Some might prejudge Oklahoma!, Arena Stage's season opener, as a throwback, a safe choice, a corny, hoedown-punctuated museum piece. But director Molly Smith has injected Oklahoma! with an optimistic sense of immediacy, and seeing this fresh production as the debut performance in the company's stunning new home helps underscore how significant the work has been in the innovation of American musical theater. more ›

Finally, after a huge 2.5 year $135 million remodel, Arena Stage is back open. Anchoring the burgeoning Waterfront neighborhood, Arena is celebrating its opening with a plethora of free events -- today, of note: more ›

After letting us all enjoy a good summer break, next week the U.S. Senate will start debating legislation that would grant the District a voting seat in the House of Representatives. And in preparing for what is sure to be a spirited battle, big-name voting rights activists have recently stepped up the pressure with two back-to-back op-eds in Washington papers. Yesterday Maryland's former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and former Oklahoma Republican Rep. J.C. Watts penned... more ›

Republicans in Congress just haven't been nice to the District lately -- they delayed a vote on the voting rights bill by adding a rider to end D.C.'s handgun ban, and now they're preventing a free concert from being held near the Capitol on July 7. The concert was to be part of Al Gore's Live Earth series of concerts to raise environmental awareness and was to feature some combination of acts like the Police,... more ›

The Washington Wizards found out last Friday that they'd be without Caron Butler for the next 10 or so days, not exactly the type of thing you want to hear with the Miami Heat breathing down their necks for the division lead. As we're sure you all remember, the team was 0-3 without Butler earlier in the season. Lucky for the Wizards then that the struggling New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets (aka the... more ›

Written by DCist Contributor Abby Lavin Acerbic campaign ads, Redskins season, pumpkin ice cream from Max’s…it’s officially autumn. And what better way to commemorate Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday night than with a sundry cornucopia of local music at the Rock and Roll Hotel? Jazzy songstress Laura Burhenn and indie collective Meredith Bragg and the Terminals are two acts you wouldn’t expect to share a bill with heavy-rock trio Dead Meadow. But together, the three rising... more ›

If you ever wondered what possessed the Renaissance sculptors to think they could make a hunk of hard marble look like flowing silk, you might want to find Evan Reed. Reed's first solo exhibit in D.C., New & Recent Sculptures, at Flashpoint, however, represents a much different class, as his modern-day equivalent turns rough, corrugated tin into bird feathers, braided ropes, and rumpled jersey shirts. While Michelangelo used the finest stone and worked for... more ›

By DCist contributor Abby Lavin Darlings of Oklahoma City’s glam rock scene (yes, apparently there is one), The Stock Market Crash have earned comparisons to David Bowie, Franz Ferdinand, and The Strokes. As much as we love those acts, being so ripe for comparison can be a red flag that the band is a rip-off. We showed up at TSMC’s show at DC9 last night looking to find out what sets them apart from, say,... more ›

Landless Theatre Company's latest production (clearly to some degree a satire of , as its "Shpadoinkle Day" number can only be a send-up of "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning!") follows the unassuming Alferd Packer, who leads a motley crew of gold-seekers into the mountains, where they are met with less-than-desireable circumstances, from a mythical Cyclops to, well, the prospect of having to eat each other to survive. The work, based on a true story in the loosest sense of the phrase, is the brainchild of "Southpark" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and, like their epic "Southpark: The Movie," is a bawdy send-up of the musical genre it occupies. more ›

We -ists are an eclectic bunch, but there's a couple of things we all love: famous people, social causes, and wacky local facts. Join us as we starf**k, get virtuous, and learn across the -ist network! more ›

Ok, so we're no Portland or San Francisco, but we're also not Columbus or Oklahoma City. more ›

You've heard the story about what was to be the Georgetown Metro station, right? They were going to build one, but the residents protested, leaving the Orange Line to proceed directly to Rossyln. It turns out this "story" is pure fiction -- the only Metro station not built due to citizen protest was a proposed Oklahoma Avenue Station in Northeast. If you're anything like us, you spend plenty of time on Metro's buses and trains... more ›

Well, we still don't have voting rights, but this is about as good as the news will get. According to D.C. Vote, as of March 10, some 1,033,119 D.C. license plates bearing the message "Taxation Without Representation" have been distributed to District motorists. The license plates were first introduced on November 4, 2000 at a ceremony in which D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and various council-members replaced their old plates... more ›

On the same day that we receive news the the District is elevating the level of importance they give to protecting and promoting gay, bisexual, and trangender rights, we find Virginia continuing its long march in the opposite direction. more ›

We may have missed the Miss America Pageant on Saturday night, but that doesn't mean we're unaware of the contest's results. While Miss Oklahoma took home top honors, we're proud to say that Miss District of Columbia did the city proud, placing fifth in the contest. But even better than that, Miss District of Columbia (whose sash was by the far the contest's longest), Shannon Schambeau, took home the ever-important Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit... more ›

OK, here's another photo by DCJohn from his Flickr photostream, via DCist Photos. He notes that he doesn't see many sunrises. Nor do we. more ›

As DCSOB points out, the Justice Department has told Rep. Ernest Istook that it won't proceed further to defend the Oklahoma Republican's appropriations rider that punished WMATA or other transit agencies for accepting any advertisement that promotes the medical use of marijuana. (The ad that angered Istook is the one pictured at right from changetheclimate.org.) Justice says that since a federal court has ruled that Istook's measure was unconstitutional, its hands are essentially tied. While... more ›

With Inauguration Day fast approaching, temperatures in D.C. have taken a dive. According to the Weather Underground, temperatures today will have highs in the low 20s, and snow is likely Wednesday. There is currently a wind chill advisory in effect. more ›

On our way home from work, DCist took a quick stroll across the newly reopened Pennsylvania Avenue pedestrian precinct in front of the White House. While How Now, Brown Pau was underwhelmed with the results, we're still digesting the revamped streetscaping. From How Now, Brown Pau: I had expected that the whole stretch of Penn Ave from 15th to 17th NW would be paved over with colored granite slabs, turning the street fronting the White... more ›

Grab your electoral maps political junkies and keep tabs on when each state will be called. We've compiled a list of when each state closes its polls. For more detailed info, check here. 6 p.m. EST. Polls close in Kentucky and Indiana. 7 p.m. EST. Polls close in Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. 7:30 p.m. EST. Polls close in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia. 8 p.m. EST. Polls close... more ›

Election Night will be a frenzy of returns, predictions and analysis. While all eyes will be on the Race for the White House, don't forget that there will be many tight races that will determine the make-up of Congress and control of the House and the Senate. So when you're watching news coverage on Election Night, we'd like to point you to a few interesting races that will be worth watching. For the time being... more ›

With the cover story of this week's City Paper examining fat D.C. Police, and crime in the news, you'd think the District's finest are under getting enough heat recently - but apparently someone felt the need to drag an officer with their car. more ›

L'Enfant's 1791 plan for Washington has been celebrated around the world. Its grand avenues, circles, squares and monumental layout has created an impressive international capital city. But like any city, D.C. has changed over the past two centuries. But a local architect, the Post reports, has determined that in the past century, the District has lost 22 miles of its original street plan. more ›