Good morning, Washington. Today is going to be hot, sticky and summer-like -- and it may be the last day of its kind for the year as we usher in cooler weather (the morning meteorologists project that persistent 90 degree days have expired for the season). Showers are possible, but the threat of storms really increases tonight and tomorrow. We're also in line for copious amounts of rain this week as what’s left of Tropical Storm Lee heads toward the Washington area. If you see the sun today, enjoy it. more ›

We suggest that you head to the bank today to pick up several rolls of quarters, as this weekend may be the last chance to visit The National Pinball Museum in the District. Director of Operations Tiffani Huskey announced yesterday that museum will be shutter its doors and mothball its machines after the holiday in preparation for its move to a new, undisclosed location in Baltimore. The Museum is offering free admission on Labor Day. more ›

Good morning, Washington. We're on the brink of the symbolic end of summer. Labor Day traditionally signals the conclusion of our dog days, the retiring of certain white attire, and the ushering in of cooler weather. But, of course, Labor Day is much more than a seasonal marker or a fashion barometer; in a year when public sector unions and their opponents were often in the spotlight, this weekend could be a good time to brush up on your holiday history. more ›

My, how things have changed since the last time Maryland and Navy met back in 2005. And no, I'm not talking about the introduction of a crab-encrusted trophy to the winner. more ›

The once mighty Hurricane Earl has now been downgraded to a Tropical Storm as it moves up and out of New England. The east coast and the mid-Atlantic dodged a bullet, with relatively minor damage and no reports of injuries. Here in the District, we didn't even see a drop of rain, though we did see some impressive clouds. more ›

As we previously reported, WMATA will be closing five stations on the Red Line over the entire Labor Day weekend (that's between 10 p.m. tonight and 1 a.m. on Tuesday, September 7) for a large track replacement project. The work is part of the fulfillment of the suggestions made by the National Transportation Safety Board, and includes measures to help improve service during inclement weather conditions and the installation of fiber optic cable for improved cell phone access. It's one of the biggest maintenance projects in the history of Metrorail. So what does this mean for you? more ›

Sarah Krouse at the WaBizJo reports that Metro authorities will meet on Thursday to discuss a 4 to 6 percent fare hike and other uncomfortable features associated with balancing the budget for fiscal year 2011. That discussion comes after a holiday weekend over which WMATA didn't make any new friends. Metro authorities are defending their decision to close three critical Metro stations in Northern Virginia for the holiday weekend, saying that the decision was planned well in advance. Labor Day was slapped on the calendar in 1882, but never mind that. Premeditation only enhances the crime in the eyes of frustrated Metro users, would-be mall shoppers, and diverted travelers. more ›

For those who decided to postpone their weekend travel plans until today in hopes of avoiding the initial vehicular exodus from the District, here's the current traffic scene: the Beltway looks fairly clear, despite a slow-up at the Springfield interchange and a messy morning. On the whole, traffic seems pretty smooth as soon as you actually get out of D.C. But it wouldn't be Labor Day weekend without a big delay at the Bay Bridge, now would it? The Google eye in the sky says that the holdup is due to "vehicles slowing down to look at an accident," which means that those of you heading to the shore should still budget out a sizable chunk of time to cross the Chesapeake. more ›

Last week, the Washington Business Journal ran a Q & A with Metro Chairman Chris Zimmerman, and while the majority of the interview was "Metro needs more funding" ad infinitum (not that we can argue), this one bit did catch our eye: more ›

We know it’s not quite Thanksgiving yet, but our mouths are already watering with the thought of all that turkey and stuffing goodness. Alongside those thoughts are ones of what wines to pair with our cornucopia of delights. With all the different flavors and components on the table it may seem impossible to choose just one white and one red. But do you really want to get into the intricacies of pairing different wines with... more ›

There was very little else for Londonist to be concerned with when the threat of a Tube strike became a very unpleasant reality. The inconvenience was extreme: there aren't many alternatives to the Tube in London despite the best efforts of the Londonist team to get everyone from A to B. Brighter news came in the form of the first ever female Yeoman Warder, or Beefeater as the position is more commonly known, and... more ›

DCist's highly subjective and hardly comprehensive guide to the most interesting movies playing around town in the coming week. Major Release: 3:10 to Yuma Mark your calendars. Labor Day is past, summer is over, and it's time for all the Oscar contenders to step into the ring. First out of the gate is 3:10 to Yuma, the second filmed version of an Elmore Leonard short story about a Civil War veteran (played here by Christian... more ›

If the DCist Flickr pool is a good indication, many of you decided to spend part of your Labor Day weekend the good ol' fashioned American way -- at the ballpark. Flickr user Scott Ableman perfectly caught Ryan Zimmerman's game winning RBI against the Giants on Sunday night, in a nail biting moment with the count full in the bottom of the ninth. The Nationals inched out for a final score of 2-1.... more ›

Good morning, Washington, and welcome to September. After what was quite possibly the most beautiful weekend in the history of late summer weather in this city, we've finally arrived at the date many of us still associate with "back-to-school" -- the Tuesday after Labor Day. So sharpen your pencils, polish your lunchbox and make sure you have the right Trapper Keeper as we check out today's headlines. At Least Four Weekend Killings: The Examiner... more ›

Happy first weekend of September - and happy Labor Day weekend, too, for our American cities! Let's take a look at what's been happening around the Ist-a-verse. The deaths of two firefighters shook Bostonist this week. Boston's firefighters bent over backwards all week long - first, they fought flames pouring from the Boston Tea Party museum, and then a restaurant fire killed two and injured many more. Their efforts make everything else - like Tom... more ›

>> Idaho Sen. Larry Craig will announce his plans Saturday amid calls from his GOP colleagues for his resignation. [AP via MSNBC] >> What would you do if a homeless person set up camp on your stoop? [Prince of Petworth] >> Fewer people will be driving out of town this weekend than is typical for Labor Day. [WaPo] >> The MPD has advised that there will be an authorized fly - over the District... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Starting tonight, George Mason Stadium plays host to the region's annual D.C . College Cup. The soccer teams of George Washington, American, Howard, and George Mason will square off in two rounds of games. Though the tournament is conspicuously missing national powerhouses UMD and UVA, the event will still showcase some of the best young talent around. GW and AU kick off tonight's slate (5:00 p.m.), with Howard and GMU rounding the night... more ›

As always with the end of summer, there have been slim pickings in the art world, and most galleries are banking on you using Labor Day weekend for one final trek to sunny beaches. We scrounged up a few options for those of you sticking around town, which you may want to consider using as a warm-up for next week, when the fall art season opens with a bang. >> G Fine Art is warming... more ›

DCist's highly subjective and hardly comprehensive guide to the most interesting movies playing around town in the coming week. DCist's highly subjective and hardly comprehensive guide to the most interesting movies playing around town in the coming week. Repertory: Lawrence of Arabia David Lean's epic telling of the story of T.E. Lawrence's time in the Middle East, and leadership of the WWI Arab Revolt is regarded as one of the greatest achievements in cinema. The... more ›

MONDAY >> Three Stars alums The Chance and J. Forté + the Secret Pop Band, D.C.'s favorite lofi power-poppers, are playing a great double-bill (bothThree Stars veterans) at the Black Cat Backstage. 9 p.m. $6. TUESDAY >> Yet another revival of West Side Story comes to Wolf Trap and stays there until Sunday. Apparently it's the 50th anniversary. 8 p.m. with matinée shows at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. $18-68. WEDNESDAY >> The Rock... more ›

The notion that Capitol Hill is its own little world becomes reality in Flickr user tim kelley's imagination, as he applies a popular planet-style photo editing job to the Capitol and its environs. Bored this weekend? Try out your photo editing skills in our ongoing Touch Up D.C. photo contest, throughout the month of August. Upload your entries to Flickr and tag it with "touchupdc." We'll be posting entries we love a few times... more ›

When the Drive-by Truckers rolled into the 9:30 Club on July 15, 2006, it was the closest I’ve ever come to actually losing consciousness at a rock show. The gig was beyond sold-out, more vacuum-packed with sweaty bodies than any other supposedly sold-out 9:30 show I can remember. On top of that, the show fell on one of those spongy, airless summer nights that that can make the period between Independence Day and Labor... more ›

This morning Mayor Adrian Fenty announced that he would appeal a March ruling that found that the District's handgun law was unconstitutional to the U.S. Supreme Court. His decision sets up the first major battle in decades over whether the Second Amendment confers an individual or collective right to own a handgun. Moreover, it could have a profound effect on gun regulations across the country should the Supreme Court side with the lower court. The... more ›

If D.C.-area drivers are not known for their road skills, neither are local police known for enforcing the laws that might alter this behavior. We have no empirical proof that the cops of the region turn any particular blind eye to traffic violations. A few hours in a car during the evening rush, though, or even a spin through the many anecdotes posted in DCist comment threads should be enough to convince you that drivers... more ›

Memorial Day has come and gone, and we are now officially in the summer hiatus of the Classical Music Agenda. Here are some highlights for this week: in a week or two, this feature will take a well-deserved rest until Labor Day, when the classical concert schedule returns to full power. TOPS THIS WEEK: >> On Wednesday night, the excellent NPR radio program From the Top will be recorded in front of a live audience... more ›

By DCist Contributor Matt Pelkey On the Fourth of July you light fireworks, on Memorial Day you grill hunks of meat, and on Labor Day you grill more hunks of meat. But how should you celebrate Emancipation Day this Monday? The voting rights march leaves little excuse for perverting another holiday into reason for a meaningless leisure activity. But if for some reason you can't be at the march, make up for it by heading... more ›

If you work near 16th and L, you might have noticed that going to work this morning was a little worse than usual. And not just because the of the miniature existential crisis that every long weekend brings — in addition to that Labor Day malaise, the traffic situation was and continues to be pretty godawful. Sixteenth Street is blocked off by police cars, and somebody seems to have constructed a tent across two lanes... more ›

And so ends the suspense -- Adrian Fenty is the Post's pick for mayor. Though Fenty has held a comfortable lead in recent weeks, the Post's endorsement was seen as Linda Cropp's final chance in what has become a hard-fought campaign. Today's endorsement is sure to give Fenty the win next Tuesday, with the Post recognizing his "can-do quality" and his "vision of the city that challenges the best in people." And maybe to add... more ›

Well, classical music fans, your weekly agenda is back, and there are actually a few things to tell you about this week. Now that the rain has cleared out, you could get an early start on the season with the National Symphony's free National Labor Day Concert this evening (September 3, 8 p.m.) on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Bring something water-resistant to sit on, as the ground may still be wet. In case of more bad weather, the concert will take place in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. If you want to avoid the crowds, the dress rehearsal takes place at 3:30 pm. The program, led by associate conductor Emil de Cou, is a mixture of Broadway and classical Americana, and it looks quite pleasant. more ›

How can it be Labor Day already? That’s the question we ask ourselves when the end of August comes into view and we know we have one last hot date with the grill before we need to bring along a sweater. Here is a Labor Day menu to celebrate American workers that should earn you some extra time off and won’t leave you exhausted. Beer Can Chicken with Hot Pumpkin Seed Rub Roasted Asparagus and... more ›