As we mentioned this morning, tonight is the annual National Night Out event, and the Metropolitan Police Department is hosting a number of community gatherings across the city to mark the occasion, as well as raise awareness about getting neighbors involved in keeping their own streets safe. You can find a full listing of events, by police district, here, with the bigger, highlighted events, noted here. The main event is the citywide kickoff, which starts at 5 p.m. at the THEARC (1901 Mississippi Avenue SE) which will feature food, music, sports and games, crime prevention displays and other activities. But if a pre-programmed event isn’t in the cards for you, you can participate by simply enjoying a beverage or a meal on your stoop this evening, keeping your porch lights on all night, and introducing yourself to a neighbor or two.