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PX’s Todd Thrasher mixes it up with Parisian bartender to boost Alexandria tourism

By WTOP Staff

The city of Alexandria has its eye on French tourists, and tourism officials think they’ve found the perfect way to welcome them — with a cocktail, of course.

To that end, Todd Thrasher of Alexandria speakeasy PX got a chance to mix up some of his magic with two bartenders from Paris Thursday.

PX hosted Jerome Susini and Sephora Cohen, who own Shake n’ Smash in Paris’ Marais neighborhood, for a cocktail-off of sorts. The tasting is part of a larger plan to introduce French travelers to the D.C. region’s cocktail culture: Shake ’n Smash will serve one of PX’s cocktails at a cocktail party for travel industry folks in Paris this fall.

Alexandria allocated $50,000 to the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association this year specifically to target international travelers, and ACVA is partnering with Capital Region USA to target the French market.

“Why? Because the French respond to our tourism product,” said Patricia Washington, president and CEO of ACVA. “We know from research that French visitors are looking for an authentic experience with distinct local flavor in a small-town setting, and that’s exactly what we deliver.”

The city sees approximately 25,000 visitors from France per year, and they spend approximately $20 million per year while they visit, according to ACVA data. The agency is looking to increase that number with the marketing efforts through Capital Region USA — a tourism co-promotion group made up of Destination D.C., the Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Maryland Office of Tourism.

French travelers on average spent more than 12 days in the D.C. area when they visit, and spend an average of $854 per person, according to CRUSA.

The idea for the cocktail exchange came about after CRUSA’s representative in Paris, Olivier Barthez, visited Alexandria, and more specifically PX, last year. Barthez “fell in love” with PX, and knew its style would appeal to French travelers, according to ACVA .

During Thursday’s tasting, Thrasher did his best not to disappoint, making some of his staples, including the Sweet Basil cocktail that’s been on the PX menu since the bar opened nearly nine years ago, as well as a brand new creation, a Thai-flavored cocktail called “Inspired by Pok Pok.”

Not to be outdone, Susini pulled out all the stops, including one cocktail called “On my way back from Omaha,” that involved applewood smoke, calvados and caramelized sugar apples; and other, Le Dandy, that had nearly as much garnish as it did alcohol.

If French travelers take to the PX offerings in Paris, they may also find something familiar in Alexandria, should they make the trip: Thrasher plans to put one of Shake ’n Smash’s cocktails on his menu as well.

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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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