Although we're just reaching the peak of spring, D.C.’s local markets are packed with the fruits (and vegetables) of early summer abundance. We're lucky to live in a city that boasts an amazing number of markets specializing in local and fresh foods. From the Maine Avenue fish market to Eastern Market to the many farmers markets across the area, it’s easy to find fresh, local offerings that include fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and seafood. Many......

Image on the left, taken the morning of the Eastern Market fire, April 30, 2007. At right, the same view in the evening on April 15, 2008. Both photos by erin m It was one year ago today that District residents awoke to the sad news that a fire had torn through Eastern Market's South Hall, displacing the many food vendors who called the historic building home and shuttering a favorite weekend destination. And......

Apparently Starbucks wasn’t the only coffee shop closed yesterday. According to a post on Murky Coffee's website, their Capitol Hill location was shuttered on Tuesday by the D.C. government.We've had a hiccup with the DC Government, and were shut-down for a couple of non-compliance issues. We're in communication with them, and expect to be back up-and-running in a couple of days.An employee at their Arlington location told us this afternoon the issue is related to......

Happy Christmas Eve, Washington. With the frenzy of last-minute shopping and travel out of the city largely complete, folks staying here for the holiday are being treated to a quieter, gentler D.C. than normal, and it turns out in more ways than one. Over the weekend the Post took a look at a recent decline in the murder rate, reporting that only nine homicides have been logged in the District in the 37 days since......

Last night, Fox 5 reported on an alarming attack of a gay man by six or seven men on the Metro. "Nathaniel," as he's referred to in the report, was riding alone on a train Friday night. As the doors closed at Metro Center, the group surrounded and beat Nathaniel, kicking him as he fell to the floor and yelling "faggot". Nathaniel managed to get off the train at the Smithsonian station, and he ran......

After a fire gutted Eastern Market last April, the stretch of 7th Street SE adjacent to the market building was closed off on weekends to accommodate vendors, construction of the temporary East Hall and reconstruction of the South Hall. In an interview on WTOP (link to audiostream) last week, Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells said he wants to keep 7th Street that way. The Hill picked up the story on Wednesday, and the Hilleast......

By DCist Contributor Stephanie Taylor Halloween is fast approaching, and because the scariest day of the year was inconsiderate enough to fall mid-week this year, much of the drunken pin the rib on the skeleton madness begins next weekend. But the District has very few true costume shops. If you've sorted through your closet and still haven't found a winner for this year's costume, we thought we'd offer a few suggestions as to where to......

It's no surprise to this Hill resident, but it might be to those of you who live in relative cesspools like Logan Circle, Clarendon, Silver Spring, or "North" Cleveland Park: Eastern Market has been named one of the Nation's ten best neighborhoods. Thank you, American Planning Association, for giving credit where it's due. In its first annual "Best Places" awards, the APA heralds the Eastern Market neighborhood for "its continued success in balancing the demands......

By DCist contributor Elisabeth Grant D.C. can be an expensive place to eat lunch. A meal from Cosi will set you back $8, any sit-down place is at least twice as much that, and even if you're just going for coffee, a grande pumpkin spice latte (the most delicious beverage on the planet) will put you out over $4. While many of the folks who work on or around the Hill, like those with expense......

>> Little children don't like President Bush. [YouTube, embedding sadly turned off] >> Director Ridley Scott set off a bomb at Eastern Market yesterday, but Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio were not there, so stop asking us about it. [Reliable Source] >> A U.S. Park Police officer reportedly shot and wounded a driver on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway near Riverdale this afternoon. [WaPo] >> The FBI has launched a new Web site, BankBandits.com, in an......

>> Peabody Award-winning broadcaster Michael Lasser will be at the Phillips Collection tonight to give a lecture called "Songs from The Time of American Impressionism" -- think Irving Berlin and the like. The event, which is free with a $12 admission to the museum, coincides with regular Thursday later hours (until 8:30 p.m.) and the upcoming end date of the American Impressionism exhibit (Sept. 16), so consider this your reminder to check it out.......

While he worked the crowd last Saturday at Eastern Market's re-opening, Mayor Adrian Fenty again made it clear that he likes to keep connected to city affairs at all times. Hanging from his belt were his famous three Blackberries -- one for mayoral duties, one for personal responsibilities and one for immediate contact with Police Chief Cathy Lanier. Rumors have circulated that he may be in the market for a fourth. Photo by Martin......

If anyone was worried that the crowds wouldn't come back to Eastern Market, fear not -- they're back, and in larger numbers than before. Today's inauguration of the East Hall -- the $1.5 million tent-like temporary structure that will house the displaced vendors until the South Hall is renovated -- saw a steady crowd of shoppers and gawkers alike, including Mayor Adrian Fenty. Meanwhile, across the street the South Hall remained boarded up and......

Months after a fire gutted the interior of Eastern Market's South Hall and almost destroyed the District landmark, vendors will be back in business tomorrow in a temporary structure built across the street. The structure, which looks like a big white tent, cost $1.5 million and will be used while $25 million in repairs are completed on the South Hall, a process that could take up to two years. We're happy to see things slowly......

The Examiner reports on a $36,000 bill received by the organizers of the 2007 Capital Pride Festival from the D.C. police and the Emergency Management Agency, who say they need the money to pay for overtime and other costs for security incurred during the June festival. But the festival's organizers and some members of the D.C. Council are questioning the charges, since the agencies waived these same fees last year and other annual parades, like......

Matchbox Coming to the Hill As if we needed any more proof that Barracks Row is flexing its muscle in bringing business to the Hill. But, we have it anyway. Last week's TomChat gave us the news that Matchbox, the over-popular Gallery Place pizza and mini-burger heaven, has signed a lease for a second location along Barracks Row—521 8th Street SE to be precise. According to Tom, the owner expects the new place to open......

Vendors at Eastern Market will finally be able to open up for business in their temporary structure. After a few delays, the $2.6 million, 230-by-50-foot structure will be ready for shopkeepers on Aug. 18 and will open for business on Aug. 25. Mayor Fenty made the official announcement at a press conference this morning, along with Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells. A fire destroyed the historic Eastern Market building, built in 1873, three months......

Construction of the temporary building at Eastern Market has begun, though somewhat behind schedule. The Examiner reports that the estimated opening date of the temporary building that will house the South Market vendors has been pushed back to mid-August, even though Mayor Fenty promised the vendors they'd have a new home by the end of July. According to the article, delays in construction have been caused by delays in manufacturing of the steel for the......

As a symbol of Eastern Market's recovery from the fire that destroyed its main building in April, the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, which established the Eastern Market Fund to aid in the restoration process, is sponsoring a concert series that will begin on July 22. The Eastern Market Music series will present Washington area blues, bluegrass, jazz, contemporary, and international musicians. The shows will run on Sundays through the end of September and will take......

Sparky's Has Indeed Been Shuttered Following our conversation last week about the Warehouse's impending closure, several commenters were asking about the fate of Sparky's at 14th and R, NW, which was suddenly shuttered a few weeks back. Phone calls to the shop lead to a message that doesn't recommend that you leave a message, because no one checks the machine We searched for something more official, but the closest we found was at Brightest Young......

Just like when you woke up this morning realizing Tuesday is the new Friday, this photo should also make you grin like a little kid. Flickr user sally henny penny succeeded in this tough challenge -- taking a unique photo of a bunch of flowers. She found these bouquets at Eastern Market, and we may just have to send the intern down there this weekend to sunny up the DCist offices with a few......

Good morning, Washington. We wake today to some stunning revelations: It appears the Centers for Disease Control have issued a new report that "confirms" that men are far more likely to have many sexual partners than women are. In related findings, the report, which was compiled from self-reported surveys of American adults, also indicates that American men have the largest penises of any country in the world and that American women are far more slender......

Feel Like Vegging Out? Or, do you have strong feelings about vegetarian dining in Washington? Don't lie, all you Eating In complainers are out there, I know it! Here's your chance to shine. VegDC is having a contest to determine the best vegetarian restaurant in Washington. I know, I know, a contradiction of terms, but stick with me here… With nearly 30 vegetarian-only eateries in the region, VegDC is right to start whittling down the......

First Eastern Market, and now another favorite alternative grocery market is closing down at least temporarily, if not for good. Not too far north in Burtonsville, Md., the Dutch Country Farmers Market has been bringing Amish-grown goods down from Pennsylvania every weekend for the last 20 years. Visitors come from all over the region for fresh pies, produce, and maybe even a dinner of ribs and chicken. But get 'em while you can, because the......

Flickr user *ohad spent some time looking through the skeletal remains of Eastern Market recently, and came up with this unique perspective. Almost a little disorienting, but we like the way it makes your eyes search for just a second for the focus point. EXIF. Another good shot is here, and we have to agree with commenter {ryan} that *ohad has captured some kind of beauty in this mess.......

Dine Out for Eastern Market on Monday The outpouring of support for Eastern Market continues. On Monday, May 21, several restaurants on Capitol Hill will participate in Dining Out for Eastern Market, a "Dining Out for Life" style charity event where the restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation's Eastern Market fund, which has raised $238,000 so far to assist the South Hall merchants while a temporary market......

Good morning, Washington! So c'mon: be honest. Did you bike to work today? With scattered showers predicted across the region, we suppose it's understandable if you didn't. We hope you feel at least a little guilty anyway, though -- particularly those of us who did end up biking through potential drizzle. We guess we'll give a pass to Paul Wolfowitz though -- even if he did ride his bike to work today, he won't......

>> Didn't get a chance to attend one of the Eastern Market benefit happy hours last week? The E Street Austin Grill will donate 33 percent of its food sales after 5 p.m. tonight to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation's "Eastern Market—Keep It Going" fund. 750 E Street, NW in The Lansburgh. >> !!! (chk, chk, chk) stop by the 9:30 Club in support of their new album Myth Takes. With Canada's Holy Fuck. $18.......

Several hundred citizens turned out on Monday evening in support of the effort to quickly rebuild Eastern Market, and to share their feelings on a temporary location for the displaced vendors. Mayor Adrian Fenty, At-large council members David Catania and Phil Mendelson, Ward 6 council member Tommy Wells, city administrator Dan Tangherlini, and District 3 School Board member Lisa Raymond turned out to show their support too, as well as to canvass the opinions of......

While outdoor Eastern Market vendors set up outside – on the first Saturday since the dreadful inferno – DCist writers and friends were just across the way, pretty-ing up Hine Junior High. After a whole month of reminding and re-reminding you, Servathon 2007 finally came! Not only did we paint the gym a brand-spanking-new shade of off-white, but we owned the fundraising. Since our original $2,000 goal proved easy as pie, we dared readers......