Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés is a wizard on the keys, and is considered among the finest Latin jazz musicians in the world. He will be performing with the Afro-Cuban Messengers tonight at George Mason University. more ›

Now that school is back in session and conference play is underway, DCist is giving you a rundown of all the local hoops teams, and we mean all of them. So if you need something to distract you from that other team in DC, we have eight more that you can follow. more ›

While 2011 is winding down, college basketball is about to pick up. Area schools are about to begin -- or have already begun -- conference play, which means it's time for the first of many college hoops roundups this season. So whether you follow the Hoyas, Terps, Colonials, Patriots, Bison or Eagles, we here at DCist have got you covered: more ›

This Friday marks the first time college basketball teams can run organized practice for the upcoming season. In other words, it's Midnight Madness time. more ›

Good morning Washington. While this weekend won't be as warm as yesterday, we'll still hit the 60s today as we officially transition into Spring tomorrow. Also, don't miss tonight's super full moon, it was already pretty big last night. more ›

Now that March Madness is really underway -- with four channels of viewing enjoyment for good measure -- DCist breaks down the local area teams that made the Big Dance as well as those that, well, did not. more ›

October is arguably the greatest month on the entire sports calendar, though college basketball fans might disagree -- March is still a long way off. But we do have Midnight Madness, otherwise known as the annual tip-off to the collegiate hoops season. DCist has taken the liberty of compiling this year's Madness events in the area -- they all take place tomorrow night -- so whether you root for the Hoyas, Terps, Patriots or Colonials, we've got you covered. more ›

Three area Men's soccer squads made Soccer America's Preseason Top 25, led by the defending national champion Maryland, at #8. The Terps lost a number of stars from last year's title team (its second in four years), but return enough talent to merit the top ten ranking. They're also one of three ACC teams in the first ten. George Mason is ranked #19, and actually claimed a solid 1-0 exhibition win on the road at Virginia last week. The Patriots are coming off their first Colonial Athletic Association title in 20 years and open the season by hosting the annual D.C. College Cup, featuring American, George Washington, and Howard. Loyola (Md.) also feature in the Top 25, coming in at #17. The Greyhounds are picked to take home the MAAC crown again this year, and return preseason player of the year Jamie Dervill. more ›

Not burgers. Not books. Frakkin' en-see-double-A basketball. more ›

Here's a story that will raise eyebrows among academic readers: Courtesy of Crooked Timber¹ comes news from late last month that Thomson Reuters has filed suit against the Commonwealth of Virginia,² seeking an injunction against George Mason University to prevent the school from distributing Zotero, a Firefox plugin for managing references and citations. The lawsuit claims that Zotero violates the license agreement for EndNote, Thomson Reuters's citations management software, because Zotero converts the proprietary .ens style file made by EndNote. In essence, argues Thomson Reuters, a GMU professor reverse-engineered their commercial application and the school is now giving it away for free. more ›

Selection Sunday is a few days away, and college hoops action is heating up inside the Beltway. With 2-4 area teams destined for this year's NCAA Tournament and local teams' success in recent years, it's safe to say that we're living in one of the country's college hoops hotbeds. Let's take a look at our area teams and make a few predictions along the way. In our first installment, we'll find out what went right for the teams that have already punched their ticket to the Big Dance. more ›

George Mason capped a successful holiday week by beating South Carolina yesterday to take third-place in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla. Will Thomas paced the Patriots with 22 points and 11 rebounds, solidifying his place on the All-Tournament team. George Mason kicked off their tournament with an 87-77 win over 18th-ranked Kansas State. John Vaughan's 21 points led the team, which put all five starters in double figures. Folarin Campbell's 25 points made... more ›

Friday has arrived at last, Washington. Despite the federal holiday on Monday, it's been a rather long week for many of us - though of course, we couldn't hold a candle to the week that D.C. CFO Natwar Gandhi has had. The Post writes about yesterday's lengthy D.C. Council hearing into the tax office scandal, which lasted until 9 p.m. and where it was apparently revealed late in the evening that authorities are investigating the... more ›

It's hard out there for a frat guy. That, at least, is what pro-Greek commenters over at George Mason University's Broadside newspaper would have you believe. The student publication has a story up about a law suit filed by the school's banned chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, which is suing GMU for violating their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Sigma Chi was kicked off the campus after being found guilty of a series of... more ›

Written by DCist Contributor Sarah Stonesifer The Diamondback – University of Maryland: >> Hartwick Towers, an off-campus apartment building, was the scene of a fire on Friday, Oct. 12. The fire has come under scrutiny by both students and city officials, as the building is not equipped with sprinklers and fire alarms did not function during the fire. Students were left on their own to find alternative housing until they were let back into their... more ›

Written by DCist contributor Angela Olson. Ballet Folklórico de México finishes an engagement at George Mason University Center for the Arts Concert Hall today. The Mexico City based dance company has long been a must see for travelers attracted by their colorful and energetic performances. The dancing exemplifies the spirit of Mexico, and the company puts on a great show for all ages. With six foot tall headdresses, carnival costumes and a live Mariachi band,... more ›

Written by DCist Contributor Fredo Alvarez Campus Pride, the nation's largest non-profit student LGBT organization, this week launched its Campus Climate Index, an online report card that allows LGBT students from colleges across the country to rate their schools on their inclusiveness and support of LGBT students, employees and their allies. Schools are rated on a scale from one to five stars based on a voluntary survey. Of 80 public and private institutions that... more ›

By DCist Contributor Sarah Stonesifer The Eagle - American: >> At American University, officials decided that an official record will be kept along with possible judicial action after students receive their "second medical transport due to alcohol consumption." So remember kids, the first case of alcohol poisoning is free. >> There was an attempted robbery in an American University dorm last Saturday, but the suspect was quickly apprehended and identified. The Hoya - Georgetown: >>... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Starting tonight, George Mason Stadium plays host to the region's annual D.C . College Cup. The soccer teams of George Washington, American, Howard, and George Mason will square off in two rounds of games. Though the tournament is conspicuously missing national powerhouses UMD and UVA, the event will still showcase some of the best young talent around. GW and AU kick off tonight's slate (5:00 p.m.), with Howard and GMU rounding the night... more ›

At the end of August, young folks throughout D.C. will have the opportunity to apply for the Hamiltonian Fellowship, a two year program that offers emerging artists further professional development and exposure of their work in the Hamiltonian Gallery, currently under construction at the corner of 14th and U streets NW. The Hamiltonian Fellowship and Gallery is the brainchild of Paul So, a physics professor at George Mason University. While it may seem odd that... more ›

Every year since its opening in 1989, the DC Arts Center has held its 1460 Wall Mountables show as a fundraiser for the non-profit Adams Morgan art center. A non-juried opportunity for artists of varying styles and skill levels to display work in a respected D.C. gallery, Wall Mountables comes off as a mini-Artomatic. Work is displayed floor-to-ceiling salon-style, with photographs next to drawn portraits next to abstract oils. And, just like at Artomatic, some... more ›

What makes a champion? Is it commitment, the ability to spend the long hours necessary honing a skill to a razor's edge, forgoing the simple pleasures of idle laziness the rest of us take for granted? Is it drive, that fire in the belly that pushes a winner on, past discouragement, past early failures, past the point when lesser beings throw in the towel? Maybe it's simply birthright, taking advantage of those innate abilities that... more ›

An Examiner story this morning is designed to fill you with dread for the coming D.C. Pricepocalypse. According to a study released Wednesday by George Mason University professor Stephen Fuller, the average price of a home in the national capital region likely will swell almost 3,000 percent in 50 years. The study predicts the average home in the metro area will be $14 million in 2057, compared to today’s average of $477,000. As if your nightmares about never being able to afford to buy a home in D.C. weren't bad enough already. more ›

Hey, Washington, how are ya? If you like hot weather and uninterrupted sunshine (and who doesn't) you're sure to enjoy this fine Tuesday. If instead you're not savoring the thought of arriving at work covered in a fine sheen of sweat, think twice about cutting out your walk by hopping in the car. Gas prices hit a new high yesterday, with the cost of a gallon over $3.00. Are there any good deals at... more ›

Nestled between cherry blossom season and the influx of D.C.'s summer intern and tourist season is a hopeful time, when students turn away from keggers and exams to graduate into the real world -- at least in theory. For Washington's thousands of college seniors, this means job hunting, leaving the friendly confines of campus and the prospect of moving into your parents' basement. It also means a litany of platitudes, advice and well-wishes from commencement... more ›

This past weekend's concerts from the National Symphony Orchestra provided the second opportunity in the last month or so to hear Yundi Li play Liszt's first piano concerto. The first time was with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra at George Mason (reviewed last month), and the coincidence demands a comparison. On both occasions, Li has played the work with impressive accuracy and grace, with renditions remarkably similar to his recent recording. There were a few negligible... more ›

Good morning, Washington. We've been hearing some excellent reports from the frontlines of the celebrations in Georgetown last night, after the Hoyas came back from a 10 point deficit to beat the Tar Heels 96-84. Thousands of students filled M Street in their exuberance, chanting "Hoya Saxa" at the top of their lungs. A smaller group apparently ran all the way to the White House, where the Secret Service asked them to keep it down.... more ›

So, it seems like George Mason may have used up much of the region's supply of NCAA tourney magic in last year's dramatic run. Of the seven regional teams in this year's tournament, only Georgetown survived the first weekend to make the Sweet 16 – stay tuned to DCist for more hoops coverage as the city unites behind the Hoyas. And before you ask: no, I'm not the least bit bitter about having a bracket... more ›

It starts at 12:20 p.m. this afternoon. Tip-off. For some, the pinnacle of sports fandom rests in these next few days. They are epic: 12 hour days that capture some of the very reasons why we watch sports. The NCAA Tournament has the most exhaustive field in major U.S. sports, giving 65 teams a shot at glory in the national spotlight. Year after year, the Big Dance provides buzzer beaters, star turns, Cinderella stories and... more ›