Things to do in DC during the workday?

March 6, 2007 6:47 AM

Things to do in DC during the workday?

I work from home in NW Washington DC. Work is going to be slow for at least a month. And a loud construction project is about to begin next door. So I'm looking for activities to do during the day. I'm 30, male and single. I don't need events geared toward single people but on the other hand I want to feel comfortable at them. (No stay at home mommy events, for example) I figured there must be some lunch clubs, running clubs, groups of people who see museums during the day, etc.
Thanks

posted by hokie409 to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

here's a recommendation for the group meetinDC.org . just look at their list of upcoming events. although most of it is geared toward nightlife and weekend stuff, there seems to be plenty of other sub-groups that do hikes, gallery-walks, museum visits, and all sorts of stuff. it's free.

(haven't been in a while myself, but it was pretty cool back when i had time for such things)
posted by garfy3 at 7:28 AM on March 6, 2007

I found walking about quite entertaining when I lived there. However, as the sun sets, be very careful walking under trees. Some have many birds which find sunset the perfect time to shit. YUCK! Be aware of spotted sidewalks!
posted by Goofyy at 8:01 AM on March 6, 2007

Don't know about groups, but DC is full of stuff to do during the day--all that free stuff. How about going to the Zoo for some activities or lectures? If you're in the NW, you're pretty close to the Capital Crescent Trail which will, hopefully, be actually walkable once it starts to warm up. I know Glen Echo offers classes. You're also not far from the Audobon Naturalist Society, right off of Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, which is great to spend some time in, and I think they offer classes, as well. Bethesda has a bunch of events, and there's always the Writer's Center nearby, as well. And all of these are public-transport accessible, and, yes, some are dependent on the weather, but it can't be this cold forever, can it?

Or, how about buying (or using your own) camera and make a travelogue of your home city for a month?

Now I'm wishing I wasn't stuck here in the office...
posted by atayah at 8:12 AM on March 6, 2007

Email me directly, Hokie (you don't have your address in your profile) - I'd be happy to put up a piece on DC Metblogs asking this same question and soliciting suggestions, where you'll presumably get a more DC-focused readership and set of answers. Or if you're interested in writing/taking pictures, I think that would make an interesting series, documenting what you got up to.

Hah, on preview atayah had the same idea about a travelogue.

You might also just wander down to one of the unis in the area. Campuses always have during the day activities and in my (admittedly out of date) experience they never asked for proof you're a student there. Perhaps there will be meetings and lectures.

Also check the Upcoming.org DC listings. Often a lot of cheap/free things listed in there. Or check Idealist.org for walk-in volunteer possibilities. So Others Might Eat is my favorite dc-focused charity - and they seem to have a lot of volunteer opportunities - but there's no shortage to pick from. If your schedule isn't that predictable you could be really cliche and spend an hour a day walking Rock Creek Parkway picking up trash.
posted by phearlez at 8:39 AM on March 6, 2007

DC is full of think-tanks and other organizations that host free lectures, panel discussions, etc. during the day. Most have free lunch. And you can learn stuff. Check out:

Brookings Institution
Cato Institute
American Enterprise Institute
Progressive Policy Institute
Carnegie Endowment
Center for American Progress
Heritage Foundation
Woodrow Wilson Center
Urban Institute
U.S. Institute of Peace
Resources for the Future

There are, of course, others, but that should get you started. I'm really envious of you. DC is a fantastic place to have your days free.

Also, I cannot recommend highly enough the free lunches at the American Enterprise Institute. Regardless of what you think of their politics, their chef is fantastic.
posted by decathecting at 10:04 AM on March 6, 2007 [6 favorites]

The smithsonian associates progam has some cool lectures/classes going on during the day - some are free, some cost money, but even when they charge it's not usually very much.

Also - Tryst/Busboys/Caribou are always packed with interweb surfers during the daytime, and you can sometimes meet interesting people there - I've had some very random fun conversations at coffee shops.

And check the craigslist activities section, there's always something interesting there.
posted by echo0720 at 10:43 AM on March 6, 2007

Having grown up in NW DC and been gone most of my adult years, I really wish I'd done more while I was there and it was all so easily accessible. I used to live on Chevy Chase Pkwy right between Connecticut and Wisconsin Aves.

But enough about me. If I had the time, I'd -

Explore Georgetown
Go to the Zoo - take in a lecture or two
Take the Metro downtown to where there are endless museums, monuments, walking paths, ALL FREE!
Like others have suggested, make a photo diary of things "in your own backyard"
Explore your own neighborhood
Read up on some of the local history and then go see it firsthand.
Take mini-vacations to Southern MD, the beach, or anywhere else that interests you that you haven't seen in a long time, or ever.

What a great opportunity for you! Enjoy!!
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 11:14 AM on March 6, 2007

I totally agree with decathecting, the free lectures everywhere in town is one of the great bonuses of living in D.C. And yes, the AEI lunches can be great!

When I first moved here I took several days to explore the city and Northern Virginia via "bus roulette". That is, get on a bus somewhere close by where you live, and ride it until you hit an interesting area. Get off, explore, and then either ride the bus home, take another bus line somewhere else, or take the metro/cab home again. If nothing comes up, or the area gets dodgy, get off and turn around. I've done this successfully in other cities as well (including Taipei, Beijing, Atlanta, and London), and if you talk to the bus driver you can sometimes get great tips for places to go and things to see. I have found great restaurants and a few great shops this way, in places I would otherwise never go.
posted by gemmy at 9:52 PM on March 6, 2007