From the Executive Director

Cultural Tourism DC gets a makeover!

If you are reading this, you are already enjoying Cultural Tourism DC's new website. We’re quite excited…hope you will be too!

Over the years many of you told us how much you enjoy the quality and variety of content Cultural Tourism DC offers on its website. You also said “can you make it easier to use?” We heard you and are addressing your needs.

So many tours, so little time! This Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23, I will be attending the spring edition of the biannual WalkingTown DC and BikingTown DC. These two days are packed with more than 100 free tours, more tours than any one person can choose from. Tour topic include everything from heroes to hookers,  art to assignations, and cemeteries to convention centers.

We know every local nonprofit you’ve ever touched is bombarding you with reminders to participate in DC’s Give to the Max Day on November 9.

It has been wonderful to see all the coverage in the press emphasizing that in these difficult times, just how important, you, the individual donor, are to what nonprofit organizations do.

Countries from around the world send representatives to Washington, DC on diplomatic missions. They set up shop in embassies, mostly in the Northwest quadrant of the District. People appointed to serve in the embassies conduct negotiations with the United States government, offer services for their country’s expatriates, and give information to Americans looking to travel abroad.

Non-profits can't look to Congress to show them what qualifies as a good debate. Instead non-profits must work to develop a culture that encourages healthy disagreements and discussion.

There is something invigorating about going into a meeting, having everyone strongly advocate for their ideas, and coming out with a decision that makes the organization stronger. It serves as a reminder that diversity is one of the strongest tools for innovation and growth.

This week, protestors from around the country come to Washington, DC in a movement called “Take Back the Capitol.” Their destination, the National Mall, has become a familiar path of protest. The District’s historic neighborhoods have also seen protests, rallies, and marches, and Cultural Tourism DC’s Neighborhood Heritage Trails detail many of these moments. Geographic sites and a timeline of protests in the nation's capital are below.

As the temperature begins to drop in Washington, DC organizations look back at a significant milestone, and begin to get into the holiday spirit.

Organizations around Washington, DC are beginning to look back on 2011. We also get taught a couple of lessons about art.

Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Thy leaves spead throughout the District! We wandered around Washington, DC and found our favorite Christmas trees in the city. Tell us which one is your favorite on Facebook or Twitter!

Why would you work for a nonprofit? Everybody knows that it’s lower pay and more hours, right? Yet non-profits and cultural organizations still draw high quality people into this ever expanding industry. What’s more amazing is that people seem to stick around.

Some will tell you the reason people do it is because they love the mission of the organization they’re working for. While a strong mission is important and it’s valuable in attracting new staff, I’ve found that it’s not a driving factor in retention of staff.

While many people created resolutions for 2012, the likelihood is that most will give up on them before the end of January. We’re here to help! Here are events and activities to give you inspiration to keep your goals alive!

“Hi, I’m Danny. I’m interested in stories,” says Danny Harris, publisher of the blog, People’s District. With a scooter and a microphone, Harris collects layers of city history from hundreds of different perspectives. The people he talks to and their singular views of Washington add “this amazing texture to how we understand our world.”

“Annie explores the independent phase of People's life,” writes Doris Kearns Goodwin, the co-author of Pilgrimage with Annie Leibovitz. The exhibition of the same name is on display at the American Art Museum through May 20, 2012.

Last week, Embassy Chef Challenge awarded Chef Viktor Merényi from the Embassy of Hungary the Judge’s Choice Award, top honors for the event. Chef Sondre Bruvik Ellingstad from the Royal Norwegian Embassy won the Challenge Denmark award, the preliminary Top Chef-style competition. Devin E. Johnson from the Embassy of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, won the Peoples’ Choice award for his dish Bahamian Seafood Duo.

Watch a video about Challenge Denmark, and see the chefs cook up something creative with the key ingredient, beets!

Recently, Cultural Tourism DC worked with the Washington Wizards to bring people out to the games. Going to a Wizrds game allows you to watch basketball but also find the fascinating DC history and culture that permeate the Verizon Center and its neighborhood. 

Mayor Vincent Gray has presented his fiscal year 2013 budget.

For the first time since 2009, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities was not asked to absorb a cut in funding.

The Mayor will say he has increased the budget, but the seeming $2.8 million increase is based on the hope that the President’s $2.5 million request for arts for DC can make it out of congress which is highly unlikely. (Last year his proposal included $5 million and DC got $0). The other part of the increase, $350 thousand is designated for running the Lincoln Theatre.

Passport DC celebrates international culture during the month of May. With events occurring every day, you now have your calendar of activities set for the entire month. To help you decide, each week we will publish some featured events. For more options, you can find all the Passport DC events here.

The Around the World Embassy Tour gives you a special opportunity to go behind the usually closed doors of embassies in Washington, DC. You’ll have the opportunity to tour the houses, eat the cuisine, see dancing, and hear music.

Chances are, you’ll meet some ambassadors as well. An ambassador is the top-ranking diplomat who represents his or her country abroad. Given their stature, there are proper forms of address.

A zombie invaded the United States last week – but don’t go running for the hills quite yet! This is the Korean Zombie, also known as Jung Chan-Sung. He does Mixed Martial Arts and has an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight next week in the area. 

Get started at the National Geographic Museum (17th and M NW) – learn more about the continued mystique of the famous tragedy at sea with Titanic: 100 Year Obsession, or cross a different ocean with Samurai: The Warrior Transformed.

Begin at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (400 Michigan Avenue, NE). This is the largest Roman Catholic church in North America and one of the ten largest churches in the world.  Inside, you’ll find a diverse array of chapels dedicated to cultures from around the world, as well as the largest collection of contemporary ecclesiastical art on earth.

Interested in art from the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries? This half day guide will lead you around Northwest DC for an art-fulfilling City Hop.

Looking to enjoy a nice fall day in Washington? Break out your comfortable shoes and don’t forget your camera for this City Hop! Start at the National Mall (900 Ohio Drive Southwest) and head towards the Washington Monument  to witness the 555-foot structure built to honor the nation’s first President George Washington.

 
Start a new holiday tradition with fun activities that are sure to give you a reason to remember this holiday season. This City Hop is guaranteed to show off the best that the city of Washington has to offer its residents and visitors during Holiday season.