It's back to school time, and that means we're once again recruiting new writers to become part of our growing team of city bloggers. As you know, we aren't able to pay our contributors -- so please don't apply unless you're ready to do it for the love of exploring D.C., engaging in important debates about the direction of the city, or are just the kind of person who's happy enough to see your name......

The antiwar group ANSWER Coalition made good on its promise to fight an order from the city to remove its posters from electrical boxes all over D.C. by filing court papers yesterday challenging local laws that regulate the posting of signs in public places. As you'll recall, ANSWER, a group that stages regular anti-war protests in Washington, received 65 citations on Aug. 13 for gluing signs onto utility boxes around the city, each with a......

You might remember hearing the news, back in March, that the folks marketing The Simpsons Movie would be remaking some 7-11s across the country in the image of Apu Nahasapeemapetilan's beloved Kwik-E-Mart. As Simpsons devotees, we were pretty excited. Well, the D.C. area is among the lucky metropolises selected — but, to our dismay, the Associated Press (via NBC4) tells us that the lucky 7-11 is in Bladensburg, Md. Of course Bladensburg isn't all that......

We couldn't help but notice these odd signs popping up on the windows of businesses all along the U Street Corridor in the last month. "This Business is Being Monitored by the U Street Sheriff's Department" sounds a bit like a smart-alecky joke. Obviously the District has no sheriff's department at all, let alone one that only serves U Street. So what exactly are these signs? We could imagine a business version of "Beware of......

While a couple of us on the DCist staff are still trying to wipe our minds of the image of the live circumcision performance art that happened last night at the Warehouse gallery (seriously, can you use soap on your eyeballs?), we will nevertheless try to explain that across the street at artDC ... wait, what was happening over there? Oh right, that international art show. When we told you about it last year, some......

While the jury is still out on the number of people who attended for yesterday's voting rights march, one pleasant addition to the day was a reception for organizers hosted by Sen. Joe Lieberman. About 200 people escaped the elements and made their way to the Dirksen Senate Office Building for drinks, snacks and speeches from Lieberman, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and others. Preceded by a trumpet call from the festively dressed Faith, perennial......

Yesterday several thousand hearty Washingtonians, DCist included, went to the Hill to demand equal voting rights. While the shortened rally was in and of itself a success, good times were also to be had at a post-march reception hosted by Sen. Joe Lieberman at the Dirksen Senate Office Building. There, a few intrepid DCists even got to chat with Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (pictured above with, from left to right, Sommer Mathis, Martin Austermuhle......

The Voting Rights March and Rally in front of the Capitol Reflecting Pool today was by all accounts a big success despite chilly winds and rain. We estimate between 4,000 - 5,000 supporters came out to demand a full vote for D.C. in the House of Representatives. Many more showed up too late for the rally, which was originally scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. but was shortened and started early due to the......

DCist is currently recruiting new contributors to join our fast-paced, exciting, fun-filled blogging lifestyle. Do you love to write almost as much as you love Washington, D.C.? Think your style would fit in with ours? We want to hear from you. These are the positions we're currently looking to fill -- and by positions, we of course don't mean we can actually pay you cold hard cash, but rather the opportunity to join our community,......

MONDAY Have you ever found yourself sizing up the state of contemporary education and thought to yourself, "Saints be praised that I got out when I did?" You’re sure to feel that way after hearing from David Berliner, author of Collateral Damage: How High-Stakes Testing Corrupts America's Schools. Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 7 p.m. TUESDAY Whether you're a civil war buff or someone who, much like our editor-in-chief Sommer Mathis, enjoys stealing......

Have you been dying to get a few minutes to ask D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty questions about his controversial plan to take over the District's public schools? Washingtonpost.com will give you a chance this afternoon at 1 p.m., when they moderate an online chat with the Mayor about his proposal. You can submit your own questions for the Mayor here. We'd really like to know what the Mayor thinks about Colby King's idea to......

About 15,000 people (though it felt like many more) got all dolled up Saturday night and headed to the Washington Convention Center for Mayor Adrian Fenty's Inaugural ball, and DCist was there to capture the revelry. Once we got inside, that is. Along with thousands of other Ball attendees, we were packed in like so many sardines near the entrance to the exhibit hall for over 30 minutes before we finally squeezed through what turned......

It's the end of the year! And DCist is here to tell you about it...through the power of radio. That's right, if you're antsy at work and want to hear DCist Editor Sommer Mathis pontificating on some of the area's biggest trends, then tune into WETA's The Intersection. Sommer'll be there with some other media folks, chatting away. Can you guess in the comments what they'll think will be the most important D.C. stories of......

DCist is, collectively, having one of those Fridays. You know, one of those Fridays when your boss dumps a bunch of work on your desk and wants it done before you leave for the weekend (the sweet, sweet weekend) and your Internet keeps crapping out so you can't even check your email. The weekend is quickly approaching and we haven't yet had time to scour the best of the city's offerings. But, we think......

Shocker: DCist thinks the Internets are just dandy and a great way to get our daily fill of news. But the debate concerning the effects of Internet journalism continues to rage, and our esteemed Editor-in-Chief is not above diving into the fray to defend our honor. Tune your radio to WETA, 90.9FM, and listen to Sommer Mathis discuss the virtues and vices of young people getting their information from a series of tubes, and how......

Item: Dear readers, the time has come for this editor to move on. As of today, I'll be stepping down as an Editor-in-Chief of DCist, and turning my set of reins over to Sommer Mathis, lately our Arts Editor, who'll be running things alongside Martin. In August, I'll be moving back to London, my home away from home, to pursue a PhD in Economic History. The goal is to make myself permanently unemployable, so I......

>> The Washington D.C. Human Trafficking Meetup which tonight hosts freelance photographer Kay Chernush in the Langston Room at Busboys and Poets. Chernush will present photos she took while on assignment for the U.S. State Department in India, Thailand, Italy and Hong Kong in 2005 for their annual Trafficking in Persons Report which "serves as the primary diplomatic tool through which the U.S. Government encourages other countries to help fight forced labor, sexual exploitation, and......

This Monday will bring the first installment of the F.W. Thomas Performances, and you, gentle DCist readers, are largely to blame. The series, which bills itself as a "monthly literary variety show featuring live presentations from area writers, artists and musicians," was started in part because of the great turnout for a reading by writers John Hodgman, Adam Mazmanian and others here in D.C. in December — an event that we're told DCist readers showed......

Since late last month, when the idea of the extending the Yellow Line beyond its terminus at Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center was formally introduced to the public, moves have been made that might finally make the extension a reality. Council-member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), assured residents attending the Cardozo-Shaw Neighborhood Association meeting last night that he believes he will be able to secure funding to extend the Yellow Line to Ft. Totten beginning as early......

Editor's Note: This week's agenda was compiled by DCist staffers Kyle Gustafson, Tom Lee, and Sommer Mathis. This week kicks off at the 9:30 Club with a doubleshot of artists from Wales. One is legendary, one should be (and might be yet). One is proud of their Welsh heritage, one not so much. One has panties thrown at him on a regular basis, the other throws carrots at their audience on a regular basis. Tuesday:......

Sommer Mathis contributed to these picks FRIDAY: >> DCist likes to stay up late on Sundays and watch Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry". We enjoy the variety of viewpoints it always includes, and really truly, at least one poet each episode knocks our socks right off our collective feet. DCist also likes to stay up late and watch "The Cosby Show" on Nick at Nite. It makes us feel all warm and fuzzy, like we......

( Editor's Note: This preview of the SILVERDOCS film festival comes to us from Sommer Mathis, who has joined our staff to write about arts.) Just when you were certain that downtown Silver Spring will never be as hip as it wishes it was, SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival returns for its 3rd year to challenge your deeply held beliefs. This year's opening night gala alone is enough to make any film geek perspire with......