We've compiled interesting facts and helpful information about each of the three cities where McKenna Long & Aldridge actively recruits law students: Atlanta, Washington, DC and Los Angeles. Read on to find out what each of these cities has to offer. If you need additional information, feel free to contact our Atlanta, Washington, Los Angeles or Denver offices directly.
In the last decade Atlanta's population grew nearly 30% to 4.1 million as companies and people from all over the country relocated here to enjoy the area's warm weather, friendly culture and low cost of living
Now the country's 9th largest city, Atlanta added more jobs than any other city in the country in the 1990s and is often ranked among the nation's best metropolitan areas for overall quality of life. The city's 10 largest public companies are all Fortune 250 companies:
| Atlanta's Top 10 Public Companies (Ranked by 2000 revenue in billions) | |
| Home Depot | $45.73 |
| United Parcel Service | $29.77 |
| BellSouth | $26.15 |
| The Coca-Cola Company | $20.46 |
| Georgia Pacific | $17.80 |
| Delta Air Lines | $15.88 |
| Coca-Cola Enterprises | $14.41 |
| Southern Company | $13.32 |
| SunTrust Banks | $ 8.62 |
| Genuine Parts | $ 8.37 |
Hosting the 1996 Olympics thrust Atlanta into the spotlight as an international city. Thirty-five countries have consulates here and the city has chambers of commerce promoting trade with more than a dozen nations. Restaurants, schools and shopping centers cater to the area's burgeoning international population.
Atlanta's cost of living compares favorably to any major city in the country. Buying a four-bedroom house here with all the amenities costs approximately half what it would in Boston, Chicago or Washington and is an even better value when compared to Los Angeles, New York or San Francisco.
The convenience of Atlanta attracts many people. Eighty percent of the U.S. population lives within two hours of Atlanta by plane and, with the world's busiest airport located here, it's a snap to find a flight that will take you anywhere you'd want to go. Public transportation makes getting to the airport and around the city easier with MARTA's 46 miles of rail and more than 1,500 miles of bus routes, which continues to expand.
Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the area's many parks. Day trips offer hiking in Unicoi State Park, water skiing on Lake Lanier or white water rafting on the Ocoee. A four-hour drive can take you to the North Carolina mountains for skiing or to the beaches near Savannah. If you get hurt or become ill during all that activity, you can find quality care at any of the area's 60 hospitals, which include the largest children's hospital in the Southeast. Atlanta is also home to the country's leading medical researchers at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control.
The metro Atlanta area is home to 26 public school systems and more than 150 private schools, providing a wide range of approaches to education. The Atlanta area ranks 6th in the nation in total number of post-secondary degrees conferred annually and is 2nd among the country's top ten metropolitan areas. The states' innovative HOPE scholarship program pays tuition for any Georgia student with at least a B average who chooses to attend a state college or university or provides $3000 toward tuition at the state's private universities. Local colleges and universities include:
Atlanta is home to the MLB's Atlanta Braves, NFL's Atlanta Falcons, the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers. The city built three state-of-the-art facilities-Philips Arena, the Georgia Dome, and Ted Turner Field-to accommodate the 1996 Olympic Games, two Super Bowls, the Braves' World Series Games, NCAA Regional and Final Four basketball tournaments, the Peach Bowl and the SEC Championship Game.
Atlanta enjoys four distinct seasons, with typically mild winters and extraordinarily beautiful springs.
Atlanta boasts more than 8,000 restaurants featuring everything from sushi and fusion to barbeque and steaks. Approximately 150 art galleries showcase classics, modern art, sculpture and American primitive styles. Theater in Atlanta ranges from contemporary productions at the Horizon, Atlanta premiers at the Alliance, classics at the Shakespeare Tavern, New York shows at the Fox, and improv, comedy, revivals and new playwrights at dozens of smaller and local theater companies. The city has its own ballet and opera companies and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is one of the nation's finest. Most weekends in the spring and summer you can find music festivals or street fairs somewhere in the city.
Atlanta Botanical Garden-With walking trails, a children's garden featuring Peter Rabbit's house, indigenous gardens, conservatory housing rare and endangered tropical and desert plants, rose gardens and orchid houses, the Botanical Garden offers something for everyone. The Botanical Garden occupies 30 of the 172 acres of mid-town's Piedmont Park.
Carter Presidential Center-The Center contains the Carter Library and houses the organization President Carter established to address medical and electoral issues worldwide.
CNN Center-Enjoy the 45-minute "behind the scenes" tours of the international headquarters of the news network.
Cyclorama-Painted in 1885 and meticulously restored, this seven-ton circular painting with 3D images presents the Civil War in a compelling and altogether original way.
Georgia Aquarium-One of the world's largest aquariums with eight million gallons of fresh and marine water and more aquatic life than found in any other aquarium.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change-Dr. King's birthplace, his tomb and Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he helped start the civil rights movement, serve as a memorial to the Nobel Peace Prize winner's life, an educational center about his life and times, and as an international meeting place.
Stone Mountain Park-The world's largest exposed rock rises 825 feet above the surrounding 3,200-acre park. Visitors can enjoy fishing, swimming, tennis, golf and hiking as well as the summer laser show which highlights the mountain's famous carving.
White Water Park-One of the premier water parks in the country offers tons of good, wet fun.
Zoo Atlanta-Rated one of the nation's top 10 zoos, Zoo Atlanta houses two giant pandas on loan from China, four troupes of gorillas, otters, orangutans, lions and tigers in addition to a new carousel and children's train.
Atlanta's museums include the APEX Museum showing the African-American experience, and the High Museum of Art housing 10,000 pieces of contemporary art in an award-winning building designed by Richard Meyer. Specialty museums include the Michael C. Carlos Museum, featuring antiquities from around the globe and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, with the largest dinosaur bones on display in the world.
Merge onto I‑85N towards Atlanta I‑75/85N. Take exit #248c / Andrew Young International Boulevard. Make a left onto International Boulevard. Turn right onto Peachtree Center Avenue (3rd intersection). Go through two intersections.(Harris, Baker). The SunTrust Plaza parking garage is the building immediately on your right. Exit the parking garage into SunTrust Plaza Food Court. And walk across the bridge leading to Sun Trust Plaza.
On North/South rail line, exit at Peachtree Center Station, also identified as Station 1N. Proceed in the direction of Peachtree Center/Marriott Marquis by taking the escalator located on your right. At the top of the escalator, follow signs through Peachtree Center Food Court. Follow bridge leading to SunTrust Plaza.
Take I75/85 South towards downtown Atlanta. Exit Courtland Street and turn right at the first light onto Baker Street. The SunTrust Parking Garage is the building immediately on your right. Exit the parking garage via the elevators to the SunTrust Plaza Food Court and walk across the bridge leading to SunTrust Plaza.
Take a left onto Ralph McGill Boulevard. Turn right at the first light onto Courtland Street. At the first light, turn right onto Baker. The SunTrust Parking Garage is the building immediately on your right. Exit the parking garage via the elevators to the SunTrust Plaza Food Court and walk across the bridge leading to SunTrust Plaza
Turn right onto Harris Street. Turn left onto Peachtree Center Avenue. Cross over the Baker Street intersection. The SunTrust Plaza parking garage is the building immediately on your right. Exit the parking garage via the elevators to the SunTrust Plaza Food Court and walk across the bridge leading to SunTrust Plaza
Interstate 20 (East and West ) Intersects with I 75/85. Go north on I 75-85, follow directions north from Airport above.
Washington, DC was named one of the top ten cities for balancing work and life by Fortune magazine, and was ranked as one of the best places to live by Money magazine.
Home of the national monuments and the federal buildings and that make up DC's most famous images, the Mall is also the home of the Smithsonian Institution, which operates 13 large museums and the National Zoo. Among the most popular Smithsonian attractions are the Air and Space Museum, the Hirschhorn Museum (contemporary art), Museum of Natural History and the Renwick Gallery (American design).
Not only does Washington, DC have the world's largest collection of museums, it also has 8,673 acres of parks, including Rock Creek Park. Stretching from the Maryland suburbs to the center of DC, Rock Creek Park offers biking, hiking, horseback riding, boating and plenty of picnic spaces. The area also features 100 golf courses and several marinas.
These two districts contain some of the area's oldest buildings and are the heart of the city's nightlife. An average of one new restaurant opens per month in Washington, DC
The number of theater seats in Washington, DC is second only to New York City. DC offers entertainment 365 days a year with theaters such as the Kennedy Center, the National, the Warner, Arena and Ford's. Additionally, many smaller theaters have discounted previews or pay-what-you-can nights.
Washington, DC is a remarkably easy city to navigate compared with other cities its size. It has a state-of-the-art public transportation system, consisting of a network of subway lines with more than 70 stations and extensive bus routes. More than 75,000 people ride the Metro downtown each day.
|
Ten Largest Public Companies in Washington, DC Metro Area | |
|
Fannie Mae |
$36.97 |
|
Lockheed Martin |
$35.53 |
|
Freddie Mac |
$24.27 |
|
General Dynamics |
$8.96 |
|
Marriott International |
$8.74 |
|
US Airways Group |
$8.6 |
|
U.S. Foodservice |
$6.2 |
|
Gannett |
$5.26 |
|
America Online |
$4.78 |
|
Sodexho Marriott Services |
$4.5 |
Washington, DC is home of DC United (Major League Soccer), Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Freedom (Women's United Soccer Association), Washington Mystics (WNBA), Washington Redskins (NFL), Washington Warthogs (Continental Indoor Soccer League), and the Washington Wizards (NBA).
The metro Washington, DC area boasts some of the nation's best rated public school systems as well as a broad range of private schools providing a variety of religious and academic approaches. Local universities include:
Washington summers are warm and humid, with highs reaching into the 90s. While typically mild, winter temperatures sometimes dip into the single digits.
Big breaks happen in LA. Part movie and entertainment capital, part social experiment, LA is a vast megalopolis where all types of lifestyles and cultures converge in a kaleidoscope of head-spinning contrasts. Diverse cultures live side-by-side in the City of Angels. Whatever your pleasure, be it cutting-edge architecture, fantastic food, the arts, or warm, sandy beaches, LA delivers. The city's 10 largest public companies include those from industries as diverse as entertainment to healthcare, petroleum to toy products:
(ranked by market capitalization - 2006 revenue in millions)
|
Chevron |
$189,481.0 |
|
Hewlett-Packard |
$86,696.0 |
|
McKesson |
$80,514.6 |
|
Wells Fargo |
$40,407.0 |
|
Intel |
$38,826.0 |
|
Safeway |
$38,944.0 |
|
Walt Disney |
$ 31,944.0 |
|
Northrop Grumman |
$ 30,721.0 |
|
Ingram Micro |
$ 28,803.3 |
|
Cisco Systems |
$ 24,801.0 |
LA Freeways have a reputation all their own. There are over 20 freeways that guide, intersect and amaze even the most seasoned traveler. The city's Metro Rail offers a 22-mile Blue Line that can be boarded at 22 stations between downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Red Line provides service between Union Station and mid-Wilshire areas, and the Green Line to parts east allow for an eventual 400 mile system incorporating light rail, subway, and commuter rail throughout LA County and other surrounding communities. Thousands of passengers arrive daily in LA via the historic Union Station depot, an elegant hybrid of Art Deco and Spanish Mission architectural traditions.
Five Regions that Define LA
Downtown: Downtown Los Angeles, the heart of the City of Angels, offers many possibilities for the first-time tourist or the native Angeleno. Centrally located, downtown is a short hop and minutes away from some of the greatest and most culturally diverse venues that Southern California has to offer. Areas within walking distance or a short ride include the LA Civic Center, Financial District, Music Center, Jewelry District, Union Station, Bunker Hill, STAPLES Center, Dodger Stadium, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), LA Zoo, Griffith Park, Chinatown, Little Tokyo and Olvera Street.
Hollywood: Hollywood continues to draw seekers of fame and fortune into the worlds of film, live theater and television. The Hollywood Walk of Fame, famous HOLLYWOOD sign, Paramount Studios, Griffith Observatory, Mann's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Wax Museum and the Hollywood Bowl are only a few of the attractions in this neighborhood. The famous Sunset Strip also offers the city's better-known restaurants, bars and club scenes.
Westside: The Westside includes many of LA's most prestigious addresses, which include Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Westwood, Century City and Brentwood. Some of the city's most well-known residents live in these neighborhoods. World-famous Rodeo Drive is one of the most famous streets for shoppers in the world. The UCLA Campus and Medical Center are also found in this neighborhood, which includes the breathtaking city views from the world-famous art collections of the Getty Museum.
Beach Cities: Beaches, resorts, piers, the LA Harbor and a 22-mile bike path are only a few of the attractions along the 72 miles of Pacific coastline in the Beach Cities area. Here you'll find Malibu, the zany Venice Beach scene, and the world's largest man-made, small craft harbor at Marina del Rey. The Los Angeles International Airport(LAX) is just a stone's throw away.
Valleys: Noted originally for its agriculture, the Valleys are currently three distinct urban and suburban areas of Los Angeles. The San Fernando Valley, north of the Santa Monica Mountains from Hollywood, is home to Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Disney and NBC Studios. To the north is the ever-developing Santa Clarita Valley, home to Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park. To the east lies the San Gabriel Valley and Pasadena, home of the famous Rose Bowl and the Angeles National Forest, with plenty of hiking and camping options.
Los Angeles is home of the LA Lakers (National Basketball Association), LA Clippers (National Basketball Association), LA Dodgers (Major League Baseball), Anaheim Angels (Major League Baseball), LA Kings (National Hockey League), Anaheim Mighty Ducks (National Hockey League), LA Galaxy (Major League Soccer), LA Sparks (Women's National Basketball Association) and LA Avengers (Arena Football). Major venues include the Staples Center, Dodger Stadium, Forum, Coliseum, Sports Arena and Rose Bowl.
Raincoats are rarely needed in LA: rain falls an average of 35 days a year between the months of November and April. Typically, the sun shines 186 days a year in the city and 137 days at the beach. The average temperature is 74 degrees, with summer highs typically in the mid-80s and winter lows in the mid-60s. In the desert, winter temperatures hover in the 70s and summer highs range between 103-110 degrees.
Official website of the City of Los Angeles: www.ci.la.ca.us
Downtown website: www.downtownla.com
A Los Angeles Guide to where to eat, things to see and do, nightlife, museum, arts and entertainment, golf and guided tours: www.allabout-losangeles.com
Search for restaurants by cuisine, get a map and directions, hail a cab and check the weather forecast: www.movieville.com/movieville.html
For struggling actors out there, this site provides practical information on reasonable LA photographers, more than a dozen acting classes and theatres for rent: www.starving actor.com/la.html
City Life Denver
A diverse business economy, top-ranked educational institutions, vibrant cultural and recreational opportunities and championship sports teams are just some of the great characteristics of the Denver metropolitan area. And, at an altitude of 5,280 feet, Denver's proximity to the Rocky Mountains offers an abundance of recreation options for everyone. The Denver metropolitan area is located where the east meet the west...where the Rocky Mountains begin and the eastern plains end. Denver is centrally located and lies in the foothills of the Rocky Mountain region. Denver, fondly referred to as The Mile High City, also happens to be the State of Colorado’s capital.
Denver’s Top 10 Public Companies
|
(ranked by 2006 annual revenue in millions) | |
|
Qwest Communications International Inc. |
$13.9 |
|
First Data Corp. |
$10.4 |
|
Transmontaigne Inc. |
$8.5 |
|
Echostar Communications Corp. |
$8.4 |
|
Liberty Media Corp. |
$7.9 |
|
Ball Corp. |
$5.7 |
|
Molson Coors Brewing Co. |
$5.5 |
|
Liberty Global Inc. |
$5.1 |
|
MDC Holdings Inc. |
$4.8 |
|
Newmont Mining Corp. |
$4.4 |
Sports
Denver is home to MLB’s Colorado Rockies, NFL’s Denver Bronco’s, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. Coors Field tours tantalize baseball fans with a behind-the-scenes look at the Colorado Rockies' home turf. Tours of the 76-acre ballpark occur during the off-season and include a peek into the dugout, visitor's clubhouse and the press, club and suite levels.
Climate
Denver’s average temperature is roughly about 50 degrees. Denver also receives about 15 inches of rain per year. If you like snow, then Denver is the place with an average of 60 inches per year. The summer’s are mild, with summer highs typically in the mid-80’s.
Schools and Universities
The Denver area is host to some of the nation’s best rated public school systems as well as a broad range of private schools providing a variety of religious and academic approaches. Local Universities include:
· University of Colorado at Denver
· University of Colorado at Boulder
· University of Denver
· University of Northern Colorado
· United States Air Force Academy
· Colorado Technical University
· Everest College
· Argosy University
· Westwood College
· National American University
· Concorde Career College
· Platt College
· Art Institute of Colorado
· DeVry University
Museums
Just as Denver's splendid outdoor scenery woos visitors, the city has three top-notch downtown museums that draw crowds. Situated in City Park, a public playground dotted with flower gardens, lakes, monuments, fountains and walking paths, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science is one of the nation's largest natural history museums. Trace Earth's evolution, learn how ancient Egypt preserved its dead in the mummy exhibit, explore the universe in Space Odyssey or experience the diversity of North American Indian cultures.
Learn about the Centennial State's legacy at the Colorado History Museum, on Broadway next to Civic Center Park. The American West comes alive as the collection depicts pioneer life, Indian buffalo hunts, Rocky Mountain mining, fur trapping and covered wagon travel. Art aficionados flock to the Denver Art Museum, at the Civic Center's south end. The building is an impressive creation in itself: more than a million shimmering gray tiles cover the 28-sided, two-towered exterior.
Many of the cowboys who pioneered the Old West were African-American. The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center, in the Five Points area, examines the impressive influence of these individuals as well as the contributions of black politicians, attorneys, soldiers and miners.
Coors, maker of “Rocky Mountain Kool-Aid”—or Coors beer—offers a couple of interesting Denver-area diversions. Visit the Coors Brewing Co., one of the world's largest, in nearby Golden to see how the facility creates the beloved concoction. Guides explain the malting, brewing, packaging and distributing process.
Cuisine
From Food & Wine to Gourmet, Denver’s young, innovative chefs have been gaining a national reputation for the city’s renaissance in fine dining. Always known for its outstanding steak houses (serving both Colorado beef and bison), Denver now has a wide selection of Latin fusion and Asian fusion restaurants, as well every other type of cuisine. Seafood is flown in fresh daily from Mexico and both coasts.