If there are two things most people know about WTOP Political Analyst Mark Plotkin, it's that one, he's not very tech-savvy, and two, he's passionate aboout District voting rights. So passionate, it seems, that he even got himself kicked out of the White House yesterday. According to fellow WTOP reporter Mark Segraves' account of the incident, Plotkin, along with the rest of the D.C. press corps and various local elected officials, attended an event at... more ›

Via the DCist Tipline, we get this photo and story from a reader who spotted D.C. Council chairman Vincent Gray running over to speak to a U.S. Park Police officer in the hopes of talking him out of towing his car Wednesday evening. While playing softball down by the FDR memorial this evening, my team was a little shocked when we saw a park policeman not only issue a ticket to an illegally parked... more ›

>> The National are playing a sold-out show at 9:30 Club tonight, with Shapes and Sizes & Talkdemonic, doors at 7:15 p.m. If you don't have tickets, you have three options: Get thee to craigslist, park yourself at DC9 before the show and keep an eye out for folks who got stood up, or sit in the sweet, sweet air conditioning at home and tune into NPR's live streaming web cast of the headliners... more ›

Are these your weekend plans? Flickr user zenfrisbee caught some softball action down on the Mall with this image unique to our Capital city. Do you think this guy got a hit? EXIF.... more ›

>> Plácido Domingo conducts the orchestra and selected singers of the Washington National Opera in a special concert performance in the Music Center at Strathmore. A few tickets in the orchestra section remain at the box office, if you are looking for a last-minute luxury date. $68, 8 p.m. >> Time is running out to catch this year's Shakespeare Free For All, Love's Labor's Lost, at the Carter Barron Amphitheater. The final performance is... more ›

Given that the state of the District's public schools is one of the city's most pressing problems, we were excited to see Mayor Adrian Fenty host an online chat at the Post to clarify and explain his ambitious plans for a mayoral takeover. Unfortunately, the chat ended up sounding much like most of President George W. Bush's public appearances -- staged and scrubbed free of criticism. Fenty fielded 16 questions in total, none of which... more ›

From up on high, the Ellipse may look like a majestic circular patch of grass from where tourists and residents alike can marvel at the White House. From on the ground, though, its a barren stretch of land, uneven in many locations and free of grass in others. Thankfully, NBC 4 is reporting that the Ellipse will soon undergo a four-month-long restoration, the first since 1940. Grass, benches, sidewalks, a lights are set to be... more ›

Shanghaiist probably knows a little more about China than the Chicago Sun-Times. Giving them the benefit of the doubt on that one. The city does to have a music scene. Don't even front like they don't. They also have Dorito bananas and white guys shopping for wives. What they don't have is any more tolerance for jaywalkers. Bostonist sees Boston and Somerville each whip out their art and face off. A plagiarized novel is the... more ›

One of the joys of Spring Training is supposed to be taking a break from the icy darkness of wherever you're from to head south and dream of the warm summer nights that must be around the corner if baseball's begun. This winter, of course, we've all been able to keep our tans, and the kids never had to quit their stickballing in the alley, but it's still pretty exciting to think that it's nearly... more ›

There have been quite a few interesting photos on DCist Photos in the past few days. People have posted a photo of the dugout after the congressional softball game, a scene from last night's show at the Hirshhorn, a couple photos from Sleater-Kinney at the 9:30 Club, this photo of the opening of a show organized by the D.C. user group on Flickr, and even this snap from the Ted Leo concert. Ok, enough about... more ›

Kickball too controversial? Softball season ending? Missed the deadline to register your Ultimate Frisbee team? Well, you're in luck. There's another option if you want to participate in some summer sports, with significantly less running (but probably as much drinking): DC Bocce's 2005 season will soon be underway. The registration fee is $35 and the season will last six weeks (five weeks of regular play and a week of playoffs), with all games played... more ›

Mike Scioscia's tragic illness might have made us smile when he appeared on The Simpsons a decade ago, but around these parts there are no warm feelings toward him anymore. Least of all Nationals manager Frank Robinson, whom the W. Post quotes: "I lost a lot of respect for Mike tonight, as a person and as a manager. There's nothing he can say to me now. Nothing. I don't even want him to approach me.... more ›

With the weather warming up it's time to start thinking about lining up your athletic plans for the spring and summer. If you're interested in soccer, frisbee, or basketball, hurry over to District Sports - registration deadlines for most of their leagues are this week, and it looks you might be able to register for a couple even though the deadlines were earlier this week. If you're interested in kickball, you have until March 20... more ›

Three Washington-area projects have been recognized by the American Institute of Architects as winners of their 2005 Honor Awards. The Gannett/USA Today Corporate Headquarters in Tysons Corner is among the recipients of the AIA's Honor Awards for Architecture, while the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative Framework Plan and Cady's Alley in Georgetown are among the projects awarded the AIA's Honor Awards for Regional and Urban Design. One of 13 buildings chosen from more than 400 entries,... more ›

DCist has to say that your questions were scarce last week. We will blame the short holiday week and vacation brain. As always, if anything is troubling you, anything at all, even if it isn't D.C.-centric, toss it our way at ask [at] dcist [dot] com and we'll attempt to answer, or at least entertain you in the mangled process of answering. If you have queried and have gotten no answer, don't despair. Some queries... more ›

Veterans Day is tomorrow and the official observance of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month will bring a whole host of closures and modified schedules. Check out the District's rundown of Veterans Day events and closures. Veterans Day is rooted in Armistice Day, which remembers when the guns fell silent on the Western Front during the first World War. In a city that has memorials dedicated to Armenian earthquake victims,... more ›