Because really, what says Christmas more than elves driving around in powerboats, the Grinch performing tricks on a personal watercraft and Santa Claus waterskiing around National Harbor? Nothing, that's what. more ›

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

How much do we really know about this "Santa Claus" fellow anyway? Recluse, obsessed with kids, employs a massive force of diminutive slaves, annual violator of any number of international aerospace regulations; has Homeland Security checked this guy out? If they had, they might have uncovered some rather unsavory elements of the Santa mythology. (Sorry, under-10 readers, I meant Santa history.) In Finland, turns out he may have been the same character as the "Yule Goat", a horned creature that demanded offerings and was more of the tough love school when it came to getting the kiddies to behave. more ›

Not to depress the whole lot of you, but this story in USA Today -- about how the United States Post Office is receiving more letters to Santa from children asking for basic needs instead of toys -- is one of the most melancholic news blasts I've read in some time. more ›

It's becoming quite the tradition -- at some point in mid-December, a whole bunch of people donning Santa Claus garb head out for the National Mall, the White House and occasionally have a spirited throw-down with people in banana suits. In 2008, we called it "Halloween in December"; last year, the city was "awash in slightly inappropriate and out of context holiday cheer." Of course, we could only be talking about Santarchy, the annual gathering of those whose Christmas cheer comes in the form of wearing big red coats, big red hats and pass out gifts and well wishes to passers-by. What did a pair of our Flickr contributors find this year? Click through to find out. more ›

It is a great time to be a Caps Fan. We've seen media coverage of the guy who brings his trumpet to the games and the rock bands who have sung the team's praises. more ›

• SFist saw Christmas Day turn tragic after a Siberian tiger escaped from her pen at the San Francisco Zoo, killing a visitor and mauling two others.
• Phillyist counted down the top ten items on Philadelphia's New Year's wish list.
• Gothamist looked at the wooden bikes being offered for NYC's first bike share program on Governors Island.

The big day you've been waiting for with the excitement of a child all year is almost here -- the day that Santa Claus the Department of Public Works suspends residential mechanical street cleaning for the winter. Residents will be able to park freely without fear of being ticketed for being on the wrong side of the road after this Friday, Nov. 30, when “No parking/street cleaning” restrictions will be lifted. A date has not... more ›

doesn't seem like the world's most enduring love story anymore). more ›

>> We always suspected Maddy Albright was much like Santa Claus -- not so much due to a reputation for gift giving as for being magically able to keep her eyes locked on our every move in order to judge whether we have been naughty or nice. Safeway, ye know not what ye have done. [Yeas and Nays] >> Art-o-matic will take place this year after all, from April 13 through May 20 this... more ›

Happy Holidays! Chances are, you're reading this the day after Christmas, back at your day job after all-too-short a holiday, and the last thing you want from us is stuff about the holidays. But that's just too bad. Because, see, here in the Ist-A-Verse, we do things ahead of time. It might be December 26 for you, but that's what you get for not checking your Favorite Local Blog on Christmas Eve. Austinist is... more ›

Perhaps it's the heat and humidity, but it has been mighty quiet out there this week. This week's quote of the week seems particularly apt, not just because it takes on everyone's favorite public official — the D.C. parking enforcement officer — but also as a tribute to last night's national spelling bee, which was held in our fair city. It has also come to our attention that some of our readers would like to... more ›

D.C. is home to a few interesting holiday traditions, but the Eighth Annual Norwegian Christmas is certainly one of the most unique. more ›