Just in time for the evening rush hour, MPD has sealed off four blocks of downtown to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The officers we spoke to said that a suspicious package is to blame, and that the closed area stretches from K St. to M and from 15th to 17th. If you work in the affected area you'll be permitted to walk out of the area, toward its nearest edge — but otherwise the area's strictly off-limits. There's currently no word on when the streets will be reopened. UPDATE: At 5:10 p.m. the area was reopened. Apparently a briefcase left in front of the 16th & L Planned Parenthood was to blame for the false alarm. Thanks to Justin P for the tip. more ›

>> 9:30 Club has Editors, Ra Ra Riot, and Biffy Clyro. $15 tickets still available, and don't miss our full preview of Ra Ra Riot by clicking here. more ›

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Beckham Circus has arrived. Forty five thousand spectators will pack into RFK this evening to witness the production. All eyes will be on English mega-star David Beckham, but his performance will likely be relegated to a side show, as an ankle injury will limit him to sub minutes (if any). Even so, the main event of the night is sure to be exciting enough to keep the third-biggest... more ›

With something akin to glee the Post brings us the alternately colorful and shady life story of Deborah Jeane Palfrey's attorney, Montgomery Blair Sibley this morning. At times, even DCist has wondered how Sibley, who represents the alleged madam in her civil case, could possibly be giving her responsible counsel. Besides allowing his client to give an interview with ABC news, sell off phone records to the highest bidder, tape a five-hour radio interview and release rambling statements online, Sibley is also becoming a local celebrity in his own right. more ›

>> Kicking off unofficial "Actors with Books" day in D.C., Don Cheadle and John Prendergast, a senior advisor to the International Crisis Group and co-founder of the ENOUGH Campaign, visit Borders to discuss their collaboration Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond. [1801 K St, NW Free, 6 p.m.] more ›

Pull out the seersucker suits and floral frocks, D.C:. Spring is almost on. Today's weather will be more pleasant than yesterday's, but we're keeping our eyes on the prize. Tomorrow the equinox marks the official start of Spring and here at DCist headquarters we're already preparing for a season sans boots, scarves and Snowpocalypses... Oh my! Metro Sued Over Pedestrian Deaths: The husband of one of the women killed by a Metro bus on Feb.... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Baltimore's Fertile Ground return to 9:30 Club for a concert with collaborator Raheem DeVaughn called Let's Do It Again. Also singer Anthony David. 9 p.m., $22. >> Gallery Openings of Note: Maria Friberg opens her show, titled embedded, at Conner Contemporary, reception 6 to 8 p.m. That's embedded #4 at left. Also we checked out a preview of Colby Caldwell's new show, Small Game, at Hemphill Fine Arts on Wednesday, and definitely recommend... more ›

MONDAY more ›

MONDAY “Hey. What’s up. My name is Malcolm Lawrence. I couldn’t help noticing that you’ve been sitting outside the Hefner Auditorium here at the Keese School for Continuing Education—located, as I’m sure you know, at 417 Russell Avenue in Gaithersburg—for quite some time. Just waiting for something exciting to happen? Yeah. I don’t blame you. Well, I’ll tell you what, if you’ve got two bucks and can wait until say, 7:30 this evening, I’ve got... more ›

Up and at 'em, Washington. "Early to bed / early to rise / makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise," goes the saying. Well, two area initiatives are in healthier, wealthier positions this morning. First, City Administrator Robert Bobb has confirmed that D.C. will enter negotiations with Deutsche Bank for a stadium financing deal. The proposed package would apparently ease the tax burden placed on city businesses by giving the bank a piece of... more ›