While most of our outdoor activities are organized during the warmer months of the year, we still managed to go hiking to Great Falls National Park in Maryland for a winter-time hike and a different perspective of this beautiful park with a spectacular waterfall located just minutes from Washington DC.

We enjoyed an evening of ice-skating at the Pershing Perk ice-rink. We began the evening with an ice skating lesson followed by ice skating in a beautiful rink in the heart of Washington DC surrounded by monuments. We also enjoyed hot chocolate and snacks while enjoying the company of other attendees.

Our Fall Gala and Masquerade Ball at the Embassy of France was a memorable celebration of music, wine, food, and dancing as we commemorated the 1st anniversary of the International Club of DC and the 59th anniversary of the United Nations. The evening featured dancing to two live bands representing the music of three continents and it was also an opportunity to meet international professionals in town. Attendees were welcomed to the embassy by the French Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Jean-David Levitte.

One year after our inaugural event we returned back to 18th Street Lounge to celebrate our first anniversary. It was a great opportunity to relax on comfortable couches over cocktails, converse with professionals from around the world, and make new friends while unwinding after wok to the tunes spun by the musical minds behind The Thievery Corporation.

Climbing teaches teamwork and trust, while also providing a personal challenge and a great work out. It is also a great activity to do indoors while we wait for warmer weather to resume our outdoor activities. After an overview of rock climbing, including safety, ICDC members spent the rest of the afternoon practicing the fundamentals of rock climbing.

The Swiss jazz band "The Sam Burckhardt Trio"performed for us at the Embassy of Switzerland while they were in town for a 3-night engagement. The reception included a variety of Swiss hors d’oeuvres along with Swiss and Californian wine.

We celebrated the holidays at an elegant gala of music, food, and dancing at the Washington National Cathedral, one of the most majestic venues in Washington DC. The gala also included docent led private tours of the cathedral and was a rare opportunity to spend an evening at the top of the Cathedral surrounded by amazing twilight lit 360 degree views of Washington, D.C.

ICDC members who were in town for the Thanksgiving Day weekend came together at Pegasus Lounge for an international dance party with music played by DJ Vinny. Located at Du Pont Circle Pegasus Lounge is located in the space that was formerly club Acropolis' VIP lounge. It was a great venue to relax surrounded by the warm and inviting atmosphere with cobalt chairs, couches, murals, and most importantly, the warm company of your ICDC friends.

The ongoing volunteer initiative by the ICDC Benefactors at the Capital Area Food Bank helps combat hunger in the Washington DC area. Our assignment this time focused on sorting and packing nonperishable food items. We hope to see you at our next volunteer initiative at the Capital Area Food Bank.

Over 200 ICDC members joined us for our November Happy Hour to celebrate the arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau at Les Halles. It was a great opportunity to meet and network with  internationally minded professionals in town in a relaxed and friendly setting while tasting the 2004 Beaujolais, just a day after its release.

We enjoyed a jazz concert by the Slovenian jazz band Samo Salamon Quartet. The evening began with a reception serving Slovenian wine and it was also a great opportunity to meet and socialize with other ICDC members attending the concert. The concert was preceded by welcome remarks by the Slovenian Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Samuel Zbogarthe.

We wrapped up the weekend by playing international board games with other ICDC members. We played a variety of games from North America, Latin America, and Europe. We also enjoyed exotic blends of tea and delicious food served at Teaism.

We took part in a private tour of 18th & 19th Century sculptures in the West Building of the National Gallery of Art. In addition to masterpieces of sculpture from the Middle Ages through the early twentieth century, we also discovered decorative arts of the Renaissance and eighteenth-century France.

The sushi chef at Singapore Bistro demonstrated to us how sushi is prepared by explaining how to cook sushi rice, choose fish and how to slice it, how to use the bamboo mat to make Maki rolls and, and where to find the ingredients needed to prepare sushi. Afterwards we enjoyed a sushi dinner while enjoying the company of other ICDC members.

Fencing is a sport that that builds confidence, discipline, as well as physical and mental strength. During our fencing lesson, we learned the basics of fencing and afterwards practiced our newly learned skills by fencing with other attendees.

We spent an afternoon discovering the architectural majesty of the Washington National Cathedral, a 20th century Gothic cathedral and one of the largest cathedrals of the world. We started the morning while having breakfast and socializing with other ICDC members before embarking on a private guided tour.

Our languages of the World discussion series is a great opportunity to meet other members who are interested in practicing a foreign language. The sessions are very popular and sold out for the second consecutive month.

Our October Happy Hour is at Finemondo -- a chic and classy Italian bar and restaurant in downtown Washington DC. It was a great opportunity to meet and network with other internationally minded professionals in town in a relaxed and friendly setting.

The events we organize at the Embassy of Austria with the cooperation of the Austrian Cultural Forum are very popular with ICDC members. 3 days before our first anniversary gala at the Embassy of France, over 300 ICDC members enjoyed a jazz concert at the Embassy of Austria while sampling a variety of wine from Austria.

Shenandoah National Park is one of the most spectacular places on the East Coast for observing the the beautiful Fall foliage colors. We spent the day driving along Skyline Drive and exploring hiking trails along the way. Skyline Drive is built on top of a mountain ridge with scenic overlooks along both sides of the street. We hiked to the highest point of Shenandoah National Park as well as a waterfall.

Kayaking along the Potomac River is a great way to take in the natural beauty along Potomac River as well as the spectacular fall foliage colors. After a quick overview and safety lesson we kayaked along the potomac river, enjoying the fall foliage colors, as well as the company of other ICDC members in attendance.

One week before our first anniversary gala, we learned how to dance Cha Cha and Merengue -- two of the most popular Latin dances. The dance lessons were followed by a dance party to practice what we had learned.

Each month we organize a language discussion event for our members to practice a foreign language is a friendly and relaxed setting. This month we practiced French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

Our monthly tours of the National Gallery of Art are very popular among ICDC members who appreciate art. This month we discovered the highlights of the National Gallery of Art East Building after enjoying an afternoon of socializing and good company at the Cascade Cafe.

We enjoyed one last sailing session before winding down our sailing season for 2004. It was a great opportunity to learn the basics of operating a sailboat while relaxing on the Potomac River. After the sailing session we enjoyed a picnic while enjoying the company of other attendees.

With the help of an expert fencing coach, we learned the basics of fencing in a relaxed, fun, and safe setting. At the end of the lesson, we practiced our newly learned fencing skills with other ICDC members. The lesson will focused on etiquette, footwork, blade work, and safety. We look forward to seeing you at our next fencing session!

Our last screening of the Austrian movie “Donau, Duna, Dunaj, Dunav, Dunarea,” was so popular we organized a second screening with the kind cooperation with the Embassy of Austria Cultural Forum. The second screening also sold out and we enjoyed it after a reception with Austrian wine.

Our tours of the National Gallery of Art are popular among our members who love art. Each month we pick a different topic for a private tour of the gallery's extensive art collection. Before the tour, we meet at the Cascade Cafe for lunch and socialize with other members who appreciate art. This time we covered the American Impressionism and related paintings and artists.

Volunteering at the Capital Area Food bank is a rewarding way to help combat hunger in the Washington DC area while meeting like-minded ICDC members who care about hunger, poverty, and helping the community. We encourage you to join us for our next volunteer event at the Capital Area Food Bank.

We danced the night away to the sounds of Origem -- a phenomenal Brazilian band as they played a variety of Brazilian samba, salsa, merengue, and other Latin music. The dance party was attended by nearly 200 ICDC members and it was a great opportunity to meet other members who love to dance.

On an absolutely gorgeous early Fall evening, we enjoyed a relaxing cruise on the Potomac River while drinking margaritas and enjoying Tex-Mex food. We departed from Georgetown and cruised for a couple of hours while experiencing the sunset over the Potomac River and returned back after viewing the DC skyline come to life.

We enjoyed the Austrian movie “Donau, Duna, Dunaj, Dunav, Dunarea,” a film by Goran Rebic at the Embassy of Austria. The movie screening was preceded by time to meet and socialize with other attendees while enjoying Austrian wine.

Our tennis lessons are popular with ICDC members for an afternoon of tennis instruction, practice time, and a catered lunch while enjoying the company of other attendees.

On an early autumn day in September we braved a dire weather forecast that predicted a day of rain but was rewarded with an absolutely beautiful day filled with sunshine. We visited Luray Caverns to experience spectacular rock formations millions of years old and hiked to a waterfall before heading back home.

Our monthly Happy Hours are a great way to meet other ICDC members after work in a relaxed and friendly setting. The Happy Hour at the Rooftop of Club Five was attended by about 200 ICDC members and it was an opportunity to hang out with friends both old and new. The rooftop of Club Five is a hidden floating oasis located just a few blocks from Du Pont Circle.

We spent an evening with the sushi chef at Singapore Bistro learning how to make sushi. During the evening we learned how to prepare 5 types of nigiri sushi and have our questions about sushi preparation techniques answered. After the sushi demonstration, we enjoyed a sushi dinner while enjoying the company of other ICDC members who attended.

Languages of the World is our monthly language discussion event where attendees practice a foreign language with the help of a native speaker with experience teaching. This time we practiced French, Spanish, German and Russian.

Kayaking is a wonderfully relaxing activity and it's a great way to enjoy an evening on the Potomac River and experience a different perspective of the DC skyline and wildlife. We began with an introductory lesson on kayaking and proceeded on a guided tour around Roosevelt Island before heading back to enjoy lunch and the company of ICDC members who took part in the event.

We explored the Maryland side Great falls -- a hidden gem of a National Park located just minutes from Washington DC. It was a great opportunity to get away and be surrounded by nature. At Great Falls, the Potomac River plunges seventy-six feet through a deep gorge creating a series of scenic waterfalls. Our hiking trail is built between the Potomac River and the C&O canal with views of canal and the Potomac River visible from various points of the hiking trail. After the hike we will enjoy a relaxing picnic and lunch before heading back home.

We started our weekend with a relaxing cruise on the Potomac River. Light Tex-Mex fare was served on the cruise along with $3 margaritas. We returned back to our dock in Georgetown after a 2-hour cruise and a spectacular sunset on the Potomac River. Our Potomac Cruises are very popular and are a great way to socialize and meet other ICDC members while enjoying the beautiful skyline of Washington DC.

We learned the basics of the Argentine Tango -- one of the most romantic and passionate dances. The tango lesson was followed by a Latin dance party at Home -- a classy nightclub in the heart of DC. It was a great opportunity to relax after work, meet ICDC members and and experience dancing to romantic rhythms of Tango music as it is danced in Buenos Aires Argentina.

Our monthly tennis lessons are a great opportunity to practice the game, learn, and meet other ICDC members who enjoy playing tennis in a fun and easy-going environment. The lessons were followed by a catered lunch providing us all the opportunity to meet and socialize with other attendees.

Mount Vernon was the beloved home of George and Martha Washington from 1759 until Washington's death in 1799. We learned about George Washington, the farmer, the entrepreneur, the President & how he worked tirelessly to expand his plantation from 2,000 acres to 8,000 and the mansion house from 6 rooms to 21. . After the tour we relaxed and enjoyed a narrated cruise along the Potomac River with sweeping views of the Mount Vernon Estate.

Our August Happy Hour was held at Gazuza in collaboration with the United National Association Young Professionals for International Cooperation. Attendees enjoyed drink specials and light appetizers while socializing and networking with other ICDC members. The Happy Hour sold out with over 200 attendees.

During our 5th installment of the National Gallery of Art tour series, we learned and discovered the Byzantine and Early Renaissance era and Paintings from Italy. It was a great opportunity to discover some of the world's finest art but also an opportunity to meet other ICDC members who enjoy art.

At our popular monthly language discussion we practiced French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. At least one native speaker, with experience teaching, was present at each table to facilitate conversations, answer questions, and explain the subtleties of grammar. This time we added a grammar/vocabulary and role-playing component to the format of the event.

On an absolutely beautiful sunny summer afternoon, we learned how to sail on the Potomac River. The sailing lessons focused on the fundamentals of sailing and navigation. Since the boats were small, each participant was able to try out different activities related to operating and navigating a sail boat. When we returned, we relaxed and socialized with other ICDC members over a barbeque.

We experienced a unique opportunity to visit the Embassy of Britain, learn about aspects of British culture and trade, and take part in a Johnnie Walker Scotch Tasting. We sampled some of the key flavor components of Johnnie Walker ® Black Label ®, as well as the blend itself. During the scotch tasting, we learned about Scotland's most revered invention -- Scotch whisky, led by a Scotch aficionado. The tasting was preceded by a cocktail reception with an open bar to relax after work and meet other ICDC members.

ICDC Benefactors volunteered a Sunday evening at the Capital Area Food Bank to help recover and package food to help combat hunger in the Washington DC area. Our assignment focused on sorting and packing non-perishable food items.

The monthly Potomac River cruises are an ICDC summer tradition. We departed from Georgetown and cruised while enjoying margaritas and Tex-Mex food. Although it rained at the beginning, we were fortunate to experience a mild summer evening on the river tempered by the fresh rainfall on our return.

Screen on the Green is a summer tradition in Washington DC -- imagine reclining in the heart of Washington on a summer night and gazing at a gigantic movie screen playing a classic film under the stars. We enjoyed a memorable movie experience and a picnic on the Washington Mall surrounded by DC monuments and friends.

Sailing is a great way to enjoy summertime on the Potomac River. We learned the basics of sailing and operating a boat including safety, rules of the river, rigging, maneuvering the boat, using the wind for movement, and derigging the boat at the end of the day. We completed the experience with a summer barbeque at the end of the sailing session.

At our monthly Languages of the World discussion session we practiced our French, Spanish, German, and Russian. The sessions are a great opportunity to practice a foreign language while meeting other ICDC members who have an interest in and speak that language. Each language table is facilitated by a native speaker with experience teaching the language.

Our monthly tennis lessons are a great opportunity to practice and learn tennis while meeting other ICDC members who love the game. The tennis lessons in July 2004 were followed by a French lunch, catered by La Bergerie - one of the areas finest French restaurants. Lunch following the tennis lesson is a great opportunity for ICDC members to meet each other and socialize.

Evening kayaking is surreal. Visualize the Washington Monument, Kennedy Center lights reflecting on the river, where the calm water is almost like glass. We enjoyed scenery and glimpses of ducks on the river, turtles on the rocks, and birds hovering around us while enjoying the company of ICDC members and a memorable sunset.

We created the National Gallery of Art series to introduce our members to art and provide a venue to meet other ICDC members who enjoy art. During the 4th installment of the series, we covered the Impressionist and Post Impressionist Periods. The tour was preceded by lunch and time for attendees to meet and socialize.

The venue of choice for our June Happy Hour is Spezie, an Italian restaurant with understated elegance and a touch of class. Our monthly Happy Hours are very popular and a great way to meet a variety of ICDC members as well as members of our partner organizations in a single evening.

When was the last time you picked fresh cherries, blue berries, and strawberries straight out of the tree? If you were one of the ICDC members who took part in our excursion to Butler's Orchard you would have experienced all this in addition to a picnic on the grass, a hay ride through a farm, and maybe even a hay fight in the midst of it all. We came home with nearly 100 photos to share with you!

Our monthly rollerblading lessons are a great way to practice your skills or learn inline skating for the very first time. After the lesson, we relaxed at Rock Creek Park over a picnic lunch while socializing with other ICDC members. We invite you to attend a future rollerblading session with us at Rock Creek Park.

Despite a rainy start, we enjoyed a relaxing evening on the Potomac River. ICDC members enjoyed light Greek fare and drinks served at the cash bar while viewing monuments and the Washington DC skyline. The Potomac River takes on a sense of tranquility soon after a rain shower and it also provided respite from the hot DC weather.

Our monthly tennis lessons are a great way to practice, learn, and meet other ICDC members who enjoy playing tennis. After a brief warm-up session, attendees were split into several groups with each group focusing on the fundamentals of tennis with the help of an expert instructor. After the tennis lesson, we enjoyed an Italian lunch catered for us by Chef Luigi at Al Tiramisu Restaurant.

We discovered the National Arboretum, an urban oasis and a 446 acre natural sanctuary just 20 minutes from downtown DC. It was a relaxing retreat to breathe some fresh air, enjoy the sunshine, and meet ICDC members who love to explore the outdoors. The tour was preceded by a picnic lunch on the grounds of the Arboretum.

Lavishly designed, Vida's stunning decor bathed in rich tones of apricot and cobalt blue creates the perfect backdrop for a night of Salsa and Latin dancing. The evening was preceded by a salsa lesson for ICDC members who are new to salsa dancing.

We experienced Washington from a different point of view by kayaking on the historic Potomac River. While kayaking, we saw greenery and wild life of Roosevelt Island, the scenery of the Georgetown waterfront, and the DC skyline. In reclusive niches along the river's edge, we saw wild herons and turtles by half hidden logs as we headed back to Georgetown after a relaxing guided kayak tour.

We discovered Roosevelt Island by embarking on a hike & a guided tour with a National Parks Service Ranger. Though located just 10 minutes from downtown DC, the island offers a refuge away from Washington DC & the opportunity to be surrounded by wildlife amidst breezes from the Potomac River. The guided tour focused on the island's wildlife, history, & was preceded by a picnic.

The Languages of the World series is an ICDC signature event where we practice a foreign language. This time we practiced French, Spanish, German, and Italian. The series is designed to promote cultural understanding and help make new friends from around the world.

Our popular monthly Happy Hour for May was held at Ortanique where Yellow curtains plunge from a ceiling two stories high, and technicolored fish cavort in a 350-gallon aquarium. Besides enjoying the elegant atmosphere, it was an opportunity for our members to see old faces and make new friends after work.

ICDC members brushed up their tennis skills with the help of expert instructors. The lesson included an Introduction to competition with a mix of points, round robins, mixed doubles, and other fun formats. We ended the afternoon with an Italian lunch catered by Al Tiramisu, one of the best loved and most celebrated Italian restaurants in town.