Brochure of Washington, DC
Overview of Financial Sector Issues and Analysis Conference:
The Financial Sector after the 2007-2008 Crisis
May 17 – May 21, 2010
Eugene Black Auditorium  World Bank H building  600 19th St., NW  Washington, D.C.
WELCOME BROCHURE
TO:
Participants
FROM:
Conference Organization Team
On behalf of the organizers, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Washington, DC.
We hope that you will enjoy your stay here.
Many of the questions that will naturally occur to you are answered by information contained in this
packet. If you should have further questions after reading the enclosed material, please do not hesitate
to bring them forward.
This brochure contains the following:
1
World Bank Facilities and Social Events of the Workshop..................................... 3
2
About Washington, D.C.......................................................................................... 3
3
Transportation ....................................................................................................... 4
4
Tipping ................................................................................................................... 5
5
Banking .................................................................................................................. 5
6
Post offices ............................................................................................................. 5
7
Directory Assistance .............................................................................................. 6
8
Entertainment ........................................................................................................ 6
9
Restaurants ............................................................................................................ 6
10 Drug Stores ............................................................................................................ 6
11 Selected Area Book Stores ..................................................................................... 6
12 Shopping ................................................................................................................ 7
Attachments: World Bank Group Map
1
1.1
WORLD BANK FACILITIES AND SOCIAL EVENTS OF THE WORKSHOP
Conference Panels Location
The conference will take place at the Eugene Black “H” Auditorium, which is on B1 Level of the
“H” Building. The building’s main entrance is located on 600 19th Street, NW, however, there is a
side entrance that will lead you straight into the Auditorium, and this entrance is located on 1914
G Street, NW.
1.2
World Bank Facilities
The World Bank has five buildings in the area. These are “MC”, “IFC”, “H”, “I” and “J” buildings
(see addresses below and enclosed World Bank Map).
Cafeterias are open Monday through Friday. Breakfast, morning breaks, lunch on Monday, May
17, and afternoon breaks will be provided at the set times as indicated in the agenda.
“MC” building
“IFC” building
“H” building
“I” building
“J” building
1.3
-
1818 H Street, NW
2121 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
600 19th Street, NW
1850 I Street, NW
701 18th Street, NW
Telephones
Local calls may be made from the telephone located outside the Auditorium.
1.4
Social Events
Monday, May 17, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm – Lunch at the MC 12th Floor Gallery
Thursday, May 20, 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm – Farewell Reception at the MC 12th Floor Gallery
2
2.1
ABOUT WASHINGTON, D.C.
Brief Introduction to Washington, D.C.
Washington occupies 69 square miles (178 square kilometers) of the District of Columbia – the federal
zone carved from the states of Maryland and Virginia nearly 200 years ago. The layout of the city was
designed by French engineer, Major Pierre L’Enfant.
The city is divided into four sections: Northeast (N.E.), Northwest (N.W.), Southeast (S.E.) and southwest
(S.W.). The Capitol, the building that houses the United States Congress, is the geometric center of the
city.
If you are asking directions, it is very important that you know exactly which is the section referred to, so
that you do not go, for instance to 9th and G Streets, Southeast, if you are supposed to go to 9th and G
Streets, Northwest.
3
Streets running north and south are numbered; those running east and west are lettered (the letters J, X
and Z are omitted, however).
Houses and building numbers for each section start at the above baselines. For example, 1700 K Street is
between 17th and 18th Streets on K.
At the end of the first alphabet, the same system is followed with two-syllable names such as Adams,
Belmont, etc., and then three-syllable names such as Allison, Buchanan, etc.
In Northwest, the system continues with names of trees like Aspen, Butternut, Cedar, etc.
Avenues named after the states of the Union cross the square patterns of streets. The avenues, and the
numbered and lettered streets come together in circles (e.g., Dupont Circle, Washington Circle, etc.).
3
3.1
TRANSPORTATION
Public Transportation
In Washington there are two major forms of public transportation, the Metrobus and the Metrorail,
often simply called “the Metro.” The Metrorail is the underground subway system; the Metrobus is the
public bus system. The metro rail stops closest to the World Bank buildings are Foggy Bottom Metro
Station (orange and blue lines), Farragut West (orange and blue lines) and Farragut North (red line).
The bus fare within Washington, DC is $1.25. Bus operators do not carry money and, therefore, cannot
give change. Please have the exact fare when boarding a bus. Call 202-637-7000 for information on bus
or metrorail schedules, location of stops, fares and routes.
3.2
Taxicabs
Another convenient way to get around the city is by taxicab. Authorized taxicab drivers must have their
credentials (certification, license) visible in the taxicab. Effective since May of 2008, the prices in
Washington DC are based on meter readings with an initial charge of $3.00, with an additional $0.25 for
each 1/6 of a mile, and a maximum fare within the District of Columbia of $19.00. There are additional
charges for extra passengers, long waiting times, luggage handling, telephone dispatch, etc. Taxi drivers
charge an additional dollar during evening rush hour (4:00 to 6:30 PM) and also charge extra during
snow emergencies (snow storms). The taxi driver should be given a tip of 10-15% of the total fare, and
no less than $0.25 in any case.
Below is a listing of some of the major taxicab companies in the city.
Diamond Cabs
Yellow Cabs
3.3
202-387-6200
202-544-1212
Automobiles
There are numerous car rental agencies (see Yellow Pages of the telephone directory) that have various
rates by the day, week or month. A deposit is usually required.
4
4
TIPPING
The standard rate is approximately 18% of the total charge. This is the most common practice in
restaurants, nightclubs, etc. You are not expected to leave tips at cafeterias or luncheon counters, nor
do you tip theater ushers, store or hotel clerks.
At hotels, there is no service charge added to your bill, so tips are expected for all special room or valet
services. The person who carries your bag and escorts you to your room should be given a minimum of
$1.00 per piece of luggage. Leaving a tip for the maid at the end of your stay is optional.
5
BANKING
There are a number of commercial banks throughout the city that can provide you with regular banking
services, if needed. Some of these are the following, usually open between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM,
Monday through Friday:
Credit Union at the MC, 1818 H Street, NW, B2 Level
Citibank, 1775 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Chevy Chase Bank, 1717 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Bank of America, 2001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
First Union, 1100 Connecticut Avenue, NW
6
POST OFFICES
There are two Post Offices located in the area.
http://www.usps.com/common/category/postage.htm
1750 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Tel: 202-523-2394
Week Days – 9:00AM – 5:00PM
2001 M St., NW
(entrance on 20th St., NW)
Tel: 202-842-4654
Week Days – 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Saturday 8:00AM – 2:00PM
Please note that Post Offices do not handle telegrams in the U.S.A.
Postal Rates – Letter Mail as of June 2002
Letters within the USA
Letters to Canada
Letters to Mexico
All other destinations
Postcards within the USA
Postcards to Canada
Postcards to Mexico
Postcards to other destinations
$0.44 first ounce
$0.17 each additional ounce (First Class)
$0.75 per first ounce
$0.79 per first ounce
$0.98 per first ounce
$0.28
$0.75
$0.79
$0.98
5
Note: One ounce (oz.) = approximately 28 grams
7
DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE
Directory assistance (also called “information”) provides telephone numbers. To call directory
assistance using a public phone, dial the following numbers. You do not need to deposit a quarter:
Directory assistance within the Washington area
Directory assistance outside this area
Directory assistance for toll-free numbers
(any numbers beginning with 1-800)
8
411
1-Area Code-555-1212
1-800-555-1212
ENTERTAINMENT
Washington, D.C. is a great city for all kinds of entertainment – theater, concerts, dance, movies, art
exhibitions, festivals, and restaurants. To find out about current events, check the “Weekend” section
of Friday’s Washington Post newspaper, the City Paper (a free weekly newspaper that comes out on
Thursdays – look for the gray boxes on city streets), and the Washingtonian monthly magazine. Daily
newspapers also list movies and other cultural events. A list of activities may also be retrieved from
your hotel’s concierge.
9
RESTAURANTS
A list of restaurants in Washington can be retrieved from your hotel’s concierge.
When you eat in a restaurant in the US it is customary and expected that you leave approximately a 18%
tip for the person who serves you. Since the tip is not included in the bill except when you are part of a
large group, you need to add the tip to the total. For example, if your total bill comes to $20 before tax,
you should consider leaving $3.60 for the waiter or waitress. The tip is usually left on the table just
before you leave the restaurant or added onto your credit card form.
10 DRUG STORES
Drug stores and pharmacies sell other things in addition to medicine, such as toiletries and cosmetics,
film, household products, etc.
CVS Locations
Dupont Circle (open 24 hours)
19th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., NW
20th St. at the corner of K Street, NW
20th Street at the corner of M Street, NW
L Street between 2nd and 21st St. NW
11 SELECTED AREA BOOK STORES
The World Bank Book Store
World Bank publications
“J” building, room J-1060, Entrance on Pennsylvania Ave., NW (corner of 18th Street, NW)
6
Barnes and Nobles Bookstore
3040 M St N.W. (Georgetown) (202) 965-9880
Hours: Everyday – 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Books-a-Million
11 Dupont Circle, N.W. Phone: 202-319-1374
Hours: Everyday – 8:00 am –11:00 pm
Borders Books and Music (Bookstore/Café)
1801 K St., NW Phone: 202-466-4999
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 9:00 pm
(main entrance on L St., at corner of 18th St.) Sat 10:00am to 9:00pm & Sun 10:00am to 6:00pm
Reiter’s Scientific and Professional Books
2021 K St., NW, (202) 223-3327
(technical books)
Hours: Monday – Friday – 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sat 9:30am to 6:00pm & Sun 12:00 pm to 5:00pm
12 SHOPPING
Beyond allure of historic monuments, Washington D.C. also provides extensive shopping opportunity at
boutiques, antique shops, outdoor markets, and outlet malls. Malls and other shops await within the
metropolitan area, many accessed by the Metro.
The shops at Georgetown are the closest to the World Bank and have a wide selection of stores. They
are located along M Street, NW and Wisconsin Avenue, NW. There is a shopping mall in Georgetown
located on 3222 M Street, NW; the mall is open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday through Saturday,
and from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Sunday.
By metro you will be able to easily get to the Pentagon City Mall (Pentagon City Metro station) only
minutes from Washington, DC in the state of Virginia. The stores are open from 10:00 am to 9:30 pm
Monday through Saturday, and from 11:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Sunday.
7
8