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Best Bets: St. Patrick’s Day, Globetrotters and Miles Davis

By Mary dePompa

WASHINGTON — With spring right around the corner and St. Patrick’s Day quickly approaching, this weekend is filled with events for people of all ages. Check out some of our best bets below.

Friday:

  • Warner Theatre – “Rain” – A Tribute to the Beatles with various showtimes through Saturday.
  • Dulles Expo Center – International Gem and Jewelry Show. Kids under 8 years old not admitted.
  • Great Big Home Show in Waldorf, Md. – The Capital Clubhouse admission is free with special guests and a multitude of vendors and remodeling tips. Click here for more info.
  • Frederick Home Show – Meet the experts, get fresh ideas, learn the newest products with over 160 vendors. Click for info.
  • Harlem Globetrotters 2014 Fans Rule Tour – Verizon Center and the Patriot Center. Various weekend times.
  • March Madness at the Show Palace Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. with women’s 2014 CAA basketball championship games. Click here for times and ticket information.

Saturday:

  • Rock and Roll Marathon and Festival at RFK Stadium includes bands and beer garden. Bands will also perform along the course. More information here.
  • Shamrock Beer Bash – unlimited tastings of over 75 beers across from Nationals Park. It features D.C.’s favorite food trucks and entertainment. Online ticketing here.
  • Family Day Hazy Center: Women in Aviation and Space – Presentations, hands-on activities, stories and simulator rides. Admission is free but parking is $15. Click here for info.
  • Barns at Wolf Trap – Jersey’s own Southside Johnny and The Poor Fools. Ticket information here.
  • Bethesda Jazz and Blues – Soul and blues with a sweet sense for brass by Darly Jr. Cline and Julia Nixon and the Recliners. Click here for online ticketing.
  • Rock and Roll Hotel – Indie rockers The Deadmen. Ticket info here.
  • Gypsy Sally’s – Innovative flat-picking guitar of The Larry Keel Experience. Click for info and ticketing.
  • Jammin Java – Singer and songwriter Tietur with a full band and support from Grace and Tony. For info click here.
  • 9:30 Club – Ramshackle rock of Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog. Ticket info here.
  • The Hamilton Live – We are the 9 Songwriter Series showcases various artists performing live.
  • Hill Country Barbecue – Presents the acoustic funk/rock/soul of Frank Viele. Event info here.
  • George Mason Hylton Performing Arts Center in Prince William County – It’s the Celtic family band Leahy. Performances Saturday and Sunday. Click for show info and tickets.

Sunday

  • The Washington D.C 43rd annual St Patrick’s Day Parade down Constitution Avenue with many local area Irish pubs featuring music and traditional Irish dance. Full information here.
  • Baltimore celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a race and parade. Information here.
  • Mini Maker Faire in Reston, Va. – From rockets and robots to repurposed trash, you won’t want to miss this science fair. There will be demonstrations and hands-on activities. Advanced tickets and show info click here and hurry it will sell out.
  • Fillmore Silver Spring – Shamrock the Block with 40 Thieves and Scythian starts a 1 p.m. Buy tickets online.
  • George Mason Center for the Arts – Celtic music pioneers and six-time Grammy winners The Chieftans perform a St. Patrick’s Day special. Click for showinfo and tickets.
  • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage – Free concert features various artists gathering to celebrate the music of Pete Seeger. Buy ticketshere.
  • Rams Head Annapolis – Former lead vocalist of soul legends Tower of Power Larry Braggs and the Side Guys. For regular ticketing or premium package that includes dinner, check here.
  • Bethesda Blues and Jazz – The swing music of Blue Moon Big Band includes a dance floor. Buy tickets online here.
  • Jammin Java – renowned singer/songwriter David Wilcox plays two shows. Click here for info.
  • Gypsy Sally’s – Americana-roots music of Cornmeal. Online ticketing here.
  • Blues Alley – 4 Generations of Miles – A unique tribute to Miles Davis from a quartet of his former players from various times. Two performances Sunday. Info here.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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