You may have seen the list already, and if you have, you probably think it's daunting. "101 things to do at GW before you graduate," proclaims the my.gwu.edu homepage, with a myriad of choices ending in "graduate in the city of presidents."
Well, sure. Assuming you don't hate it here and transfer to State U halfway through the semester, you'll do that and half of the other things on the list without even thinking about it. Number 10: Take the Metro after midnight? Every weekend. Number 65: Move out of the way of a presidential motorcade? They'll soon become an irritation.
Since the University's list of things to do before you graduate has a tendency for the mundane (Number 54: Grab a cup of Starbucks' coffee and chat in Kogan Plaza. Puh-leeze.), The Hatchet has taken the liberty of picking up where GW left off. And instead of 101 lame things to do before you graduate, we've suggested 10 really good things to fill your weekends with between now and May 2010.
1. Check out the jazz scene:
The D.C. jazz scene has a rich history, and is very much a part of the city's heart and soul. Whether you check out the free jazz jam sessions on campus (every Friday afternoon next to Phillips Hall) or go to a show at Blues Alley in Georgetown, one of D.C.'s oldest and most famous blues club, your educational experience will not be complete in D.C. without some blues. Though many consider Blues Alley to be one of the best places to hear live music in the city, it can be a little on the pricey side. Luckily, there are a lot of alternatives, especially near U Street, where you'll find Twins Jazz, Velvet Lounge and Bohemian Caverns, all of which are within walking distance of the U Street Metro stop. And if you want a jazz experience at no cost at all, check out the Smithsonian's Web site - both the National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of Natural History have jazz events throughout the year.
2. Go to a film festival:
Film festivals of the world aren't limited to Sundance, Cannes and Tribeca. D.C. hosts a few of its own each year where you can see anything from Oscar-nominated shorts to foreign-language documentaries. A short list of the festivals held in the city includes Filmfest DC (international films), the DC Independent Film Festival, The Environmental Film Festival, Reel Affirmations (Gay and Lesbian-related films), Washington Jewish Film Festival and DC Shorts (short-length films). Most are held at various theaters and embassies throughout the city, and enable students to see films that don't make it to wide release.
Well, sure. Assuming you don't hate it here and transfer to State U halfway through the semester, you'll do that and half of the other things on the list without even thinking about it. Number 10: Take the Metro after midnight? Every weekend. Number 65: Move out of the way of a presidential motorcade? They'll soon become an irritation.
Since the University's list of things to do before you graduate has a tendency for the mundane (Number 54: Grab a cup of Starbucks' coffee and chat in Kogan Plaza. Puh-leeze.), The Hatchet has taken the liberty of picking up where GW left off. And instead of 101 lame things to do before you graduate, we've suggested 10 really good things to fill your weekends with between now and May 2010.
1. Check out the jazz scene:
The D.C. jazz scene has a rich history, and is very much a part of the city's heart and soul. Whether you check out the free jazz jam sessions on campus (every Friday afternoon next to Phillips Hall) or go to a show at Blues Alley in Georgetown, one of D.C.'s oldest and most famous blues club, your educational experience will not be complete in D.C. without some blues. Though many consider Blues Alley to be one of the best places to hear live music in the city, it can be a little on the pricey side. Luckily, there are a lot of alternatives, especially near U Street, where you'll find Twins Jazz, Velvet Lounge and Bohemian Caverns, all of which are within walking distance of the U Street Metro stop. And if you want a jazz experience at no cost at all, check out the Smithsonian's Web site - both the National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of Natural History have jazz events throughout the year.
2. Go to a film festival:
Film festivals of the world aren't limited to Sundance, Cannes and Tribeca. D.C. hosts a few of its own each year where you can see anything from Oscar-nominated shorts to foreign-language documentaries. A short list of the festivals held in the city includes Filmfest DC (international films), the DC Independent Film Festival, The Environmental Film Festival, Reel Affirmations (Gay and Lesbian-related films), Washington Jewish Film Festival and DC Shorts (short-length films). Most are held at various theaters and embassies throughout the city, and enable students to see films that don't make it to wide release.
