There’s real pathos behind these seemingly two-dimensional characters.

Upon reading this morning’s Week Around the Ists, which featured a photo of some 8-bit can art constructed at a Chicago Whole Foods, DCist reader Brandon Lenk sent us an email. “Just poking the bear a bit,” wrote Lenk, “but I think here in D.C., we are kicking more 8-bit Mario ass than some Whole Foods in Chicago.”

It’s kind of a slow Monday morning, which gives me a chance to selfishly indulge my penchant for 80s nostalgia. Wired points out that on this day in 1985, the first Nintendo Entertainment Systems hit American living rooms, with little fanfare and no idea how huge of a cultural phenomenon it would become.

The guitarist for the pop-punk band Hawthorne Heights passed away before the group’s show at the 9:30 Club over the weekend. Casey Calvert, 25, was found dead on the band’s tour bus at around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, parked outside the venue in Northwest D.C. A cause of death has yet to be determined, but Calvert’s bandmates have been quick to defend against speculation that drugs were involved. They posted the following message to their…

It’s almost Black Friday, which means it’s about that time where we look at our bank account balance and realize that we barely have enough money for rent, let alone hundreds saved in preparation for Christmas gift-giving. Too bad clay handprints and homemade cards are no longer considered legitimate presents, and our offices, unlike our elementary schools, don’t provide “Santa Shops” where we can buy “I Love Mom” mugs and cheaply made ornaments for the…

Named after an NES joystick, The Advantage tore apart the Warehouse Next Door on monday. The foursome from California plays instrumental Nintendo covers, but somehow aren’t gimmicky. With no keyboards or electronics, the two guitarists, bassist, and maniacal drummer have to be blisteringly fast and precise – hitting the turbo button as video gamers might say. A good portion of the crowd seemed to leave after local openers Durga Temple and French Toast, and they…

As I went up the steps to the Dance Party show at the Black Cat, I could hear the noise pouring out of the swinging doors. The stairwell echoed with shrill cheers of teenage girls, like a bygone episode of TRL. Instead of a Carson Daily or hot pop singer, lead singer Mick Coogan stood his ground in a bright lime green shirt. He thrust his guitar to and fro, shaking furiously onstage and delivering…

We all know the inherent dangers that come with living in or around the nation’s capital — we’re always a step away from a terrorist attack, Biblical plague, or three inches of snow. But Fairfax County isn’t sitting around not doing anything about it, we learn today from the Examiner. Some 40 experts in emergency preparedness are set to teach free classes on a variety of emergency-related subjects on March 18, including “Building 72-hour Kits,”…