Londonist got the big scoop of the week with what may be the first images of notorious street artist Banksy in action. They also got on a runaway train without an operator provoking a response from the transport authorities. Elsewhere, London’s answer to Central Station is about to open for business, and Londonist got a sneak preview. Meanwhile, spooky goings-on beneath London Bridge, where a cache of skeletons provided an apt story for Hallowe’en….

Just as a new videotape from Osama bin Laden was released over the weekend, tomorrow marks the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and the Pentagon, and as in year’s past, there will be events, speeches and vigils across the country to remember the dead. But with more time now between us and that tragic day, it does seem as though the way we want to honor the anniversary…

Standing at the center of the courtyard of the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia is a modest little hot dog stand affectionately known as Cafe Ground Zero. It has tendered its fare to hungry Pentagon officials for decades, but is perhaps most noteworthy for being the only known hot dog stand to come under satellite surveillance or to have at least two nuclear warheads targeting it at all times. At least, according to Cold War legend….

Cameras Receive Mixed Reviews: Over the weekend the first four of 48 planned surveillance cameras went live in the District, promising to help police handle an on-going crime emergency. But how useful might they be? Not very, according to the Washington Times. Officials in other cities that implemented the cameras argue that they don’t do much in helping stop crime, an experience that proven in our northern-most suburb, Baltimore: Baltimore, for example, set up…

After teasing locals for months with a simple sign out front and a bare-bones Web site, de vinos — a wine shop at the strategically located intersection of 18th Street, U Street, and Florida Avenue NW in Adams Morgan — finally popped its cork last week with a very soft opening. How soft? “We really decided to open early because so many people were knocking on the door,” said Ernesto Martinez, a wine distributor from…

Renée Fleming has been called America’s diva, which means primarily that her profile as a celebrity is greater than that of most opera singers. In other words, she gets called to do things like sing the national anthem at the first Nationals game, sing at the memorial service at Ground Zero in Manhattan, lead holiday carols at the White House, get interviewed on Letterman, and sing on The Lord of the Rings soundtrack. Lots of…

The sixth annual Washington D.C. Independent Film Festival (the “Ground Zero of Washington D.C.’s Indie Scene” according to their website) kicks off March 2 at the City Museum. The festival includes a smorgasbord of films including features, documentaries, shorts, and animation by local, national and international filmmakers. DCIFF’s opening night includes the world premiere of “Aryan Couple ,”a feature-length film by John Daly, the pioneer of independent film financing. (His previous productions include “Platoon,” and…