That's right. Every year Campus Progress interns spend a week scouring DC for every last pig-in-blanket, mini-muffin, and embassy cocktail.
Each intern will compete to see who can unearth and consume the most delectable free cuisine from Hill receptions, think tank talks, embassy parties, and other events to which they were not invited. The aim is to shine a spotlight not only on the ruthlessness of starving interns but also on the opulence and abundance of food served across the political spectrum by and for Washington power players.
Beginning tomorrow, three interns a day will compete in qualifying rounds, documenting their trials and tribulations on Social Capital. All of their meals, snacks, and crumbs from the floor must be free (not previously bought by the eater or purchased immediately before by another party specifically for the eater).
Looking for fun after your first day on the Hill? Scavenging for free food to survive your low-pay or no-pay Beltway job? Seeking the loudest concerts and the coolest art shows? Curious about what really goes down at the Heritage dorms, Smith Point, and other right-wing hideaways? Social Capital is what you need.
Check out the newest part of CampusProgress.org!
Social Capital connects you with other young, progressive DC denizens looking for a good time. Whether your passion is breaking a sweat in a game of pick-up soccer on the Mall, going to shows at the Black Cat or 9:30 Club, hitting the wonky lecture circuit, or hunting down an open bar, Social Capital is your one-stop source for filling up your social calendar—and for up-to-the minute blogged accounts of intern snafus, random overheard chatter around DC, and interviews and portraits of some of DC’s most memorable characters, and more.
This betrays all of my loyalties. As somebody born and raised in D.C., I have spent all my life weeding out the people who pretend to be from D.C. but really reside in Bethesda, Rockville, Potomac, Arlington (you get the point). So, when I sat down and thought about writing for Social Capital, I was elated at the idea that now I would get to show off my intimate knowledge of my city by telling everybody where to eat, party, see free stuff, etc. Then, today, I sat down at the desk to write and I had nothing. Well, that’s not entirely true. I thought about lots of fun cheesy things I used to do with my friends pre 21, places I go to eat, and sketchy bars that I have been dragged to but I couldn’t help but think that I have all summer to post about those things. Instead, all I could think about was something outside of my city, something that touches almost every place that people who falsely claim D.C. actually hale from.
Stuck at a progressive desk job/internship this summer, but wish you could get paid to paint the town red? Think you can turn your D.C. days and nights into witty fodder for keeping the city’s hungry young residents in the know? If so, apply to be a Campus Progress Social Capital Correspondent and help convince D.C.’s newcomers and summer transplants that no, they shouldn’t have just gone to New York.
This was another toughie. Both Day 3 contestants went to the same event (again, really? There wasn't another event out there? Is DC having a free-food dry spell?) and both contestants' dinner selections were less than adequate (though we feel a little bad because we made them both work the Media That Matters Film Festival)
Quiet Storm: You ate your housemate's pizza. Total violation of the rules.
Dorna: California Tortilla, again? And after Cara already did it on Monday. Zero points for originality.
We had to give the prize for Day 3 to the man that ate cardboard in pursuit of glory (and tickled the judges pink with his blogposts.) That non-soy ink may not have gone down well, Ben R., but we hope the thrill of victory will.
The judges appreciated Jim taking the plunge into the dark conservative waters of the Hudson Institute, but Cara's stop at Panera post-BBQ really put her over the top (we tried not to hold the fact that she dissed french fries against her.)
Congratulations Cara! We'll see you next Monday for the finals.
Have you noticed the virtual cornucopia of buffets, mini quiches, sandwiches, smorgasbord, and hors d’oeuvres served at various free events around DC? No? If you haven’t started your foraging regimen, consider it potential training for graduate school.
That’s right, one day you will experience life without a meal plan, that convenient one-swipe card providing access to myriad food stations that require only that you dispose of your tray. We at Campus Progress are all about developing skills for young progressives, primary amongst them being physical survival, embodied in the ability to sustain oneself on little money.
The details: Next week, Campus Progress interns will compete, two a day, where they will document their meals/snacks/crumbs from the floor, all of which must be free (not previously bought by the eater or purchased immediately before by another party specifically for the eater). They'll scramble for that last pig-in-blanket, angle for that mini muffin, and schmooze their way into that fancy embassy cocktail party. Read More »
The Center for American Progress was packed with so many heartthrobs last night I thought I was at the Teen Choice Awards. “There’s Ryan Gosling!” I squealed as the Academy Award-nominated hottie from The Notebook walked by.
Ryan Gosling talks about his recent trip to Uganda at the Center for American Progress Monday.
I nearly fainted when I saw Ben Mackenzie from The O.C. to my right and Melissa Fitzgerald from The West Wing to my left. But the stars weren’t there to accept awards and pose for pictures (although we did get some pretty good shots). They came to hear Gosling and a panel of experts and activists discuss ways to support the peace process in Northern Uganda at “The Way Forward in Northern Uganda.”
The O.C.'s Ben Mackenzie listens to the panel discuss what the international community can do to aid the fragile situation in Northern Uganda.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will be the keynote speaker at our third annual Campus Progress National Student Conference, to be held June 26, 2007, in Washington, D.C. If you haven't applied for the conference yet, don't miss your chance! Hundreds of applications are coming in and we are quickly running out of space. Apply now!
We're also pleased to announce these recently confirmed speakers for the conference:
-Senator Russell Feingold of Wisconsin -Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota -Former Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota -Consumer advocate Ralph Nader -Journalists Seymour Hersh, Asra Nomani, and Jessica Valenti -Public interest activists Wade Henderson, Van Jones, and Maria Teresa Petersen -Hip-hop artist M1 of Dead Prez -Representatives from groups including Campus Climate Challenge, Facebook.com, Human Rights Campaign, MoveOn.org, National Council of La Raza, People for the American Way, Progressive Voter Majority, Student/Farmworker Alliance, Uganda CAN, and Voto Latino
College and university students can learn more and apply to attend the June 26 conference, along with other trainings and events on June 25 and 27 by visiting:
Check back on Wednesday, June 6th for up-to-the-minute blogged accounts of progressive events, intern snafus, interviews with DC's finest, and a calendar chock full of events to spice up your summer!
Please remember that Campus Progress' terms of use do not allow promoting or endorsing any particular political party or candidate for office. Posts or comments that do this will be deleted.
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