Single Black Female..Possibly Moving to DC..? -

Hey,Im a 24yr old college educated single black female with a BA in International Studies, Social Justice. Thinking of moving to DC in the next year or 2..for work..love..a new life lol...Coming from Mpls, MN...How is it out there?..black men?..jobs?..raising a family?..Iv heard both good and bad..a lot of DL men..high crime..rich white..poor black..good jobs..proffesional young ppl. Whats the real deal? ThanksSarah

Washington DC is probably a great place for you to be. It s always been racially progressive for as long as I can recall. With a little effort, you will find quite a few well educated African American men with degrees and professional careers in the DC area.The weather here is about the same as MN. Actually a bit warmer, but we do get our share of snow storms and a few days a year where the temps may dip to 0 F.The only thing to be prepared for when you arrive in DC is sticker shock when it comes to housing affordability. Yes, prices have gone down, but they have not gone down enough. You may be paying $600 plus utilities for a very small/basic apartment in MN. When you come here, the same thing will cost you $1,200. So, be sure that you have a nice financial cushion of at least $10,000 before you make the move to DC. A landlord may require a security deposit equal to one month s rent, plus the first month s rent and the last month s rent, before you move in. That s a whopping $3,6000 you will need to give to your landlord before you have a roof over your head.

Actually we need more black educated people in DC. I suggest you move to NE DC possibly Langdon Park... The city is known as Chocolate City and id rather have a city full of well-educated black professionals then mentally insane illiterate ones. If your looking for inexpensive you can move to SE but the crime is high, which isn t good for growing a family. However whatever you do DONT MOVE TO THE SUBURBS. Alot of DC is unemployed because of people from the burbs taking jobs from them. Overall DC is a great city to move to and raise a family just be smart with it!

Professionally this may be a good area for you to get your career off the ground. Also DC is good for enjoying the social scene. As far as looking for love this is not the place. The men here rarely commit. There are tons of single women here and the educated you are the harder it is for you in the romance department. Because the ratio of women to men is so high, men are free to play the field. The city right now is going through so many changes. I like it here, but I m from here so I ve seen it at its worse. If I wasn t from here though I don t think I would choose it as a place to lay roots and raise a family. As for some of your concerns some are true, DL men- that s Atlanta mostly, crime here has improved but still prevalent. DC does hav a high HIV rate so that is something to be concerned about. Don t let me discourage you, just giving you honest feedback. Everyplace has its good and bad.

I ve been living right outside DC for four years and this is my experience : -the white people are really stuck up most are in politics and have alot of money. they all live in NW-theres lotttts of black people in DC . especially in NE, SW, and SE . but stay out of SE.... there is a VERY high crime rate there. the more upper class black people live in NE, and there are plenty of nice townhouses . (but also expensive.. most places in DC are expensive to live in unless you live in SW or SE)I would say it is difficult, but possible to raise a family in DC . everyone uses public transportation ..the metro and buses are very safe for the most part. your child will grown up being very familiar on how to use public transportation and how to live on the steets . You might also want to consider living in the suburbs of DC (PG county... very highly populated with blacks.. but also the richest county in the US for having a high black population) . it is much cheaper to live in PG but the schools arent too great. and Montgomery County is filled with very rich white people but it has some of the best public schools in the country. Cities like Rockville and Germantown are the most affordable places to live in montgomery countyBut yea... theres lots of black men and good places to raise a family in DC . just do your research if you dont want to live in the bad neighborhoods . good luck!

what s wrong with white men? and there are poor white people in DC too (i m 1/2 black 1/2 white)

Moving to Alaska this month.. Questions about temporary transportation? -

My husband and I are moving at the end of the month to Anchorage Alaska. We are pcsing to Elmendorf AFB. We will be flying and having our vehicle shipped. My understanding is that it takes 7 days to 30 days to recieve your vehicle. Well in the mean time, how would we go about transportation. Would a rental be the best, or is there any other solutions. A rental will just be soooo pricy.(if it takes 30 days) Any sugestions, other than buying a car, or are those really my two options. Thanks

since youre going to Elmendorf, Anchorage has a pretty decent public transportation system, but that wont take you too far out of the city so it depends what you need.

Where is the best place to stay in San Francisco? -

need to know one of the best places to stay in this city, anyone have some input? thank you.

Union Square is probably the best place to stay. There are lots of good restaurants, shops, theaters and clubs in the Union Square area. It is centrally located with lots of public transportation options and within walking distance of most of the tourist areas. Driving in the city can be confusing for visitors and parking is difficult and expensive so forgoing the rental car is a good idea. Muni offers multi day passes that are good for buses, trolley, light rail and the cable cars [unique experience but $5 per ride].http://www.sfmuni.comJoie de Vivre http://www.jdvhotels.com has several hotels in the Union Square area in different price points. Each hotel is unique and they have a cool free program where they match you with a local person, called a Golden Gate Greeter, who shares your interests to spend a few hours with you and familiarize yourself with the city. http://www.goldengategreeter.com They also have a lovely 4 star hotel right on the Embarcadaro called Hotel Vitale. A spa and good restaurant on site with easy access to the city, loads of public transportation right next door.

The Westin San Francisco Market Street4 stars50 3rd St San Francisco 800-804-6835Located in the South of Market district (SOMA). This neighborhood is jumping day and night! I ve never felt in danger and think it is centrally located to almost everything!Destination Sights:~Across from the Yerba Buena Gardens~One block from the Museum of Modern Art~One block from the Moscone Convention Center~Two blocks away to the Financial District~The Powell Street Cable Car is three blocks awayHotel Features:~The hotel s restaurant Ducca serves delicate Northern Italian cuisine~Wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel s lobby, business center and meeting rooms~Workout Room, same day laundry shoe shine, massage service,complimentary weekday morning transportation Marriott Hotel4 stars5 Fourth St. San Francisco 415-896-1600Discover the beautiful San Francisco Marriott rising 39 stories high into the city skyline. Just south of Market Street, this San Francisco hotel near Moscone Convention Center is just steps away from the city s top attractionsDestination Sighs:~The Moscone Center~Union Square~Chinatown~Yerba Buena Gardens~ AT T ParkHotel Features:~Unparalleled meeting facilities with over 117,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and banquet space~Luxurious modern guest rooms, 32 LCD HD TV s, modern San Francisco accommodations including 1,362 hotel rooms and 137 spacious hotel suites~High speed Internet access and a spacious work desk in each hotel room for business travelers~Upgraded granite vanity tops with stone floors in each guest bathroomOmni Hotel (My favorite)4 Stars500 California St San Francisco 415-677-9494With a prime location right on the cable car line in the heart of San Francisco s thriving downtown, this 1926 17-story hotel retains its Florentine Renaissance look while providing the latest in modern amenities. All of our 362 guest rooms and suites exude modern luxury and classic sophistication.San Francisco Family-Friendly AccommodationsThe Omni San Francisco Hotel offers kid-friendly accommodations for families traveling to San Francisco.The Omni Sensational Kids program provides four-diamond service to their youngest guests. Children will enjoy plenty of kid-minded amenities, including suitcases filled with games and books, a goodie bag upon check-in and menu choices prepared especially for young travelers.Parents are provided with a list of top family attractions in San Francisco, local emergency numbers and a safety/first-aid kit which includes a night light and outlet covers.Destination Sights:~Union Square~Ferry Building~Chinatown~North Beach Hotel Features:~362 luxury guestrooms and suites~Complimentary Guided Walking Tours every Saturday at 10 a.m. feature San Francisco history, architecture, legends and more~1,500 square foot health club~High-speed wireless Internet access in public areas.~Onsite restaurant, Bob s Steak Chop House, is one of America��s great steak housesWant more go to

Renting a house or a condo would be a great idea, and there are a lot of choices for rentals in the San Francisco area. It s best to do your homework and use online research to find available places to stay that fit within your budget.Rather than give you a specific property name and location, I would suggest that you do some research on the available houses/condos, the prices and the locations. I have used justvr.com in the past and it was quite helpful for narrowing down my choices and booking a few nights stay.

My favorite area is Fisherman s Wharf. The Holiday Inn there is close to everything. It is within walking distance of most of the interesting places to see.

Pools where? -

If you are looking for tide pools, go to Windansea Beach in La Jolla at low tide and walk north. You can t miss them.

What are the CALIFORNIAN places to see! Things to do!? -

Starting from SAN DIEGO, CA (I already live here so exclude this city). I want to travel up and down CALIFORNIA for a full two weeks. What must I SEE, DO, EAT? My list so far.....-Yosemite-Golden State Bridge-Napa-Santa Monica Pier-Highway 1 -Hollywood-Lake Tahoe-Alcatraz prisonPlease ADD to it!PS. I m going with my girlfriend and we re both not into amusement parks (universal studios, disneyland, etc.) or any other really kiddy thing.

Universal Studios TourThe Queen MaryBig Bear ( a mountain resort about 2 hours from LA)Palm SpringsJoshua Tree National Park (by Palm Springs)The Salton SeaCabrillo National Monument in San DiegoMarin County (outside San Francisco)California Wine CountryDrive Highway 50 out of Lake Tahoe to Placerville. Beautiful!Pebble Beach

Coast Redwood NPMuir WoodsBig Sur Hearst Mansion, San Simeon, CAcity of San FransiscoDeath Valley NP Kings Canyon/Sequoia NPLa Brea Tar Pits and museum , Los AngelesMonterrey Joshua Tree NPStrange evaporite towers at Mono LakeLassen Volcanic NPDisneylandRichard Nixon Library and museum

Golden Gate bridge is essentially in San Francisco. Got to see the crookedest street among the many, many things to do. RIde a SF trolley. see Fisherman s Wharf, Visit the Chocolate factory, lots. Napa valley is near. Check out Mount Tamalpias, too. Great views. Don t let Bigfoot get you! Then East to Sacramento and up to Lake Tahoe. Back West, down the central valley to Yosemite - there are other beautiful parks on the way south, but if you are pressed for time you HAVE to spend it in Yosemite. Make reservations at the lodge if you can. You can SEE Alcatraz from SF, but I don t know if they run tours there now. Maybe a resident of SF can tell you. Hollywood was a disappointment for me. Be sure to take the tours of the studios. From the street, you cannot see a thing. LA can be dangerous. Make sure you know which areas to avoid. Continuing South, San Juan Capistrano is very nice. If you get to San Diego, do not go into Mexico. Dangerous right now. You might write AAA and ask for Tour Books of Califonia- will list all the hotels, motels, places to eat and the attractions. If you have to pay for them, worth the priceThe parks you mention are hardly kddy parks. Definitely for adults, too.

Is the National Gallery of Art worth the trip? -

Me my boyfriend are taking a trip to Washington, D.C. at the end of December. I love the arts I saw that admission was free! Its sounds too good to be true. Is it worth the trip? =)Also, is there anything you suggest a couple of cheap college kids do while in D.C?

yes, totally!!! It s one of my favorite museum! It s hug, so you should plan to spend a long time there. It also has has two wings, the East wing (which is older and has all the more classical stuff), and the West wing (which has more modern stuff) The Natal History Museum is very my fave though. It has a really cool mammal exhibit, and geology exhibit, and tons of other stuff! The Air And Space Museum is always worth a trip, especially if you ve never been there before. And climbing the Washington Monument is also fun (and free). If you really like art there is also this awesome new museum the American Art Museum. It is enormous, and pretty much impossible to do in one day, or a couple days even. It s got some pretty cool stuff though like Okeefe and Andy Wathall and all this crazy random stuff like the trash throne and all that. Its also near Chinatown/ Metro Center. We don t really have a Chinatown in DC. Imean there is like one block of Chinese stores and like the Starbucks sign is written in Chinese, but there are tons of other stuff in that area sooo... maybe worth a trip. Um... IDK what else if fun.... Georgetown is always good but it s really expensive so when I don t have money I don t even go there. Oh, Adams Morgan is my fave! They have a hookah bar, and all these crazy restaurants like an Ethiopian one and others. Its pretty much plain hippieville. umm... another thing not many people know about are the parks. Like, my fave (and one hardly anyone goes to) is Montrose Park. It is absolutely gorgeous. You have to pay to get in, but it s totally worth it, and then there is Dombarton Oaks right next to it which is just a regular public park, but really good because it s huge with woods and paths and a creek and benches and all that jazz.SO thats about it for my fave places. Hope you have fun!

Simply put, the National Gallery of Art is one of the world s best art museums. If you like fine art, particularly classical, the NGA is definitely worth a trip.Note that the NGA has a sculpture garden between the museum and the adjacent Smithsonian Natural History Museum (which is one of the finest such museums in the country). This time of year, there s an outdoor ice skating rink in the sculpture garden that also rents skates. Next to the rink is a very nice upscale snack bar. The ice skating rink does charge, but it s not excessive.In short, you can visit the NGA and go ice skating in one package. And just across from the sculpture garden/ice rink is the National Archives, where you can see the actual Declaration of Independence and Constitution. And of course, the National Archives is free.And before I forget, just across the National Mall from all of the above is a great historic carousel--just $2 a ride. And it s not just for little kids! Just the sort of thing for a young couple.

Its okay...I like the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) better myself. There are tons of things for college kids, but it really depends on what kind of college kid you are. Are you a cultural, love to sit and discuss literature and movements in art and the great Master s of Impressionism? Or are you the type who bar hop, or maybe the sit at a coffee shop and discuss Politics and global warming? There are things for each of those college types. I wouldn t even know where to begin

If you love art, definitely go. Some special exhibits may charge, but general admission is free.They will likely search/xray any bags you bring in though.

Well, all of the Smithsonian museums are free. Consult a guidebook to DC [printed or on line - e.g. Frommer s, Fodor s] for details and suggestions for walking tours .

Any celebs scheduled to be in NYC next weekend? (12/12-12/13)? -

Yeah always. Unless the city is asleep.David Letterman tapes at 57th and Bway on the sidestreet. His guests always come in and out from the side doors. I think he tapes around 6pm. If you hang out outside, you will see guests. Other talk shows like Martha stewart or Jimmy Fallon tapes in the city also I think. Except I dont think they tape on weekends.You might need tix to see them. Dont forgets tons of TV and movie actors are on broadway now. after the show lets out, people wiat around outside to get autographs. I know at least Hugh jackman is on Broadway now. but he probably comes out late.

Nope. While hundreds of celebrities live in NYC it happens that they ll all be out of town next weekend.They re all going to some big celebrity convention in Orlando, is what I heard.

NYC is full of celebrities. The chance that you ll spot one is very slim, however, unless you re paying to go to a show.[Good one, Jay!!]

Preferred neighborhood in Brooklyn? -

I ve dormed in UES and Brooklyn Heights, and now I want to look into living in my own apartment after calculating that it would be considerably cheaper than student housing.Living in Manhattan is probably a far reach if I can only afford to pay up to $1000/month, so I m looking into places in Brooklyn. I haven t really been east of Brooklyn Heights aside from coming to and from the airports, so I don t know much about the other neighborhoods except that DUMBO to Red Hook is yuppie-central and the hipsters like to congregate in Williamsburg and Brooklyn.I m a single Asian female and while my budget is pretty low, safety is also a big factor. I might have a roommate, but I really like my privacy, so I d want a decently priced 2-bedroom if anything. Question is, which Brooklyn neighborhoods should I look into with those aspects in mind?

There s not much you can find for $1,000 near Manhattan. Ft. Greene, Clinton hill Studios are in the $1500-1600 range.Williamsburg is no longer the only mecca for Hipsters, Bushwick too is filled with artists, musicians and lots of young transplants. Even though its farther east, Bushwick has gotten better in recent years. Bedstuy too has gotten better but it can be sketchy at times. Common sense is always needed when living in BK.I would consider Queens too. Woodside, Elmurst and Jackson heights. Astoria and LIC are expensive but worth looking into.