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YAL DC Weekend 2006 Preview October 23, 2006 With YAL DC Weekend 2006 less than two and a half weeks away, the time has come to preview this year’s series of events. While the location of the hotel will be the first and most notable change this year, moving from downtown DC to Arlington, VA (a short and insignificant Metro ride downtown for all the out-of-towners), most of the other ingredients of successful YAL DC Weekends past will still be present, making for a great weekend for locals and out-of-towners alike. Here’s a quick look at what to expect and prepare for this year. The Hotel The Arlington Hilton Hotel is the site of most of the events comprising this year’s YAL DC Weekend, including Friday night’s Greek Night and Saturday’s Semi-Formal Dance. It’s right upstairs from the Ballston Metro stop providing quick 15 minute access to the National Mall and other spots in downtown DC, and Arlington National Cemetery (after all it is Veteran’s Day Weekend, a reason for scheduling a YAL Event in DC in November.) For those who aren’t staying at the hotel, it is only 4 miles from DC, and a 10 minute drive from where YAL DC Weekend’s traditional downtown location. Thursday Night Now typically Thursday Night of YAL DC Weekend has been a small impromptu gathering of mostly early out-of-towners and a few locals at the hotel bar. The organizers of this year’s event have allowed us here at DCGreeks.com to try something new in hosting a free Welcome Party at The House of [email protected], a five-minute walk from the hotel. The Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a nice evening so we’ll be grilling outside and hosting a hot tub party complete with an outdoor movie showing of a Greek themed DVD. (So even though it’s November in DC, pack a swimsuit.) Friday Night Friday is a free day to explore DC. Friday Night’s Greek Night is at the hotel with DJs CnD from Detroit, a staple of YAL DC Weekend and YAL Events everywhere. Last year’s Greek Night was the most attended event of YAL Weekend, with a huge turnout from the DC and Baltimore crowds. (With the out-of-towners there were over 400 people there that night alone, one of the better Greek Nights this town had seen in a while, which was ironic seeing as it was a YAL sponsored event.) Saturday Morning/Afternoon/Night For those who can recovering from Friday Night’s Greek Night early enough to get up to take a short Metro ride to Arlington Cemetery, joining the President of the United States and others in the annual Veterans’ Day ceremonies is definitely an option. For those wanting to sleep in a little, we are offering the Second Annual DCGreeks.com Photo Scavenger Hunt in two varieties starting at noon. Last year saw about 25 young adults split into four teams run around DC taking pictures of themselves in front of some sightseeing landmarks (and not so landmarks) in an Amazing Race-style competition for a share of a $75 bar tab at that afternoon’s happy hour. We would have had more save for two reasons, 1) we originally had advertised the start time for way too early, and 2) many of the Greek girls opted out to go shopping in Georgetown instead. So for this year’s scavenger hunt, we’ve created two separate sets of clues (a traditional DC landmark based scavenger hunt and a Georgetown-based shopping scavenger hunt) and are starting both scavenger hunts at noon. (Another packing tip: Anyone thinking about participating in either of the Photo Scavenger Hunts should think about bringing a pair of walking/running shoes, and of course a digital camera for recording your team’s points.) The organizers have yet to decide on a bar for the afternoon social, traditionally one of the most relaxed events during the weekend. But the evening’s event it set with the semi-formal dance at the hotel featuring the Greek Band, Apollonia. (Locals may recognize the singer and bouzouki player as formerly fronting the legendary Zephyros back in its earlier days.) Sunday Morning/Night The move from downtown DC to Arlington makes attending this year’s church service about as convenient as it has ever been at YAL DC Weekend. St. Katherine, on the Arlington/Falls Church border, is a five-minute drive away, and shuttle bus service will be provided for the 10:30 A.M. service. A complimentary brunch will be served afterwards. Nothing official has been planned for Sunday afternoon, but Sunday Night’s Greek Night featuring DJs CnD will be at Greek-owned Home Nightclub in downtown, DC, which will be lending its main floor for the event. This is the frequent site of many Greek Nights in DC both recently and in year’s past. With Monday a holiday for many, this Greek Night should be better than expected for a Sunday Night. Any Questions? As Greek young adults suffer from being busy and planning things at the last minute, we’re still fielding questions from locals and out-of-towners alike on all subjects related to YAL DC Weekend. Check back here for any updates as they become available and feel free to write us at [email protected] if there are any questions we can answer.
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