Discover Washington, D.C. from A to Z

Librarian puts the Nation¡¦s Capital into focus in his new travel guide Washington DC From A to Z.

Dulles, VA (PRWEB) September 8, 2003 -- Washington, D.C. is one of our country¡¦s most popular vacation spots. Millions of tourists flock to the nation¡¦s capital every year to see the monuments, to enjoy plays and concerts in our many theaters, like the Kennedy Center and Arena Stage, and to enjoy one of the most beautiful cities. But, the city can be confusing to get around in, even to natives, and there is so much to do in Washington that even the busiest multi-tasker can feel overwhelmed quickly.

Paul Wasserman, author of New York from A to Z and a professor at the University of Maryland, and Don Hausrath, a second generation Washingtonian, are here to help with their new book Washington DC From A to Z.

Some of the city features highlighted in the book are:

Arlington Symphony : This symphony comprised of some 75 professional and semi-professional musicians has been performing for almost 60 years. The season runs from September to May in a new concert hall on the campus of Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria.

Blackie's House of Beef: New Orleans style landmark building houses a restaurant that has been dishing out at moderate prices thick steaks, onion soup, and baked potatoes since 1946 to a clientele with hearty appetites. Open for lunch Mon. - Fri., dinner 7 days. Metro: Foggy Bottom - GWU.

Exorcist Steps: Located opposite the old barn on M Street at 36th and Prospect Streets in Georgetown is this very steep staircase, which achieved fame and notoriety for its use in the last scene of scary movie "The Exorcist." Metro: Foggy Bottom - GWU, then 30, 32, 34, 35 or 36 bus.

Logan Circle: Located at the junction of Rhode Island and Vermont Avenues, NW and 13th and R Streets is this circle named for a Civil War general. It is surrounded by large late Victorian homes built in the 1870s and 1880s. The neighborhood fell into decline in mid 20th century, but preservationists have in recent years stimulated the restoration of a number of the historic houses and residents of the area around the Circle are attempting to further the renaissance of the area. Metro: U St. - Cardozo, then a good walk.

Washington Theatre Festival: This award-winning event, now close to 20, annually showcases over 60 new scripts in staged reading events, workshops and 10-Minute Play Competitions, running between mid July and mid August. The performances are spread across the city including the Source Theatre, as well as the Kennedy Center, the National Museum for Women in the Arts, and other venues. Metro: U St.-Cardozo, then a two-block walk.

Washington DC From A to Z is an easy-to-use guide for anyone exploring the nation's capital. Organized alphabetically, there are over 1900 entries under easy-to-find headings like Washington Monument, Smithsonian, Jefferson Memorial, and Hard Rock Cafe. Written by a distinguished library scientist and a Washington, DC native, each entry includes a description, location, telephone number, explanation on how to get there, and other details such as hours of operation, admission charges, and credit card acceptability. Cross references lead to additional information on each topic.

This book offers users a convenient, simple approach to information about the hundreds of topics of interest to tourists and natives in Washington, D.C.

Paul Wasserman is a professor emeritus at the University of Maryland College of Information Studies. He has published several books in the field of library science. He is the author of "New York From A to Z" (Capital Books, 2002), and lives in Bethesda, Maryland.

Don Hausrath is a second generation Washingtonian whose career in information services began in 1945 delivering the Evening Star. Since retiring from the Senior Foreign Service in 1995, he has served as an adjunct at the College of Information Services at the University of Maryland, and at Gavilan College in California.