How to Meet People in Washington, DC

I have this friend, Stacy, who would always tell me about these events that she would go to at embassies nearly Washington. She kept divulging me that the organization that set up these events would be something fun for me to look into. I had been involved with my alumni club and with a political organization, but I found that the events that these groups hosted were few and far between. I was looking for something new and fun, so I agreed to go with Stacy to check out an event. The name of the group that Stacy was talking about is Professionals in the City. I checked out its calendar of events on its website, and told Stacy that I would go with her to a dance party that Professionals in the City was hosting the subsequent week. At the last minute, Stacy canceled on me because she had to work late. Since I had been plotting on going for the past few days anyway, I chose to go without her.

I have been to parties and pleased hours alone before, but it is always awkward at first. Since I did not know anyone, I entered the party, walked nearly, and spent a excellent deal of time just watching the crowd. I was surprised by the variety of people at the event. The ages ranged from early twenties to upper forties. I could tell that there was your average spattering of lawyers (as a lawyer, I can spot others of my clan by their shoes) and Hill people, but there were others, too. Unlike the typical bar scene, but, people really seemed to mix and mingle with each other. Although I was at a bar, the atmosphere felt a lot more like a private party.

Besides the variety of the people at the event, I was shocked by the sheer number of people in attendance. In the past, most of the events that I had been to maxed out at about thirty people. At this event, there was already a small crowd there when I arrived, but then people just kept coming. By 10 p.m. , the place was completely packed. I was quite impressed.

After a beer, I geared myself up to really talk to some new people. I was walking nearly the bar, when a petite brunette woman walked up to me and questioned if I had come alone. Her name was Dana and she said that she had just went to Washington from Florida that week. Her sister recommended Professionals in the City, so she chose to check it out, just like I did. We found out that we had a lot in common. We spent the rest of the night laughing, drinking and watching the crowd.

Over the next couple of months, I went to several more Professionals in the City events, including a dinner and a business networking event. Each time, I ran into Dana. We became quick friends. Since our initial meeting, Dana and I have gone to many other Professionals in the City events collectively. We met other friends who sometimes join us at the events. We have since realized that a lot of people go to these events precisely for the sense of convergence that these events make. Once a person has been to a few events, they usually make friends who they then run into at future events. It gives something of a small town feel to an otherwise huge city.

I have also learned more about the organization and its founder than I ever expected. Michael Karlan, a former lawyer, founded the group as a way for professionals (both singles and couples) to get collectively outside of politics or other Washington-like groupings. He felt that the group would fill a void. The numbers seem to back them up on this. In just a few being, Professionals in the City has grown to over 100,000 members in D.C. plus additional members in other cities (membership is free and merely entails signing up for its email list, either at an event or on its website).

Professionals in the City now hosts over 1,000 events a year in D.C. Upcoming events include embassy receptions, dance lessons, career seminars, singles dinners, four minute dating events, art gallery tours, baseball games, bartending and rollerblading lessons (although not on the same day), and disco parties. It seems that there is something for all.

Through Professionals in the City, I have met more people than I can count. When I first went to Washington, I was concerned that my social life would be limited to who worked with me or to which political party I belonged. I am so glad that I found a further outlet where I can meet people outside my field of business and outside of politics.

About the author
Melanie Paige

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