Dynamic, lively, stunning, soaring. These are the words used by Smithsonian officials and architect Spencer de Grey to describe the new Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, home to both the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. With a blend of modern aesthetics and historic sensibilities, the new courtyard is a gorgeous space that the Smithsonian plans to use to hold public…

Last night 18 District residents, myself included, hopped in the wayback machine and arrived smack dab in the halcyon days of 3rd grade as the D.C. Bee, a spelling bee for total nerds adults, kicked off the first of its five planned preliminary rounds at the Warehouse Theater. Pulses raced, vocabularies expanded, and dreams of victory were dashed in a single round. Luckily, no one peed their pants. You too can relive your elementary…