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Date Posted: 14:01:13 09/09/12 Sun
Author: CRN NAN'S INFO
Subject: FULL INFORMATION INSIDE THIS REPLY
In reply to: CRN, 's message, "CRN NAN'S (North American Championhsips)" on 13:57:54 09/09/12 Sun

The Teachers of the North American Region of Cumann Rince Naisiunta are delighted to welcome you to the 4th North American Open Irish Dance Championships scheduled for Washington, D.C., February 2013. In addition to being the pride of the Nation, Washington, the Nation's Capital offers families many opportunities to save money. With free federal sites, museums, concerts and festivals, it's entirely possible to find yourself fully entertained - day and night - without paying a dime. The Smithsonian museums are always free, and galleries like the Phillips Collection and the Corcoran Gallery of Art have reduced entry or free admission on certain days of the week. Happy hours offer excellent value for eating and drinking, and many restaurants have fixed-plate and pre-theater menus that are good value. Children's Menus are available in most establishments.



Venue: The Hilton Hotel

Alexandria Mark Center

500 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22311



Dates: Saturday, February 16, 2013

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Sunday, February 18, 2013



Please use the following link to make your hotel reservations:



http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/D/DCAAHHF-IDC-20130212/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG




The above hotel link, (for direct reservations, $119.00 for a double double room sleeping 4), and further information will be placed on the Web-site (CRN-USA) by the end of August. In due course the syllabus will also be drafted, distributed and placed on the CRN-USA webpage. Keep in mind that the syllabus' for the Irish Open and the North American will be identical. For the first time in North America we will include both Championships and Awards. Dancers will need to pre-qualify at their respective Regionals and Qualifiers. As mentioned the syllabus will be distributed, most likely after the CRN Annual General Meeting. This will allow us to incorporate any adopted proposals that will impact our event. Thank you for you continued support. We hope to see many schools, both National and International, represented at the North American!





Transportation

Airports

• There are 3 DC-area airports - Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore / Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

• These three airports serviced more than 64 million passengers in 2011 and about half of these (or 32 million) deplaned in the region.

• Reagan National Airport offers 391 daily nonstop flights to 78 domestic destinations.

• Dulles International Airport supports 317 daily nonstop flights to 83 domestic destinations and 415 weekly departures to 49 international destinations.

• BWI handles 632 scheduled domestic flights and 18 nonstop international flights daily. This includes non-stop flights to 66 domestic and 10 international destinations. In 2011, BWI serviced more than 22 million passengers.

Train

• Union Station in DC is home to Amtrak and multiple commuter rail services; 3.8 million Amtrak passengers travel through DC each year.



Public Transportation

Metrorail & Metrobus

◦ The Metro system is the nation’s second-largest heavy rail system, with 5 rail lines, 106 miles of track, 86 stations and servicing more than 217 million trips each year.

◦ For hours, fares and station information, visit wmata.com.




DC Circulator

◦ 5 bus routes service 5.8 million riders each year, connecting Union Station with Georgetown, the National Mall with Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and a seasonal loop around the National Mall.

◦ For hours, passes and route maps, visit dccirculator.com.




Taxis

◦ The DC taxicab system operates on a meter system.

◦ Fares begin at $3, plus 27 cents per each additional 1/8 mile for a per mile rate of $2.16.

◦ Luggage is 50 per piece, but only for what the driver places in the trunk.

◦ We will confirm the cost of a taxi from both major airports at a later date.





THINGS TO DO IN WASHINGTON DC THAT ARE FREE OR ALMOST FREE



Art / Music

Between January and June, admittance to the National Gallery of Art Sunday Concerts, ranging from classical music to African-American spirituals, is on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating begins at 6 p.m.; concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings.

Explore Mexican culture and art at the Mexican Cultural Institute, a mansion-turned-art gallery. Open Mon. - Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

During the week, admission to the permanent collection at the Phillips Collection is by donation only (Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.). Closed Mondays. Phillips After 5, an extended-hours program on the first Thursday of each month featuring gallery talks and other programs, is free with the cost of admission to the exhibition. The cost of admission to the exhibition is $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. The museum has extended hours every Thursday from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

On the first Friday of each month, 13 galleries in Dupont Circle hold informal open houses. Click here to see a list of all of the galleries in the Dupont area.

On the third Friday of each month, Galleries 1054, located in Georgetown's Canal Square, host opening receptions from approximately 6 to 8 p.m. Although the receptions occur every month, those held April through June and September through November offer an added bonus: catering by Georgetown's Sea Catch Restaurant. The Galleries 1054 include the MOCA DC Gallery, the Parish Gallery, the Alla Rogers Gallery, the Winter Palace Studio, Georgetown Pics Photography, and the Cross Mackenzie Ceramic Arts gallery.



Seasonal Art / Music

Monday Night at the National Theatre features local actors, comedians, musicians, singers, and dancers in free performances. Check the website for exact times. Tickets are required and are distributed one half-hour prior to each performance. The Monday Night program switches to the Summer Cinema film series between June and August and screenings start at dusk during the summer. Also, from September to April, every Saturday from 9:30 and 11 a.m. the National Theater has a free kids theater event. Click here for details.



Attractions

The National Building Museum, acclaimed for its architectural splendor, celebrates the history and methods of architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning through exhibitions and hands-on activities. Opening hours are Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free tours are offered every day at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., based on docent availability. Every weekend, docents roll out Discovery Carts to teach families about elements of construction. Saturday's program, "Bridging the Gap," is offered from 10:30 to 11 a.m., and Sunday's program, "Arches and Trusses," from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Other family programs, films, and lectures are also free of charge. Museum admission is free; a donation of $5 per person is suggested.

Avoid the lines at the Washington Monument and climb to the observation level of the 315-foot-tall Old Post Office Tower for an equally spectacular view of the city. From Labor Day through Memorial Day (approximately), the Old Post Office Tower is open Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. -5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Pre-arranged, guided tours of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the Department of State are conducted Mon. - Fri. at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 2:45 p.m. While touring the rooms used for official functions hosted by the secretary of state and other government officials, visitors learn about the 18th-century American furniture, paintings, and other fine arts housed in the rooms. Reservations must be made at least 90 days in advance.

As a part of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Zoo charges no admission. Watch a mother and young elephant take a bath, see what a giant octopus eats, and meet a New Zealand kiwi as part of the zoo's regular programs.

Visitors can take tours of the U.S. Naval Observatory on alternating Monday nights from 8:30 to 10. Weather permitting tours include a view through the 12-inch Alvan Clark Refracting Telescope. Requests for tour reservations should be made 4-6 weeks in advance of the tour.

The U.S. Supreme Court offers public lectures every hour on the half-hour Mon. - Fri. 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on days when the Court is not sitting. Seating is available on a first-come, first-seated basis. On certain Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from October to April, visitors may listen to an oral argument heard by the Supreme Court.

The National Mall & Memorial Parks are some of the most famous free attractions in D.C. Try visiting the monuments, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the National World War II Memorial, and the FDR Memorial at night to enjoy the dramatic lighting and smaller crowds. Most monuments are open until midnight.

At Mount St. Sepulchre, a Franciscan church and monastery, take a tour of the buildings, shrines, gardens, and catacombs. Tours are given daily at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. On Sundays, tours are available only at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Tours are free, but donations are appreciated.

The U.S. Botanic Garden is a great place to visit, rain or shine. Find current and permanent exhibits inside the conservatory, walk through the home landscape demonstration garden of Bartholdi Park, or experience the National Garden, which opened in October 2006. Check the website for a list of free events, including tours and lectures. Some pre-registration required. Conservatory open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Bartholdi Park open dawn to dusk.

Ford's Theatre offers daily presentations on the theater's history and the assassination of President Lincoln. Final entry to the museum is at 4:30 p.m. and it opens at 9 a.m. The two half-hour performances throughout the day include a one-act play about Lincoln's assassination and a lecture style presentation analyzing the assassination. Tickets are required, and are distributed free at the box office beginning at 8:30 a.m. for same-day presentations on a first-come, first-seated basis.

The National Geographic Society Headquarters is home to the National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall. View changing and permanent exhibitions on a variety of scientific, geographic, and cultural themes Mon.-Sat. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors are welcome to tour the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., which includes a library and mosque. Open Mon. - Fri. 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The center offers free Arabic classes and courses on Islam on the weekends. Check the site for details and schedules.

The African American Civil War Memorial and Museum offers free tours and lectures about the role of African-American troops in the Civil War. Reservations are suggested for groups of five or more. Open Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Admission is free to the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, which exhibits collections of American historical objects and more than 30 period rooms displaying antique furniture from colonial times. Museum gallery is open Mon. - Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Docent led tours are every hour and half hour Mon. - Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 4:30 p.m. Self-guided tours are available before 10 and after 3 or when all docents are guiding other tours.

At the Kennedy Center, take a free guided tour of the Hall of States and Hall of Nations, the main theaters, and the artwork and sculptures donated to the Center by foreign countries. Tours are available Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sat.-Sun.10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Tour the Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, headquarters of the National Woman's Party, to view Susan B. Anthony's desk, suffrage parade banners, and other art and artifacts from the women's rights movement. Tours depart on the hour Wed.-Sun. noon - 4 p.m. (last tour begins at 3 p.m.). A suggested $5 donation is appreciated.

On the first Sunday of every month, the National Museum of Women in the Arts offers Free Community Days. View the Museum's diverse permanent collection of art by women from the 16th century to the present and a special collection of silver by 18th- and 19th-century Irish and English women silversmiths.

The Eastern Market, located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, welcomes visitors to browse a flea market, farmers market, and arts-and-crafts market. The farmers market is open Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.



Culture

Visit Grace Church in Georgetown for Coffee Hour every Sunday. Listen to local poets and enjoy free coffee. Washington City Paper named it the best coffee hour in the city.

At the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, see free performances of all types, from the National Symphony Orchestra to Afghan music and dance, daily at 6 p.m. A free shuttle bus transports guests from the Foggy Bottom Metro station to the Kennedy Center. After the show, take the elevator up to the roof for a free 360-degree view of the city lit up at night.

Though the Smithsonian Institution provides visitors with endless hours of budget-friendly entertainment, the organization offers far more than just free admission to the museums. The Smithsonian shows films and offers workshops, craft demonstrations, special tours (gallery talks and exhibition tours), lectures, seminars, and performances at each of the different museums free of charge.

Anacostia Community Museum

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

National Air and Space Museum

National Museum of African Art

National Museum of American History

National Museum of Natural History

National Museum of the American Indian

National Portrait Gallery

National Postal Museum

National Zoological Park

Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery

Smithsonian Institution Building, the Castle

Take a guided tour of the Folger Shakespeare Library building to view the current exhibition, the theater, and Shakespeare's First Folio, and have a peek into the restricted-access Reading Rooms. The Folger is open to the public Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Docents lead tours Mon.-Fri. at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The Library of Congress offers guided tours of the Thomas Jefferson Building, including the Great Hall, the Main Reading Room, and several galleries Mon.-Fri. at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m.; and Saturday at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Visitors should arrive at least 15 minutes early for a security check. The Library will be closed for Martin Luther King Day and Inauguration Day.

Walk along the stretch of Massachusetts Avenue between Dupont Circle and the National Cathedral known as Embassy Row, and pass by many of the foreign embassies located in the District. Kids can go trick-or-treating at most of the embassies on Halloween.

The Carnegie Institute hosts "Capital Science Evenings," monthly lectures on current scientific topics, one Thursday a month at 6:45 p.m.



Seasonal Cultural Activities

Experience the song, dance, performance, crafts, and food of diverse cultural traditions at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, held on the National Mall for two weeks every summer overlapping the Fourth of July holiday.

Every fall, the ethnically diverse Adams Morgan neighborhood hosts the Adams Morgan Day Festival, offering food, crafts, and entertainment to celebrate the multicultural area.

At the annual Arts on Foot Festival, held in the fall, the Penn Quarter neighborhood opens its streets for a variety of visual and performing arts. Guided tours of local venues and galleries, in addition to outdoor exhibits and entertainment, introduce visitors to a variety of art forms.



Food / Drink

Enjoy complimentary wine tasting every Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bistrot Lepic's upstairs Wine Bar. Located at 1736 Wisconsin Ave., Georgetown.

Several bars around town offer open bar nights, some that include buffets. For information on the ever-changing free drink scene, check out the Washington Post Going Out Gurus.



Kids

Kids can enjoy Monday Morning Storytime at the well-known Politics & Prose Bookstore on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. The store also hosts monthly meetings of teen book groups and over a dozen adult book groups, as well as author talks and other events that are free and open to the public.

The Smithsonian Institution offers many children's and family programs, which include storytelling, special tours, family days, arts and crafts, and other hands-on activities. At the Imaginasia Family Program at the Sackler Gallery, children and adults view an exhibition and then make a craft related to the exhibit.

The Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium, open Wed.-Sun. from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., offers daily environmental education programs at the Nature Center, and weekly shows at the Planetarium on Wednesday at 4 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Free tickets are available at the Nature Center's information desk. Monthly evening stargazing sessions are hosted from April through November. Call 1 202 895 6070 for dates and times.



Outdoors

Walk, bike, or skate the Mount Vernon Trail, an 18.5-mile (30-km) stretch that runs from Mount Vernon to Theodore Roosevelt Island and borders the Potomac River on the Virginia side.

Though it lies just off the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Theodore Roosevelt Island offers two-and-a-half miles of peaceful pathways through its 88-acre (36-hectare) nature preserve. Trade your car for tennis shoes as you walk through swamp forests and over the boardwalk made of recycled materials.

The 446 acres of outdoor and indoor exhibits at the National Arboretum include the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum (open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily), the National Herb Garden, and the National Grove of State Trees. The Arboretum grounds are open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, except December 25 and some federal holidays.

At Arlington National Cemetery, watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guard changes every half hour between March 15th and September 30th. They change every hour for the rest of the year. The cemetery is open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. from October 1 to March 31, and 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. for the rest of the year.

Explore the many offerings of Rock Creek Park, including the Peirce Mill and Barn. The Mill is open on weekends in the summer. The Barn is generally open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Call 1 202 895 6000 to confirm. The park offers free ranger-led programs through different trails and sites.

While strolling through the historic neighborhood and shopping area of Georgetown, visit the 18th-century Old Stone House and adjacent English garden. The house is open for tours Wed. - Sun. from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Pay a visit to Montrose Park, located between Dumbarton Oaks Park and Rock Creek Park (R St. NW, between 30th and 32nd Sts.), and stroll along the serene,18th-century cobblestone path called Lovers' Lane.



Seasonal Theater

Enjoy two weeks of free Shakespeare plays at the Shakespeare Theatre Company Free For All at Sidney Harman Hall. The dates for the performances are announced in the spring, check the site. Though admission is free, tickets are required for all performances and are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis only on the day of each performance at the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Box Offices and online. Arrive about 4 hours early if you want a good seat.

Discount Theatre Tickets. Go to Goldstar and register to be notified of events. This organization offers discounted tickets all over North America (including NY NY, Broadway). It is a great resource for Theatre Lovers.





Money

Most DC businesses accept cash, credit and/or debit cards and traveler's checks; for security and convenience, it is useful to have all three. A credit card may be required for renting a car or making reservations at some hotels.



ATMS

Most banks have 24-hour ATMs affiliated with various networks, including Exchange, Accel, Plus and Cirrus. If you use a credit card, however, you probably will be charged a small fee and incur interest on the withdrawal until you pay it back. Furthermore, if you use an ATM that doesn't belong to your own bank, you'll be charged $2 per withdrawal.



Changing Money

Although the airports have exchange bureaus, better rates can usually be obtained at banks in the city.

American Express (202-457-1300; 1150 Connecticut Ave NW; Farragut North)

Thomas Cook (202-237-2229; 5335 Wisconsin Ave NW; Friendship Heights)



Credit Cards

Carry copies of your credit-card numbers separately from the cards. If you lose a card or it's stolen, contact the company. Following are the main companies' toll-free numbers:

Diners Club 800-234-6377American Express 800-528-4800
Discover 800-347-2683
MasterCard 800-826-2181
Visa 800-336-8472


Traveler's Checks

Traveler's checks are generally as good as cash in the US. Their major advantage is that they are replaceable if stolen. American Express and Thomas Cook have efficient replacement policies. A record of the check numbers is vital should you need to replace them - note them carefully and keep the record separate from the checks themselves. Buy checks in US dollars and in large denominations to avoid excessive service fees.



Taxes

Some tax is charged on nearly everything you buy in the USA. It may be included in the price or added onto advertised prices. When inquiring about lodging rates, always ask whether taxes are included. Unless otherwise stated, prices given in this book don't include taxes. Airport departure taxes ($6 for foreign-bound passengers) are usually included in the price of tickets bought in the US, but they may not be included with tickets bought abroad. A US $6.50 North American Free Trade Agreement tax is charged to foreigners entering the US from abroad. Both fees are essentially 'hidden' taxes added to the purchase price of your ticket.



OTHER FAMILY-FUN FREEBIES



Watch the National Zoo’s conservation efforts first-hand along the Asia Trail. Pay a visit to giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian and peep their tiny neighbors, the red pandas.

See the stars in Rock Creek Park at the only planetarium operated by the National Park Service. Tours of the night sky are free.

Explore an exhibition and create a related art project to take home through the Freer & Sackler Gallery's Imaginasia family programming.

See the National Mall with DC by Foot, a walking tour company that gives free, kid-friendly tours (gratuity recommended) infused with games, fun facts and trivia. Tours include Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Assassination, Twilight tour and free bus tours.

Take pictures with Fala, the famous presidential pooch, at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

Make money (or see money made) with a free tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. During the peak season (March-August), first-come, first-served same day tickets are required. The ticket office opens at 8 a.m.

Putter to East Potomac Golf Course for a round of miniature golf. Players 18 and under play $5 per game. Gorgeous views of the Potomac River and planes roaring into National Airport are gratis.

Play pilot in a mock cockpit at America by Air, an exhibition on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Walk among living butterflies at the National Museum of Natural History's Butterfly Pavilion (adults $6/children $5). Tuesdays are free, but timed-entry tickets are required and are available at the Butterfly Pavilion box office beginning at 10 a.m. each Tuesday.

Teach kids about history at the National Museum of American History. See the original “Star-Spangled Banner” that inspired our national anthem, explore the history of the American presidency, and check out Dorothy’s red slippers in the permanent exhibition “National Treasures of Popular Culture.”

Check out the latest performance at the Smithsonian's family-friendly Discovery Theater. Shows range from tap dance performances to puppet show workshops, and tickets are always under $10.

Let kids roam free at Friendship Park (aka Turtle Park), DC’s most popular playground, located in the city’s American University Park neighborhood. Little ones love the huge sandbox. It’s always full of toys.

Take a ride on the Metrorail system to give kids a taste of a train ride, and a break from the summer heat. Day Passes are a great value at $9 and the Metro travels all over the city. For a ride dependent on people-power, rent a four-person paddle boat ($19/hour); weather permitting at the Tidal Basin.

Fly a kite next to the Washington Monument for a great family photo.

Give kids an inspiring lesson in freedom with a stop at the National Archives Building to view John Hancock’s “John Hancock” on the Declaration of Independence.





Restaurant Facts

• There are more than 100 restaurants located in downtown Washington, DC alone, not including fast food, delis and take out.

• Forty restaurants in the metropolitan region received Zagat scores of 25 or higher (out of a possible 30).

• Called “one of the most exciting restaurant cities on the East Coast” by Travel + Leisure, DC’s culinary distinctions include James Beard award-winning chefs, AAA Five Diamond ratings and restaurants included on Esquire’s list of the “Best New Restaurants in America.”



Sales Tax

• DC sales tax: 6%

• DC hotel tax: 14.5%

• DC restaurant tax: 10%

• Maryland: Sales tax is 6%. Hotel tax varies by county with most counties averaging between 5% and 8%.

• Virginia: Sales tax is 5%. Hotel tax varies by county with most counties averaging between 9% and 11%.


Climate
 in DC has a generally temperate climate, with pleasant springs and autumns, and mild winters with approximately 17 inches of seasonal snowfall.


Average Low (Fahrenheit)
Average High (Fahrenheit)
Average Precipitation (Inches)

January
24
43
3.57

February
26
47
2.84

March
33
55
3.92

April
42
66
3.26

May
52
76
4.29

June
62
84
3.63

July
67
89
4.21

August
65
87
3.90

September
57
80
4.08

October
44
69
3.43

November
36
58
3.32

December
28
48
3.25

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