Weekend Recap: Philadelphia

I'm This past weekend I headed down to Philadelphia, PA to lead my schools Model UN team at UPMUNC (or U Penn's Collegiate Model United Nations Conference).  This weekend was full of scheming and debate, but I also made sure we had time to explore Philly!  This was my first time in Philly, and I personally had a blast at both the conference and looking at all the historic monuments in the city!  The food was great, my two favorites being Redding Terminal Market and Marathon Grill!  I also was able to style some great western business attire for the conference!  Here are some photos from the weekend!

Outfit Details: Top picture: Shirt-Jcrew, Blazer and Pants - Banana Republic;  Bottom: Shirt-Lilly Pulitzer, Skirt - Jcrew 

I hope everyone else had a great weekend! 

DC Favorites

So now that my summer has wrapped up in DC I decided to make a list of things to do for any of my readers if you ever happen to be in Washington DC!

Sights and Museums:  Lots of Museums in Washington DC are free!  Make sure to check out the National Archives (pop by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution), the Smithsonian, and the National Gallery of Art.  If you are willing to pay money I also highly recommend the Newseum!

Politics?:  Visit the Capitol and Library of Congress if you have a Chance! Both buildings are beautiful and fun to walk around.  In addition try and visit your local representative and senator while in Washington DC if you would like.  Note if you want a tour of the White House that needs to be set up through your representative a couple months in advance!

Outdoor Activities:  Rock Creek Park trail is a nice walk/running trail throughout the city!  Starts in Woodly Park and I would run to Georgetown regularly!  Paddle Boarding on the Tidal Basin was also an great experience!  Check out the National Botanic Garden as well!

Shopping:  Georgetown is one of my favorite places in the city to go shopping! It has all the stores I like, and a great atmosphere with lots of cute restaurants!

Food:  There is great food all over the city!  Here are a few of my favorite DC places that I was able to eat at during the summer
    -Open City in Woodly Park/Adams Morgan
    -Lebanese Taverna in Woodly Park/Adams Morgan
    -Italian Pizza Kitchen in Woodly Park/Adams Morgan
    - Mission in Dupont Circle (Mexican Food)
    - Zorba's Cafe in Dupont Circle (Greek)
    - Elephant Castle (National Mall/Farragut North)
    - GCDC in Farragut North (Grilled Cheese! --SO GOOD!)
    -Ben's Chili Bowl in U-Street and at the Naitonal's Stadium (DC icon)
    -Madhatter in Dupont Circle (They have great lunch food!)

Also make sure to check out one of DC's many great farmer's markets!  I would go to the one in Dupont Circle because it was the closest to my building, but there are many throughout the city!

Summer in DC: Part 2

My exciting summer in DC is almost over!  It is so hard to believe.  I feel like it was just yesterday that I was getting on a plane, and now I am about to get getting on one again to go home.  While I am excited that I can see my family again, I will definitely miss this amazing city!  Here is a quick wrap up of the last month of my summer here!

4th of July Fireworks

There is no better place to be than DC on the 4th of July!  The energy in this city is amazing, and the fireworks were easily some of the best I have ever seen!  Please forgive the quality in some of these pictures, they were from my iphone!  

House Intern Lecture Series

Secretary of Homeland Security 

One aspect of working on Capitol Hill that is really great is they organize lectures for all the interns to attend!  I have been able to go and see a few amazing speeches.  

Nationals Game! 

I am a HUGE baseball fan!  While the Nationals are not my personal favorite team, I still love going to baseball games! The atmosphere of being at a game is great and I always have a good time, regardless of what team is playing.   Plus the National's have a great Stadium!  Lots of good food and drinks!



Monuments: Nighttime edition!

Lincoln Memorial

Korean War Memorial 

Washington Monument

Me posing in front of the Capitol! 

If you visit DC, you have to see the monuments at night!  There is something very magical about walking around the national mall past dark!

This summer has been filled with so many amazing adventures!  Hopefully one day I'll be back in this amazing city!  However I must admit I am excited to go home for a few relaxing weeks (and missing the West Coast Winter!)   If you ever have any questions about DC feel free to ask!  Later this week I'll try to post a DC favorites list!  

Summer in DC: Part 1

Hi y'all!  It's hard to believe that I have been in DC for over a month now!  Time has flown by so fast.  Working full time, studying, and trying to explore has given me so much to do this summer, I barely sleep at all (thank goodness for Starbucks, am I right?).   The best part about DC in the summer is that there are lots of activities to attend, museums to see, and food to eat.  I thought that since it has been a little over a month now I would share some of my favorite parts of my summer so far!

Photos in order from top left, clockwise -- Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, and World War 2 Memorial

Day one of my program we started with a tour of all the monuments and memorials (on memorial day fittingly enough!)  It was interesting to learn all about the history of the monuments and wars, and it helps make you appreciate so much what our troops are doing for us.  Some fun facts from my tours are, first, the Washington Monument is made up of marble and gravity! Yes you heard me right, there is no cement holding together the blocks that built it (which could end very badly in an earthquake!).  Second, the Vietnam memorial was designed by a Yale student, who submitted an assignment from an architecture class (her professor incidentally gave her a C on the assignment, and submitted a design himself, only to lose the contest). 

This photo I took after my first day of my internship on Capitol Hill!  I always love walking by the Capitol every morning and afternoon!  Fun Fact about the Capitol: There are tunnels that connect all buildings associated with congress (senate, house, and the Library of Congress), and there are special subways that will take members and their staff from the capitol to the different house and senate buildings.  In addition one could practically live in the Capitol, there are shops, a gym, multiple food courts, a doctor, dry cleaners, Bank, Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks.  It's fun to grab your morning coffee and try and see if you can spot a representative!  

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)!  Another building I pass everyday on my way to and from work.  I love this part of my morning because I always know when important SCOTUS rulings are about to come out without even reading the news, because I'll see all the cameras lined up everyday, and if it is a particularly controversial case (like Hobby Lobby) you will see protestors.  

A few weeks ago I went paddle boating on the tidal basin with some friends from my program.  It was a great day to get outside, get some sun, and great exercise!  

I doubt a true political junkie like myself could ever take a trip to DC without making a pitstop at the White House!  Unfortunately no POTUS sightings as of yet, though the summer is still young!

A photo of Robert E Lee's old house at Arlington Cemetery.  If you're in DC definitely make sure you stop by Arlington Cemetery.   I was unfortunately too slow at contacting my mother to look up where my great-great-great-grandfather was located, but it did spur my mother into researching our family history more.  Little did I know that I apparently come from an old military family from the south, and there is even a book published about my great-great-grandmother!  Arlington is a great part of America's wartime history.

One of the best parts about working on Capitol Hill as an intern: Free Lobbyist Events!  Aka free Ice Cream for me.  The perfect way to cool down on a hot summer afternoon in DC.  Also a great event for networking with other hill staff members.

One of the first museums I was lucky enough to visit in DC!  If you happen to go to DC I highly recommend looking at the Newseum!  They're exhibits are thought provoking and informative.  My personal favorite however was the First Puppies Exhibit (highlighting everyone's favorite presidential pooches).  

Finally the last is a photo I took while enjoying one of DC's most popular summer events, Jazz in the Sculpture Garden.  It's a great place to go for some music, drinks, and spending time with good friends.  There are so many great social events offered in DC during the summer that it is hard not to take advantage of all the city has to offer!  If you are ever in DC during the summer this event was a great way to relax after a long week.  It's every friday starting around 5pm, in the Sculpture Gardens (my group took the red line to the China Town/Gallery Pl. Metro stop).    

That's a wrap up of my DC summer highlights from the first half of my trip here.  I'll post part two once my summer is finished!