Here is a guide on how to make the most of the next time you march on Washington. Most of the material is aimed at non-residents who have never lived or visited extensively here. Hope it helps.
DailyKos readers are among the most sophisticated on the Net, so this guide may not help or be needed by too many people. On the other hand, everyone has a first march, so here are my suggestions as a local DC-area worker. This is intended for the march coming up on the 27th, which I may or may not actually attend due to family concerns, but may be equally applicable for future marches or demonstrations.
- Dress sensibly. Washington weather is similar to New York's, often 2-3 degrees warmer, but not reliably so. Washington's weather is infamous for rapid changes and irregularities. Accordingly, plan to handle weather 25 degrees warmer or colder than you expect. Layers in the winter, well ventilated in the summer. An umbrella is an excellent idea, as are gloves in the winter. Washington has a lot of long, broad avenue down which you may walk or march, and the wind can roar. Summers get unbearably hot. In short: don't play with this one. UPDATE: HAT TIP to the commentor below re shoes - the distances are substantial.
As for style, consider dressing more business-like than most marchers. A personal suggestion. When I march - less often than in my younger days - I tend to dress business-like, with a tie. Why? A obviously tight-ass "white" guy in his late 30s with a wedding ring and a crew cut and a dark suit and a dark tie holding up a sign saying "IMPEACH NOW!!" or "SEND BUSH TO THE HAGUE!!" is the worst nightmare for the Republicans, and I want to do my part to inflict that nightmare broadly upon them. Just a thought.
- Bring your own water. Yes, there are tons of Starbucks, Au Bon Pains, etc., in this single yuppie paradise. But parade routes often go inconveniently away from such facilities, along property that is owned directly by the federal government, not zoned light commercial. One liter per adult, and refill fanatically in weather above 75 degrees.
- When you get the opportunity to use the bathroom, do so.
- Transportation is an issue in Washington, but the Metro remains first-class. It goes to about 85% of the places you will need or want to go to. I strongly urge every reader to buy a large fare deposit ($5.00+) or, even better, a $6.50 day pass upon weekend entry into the first Metro station you enter. You do NOT want to be messing with fares in line near a march, period. Dear God in Heaven, do not bring a car into downtown DC on the day of a march. That is a dumbass, Republican thing to do. If you must drive into the District, find a way to park that car on the outer perimeter of the city lawfully and keep it there. More on buses to certain neighborhoods below.
Cabs in DC are not too expensive; distances are mostly short and a zone system keeps fares manageable, especially for groups.
- Lodging. Unless you have free lodging, staying in the outer suburbs of Maryland is a good option. Virginia works too, but it is often more expensive or less convenient. However, if there are Virginian readers who can contradict this general impression, feel free in the comments. Do check both. Maryland is, on net, very well served by the Metro and relatively cheap lodging can be found off of I-95 in Laurel, MD, about 15 miles NE of the White House and 7 miles NE of the last station on the Green Line to the northeast of DC.
- Police management. Friendly relations with the police are recommended. Number one, it's the morally right thing to do. Number two, police are unionized employees in pretty much the most liberal city in the country, and it's good politics to take care of your own. Number three, you will dislike the DC jail. There is an "action faction friction fraction" in many marches who want to break windows, set Starbucks on fire, etc. Consider leaving anybody in your group who starts that type of stuff to starve and freeze in the DC jail, especially since that type of moronic behavior is what the Republican Right is praying for at every march. "Thank you," "Good afternoon," etc., to the police working overtime - looking them warmly in the face when you do so - good PR move.
- Tchotchkes. If you have to bring home souvenirs for cousins, etc., consider the Hirshhorn Modern Art Museum gift shop (Smithsonian or L'Enfant Plaza) - neat knickknacks for young and old. KramerBooks on Connecticut just above Dupont Circle has an excellent left-leaning selections and a crowded, sit-down restaurant cafe; hard core book wonks might want to visit Politics and Prose in Upper Northwest near Van Ness (call for best directions.)
- Nightlife/After the March. I recommend Adams-Morgan for a great time. Sadly, it is difficult for me to get there, as I live 50 miles from DC and we have two kids in diapers. Food is extremely varied; the Ethiopian restaurants service authentic food to a substantial nearby Ethiopian community just east of the restaurant strip near Columbia Road and Kalorama Avenue. Bus numbers 98 and 42 are viable options to get to and from Adams-Morgan to the Red Line at Woodley Park or Dupont Circle respectively, or you can enjoy a pleasant 20 minute walk from either station.
I personally dislike Georgetown but many people find the neighborhood entertainment invigorating and worthwhile. The 30 series of busses (30, 32, etc.) run to the heart of the party zone near M Streets and Wisconsin Avenue from downtown, or a 10 block walk from GWU's Blue/Orange Metro works.
Other options include Bethesda just over the line in Maryland and Alexandria's Old Town. The former is accessible by Metro on the Red Line, the latter either a walk or a bus from King Street or Braddock Road Metro stations.
- Miscellaneous. Washington has four sectors, but NW DC includes almost all of the city's business and land area. Most people who give directions in DC give them assuming you mean NW, unless otherwise specified. The Capitol building at the eastern edge of the Mall is the dividing marker. Numbered streets indicate how many blocks east-west you are from the Capitol. The alphabet streets indicate how many blocks you are from the Mall. Note that there are A or B streets at/near the north side of the Mall and C and D streets are often not present or consistent in that area.
The Metro closes at 3 AM on the weekends, and buses run late, but cabs are recommended for very late. Enjoy your march!