FRIDAY >> The legendary Patti Smith is at the 9:30 Club tonight, and tickets are incredibly still available for $25. Doors at 9, show at 10 p.m. >> The idea of attending a lighting display, particularly after Christmas, might sound a bit cheesy. But the Garden of Lights in Wheaton might just change your mind. The designer tours the county gardens each year for inspiration for his display; this year, it invokes the four seasons….

As fall settles in and another calendar page gets turned, thoughts turn from bbq’s and vacations to holidays and the realization that ’06 is coming to an end. With all that going on, with change in the air, we wonder what is it that made that makes the -ists ponder? Phillyist is concerned that the war on Trans fats could affect it’s beloved cheese steak sandwiches, something for which we should all be concerned. They…

The mythical city of Camelot bears a striking resemblence to Las Vegas’ Excalibur hotel. The legendary Lady of the Lake is accompanied by a team of cheering “Laker Girls.” When our heroes get to France, they’re greeted by everyone from a mime to Les Miz’s Eponine. These are just a handful of the gags scattered throughout the appealing Spamalot!, now playing to eager crowds at the National Theatre. Full disclosure: This reviewer is not a…

You probably know by now, because we won’t shut up about it, that the Kirov Opera is visiting the Kennedy Center this week. We have already recommended their production of Puccini’s Turandot. Last night, we were in the Opera House again, to see the Kirov perform Wagner’s Parsifal, which the composer insisted was not an opera but a “stage-consecrating festival drama.” (This reminds me that what you are reading is not a post, but a…

Well, they just won’t go away, will they now? In winning their last two straight against the Mets, your Washington Nationals have made up a little ground in the Wild Card standings. Hector Carrasco took the baton from an ailing John Patterson on Tuesday night, coming through with four solid innings and setting the tone for a 4-2 win (Rauch, Eischen, Majewski, and Cordero combined for five scoreless innings). Last night, Esteban Loaiza gave most…

It’s not everyday that you run into a marching band on the District’s streets. Yesterday was one of those days, though. After attending a brief meeting in the Judiciary Square area, DCist emerged to find a high school marching band clad in yellow t-shirts bearing the slogan, “Brown for Mayor.” And suddenly it all made sense — Michael Brown, son of the late Clinton era Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, officially declared his candidacy for mayor…

D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams will deliver the annual “State of the District” speech next Monday at 7 p.m. from the Lincoln Theatre on U Street NW. In District politics, this is about as big as it gets, and DCist only naturally wants in on the action. There has been a lively debate in recent months over what, if anything, bloggers do. Are they journalists? Should they be granted similar access to media events? Can they…

Oh my. Looky here! We’ve found the Holy Grail for the metropolitan blogging world: a parttime blogging position that will be PAID. Not with cigarettes, booze or minimal beatings — but with actual money! And you don’t even have to talk about politics. Read now; you can thank us later. Elizabeth Spiers, the newly appointed head honcho over at mediabistro.com (a site dedicated to resources for everything, anything, and anyone media-related) is looking for a…

Here’s a quick sampling of what’s going on around town this weekend. Stay dry! TONIGHT: Music. Local bands you probably haven’t heard of: The Routineers, Two If By Sea, People Who Know People 9:30 @ Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW Movie. Monty Python and the Holy Grail Midnight @ Visions Cinema Bistro (repeats Saturday at midnight) Help Visions kick the keg. $10. SATURDAY: Book Sale Starts 9 a.m. @ Radisson Barcelo Hotel, 2121 P…