Aimee Mann never seemed like one of pop's 500 likeliest candidates to release a Christmas album, but last year’s One More Drifter in the Snow was a tasteful, minor-key treat, and her “1st Annual Christmas Show” at the Birchmere last December was one of the best concerts of 2006. As she promised she would at the end of last year’s freewheeling interfaith revue, she's hitched up the sleigh again this year for a monthlong yule-tour......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on DCist. Dewars Repeal Day, because you shouldn't take the right to have a drink for granted. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at Sixth & I. Love is a Mix Tape, Rob Sheffield's book about women, music, and love. Busted Tees, where they've got naughty holiday-themed shirts. If you're interested in advertising on DCist or any other site in our......

It is truly the most wonderful time of year — for caterers, that is. D.C. knows how to feast. Between all the holiday/non-denominational/winter solstice parties for every single nonprofit/government/lobby/press room in town and our own personal holiday events, the humble art of bringing a homemade dish to any event has fallen by the wayside. Personally, I’ll be bringing a dozen Krispy Kreme jelly doughnuts to a Hanukkah party this weekend. On the other hand, there......

>> It's the first night of Hanukkah, so if you're not celebrating with family and friends at home, consider catching the Sinai Mountain Boys, a Maryland combo that melds the speedy strumming and twanging of bluegrass with Orthodox Jewish melodies. They'll be offering an hour of unique sounds for free beginning at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. >> The Washington Jewish Film Festival presents Diane Crespo and Stefan Schaefer's Arranged, the......

MONDAY >> Those looking to kick the month off with a bang might be out of luck, as it looks like there's not a whole lot going down tonight. Still, it's not a total wash, as all the usual suspects — the Black Cat, DC9, the Velvet Lounge and the Rock and Roll Hotel — will have their bars open and waiting for the District's disillusioned masses. >> DJ Jahsonic has a new Monday night......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on DCist. Dewars Repeal Day, because you shouldn't take the right to have a drink for granted. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at Sixth & I. NYC Visit, where you can find out all about things to during December in NYC. PoliTemps, where you can turn to if you're looking for politically savvy talent. Busted Tees, where they're selling 12......

Rather than bringing a bottle of a nameless, never-tried bottle of Pinot Noir to your holiday parties, bring something the hosts will actually remember that it was you who brought it. Bring something that they'll be thankful for the morning after two too many egg nogs or a night of putting up with the relatives in town for Hanukkah. Bring them Joe. Two pounds of coffee is the new bottle of wine. Don't be an......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on DCist. Dewars Repeal Day, because you shouldn't take the right to have a drink for granted. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at Sixth & I. NYC Visit, where you can find out all about things to during November in NYC. Busted Tees, where you get free shipping with the purchase of three shirts. If you're interested in advertising on......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on DCist. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at Sixth & I. NYC Visit, where you can find out all about things to during November in NYC. Busted Tees, where you get free shipping with the purchase of three shirts. If you're interested in advertising on DCist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on DCist. AMEX Urban Adventures, because big cities are full of little adventures. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at Sixth & I. NYC Visit, where you can find out all about things to during November in NYC. Busted Tees, where they've thrown their weight behind Hillary in '08. That's Hillary Duff. If you're interested in advertising on DCist or any......

Welcome back, Washington. You're probably still busy with Holiday merriment, but we're here working hard for you. Err... rather, we'll be posting today between yelling at football games and re-heating the Christmas roast beast. Also worth noting is the beginning of Kwanzaa and observance of Boxing Day. While Kwanzaa is mainly an American week of celebration, we have special envy of Boxing Day, a holiday virtually everywhere else in the English-speaking world. It's a whole......

Good morning, Washington. Either you're in the throes of a long weekend courtesy of the holidays, or toiling away at work. We at DCist are glad to be back -- albeit at a slower pace this week -- bringing you the news and events one post at a time. And while Christmas has come and gone, both Hanukkah and Kwanzaa kick off today, extending the celebration for the week to come. In the Spirit of......

Good morning, Washington. As if the Christmas lights and plastic santas weren't enough to satiate our holiday decorating needs, now we're getting word of an abundance of nativity scenes with live animals -- camels to be exact. As cute as this sounds, something about your lawn ornaments spitting on you just doesn't seem like a good idea. And aren't camels desert-roaming beasts? With the beginning of winter behind us and Christmas and Hanukkah fastly......

Christmas and Hanukkah both drop on 12/25 this year, and as we get closer to that date, retailers of fine books begin to put their energy behind that last big sales push of the year. This means a dearth of author events until we clear Epiphany. All the same, we got the hook-up with what’s out there. MONDAY There are those that say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Yet most of the people......

Tonight marks the first night lighting of the National Menorah at the Ellipse. The event, hosted by the National Friends of Lubavitch, will showcase the United States Navy Band and offers latkes and "menorah kits" to those who RSVP. Our sibling-site SFist offers some amusing insight to the holiday Tonight marks the first of eight nights of Hanukkah, that minor holiday puffed up to major holiday deal so goyim have something to say after that......

Good morning. Today will be cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers, and temperatures in the 40s. The photo was taken yesterday at the Georgetown Flea Market, which also has a location near the Courthouse metrorail station in Arlington. Metrobus Riders to Also Ride Free: WMATA's board has announced bus riders will also ride free during the Dec. 16 promotion by financial company ING Direct. On that day all bus and rail riders......

With the holiday season upon us, DCist is bracing for the usual phalanx of seasonal activities. There's a number of events around the mall of interest. Now that we've answered all your questions about the National Christmas Tree, you can head down to the Ellipse tonight to see it lit. To the right is a photo of Lynn Cheney putting the finishing touches on it last week. If the idea of a family-friendly Pagent of......