The Campus Progress Free Food-A-Thon

Washington, DC proves a veritable city-wide buffet for cash-strapped interns.

You’re going to have to know how to survive if you want to make it in Washington – this city is no picnic. Unless, of course, you consider survival strictly in terms of your ability to find and secure free food. Then, for the enterprising, the city is, well, quite a feast to behold. Last week, in order to prove just how many free quiches, mini-burritos, butter cookies, and steaks (yes, steaks) this city has to offer downtrodden and underpaid interns, we launched the Campus Progress Intern Free Food-a-thon.

After attending more lectures, workshops and panels than we could shake a stick at, we learned that even totally obscure topics are not enough to drive away the audience when free veggie quesadillas are present. (Who knew the International Council of Cruise Lines had so many constituents?) When it comes to free food, everyone in DC seems to be dealing: folks at Heritage dine on salmon; Nader’s group Citizen Works is serving up cheesecake; embassies are throwing elaborate bashes featuring all the spoils of their respective motherlands, and the lobbyists shell out for free beer, sandwiches and candy bars. Sometimes it’s open to everyone, and sometimes it’s just real easy to sneak in.

The Plan

Six Campus Progress interns faced off over the course of three days to see who would collect and who would covet.

The Results

Events attended: 23

Best Event Name: Chemicals and Our Bodies

Best Meal: Secret Reception: Association of African American Museums and Sodexho USA, Library of Congress, Madison, Montpelier Room, 6th Floor “…in opposite corners bartenders stood at attention, ready to serve wine, beer, soda, or any combination thereof, theoretically, I guess. In the middle of the room, two tables offered a spectacular bounty of food, from salmon skewers to mini-burritos, and from crab-cake balls to puffy pepperoni thingys. Damn. But that’s not all. In one of the other corners, there was steak. With 3 different kinds of sauce! And rolls, and bread, and salad galore. That steak was primo, too.”

Worst Meal: The National Influencer Conference at the Washington Convention Center, sponsored by Urban Influence magazine, served Butterfingers for breakfast.

Most Aggressive Move: While walking down the street, Amy actually grabbed a muffin bottom out of a stranger’s hand: “I mean, not quite that feral, but someone was going to throw away a muffin bottom, and I couldn’t let that happen.”

Most Magical Right-Wing Reception: “The ‘rooftop reception’ at Heritage…was, in accordance with previous reports, fairly magical.”

Furthest Distance Traveled: Tie: Austria by Michael, Liberia by Amy

Most Heated Moment: Snacktime Ambush

Worst Event Suffered Through for Fewest Rewards: “Hedge funds are boring and devoid of sandwiches.”

The Victor: Geoff “G is for Victory” Aung

Check out all the final wrap-ups on the Campus Progress blog from Vilas, Kim, Mike, Amy, Andrew, and Geoff.