Attend the 2019 AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, DC

DC Neighborhoods

Each neighborhood in Washington has a slightly different attitude. Here are a few recommended neighborhoods as well as a general guide to the city:

Recommended neighborhoods:

• Georgetown: Walk along the waterfront and visit boutiques
• Adams Morgan: Just over the bridge from the conference. Have an affordable meal and enjoy live music at Madam’s Organ or Bossa
• Dupont Circle: Peruse the shelves at Kramerbooks and Afterwards
• Fourteenth Street: Catch a play at Studio Theatre and enjoy local nightlife options
• Chinatown: Attend a sports game or concert at CapitalOne Arena, watch a play at the Shakespeare Theatre Company or Woolly Mammoth, view an art house film at E Street Cinema
• Southwest Waterfront: See a concert at The Anthem or Pearl Street Warehouse and take in views of the river

Places to Visit

Washington has a diverse collection of museums, memorials and landmarks. Most are free, and all are open daily.

Free Museums and Landmarks

• The museums and landmarks managed by the Smithsonian Institution are all free
• Visits to the Capitol must be arranged in advance, but it is well worth the opportunity to see the chambers of Congress
• The Library of Congress is the reference library for the United States government as well as independent researchers, and the tour of its collection is notable, both for the artifacts and the beauty of the space
• The National Archives houses the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights
• Arlington Cemetery is the final resting place for many soldiers and veterans, as well as notable Americans including former presidents William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy
• The Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument are some of the many impressive landmarks in the city

Museums and Landmarks where payment is required

• The Phillips Collection is the first modern museum in the United States
• The Newseum hosts a collection of artifacts related to the media
• The International Spy Museum displays many items collected from the Intelligence community
• The Building Museum has exhibits about our constructed world and often produces art installations
• Mount Vernon is in Northern Virginia, and offers an opportunity to visit a preserved version of former president George Washington’s home

Things to Do

Washington is home to multiple theatrical spaces as well as community art spaces, cinemas, music venues and popular restaurants.

Entertainment

• The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts offers a variety of family-friendly performances and concerts at a range of prices, including free nightly events at the Millennium Stage
• Arena Stage presents contemporary plays and musicals focused on American themes
• Studio Theatre presents contemporary plays on a variety of themes
• Shakespeare Theatre Company offers plays by the Bard as well as contemporary pieces
• Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company produces plays on topics with which society is currently grappling
• Rhizome is a community arts space and a home for non-mainstream programming in the DC area
• E Street Cinema shows independent domestic and foreign films
• Bossa Bistro presents a diverse array of world music
• Madam’s Organ hosts blues musicians
• Gypsy Sally’s presents live bluegrass, country, folk and funk music

Live music can be found in the Washington, DC area most nights of the week and Showlist DC provides a general concert guide.

Dining

Washington has a range of dining options for different cuisines and price points. Explore restaurants and make reservations through OpenTable or Reserve. Washingtonian Magazine publishes a list of the Top 100 restaurants in the area each year which can serve as a guide. Washington has one of the largest Ethiopian populations in the United States. This list by Eater compiles brief reviews of Ethiopian restaurants in the area.