A Virginia elementary school student apparently suffered alcohol poisoning earlier this week after she ate two pumps of hand sanitizer inside her classroom on a dare. more ›

In what has, for whatever silly reason, become the story to chat about around the local media this week, Parenting magazine rated Washington D.C. the number one place for families in the country, citing our vast supply of cultural institutions, recreational opportunities and kid-friendly restaurants as signs that the District is the place to raise a kid. Of course, not everyone agrees. more ›

While the Sulaimon Brown testimony will rightfully garner the lion's share of today's headlines, we couldn't help but highlight one particularly juicy tidbit about one of this year's other local government scandals: according to the Examiner, Kwame Brown rejected the first Lincoln Navigator -- the one with the tan interior -- because his kids are a bunch of messy eaters. more ›

I'd argue that any wishing for spring in the nation's capital is wildly premature until three milestones are met: the opening of spring training, the announcement of the peak cherry blossom bloom, and, of course, the online rush to snag tickets to the annual parade of adorability and occasional terror which is the White House Easter Egg Roll. more ›

Not to depress the whole lot of you, but this story in USA Today -- about how the United States Post Office is receiving more letters to Santa from children asking for basic needs instead of toys -- is one of the most melancholic news blasts I've read in some time. more ›

So here's something to make you smile on this Friday morning -- about 100 kids and a smattering of adults from Meridian Public Charter School, marching down U Street, enthusiastically encouraging people to help the homeless. more ›

by DCist contributor Catherine McCarthy more ›

Traditionally, the White House Easter Egg Roll has been attended mostly by D.C. area families who camped out early with their kids to score tickets to the free annual event. But on Monday, the 2009 White House Easter Egg Roll played host to over 30,000 people from 45 states and the District of Columbia, thanks to a new online ticket distribution plan put in place by the new administration. Local parents grumbled, but 4,000 tickets were also distributed separately to students from D.C., Maryland and Virginia public schools. DCist photographer Meaghan Gay was there to capture what an Easter Egg Roll hosted by the Obama family looks like. more ›

We've noticed in recent days that there are many more teens running around Dupont Circle than you'd normally expect. Local eateries have been extra crowded, pretty much every Starbucks is a no-go zone and the usual resident-enforced rules of Metro are violated at will. What gives? more ›

"Revolution girl style now!" more ›

There are probably quite a few working bands on the East Coast who would pay good money to sit in on a workshop run by Vicki Savoula and Amanda MacKaye. The Black Cat talent buyer and the Fort Reno summer concert series organizer held a masterclass yesterday to teach a group of aspiring musicians how to approach booking their bands at some of D.C.'s most famous venues. Didn't get an invite? That's probably because you're not a girl between the ages of eight and 18. more ›

Back in June we told you about the awesomeness that is the Girls Rock!DC summer camp, which will teach young local ladies how to play rock music and form bands. The camp itself runs from August 11-15, and culminates with a performance showcase on Saturday, August 16 at the 9:30 Club (sorry, all camp spots are full at this time). You can be sure that DCist will be there to rock out with the girls next month. more ›

Do you know a young lady between the ages of eight and 18 who'd like to spend part of her summer learning how to play thrash metal? Is there any way you think I can pass for under 18 so I can attend? more ›

Good morning, Washington. We hope not too many of you were making your way into the city from Montgomery County this morning, as two separate water main breaks forced road closures in Takoma Park and kids to get the day off from school in Germantown. We'll admit it -- we're pretty envious of the students at Fox Chapel Elementary School, who get to spend the day doing whatever they please while we had to show up and actually do work. Isn't it supposed to be Christmas break already? more ›

The majority of Overheards in D.C. fall into only a few categories: funny sex stuff, dumb tourists and weird kids. There's the occasional amusing political thing, or some quip that somebody sent in because they think they or their friends are funny. But there are always those that make absolutely no sense unless you are knowledgeable about some extremely narrow area of trivia, such as say, documentaries about lost and possibly mythical Brazilian cities. more ›

NBC4 reported last night that food banks are not the only local charities feeling the holiday crunch this year: the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program in D.C. also says it is suffering from a decline in donations compared to last year. So we are posting this photo of a crying baby we found to make you feel bad -- bad enough to donate some toys to needy local kids, that is. There are something... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Are ya ready for some embezzlement scandal news? Of course you are! This morning's update comes not from the embattled Office of Tax and Revenue, but rather from the D.C. Public Schools front office, as the Examiner reports that Eugene Smith, the former director of internal audits for DCPS, entered a guilty plea yesterday to charges of stealing nearly $50,000 from a charter school account. Smith was fired by the school system... more ›

The Holiday season is in full swing in NYC, with holiday lights in Brooklyn, a giant snow globe in Bryan Park and Chanukah specials for ham. One citizen decided to go vigilante on annoying car alarms, a murder suspect used a fake Asian accent on the stand and a video of a man being beaten up by teenage girls on a subway shocked the city. And we interviewed soon-to-be-leaving-Gawker editor Choire Sicha, who said,... more ›

Straight women and gay men all across D.C. were presumably disappointed by the news that came out over the Thanksgiving holiday that Brad Pitt had dropped out of the production of State of Play, a big-budget political thriller set to begin filming here in Washington this winter. You may recall that Pitt had stopped by the Washington Post newsroom in September to do some research on the character he was slated to play in the... more ›

The cold weather - and holiday festivities - descended upon Gothamist. The Rockefeller Christmas tree was lit, Broadway stagehand finally ended their strike, and NASCAR decided to run their victory lap through Times Square. There were disturbing photographs revealing the working conditions in which many city manholes are produced and ninjas were also a hot topic, either robbing homes or entering into alibis. But the city was really rocked by how Rudy Giuliani's visits... more ›

After a fire gutted Eastern Market last April, the stretch of 7th Street SE adjacent to the market building was closed off on weekends to accommodate vendors, construction of the temporary East Hall and reconstruction of the South Hall. In an interview on WTOP (link to audiostream) last week, Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells said he wants to keep 7th Street that way. The Hill picked up the story on Wednesday, and the Hilleast... more ›

It's starting to be winter, finally, after a long Indian summer of warm days and little rainfall. But lately it's been chillier and drizzlier and crummier outside. Most people prefer the sun; they don't have to wear big jackets or get soggy, and D.C. cold always seems to bite. That doesn't bother some folks. But they're probably looking at you because you're wearing Uggs. Quote of the Week At the Foggy Bottom Metro station: Girl... more ›

>> The Black Cat's backstage is going to be pumping out the punk noise tonight as Antelope stops by, with Thank You and The Andalusians. $8, 9 p.m. >> DC Scores, a local nonprofit that provides innovative after-school programming to Washington kids, is hosting its 10th Annual Poetry Slam tonight. The event will feature 300 of the District's public elementary and middle school students competing for the coveted Golden Mic trophy -- obviously it... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Given that A Charlie Brown Christmas was on TV last night, this story seems especially rough. Apparently some folks stole $1500 worth of Christmas trees from the Boy Scouts that were selling them. Remember kids: leave your clearly marked tree receipt out for Santa if you want your presents delivered promptly and with a minimum of additional paperwork. Latest On Taylor Murder Investigation, Funeral: The Post reports on the few details... more ›

It was a slower week for comments, given that lots of folks were away for Turkey Time, but there were still plenty of good ones. Monkeyrotica has this week's Comment of the Week in regards to the accident in Maryland where kids weren't wearing their seatbelts. He makes a good point, then makes us laugh: It's like they're deliberately avoiding being critical of the kids' behavior, I guess for the sake of the parents, but... more ›

MONDAY >>Satisfy your cheese cravings as former American Idol star (and Richmond, VA native) Elliot Yamin plays the 9:30 Club, with the Last Goodnight and Josh Hoge. $25, Doors at 7 p.m. >>Australian pop singer Ben Lee -- he of the short-lived Bens and "Catch My Disease" moderate fame -- comes to Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood to play the Birchmere. Joining him is are Cary Brothers. $19.50, 7:30 p.m. TUESDAY >>Dinosaur Jr. just can't stop... more ›

Tomorrow we'll be greeted with the strange dissonance of 73 degree weather and a sunset at ten to five. Confusing as it is, the tilt of the Earth will finally win out, and winter will arrive sooner or later. But if you ask CapitalWeather.com, it won't be any great shakes. Bad news for us snow lovers and school kids, but great news for southern transplants and bad drivers. According to CapitalWeather's famed Winter Outlook, posted... more ›

America by Air, the newest permanent gallery opened by The National Air and Space Museum, encompasses the entire history of flight and air travel in the United States, starting in 1914 and leading up to today. We know what you're thinking, "Isn't that what the whole museum is about?" And yes...it is. So Air and Space has managed to create an exhibit that is, in fact, a microcosm of itself, which is so damn postmodern... more ›