Business Contacts
Mobile phone hire Intouch USA on 800 872 7626 (in US) or email: info@intouchusa.com.

Car hire Avis car rentals on 020 8268 5822 (in UK) or 800 331 1212 (in US), or email: customer.service@avis.co.uk.

Office rental Preferred Office Club on 202 223 5200, or view website: www.preferredofficeclub.com. Also, Easy Offices on 0800 085 50 50 (in UK), view website: www.easyoffices.com, or email: info@easyoffices.com.

Secretarial services Trak Staffing on 202 466 8850, www.trakstaffing.com, or email: trakstaffing.info@trakstaffing.com.

Excursions
River tours A number of pleasure craft cruise the Potomac, including some, like the Dandy, that allow for waterborne conferences and dining; website: www.dandydinnerboatcruises.com.

Bus tours Tourmobile's is the most popular of DC's narrated sightseeing tours, and the only one authorised by the National Park Service. The trams (heated in winter, but not air conditioned in summer!) stop at 24 attractions, including the Washington Monument and the US Capitol. Tel: 202 554 5100, website: www.tourmobile.com.

Local Press
The Washington Post is a daily newspaper covering local, national and international news. Look for its 'Today in Congress' box inside the front section of the paper for the day's schedule of congressional hearings and debates. The newspaper's Friday 'Weekend' section is a comprehensive guide to arts and cultural goings-on and family fun events.

A freebie published every Thursday, City Paper, picks up where the Post leaves off, at least in terms of entertainment news, with information about avant-garde artist happenings and edgy club performances. You'll find stacks of the latest issues of City Paper in restaurants and shops, especially in the Dupont Circle and Georgetown neighbourhoods.

Washingtonian magazine is a monthly that highlights fashion, restaurant reviews, gossip, and articles about Washington's best (doctors, stores, beauty salons, and so on).