Ask the SAIS Guy/Ask the SAIS Girl

November 30, 2009 | Observer Staff | Comments 0

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Dear SAIS Guy: It’s November and I haven’t seen anything in DC except the 7th floor of the library and the Airline Pilots Building. You got a prescription? – Bored in BOB

The first week of November is to SAIS what the inter-war period was to Europe. It’s the eye of the storm between midterms and the onslaught of final papers and exams.

That’s why my motto is to push off work on term papers for a little mid-semester break. Washington is a great city, but we just need to crawl out from our over-stress cages to see the light. After all, final papers aren’t due for another few weeks and we have a little blessing called Thanksgiving vacation approaching. What good is a vacation if it’s not spent frantically working to catch up, right?

For my part, I’ve already had two mini breaks this month. You may think that’s negligent, but they were actually selfless acts of sacrifice to do research for this column. You can thank me later.

The Rock and Roll Hotel

My first discovery was the Rock and Roll Hotel (rockandrollhoteldc.com) on 14th & H Street NW. This is perhaps the best spot to see indie rock bands coming through DC on their tours. The first floor is an intimate concert hall set up for the live acts making their appearance. Just up the stairs is perhaps the funkiest bar in DC, semi-private rooms with vintage furniture, etc.

I successfully dragged a few friends to a show by two bands from Canada, including my new favorite band – The Rural Alberta Advantage. Canadian indie might not be your thing, but there are plenty of other shows to check out.

What is more, H Street has tons of cool pubs and restaurants to check out. They’re definitely worth the effort of getting out to NE.

Church Street Playhouse

Tucked away on Church St. between 17th and 18th Street is this intimate playhouse put together by local artists. With only about fifty seats, this is a great way to break the library rut. The playhouse event caters to students with a donation-only night every Thursday. Just give a few bucks and get cultured again!

Lunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill

Your education in DC is more than classes. Take this opportunity to don your best jacket and head to the Old Ebbitt for a power lunch. Gourmet lunch for $10-12, which is only a few more than Chop’t. Besides, you can plot your strategy for getting an interview at the Treasury Dept. just across the street.

Washington Capitals

It’s a bit cliché for the Canadian to be telling friends to attend hockey games. But, I really think this is worth a second look. The Capitals have one of the best players in the game right now, who seems to score at will – The Russian Machine, Alexander Ovechkin. Tickets start at $35, but I bought cheaper tickets from the scalpers outside (keep that between you and me).

Jim Huckabay is a second year M.A. candidate in Canadian Studies.

Dear SAIS Gal,

I came back from a summer abroad where the food was terrible and I lost 20 pounds. Now I’ve returned and am looking for jobs, and none of my clothes fit. I look like one of those Oleson twins during their hobo stage. How can I replenish my wardrobe to look more put-together during interviews? I know every little bit counts.

Signed,

Mary-Kate and Ashley’s Triplet

Dear M-KAT,

You’ve hit the nail on the head: the cliche “dress for the job you want and not the job you have” is still applicable and relevant. And unless the job you want is as a permanent grad student–and I know some of you are out there–having a polished look on the outside projects that you are organized on the inside and helps to make a great first impression. The District may not be known for its cutting edge fashion, but you don’t have entirely outfit yourself from the clearance rack at Ann Taylor Loft to restore your closet. So how to achieve that look on the cheap?

A good suit. You really only need one suit; mixing and matching what’s underneath will provide enough variety. The key to a good suit is the fit. You can get a decent suit from a discount store, such as Filene’s Basement (in Dupont Circle or Metro Center) or Loehmann’s (in Friendship Heights) and then have it tailored to make sure that it fits well. Bringing a friend along will not only make shopping more fun but that other perspective can help you decide if that particular suit is the right one for you or if it at least has potential.

Tailoring may also save some of the clothes that no longer fit you. A tailor can reasonably take in an item by one size; anything more than that and it is not cost-effective. This is a great option for quality pieces to continue their life. Most dry cleaners have tailoring, or it might be worth asking a friend with a sewing machine.

Naked Lady Party (although this works for guys too). One of the best ways to cast off your rejects and find new treasures is to organize a Naked Lady Party. Get a group of friends together and trade all your unwanted clothes over snacks and wine. Privacy is also key, as everyone ends up in various states of undress when they try on their new finds. There are actually East Coast and West Coast rules for these parties. On the West Coast, everyone dumps their clothes in a big pile and has a free-for-all. On the East Coast, guests “auction” off their items. If more than one guest wants the item, the group decides after the item is modeled.

Erin Kelley is a second year M.A. candidate in Middle East Studies.

Filed Under: September 2009