Italian in Bloomingdale
- El Chucho - Mexican on 11th Street
- Le Pain Quotidien - European several locations
- Ping Pong - Dim sum several locations
- Teaism - Teahouse several locations
- Busboys & Poets - Eclectic several locations

Upcoming Events
Check out these sites for cool local events, including Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center for a free concert every day at 6 pm and art events like Nuit Blanche. 

Washington Post - Going Out Guide

Washington City Paper - Events Calendar

Cultural Tourism DC - Events Calendar

Free in DC Events

There's so much to do and explore. Have questions? Feel free to ping me on twitter and locals please post your suggestions below.