Working in Dupont Circle

July 5, 2012
D.C.

Have I mentioned that I work in one of D.C.’s most beautiful neighbourhoods, Dupont Circle? The area is chock-full of hip restaurants and boutiques, all populated with an eclectic crowd. Even better, my office building is situated right across the street from the metro station (which, I might add, has the most dizzying flight of escalators you will ever encounter). Best of all, there’s a gorgeous water fountain with a surrounding park across the street that’s an ideal lunch spot.

All of these perks enticed my mom to drop by my workplace earlier this week to get a tour of the office and meet my co-workers. I’ve got to say, it was strange having my mom enter this alternative universe of mine and meet all the people I’ve talked about on Skype. She especially enjoyed getting to meet my lovely boss, Rosemary, who offered us some great lunch spot suggestions. We ended up grabbing some delicious lunch from a little Greek cafe before I had to run back to work for a busy afternoon. My mom’s heading back to Edmonton tomorrow morning, and I’ll definitely miss her. I’m so glad she took the time out of her crammed schedule to visit my workplace and share my D.C. experience.

The Double R office is way up on the fourth floor (and you’ve got to take a Titanic-style elevator to get up there).

My mom (left), Rosemary (right), and I in the Double R Productions office.

A Saturday in Georgetown

July 2, 2012
D.C., Food, Travel

Freak storm aside, I spent a sunny Saturday touring Georgetown with my mom. Georgetown is considered D.C.’s swankiest neighbourhood, with its historic townhouses and mansions, bustling fashion street, and beautiful waterfront. My mom and I braved the sweltering heat and window-shopped along M Street for a few hours.

Georgetown’s famous M Street.

Maybe the heat was getting to our heads, but we were less focused on the clothes and more so on the delicious food in the area. One of our favorite spots was Dean and Deluca, an upscale grocery store that sells gourmet food items. My mom was in heaven here.

The first time the term charming applies to a grocery store.

 

The joys of having a French mom: chocolate croissants for breakfast. Delicious!

We then took a stroll down the waterfront and had supper at a seafood restaurant with a gorgeous view of the Potomac River. Perfect way to wind down on a hot Saturday evening.

At the waterfront (with a view of the Kennedy Center, where I almost interned!)

The best caesar salad.

I’ve developed a deadly spaghetti carbonara obsession in D.C., and this one was particularly good.

With full stomachs, we wandered through the charming neighbourhoods of Georgetown, ooh’ing and aah’ing at the townhouses (and guessing how pricey it would be to live in one of them). Strangely, the heat was getting worse as the sun set, so we called it a night and headed back to the air-conditioned haven of our hotel.

Can I please live in a Georgetown townhouse?

Weekend weather

July 1, 2012
D.C.

What a weekend.

My mom flew down to D.C. on Friday to pay me a week-long visit. The past month in D.C. has gone relatively smoothly, so obviously, I expected things to stay the same for my mom. Um, not so much.

On Friday, we experienced the hottest day in D.C. history for the month of June. Temperatures skyrocketed to +45C with the humidity factored in. It was absolutely brutal. Even taking the short 15-minute walk from the hotel to Dupont Circle proved to be a real test of our endurance. After a lovely dinner, we made our way back to the hotel, and it couldn’t have been more perfect timing. Literally the moment we entered our room, a massive storm suddenly struck. Rain pounded against our window, and lightning was going off every few seconds.

Saturday morning rolled around, and I turned on CNN. Reports were streaming in that 1.5 million people in the D.C. area were without electricity, and that trees had fallen left and right, killing 5 people. It was insane. Turns out the power in my apartment complex went out, too, meaning that there was no A/C in our apartment (with the day expected to be even hotter than Friday) and most of the food in our fridge spoiled.

A fallen tree in Georgetown.

I was supposed to show my mom the apartment on Saturday, and despite the storm, we still decided to go. That was another adventure. The power was out at the metro station closest to my apartment, so it took us nearly two hours to get there. When we actually got to my building, all the lights were out, so it was pitch black in the staircases and the hallways. The place looked like it was the ideal setting for a horror movie — not the typically warm and inviting place I wanted to show off to my mom.

In any case, I’m thanking my lucky stars that I get to spend the week at my mom’s hotel (which, thankfully, has power). We’re being told that power may not be restored in the apartment for up to a week. I can’t even imagine trying to sleep in a hot, sticky room and using flashlights to navigate the place.

Working at the Mall

June 26, 2012
D.C.

The life of a production assistant is far from glamorous. You’re typically behind the scenes, performing the small, logistical tasks that need to be done in order to ensure a smooth shoot. I got to test out my PA skills today for a shoot around D.C. that involved filming a 200-plus group of international students visiting D.C. for a leadership conference. Despite having to carry around what felt like a three-ton tripod, I couldn’t help but smile while walking around the National Mall. As I passed by picturesque landmarks, such as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial (all illuminated, might I add, by the glorious D.C. sunshine), I felt ridiculously grateful for getting to spend my summer here. I learned a lot today, all while enjoying amazing weather — what more could I ask for?

Setting up to shoot at the Lincoln Memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shooting in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Pictured with Catherine, Double R’s super awesome associate producer and intern coordinator.

Journalism basics

June 25, 2012
Journalism

My journalism class is taught at the McClatchy Washington Bureau, pictured above. 

I’ve written my fair share of news articles, but I’m always looking to learn more about the fine art of reporting. That’s why I jumped onto the opportunity to take a journalism class through The Washington Center called ‘Mass Media and National Politics.’ Although the class claims to offer students the chance to learn what it’s like to work as a journalist in D.C., I’d say it’s more so a refresher course on the nitty gritty details of reporting.

Unlike most of my other peers at TWC, I’ve never studied journalism academically. Since the U of A doesn’t offer a journalism degree, The Gateway is often seen as the school’s unofficial journalism program. I’ve often wondered whether I made the right decision pursuing a degree in English rather than journalism. Well, it’s been four weeks into this class, and I feel like I’ve made the right decision.

The funny thing about students studying journalism is that many of them don’t actually know how to, well, write. They learn about the inverted pyramid structure, and the ethics of journalism, but when it comes down to it, they struggle with actually writing a good, basic article.  As an English major, I’m forced to write cohesive, well-structured papers that make a convincing argument. I also have to read a lot (too much to handle, oftentimes). Put two of these together, and you have a degree that perfectly complements the skill set needed to be a journalist.

That’s not to say that I don’t struggle when it comes to writing articles. I’ve spent endless hours piecing together a story — writing and rewriting ledes, deleting horrible sentences, rearranging paragraphs. Regardless, I approach each article with confidence. I always have an idea in mind, and I try my best to pursue it. The interesting thing that I’ve observed from my peers in class is that they stare at their laptop screen looking hopeless without having even writing a single sentence. And these are the people who have spent three to four years rigorously studying journalism in a classroom setting. Shouldn’t I be the one afraid?

This class has made me look more closely at the fundamentals of journalism, which is something I appreciate. More importantly, it’s forced me to rethink the value of journalism school, and question whether it’s more appropriate to learn journalism through academia or actual experience.

Starstruck

June 21, 2012
D.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hate how star-struck I get. I’ve encountered a fair share of celebrities that have deserved my feverish reactions. Some notable highlights include me nearly passing out when I was less than ten feet away from Katy Perry at her concert, and actually passing out when I saw Lady Gaga at her Las Vegas concert (I was carried to the back due to dehydration — oops).  But my latest work event had me and the other interns covering a premiere of a new documentary co-directed by Law and Order star S. Epatha Merkerson, and I was certain that I would act professionally and treat Epatha like any other person (and yes, we’re on a first-name basis).

About that.

I was responsible for shooting much of the B-roll that evening, so I was strolling around, getting shots of people mingling and staging delightfully awkward shots of people clinging and fake toasting. But then I heard someone yell, “She’s here!” and I literally sprinted down the hall to the main entrance. There she was, emanating the aura of her 2006 Golden Globe. I might have been a little aggressive and gotten my camera right in her face, but I think she was too distracted from all the hugs to really notice.

I got to meet her a half hour later, when she wandered into the interview room where the other interns and I were setting up the lights and camera. I’ll admit, I got a bit nervous and stammered when I introduced myself. It seems so ridiculous in hindsight — I mean, actors really are just people. But the pop culture fanatic inside of me can’t help but freak out at the mere sight of a star. Epatha was gracious, though, and did the interview like a true professional. The documentary itself, The Contradictions of Fair Hope, is a real eye-opener, and exposes years of untold African-American history. I left the screening feeling like it had incited a genuine reaction from the audience — anger, disbelief, and shame.

In any case, I got my chance to snag a picture with Epatha after the screening. She was so lovely, and chatting with all the interns, so I figured, “Why not?” The 14-hour workday suddenly felt like it was worth it after that moment, and I left the premiere with a smile on my face. Not only had I gotten the chance to schmooze with some big names, but I actually pulled off my first shoot without a hitch (mostly). I might actually have a shot at this whole video thing!

“You wanna see giraffes? Come back in 2014.”

June 14, 2012
D.C., Food, Travel

Boredom isn’t a word that applies in D.C. There are literally hundreds (actually, thousands) of things to do in this small city. So, as you can imagine, I’ve been frantically trying to keep up and catch all of the great sights around town while juggling a full-time internship. It’s tough, but I’m getting there!

The Hirshhorn Museum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reminiscent of the Guggenheim in New York, the Hirshhorn — lovingly termed the ‘donut on the Mall’ by Washingtonians — is a circular-shaped museum that houses modern art. Confession time: I’m a huge sucker for modern art. Nothing beats a lone nail on a white board or three random splatters of paint on a canvas. Back away, haters. Anyways, the Hirshhorn is a a lovely museum, albeit a bit skimpy when it comes to their collection. There was a really cool exhibit on the second floor that had to do with senses i.e. walking into a forest of random blue threads hanging from a ceiling. But the bottom level was under construction, so we were left with two small floors of artwork to examine. It’s definitely the quickest amount of time I’ve ever spent in a museum. The museum’s design is a smart idea, though — since you’re walking around in a circle, you know for sure that you’re not not missing any artwork.

National Museum of the American Indian 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll admit that I had never really planned on visiting this museum. But after Marielle and I’s plan to visit the Museum of Natural History failed thanks to the hundreds of girl scouts invading the city (don’t even get me started on that), we decided to visit the American Indian museum since it was nearby and we’d heard it housed the best cafe in the Mall. Turns out the hype was true. Their cafe serves food from various American-Indian tribes, and it’s pretty authentic stuff (or so I think). I ordered an Indian taco, which was hella overpriced, but reaaaaally good, too. You win some, you lose some, I guess. The museum itself was pretty good. I learned a lot about the struggles of American Indian, but the exhibits were confusingly laid out. Plus, the museum closed early, so I only had time to visit a floor and half out of five. What gives, Smithsonian?

The National Zoo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Washington Center planned a trip to the zoo last Sunday for the Rockville students, along with interns from a nearby residence in Grosvenor, MD. It seems like this summer, TWC has so many interns that they needed another residence just to accomodate everyone. It was awesome getting to meet more people on top of the dozens I’ve already met.

The zoo itself, however, was underwhelming. The day was a scorcher, so all the animals were pretty much hiding under rocks. Lame. Second, everything was so spaced apart. It felt like we were walking forever just to get to another empty enclosure. I got tired and dehydrated after awhile, too, so I quickly lost interest in the animals. The highlight of the zoo was the adorable elephant who gulped down water like no other, along with little floating turtles in the aquarium. But yeah, not really worth the trip. Even the Calgary Zoo is a lot better.

“You wanna see the giraffes? Come back in 2014.” — Sassy zoo attendant (never forget) 

Georgetown Cupcake 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s nothing better in life than a ridiculously over-the-top reality show on TLC, including Georgetown Cupcake. Let me just say that the two chicks behind this concept are geniuses. Seriously, cupcake stores are EVERYWHERE. Edmonton alone seems to have them on the corner of every street (if you’re one of the owners of those stores, you fail at creativity and life). The fact that these girls have gotten a reality show out of a cupcake store and literally have lines down the street just to buy a cupcake is simultaneously ridiculous and amazing.

Then again, their cupcakes are AMAZING. Seriously, I pretty much veer away from cupcakes, especially because of all that gross icing that’s overly sweetened. But you could tell that real ingredients were used in the icing, especially high-quality butter and chocolate. It was unlike any cupcake I’ve had before. Since I only visited the Bethesda location, and not the actual Georgetown location featured on the show, I plan to make a trip back to appease my TLC addiction.

 

Salut, D.C.!

June 9, 2012
D.C., Travel

 Taken in front of the Washington Monument on my second day in D.C. 

Time is a weird thing. Waiting to come to D.C. felt like an eternity, ever since I first submitted my application to The Washington Center (TWC) program back in January. But the moment I landed at the Baltimore airport on a rainy Wednesday, everything’s been a whirlwind. Two weeks and a half into this trip, and I think I’m finally settled in.

The verdict so far?

D.C. is really, really great. All my worries about feeling alone in a big American city have proven fruitless. One of the main things I love about D.C. is what a friendly city it is, despite its imposing architecture and frenzied pace. Part of that might be due to the low-rise buildings. High-rises are a no-no in this city, so you don’t get the sense that you’re some ant scurrying around a metropolis, like in New York City.

In any case, I promised that I would chronicle my summer in D.C., but that proved to be a challenge the first couple of weeks. Now that I’ve gotten into the groove of things, my hope is that I can blog a few times a week, if not daily. This entry will obviously be longer, since I’ve got a bunch of stuff to recap, but bear with me!

1. Residence

I might have been most nervous about this prior to getting here. First, I’m not in TWC’s main residence, which is called the Residential and Academic Facility (RAF). They just built that complex a few years ago, and it’s where they host most of the classes (you have to take one academic course on top of your internship). Around 70% of TWC students are situated at the RAF. I, on the other end, have ended up in a luxury apartment complex just outside of D.C. in Rockville, Maryland.

When I first walked in, I was blown away. This is definitely not your average student dorm. Instead, it’s a full-fledged apartment, with a spacious living room, a large kitchen stocked with new dishes and utensils, two bedrooms (one of them a master suite with a jacuzzi in the bathroom), and two bathrooms. It’s also air-conditioned (!) and quiet (!!). Oh, and there’s a washer/dryer IN the apartment. Yup, it doesn’t get better than this.

My roommates are also great, and by some freak coincidence, one of them interns with me at the same place — Double R Productions (more on that in a second). Oh, and another stroke of luck — I ended up with a room to myself, since our fourth roommate was a no-show. Although I could certainly survive sharing a room with somebody else, I really do love having my own privacy and being able to Skype obnoxiously with my friends and parents.

The downside to living in the MD residence as opposed to the RAF is that you don’t get to socialize as much with your peers. A lot of the friends I made the first couple days of orientation are situated at the RAF, and it’s hard to justify a 40-minute metro ride between those two places if you want to hang out. Plus, the cost of commuting from the MD residence to work is exorbitant —  nearly $10 every day. But there’s definitely a great crew of people at the MD residence, and we’ve hung out a couple of times in the building’s pub, playing pool (failing at it, of course), and just chatting about our time here.

2. Internship

I started my internship at Double R Productions last week, following a lovely Memorial Day weekend that included a lot of rest, touring D.C. monuments and museums, and attending a concert at the Capitol. The commute to work isn’t too bad — around 45 minutes, give or take. It’s also great that the metro station is a five-minute walk from my apartment.

On that note, I’m always amused when I hear people freak out about the Metro here. By no means is Edmonton’s LRT as elaborate as D.C.’s metro system, but I’ve definitely learned to stand on the right and walk on the left on escalators — something that many of peers had to learn for themselves the hard way.

So far, I’m pretty happy with my internship. Mind you, it’s not exactly what I had in mind when I first applied to TWC (I was more so heading in the direction of print journalism), but I realize it’s incredibly valuable having solid video production skills under your belt in the evolving journalism industry.

Plus, everybody at Double R is so friendly, and my boss is fantastic (and hilarious). She took me out to the Canadian embassy last week for a swanky art reception, and I had a wonderful time. A lot of my fellow TWC interns seem displeased with their internships in terms of the work they’re doing, so I feel pretty grateful for having ended up at Double R.

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Aaand, on that note, I’m gonna wrap things up. I’ve got a whole bunch of other things I want to blog about, but rather than force you to read some mammoth blog entry, I’ll break things up in to manageable chunks. Sayonara (for now)!

 

Copyright © 2012 Alex Migdal