DC Archives

5 Art Galleries In DC To Add To Your Bucket List

Posted on October 31, 2019June 1, 2023 by Editor

If you’re looking for interesting locations in Washington DC that will inspire and educate, then art galleries are an option well worth considering. In the DC area, just minutes from our AMA Executive Conference Center, there are a number of excellent options to choose from. DC is an area rich with galleries, museums, historical landmarks, and many other fine cultural establishments. With so much to see, you definitely wouldn’t want to miss any of the very best. Here are 5 art galleries in the DC area that fall into our ‘amazing destinations’ and experiences you don’t want to miss.

RENWICK GALLERY
Located just steps from the White House, this gallery is superb for its excellent service and interactivity. Here, you’ll find pieces from around the world in relation to a variety of changing themes. At the Renwick Gallery, visitors explore unique craft objects by contemporary artists to learn about process, material and technique. Learn more here.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
One of the shining stars of DC museums, this gallery with free entry has an extensive collection inside a vast expanse of gorgeous rooms to explore. One of the most popular and Instagrammed exhibits is the sparkling hallway that connects the east and west buildings. The Gallery’s great reputation is undeniable – it’s a jewel on the mall and a true national treasure. Learn more here.

HIRSHHORN: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
DC’s Hirshhorn Museum is undoubtedly among the top contemporary art spaces in the United States. Founded in the 1960s, the museum exhibits artworks by some of the modern and contemporary art world’s greatest masters, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, Francis Bacon, and Edward Hopper. If modern art is your inspiration you’ll want to put his visit top on your list. Learn more here.

SMITHSONIAN’S FREER AND SACKLER GALLERIES
The Smithsonian’s premier art gallery, these exhibits boast some amazing art pieces from nearly every place and time period on the planet. Billed as the museum where ‘Asia Meets America,’ the sheer size and diversity of work on display here means that you’re bound to discover more than a few worthwhile pieces. Learn more here.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
For American historical value, this gallery delivers. Here you can find works of art for an assortment of important historical figures from the civil war, the suffrage and civil rights movements, and all the presidents too. Most recently, the installation of former President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama’s portraits by artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald. Learn more here.

At AMA, we specialize in hosting and organizing executive meetings and conferences. We are experts at planning professional gatherings and have convenient facilities in four locations: Atlanta, New York City, Washington DC and San Francisco. Visit us here to learn more, and see how we can help make your next meeting a success.

Bike The Right Way In These AMA Center Cities

Posted on May 13, 2019June 1, 2023 by Editor

Commuting by bike is both healthier and more enjoyable than sitting in traffic 5 days a week. Whether you own a bike or don’t own a bike, there are so many great reasons for biking to work, for fun, or for seeing a new city when traveling. Atlanta, San Francisco, New York City, and Washington DC all have city bike share programs that give you the opportunity to rent one of hundreds of bikes around their cities.

New York City

With a fleet of 12,000 bikes across 60 neighborhoods, New York City’s Citi Bike is the nation’s largest bike share program. Pick up a bike from one of the network’s 750 docking stations. Return it to a docking station near the destination. Three dollars buys a 30-minute ride. If you want to continue using Citi Bike after Bike Week is over, we suggest purchasing an annual pass for $169.

Atlanta

An app is not required to use Relay, Atlanta’s bike share program. Relay’s online map helps you find and reserve a nearby bike. You can also find and reserve a bike with the Social Bicycles app. When you get to your reserved bike, you’ll need to unlock it with the PIN you received when you purchased your rideshare time. After your ride, return the bike to a station near your destination. While you can pay as you go for $3.50 per ride, a $15 monthly makes it less expensive to ride all year round.

San Francisco

Ford GoBike has a network of 7,000 bikes that operates throughout the Bay area. Reserving a bike to pick up at one of the 540 docking stations is easy with the Ford GoBike app. Currently, there’s a promotion to pay $2 for 30-minute trips. Buying a monthly pass for $15 may be more cost effective if you plan to bike more during the spring and summer months.

Washington, DC

The Capital Bikeshare program is the most affordable of all the above cities. This program operates a fleet of 4,300 bikes throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area. Since there are over 500 docking stations, the online map or app should show a bike to reserve near your home or workplace. Single trips under 30 minutes are $2.

If you’re in New York, Atlanta, San Francisco or Washington DC for business, you’re in luck – AMA has an executive conference center within all 4 of these cities! Each conference center has complimentary beverages, free LCD and PC use, executive chairs, spaces for small and large groups, and no service charges. We know the ins and outs of training sessions, business meetings, corporate receptions, focus groups, and board meetings. We take care of the meeting space, you take care of business. Click here to contact us for booking information.

3 Guidelines That Will Change How You Plan

Posted on March 29, 2019June 1, 2023 by Editor

Meeting planning is so much more difficult than many people think, and if you don’t keep on top of every detail, you can easily become overwhelmed and wind up in a time crunch. Thankfully, there are ways to avoid this. Follow these major guidelines below and never dread your planning deadlines again!

Start Early

This can’t be emphasized enough: you need to begin planning as soon as possible, ideally a year or more before, but definitely as soon as the meeting date is defined. Everything – finding a venue, hiring event staff – everything will be more difficult, and more time-consuming the longer you wait. Give yourself and your clients a break and give yourself plenty of time to set up a checklist of things to do, and put that checklist in the form of a timeline that you share with your clients as well. That way, everybody is on the same page and knows what needs to be taken care of and when.

Use Technology

Let technology do the heavy lifting for you. Nowadays there are numerous ways in which the herculean task of meeting planning can be made easier by utilizing the proper software, project management apps, and marketing automation tools. On average, companies that use planning software save themselves a whopping 223 hours per year.

Focus

You may think you’re great at multi-tasking and that in fact, you’re being more efficient by doing so. However, recent research conducted by Stanford University refutes that notion. According to the study, high multi-taskers were more prone to distraction and had less retention than low multi-taskers. Distraction is a primary time-wasters, so it’s clear that an ability to focus rather than to spread yourself too thin trying to do many things at once will be far more efficient. If necessary, delegate tasks so you can keep laser-focused.

If you take these tips onboard, you’ll find your days go more smoothly and your deadlines won’t loom over you. To ease your burden even more, click here to contact with AMA Executive Conference Centers and lock down your venue meeting dates for Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC!

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See Washington DC With These Free Walking Tours

Posted on March 21, 2019June 1, 2023 by Editor

If you’re visiting the AMA Executive Conference Center in the Washington DC area, you’re bound to want to see some of the sites as well. There’s plenty to experience in this wonderfully historic part of our country, and no better way to see them then by some of the free walking toursoffered around the city. All you’ll need is a good pair of walking shoes, a bottle of water, and the time to learn about some of our history.

The National Mall Tour

This tour allows you to walk the popular National Mall, while visiting each of the memorials located there. Those include, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The tour lasts approximately two hours and is about a mile long, with plenty of places to rest along the way. Click here to learn more about this tour.

All In One Tour

Encompassing the National Mall, this tour also includes more of the famous DC monuments and parks. Because there’s so much more involved, this tour is about four hours long and covers just over two miles of walking. There are plenty of places for refreshments and bathroom breaks along the way. Click here to learn more about this tour.

Old Town Alexandria

If you like old houses and historic settings, this is the tour for you. This tour will take you along the old streets of Alexandria – in the locations where our forefathers walked. It lasts about two hours and is a little over a mile long. Similar to this tour is the Historic Georgetown Tour, only located in a different part of the city. Click here to learn more about the Old Town Alexandria tour.

If you’re wanting to visit some grand old places in the nation’s capital then get moving with one of these walking tours!

Are you considering where to host your next conference or meeting in Washington DC, Atlanta, San Francisco or New York? Contact us to learn more about the AMA Executive Conference Centers. We’re here to help you make the most of your meeting!

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Interesting Things You Didn’t Know About Atlanta, NYC, San Francisco and DC

Posted on February 11, 2019June 1, 2023 by Editor

Some of the most iconic cities in the U.S. also have some of the most fascinating histories behind them. Guess which U.S. city had the first pizzeria? We looked into Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC – each an AMA Executive Conference Centers city – and you’ll be amazed at some of the things that you may not have known about them!

ATLANTA

Let’s start on the east with Atlanta, located in Georgia, which is known as The Peach State.

Atlanta is home to The Varsity, which is the largest fast food drive-in in the world, established in 1928.
The symbol of the city is the phoenix after being burned down during the Civil War in 1864.
It has one of the biggest Hindu temples outside of India.
There are 71 streets whose names are a take on “Peachtree.”
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airportcurrently holds the title of world’s busiest airport.
Two Nobel Peace Prize winners were from Atlanta: President Jimmy Carter and Martin Luther King Jr.

NEW YORK CITY

Now, let’s take a bite out of the Big Apple with some fun facts on this bustling city.

In 1886, the Statue of Liberty was given to the United States by France. It was part of their centennial celebration.
The New York Public Libraryis home to over 50 million books. It also currently boasts the title of the third largest library in the world.
The Wyckoff Farm is the oldest building in New York City, established in the 1640s.
The taxis in the city weren’t always their well-known yellow. In fact, they used to be red and green until 1912.
In 1895, the first pizzeria was opened in the United States. It was located in, you guessed it, New York City.
And do you know where Times Square gets its name? The New York Times!

SAN FRANCISCO

Let’s head west to the bright and sunny San Francisco.

The Chinatown in San Francisco is the oldest in North America and is home to over 100,000 people.
The official musical instrument of San Francisco is the accordion.
The ice cream and oatmeal cookie treat that’s coated in chocolate called It’s-Itwas created in San Francisco.
The street that is currently known as Maiden Lane used to be a red-light district and was called Morton Street.
Over 50 film festivals happen in San Francisco each year.
There’s a name for the color of the Golden Gate Bridge: International Orange.

WASHINGTON DC

Finally, let’s shed some light on the capital of the United States: Washington DC!

The streets use letters as names but are missing the letter “J.”
The Washington Monument is the world’s tallest obelisk.
Inside of the Capital Building are elevators that are only used by senators.
The Washington Metrois the third most busy subway system in the United States.
Before it was called the White House, the building was known as the President’s Palace or President’s House.
Washington DC is home to a unique museum called the International Spy Museum.

For more fun facts about United States cities, check out 50states.comand learn to your heart’s content. And for more facts about hosting your next meeting at an AMA Executive Conference Center in one of the above cities, click onto www.AMAconferencecenters.org.