The annual visit of the Mariinsky Theater's traveling opera troupe from St. Petersburg came a little early this year. The themes that unite the Kennedy Center double-bill of Verdi's Otello and Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades are self-destructive obsessions and tenor heroes who become villains. Who better to perform The Queen of Spades than the Mariinsky Theater, which hosted the world premiere of The Queen of Spades on December 19, 1890? The opera is thoroughly Russian,......

>> The Metro board voted 5-1 to approve officially the largest increase in fares in Metro history. [NBC4] >> Two D.C. developers, William C. Smith Cos. and the Jair Lynch Cos., have been chosen to lead the Sursum Corda redevelopment project. [WaPo] >> An MPD mountain bike officer was taken to the hospital Thursday after being struck by a stolen car in the 4200 block of Ord St. NE. [WJLA] >> Queen of Sheba......

To say D.C. is not known for its fashion sense is an understatement. The people in our fine city get slammed again and again for their inability to dress themselves in anything other than career wear. Luckily this holiday shopping season offers a little incentive in the form of trunk shows for those of us who'd like to look better and help us score some spiffy new duds. As gifts, of course. Trunk shows are......

It's December, which means that much of the classical music concert schedule is devoted to some holiday that apparently occurs near the end of the month. Consult our Holiday Concert Agenda and our Handel's Messiah Agenda, if that is the sort of thing that interests you. Let's try to keep the regular agenda free of that stuff. There is plenty to talk about without it. VOICES: >> The annual residency of the Kirov Opera, the......

Katharine Hepburn, one of the most iconic actresses of the 20th century, is the latest person to be featured in the National Portrait Gallery’s “One Life” gallery. Kate: A Centennial Celebration, which opened today, presents a multi-media approach to Hepburn’s life — photographs, video clips, her four Best Actress Oscar statuettes, a Brooks Brothers red turtleneck sweater, and a studio contract are all on display. The four statuettes, which Hepburn won for Morning Glory, Guess......

There's something inherently likable about about Spencer Krug. Just ask Wolf Parade bandmate Dan Boeckner who snidely referred to him as the guy that everybody likes. Although that was a clear barb, Boeckner has a point. Dante DeCaro, another fellow Wolf Parade member likes him enough to continue touring with Krug (under the moniker of opener Johnny & The Moon). Fellow Canadians Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes) and Dan Bejar (Destroyer) like him enough to work......

>> Veterinarians at the National Zoo have euthanized Ume, an 8-year-old male cheetah, due a to the animal's ill-health. [AP] >> Little Richard is even more wolf-faced crazy than you ever imagined. [BrightestYoungThings] >> D.C. Sports blogger Jamie Mottram is heading to Yahoo! Sports. [Mr. Irrelevant] >> Queen of Sheba gets a decision ... No, wait. [14th & You] >> The U.S. attorney's investigation into the shooting of 14-year-old DeOnté Rawlings by off-duty police......

>> President Bush is set to announce plans to reduce the American troop presence in Iraq by around 30,000 by next summer -- which is the same, pre-surge level it was about nine months ago. [AP via WTOP] >> D.C. firefighters put out a fire in the parking garage at Union Station this morning. [AP via WTOP] >> The 2007 American League of Lobbyists Hoops for Hope Charity Game is tonight at GW's Smith Center,......

>> Little children don't like President Bush. [YouTube, embedding sadly turned off] >> Director Ridley Scott set off a bomb at Eastern Market yesterday, but Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio were not there, so stop asking us about it. [Reliable Source] >> A U.S. Park Police officer reportedly shot and wounded a driver on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway near Riverdale this afternoon. [WaPo] >> The FBI has launched a new Web site, BankBandits.com, in an......

FRIDAY: >> In case you missed Chapel Hill's The Old Ceremony (pictured) last time they were in town, they'll be at the Rock and Roll Hotel tonight with Junior League, Unwed Sailor and John Pringle. We've raved in the past about lead singer Django Haskins' Nick Cave-meets-Ben Folds stage presence, and since then we've picked up their 2006 release Our One Mistake. If you can't make the show, we highly suggest giving them a listen......

Rachel Manteuffel gives a fetching and formidable performance as Grace O'Malley in A Most Notorious Woman, part of the Capital Fringe Festival. And we're better for it - after all, who doesn't want to hear about the adventures of a spitfire, 16th century female pirate? A Most Notorious Woman, written by playwright Maggie Cronin, has a rather fluid structure, jumping quickly from present time to the past, from Ireland to England, without much warning. At......

The last time DCist reviewed a Morrissey concert -- in September of 2004 -- the Mighty Mozzer had canceled two shows in California the week before taking the stage at D.A.R. that night. As you might know, Morrissey was forced to postpone four shows last week due to a chest cold, proving once again that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And for Morrissey, that's not a bad thing at all.......

The early part of the week is looking a little light for shows, but after the Fourth things really get rolling through Sunday night. MONDAY >> After coming down with a case of "David Letterman throat" last week, Morrissey was forced to reschedule three shows, including his gig at Madison Square Garden in NYC. Right now it looks like NYC's loss is our gain, as we just recieved an email from the staff at Wolf......

>> Fort Reno soldiers on tonight, with Mess Up the Mess, Julie Ocean, and the final ever performance from Three Stars alums The Sentiment, who are calling it quits as a group after tonight. 7:15 p.m. >> Debuting tonight is "Bomb Shelter," a weekly stand-up showcase featuring five local improv personalities. Why the militaristic name? Because there is no "bombing" here. The comedians promise to stun weapons of mass hilarity, which means no random drunk......

Written by Vince Wadhwani When Vegetate and Queen of Sheba applied for liquor licenses in September 2005, Shiloh Baptist Church unexpectedly protested, causing both restaurants a lengthy delay which, in the case of Queen of Sheba, is still ongoing almost two years later. For Vegetate, however, the news is brighter, with legislation being passed earlier this year allowing them to serve wine, beer, and cocktails. Many restaurants may have folded up under the pressure of......

At this week's concerts, the National Symphony Orchestra premiered the new harp concerto that it commissioned from Mark Adamo. Adamo dedicated Four Angels to conductor Leonard Slatkin, who helped make the commission happen, and the NSO's principal harpist, Dotian Levalier, for whom the solo part was created. On Friday night at the Kennedy Center, Slatkin led the NSO through a sensitive reading of this rather traditional but hauntingly lovely score. The first movement is named......

>> The woman NPR crowned the "Queen of the Acoustic Guitar," Kaki King, takes the 9:30's stage tonight opening for the John Butler Trio. When DCist saw her play last year at Jammin Java, we were floored by "the wild, jazzy, and melodic 'voice' of her guitar." $20 will get you in the door for a great double bill. >> The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay author Michael Chabon will be at the 6th......

We were happy, last week, to welcome Queen Elizabeth II to town. The trip was her first the colonies States in 16 years, the occassion a commemoration of the founding of the Jamestown settlement in 1607. Hundreds turned out for her appearance, demonstrating once again America's fascination with British royalty, despite throwing off the yoke of their rule over 200 years ago. Perhaps the American interest in the monarchy stems from wondering about what life......

Good morning, Washington. It's hard to believe that Queen Elizabeth's visit is already over — to be honest, we found it a bit disappointing. Sure, it was fun to have President Bush embarrass himself in front of her. And yes, we were as fascinated as anyone to read about precisely what she ate at Monday's state dinner. Still, we can't help feeling like this royal visit was less hilarious than it could have been.......

>> Ward 1 council member Jim Graham hopes the residents of Ward 5 won't mind if he moves some strip clubs displaced by the new Nationals stadium into their neighborhood. Here's a tip to make sure there's no local resistance: Ward 5 residents get in for free! [Examiner] >> Don't miss Tamara Jones and Roxanne Roberts' merciless ribbing of President Bush for almost accidentally suggesting Queen Elizabeth II was over 200 years old. The......

Good Morning, Washington. It looks like another fine spring day from our vantage point at DCist headquarters -- weather fit for a queen, as it were. Thanks to Flickr user Jon-Miles for sharing some of his shots with us from yesterday's press event with President Bush and Queen Elizabeth II. Today is the final day of the Queen's tour of the region. Before a private dinner with the Bushes, she'll spend it by visiting the......

Seriously, how much more ironic could this be? Queen Elizabeth II is visiting Washington today. Washington was named for one of the leaders of the fight for independence against the repressive British empire -- then led by King George III -- a battle that was in part provoked by a general frustration with the levying of taxes and the denial of representation. And yet, over 200 years later, the residents of Washington still pay taxes......

Welcome back to work, Washington. It's the Monday after a jam-packed weekend of fun for many of us, and we understand as well as you do that there's nothing so disheartening as reporting to your desk knowing that good times won't be in sight again for another five full days. It is therefore in the spirit of distraction that we present to you the weekend's funniest, and yet saddest headline for you to mull over......

Nestled between cherry blossom season and the influx of D.C.'s summer intern and tourist season is a hopeful time, when students turn away from keggers and exams to graduate into the real world -- at least in theory. For Washington's thousands of college seniors, this means job hunting, leaving the friendly confines of campus and the prospect of moving into your parents' basement. It also means a litany of platitudes, advice and well-wishes from commencement......

The weekend's almost here -- with all its school painting, free comic books and tequila toasting -- and frankly, it's hard to spy sunshine through the window and imagine spending the day inside. Commuters who use MARC's Camden Line (Baltimore-D.C.) have the perfect excuse for blowing off work. For the second day in a row trains are running at least 40 minutes late due to signal problems. It sounds like a major hassle, so......

We're suckers for a good action photo. This one from Cary Scott Photography, shows one of Washington's infamous motorcades flying up our streets. And--ahem--we as voteless taxpayers of the District pay for that security. This photo also reminds us that some high-ranking folks are visiting us! Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of England are touching down in Richmond this afternoon, and will be coming to Washington as part of their trip. Curiously, Her......

>> The Queen of England is coming for a visit next week to the region, presumably with plans to retrocede the colonies. If it ever happened, at least the entire country would finally understand what it feels like to have taxation without representation. [WaPo] >> The Dow Jones Industrial Average passed 13,000. [AP] >> "Gay-larious!,", billed as D.C.'s only monthly gay and lesbian comedy show a new monthly gay and lesbian stand up comedy show,......

Shakespearan works are often known for their pathos and their poetry. In Titus Andronicus, however, it’s all about the bloody. A slick production of the gruesome tragedy is now being staged by http://www.shakespearedc.org/ ">Shakespeare Theater Company as part of the Shakespeare in Washington festival. The story starts off pretty slowly, mired in complicated political intrigue that fails to fully engage. Then, the limbs start coming off, and things proceed swiftly from there. Titus is at......

Fans of classical music had a light schedule last week, but there is plenty to be heard this week to make up for lost time. Most evenings it is going to come down to a choice. WEDNESDAY: >> The Embassy of Austria (3524 International Ct. NW) is hosting a series of concerts called An das Lied: Festival of Song 2007, devoted to the greats of German-language song composition. The music starts this Wednesday, with a......

Hosting live webcasts of some of the most critically acclaimed artists that come through D.C. — that's something DCist can get behind. We've been fans of NPR's Live Concert Series for a while now. Their home base is the 9:30 Club and they make partaking in sold out shows without selling your soul to a scalper an actual possibility. Recently they've covered Ted Leo, Nellie McKay, The Good The Bad and The Queen, and tonight......