Over the course of a year, Washington D.C. plays host to any number of events. Key industry conferences, cultural offerings from the four corners of the globe, and marching axe-grinders willing to protest just about anything. But this year, only one group will make this promise: "Nearly every quadrant of the city will feel the impact of Digestive Disease Week."

MmmmmMMMMMmmM, yyEEAH! Are you prepared to FEEL IT, Washington? Because a quartet of medical societies promise to back up their threat. Specifically, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT). As always, when SSAT comes to town, lock up your daughters. More than 20,000 attendees will be in town starting tomorrow for Digestive Disease Week-related activities, making this the largest convention the city has hosted so far this year.

Now, we have no idea which quadrant of the city will be spared the forthcoming bowelpocalypse, but there may be no escape anyway, because the people behind Digestive Disease Week promise, "Restaurants will particularly feel the impact," continuing:

"The private space at Zola is already reserved for a group of 200 with the convention and we are expecting the restaurant to be packed with individual convention attendees and families visiting the city for university graduations."

Emphasis ours, because...wow. They are practically taunting people!

Mark these dates on your calendar: May 19-24. That's when all this madness is set to happen. The good news? Digestive Disease Week won't return to DC until 2015. For now, gird yourselves.

Image courtesy Washington Convention Center Authority