Mark your calendars: WMATA put out a release earlier today announcing the dates of a series of six public meetings at which you can voice your opinions about the proposed Metro fare hikes, which would go into effect in January. The full set of proposed increases is here, but the basics include raising the base fare of Metrorail from $1.35 to $1.65, keep bus fares the same as long as you use SmarTrip cards (add…

We were alerted yesterday by Jon at the DC Traveler that the mighty Titan Arum has begun blooming at the US Botanic Garden. He was, no doubt, tipped off by the oh-so-lovely smell of rotting corpse wafting through his window, which the flower uses to attract meat-loving (at least, meat-stench-loving) bugs to pollinate it. The giant, odorous plant seems to be falling into habit, blooming every two years since 2003 — before that it hadn’t…

Yesterday, we fed you last-minute options for saving face with your sweetie. Today, we’ve put together a list of Valentine-y things to do for the less-committed that don’t involve reaching deep into your wallet for dinner and drinks. Love Shack For those of you who are halfway through your 60-day Valentine, take your sugar to a hotel bar. If you’re looking for elixir, CityZen will serve you some potion — or, at the very least,…

The Post’s staff has determined the best barbecue in the area. If you trust their tastes, then Rockland’s in Glover Park is the place to go. Though the Post likes Rockland’s BBQ, it wasn’t a fan of the choice and quality of its side offerings. The Post also picked The Rib Pit on upper 14th Street (at Randolph Street) in Petworth as “the real thing” with top notch BBQ (dry, overcooked but not mushy,…