dc named the best

city for singles - can you believe that? maybe single men, i don't know; on second thought, i guess we women have it good here too. i'm posting the article below. take this and have a happy weekend :)

WASHINGTON, D.C.

D.C. is a place of contradictions. Historic buildings abut new high-rise condos, button-down lobbyists share the subway with green-mohawked artists, and traffic slows to a crawl during rush hour on scenic roads winding through the woods. In Adams Morgan, the strip of bars is broken up by hole-in-the-wall places selling pizza and falafel. On U Street, trendy shops and eateries coexist with pungent Ethiopian restaurants. Even entertainment mixes it up, from ballet and the symphony at the Kennedy Center to punk rock at the 9:30 Club.

D.C., which is home to Kiplinger's, has a distinct arts-and-design theme. But that's not the main strength of its creative economy, says Steven Pedigo, director of research for the Greater Washington Initiative, an economic-development organization. The metro area is a technology center and professional-services mecca. Tech is hot in nearby Tysons Corner, Va., where firms such as Northrop Grumman and SAIC have hubs. Biotech companies United Therapeutics and MedImmune are headquartered in Montgomery County, Md.

Professional services in D.C. trend toward public relations and consulting. Young workers are the backbone of large consulting firms such as Accenture and Deloitte. Half the staff at Corporate Executive Board, a D.C.-based consulting firm, are between the ages of 25 and 35. This isn't a fluke, it's a trend. In the average city, 20% of people are between 20 and 34, but in D.C. proper and Arlington, Va., more than one-fourth of the population is in that age group, according to the U.S. Census.

Job growth in the nation's capital is steady, and the unemployment rate, at 3%, is one of the lowest in the country. Pedigo cites the D.C. area as highly successful at attracting and retaining young workers -- 60% better, in fact, than the national average. There's a large draw from all over the country, but many of D.C.'s best and brightest come from among 50 area colleges and universities.

http://cityguides.msn.com/citylife/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4960146&GT1=10073