Last night a few of us made our way to Nellie’s Sports Bar, where the Washington Blade was giving out its Best of Gay D.C. awards. We were honored to pick up the prize for Best Local Blog, with their kind description:When D.C. residents need to keep up on local events, art, sports, restaurants or pretty much anything else related to life in the District, they head to DCist.com… The blog is truly a community…

Today is National Coming Out Day, a day when gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are encouraged to be open about who they are. The annual observance began on October 11, 1988, exactly one year after the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. (The first one was held October 14, 1979.) While there aren’t usually major events to commemorate the day, there are a couple of local events that coincide with…

More than two decades after the first cases of a strange “immunity systems ailment” appeared in Washington, today’s observance of World AIDS Day sees the epidemic still rampant, both in the city and around the world. While the number of new infections peaked in the District in 1993 at 1342 cases, it remains persistent. Despite massive education and “get tested” initiatives, the number of new infections in D.C. still hovers around 900 per year. We’ve…

We’re generally pretty skeptical of PR pitches. While some offer useful tips about local events, others seem off the mark. So when we got a press release for a machine you can use to manufacture carbonated beverages at home, we were a bit puzzled. What did it have to do with D.C.? Gathering around the electronic water cooler, we realized it just might be worth checking out. At best it would be a way to…

While local and federal official scramble to adequately respond in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, individual donations are fast approaching $100 million, reports the Post, while communities and organizations have started campaigns to offer cheap or free housing to the thousands left homeless in the hurricane’s wake. Below are more local events to benefit the victims and information on how you can help: — The K Street Lounge (1301 K Street, NW) is hosting a…

A few local blogs have recently pointed us toward what we think is the greatest idea for parents since the Diaper Genie was invented: Rock-N-Romp, a family-friendly series of concerts in Silver Spring backyard featuring fantastic local bands. The season runs May through October, one Saturday afternoon a month. Shows are free for the little tykes, a mere $4 donation is requested for adults, and you can view the schedule here. E-mail the enterprising Debbie…

Ah, Mardi Gras. The annual bacchanal of food, drink, more drink, bared breasts and parades. Can’t make the trip to New Orleans this year? Next Tuesday, Feb. 8, a couple of local events will try to recreate some of the spirit of the season here in our own backyard. The annual Clarendon Mardi Gras parade will kick off at 8:00 p.m. at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and North Danville Street (by the Whole Foods),…