Changing a controversial paraphrased quote on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial won't be free, and the National Park Service may request private donations to cover the cost. more ›

A vigil and wreath-laying will take place tonight at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial to observe the 44th anniversary of his assassination. more ›

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced today that the process to change a paraphrased quote on the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial to reflect a complete statement by the civil rights leader will take about a year. more ›

Despite the controversy surrounding the design of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the quote that Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar ordered changed last week, the newest addition to the National Mall has become a popular spot for visitors and photographers. more ›

On this eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day a little solemnity and other points of interest. more ›

After plenty of controversy over a quote along one side of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Secretary of the Interior Kenneth Salazar has instructed the National Park Service to go about changing it. more ›

Good morning, Washington. Howard University refuses to relegate homecoming to a single weekend’s football game. Instead, the historically black university boasts a multi-day bash that’s said to be unrivaled in the Mid-Atlantic. The 87th annual cultural celebration kicked off last week, and this morning is the university's spirited homecoming parade. The event kicked off at 9:30 am, so go grab a spot along Georgia Avenue near Banneker High School for a good view of the procession. more ›

The first time they tried to inaugurate the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, they got a hurricane. This time, it's looking like a soggy week will give way to a sunny weekend. more ›

The dedication of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Kr. Memorial postponed by Hurricane Irene is now set for October 16, writes the Post. That misquote, though, still won't change. more ›

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial executive architect Ed Jackson Jr. tells the Washington Post that he does not plan to change the controversial inscription on the side of King's memorial despite outcries from civil rights and editorialists. Of the most vocal is Maya Angelou, who has derided the misquoted inscription as making King Jr. look like an "arrogant twit." more ›

Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been a national day of service since 1994 -- "a day on, not a day off," so the saying goes -- but many of you may be curious as to how and where you can sign up to volunteer. Fortunately, Serve D.C., the District's official agency coordinating volunteerism around the city, has several options available. more ›

The week in film around D.C., including Kennedy and King documentaries at the AFI, stories from the Chinese-Korean border and the rare appearance of a non-Miyazaki anime feature at a local cinema. more ›

The Examiner ran a story on Monday about Bloomingdale's recent round of talks with the city regarding opening a new store in downtown D.C. Along with the recently approved development at the Old Convention Center site, sources in the Fenty administration told Michael Neibauer that the talks have included the controversial Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library at 9th and G Streets NW as a "possible option" for the store. more ›

>> Plans for the District's biggest hotel, with 1,400 rooms, near the Washington Convention Center, are on the verge of being shelved. [WaPo] >> A healthy baby boy was born on I-270 this morning, proving once again that life is really just God's cheesy network sitcom. [WJLA] >> Apparently those recent repairs at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library didn't include water fountains, ceilings or bathrooms. [City Desk] >> A photography exhibit that... more ›

>> Media conglomerate Viacom announced that it will donate $1.5 million in cash and promotions to help build the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall. [NBC4] >> A child described as a 20-month-old black boy was found adandoned in a stroller in Capitol Heights Tuesday morning. [NBC4] >> An improperly disposed cigarette was to blame for the fire that damaged Capitol Lounge and Trover Gift Shop last week. The fire began... more ›

>> Since Tuesday is the new Thursday, we'd recommend heading over to Rock and Roll Hotel for a stellar line-up of DJs including Ken and Juan of East Coast Boogiemen, Lexus King, Devin Byrnes of Exit Only, Aaron Sparks and Keenan. 8:30 p.m.- 1:30 a.m., free all night long. >> Montreal's The Besnard Lakes play with Dirty On Purpose at the Black Cat's backstage, 9 p.m., $10. If you can't get enough of the... more ›

Welcome back to work, Washington. This week promises not only to feel longer than normal thanks to its coming on the heels of a holiday, but also hot enough that you might want to consider setting up an ad-hoc shower in your office, as there's little chance you'll get there without breaking into a sweat first. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has issued a Code Orange alert because of the heat wave, and... more ›

The Examiner reports that renovations are underway at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, the central branch of the D.C. Public Public system. The improvements come after former Mayor Anthony Williams' proposal to replace the building with a new flagship library two blocks away on the site of the old convention center was first tabled by the D.C. Council and then shelved by the Fenty administration. Improvements to the outdated and long-neglected MLK Library... more ›

>> Yesterday we wrote about the Amish market in Burtonsville being relocated next summer when the shopping center where it's located will be demolished. The blogger at Just Up The Pike seems to have information that the owner of an acre-sized plot behind Route 198 has expressed interest in leasing to the market, thus keeping Burtonsville residents sated with an uninterrupted supply of delicious Amish fried chicken. >> Private tour buses are set to... more ›

It's been top national news all day, but we're still in shock over the tragedy that occurred last night at Unifest, the Union Temple Baptist Church's large soul-food festival along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. A woman drove her car through the crowded festival and struck at least 40 people. Thirty five people were taken to hospitals, seven with severe injuries. Two of the injured were children younger than 3. The mayhem happened at... more ›

It looks like Senate Republicans really don't want today's scheduled Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to happen as planned. DCVote spokesperson Kevin Kiger tells us that Republicans have tried to invoke the 2-hour Rule, which would cut off committee action two hours after the Senate started work for the day. We've got our browsers set to the live webcast of the hearing, set to begin at 1:30 p.m., at which point we'll know whether Sen. Russ... more ›

>> One lucky DCist reader will be at the Rock and Roll Hotel tonight on us for The Cinematics, The Clientele Changes, and Cedars. But with $8 advance tickets ($10 at the door), there's no excuse for you not to head down and enjoy the show even if you don't win. Doors at 9 p.m. >> Wednesday night is always the best (the only?) night to head to Madam's Organ, when the bar serves... more ›

>> Help the merchants displaced after the Eastern Market fire at happy hour tonight by imbibing at one of more than 20 D.C. bars that have signed up to donate a portion of their proceeds to begin the rebuilding. Started as the Facebook.com group "Rescue Eastern Market" by Clay Johnson on the day of the fire, you can find the full list and a handy map of participating taverns and cafes at Rescue Eastern... 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 ›

While it might be a little premature to assume that we're definitely going to get a vote in Congress, the news from the Hill has caused us to spend the better part of the day pondering what the newfound freedom will feel like. And in our happy world, District residents will pour into the streets, embrace and break into spontaneous dance to the tune of "Dancin' in the Street" and "We Built this City."... more ›

D.C. has one, Chris Rock joked about them and there are entire books about them: streets named for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Yesterday CNN posted an article about streets named for the civil rights leader, saying there are at least 777 in the country. The article says that Rock's joke and the stereotype about King streets, that they're poor and dangerous, may not be true. It quotes Matthew Mitchelson, a University of Georgia... more ›