Need to carry my camera gear to a World Cup viewing

July 1, 2006 2:13 PM

Flying to DC, taking camcorder and gear. Good places to watch World Cup in DC near K St. & 9th? AND What common brick n' mortar retailers sell padded camcorder bags that aren't absurdly expensive?

Flying to DC next week and want to know some places within walking distance of my meetings where a bunch of us can slip away and see the World Cup games. Lots of seating, lots of TVs, definitely showing the games. This is maybe 6 blocks northeast of the White House.

And I'm taking a nice video camera and associated gear there with me. The old camera bag is falling apart. I just went to a pro camera/video store to get another one and they're crazy expensive. Like $230-300! That's nuts. It's just nylon and padding and zippers. I'm flying out early next week and don't have time for a web order to ship. So are there any common brick n mortar retailers that sell padded equipment bags that are more reasonably priced? I was expecting something more like $50 - $80. Does that exist? I'm hoping this pro store was just carrying premium stuff and that plain 'ol stuff exists out there. There's no shortage of duffel bags out there, but padded ones intended for delicate equipment seem less common.

posted by kookoobirdz to Grab Bag (12 answers total)

Best answer: For the soccer, check out this Washington Post article. Taking a quick glance at it, I'd say Pour House might be your best bet. There's definitely a lot of tv's, and seating is decent. Though, I haven't been there during the World Cup, so I don't know how crowded it gets...
posted by inigo2 at 3:11 PM on July 1, 2006

Same thing happened to me last month, I bought a camera (panasonic gs500) off of craigslist and flew to the east coast a couple days later. I found a battery and a case (a combo from eveready) on batteries.com and had it overnighted to where I was staying on the east coast. It cost less (~$60) than a spare battery at bestbuy or circuit city. Probably wouldn't work for you because of the holiday though. You might try an insulated soft pack thats made to keep stuff cold
For the $200 plus at pro store you could buy a cheap camera at a pawn shop, keep the bag and throw out the camera.
posted by 445supermag at 3:16 PM on July 1, 2006

Walmart. For the bags, not the soccer. You aren't checking it are you?
posted by JamesMessick at 4:22 PM on July 1, 2006

Response by poster: Nope, not checking it. Hadn't thought of Wal-Mart. I'll belt back a few swigs before I go in there and try not to think of sweatshops. Moral... resolve... quaking....
posted by kookoobirdz at 5:27 PM on July 1, 2006

Which K and 9th? there are 4.
posted by Ironmouth at 6:15 PM on July 1, 2006

Response by poster: Whoops. Silly DC street layout. K and 9th at Mt. Vernon Square, where Massachussetts Ave, New York Ave, and K street all sort of converge. From the article above, it looks like Fado and Goethe Institut are the closest World Cup venues.
posted by kookoobirdz at 6:24 PM on July 1, 2006

How big is this camera? I only ask because you say "video camera" and not "camcorder", and somehow in my mind that makes it big and professional. We bought a nice camcorder bag for a JVC Everio (? - the hard drive camcorder, pretty compact) for well under $30 at Best Buy.
posted by ersatzkat at 7:27 PM on July 1, 2006

Response by poster: It's a Canon GL-2. Not too big, but there's lots of gear to go with it. Microphones, light, lenses, batteries and charger, tapes, tripod, etc. And when I travel, I have to carry it on. No way I'd check it. And since I also have to carry on my laptop, it's got to fit that too. So it winds up needing something about as big as one of those rolling carry on suitcases, but in shoulder bag form. Plenty of ideal bags just like that at the pro store, padded and all, but they're very very proud of them, apparently.
posted by kookoobirdz at 7:49 PM on July 1, 2006

Lucky Bar is a great place to watch the soccer games. Very international crowd, lots of great energy. Located on Connecticut and 13th right next to Dupont square.
posted by stratastar at 7:58 PM on July 1, 2006

Connecticut and 13th???? Dupont Square??? Okay, I knew that sounded crazy. Lucky Bar is at 1221 Connecticut Ave NW. Between M and N, a couple of blocks south of Dupont Circle, about 5 blocks west of 13th. I cannot speak to the quality of the bar itself, but don't go looking for the (non-existant) location referenced above.
posted by zoinks at 10:26 PM on July 1, 2006

For World Cup watching try Fado on 7th and H (very close to you).

And, if I may add, yesterday the Smithsonian American Art Museum just reopened after a six year renovation. Take a one block walk south of Fado for a bit of an art chaser before that game (hours: 11:30 - 7pm).
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 5:08 AM on July 2, 2006

For camera stores Penn Camera is very reputable. Not entirely sure of their camcorder bag selection... Here is a list of store locations, and i think you can look at offered products online. Other than that there are ritz's everywhere.
posted by stratastar at 9:07 AM on July 2, 2006