Still in the office, D.C.? Yeah, us too. We hope you’re only sticking around because you don’t need to travel this holiday season. If so, enjoy the empty halls, bask in the quiet, and call it a day early. If not — well, good luck on the roads and at the airport. It sounds like they’re going to be predictably nasty. There Seems To Be Some Sort of Holiday Occurring: And consequently you can…

>> The D.C. Fire Department and WASA have finally agreed to play nice and share their toys and fix the city’s terrible fire hydrant mess. We promise to provide the warm cookies and cold milk should they succeed. [WaPo] >> The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch to remain in effect through Saturday morning for much of the D.C. area. [NBC4] >> The sidewalk of 7th St. NW in front of the…

>> The Virgin Festival has added Panic! At the Disco, Explosions In the Sky and Baltimore-based electronic music composer/performer Dan Deacon for their Sunday lineup. >> You should probably get any sort of week night responsibilities out of the way this evening, so you can join us tomorrow night at Unbuckled 6. If you missed our interviews with the bands, Le Loup and The XYZ Affair, give them a gander. If we haven’t already…

When we spied a fire truck driving down Georgia Avenue on Saturday morning with a banner promoting Muriel Bowser, we were confused. After all, Bowser is a candidate in the coming special election for Ward 4, and last we checked, city vehicles are stricly off-limits for campaign purposes. Well, we weren’t the only ones miffed by the emergency vehicle’s use as a campaign tool. From yesterday’s installment of themail, D.C. Watch’s bi-weekly online newsletter: On…

Score one more for the heatwave. Metro trains running less frequently, air conditioners failing under the pressure, and now, the cruelest cut of all: Sleater-Kinney fans denied on the D.C. stop of their (Please Don’t Call It A) Farewell Tour. Arriving at a show to find a fire truck parked by the front door and firemen looking sternly into an open manhole can never be a good sign. (A manhole cover that, we’ve heard, housed…

Senators and staff in the Russell Senate Office Building are “sheltering in place” in the Russell parking garage after Capitol police have found a “suspicious powder” in the Russell Senate Office Building attic, according to WAMU. The first of two tests on the substance returned toxic, but the second did not. Capitol police are conducting a third test, the results of which are expected in half an hour. More than 200 people are reportedly inside…

DCist is hearing unsubstantiated reports Capitol Hill institution the Capitol Lounge suffered from a serious fire last night. We are currently attempting to get a hold of the D.C. Fire Department for confirmation, and will alert DCist readers with the full story when it becomes available. If readers have further information, please leave them in the comments. UPDATE: Thanks to the commenters, who note that NBC4 is confirming the fire. The station reports that the…

Residents of Dorchester House apartment building on 16th Street in Adams Morgan are upset after a fire last Wednesday. Nobody was seriously hurt and the D.C. Fire Department responded quickly and extinguished the blaze, but the building’s alarm apparently never went off. In a message posted to the neighborhood listserv, a resident reports A friend pulled the fire alarm in my hallway, but NO SOUND CAME OUT WHATSOEVER. In response to this shocking development, we…

Today will be cloudy with occasional drizzle until late afternoon and highs around 50. The photo is from Flickr, and by the author of My Life As A Contact Sheet. Mayor Williams Releases Budget: Local media this morning all have different takes on Mayor Williams’ budget. The W. Times finds tax cuts but also plans for a new central library as part of a “city center” development at the convention center site. The Post describes…

Today will be partly cloudy with highs in the 40s. The above photo of Chinatown was taken by Drew McDermott, and posted on his photoblog yesterday. The Council is planning a final vote today. Stadium Deal To Be Approved Today: The Post reports a letter from Major League Baseball sweetening the deal for the city has swung the vote of Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp, who said yesterday she would probably vote to support…