I was first introduced to the garlic scape by former Washington Post food writer Kim O'Donnel back in 2006. These beauties, resembling scallions or young onions, are a cousin of these veggies, but unique and interesting on its own. Curlycued, verdant green, and pleasantly pungent -- they are in season at the farmers market now. more ›

This time of year, the farmers market produce selection is a little sparse, you have your leafy greens (like nettles), asparagus, early strawberries, and lovely red radishes. I think, perhaps, radishes are looked over or seen as an occasional addition to salads. But really, there's nothing better than fresh radishes in the spring. more ›

It's finally properly farmers market season again, which makes any food lover happy - the first produce of spring show up as asparagus, spring onions, radishes, and various leafy greens. For those who show up early at the market, strawberries can often be found. But what about nettles? more ›

Morning Washington, and happy Spring. Officially, at 7:21 p.m. the vernal equinox occurs, ushering in the new season. While it might not be as warm as the last few days, we still have plenty of sun and temperatures in the 50s to celebrate the new season. more ›

The weather gods' decision to reward us for surviving last February's snowpocalypse with some absolutely glorious weather this month has us thinking spring. And you know what that means: street sweeping season is nigh! more ›

Looks like several of our Flickr contributors got up early enough this weekend to snag tickets to the annual Spring Garden and Grounds Tour at the White House. Check out what the gorgeous views they were treated to in the images below. more ›

The National Park Service has revised its predicted peak blooming period for Washington's famous cherry blossoms, to April 1-4 from April 3-8. The change was made, as the Post explains, after this weekend's gorgeous warm weather sped up the blooming process. The overall blooming period was also revised just a bit, to March 28-April 9, from March 31-April 11. more ›

Long, jacket-less walks! Baseball! Open windows! Stoop beers! Flowers! It's now been about an hour since we kissed the long, horrible, snowpocalyptic winter goodbye for good with the passing of the vernal equinox. fallenposters reminds us that soon, the days of endless gray in D.C. will be overrun with much needed vibrancy. I, for one, couldn't be happier. more ›

The weather might have you thinking that spring will never arrive, even though winter technically doesn't even start until tomorrow. (Yeah, it's a downer, man.) But better days will come, and this news will certainly help you visualize them: organizers for the 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival announced that the festival will run from March 27 through April 11 next year. Our mental image of thousands of bursting cherry blossoms is impossible to cover with twenty inches of precipitation -- take that, snow gods! more ›

Although we're just reaching the peak of spring, D.C.’s local markets are packed with the fruits (and vegetables) of early summer abundance. We're lucky to live in a city that boasts an amazing number of markets specializing in local and fresh foods. From the Maine Avenue fish market to Eastern Market to the many farmers markets across the area, it’s easy to find fresh, local offerings that include fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and seafood. Many of the city’s markets are open year round and the Washington Post has a helpful guide that lets readers search for markets by location and day of the week. A recent trip to several area markets provided a glimpse of just some of the fantastic foods that May in the Mid-Atlantic has to offer. more ›

Spring is in the air, and that means it's time for innumerable happy hours, barbecues, and various other events that involve drinking beer. Brasserie Beck was scheduled to open it's outdoor patio tonight, but it seems the rain may spoil the fun. They should be open tomorrow night if tonight is rained out. The setup is a brand new 4-draught system imported from Belgium, and as such, there will undoubtedly be some kinks that still need working out. However, if you want to drink some great Belgian beers in the gorgeous spring weather, Brasserie Beck is a very good option. While there, you can go inside and sample any of the other excellent beers that they're pouring at the moment (try the Cantillon Cuvée des Champions if it's still available, the $14 price is worth it). more ›

“Madness” is in the air, Google’s homepage has flowers, and the first of summer treat giveaways has begun – it must be spring. In its 16th annual celebration of the first day of spring, Rita’s ItalianWater Ice is giving away free 10 oz. cups of Italian ice all day today. more ›

>> So Mayor Fenty and Schools Chancellor Rhee have scheduled 23 simultaneous school closure hearings at each of the proposed 23 schools to be closed. Logistics nightmare questions aside, what is a parent who has a child at more than one of the schools supposed to do? Pick which child they think is more important? [WaPo] more ›

Happy Christmas Eve, Washington. With the frenzy of last-minute shopping and travel out of the city largely complete, folks staying here for the holiday are being treated to a quieter, gentler D.C. than normal, and it turns out in more ways than one. Over the weekend the Post took a look at a recent decline in the murder rate, reporting that only nine homicides have been logged in the District in the 37 days since Nov. 17. That adds up to roughly half the average murder rate for the rest of the year. Are the District's murderers just feeling the holiday spirit a little more deeply this year? Chief Lanier, naturally, credits the work of her detectives, noting a sharp increase in the number of homicide arrests made during the same period. more ›

We've reached another Friday, D.C., but if those light flurries that accompanied you on your way into work this morning gave you visions of a leisurely Saturday snowball fight, you'll likely end up disappointed. Very little accumulation is expected from these flakes, and the weekend will see temperatures back in the upper 40s, with a possibility of some light rain on Saturday morning, according to CapitalWeather.com. If this update doesn't satisfy your weather nerd urges,... more ›

A Post business columnist and an independent music non-profit have joined the chorus questioning Live Nation's proposal for a Silver Spring music hall. Last Friday, Steven Pearlstein wrote that while I.M.P. boss Seth Hurwitz has fought against competition for his 9:30 Club before, and his alternative proposal to Live Nation is in his own best interest, "he's put forward a financial proposal attractive enough that county officials cannot ignore it." more ›

A happy Friday to you, Washington. Hopefully you all made it in to work on time despite Metro having reduced the speed of their rail cars in several areas this morning. Speed restrictions were in place until 8:10 a.m. along portions of the Orange line in Maryland and Virginia, the Red line from Union Station to Silver Spring and from Shady Grove to Grosvenor, and the Green line from Branch Avenue to Congress Heights... more ›

Via Silver Spring, Singular, we find this amusing/embarrassing video spoof based on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air put together by Darryl Williams, the new principal of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring. Back in October, the Washington Post ran a profile on Williams as he transitioned into his new job at Blair, taking over for popular former principal Phillip Gainous. From the looks of things, Williams is already making his mark on... more ›

>> A gas main break closed Route 1 in Alexandria this afternoon. Expect delays. [WaPo] >> The suspicious death of a two-year-old Silver Spring boy has been ruled a homicide. [WTOP] >> Authorities have arrested and charged a Clinton, Md., woman with attempted murder and other arson-related charges for her involvement starting fire in a Gaithersburg apartment building on Thanksgiving morning. [NBC4] >> An Oak Hill Thanksgiving: "Just days before, a riot broke out... more ›

The plot thickens for the Montgomery County-Live Nation concert hall deal. In September the county signed a non-binding letter of intent with concert promoter Live Nation for a Fillmore concert hall in Silver Spring, which would give the company $8 million in state and county funds, rent well below the market rate, and other perks. But now, county council members, groups of residents, and even the Howard County executive are questioning the county's deal and backing the proposal by I.M.P., Seth Hurwitz's Montgomery-based company that runs the 9:30 Club and Merriweather Post Pavilion. I.M.P.'s proposal for a club would be cheaper for the county and would pay more rent. more ›

>> D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty said that he will "continue to stand right beside Natwar Gandhi," in the wake of the widening D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue embezzlement scandal. [WaPo] >> The Anacostia Farmers Market is closing down today after providing fresh produce to D.C. residents for nine years. [WJLA] >> Silver Spring's artificial grass will stick around for another couple of months at least. [Free Ride] >> Get ready for the Million... more ›

Euros Childs is best known as the frontman of Welsh popsters Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. Formed in 1991, the group, along with the Super Furry Animals, Catatonia and others repped for Wales during Britain's Britpop era in the mid-1990s. The group, a critical darling that never quite found their place in the mass populace, called it quits in 2006 after a long career that included 10 albums. Since the group's split, Euros has released three... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Recent increases in gun-related crime in the city seems to be today's main topic of news, just as the Supreme Court may announce today whether it intends to take another look at D.C.'s handgun ban. D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty has scheduled a press conference this morning to address the District's position on its gun safety law, but in the meantime the Washington Post is questioning the law's effectiveness and just last... more ›

It looks like I.M.P., the Montgomery County-based company that runs the 9:30 Club and Merriweather Post Pavilion, hasn't given up on opening a Silver Spring music hall. In September, we wrote that concert producer and venue owner Live Nation had signed a non-binding letter of intent to put a Fillmore music hall in the old J.C. Penney store at Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road in Silver Spring, across from the AFI Silver Theater. Both the... more ›

Welcome back to work, Washington. Perhaps you're struggling to focus this morning, having only barely recovered from the weekend's Halloween festivities. Perhaps you just had a difficult time extricating yourself from your bed on this first cold morning of the year. Whatever the case may be, DCist recommends a strong cup of coffee with a dash of Rumbler to get your motor running today. The Rumbler is described as a "high-tech blaster" being used in... more ›

>> The D.C. Council unanimously approved a final agreement today to spend $79 million to help Specialty Hospitals of America to purchase Greater Southeast Community Hospital. [WaPo] >> Veranda, a new restaurant at 11th and P NW, is officially opening Wednesday and having a soft launch already. [renewshaw] >> Tonya Bell, the woman who was charged in the UNIFEST street festival car crash in Southeast last spring, pleaded guilty to multiple felony assault charges... more ›

>> In case you missed our full interview with Josh Ritter this morning, check it out before heading over to see the singer/songwriter at 9:30 club, with Old School Freight Train. $20 tickets are still available, doors 7:30 p.m. >> Renowned poet Simon Armitage is at Olsson's in Old Town for a free reading of his latest translation of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight". 7 p.m., read all about it in our preview.... more ›

Sunday shows usually result in small crowds, but that wasn't the case at DC9 this weekend for a solid triple bill. We'd seen and enjoyed The Lucksmiths and The Ladybug Transistor before at the venue and they didn't disappoint this time. The two were joined by Still Flyin', a massive collective that plays indie-tinged old-school reggae who we'd been looking forward to seeing. Melbourne, Australia's The Lucksmiths play quirky, sweet, super catchy indie pop, and... more ›