Sad, if not entirely unexpected news: the first D.C. fatality due to the recent heat wave has been confirmed. more ›

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there are a total of 132 million people suffering through some kind of heat-related advisory or warning right now. (Including a "Fire Weather Watch" in Alaska, which sounds terrifying.) But just so we're clear, we're suffering the most. more ›

Even if waiting to get your driver's license renewed in the middle of an intense heat wave without the help of recirculated air doesn't sound like, you know, the worst thing in the history of the world, the District's Department of Motor Vehicles is recommending you steer clear of its Georgetown branch today. more ›

No, not like that -- literally hot. more ›

Seriously, going outside tomorrow is going to be rough -- the National Weather Service has already installed a heat advisory between noon and 8 p.m. tomorrow, as the heat index could reach 105. more ›

With the temperature rising around the District this week, surely some may be tempted to go old school and crack open one of the city's fire hydrants in search of some refreshment. But the city is getting an early start on reminding residents that they would really prefer it if you let the hydrants be. This morning, we got the usual reminder from the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department and DC Water that resident residents who tamper with the city's hydrants are potentially to blame when firefighters are unable to find a working water supply. more ›

Autumn has officially arrived -- the Redskins have lost to a perennial doormat, we're talking about fiscal year-end concerns, and it's no longer necessary to run the air conditioning all day, every day. Although it's not as if a lack of air conditioning will be anything different for Metrorail cars, many of which didn't have effective cooling over the course of this historically hot summer. more ›

Aside from donating to charity or saving for your child's college fund, the best use of $6.75 is the quarter-chicken platter with fries and salad at Skorpios Maggio's Family Restaurant (affectionately known as Skorpios) in Vienna.  Hot rotisserie chicken, dusted with a lemon peppery spice blend, served to you on a divided plate with thick cut steak fries and a simple lettuce salad covered generously in feta and dressed with oil and vinegar, and a side of pita to mop up the juices that ooze out of the end of this delicious run-on sentence.  Rice pilaf and spinach rice are suitable side substitutes, if you're so inclined. more ›

In Los Angeles, LAist most definitely celebrated Thanksgiving like no other. After all, one has to keep up all the energy to keep on walking the line at the Writers Strike and fighting the unfortunate return of the wildfires in Malibu, which single handedly destroyed over fifty homes within the first 24 hours. National outlets may be covering the fires, but CNN also found it is easier to buy a gun than fruit and... more ›

>> A solid small local show at the Red and the Black tonight, with the pleasing rock of The Charm Offensive, Cheverly Hot Noodle, and Baltimore's Lawnchair. $8, 9:30 p.m. >> It might be easy to dismiss Galactic as some frat boy-friendly jam band, but the funk and jazz-influenced quintet are practically royalty in their hometown of New Orleans, and tonight they'll perform with a series of well-respected MCs in support of their latest... more ›

With jambalaya simmering in the corner, and people waiting in line to get a haircut, you wouldn’t have thought you were in a bar, let alone at a rock show. But last week, upstairs from haircut-and-a-shot night, The Red & The Black was in fact hosting a lineup of several very different styles of local music. Despite a modest midweek crowd — consisting mostly of other bands — one group from Baltimore introduced a unique... more ›

MONDAY >> You cannot avoid Toots Hibbert on TV these days. Well actually, it is just that Nissan car commercial with the Clash's version of Toots & the Maytals' "Pressure Drop." The guy who penned that song, "Reggae Got Soul," and numerous other R&B flavored Jamaican numbers is at the 930 Club with the latest version of the Maytals. Hot D.C. go-go combo Mambo Sauce were just added as openers. $26 >> If solo indie... more ›

Any D.C. resident with a laptop who regularly makes a trip to New York or Philadelphia on Amtrak has probably longed for wireless internet access on their journeys. On Monday, Amtrak announced it has installed wireless internet, but just in their stations. Sadly it's not awesome, free internet, but regular old T-Mobile Hot Spots, which costs money. The hot spots will be available at Union Station, Baltimore Penn Station, Wilmington Station in Delaware, Philadelphia... more ›

It's been almost two years since VHS or Beta brought their explosive electronic rock to a non-DJ show in D.C., which is too long for us. On Saturday the Kentuckians came to the Rock and Roll Hotel, bringing buzz band Walter Meego and local faves The Vita Ruins. Unfortunately we missed The Vita Ruins' opening set, but judging by our past experience, the atmospheric Three Stars and Unbuckled alums put on a good show. Walter... more ›

>> Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry feels "disrespected and misled" by Mayor Adrian Fenty regarding the changes the administration made to the development of Poplar Point, where plans for a new stadium for D.C. United have now been abandoned. [WTOP] >> The accused "D.C. Madam," Deborah Jeane Palfrey, is alleging that national security concerns related to the fact that Muslim men used her escort service before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks might... more ›

FRIDAY: >> In case you missed Chapel Hill's The Old Ceremony (pictured) last time they were in town, they'll be at the Rock and Roll Hotel tonight with Junior League, Unwed Sailor and John Pringle. We've raved in the past about lead singer Django Haskins' Nick Cave-meets-Ben Folds stage presence, and since then we've picked up their 2006 release Our One Mistake. If you can't make the show, we highly suggest giving them a listen... more ›

Good Friday to you, Washington. Are you getting psyched for the weekend already? No? Did we mention how nice the weather's going to be yet? Predictions are for mostly sunny skies and low humidity levels on Saturday with below-normal high temperatures in the low 80s and overnight lows sinking down to, get this, the low 60s. It's like Christmas in August! District Plagued By Lead Concerns: It's sure starting to feel like we're having... more ›

>> A Place To Bury Strangers bring their surf rock inflected shoegaze (with just a hint of Echo and The Bunnymen) to the backstage at the Black Cat. Airiel opens. 9 p.m., only $7. >> Georgie James plays an acoustic set at DC9 tonight during the ShervinFoto Book Release Party. Shervin Lainez' Happy Accidents documents 25 D.C. bands over the past 2 years. The book comes with a compilation CD or 12 tracks from... more ›

This weekend is the 45th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence from Great Britain. To commemorate this event, the Embassy of Jamaica will be hosting a series of events capped off with the Independence Sunday Market on Sunday at the Organization of American States on the corner of Constitution Ave. and 17th St. NW. Not only will there be food and crafts, but also a concert headlined by reggae artist Shaggy. Shaggy gained a great deal of... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Have you gotten your last meal at A.V. Ristorante yet? If not, you'd better hurry — today's Post has a fond reminiscence about the place, noting that its last meal will be served on Saturday evening. It's admittedly not the finest Italian food in the city, but there's something weird and distinctive about A.V. We'll be sorry to see it go. It's Hot And Dry Out There: It sounds like we could... more ›

Washington Improv Theater knows that it's intern harvest season. By day, the twenty-somethings flip and flop in business casual around the Hill and by night, drunkenly attempt to figure out the Metro rail system. WIT has been studying the funny critters for their second (and final) installment of an intern-themed improv comedy night called “WIT Hot American Summer.” Ken Hays and Rich Nyman, the stars of the two-man show, aren’t actual interns, but they know... more ›

LAist was comped front row seats by the Dodgers due to Malingering being struck by a foul ball last week, and she came back with some great photos, and earlier made fun of 4th of July on Venice Beach. But the biggest stories of the week was that the Mayor's Hot Tamale was revealed, and that a Kwik-E-Mart was erected in Burbank. Phillyist was busy doing the Fourth of July up right, exercising their... more ›

The D.C. Lottery will begin selling tickets for a new, short-term raffle today that has considerably better odds of a large payout than most other lottery games. The D.C. Millionaire Raffle will sell a fixed number of 250,000 raffle tickets at $10 a piece, each pre-printed with a six-digit number, from now until August 22, 2007 (or until all tickets are sold). One top prize of $1 million will be awarded after a drawing, as... more ›

What with Paris Hilton's release earlier this week and the upcoming celebration of American Independence (sorry, Londonist!), we've been thinking a lot about freedom. Freedom to vote, freedom to choose, and most importantly, freedom to blog. Here are a few things we're happy we've been free to blog about this week. Being the nation's capital, DCist felt especially proud to let freedom ring this week by exposing the really important issues, like how sad they... more ›

MONDAY >> The wait is over! We've been anxiously awaiting the start of Fort Reno's season, and the day has finally arrived. Head up to the park and hear one of DCist's favorite local outfits, Deleted Scenes, along with Mass Movement of the Moth and The Boom Orangutangs. >> It's movie night at Galaxy Hut, and tonight the theme is 80s Surf Films. Get your Point Break on and drink an Alagash or twelve. It... more ›

Seattlest has a talk with the photographer from last week's "Segway Mom" and then experiences some dissension in the ranks over the question of wine vs. beer. It's not West Side Story, but about as close as they'll get. They're also still waiting on some inbox relief after a spammer is arrested. As Chicagoist counts down the days to its third anniversary party, they found all-organic pizza to be underwhelming amidst the hoopla, tried... more ›