On Monday Express re-launched its web site, dubbing it anew as ExpressNightOut, which will focus exclusively on D.C. area arts and events coverage. The old Read Express url now points to the new site. The Express folks also put up a post formally announcing the end of Free Ride, the local news-focused blog that had been dying a slow, painful death since the departure of former DCist editor and Free Ride founder Mike Grass, who went to work for Observer start-up Politicker, a few months back. Many times since then saw Free Ride with only one or two posts up per day, so word that it's officially dead comes as no big surprise. more ›

>> The Yes! Organic Market in Brookland was robbed just after All Hands on Deck ended over the weekend. [Free Ride] >> Don't be alarmed if you see and hear a lot of military flights at odd hours today and tonight. [WTOP] >> Progress on the O Street Market development. [Fifth and Oh] >> "What's next? The Lucky Lemur? The Gray Chinchilla?" [metrocurean] Photo by soleil1016... more ›

>> Anacostia is in the running for an award from HGTV to come in and help the community complete revitalization projects. [Free Ride] >> Well, The Scott is back to gitcha now, boys! [Wonkette] >> Arlington County Police are saying they believe the person responsible for two recent gropings at the Rosslyn Metro station could be the same man who committed four plastic bag attacks earlier this year. [WTOP] >> I-95 was closed in... more ›

>> D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty said that he will "continue to stand right beside Natwar Gandhi," in the wake of the widening D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue embezzlement scandal. [WaPo] >> The Anacostia Farmers Market is closing down today after providing fresh produce to D.C. residents for nine years. [WJLA] >> Silver Spring's artificial grass will stick around for another couple of months at least. [Free Ride] >> Get ready for the Million... more ›

>> The biggest D.C. government corruption scandal ever? [WaPo, updated from earlier story] >> Will there finally be enough places to lock up our bicycles? [WJLA] >> An Emerging Columbia Hts.-Petworth Food Split? [Free Ride] >> Bloomingdale Farmers Market not a given for next year? [In Shaw] >> Could H Street NE put a cap on the number of bars that can open there? [City Desk] Photo by sally henny penny... more ›

>> D.C. firefighters were called to a rowhouse fire in Columbia Heights this afternoon. The blaze broke out about 5:15 p.m. in the 1300 block of Otis Place, NW. [AP/WJLA] >> As if Adams Morgan could somehow be ruined by the introduction of beer and wine sales at a grocery store? Have they been to Adams Morgan? [Examiner] >> SmarTrip cards are now available at more Giant stores. [Free Ride] >> "Good lord, have... more ›

>> Candey Hardware on 18th and Connecticut is closing its doors for good tonight. [Free Ride] >> Police Chief Cathy Lanier has scheduled another "All Hands on Deck" weekend after four murders took place in D.C.'s Fifth District over the past week. [WJLA] >> Surprise, surprise, the O Street Market development plans are being delayed. [ANC2C02 Forum via 14th & You] >> Va. Sen. John Warner is back in the hospital for a third... more ›

The annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund begin on Friday, and the city will see a number of changes in traffic patterns and road closures this weekend as a result. Here's what you should plan around: Streets closed to vehicles: Beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, October 19, until 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 21 * Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 17th Street and 20th Street, NW * 19th Street, NW... more ›

>> If you're a Verizon wireless customer, you should read this. [NYTimes] >> "This second confrontation could only be interpreted as pure, unadulterated victory." [why.i.hate.dc] >> Man arrested in shooting of 15-year-old girl. [WaPo] >> "Today's global slavemasters?" We thought Georgetown was just full of turbos. [Free Ride] >> I think we've been going to the same Sandwich Artist. [City Desk] Photo by AlbinoFlea... more ›

>> Find out who owns the vacant property on your block. Or not. [Bloomingdale (for now)] >>What do we want? BRAINS. When do we want it? BRAINS. [WTOP] >> "This site is GREAT! I haven't seen such a good parody site since Anonymouslawfirm.com." [Free Ride] >> "Wait a second, people get their trash picked up twice a week?" [Prince of Petworth -- note new url] >> "The funny thing about drivers wanting DC to leave... more ›

>> Right there is the Laura Sessions Stepp Credo: Laura doesn't "get it" so the "social culture" is broken. [DCeiver] >> Don't miss the ABC News coverage of the 5-year anniversary of the D.C.-area sniper shooting spree. What do you think of Lee Boyd Malvo's apology? [ABC News] >> Oh c'mon, don't you get it? Kids can say they're going to "The Library" and not be lying! It's totally hilarious. [Free Ride] >> Regarding... more ›

>> The YMCA National Capital at 1711 Rhode Island Ave NW is hosting Mario Lopez and some one-named Broadway star for some dancin', and hoping you won't laugh. [via BrightestYoungThings] >> Salmon Try to Send Larry Craig Up the River [Wonkette] >> Mayor Fenty promised to speed up renovations on D.C.'s oldest pipelines, after low water pressure cost firefighters valuable time in last night's four-alarm Adams Morgan blaze. [WaPo] >> October 1 Means Its... more ›

We noted awhile ago that the owners of the Birchmere had been in talks to open another venue in Silver Spring — while that has fallen by the wayside, it looks like Live Nation will be moving in instead. The Clear Channel spinoff, which produces concerts and owns music venues around the country, including Nissan Pavilion, various Fillmores, and the House of Blues chain, signed a letter of intent to build in an old J.C.... more ›

>> Hundreds of protesters met on the National Mall this morning in support of the Jena 6. [AP / WJLA] >> Voting rights advocates plan to target specific Senators who might be swayed to change their votes. [Free Ride] >> Parking space jockeys: more entrepreneurial than lawn jockeys. [Penn Quarter Living] >> "Now this is some cold-ass eviction." [DC Metblogs] >> Eighty-five hybrid taxicabs to storm Arlington in a fit of environmentally-conscious rage. [WaPo]... more ›

>> Still unable to identify the oily substance that was found on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial earlier this month, the U.S. Park Police today said that it was in fact vandalism that put it there. Clean-up is expected to be slow in an effort to avoid permanent damage to the memorial. [WaPo] >> Senate Minority Leader McConnell: "My opposition to this bill rests instead on a single all-important fact: it is clearly and unambiguously... more ›

>> An early morning fire struck some vacant buildings located at 14th & Maryland. [Frozen Tropics] >> Could potential supporters of the D.C. Voting Rights bill in the Senate, such as Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, end up being out campaigning and miss the vote, thus leaving it open to a filibuster threat? [Free Ride] >> The D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs is trying revoke the business... more ›

>> The city is suing Dynamic Corp., the contractor who was performing renovations on the Georgetown Public Library branch when it burned down in April, for $13 million. [WTOP] >> Work crews have started dismantling the old Verizon Center scoreboard, with the new state-of-the-art one promised in time for the start of the Wizards' fall season, which begins Oct. 9. [Free Ride] >> One in four adults read no books at all in the... more ›

>> "Michael Vick agreed Monday to plead guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges, a deal that leaves the Atlanta Falcons quarterback facing up to 18 months in prison and puts his NFL career in jeopardy." [AP via WTOP] >> Rep. Robert Filner (D-Calif.) was charged with assault and battery following an incident at Dulles International Airport Sunday night. [WJLA] >> Taxi GPS doesn't eliminate fare zone confusion. [Free Ride] >> "Four years after a... more ›

>> Jenna Bush is engaged to be married to her longtime boyfriend, Henry Hager. No word on whether their wedding will be held at the White House. [AP] >> Shaw isn't really the second bloggiest neighborhood in the country, but Washington is the fourth bloggiest city. [Free Ride] >> Donald Rumsfeld resigned as secretary of defense one day before last fall's elections, even though President Bush did not announce the move until the day... more ›

>> "District of Columbia Public School students already had been warned that they might not have air conditioning when they return to class Aug. 27. Now school leaders say there might not be enough textbooks to go around immediately, either." [Examiner] >> The Ballston and Virginia Square Metro stations have reopened after an Orange Line train struck and killed a woman earlier this morning. Police are still investigating what happened. [WTOP] >> Can you... more ›

But this photo, taken in Old Town on Friday night by zenisfrisbee just before the final Harry Potter book was released, is too funny not to post. I honestly honestly honestly have no idea if this is true, I'm still reading The Half-Blood Prince, and I'm choosing to believe this guy is just trying to rile people up. For now, PLEASE DO NOT POST SPOILERS in the comments. I will remove them. That said,... more ›

>> We tragically forgot to mention in About Tonight that all left-wing, communist, Jewish, homosexual pornographers will gather on the Mall for Screen on the Green's first showing of the summer, Annie Hall. The movie starts just after sunset on the screen between 4th and 7th, NW. Bring an umbrella and/or a Faraday cage, as the thunderstorm watch goes until 9 p.m., but the screening is more or less rain or shine, unless lightning... more ›

>> 7,000 fire hydrants down, 2,500 left to go. [WaPo] >> The Chung family of Custom Cleaners is now officially seeking $82,907.50 from Roy Pearson to pay their lawyers' fees in the $54 million pants lawsuit. [WTOP] >> A coyote was spotted near the National Cathedral. Keep your roadrunners and Acme TNT locked up tight. [Free Ride] >> A doorman's manifesto. [craigslist] Photo by erin*carly... more ›

>> Vice President Dick Cheney is claiming that, for the purposes of securing classified information, his office is not part of the executive branch. Exactly which branch are you in then, Mr. Vice President? [Raw Story] >> Are you ready for another severe thunderstorm alert? The National Weather Service just issued one from now until 10 p.m. >> There's a book launch party tonight for Murray Waas' The United States vs. I. Lewis Libby. Somehow... more ›

>> Today is Ice Cream Soda Day. We're just going to start making up our own holidays at this point. Tomorrow is National Pedicure Day, and the day after that is Give A Stranger a Teddy Bear Day, OK? [Freakonomics Blog] >> A man who tried to force a co-worker into a sex act with a knife was only arrested because he's such a good employee. [City Desk] >> More on whether those beer... more ›

The Roy Pearson Pants trial continues, and Marc Fisher does indeed have an entertaining post up about what's gone on so far today, including the introduction of The Pants in question: The dramatic moment in Courtroom 415 at D.C. Superior Court revealed that yes, the pants look like they are part of a suit, and yes, the dry cleaners attached to these pants a tag with the same numbers that appeared on the receipt Pearson... more ›

>> Yesterday we wrote about the Amish market in Burtonsville being relocated next summer when the shopping center where it's located will be demolished. The blogger at Just Up The Pike seems to have information that the owner of an acre-sized plot behind Route 198 has expressed interest in leasing to the market, thus keeping Burtonsville residents sated with an uninterrupted supply of delicious Amish fried chicken. >> Private tour buses are set to... more ›

>> Arlington County Police are urging women to be extremely cautious while walking, especially late at night, after a fourth woman was attacked by a man who tried to place a plastic bag over her head. The attacks are believed to be attempted abductions, and at least one of the victims was groped. [WTOP] >> Ten Reasons WashingtonPost.com is Poorly Designed. [Goodspeed Update] >> If you go to the National Gallery on a holiday,... more ›

Via Free Ride, which is running a photo we're totally envious of depicting Mayor Adrian Fenty with a mile-wide grin and D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton with what can only be described as a growl-like expression at Tuesday's Senate hearing on the D.C. Voting Rights Act, it's worth clarifying a change to the Senate version of bill for the sake of the ongoing conversation we've been having about its constitutionality. According to this morning's Roll... more ›

>> D.C. looks to be trapped in the middle of a presidential endorsement face-off, with Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine already firmly in the Sen. Barack Obama camp (the first governor to endorse the candidate), and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley declaring his support for Sen. Hillary Clinton. Will D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty step into the fray with an endorsement of his own? >> Police have arrested a 12-year-old boy in connection to the "pins in the... more ›