Tour of Washington / Ice Cream Social

August 21, Tuesday, 6:30 - 9:30 PM / 9:30 - 10:00 PM

Board a bus for a narrated 3 hour tour of monumental Washington; potential stops are the White House, Capitol, and the Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln memorials. The bus leaves from the front of the Cornell Center. Upon return, take the opportunity to socialize with all the new students while enjoying some ice cream. BYOBS: Bring your own bowl and spoon.

Cost: free. Participation: unlimited.

Further info: Tour de Force.

Tour of the Library of Congress

August 22, Wednesday, 10:00 - 11:00 AM

Take a docent-led walking tour of one of the world’s great libraries and one of Washington’s great buildings. The tour will emphasize the history of the library; the architecture of the Jefferson Building; and the collections and holdings of the three buildings that make up the central library system. Bring a photo ID if you want to obtain a Library of Congress reader’s card. Directions will be posted.

Cost: free. Participation: unlimited.

Further info: Library of Congress.

CIW Meet & Greet

August 24, Friday, 3:00 - 4:00 PM

Get to know fellow members of the CIW community living and working at the Cornell Center. Come to an informal gathering in the Multi-purpose Room. As if people alone are not interesting enough, food - beverages, snacks, and sweets - will be served as well.

Cost: free. Participation: unlimited.

Potomac Paddle

August 25, Saturday, 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM

This event is in conjunction with the Cornell Club of Washington. Meet early in the Cornell Center lobby. Clint Brass, a CIW alum, will escort you all in a walk to Thompson’s Boats, where Rock Creek empties into the Potomac River. Canoes and kayaks are on offer to paddle upstream to Fletcher’s Landing, then back down for a picnic lunch (prepare the night before) and short wander at Roosevelt Island. Expect to get wet, and for true safety you should be able to swim and always wear your life vest. Also bring water, sunscreen, hat, and insect repellent. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Center lobby during the week prior. You may sign up for a canoe, with 2 or 3 partners, or for a kayak, alone or in pairs. Most options are usually available, but not guaranteed. At least one rider per boat must also bring a credit card for purpose of deposit, which may also be used to pay.

Cost: $8 - $28, depending on choice. Participation: unlimited, but sign-up to help organize boats.

Further info: Thompson Boat Center and the Cornell Club of Washington. Questions: email Clint Brass at "ctb14 at cornell dot edu".

Hike up Old Rag Mountain

September 8, Saturday, 7:50 AM - 7:00 PM

This all day event, in conjunction with the Cornell Club, requires a very early start. Alumni provide transportation to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The hike up Old Rag is one of the best in the East and very popular with CIW students. The lower half of the ascent is on steep, wooded switchback trails; upper elevations are rocky and require very enjoyable scrambling; the views are fabulous. Prepare the night before: lunch, snacks, plenty of water, sunscreen, hat, mosquito repellent, and hiking shoes or treaded sneakers. Meet in the Cornell Center lobby. A sign-up sheet will be posted during the week before.

Cost: $8 per person to cover National Park Service fees. Participation: unlimited, but students must pre-register to arrange transportation with alums.

Further info: Old Rag Mountain and the Cornell Club of Washington. Questions: email Clint Brass at "ctb14 at cornell dot edu".

Cornell Club Reception for CIW Students

September 11, Tuesday, 8:30 - 9:45 PM

After their first board meeting of the semester, the Cornell Club of Washington always welcomes incoming students with a reception in the multi-purpose room of the Cornell Center. Club members are enthusiastic about meeting students, and some CIW alumni are usually among them. Most of them have invaluable advice about the upcoming semester and beyond. Come to network and nibble and perhaps meet your future…

Cost: free. Participation: unlimited.

Further info: Cornell Club of Washington.

Visit with US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

September 14, Friday, 4:00 - 5:00 PM

At the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg will speak briefly to a mixed audience and answer questions from CIW students. We will be sharing an audience with students from Washington University. Justice Ginsburg is a graduate of Cornell University. The Justice asks that attendees view a video about the operation of the Court before the meeting which CIW will make available to students. Dress should be courteously appropriate, neat casual or business. A sign-up sheet will be posted a few days ahead.

Cost: free. Participation: limited, requiring pre-registration.

Further info: The Supreme Court.

The National Gallery: An Introductory Tour

September 15, Saturday, 2:00 - 3:15 PM

Eric Denker, Senior Lecturer in the Education Department of the National Gallery, will serve as guide and lecturer for a series of three tours. This initial tour demonstrate how to visit a museum: understand museum installations, interpret content, and appreciate technique while viewing a work of art. Two subsequent Saturday sessions will focus on collections in the West Building. Directions to the museum will be posted.

Cost: free. Participation: unlimited.

Further info: The National Gallery of Art.

Washington Nationals versus Los Angeles Dodgers

September 20, Thursday, 7:05 PM

The Nats play baseball at modern Nationals Park. They are having a banner (maybe a pennant?) year with some breakout stars. Security may prohibit backpacks or similarly sized bags. Directions to the ballpark will be provided.

Cost: $10 per ticket. Participation: limited by ticket availability. You will receive an electronic request form.

Further info: Washington Nationals.

The National Gallery: Italian Renaissance to Dutch Baroque

October 13, Saturday, 2:00 - 3:15 PM

Eric Denker focuses on the Renaissance and Baroque periods in Italy and the low countries of the North, with an emphasis on how and why new subjects and techniques evolved for painters. Big names are da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Directions to the gallery will be provided.

Cost: free. Participation: unlimited.

Further info: The National Gallery of Art.

The Newseum

October 25, Thursday, 11:00 AM

Washington’s Newseum is offering free access - a truly remarkable savings - to CIW. The interactive museum focuses on the history and current practices of news, news making, and journalism. All must enter as a single group, but you may tour as you individually please. Directions to the museum will be posted.

Cost: free. Participation: unlimited.

Further info: The Newseum.

The National Gallery: Into Impressionism and beyond

October 27, Saturday, 2:00 - 3:15 PM

Eric Denker focuses on French Impressionism, its predecessors and its descendents. The collection is profuse with Manet, Monet, Renoir, and Cezanne. Directions to the gallery will be provided.

Cost: free. Participation: unlimited.

Further info: The National Gallery of Art.

Oral Arguments at the US Supreme Court

November 5, Monday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Attend oral arguments before the Supreme Court, as opposing lawyers present their briefs and answer questions by the justices: two case, lasting exactly one hour apiece, although you may stay for just one. Justice Ginsburg was kind enough to arrange for students to attend. A sign-up sheet will be posted the prior week. You must appear at least half an hour early; security is very tight and you will need to store EVERYTHING in lockers (¢25 every time opened). Directions will be posted.

Cost: free. Participation: limited, so pre-registration is required.

Further info: The Supreme Court Docket Calendar.

Election Eve Return Coverage

November 6, Tuesday, 8:00 PM

The Cornell Center will show election returns on its SmartScreen. Whether you care about the political outcomes or not, feel free to join everyone for snacks.

Cost: free. Participation: unlimited.

National Symphony at the Kennedy Center

November 10, Saturday, 8:00 PM

The National Symphony Orchestra performs in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Conducted by Christopher Eschenbach, the program features: Lang Lang playing Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto, along with Dvorak’s Symphony #7 in D minor and Simon Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche . Although casual, but neat, dress is perfectly acceptable, many people will wear business or casual business attire. Directions to the Kennedy Center will be posted.

Cost: $10.00 per ticket. Participation: limited by ticket availability. You will receive an electronic request form.

Further info: The National Symphony Orchestra.

My Fair Lady at Arena Stage

November 30, Saturday, 8:00 PM

Arena Stage, located in a dramatic new building, is Washington’s premiere regional theater company. My Fair Lady is one of the all time classics of Broadway. The musical, based on Shaw’s satire Pygmalion concerns a pompous professor’s wager that he can turn a Cockney flower girl into an aristocratic lady. Directions to Arena Stage will be posted.

Cost: $10.00 per ticket. Participation: limited by ticket availability. You will receive an electronic request form.

Further info: Arena Stage.