Far be it from me to fully understand why Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa felt the need to dump all over the District this morning. But, hey, it wouldn't really be fair to people like Spike Mendelson if we didn't call him out on it. more ›

This is totally going to bring everyone down, I know, but: Travel+Leisure's readers have arbitrarily decided that we're a bunch of ugly people. (Not quite as unattractive as, say, Memphis, but still.) more ›

The Germans have a lot of long words that encompass very difficult concepts. Words like "schadenfreude," "Hubschrauberlandeplatz," and "Verantwortungszuständigkeiten." I don't know if they have word for the frustration you feel when you've thought that your team had already managed to overcome the mistake you thought was going to cost them the game -- like a fourth-quarter Ladell Betts fumble -- only to discover that the relief-shattering error that was going to lead to a... more ›

Jon Langford is responsible for way too much great art for you not to know who he is. To begin at the beginning, he’s one of two remaining original members of the Mekons, singing and playing guitar in the increasingly difficult-to-categorize onetime punk band he founded while studying art at the University of Leeds, England, in 1977. Their albums Fear and Whiskey and Edge of the World, from 1985 and 1986, respectively, were among... more ›

Harry Jaffe: In writing something of a goodbye column to RFK Stadium, Jaffe recounts the many struggles the District overcame to attract a baseball team. And though plenty of people played important roles, he feels that one deserves extra attention -- former Mayor Anthony Williams. "The hero of the piece has to be Williams, an unpopular mayor who — despite his wandering attention span — kept swinging away at an unpopular crusade to use public... more ›

>> 9:30 Club has Editors, Ra Ra Riot, and Biffy Clyro. $15 tickets still available, and don't miss our full preview of Ra Ra Riot by clicking here. more ›

>> SiteProjects DC, which we reviewed last month, is ongoing throughout the 14th Street NW stretch, with special events sporadically showing during its run. Since Tuesday, Kathryn Cornelius has been performing her Art Services (Waste) at venues along the corridor. Tonight find her at Hemphill Fine Art from 4:30 to 5 p.m., then at Gallery Plan B from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Tomorrow see the act at Adamson Gallery from 4:30 to 5 p.m., then squeeze into the 2nd floor bathroom in the same building to see her between 5 and 5:30 p.m., and finally in the almost similarly sized micro-gallery, Curator's Office, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Check out the web site for the SiteProject DC artworks and other upcoming events. more ›

>> D.C.'s Rat Czar puts the city's war on rodents in perspective. Gerard Brown, program manager of the DOH's Rodent and Vector Control Division, tells the Examiner, "Rats are genius. They are going to be here after we leave." Is Stephen Hawking available for a little vermin abatement brainstorming? [Washington Examiner] >> Check out these simple steps to making politics funny. We'll see if President Bush can pull it off at tomorrow's White House... more ›

Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the city, not a lot of authors are stirring. Give them a break! They have family and friends to see at this time of year, too! more ›

You have to give the D.C. theater community props for organizing something to keep us poor souls stuck in the city for Labor Day Weekend occupied. The annual Page-To-Stage festival, held each year at the Kennedy Center, gives sneak peeks at a number of new works currently in development. The best part? No tickets are required, and all the events are free (first come, first served, of course). Here are just a few buzzworthy offerings... more ›

In Eating Your Words, former New York Times restaurant critic William Grimes discusses what’s in a sandwich name -- be it hoagie, wedge, muffuletta, Cubano, rocket, garibaldi, zeppelin, or spuckie. Region seems to dictate names as much as anything. Grimes attributes the Philadelphia "hoagie" to flapper-era Philadelphia jazz musician Al De Palma — who apparently said, “you had to be a hog to eat it.” During the Great Depression in 1936, he opened up a sandwich shop that sold what he advertised as “hoggies.” more ›

There isn't much to say about this week other than it was Stapptastic. more ›

EVERYBODY LOVES WARD 3 CANDIDATE REES! more ›

Although this photo wasn't snapped in the District, we thought it would serve as a good reminder of some of the seasonal activities available in the region. If you still haven't picked out the perfect pumpkin or are planning another seasonal escape, check out our list of pumpkin patches, mazes, and other fall attractions in the area. The crisp fall weather will continue today with sunny skies and highs in the 70s. more ›

New Train Fears Unwarranted, Says Schwartz: Despite new fears of disaster following the train derailment and subsequent chlorine spill in South Carolina, D.C. Councilmember Carol Schwartz (at right) says that there should be no concern of a repeat on rail lines running through the District. As the Post reports, Schwartz released information from a confidential meeting with the Homeland Security Department saying that such hazardous shipments have been rerouted around the city since the Madrid... more ›