Jimmy’s Blog

One of the things I like about major, urban cities is that the ability to get around by walking.  This is certainly the case in New York City and Paris but not the case with Los Angeles, where you need a car to get around.  Washington, DC certainly is a very walkable city.

I grew up in and near Tokyo.   The best way to get around Tokyo is by walking and taking the impressive train system.   I also visit NY regularly, including many, many business trips over the past 16 years.  My preferred method to get around Manhattan is also by walking and taking the subway.  Paris and London are other cities that are very walkable.

One of the reasons love having the option to walk to work in DC now is that I had a long commute for 14 years.  From ’95 – ’09, I drove nearly every day to and from Arlington, where I live, to Sterling / Ashburn, where I worked at AOL (actually the first 18 months I drove to our AOL offices in Tysons Corner but then we moved our HQ to a campus setting in early ’97).   So, basically, I made a 26-mile commute each morning and night for over 12 years (I still don’t know how marathoners run that distance).   In the mornings, it normally took 30 – 45 minutes to drive to AOL but the ride back home in the evening was another story — often times it took at least an hour to get back home.  It was so frustrating to be stuck in the rush hour traffic.

But, now that I’m a sports consultant and college professor, I walk to or walk / take Metro to nearly 90% of my meetings.  I love taking the 1-mile, 15-minute walk from my home in Rosslyn to Georgetown University.  Why?  There are a number of reasons — 1) it’s healthy to get out and walk 20 – 30 minutes daily, 2) it’s a beautiful walk across Key Bridge, 3) there’s a certain peacefulness when you walk near water – I love being near the Potomac River, 4) often it’s quicker to walk to campus vs driving, being stuck in Key Bridge traffic and then trying to find parking, and 5) walking gives you time to clear your head.

In addition to the Georgetown neighborhood, there are so many other places to walk in DC, including downtown on K St, DuPont Circle, Adams Morgan, Rock Creek, etc.  I know locals in DC have their favorite places.

Walking regularly does allow one to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells much better than traveling by car.  It also is a good way to get in some regular exercise.  Obesity is a major issue in the US — one of the reasons is that people insist on traveling by car (80% of people in the US commute to work by car).  Look at how many fit people are in Paris and Tokyo.  Why?  Because so many people there are walking to navigate their cities.

So, if you get the chance, carve out some time and try to walk a bit vs constantly getting in the car to get around.  After so many years of always traveling by car, it’s been a great change in lifestyle the past couple of years to walk on a regular basis.

Entertainment venues — that’s the topic today for What I like about Washington, DC.   There are now so many different options in the greater Washington, DC area for people that want to go see concerts, musicals, plays, operas, comedians, poets, etc.

When one thinks of going to see a play a musical, play, ballet, etc the one venue that comes immediately to mind is the Kennedy Center, a world-class venue.  They have a robust schedule offering a variety of options throughout the year.  But, there’s much more in DC, including the beautifully renovated Arena Stage, the classic Warner Theatre, the wonderful new Harman Theatre – which is home to the Shakespeare Theatre, the historic Ford’s Theatre, the Source Theatre, DAR Constitution Hall  and the old stand-by, the Lincoln Theatre.

In terms of concerts, the largest indoor venue is the Verizon Center.   There’s also the Patriot Center at GMU, the Lisner Auditorium at GWU and one of the favorite venues for locals — the 930 Club.

For fans of outdoor venues, the three big ones in the DC are Merriweather Post Pavilion, Wolf Trap and Jiffy Lube Live (known in the past at Nissan Pavilion).   Merriweather brings back memories since I used to drive there regularly when I as intern for Q-107 Radio — where my job was to drive the “Party Van” there to dispense free t-shirts and RC Cola!

In terms of jazz venues, one of my favorite clubs in entire country is the famous Blues Alley in Georgetown.  That is a must-see place to attend a cool, jazz gig.  Nothing is better or more intimate.  Other jazz spots are Bohemian Caverns and the new Bayou DC (different than the legendary Bayou which used to be located on K St in Georgetown – what memories)!

The DC Improv is the one comedy venue that comes to mind.

So, for anyone looking to have some fun in DC this summer, as you can see, there are many, many options in the Washington, DC area.

In addition to family and friends, my main areas of focus are Sports, Education, Diversity and Philanthropy.  For that last item mentioned, Philanthropy, I can also add Mentoring, Community Service, Non-profits, etc.  In essence, it’s about “helping others” and “giving back.”

Washington, DC is a wonderful city that is full of terrific philanthropists and organizations.  I’m blessed to have two outstanding mentors, Ted Leonsis and Mario Morino, that have showed me the way over the past 10+ years.  Mario is the co-founder of Venture Philanthropy Partners, one of the most important and effective organizations in the country.  He is a true thought leader in this space.  Ted has had a deep and profound impact in the DC community, including his commitments to Best Buddies, E-Buddies, Hoop Dreams Scholarship Foundation, Wounded Warriors and many other organizations.

There are also so many other people that have contributed mightily, including Jean and Steve Case, Raul Fernandez, Jack Davies, Russ Ramsey, Tien Wong, etc.  This list goes on and on.  I’ve learned much from these leaders — and I try to do my best to pass on their best practices to the next generation — whether it’s to the nine non-profits I’m associated with as well as the hundreds of Georgetown University students that I teach, mentor and advise every year.

Then, of course, there are the executive directors, board members, staff members and volunteers of the many terrific non-profit organizations in this city.  I am officially affiliated with nine organizations — as a member of the board of directors, advisory board or emeritus role — but I actually work with up to 15 non-profits.  The ones I’m working with or have worked with over the past decade include Asian-American LEAD, Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund, NFTE, Super Leaders, DC Batter Up / RBI, Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholar Fund, United for DC, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, the Giving Back Fund and the Capitol Movement Project.   I’ve also worked and / or supported Year Up!, POSSE Foundation, Venture Philanthropy Partners, etc.

In addition, I’ve been mentoring one young gentleman from DC for the past decade and have paid for much of his college tuition and I have promised the parents of my two teen-age mentees that I’ll pay for their college education.  So, I’m trying not just to “talk the talk,” but also to “walk the walk.”  And, as I’ve told Ted and Mario many times, the best way I can pay them back for teaching me the importance of philanthropy and mentoring is by “paying it forward,” re showing the next generation why it’s important to get involved to help others.

Washington, DC is rich and full of great philanthropic leaders and organizations.  And, because of this dedication by so many of its citizens, the greater Washington, DC area is a much better place to live and work.

One of the best things about living in major, international cities is the diversity of the people.  That is certainly the case in the greater Washington, DC area.   As I learned during my time working with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as well as the numerous employee affinity groups at AOL, it’s a wonderful experience to learn and understand the many, different cultures.

There are so many neighborhoods to visit, explore and learn in Washington, DC and its suburbs.  I’ve always been a fan of Chinatown in DC but this is much more the case since I’m there regularly to visit with two of my mentees, Sally and Da-Zhi.  We eat frequently at the restaurants in Chinatown.  And, that area has become a popular spot since the Verizon Center opened there in ’97.  The Penn Quarter is a thriving area but fortunately there are still a number of Chinese restaurants and stores that remain.

If you really want to get a slice of the Vietnamese culture, the must-see place to visit is the Eden Center.  The food there is authentic and fantastic.  But, if you go there, it’s not just restaurants, it’s also full of grocery stories, appliance stores and pretty much whatever you need.  You will definitely a feel for the Vietnamese way of life in this terrific area.

Korea town in Annandale is the place that has blown me away.  Although I went to Woodson HS in Fairfax, I had a number of close friends that went to Annandale HS.  The neighborhood and high school was nearly all Caucasian.  But, the area has gone through a dramatic change in the past couple of decades.  There’s now a plethora of Korean restaurants, grocery stores, entertainment venues, auto repair shops, etc.  The place has gone through a complete transformation.

If one is looking to check out communities with a strong Hispanic base, the best places are Adams Morgan and Arlington County.  There are so many good restaurants — from different types of Hispanic cultures — to choose from.  But, it’s not just the food — soccer, music, clothing, whatever one is looking for can be find in these neighborhoods.

Of course Washington, DC has long been regarded as the capital for African-Americans.  This can be an entirely separate blog posting.  The history of African-Americans in DC is so lengthy and remarkable.   The landmarks are too numerous to mention.   But, as one who has worked with non-profits focused on helping children from Wards 7 and 8 as well as other parts of the city, I have experienced first-hand how we can all work together and help each other achieve our goals in life.

I could go on and on … writing about the Indians, Brits, Russians, Swedes, Ethiopians … but you get my point.  This city is rich in diversity.  It is a true melting pot.  So many different cultures and backgrounds.  It’s great to learn about other cultures — and to grow from these experiences.  We, as a metropolitan area, are better off because of it.

Today’s topic for what I like about Washington, DC is an easy choice – Sports.  Yes, I work and teach Sports in DC, but simply put, Washington, DC is a great Sports market.  I’m not saying DC is a great sports town that rabidly follow its teams with sell-outs every game.  But, it is a superb Sports town that has a wide array of Sports offerings.

Only a handful of other cities has as many professional and college teams .  In regard to professional teams, DC has the Redskins, Capitals, Wizards, Nationals, Mystics, DC United and Kastles.  There’s also terrific college sports teams from Georgetown, Univ of Maryland, American U, GWU, George Mason, Howard, etc.  And, there’s minor league baseball in Prince William County and Bowie, MD.

But, that’s not all – there are also a number of leading agencies and associations, including Octagon, NFLPA, USOC, NCAA, etc.   There’s also the sports media businesses, including Washington Post Sports, Comcast SportsNet, USA Today Sports, AOL Sports, SportsBlogNation, etc.

The youth league systems in Northern Virginia and Montgomery County are among the best in the country.  Baseball, soccer, lacrosse, swimming and more.

In regard to venues, FedEx is the 2nd largest NFL stadium, Verizon Center is terrific (especially during sold-out Caps games) and Nationals Park is a dream come true for those of us that went without baseball for so long.   Yes, there’s need for a new soccer venue – and hopefully this will be resolved soon.

And, of course, we have the best sports management program in the country … Georgetown University’s “Sports Industry Management” program.  🙂

There’s something for everyone in DC … from participants to spectators to marketers.  I am proud to call Washington, DC one of the best sports markets in the country.

Today’s topic is an easy one … it’s about the museums and memorials in Washington, DC.   It’s what nearly every visitor always mentions — how much they love DC’s many museums and memorials.  So, that’s today’s topic for What I like about Washington, DC.

Unlike many cities that charge an admission fee for museums, we are fortunate that the museums, especially the wonderful Smithsonian Museums, are free of charge.  My favorites are the Air and Space, Natural History and the American History museums.  I did recently go to the American Indian museum, which has a cool and unique lay-out.

My favorite thing to do in the museums is to watch the Imax in the Air and Space Museum.  I’ve literally been in there dozens and dozens of times.   And, it never gets old.

If you like art, DC has so many places to visit.   My favorite is the National Gallery of Art (both wings).  But, there are many more, including Freer Gallery, Portrait Gallery, Sackler Gallery, African Art, Renwick Gallery, etc.

Then, of course, there are the memorials.   My favorite is the Lincoln Memorial.   I love going there and sitting at the top of the steps.   Such a gorgeous view.  Plus, President Lincoln is one of my heroes (my father’s hero too).   His impact on America was so profound.  I also like to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial – it’s so serene and peaceful there.

Other memorials that people visit frequently are the Washington Monument, FDR Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the US Navy Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, US Holocaust Memorial, etc.

I’m sure there are a number of other terrific places that I’ve missed writing about but those are the ones that come immediately to mind.   We are fortunate that Washington, DC has so many terrific museums and memorials to offer … not just to visitors but also to the locals.

One of things that’s improved the most in the Washington, DC area is the variety and quality of the restaurants — not just in DC but also in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandra and Montgomery.  So today’s topic for “What I like about Washington, DC” is food.

Since DC is the most international city in the US … with so many international residents working for the various embassies as well as multi-national companies … there’s a wide array of food options.   Nearly whatever one wants, it’s available — Italian, French, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Jamaican, Ethiopian, etc.  Also, from all parts of the US — southern, cajun, barbecue, etc.

One other important item is the quality of restaurants has increased dramatically in the past two decades.   This year’s “James Beard Outstanding Chef of the Year” was awarded to DC’s Jose Andres, the Spanish chef who’s the mastermind behind minibar, Cafe Atlantico, Jaleo, Zaytina, Oyamel, etc.    And, another great DC chef, Michel Richard of Citronelle and Central, was awarded the James Beard chef of the Year award in ’07.  So, it’s pretty good that DC has two of the most recent most outstanding chefs operating in DC.

I’m certainly not a “foodie,” but I eat out often with family, good friends, clients, students and mentees.   This is just my opinion, but there’s the list of my favorites in DC:  Japanese – Tachibana, Korean – Honey Pig, Chinese – Meiwah and Peking Gourmet, Italian – Cafe Milano, Seafood – Hook, Steakhouse – Ray’s the Steaks, Pizza – Pizzeria Paradiso, sandwiches – Italian Store, Vietnamese – Pho 75, Mexican – Rosa Mexicano, Indian – Raskia, Southern – Vidalia.   Other notable favorites are Proof, Central, and BLT.  And, of course, the old stand-by’s that I’ve been frequenting forever … Tombs, Clyde’s and Houston’s.

Cheers.

Although I’ll be doing a fair bit of traveling in June, I’m committed to writing a daily blog this month.  I got up early this morning to head to Dulles Airport for my 8:15 am flight to Los Angeles.  And, since I’m writing this blog on the plane and since my mind is on travel, my topic for today for “Why I like Washington, DC” will be “location.”

For my travel purposes, Washington, DC is in a nearly perfect location.  It’s only a 45-minute flight (or 2 hour, 45-minute Amtrak Acela ride) to New York City, where many of my clients, business associates and friends are located.  And, within an approximately 2-hour flight window, we can fly to Miami and Boston (Philly is an easy 1 hour, 30-minute Amtrak ride).  It is a lengthy 5-hour ride to LA and San Francisco, but it’s a bit faster when flying back to the east coast from the west coast.

For international travel, DC is superbly located.  One can reach Europe in 6 to 7 hours, depending on where one is flying.  That means it’s only about 60 – 90 minutes longer to reach Europe than it is to fly to the west coast.  Two other international cities I fly to frequently are Montreal and Rio de Janerio.  It’s only a 75-minute flight to Montreal.  It does take 9.5 hours to fly to Rio de Janeiro but it’s a direct flight (and pretty easy when one flies overnight).

The other international area I fly to on a regular basis is Asia.  Of course, it’s much better being located on the west coast for flights to Asia.  But, there are now direct flights from Dulles to both Tokyo and Beijing.

In regard to areas of interest that one can drive to in under two hours or less from DC, there are many,  wonderful places to visit, including Baltimore, Annapolis and Richmond.  It does take another 30 minutes but one can also visit the beach towns of Ocean City, Bethany, Dewey and Rehoboth within 2.5 hours.

As always, this blog posting is just is one person’s opinion.  But, for my specific travel purposes – for both business and personal reasons – Washington, DC is ideally and centrally located.

There are many things I like about Washington, DC and I’ll try my best to come up with 30 different topics as I try to write a daily blog this month.  In regard to what I like about Washington, DC, education is another topic that immediately pops up.

I have my BA and MBA degrees from American University, teach undergrad and grad courses at Georgetown University, have served on the Leadership Council at George Washington University’s Dept of Travel and Tourism — so I know first-hand about the excellence of these world-class universities.   But, there are many more universities in the greater Washington, DC area, including Catholic, Howard, University of Maryland, US Naval Academy, George Mason, Marymount, Bowie State, Trinity, etc.

In addition, there are terrific community college systems in Northern Virginia and Montgomery County.  There are several more world-class universities within a tw0-hour drive — such as University of Virginia, James Madison, Johns Hopkins, etc, but for this topic I’m focused on schools in the greater DC metro area.

I strongly recommend attending college in Washington, DC.  Why?  Well, first, it is the most powerful city in the US (as well as in the world).  There are so many fantastic opportunities for students to intern, work part-time or even full-time.   Back in the day, most of the best opportunities were working on Capitol Hill or anything government-related.  But, over the past 15 years, the DC area has also become one of the top technology centers in the US (thanks to companies like AOL, MCI and MicroStrategy — and now hot companies such as Living Social).   So there are now a wide variety of industries for ambitious students to intern and / or work while pursuing their degrees.

In regard to research, it’s invaluable for the students to have access to the world’s greatest library, the Library of Congress.  Before the internet made it so easy to do research, I used to go to Library of Congress to do my research (how things have changed!) for my papers and projects.

Studies show that Washington, DC is the most educated city in the US.   In addition, this city is a magnet for smart, young bright minds.  This is particularly the case the last two and a half years as so many well-educated and smart people moved to DC to be part of the new administration.

I blogged recently about Graduation Week at Georgetown University.  It was a great honor as a faculty member to sit on the stage for both the Sports Industry Management (School of Continuing Studies) and McDonough School of Business graduation ceremonies.   So, yes, I’m a proponent of attending college in DC.   It’s another one of the great things about Washington, DC.