Drink of the Week: Hot toddy more ›

"It pissed me off." That is how R.E.M.'s Mike Mills described his reaction to seeing firsthand the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and the stagnated recovery effort since. Though his band has a history of political involvement, Mills himself has shied away from activism until now. Having seen the suffering of New Orleanians in the aftermath of Katrina, he declared, "No one can appreciate the destruction without seeing it and I was very aware that... more ›

Austinist gets arty with an interactive guide to SXSW, loved some local art galleries and a new art exhibit and lamented the possible loss of "Friday Night Lights" production to New Mexico. Bostonist was happy they finally found an Anna Nicole Smith connection to their fair city and that an Apple Store was opening up. They were less happy that new rules have been established limiting underage shows and that their Governor is spending... more ›

>> We realize it's been a while since we stirred the pot on Butterstick mania, but there's a new way to celebrate your love for all things panda. Keds has their own (surprisingly cute) panda shoes. No, they're not made of real pandas, but these canvas creations might be some comfort after Tai Shan is ripped from our grasp and shipped off to China this fall. more ›

Happy Mardi Gras, Washington. Great news for all those planning to expose themselves to garner beads! (We're unsure if any local bars enforce such strict bead acquisition standards, but you can let us know in comments.) It's already above freezing and temps are heading up to 50 today. That's right, the big five-oh. We predict the risk of falling on your ass will be reduced by 76% by the evening commute. Of course, now we've... more ›

FRIDAY: >>Do you like Hall and Oates and Haddaway? Who doesn't? The Black Cat is hosting Crap, a dance night of bad music on purpose. We advise loosening your Macarena muscles and preparing your ears for "singers" like Don Johnson, Eddie Murphy, and Bruce Willis. 10 pm, free. SATURDAY: >>There are more art openings than we can shake a sculpture at today, so check out our Arts Agenda for a rundown. >>Anything called "Underwear Party"... more ›

Yesterday was Budget Day, which is one of those big deal days for official Washington that no one else notices. It's the day when the President formally submits his budget for the next fiscal year to Congress. Sexy, right? If you happen to work for an appropriator or one of the budget watchdog groups, it is. Each Department holds its own budget roll-out event complete with powerpoint, Secretarial speechifying, and usually some sort of bunting;... more ›

Once mainly a dumping ground for hotels in easy striking distance of both Georgetown and downtown, the District's West End neighborhood has lately experienced a building boom that may bring more residents than ever into the quiet area east of Rock Creek Parkway, north of Foggy Bottom, and west of Dupont Circle. more ›

The District will have one fewer place for middle-aged letches to hit on dancing college girls drinking watered-down hurricanes, when Friday night fades into Saturday morning and Lulu's Club Mardi Gras packs up its multicolored awnings for good. Lulu's has long been a fixture at the changing corner of 22nd and M Streets NW. Longtime owner Ulysses "Blackie" Auger sold Lulu's years ago, and when he passed away in November 2004, his family opted to sell sibling Blackie's House of Beef. Blackie's went to the great restaurant slaughterhouse in the sky on New Year's Eve. And Lulu's will climb its own 13 stairs -- no doubt made of wrought-iron -- at 4 a.m. Saturday. If you'd like to read some last rites to the summer intern haunt and erstwhile Kegs & Eggs host, head down to Lulu's this Friday night at 8 p.m., when your $20 cover charge will give you access to an open bar. Besides, it may be the only time that their completely unnecessary velvet rope is actually warranted. more ›

If you couldn’t get down to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras properly, look no further than Warehouse. The gallery is currently hosting Arty Gras, an exhibition to celebrate artists displaced by Hurricane Katrina and raise funds for the Habitat for Humanity Gulf Coast recovery efforts. The exhibition was organized by independent curator Beth Baldwin, who grabbed onto the idea after seeing offers of gallery space for artists whose shows were canceled after the storm.... more ›

Bring out your purple plastic beads and get ready for some king cake! Well, we wish. For obvious reasons, the District and surrounding areas are decidedly calmer than, say, Bourbon Street. But we've still got some action going on. If you'd like to experience some good ol’ Mardi Gras flavor, the Post's City Guide lists what's going on today, from galas to Zydeco. Of course, there is always Lulu’s in Foggy Bottom -- they bring Mardi Gras cheer to the District all year long. And now, for some news: more ›

By DCist Food and Wine Contributor Michael Mugmon. more ›

In case you thought the past several days were just some wretched dream, yes, it really is September. Summer, for all intents and purposes, is deceased. School is back in session, the Amazonian humidity is behind us, and we can all look forward to a successful and productive fall. If that doesn't cheer you up, perhaps leaving the house this weekend will? Go on, give it a shot. more ›

FRIDAY: more ›

-- Neo-Bourbon Street Lulu's Club Mardi Gras to get new view: that of a zinc- and glass-clad condo building (with vertical gardens) more ›

If radical politics is your thing, you should make plans to get up to American University this weekend for the seventh annual National Conference on Organized Resistance, which kicks off tonight with a panel at 6 p.m. Registration on the conference is $12 and includes two free (vegan) meals, dozens of information sessions on everything from "Zapatismo in Your Community" and "Between Poststructuralism and Anarchism" to "Women and Girls in Punk" and "Veg the System." The conference also includes screenings of a variety of films including Mardi Gras Made in China and The Fourth World War, both documentaries about neoliberal globalization, tonight at 8 p.m. for $5 and The Corporation tomorrow at 8 p.m. for $5. more ›

Along with the following picks, don't forget to check out DCist's Arts Agenda (First Fridays in Dupont!) and Music Agenda for events that might tickle your fancy this weekend. FRIDAY: >> Intimate roots-rocker Jolie Holland (at right) brings her sparse yet uplifting music to Jammin Java in Vienna. With guitarist Brooks Williams. 8 p.m., $12. >> If you're a fellow The OC freak (hey, we wear our obsession proudly on our sleeve), you'll remember pre-lesbian... more ›

The corner of New Hampshire Avenue and M Street has never been known as one of the city's most beautiful. With Don Shula's steakhouse, Lulu's Club Mardi Gras and the Exxon gas station in the center, you may wonder why the West End Ritz Carlton decided to set up shop on the edge of what could be described as a garish, undefined regurgitate semi-urban, semi-suburban architectural mess. Lulu's attempts to transform the corner of M and 22nd streets NW into a 'lil-bit-o Bourbon Street certainly haven't helped. more ›

Ah, Mardi Gras. The annual bacchanal of food, drink, more drink, bared breasts and parades. Can't make the trip to New Orleans this year? Next Tuesday, Feb. 8, a couple of local events will try to recreate some of the spirit of the season here in our own backyard. more ›

We came across this image from some sort of University of Oregon research page on urban heat islands. While a political pundit may try to say that Congress or the White House is full of hot air, it may in fact be the Pentagon. Examining this undated map, here are some locations in near the center of the city that produce a lot of heat. - the Pentagon - Department of Agriculture - Department of... more ›