The first Starbucks on the east coast -- which is located on Wisconsin Avenue -- is closing its doors. more ›

One of the values of Eastern Market is that it's car-free -- the stretch of Seventh Street in front of the historic north and south halls is closed off to vehicles on the weekend, when most visitors descend upon the market. Could Wisconsin Avenue go the same way? more ›

Yes, people are still squabbling about the proposed mixed-use development on the site of the Wisconsin Avenue Giant -- a battle that is now going on its thirteenth year. But the progress of the development might not be sullied by legal struggles alone. more ›

Sure, it's December and we're all preoccupied with holiday cheer and making plans for that one New Year's party that will finally be worth the all the hype. But even though they've suffered some setbacks this year, D.C. voting rights activists are pushing the cause through the holiday season. On Thursday, December 6, the D.C. Council will hold a hearing to consider legislation that would place large electronic billboards outside the John A. Wilson Building... more ›

>> Ocean City: Making it harder to score hookers on your beach weekend since 2007. [WTOP] >> Metro is going to start distributing free bottles of hand sanitizer in stations beginning next week, in an effort to prevent the spread of flu germs. Except only 2,000 riders at each station will get them, on a first come, first served basis. We'd like to suggest they distribute them based on filthiness. You should have to... more ›

Yellow patches hanging in the window of Addison/Ripley might cause a spark of interest when going down Wisconsin Avenue through Georgetown. Upon closer examination, the work is a print of a woman on doilies, dressed in yellow. There are 57 of these prints by Mara Sprafkin clinging to the wall. In the window next to her is a repeated print of a woman, kneeling in a summer Sunday dress. Some of the dresses are filled in with gold leaf. Whether regarded as art or illustration, there is something about it that is inviting to go inside. more ›

A Tenleytown hardware store was robbed by two armed, masked men this morning, prompting a mile-long police chase through the neighborhood, complete with accompanying U.S. Park Police helicopter. If your commute through this area was hell on Earth today, feel free to send these lovely robbers a thank-you note. The Post says that an employee of the Ace Hardware store in the 4500 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW was ambushed by the robbers while taking... more ›

By DCist contributor Mike Roscoe They may have problems managing income inequality in their post-independence, Hacienda-style economies, or dealing with the lingering social effects of the brutal military dictatorships of the past, but there is one thing that South Americans have got down pat: grilling meat. As skilled and deft as any Texan tending smoking mesquite, South Americans know how to raise it, season it and cook it. From the churrascarias of Brazil to the... more ›

Morning, D.C. Man, it got cold over the weekend, didn't it? One moment on Friday I'm biking around town in my skirt, next moment I'm huddled on the couch in the fetal position, swathed in comforters. And don't even get me started on the Skins...Anyways, it looks like it'll just be in the high 30s today, so pull those gloves and that scarf on. Episcopal Church Votes on Departure: The Post reports that two... more ›

In case you didn't already have one, here's a good reason not to drive into a fire hydrant: NewsChannel 8 is reporting that city officials are shutting down a large part of Georgetown, possibly as far as Wisconsin Avenue, because of a water main break in the 3300 block of Prospect Street NW after a car ran into a hydrant. There is water in the streets and some houses might have low water pressure. WASA's website, however, reports that no houses are without water, and that work should be done by 6 pm. The break occured about 11:45 this morning. If you're in the area and experiencing some issues, let us know in the comments. And consider alternate routes if you were planning on heading to G-town this afternoon. more ›

Georgetown students don't waste their valuable time with the five syllables of Wise-mil-ler's De-li. To them it's just "Wisey's," the prime spot for cold drinks, take-out sandwiches and a few household items next to 1789. But two weeks ago, along came another Wisey's. This time, not seconds from the campus front gates, but gasp—a few minutes away. Not only is the new one a bit farther from campus, it's also farther away from the original Wisey's philosophy. Since when did Wisey's care about the zen art of tea drinking? Or have enough space for menu browsing or the act of "dining in?" more ›

Three weeks ago the D.C. Council passed emergency legislation to deal with a spike in violent crime. Among the provisions endorsed by the council was the installation of 23 surveillance cameras throughout the District, at a cost of $2.3 million. But where would the cameras go? Police Chief Charles Ramsey indicated that he would allow Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) -- local neighborhood representatives -- to propose sites which the police would then review. more ›

DCist's hard-hitting grocery store coverage continues, but here's a new one: the non-corporate corner shop. Sure, we love Trader Joe's (and his internationally named alter egos). And Whole Foods fetishism can gives you a grocery high, yes. But if we're gonna pay extra, why not do it at a good corner shop every now and then? Yes, they close before the workday ends and their prices are often high, but there's something special about knowing the details of your cashier’s personal life and saving the trouble of a long walk. Even better, you might be able to go those few steps barefoot. more ›

If the crowds at the two editions of Chef Geoff's are any indication, namesake owner/chef Geoff Tracy knows how to make elegant but simple and tasty food accessible to people who want to eat well without getting attitude. So when we visited LIA’S -- Tracy's new Chevy Chase restaurant -- we expected nothing less, even if it was the restaurant's first day of business. Although LIA'S (yes, it's all caps) is Tracy's third foray into... more ›

We like our brunches to be restorative, as well as decadent. And though Patisserie Poupon is rather more the latter than the former, we’ve found that a large glass of their freshly squeezed orange juice is usually enough to justify a couple of their extra buttery baked goods. more ›

Just when we need encouragement to brave the oppressive evening air and go out among the living this summer, instead of ordering bad Chinese takeout again from the comfort of our air-conditioned sofas, along comes the Restaurant Week parade. There is not one, not two, but three chances to get out there in the next month or so and test drive that swanky new place you’ve always wanted to try or the neighborhood favorite you haven’t checked out yet. more ›

If the new super-posh retail (think Jimmy Choo's, Tiffany's, etc.) and condo construction going on in Upper Northwest have deterred you from venturing further up the western side of the Red Line, it's time to buck up and take a trip to the D.C./Maryland line to Indique Heights -- the new bigger and better outpost of Cleveland Park's Indique. The highly praised work of chef and co-owner K.N. Vinod is worth braving the urine-tinged smell... more ›

Over at the former K's Deli in Tenleytown, it’s all about emmes. Out are quesadillas, Cajun fish, pastas and any trace of the amorphous global flavor that once dotted the menu of a restaurant that, when it comes down to it, wasn't really a deli. In is real New Yawk deli food — pickles, corned beef, the works. And K's has a new name to show for its return to basics — Morty's. See, once... more ›

Thanks to a reader's tip and an article in today's Examiner, we find that Verizon's first foray into graffiti ads has ended badly -- the telecommunications company is being fined by the District for "illegal advertising on public space." more ›

Whether it's pizza, slurpees, or wifi, getting something for nothing is a thrill that few can resist. There's just something about the allure of the freebie that somehow multiplies the value of the object a hundredfold. Every time free cone day rolls around, we all stand in line for more time than it would take to make the ice cream ourselves (including the necessary cow milking). But who are we kidding? We love free stuff, especially when it's edible. more ›

Break out the AmEx black card – Barney’s Co-Op has moved in. more ›

We've always been amused by Tom Knott, the Washington Times Metro columnist who on a weekly basis directs his wrath at someone or something in the District and beyond. He recently dedicated two entire columns to exposing the "red-light district of Wisconsin Avenue Northwest" and not long before that railed against car-sharing services, loudly arguing, "No one buys the logic of selling parking spots." And it was only a matter of time before Knott took... more ›

Rush hour drivers looking to drive down M Street in Georgetown were foiled by a fire that shut down the important traffic artery from Wisconsin Avenue to 29th Street. This was one day when this DCist was more than happy to trudge down to the Foggy Bottom station and brave the crowds. more ›

Written by new DCist contributor Thomas Richards more ›

It was on December 8 that Washington Times Metro columnist Tom Knott used his perch to describe an ongoing feud between Town Hall, a new and upscale watering hole in Glover Park, and the bar's neighbors. It was also in this infamous column that Knott described the stretch of Wisconsin Avenue where Town Hall has set up shop as a "red-light district" and, even more poetically, as such: ...a fading commercial strip that features two... more ›

We often flip through the Washington Times, sometimes for some comic relief, sometimes to see how the conservative newspaper views local news. In perusing its pages today, we came across a column written by Tom Knott, the Times' answer to the Post's well-known and well-liked Metro columnist Marc Fisher. Today Knott -- often known for taking some creative license with his writing -- describes a conflict between a neighborhood bar and residents who want it... more ›

If there was any silver lining to the cloud of cigarette smoke District residents nervously enjoyed in area restaurants and bars last night, it's that hookah bars may be granted a blanket exemption from the smoking ban that the City Council endorsed yesterday on a 12-1 vote. Council-member Jim Graham, whose Ward 1 enclave includes a number of the Middle Eastern-themed establishments, has announced that he will introduce an amendment to the smoke-free legislation to... more ›

A few months back, DCist readers had the chance to go back and forth on an issue that has since quieted down -- whether the city should knock down the Whitehurst Freeway or not. Opinions differed, with some readers arguing that the freeway -- which parallels the Potomac River above K Street in Georgetown -- is an eye sore that limits development and others noting that it helps direct 42,000 cars a day away from the traffic crush that is M Street in Georgetown. more ›

You've seen them selling t-shirts, bumper stickers, and magazines on the busy corners of Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and other areas. Their schwag carries the same bold slogan: "Stop Bitching, Start a Revolution." Perhaps you or a friend have even purchased a shirt or sticker. more ›

MONDAY >> Monday welcomes the Fictionista Book Tour to Washington, D.C., featuring readings from Josie Brown (True Hollywood Lies), Kayla Perrin (Gimme an O!) and Stephanie Lessing (She’s Got Issues). Good gravy! All that chicklit in one place? Does it get any better? Oh, people. It does. The event is taking place at the Hard Rock Café -- and that means Aerosmith-themed quesadillas. 999 E. St NW., 7 p.m. TUESDAY >> In her book, Nickel... more ›