A review of the debut album by the house music group House of Soul. more ›

Today the Post brings up an issue that we've discussed plenty of times around these parts: where is it OK to protest, and where is it not? more ›

As if this story needed any more double entendre: The Hill reports that Capitol Police sealed off the area around Rep. Anthony Weiner’s (D-N.Y.) Rayburn office this afternoon to investigate, yes, a suspicious package. more ›

Apologies to anyone reading this who actually does make a living playing ball in the National Basketball Association, but its probably safe to say that if you're looking at this right now, you will never, ever have a closet this large. Ever. more ›

>> "The Beat Clash" this week at Bohemian Caverns will feature the talents of Rock Mikey, Gordo Brega, T.E.F.L.O.N., Madam Madon, Tae Barz, Yung Reek and DJ Monae. $10, 9 p.m. more ›

Perhaps you caught this WUSA9 story about a large tree smashing into a house in Falls Church on Wednesday. Turns out, the house is owned by the parents of former DCist Food & Drink Editor Eddie Kim, who was the only person there at the time of the incident. Eddie only recently returned from a graduate studies program in Sweden, and has been staying with his parents while he looks for a job and an apartment. more ›

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>> Local rapper Kingpen Slim is throwing a CD release party for his new album, The Beam Up, at Eyebar. Free, 10 p.m. more ›

>> For the last time before it goes on hiatus, DJs 2-Tone Jones and Marshall Law will be hosting a "Vs." featuring the works of Kanye and Snoop at Almaz. $5, 9 p.m. more ›

All day I've been trying to think of an angle for a quick post on the news that actor Kal Penn (The Namesake, Harold & Kumar) is leaving Hollywood in favor of D.C. and a job inside the White House Office of Public Liaison. We could speculate where he should probably live (Dupont seems the most likely candidate, close enough to walk to work but still young and fun and overpriced), or something like that. But frankly, I've been too pissed that I managed to absolutely ruin the episode of House that's still sitting on my TiVo by skimming the comments in this Lynn Sweet blog post (EW.com was the first to report the news). I'm always happy to welcome another L.A. transplant to town, but Penn couldn't have waited a couple days to announce this one? Gah. He's lucky we went to the same college, so I can't really stay mad for long. Welcome to D.C., Kal. If you're anything like me, you're not going to miss Los Angeles for a second. more ›

>>The past few years have produced several British soul sirens. Brighton native Alice Russell should be counted among them. She'll be at Bohemian Caverns for an intimate show. $15 in advance, 7 p.m. more ›

>> Saxophonist Teodross Avery is a jazz musician, but he's spent a lot of time backing the likes of Mos Def and Amy Winehouse, thus making him a bridge between different musical cultures. He'll be performing two shows at Blues Alley. $25, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. more ›

>> Keyboardist and D.C. native Andrae Alexander is a rising star on the jazz soul scene. He'll be at Bohemian Caverns with Bilal Salaam, YahZarah, and Debórah Bond for two shows. $10, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. more ›

>> The monthly "Disco City" event at the Rock and Roll Hotel is back with Chris Burns and Max Dunbar playing host to guests Deep Sang and Ed Dudes. They'll be featuring the underground dance sounds of the 1970s and '80s. Free, 9:30 p.m. more ›

>> A joke could be made about the munchies, Thanksgiving, and Method Man & Redman, but we'll spare you. The dynamic duo will be at the 9:30 Club along with Termanology and Alexandria native, Big Pooh. $27.50, 7 p.m. more ›

>> Despite being saddled with the "controversial" label, Minneapolis emcee Brother Ali (pictured) has garnered acclaim from multiple publications. He'll be at the Rock and Roll Hotel along with BK One, Mr. Lif, Toki Wright, and local act, Educated Consumers. $17, 8 p.m. more ›

>> As far as we can tell, Janet Jackson intends to show up for her concert at the Verizon Center. She'll be joined by LL Cool J. $49.75-$129.75, 7:30 p.m. more ›

>> Bobbito Garcia's last time in town was a beautiful exploration of Stevie Wonder's catalog. Today, he'll be teaming up with locally-based rapper/producer/DJ, Roddy Rod at Liv for "Sole(ism)", a launch party for the Artistic-Sole shoe design outfit. $8 in advance/$12 at the door, 8 p.m. more ›

In a dance music world where performances have become more automated thanks to the accessibility of programs like Serato, live musicians are a foreign concept. Despite the seeming novelty, there are acts performing today looking to preserve the funkiness brought to the fore by the likes of James Brown and Prince, among others. Two of them, Tortured Soul and Amp Fiddler, will bring their soulful stylings and love of 4/4 rhythms to the 9:30 Club Saturday. more ›

FRIDAY more ›

There is a whole slew of fantastic architecture shots in the pool right now -- looks like those of you still hanging around town this week all had the same idea. This shot by *wanderlust*, a new recruit to the DCist pool, of the Heurich House is a stand-out, with, perhaps strangely, the soft-focus really bringing out the texture of the old stones. EXIF. more ›

When in the closing days of 2006 we looked back on the year in D.C. voting rights, we optimistically hoped that 2007 would finally be the year that saw some movement on enfranchising the District's residents. Movement, yes; resolution, not so much. So as we wind down 2007, we're again left hoping that maybe the coming year will be the one. more ›

Am I the only one who thinks this year's White House Christmas tree is a little ... gaudy? These sweet little trees, part of the annual Pageant (or Pathway) of Peace, though perhaps less regal, seem more personal and softly colorful. Flickr user philliefan_99 took this shot of some families strolling by last week, down the path that shows off 56 trees -- one for each state, territory, and of course, D.C. I'm sure most would agree with the commenter, though: it would look even better with a few inches of snow. EXIF. more ›

This week the Washington Post published an article featuring three local pastry chefs creating recipes around exotic fruits. The article was a nod to the recent change that allows the legal importation from Thailand of rambutan, litchis, longans, new varieties of mangoes, and the "queen of fruits", the mangosteen. Many of these fruits were available fresh in Asian markets, but were often smuggled from Canada. The fruits will begin trickling in seasonally from Thailand, and initially be sold in gourmet markets such as Dean & Deluca, Balducci's, and Wegman's. more ›

The Washington Post has a fantastic story on today's front page accusing Sen. Mary Landrieu (D.-La.), in her role as chairwoman of the Senate's D.C. appropriations subcommittee up until earlier this year, of forcing an unproven reading program on the District's kindergarten and first grade classrooms in exchange for $80,000 in donations from the company that designed it. more ›

Who knew the image of Jackie Kennedy could be so disturbing? more ›

Good morning, Washington. Think good thoughts for Tian Tian, the National Zoo's male giant panda and the biological father of Tai Shan/Butterstick. Tian Tian underwent eye surgery yesterday to remove inflamed tissue from one of his third eyelids. He's expected to make a full recovery, but in the meantime he'll have to live with the shame of being the one to expose this whole pandas having third eyelids monstrosity. DCist has always held a firm editorial stand that pandas are adorable, but after learning this fact we may have to convene our board to reconsider. more ›

Though perhaps the inclination when it starts to dip past the point of freezing is to stay inside with a blanket and a cup of something steaming, there are so many things to do and see outside -- whether it's the White House or Capitol Christmas trees or one of the many holiday fairs -- that it's almost a shame to spend all of December on your couch. Flickr user sintixerr caught this scene at the Downtown Holiday Market going on in Penn Quarter, going on every day from 12 to 8 p.m. until December 23. The dapper gentleman looking a bit out of place in the sea of causal shoppers in their puffy jackets gives this photo some amusing character. EXIF. more ›

Say what you will about the $515.7 billion spending bill the House of Representatives passed yesterday, there is a silver-lining for the District -- the ban on the use of public funds for needle-exchange programs was finally lifted. more ›

>> It wasn't too far from here -- just a couple hours south in Midlothian, VA, where Aimee Mann got her start. Now the guitar playing song weaver is a bonafide modern music legend. She's treating The Birchmere to her 2nd Annual Christmas Show, and it's not something you should miss. $45.50, 7:30 p.m. more ›