Was all the hubbub about the District's intranet gaming plan a lot of hot air? That's the impression one might get after reading this report in the Washington Times, in which representatives from the D.C. Lottery say that most people they spoke with during a series of town halls on the matter were "supportive." more ›

This morning, the D.C. Council launched a shiny, brand new and significantly more user-friendly website. more ›

Residents should take note of some minor changes to the remaining slate of public meetings regarding the District's online gaming program. more ›

If yesterday's Ward 5 town hall on the District's controversial new i-Gaming platform is any indication, it's not really the idea of online gambling that has residents put off -- but rather how the idea came to be and where the money it's supposed to generate will go. more ›

D.C. residents who are subscribed to the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles email alert system were reminded Monday that the agency has discontinued in-person vehicle registration renewals. The email, which was sent on the same day the change became effective, explained that from now on, for all vehicle registration renewals, customers must use online or by mail services. And if you missed the message and show up in person to a DMV service center, you'll be directed to a dropbox to drop off registration renewal requests for processing. Dropbox renewals will be processed within 48 business hours, the DMV says. The change is tied to Mayor Fenty's FY2010 budget plan, which proposed eliminating in-person vehicle registration renewals and most safety inspections in order to cut spending. You can sign-up for email notifications from the DMV at their web site. more ›

Recently we caught up with Washington Capitals owner and former Vice Chairman of America Online, Ted Leonsis, over email. Here's what Ted had to say about his role in the organization, his goals for the team, and his feelings toward the media. Please note that he uses emoticons without shame. DCist: Now that you're completely retired from AOL, how much fun is it to get up every morning and not have to go to work?... more ›

Well, it's been several weeks since we got a false report out of Russia saying that Washington Capitals superstar left winger Alexander Ovechkin savagely attacked someone. Therefore it came as no surprise yesterday when we got an apparently false report out of Russia saying that Alexander Ovechkin broke a hockey agent's jaw in a bar fight. Last time, we had to watch the video to see that nothing happened. This time all we have is... more ›

Allow us to throw out some hearty congratulations to DCist alumna Catherine Andrews, who, like others before her, has broken free of the warm DCist nest to spread her wings and soar through the brilliant skies of Big Time Professional Journalism. Or you know, hooray, DCist Catherine got a cool job at Washingtonian Magazine! Having recently graduated with a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern, Catherine has just begun as a Senior Online Editor at the magazine, and we couldn't be prouder parents. more ›

>> Do college students like having fun? Well, DO THEY!? Sounds like a job for Laura Sessions Stepp! Pull-quote highlight: "[Professor Frederic D.] Homer and graduate assistant Rodney Wambeam wanted to know what students meant when they said they were in college to have fun. They wanted to know why students rarely included classwork in that definition. What they heard surprised them." That means if Stepp, herself, was surprised, it could potentially bring the total... more ›

Last year, we gave you a gift guide that was local, local, local. We suggested books, art, music and D.C.-specific creations for you to put on your wish list and give to your loved ones for the holiday season. Well, though there are only five days till Christmas this time around, we thought we'd throw it out there again anyway for those of you who, like us, have procrastinated on the gift-giving, but still want to hand out something meaningful. (Do still check out last year's guide; a lot of the suggestions still pertain and are still available.) more ›

The sad reality of Dan Tangherlini's departure from the helm of Metro has long since set in, and we have shifted from transit-geek depression to equally geeky curiosity over his potential replacement. As was reported on Tuesday and confirmed on Wednesday, D.C. native John Catoe Jr., currently second in command at the L.A. Metropolitan Transit Authority, has been asked to come home and run the trains and buses here in Capital City. The Post and... more ›

DCist reader David writes in with this important question: Where does one get kegs in D.C.? I've lived here around a year, and have no idea. Online price lists are a plus, as is a NW location. We hear you, David. Sure, we're not in college anymore, but sometimes when you're set to throw a really big par-tay, going with a keg can be the most cost effective and least messy (no bottles to clean... more ›

Good morning, Washington. To those of you who celebrate the holiday, we hope you're having a pleasant Passover, and that last night's second Seder was, uh, salubrious. Okay, we'll stop now. Students Vote For Laxer Pot Penalties: The Post reports on yesterday's U-Md. student election results, which included a large victory for a resolution in favor of making penalties for alcohol and marijuana violations equivalent. The ballot measure was intended to send a message to... more ›

Friday, the day we wait for with giddy anticipation. In addition to the weekend being just around the corner, there's one more reason to be pumped up: tonight, you can hear a sneak preview of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs new album "Show Your Bones" before the album hits store shelves on March 28. Hosted by DCist and Interscope Records, the good times and good listenings will take place at Cue Bar, 1115 U Street,... more ›

DCist is star-struck. Or perhaps we're just hoping to see some stars. Our friends at the Post's Reliable Source tipped us off to the fact that our old favorite TV show, "The West Wing," will be in town this weekend, casting extras for the series' final episodes. Gossips Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts were online this past Wednesday and reported that the show is scheduled to shoot around Cleveland Park this Saturday, but they gave... more ›

Back in the summer of 2001, news stations were broadcasting saturation coverage of the disappearance of Chandra Levy, the Federal Bureau of Prisons intern who was allegedly having an affair with California Representative Gary Condit. more ›

A funny thing happened during our lunch break. After perusing the Post and reading about how Freddy Adu is gearing up for the upcoming D.C. United season (and how his play with the club team will affect his status on the US National Team, which is preparing for this summer's World Cup), we headed over to Deadspin where they linked to an article in The Times Online reporting that "agreements are imminent with the player... more ›

Good morning, Washington. As if the Christmas lights and plastic santas weren't enough to satiate our holiday decorating needs, now we're getting word of an abundance of nativity scenes with live animals -- camels to be exact. As cute as this sounds, something about your lawn ornaments spitting on you just doesn't seem like a good idea. And aren't camels desert-roaming beasts? With the beginning of winter behind us and Christmas and Hanukkah fastly... more ›

...is exactly what we hope to hear sometime down the line. No, seriously. 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 ›

Next month at Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University, the Future Music Coalition will host the fifth annual Future of Music Policy Summit. The Summit, a three day event taking place on Sept. 11-13, will be attended by representatives from the music, law and technology (yes, even us lowly bloggers) sectors and focuses on the critical issues facing the music industry as it tries to incorporate new technologies into it's traditional business structure. more ›

In an interesting move that could have repercussions for new media and other online newspapers, washingtonpost.com today switched to a dual homepage format. One homepage features more local and regionalized news, and the other has a national/international focus that won't highlight the Post's regional content (like the Entertainment Guide) as much. Which homepage you view is based on your registered zip code -- if you provide a local zip code, you will get the local page, and if you're outside of the Metro area, you'll get the other. You're also able to manually choose which homepage you would like to view. Jim Brady, the executive editor of washingtonpost.com, writes today that:

While the home page you first receive will be tied to your registration zip code, you will be able to override that setting, since we realize providing choice is crucial in the Web world. It's also important to note that, regardless of which page you receive, you won't be cut off from any content on washingtonpost.com. more ›

A recent survey conducted by America Online found that the average American worker wastes more than two hours a day, costing U.S. companies $759 billion annually in lost productivity. Virginia ranked seventh in the nation, yet no word on how Maryland and the District fared. We here at DCist may just be speculating, but something tells us any increases in wasted time may very well track with increased access to the internet, and may have... more ›

A third weekend of beautiful weather may be to much too ask this spring, so be prepared for rain and chillier weather in the days to come. This photo is of the Q Street escalators at the Dupont Circle metrorail station, taken by BrownPau and posted on DCist Photos. more ›

DCist has received reports of widespread sporadic power outages around the Clarendon and Courthouse areas of Arlington. As of 12:07, Dominion reported that nearly 4,000 customers in Northern Virginia were without power -- a figure that has ranged from 2,000 to more than 8,000 at periods throughout the morning. The Post's food critic Tom Sietsema cut short his weekly online chat this morning with the news that washingtonpost.com had lost power at its Arlington office. However, the noontime washingtonpost.com Live Online discussions are proceeding as scheduled. more ›

Good for the city, bad for the suburbs -- the decision would change Metro's mission and turn it basically into an inner-city carrier, I believe.

Looking for a last minute stocking stuffer for your conservative friends, or dartboard fodder for those on the left? Online magazine Salon yesterday pointed us to a great option -- the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute's 2005 Great American Conservative Women calendar. more ›

(By DCist contributor Amadie Hart) Forget Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Harris Teeter, and Balduccis. The latest grocery store import to enthrall D.C.-area consumers is Rochester, N.Y.-based Wegmans. The first Northern Virginia branch opened out by Dulles Airport in February, and the retail giant is set to open a second branch in Fairfax in early 2005. Connoisseurs of fresh produce, gourmet prepared foods, and fine wines have flocked to the Sterling branch since its grand opening.... more ›

(By DCist contributor Hemal Jhaveri) more ›

A contributor to DCWatch's email newsletter says Washington Post technology reporter Mike Musgrove is planning to start his own blog. Here's the excerpt, from this week's edition:

I asked Mike Musgrove if he plans on setting up a blog soon. "I’m seriously thinking of doing so," he replied. Why? To become free of stodgy editors, to engage in more authentic journalism, to rise to the highest level of being a journalist, to be more inclusive, to listen more than to spout, to dialogue more than lecture. (My words, not his.)