Washington Convention

BaltimoreOct. 7-9 Optical Society of America annual meeting, Convention Center. Contact: Lorenda Weider. Expected attendance: 2,200Oct. 8-11 Document Management Industries Association annual meeting and trade show, Convention Center. Contact: Elaine Gilliam. Expected attendance: 3,000Oct. 17-23 American Society of Agronomy annual convention Convention Center. Contact: David Kral, 608-273-8080. Expected attendance: 5,000Oct. 23-27 Servistar Coast to Coast Corp. semi-annual trade show, Convention Center.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Park Police announced five arrests yesterday in a recent series of armed robberies and sexual assaults of nighttime visitors to the National Mall, the capital city's leading tourist attraction. The Park Police, charged with patrolling the Mall, said the suspects are local teenagers and young adults. City officials hailed the arrests and offered assurances that the Mall, which features the Washington Monument, Lincoln and Jefferson memorials and major Smithsonian museums, is safe for visitors at any time of day. Washington has long battled a significant crime problem but has strived to insulate the Mall and other historic sites favored by tourists.

BaltimoreFor additional Baltimore convention information, call Courtney McKeldin at 659-7133 (local) or (800) 343-3468 (out of state).NOV. 27-DEC. 2: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools at Marriott Inner Harbor. Contact Harve V. Horowitz, 11620 Vixens Path Way, Ellicott City, Md. 21043. Expected attendance: 800.DEC. 3-7: Association for Computing Machinery at the Convention Center. Contact Fred O'Keefe, 75 Union Ave., Sudbury, Mass. 01776. Expected attendance: 3,000.WashingtonNOV.

Washington Boat Show You might think that the best place for a boat show would be outdoors and on the water. But think again. You won't be missing a thing when you browse the boats and boating products at the indoor Washington Boat Show at the Washington Convention Center, Wednesday through Feb. 26. The show takes over 9 acres of space in the convention center, and showcases the newest boats, latest boating gadgets, high-tech electronics and more....

BaltimoreJuly 20-31 The Lacrosse Foundation meeting and World Championships, Doubletree Inn Colonnade, West University Parkway, and Johns Hopkins University. Contact: Dan Stern, 410-995- 3000. Expected attendance: 10,000July 25-29 American Veterinary Medical Association national convention, Baltimore Convention Center. Contact: Michael Roop, 708-925-8070. Expected attendance: 7,000Aug. 2-6 American Institute of Biological Sciences, Convention Center. Contact: Marilyn Maury, 202-628-1500. Expected attendance: 3,000Aug.

Washington Boat Show The Washington Boat Show, Wednesday through Feb. 13, at the Washington Convention Center will have more than 500 sailboats, fishing boats, motor yachts and express cruisers and more than 200 booths. Information will be available on waterfront real estate, area marinas and yacht clubs. The boat show runs noon-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10 and 11, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 12 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place N.W. $10; $4 ages 6-12; free for ages 5 and younger.

Ahoy, mate! The Washington Boat Show takes over the Washington Convention Center today through Monday. And we do mean "takes over." As in 7 acres of display areas filled with 500 boats. It's no wonder it's the largest indoor boat show on the East Coast. Visitors can see the newest models, including motor yachts, power catamarans, express cruisers, fishing boats, runabouts, sailboats and boats for water-skiing. More than 200 exhibitor booths offer boating accessories and gadgets, equipment, electronics, nautical clothing and more.

Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner. So if you're looking to ready your home and garden for the new season, stop by the Washington Home and Garden Show at the Washington Convention Center today through Sunday. Browse more than 700 exhibits for everything from garden fountains and peppermint plants to hot tubs and satellite radios. See more than two dozen full-sized landscaped gardens, created by some of the Washington area's leading gardeners, including a garden with cascading waterfalls and an English country garden.

Get a jump on your holiday shopping at the Washington Craft Show this weekend at the Convention Center in D.C. Browse among the handmade furniture, baskets, ceramics, glassworks, jewelry, metalworks, woodworks, wearables and more, created by 180 artisans and craftspeople from 34 states. Among the group is self-taught artisan Jeanine Guncheon, who has made folk art furniture that comedians Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy have purchased. Crafters were selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants.

WASHINGTON -- Acknowledging a "tension" between his administration and the press, President Bush confronted an often critical audience of newspaper editors yesterday with a heavy helping of the disarming charm and self-confidence he has exuded since his re-election. "I know there is a tension now," Bush told members of the American Society of Newspaper Editors pressing him to make the work of his White House and many agencies more open to the public. "I understand there's a suspicion that ... we're too security-conscious."

Baltimore's convention and visitors bureau has landed a prestigious convention of meeting planners - people who will influence the locations of meetings across the nation for years to come. The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association called it a coup. The American Society of Association Executives said the decision to move its 2004 winter meeting to Baltimore resulted largely from lack of space in the Washington Convention Center in February. Baltimore officials were excited about the chance to showcase the city to such an influential group.

Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner. So if you're looking to ready your home and garden for the new season, stop by the Washington Home and Garden Show at the Washington Convention Center today through Sunday. Browse more than 700 exhibits for everything from garden fountains and peppermint plants to hot tubs and satellite radios. See more than two dozen full-sized landscaped gardens, created by some of the Washington area's leading gardeners, including a garden with cascading waterfalls and an English country garden.

Ahoy, mate! The Washington Boat Show takes over the Washington Convention Center today through Monday. And we do mean "takes over." As in 7 acres of display areas filled with 500 boats. It's no wonder it's the largest indoor boat show on the East Coast. Visitors can see the newest models, including motor yachts, power catamarans, express cruisers, fishing boats, runabouts, sailboats and boats for water-skiing. More than 200 exhibitor booths offer boating accessories and gadgets, equipment, electronics, nautical clothing and more.

Get a jump on your holiday shopping at the Washington Craft Show this weekend at the Convention Center in D.C. Browse among the handmade furniture, baskets, ceramics, glassworks, jewelry, metalworks, woodworks, wearables and more, created by 180 artisans and craftspeople from 34 states. Among the group is self-taught artisan Jeanine Guncheon, who has made folk art furniture that comedians Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy have purchased. Crafters were selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants.

BaltimoreOct. 7-9 Optical Society of America annual meeting, Convention Center. Contact: Lorenda Weider. Expected attendance: 2,200Oct. 8-11 Document Management Industries Association annual meeting and trade show, Convention Center. Contact: Elaine Gilliam. Expected attendance: 3,000Oct. 17-23 American Society of Agronomy annual convention Convention Center. Contact: David Kral, 608-273-8080. Expected attendance: 5,000Oct. 23-27 Servistar Coast to Coast Corp. semi-annual trade show, Convention Center.

BaltimoreJuly 20-31 The Lacrosse Foundation meeting and World Championships, Doubletree Inn Colonnade, West University Parkway, and Johns Hopkins University. Contact: Dan Stern, 410-995- 3000. Expected attendance: 10,000July 25-29 American Veterinary Medical Association national convention, Baltimore Convention Center. Contact: Michael Roop, 708-925-8070. Expected attendance: 7,000Aug. 2-6 American Institute of Biological Sciences, Convention Center. Contact: Marilyn Maury, 202-628-1500. Expected attendance: 3,000Aug.