by Miss Metro-Manners

Planning on coming to Washington? Please, for all our sakes, read on. It will save everyone involved a lot of frustration.

  • The Unspoken Rules of the City
  • Tips to Make Negotiating Around Town Easier
  • Places to check out for fun
  • Some interesting places you might otherwise miss
  • Useful Links to transportation and commuting info
  • General DC Guides
  • Print/Online Resources to check out
  • Gay DC Stuff
  • Jobs in the DC Area

  • Every morning, DC area residents complain about the clueless and sometimes downright rude behavior they encounter in public transportation. They may be talking about you. But if you follow a few basic rules, getting around can be a much more enjoyable experience.

    1) Stand right. Walk left. This applies to escalators especially. They are just like roads. The slow lane is on the right and the passing lane is on the left. Just because you have the time to stand around, doesn't mean that everyone else does.

    (part b) If you do choose to walk, keep walking. I assure you that the escalator will not bite your feet when you reach the end.

    2) People out. People in. When getting on a metro train or bus, or coming into any doorway, stand at the side and let the people out who are trying to get out. They will afford you the same courtesy when you are trying to get out. But be forewarned, when it's your turn to get out, you had better be ready. You have about 20 seconds to get out, or you'll have to wait for the flood on people coming in to cease.

    3) Get out of the way. Wherever people are trying to move or fit, don't stand there like your feet are planted in cement. The prime locations for this inappropriate behavior are at the bottom/top of escalators, in doorways, and in hallways. If you need a moment to get your bearings, please move to the side, somewhere out of the way. Don't be afraid you'll get lost if you get out of the way. You can always go back!

    (part b)If you are in a group, don't take up the whole walkway, walking 4 abreast. If you want to recreate the opening titles of The Monkees, do it elsewhere.

    4) Move to the center of the train/bus It's going to get crowded, so we need all the room available. Don't linger near the doors. You will have plenty of time to get out at your stop - as long as the doorway isn't cluttered with people like you.

    5) One seat per person This is not your living room, nor are the seats your sofa. So keep your bags, feet, and other things off the other seats. Even if they aren't needed, it's just plain rude. Guys, sit together. No one is going to think you're gay if you sit next to eachother. Even if they did I don't see what your problem is.

    6) Don't mate with the poles You know who you are - the ones who choose to lean against the poles, or embrace them so you can hold your paper with both hands. I hate to disappoint you, but no one wants to touch your crotch or your butt in order to get a secure hand-hold. Please brace yourself with one hand. If you want to hang on poles all day, become a stripper.

    7) Have your farecard ready This means as soon as you get off the train. Moms, you may think it's clever to collect and distribute your childrens' farecards everytime you enter and exit a station, but it's really just a big pain for everyone. Consider getting them ID holder necklaces in which to place their cards.

    8) Act with decorum This covers about everything else. Don't swing from the bars as if you were in a jungle gym. Don't scream from across the station or the car. The usual eating drinking and smoking are prohibited. It was explained to me by a Metro police officer once however, that you may carry food and drink, but not consume it. And yes, we know a) it's cleaner than New York b) the lights flash when a train is coming and c) how many more stops it is to wherever - no need to count down at every station... 3 more stops, 2 more stops, ok, next one.

    Handy Tips to Make Negotiating Around Town Easier

  • The direction a train is going is determined by its final destination. (e.g. an orange line train heading west will say, "orange line to Vienna.")
  • Most of the time, trains come from the right. If the tracks are in the middle, the trains often come from the left.
  • Carry plenty of dollar bills for the farecard machines.
  • Stay away from the newfangled farecard machines on the ends. They are complex and time-consuming.
  • For a cheap, but unnarrated bus tour of the city, take a 32, 34 , or 36 Metro bus. You can start at Eastern Market Metro, and catch a Westbound one from across the street that goes all the way to Georgetown.
  • Georgetown is overrated. Try Capitol Hill (Eastern Market or Capitol South), Dupont Circle, or Upper Northwest (Tenley Town, Cleveland Park, etc.)
  • Hotspots
  • See who's playing at the 9:30 Club
  • Little known spots to visit
  • Sewall-Belmont House: Historical Headquarters of the National Woman's Party, and home of America's first Feminist Library.
  • Mary McLeod Bethune Council House commemorates the life of Mary McLeod Bethune and the organization she founded, the National Council of Negro Women.
  • National Museum of Women in the Arts Fabulous collections, fabulous facility... see some of the underrespresented artists!
  • The Museum of Menstruation No, really, I'm serious. Located in suburban MD - Hyattsville to be exact.
  • National Cryptology Museum It's another trip to the 'burbs - but it sounds interesting.
  • Descriptions of places to visit in DC from the National Park Service. Most are free!
  • Links for navigating the District and environs

  • The Commuting Page from the Washington Post
  • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
  • SmarTraveler - Washington, DC
  • Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority
  • Amtrak catch the train at the gorgeous Union Station
  • Virginia Railway Express: Commuter trains serving Northern Virginia
  • MARC: Ditto for Suburban Maryland
  • BWI Airport: Usually airfares to and from here are MUCH cheaper than at National. You can take the train there for about $12. See the MARC and Amtrak links above.
  • General DC Guides
  • DC Yahoo!
  • What to do in DC via sidewalk.com from the ubiquitous folks at Microsoft. Find a restaurant, movie, club, etc.
  • Places to eat in DC
  • DC Online
  • DC Pages
  • DC Registry
  • DC Government Warning! this site is a fair reflection upon the government that created it. Need I say more?
  • Washington, DC Convention and Visitors Association
  • Know before you go. Some reading material to keep you informed about the goings-on about town:
  • Washington City Paper Free. Comes out every Thursday.
  • The Washington Post The Friday paper lists weekend events.
  • The Washingtonian: glossy yuppy mag... but the annual "Cheap Eats" issue is fab!
  • For our rainbow friends:
  • The Washington Blade Free. Comes out *snicker* every Friday.
  • Geoffrey's Gay Guide to Washington, DC
  • Hotspots for ladies!: The Hung Jury ("the Jury") and Phase One ("the Phase"). Info in the phone book.
  • An interesting article on Dupont Circle
  • Another tip: Gay central is Dupont, Q St. and 17th being the main drags *snicker again.* Alternately, Capitol Hill near Eastern Market, along Penn between 6th and 8th SE, and down 8th there are plenty of cool spots, and somewhat more wimminly. Rise up against the tyranny of Starbucks! While you're there visit the locally/black women-owned/independent coffee joint Roasters on the Hill

  • Jobs in the D.C. Area

    Municipal Jobs
  • Fairfax County Office of Personnel
  • Arlington County Jobs
  • City of Alexandria Jobs
  • District/State/Commonwealth Job Banks
  • DC Job Bank
  • Maryland Career Net
  • Virginia's Job Search
  • Federal Jobs
  • DC Area Federal Jobs from Federal Times
  • Federal Jobs Digest
  • National Park Service Jobs
  • Jobs at the Library of Congress
  • Jobs at the National Archives
  • Jobs at Schools, Colleges, and Universities
  • George Mason University Human Resources
  • Marymount University Personnel Office
  • Fairfax County Public Schools
  • University of Maryland Jobs
  • Johns Hopkins
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • Catholic University Office of Personnel Services
  • American University Human Resources
  • BIG resources
  • What Color Is Your Parachute: The Job Hunter's Net Guide (frames version) from the Washington Post
  • Career Post from the Washington Post. The employment classifieds online. A pain in the arse to search.
  • Other Local Job Resources
  • Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Jobs
  • National Science Foundation Jobs
  • Stay tuned! Coming soon: where to look for local housing!
    K. Adkins, 1997



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