Amy Poehler playing Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation. (NBCUniversal, Inc.)

"Romantic reunions ... government meetings ... self-guided museum tours ... I mean, am I living the dream?"

Well, you are if your name is Leslie Knope.

Parks and Recreation, which stars Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, returns for its fifth season Thursday on NBC and Citytv. The episode is titled Ms. Knope Goes to Washington, with Leslie -- a freshly elected city councillor in Pawnee, Ind. -- keen on combining work and play in the capital.

She's in Washington to visit her boyfriend Ben (Adam Scott), who is working there now, and also to try to secure some federal funding for a Pawnee project. But she finds herself unexpectedly rattled and intimidated by her surroundings, as the episode features cameo appearances by U.S. Senators John McCain, Barbara Boxer and Olympia Snowe.

Meanwhile, back in Pawnee, Leslie's temporary absence means that Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) is in charge of the annual employee-appreciation barbecue. As you might expect, Leslie and Ron have somewhat different approaches.

-- Bill Harris