Dodge City, one of our favorite U Street nightspots, is celebrating its second birthday tonight with a party fueled by DC Brau ales and 13th Street Meats sausages. more ›

It was on this day 127 years ago that the Washington Monument was dedicated. more ›

Broken finial or not, when you're the National Cathedral and the President of the United States wants to deliver an address marking the tenth anniversary of one of the worst days in the country's history at your pulpit, you make it work. more ›

It's our understanding that Mayor Vince Gray will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first sidewalk cafe in Washington in front of The Chesapeake Room on Barracks Row this morning. more ›

We might complain about all of the flaws of our transit system, and often for good reason. But I think we can all agree that the D.C. area is better for transit system rather than worse off. Today, Metro celebrates 35 years of running trains in the D.C. area - this day in 1976, 51,000 lined up for free rides on the first day of operation. Then, the Metro encompassed just 5 stops on the Red line, from Farragut North to Rhode Island Avenue (with a few stops still missing in between). more ›

In 1921, Duncan Phillips opened America's first museum of modern art in his home, inviting visitors to become acquainted with the art and artists of his day. Founded in 1918, the museum officially opened to the public three years later, eight years before the Museum of Modern Art and two decades before the National Gallery of Art. more ›

One of the most beloved and influential institutions in the history of local independent music, Teenbeat Records marked its 26th anniversary on Saturday night with a concert at the Black Cat that showcased four of the best bands in its stable: Unrest, Versus, The Rondelles, and Bossanova. Founded by Mark Robinson and friends at Arlington's Wakefield High School, the label is now based in Cambridge, Massachusetts -- but its DIY ethos and sonic signatures remain indelibly tied to D.C.'s rock-music heyday. Civic pride seemed to mix with sheer aural enjoyment amongst the large, enthusiastic audience, making for a festive, celebratory atmosphere. more ›

By DCist contributor Sarah Sherman more ›

Though it certainly has it's issues (just scroll one post down), it'd be downright silly to deny the influence that Metrorail has on all of our lives. Just like the Post and the Redskins, most every Washingtonian has an opinion about Metrorail. So as an entity that's undeniably part of our regional identity, warts and all, we gladly wish Metrorail a happy 34th birthday today. On this day in 1976, WMATA opened the first segment of the Red Line, a 4.2-mile stretch that ran between Rhode Island Avenue and Farragut North stations. A poster on the railroad.net message boards has some most excellent vintage photography from the ribbon cutting and the first trip down the line. (It's refreshing to see that the cars were just as crowded on the first day of operation as they are now.) Here's to another 34 years of Metrorail. more ›

It was five years ago this week that a small band of bloggers came together to officially launch a little web site called DCist.com, and a lot has changed since then. We've grown from a scrappy half-dozen or so writers to over 45 regular contributors and photographers. We've hired our first full-time employee, and later brought on weekend editors. And we've seen our amazing readership (and of course, the commentariat) consistently grow to where we find ourselves today: the most well-read local news blog in Washington. And for that, we thank you. Profusely. more ›

Kathy Wone, the widow of slain D.C. lawyer Robert Wone, released a statement to the media on Sunday night, on the third anniversary of the still unsolved crime:

"My husband, Robert, was a beautiful, loving person who was murdered in the prime of his life three years ago today. From the beginning, those who victimized Robert -- and his family -- have sought to cover-up and delay, hoping that we would forget. But we will not forget; we will never forget. The residents of Washington, D.C. must ensure that this case is solved and that those responsible are held to account. From this point forward, we expect the pending criminal proceedings to move expeditiously. In a case that already has languished for three years, there can be no more delays. We owe it to Robert -- who did so much for so many -- to bring to justice the persons responsible for his murder and the cover-up of his murder."

We just announced our new contest in conjunction with the Phillips Collection, and it isn't too early to get a jump start on your entry. Head out to the Phillips tonight for their monthly Phillips After 5 program and take in a lecture about sustainable design and mass production of household objects, and get guided tours of the Morandi exhibit for research and inspiration. more ›

We got a press release announcing that a new book, Ben's Chili Bowl: 50 Years of a Washington, D.C., Landmark, is now available for sale. Ben's is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. Mahaboob Ben Ali and his then-fiancée, Virginia Rollins, opened the hot dog and chili shop on U Street on August 22, 1958. Congratulations to the Ali family on all their achievements! more ›