Of all recreational activities available in the city, I just had to give indoor rock climbing a go! The adrenaline rush and a lovely dose of serotonin as I reached the top of... the beginner's wall... was quite addictive. I spoke to some rock climbing enthusiasts in Rockville, Maryland, to find out just what keeps them going up the walls.
Washington DC is packed with visitors in summer. But winter months are no less busy. I spoke to some tourists braving the cold to take in the sights around to the city to find out what they loved about their visit. Later, I got the low down on upcoming events and developments around the city from Destination DC, Washington's official destination marketing organization. Their goal? To make tourism to the city experientially rich and memorable, no matter the season.
At the 2010 Smithsonian Folklife festival, a small group of Pakistanis and Pakistani-Americans sat in a cool, shaded tent near the Pakistani truck art installation on the national mall, engaging visitors through various fun activities and cultural exhibits. I spoke to these community organizers, and some visitors, on their takeaways from their experiences.
The DC Central Kitchen provides millions of meals a year. And training adults in culinary arts to help them find jobs. What drives this organization on its mission? And what motivates their workers? I spoke to Chef Harper, who oversees DC Central Kitchen's food services to several of the area's homeless shelters. His kitchen uses fresh groceries donated by stores where they didn't sell because of minor imperfections, while the pantry is stocked with donated boxed or canned that families in need can sift through. Eliminating hunger, joblessness and food waste. I ended my story urging my audience to think of ways they could replicate this model back home.
The year was 2007. The National Girl Scouts Association had teamed up with a local mosque for a 7-day summer camp on-site, open to all eligible children who wanted to participate, regardless of their religious affiliations. The counselor introduced the girls to some traditional girl scouts activities. I spoke to the camp counselor, and mosque management who told me that this camp provided local Muslim girls an opportunity to experience some elements of the Girl Scouts life that they wouldn't ordinarily have.
Juicing is one of those food trends that just have to be experienced to be understood. I undertook a juice cleanse with the help of Bethesda's Juice Up juice bar, where I was introduced to some of the finer points of a balanced juice cleanse. And I didn't mind all those yummy juice concoctions either. My favorites? Coconut water, and beet juice!
On a visit to New York in 2012, I ran into the ex-marine and professional photographer, John Conn who ran a small but busy souvenir stand near the New York Harbor. All around his store were items featuring his photography: Iconic images of New York in the 1970s and 80s. And I couldn't help but ask him to share his thoughts about New York then and now.
Rev. Martin Luther King's historic address continues to inspire Americans of all faiths and walks of life. At an event organized by a coalition of South-Asian, Muslim and Black organizations, I spoke to the panelists who all had different approaches and strategies to bringing Dr. King's dream to life in the modern world.
Young people voted for change in overwhelming numbers in the 2008 US elections. I spoke to some of them about how they hoped their vote would change America's policies at home and abroad.
