NEW WEBSITE OFFERS HOTEL PACKAGES, ADVANCE TICKET SALES FOR ELEVENTH ANNUAL TASTE OF DC

WASHINGTON, DC-- Washington, DC visitors and residents can plan in advance for a weekend of food and fun in the nation's capital, with new hotel packages and advance tickets for the eleventh annual TASTE OF DC: A Salute to Our City now available for purchase on the newly redesigned www.washington.org website.

Debuting this year, TASTE OF DC hotel packages will enable attendees to celebrate the sights, sounds and flavors of the nation's capital throughout the weekend. With rates beginning at $89 per night, the TASTE OF DC hotel packages feature a range of accommodations, from family friendly properties to hip and historic hotels. Food and drink tickets and reserved seating for the Fine Dining Pavilion are also available online for those purchasing hotel packages.

Festival attendees can also save time by securing tickets in advance to sample the dishes of over 40 restaurants, or to participate in the new Fine Dining Pavilion. Food tickets are available for advance purchase in strips of six for $5 or in bundles of 25 for $25. Attendees can choose from one of nine seatings and enjoy signature dishes and demonstrations from one of the top chefs in the city. Each seating is limited to 80 attendees. Tickets are $15 (including beverage).

Now in its eleventh year, the TASTE OF DC takes place on historic Pennsylvania Avenue, from 7th to 14th Streets, over Columbus Day weekend, October 12-14, 2002. The easiest way to reach the festival is to ride Washington's METRO system with convenient stops at Federal Triangle (Blue and Orange lines), Metro Center (Blue, Orange and Red Lines) or Archives/Navy Memorial (Green and Yellow lines). For additional information or to purchase hotel packages or advance tickets, visit the TASTE OF DC online at www.washington.org or call (202) 789-7002.

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