The world knows full well that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in his own words, "think[s] grandiose thoughts," but do we really want to hear his ideations for the most amorous day of the year? The Republican presidential candidate was asked how he plans to spend Valentine's Day. more ›

Good morning, Washington. DCist heard from a tipster Thursday night that "several hundred" people were planning to converge on McPherson Square Saturday morning for a sister protest to New York’s "Occupy Wall Street." NBC Washington reports that at the height of participation Saturday, the group called "Occupy DC" amounted to about 40 to 50 people whose protests were often drowned out by a women’s percussion practice across the square. more ›

The U.S. Postal Service will reportedly start delivering mail addressed to "Tysons Corner, VA" in the 22102 and 22182 zip codes this month. more ›

If you've driven out the Dulles Connector Road near McLean and Tysons Corner in recent months, you've for sure seen some of the preliminary work for the future Silver Line Metrorail line into Fairfax County. Now, construction crews are going to start driving steel pilings into the ground which will serve as a foundation for the elevated tracks, WTOP reports. But it's gonna be loud! The price of progress ... more ›

News broke this afternoon that the AMC Tysons Corner theater is all set to launch its IMAX expansion. The IMAX section of the theater is scheduled to open to the public on Friday, March 5, and reporters have been invited to a pair of preview screenings, of Under the Sea 3D, this week to check it out. The Going Out Gurus noted the development earlier this afternoon. more ›

I'm the last person to buy into anything remotely related to mumbo-jumbo, but when I heard that Amma, aka Mata Amritanandamayi, was coming to Tysons Corner this weekend, it seemed worth a mention. Amma's deal is that she runs an ashram in India, but spends half the year traveling around the world, setting up camp in various hotels and convention centers and offering free hugs to anyone who wants one. The sale of CDs and books espousing her philosophy of unconditional love have made Amma lots of money, but she reportedly gives most of it away to charities, and people who have visited her tell me that the bottom line is that this woman gives the world's greatest hugs. You show up, get a number, wait for your turn, and get a big, warm bear hug. If this sounds like something you'd like to do, go here for all the details. Amma's at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. more ›

Citronelle has plans to move to the Tysons Corner Ritz Carlton from its current Georgetown location. In a mad rush to break the news first, Don Rockwell from DC Dining and Tim Carman from Washington City Paper reported the news within minutes of each other. more ›

A post on Gregg Easterbrook’s ESPN blog has gotten our staff list all abuzz today with this anti-Tysons Corner rant, so we thought you might want to join the debate. D.C.-based Easterbrook lays down some serious Tysons hate when regarding the choice of Arizona Cardinals’ coaches to house their players in a hotel next to the mega-mall for the week between their games against Washington and New York.

But rather than find some pleasant countryside location or college campus where the team could train and concentrate, the Cardinals stayed in this hotel in Tyson's Corner, Va. In case you haven't had the misfortune of visiting Tyson's Corner, it is the mega-mall for the nation's capital -- a hellish conjunction of stores, parking lots, sprawl, gridlocked roads, beltway cloverleafs and cars, cars, cars. Here's what it looks like where the Cards stayed. Between the concrete, fumes, gridlock and screaming commerce, Tyson's Corner may be the single most unpleasant place on planet Earth. You couldn't pay me to stay in a hotel in Tyson's Corner! Small wonder the Cards stunk up the joint in Jersey on Sunday, committing seven turnovers in a 56-35 loss to the throwback-clad Jets led by Hackensack Brett. If you'd stayed in a shopping-mall hotel for a week, you'd play terribly too! But perhaps Arizona coaches got some good deals on Dockers.

We all know Virginia is hell, and that traffic around Tysons Corner is a nightmare. Well, it looks like it's going to get a little more painful, if celebrity chef and reality TV star Gordon Ramsay has anything to say about it. Don Rockwell confirms that Ramsay's takeover of the old Maestro space at the Ritz Carlton at Tysons is a done deal. Now if only he would name it Junkpuncher's. more ›

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Good morning, Washington. The week surrounding the holidays is almost always a certifiably slow news period, so you can bet good money every local media outlet in the country is shamefacedly relieved to be able to find their own angle on the terrifying fatal San Francisco Zoo tiger attack. Sister site SFist has the roundup of Bay Area coverage, and the Examiner steps up to the plate with the D.C. version of the story -- the National Zoo is "prepared to finetune safety protocols." Phew! More scintillating post-Christmas reporting below. more ›

Good morning, Washington. It's news of the weird day today on DCist, as the Post tells the bizarre story of two 2nd-year engineering students from U-Va. who have been charged with the kidnapping of a man in Tysons Corner and demanding $500,000 in ransom. Both the two kidnappers and the victim are Chinese nationals who had been living with host families in Virginia while attending college. Police arrested Guanyu Lu and Baichuan Shu, both 19,... more ›

Good morning, D.C. The federal government is observing Veteran's Day today, which means Washington is much quieter than normal this morning. The chilly, wet weather certainly isn't helping make the work day, for those of us who are at our desks, any more inviting. Keep in mind that post offices, banks, schools and local government offices are closed for the day as well. Coal Train Clean-up Continues: Workers are still out cleaning up the site... more ›

Good Morning, Washington. In an apparent attempt to rule the D.C. media landscape through terror and intimidation, the Washington Post has published the scariest local news story we've ever read this morning: apparently, these disgusting-looking creatures called camel crickets are infesting area basements due to the lack of moisture in the ground thanks to the region's rather serious drought. Described as "a mix between a spider and a cricket" and accompanied by disturbing photographic... more ›

We've known for the last year that famous Georgetown eatery Nathan's wasn't long for its current location. Owner Carol Joynt has been pretty open about her plans to relocate by April 2009, when her lease runs out. Since then, speculation as to what kind of business will nab the prime spot on what's seen as the toney neighborhood's most important intersection has been a popular topic. This morning, an alert tipster pointed us to this... more ›

After some much needed R&R (that's rest and relaxation, not roads and rails), Transit on Thursday returns to Washington only to find that all hell has broken loose on Metro. The Sliver Line extension to Dulles, looking good when we left, is turning into a first rate debacle, and clouds of smoke seem to be drifting though the tunnels on just about every line. We can't turn our backs for even a few seconds, can... more ›

Today tens of thousands of District children return to school, leaving behind the late-morning starts, extended curfews and breaks at the public swimming pool that summer afforded them. And though the year will proceed as it usually does, they will be part of a school system that has seen drastic changes over the last few months. Now under mayoral control and led by new chancellor Michelle Rhee, the District's public schools have entered a new... more ›

Former Editor-in-Chief Ryan Avent writes a weekly column about neighborhood and development issues. Things used to be clearer for Fairfax County. It used to be known as the epitome of upper-middle class suburbanity, even earning name-checks in popular novels and songs as such. With acres and acres of rolling hills covered in leafy suburbs and landscaped office parks, it was a quiet complement to the quirky inner suburbs of Northern Virginia and the dense chaos... more ›

Last Chance for A.V. Sad, we know. Get it before it becomes a half-empty office building. Restaurant Week Starts August 6 There are a few good things about Washington in August. First, it's so damned hot and soupy that there are about 100 times fewer tourists. Second, Congress leaves town and tons of governmental types take vacation, so town slows down considerably, leaving rush hour slightly less enraging. Third, it's when the summer version of... more ›

It's never a good sign when it's already this steamy this early in the morning, and indeed, the heat index looks like it will near 100 degrees today (actual temps closer to 94). The D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management has some helpful tips to beating the oppressive heat, but this list has a shameful lack of ice cream sandwiches involved. DCist heartily recommends the Ice Cream Sandwich Method of keeping cool today, which involves... more ›

Former Editor-in-Chief Ryan Avent writes a weekly column about neighborhood and development issues. I got a kick out of New York’s reaction to a report released back in April, showing that carbon emissions in the city had increased by about 8 percent since 1997. The news stories were alarmist and the leaders angry, promising to do whatever it took to reverse the trend and reduce emissions within 25 years. Admirable sentiments, but it made me... more ›

It's Thursday, and while were out of commission last week, we're back this week with your weekly transit news, all packaged up and ready for delivery. After the jump, we're feeling the Metro love from Maryland's senators even while another tunnel debate is brewing in their state. Also, Fairfax roadways are beginning to look like tallgrass prairie. Photo by tony_fiorini... more ›

This post from DCist contributor Eddie Kim Isn't it the winter holiday season that's the time of year when we're supposed to gain those extra pounds from overindulgences? It doesn't help that several franchises– especially ice cream shops–have taken advantage of the spring months to hold promotional giveaways. Here's hoping you don't have a wedding dress to fit into anytime soon! In case you missed the Baskin Robbins and Ben & Jerry's giveaways earlier this... more ›

Monday >> It’s been a few years since Strange and Beautiful brought English singer/songwriter Aqualung into the spotlight with his radio friendly sensitivity, but now he’s back touring to promote his latest release, Memory Man. He’ll be headlining the 9:30 Club with opener Sara Bareilles. $20. >> Three Stars favorites The Deleted Scenes will be out at the Warehouse Next Door tonight as part of a four band line-up including Pash, The Love Story, and... more ›

Our deepest condolences to those who were unfortunate enough to get stuck on the Red Line this morning, as well as last night. Maybe some of these commuters can switch to Metrobus, which will add some extra services in the coming week or so. Also, Metro weighs in on whether it wants to go over or under Tysons. Finally, be safe on St. Patrick's Day with free taxi rides. Read about it all in... more ›

Good Morning, D.C. Are you one of those people who counts on regular weather patterns to plan your week and travel? Ha! After a week of wintry mix horrors and an odd weekend in the 50's, temperatures are back in the 30's today, with winds causing spotty power outages in our area. If you miss the fluffy white stuff, then hold your breath for about 24 hours and enjoy a wet snow front tomorrow. But... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Friends 'o DCist Middle Distance Runner have had quite a ride since playing our special Unbuckled/Anniversary concert last September. Despite a few bumps on the road, they've gone from little band that could to having their first headlining slot at 9:30 club tonight. We'll say we knew them when. With The Dance Party. 10 p.m., $10. >> Akron/Family impressed the pants off of critics in 2005 with their self-titled neo-folk stylings. They'll be... more ›

As Metro emerges from yesterday's deep freeze, it's getting mixed reviews on its transportation response. Mayor Fenty is also under the microscope for his response to the snow according to local media. But with a power outage reported to have knocked out traffic lights throughout downtown earlier today, we're clearly not out of the woods yet. Meanwhile, the big news at Metro is the roll out of brand spankin' new information display screens outside... more ›

You asked for it, Short Stuff! In addition to Metro's latest experiment with spring-loaded handles on overhead grab bars, it looks like Virginia reads DCist, we have yet another twist in the Tyson's Tunnel fiasco, and Maryland is talking transit but building highways. Photo by xaosDC... more ›

Good morning, Washington. How was your State of the Union viewing experience? We hope that "enjoyable" is the answer — although not so enjoyable that you now have a State of the Union hangover experience (don't you love living in a city where such a thing is a possibility?). Whatever your experience, this morning it seems like some of the week's frantic political energy is draining out of the city, as the shot to the... more ›