As the clock rolls down on 2007, we've done as bloggers tend to do and taken a look back. The DCist music staff scratched our chins, tapped our temples, and compiled a list of our favorite local acts of the year. Whether it was because they released a new album, had some great shows, or just finally wore us down with press releases, these are the D.C. musicians that really made us proud to call the District home this year. more ›

Plan your naps accordingly, set your alarms, and stock up on your Red Bull, folks. The DCist, Blisspop and Brightest Young Things super duper 9:30 Club extravaganza is finally upon us! At the ripe old age of 3, we're wondering if we can still muster the energy for a show that starts at 11 p.m., but with the talents of DJ Will Eastman, Georgie James, The Dance Party and Soft Complex luring us towards 815... more ›

The DCist photo pool tends to skew towards things more than people. Architectural details, statues, monuments, street scenes, wildlife. But while people as subjects are in the minority, portraiture is even more rare. Which is what made this photograph of Muata, a street musician who plays in the Dupont area, by Flickr user yonas1 stand out today. No EXIF data for this one, as it was taken on film (another feature atypical of the pool). We love photos of the people who give this city its character, so don't be shy about posting more. more ›

Say hello to your old friend labor, D.C.-- not that these hearty climbers didn't work hard to scale a rock and capture an oddly captivating shot. Whether you spent the holiday laboring to keep sand out of your bathing suit on the beach or perfectly timing bathroom breaks during a Law and Order marathon at home, we hope you had a nice break. To kick off the roundup with some happy news news, it... more ›

Just when our depression about the non-story debacle of the highly disappointing D.C. Madam saga was reaching its peak, along comes 55-year-old Patricia Helen Meehan of Stafford, Va. to save us from our misery. NBC4 says that Meehan, who claims to be a dominatrix, was recently arrested in Maryland and returned to Stafford County to face a list of charges so fantastic we can hardly contain ourselves. Authorities said she was indicted in September 2001... more ›

Yes, that's a fire hydrant that's become home to a swarm of bees on 16th and P Sts., NW. The note attached says a beekeeper has been called to take care of the problem. Anyone have some Raid? more ›

Happy Mardi Gras, Washington. Great news for all those planning to expose themselves to garner beads! (We're unsure if any local bars enforce such strict bead acquisition standards, but you can let us know in comments.) It's already above freezing and temps are heading up to 50 today. That's right, the big five-oh. We predict the risk of falling on your ass will be reduced by 76% by the evening commute. Of course, now we've... more ›

Good morning, Washington. Excuse us if we're a little grumpy. It might just be this hard-hitting report from NBC 4 that increasing numbers of professionals are hiring personal assistants to get their "frazzled lives" under control. Why can't we get us a personal assistant to give us some Morning Roundup love, hmm? Then we could lounge around in our robe and sip our coffee at our leisure. Someday, someday. When bloggers rule the earth. But... more ›

I have a thing for architectural photos, hence today's choice from Flickr user HaydenDragon. You can see the original photo here. It was taken on a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT and the EXIF data can be found here. more ›

The DCist staff has already noticed some changes in the city today that we presume to be due to the planned immigrant boycott. Some of us have been told our drycleaning will not be ready today, some of us experienced longer wait times for our morning repast, and many of us have noticed that parts of the city, Metro platforms for instance, seem eerily empty. We're interested in hearing how, and whether, things are different across the city and throughout the day, so leave us your observations and your thoughts in the comment section below. more ›

This week's agenda was written in part by DCist contributor Matt Sedlar. MONDAY >> Sure, we mentioned it in last week's agenda. And in the weekend picks. But a co-headlining tour of Belle & Sebastian and The New Pornographers is a pretty big deal. The DCist contingent will be there tonight, and hopefully we'll find out the answers to those burning questions -- whose fans will make for a better crowd? Which band has a... more ›

FRIDAY: Anyone in need of a little funk infusion tonight would do well to check out Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at Black Cat. The DCist staff list today was full of sentiments like "I've heard great things about these guys," and Jones' background suggests she probably has more than a passing understanding of the world of soul: She was born in Augusta, Georgia (hometown of James Brown) and spent her teens in Brooklyn, NY.... more ›

[B]ased on people I spoke to, it appears this car ran the stop sign ... did not anticipate the split in the lane halfway up the next block, tried at the last second to correct, lost control , hit two parked cars and flipped, no skid marks were visible indicating his full momentum went into the wreck and flip. I heard their were two passengers, one bailed and another was taken in an ambulance.

The DCist team plans more coverage on the Inauguration later on in the day, including photos, on-the-street accounts and other observations of the swearing in, parade and the multiple protests. In the meantime, we suggest you follow the Post's Inauguration blog. more ›

With the election this Tuesday, the lives of many people in D.C. are particularly busy. Whether you're working 20 hour days because of the election or a curious bystander, we're ready to help here at DCist. more ›