Life of the party. (demise of Washington, D.C.'s charm) (Column) From: National Review | Date: December 16, 1991| Author: Ferguson, Andrew | COPYRIGHT 1991 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Washington, DC has lost most of its charm since the 1960s. Al's Magic Shop is a source of gags, party tricks, and Halloween paraphernalia. It gives the city some spark of life which is missing, also, in the current White House administration.

WASHINGTON is not a city of great character or charm. There are no funky dives where bookmakers belly up to the bar with tax attorneys, no dim little shops with unsold inventory from the Fifties. Washington was swept clean of these a generat...

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