Washington, D.C. is not only the proud home of the nation's capital, it is a sophisticated city in its own right. Start in the heart of the city with its well-known monuments and inspiring memorials, then step off the mall and journey into D.C.'s soul. Discover its trendy and historic neighborhoods, like Georgetown and Dupont Circle. Take in a world-class or grass-roots theater performance. Feel the beat of "Black Broadway" and Duke Ellington still pulsing through U Street.

Location Lies midway along the eastern seaboard of the United States, about 90 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean, south of Maryland, north of Virginia and 233 miles south of New York City. D.C is situated on the northern bank of the Potomac River.

Metro Area The "Washington Metropolitan Area" refers to the District of Columbia plus seven Maryland counties (Anne Arundel, Charles, Calvert, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's), five Virginia counties (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, Prince William and Stafford), and five Virginia cities (Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax City, Manassas and Manassas Park).

Attractions Best known for a wide array of cultural and historical attractions, and historic monuments and memorials ... most all of which are free to the public, and open seven days a week. Most famous are the White House, U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, National Archives, various Smithsonian museums, National Gallery of Art, National Zoo, Union Station and Arlington National Cemetery. Neighborhood areas include Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Anacostia — all of which have a variety of attractions, restaurants, shopping and nightlife.

Events During the Symposium

March 1, 2006 - March 30, 2006	Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital Various Locations An 11-day festival that brings 108 films from 22 countries to audiences across the city with the collaboration of nearly 60 partnering organizations. This year's spotlighted films include themes on wildlife, healthy food, fresh water and a number of award-winning films from festivals around the world.
March 11, 2006	Pablo Casals - Artist of Conscience John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Featuring narrator Bernard Greenhouse, special guest Jonathan C. Kramer, and cellist Selma Gokcen. An homage to the life of Pablo Casals though music and the spoken word, featuring three Suites for Violoncello.
January 21, 2006 - May 13, 2006	"Golden Lads and Lasses": Shakespeare for Children Folger Shakespeare Library Fairies and witches, lost princesses and a magic island--Shakespeare's wonderful stories seem made for children. Beginning in the late eighteenth century, and continuing to our own day, adults have cut, rewritten and illustrated tales to appeal to young readers.
January 29, 2006 - July 7, 2006	Cézanne in Provence National Gallery of Art The year 2006 marks the centenary of the death of Paul Cézanne, a founding father of modern art. His achievement will be celebrated in a major international exhibition of approximately 120 of his greatest oil paintings and watercolors of Aix-en-Provence, its people and its surrounding countryside.
February 18, 2006 - May 16, 2006	Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and Sickert: London and Paris, 1870-1910 The Phillips Collection In its only U.S. venue, this exhibition will be the first to explore the vital and creative dialogue between French and British artists in the late 19th century, focusing on the impact of Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec on painting in Britain.
February 19, 2006 - May 14, 2006	Dada National Gallery of Art Dada, the first major museum exhibition in the United States to explore in-depth this influential avant-garde art movement with over 400 works, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, collages, prints, and film and sound recordings.
February 26, 2006 - May 21, 2006	Amorous Intrigues and Painterly Refinement: The Art of Frans van Mieris National Gallery of Art Praised by contemporaries as the most important of all Leiden "fijnschilders" (masters of fine painting), Frans van Mieris (1635-1681) is best known for his innovative interior scenes and elegant portraits.
March 4, 2006 - May 14, 2006	Hokusai Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery This unprecedented Sackler Gallery exhibition — co-organized by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Inc., in cooperation with the Tokyo National Museum — focuses on the paintings created during a career of more than 70 years of the great Japanese artist Hokusai.

To view more information about D.C. attractions or events, visit www.washington.org.