We’re pleased to congratulate the winners of the first ever WalkingTown DC Photo Contest, sponsored by DCist and Cultural Tourism DC. On September 29, the staff behind the twice yearly free walking tour weekends challenged local photographers to come out to their event and snap photos that best captured the spirit of WalkingTown, and then judged the entries to pick their top three. First place winner: David Pike won for his “walk on” shot…

Written by DCist Contributor Ben Schuman-Stoler We all know about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, but probably mostly as a stop on the round-the-Mall tour we give visiting family and friends. If they ask, we tell them that a young woman won a competition in the ’80s. They say, “Wow, that’s interesting. What a great memorial.” But it remains an emotional site, its message solemn and powerful, which we were reminded of when two acts of…

Compiled by DCist Contributors Josh Kramer and Sarah Stonesifer The Eagle – American: >> AU is fine-tuning their free HIV testing program to accommodate students’ schedules. They’ve also switched from an anonymous testing program to a confidential one. The changes aim to bring the school in line with the District government’s HIV testing initiative. >> The American University bus drivers were approved by the Undergraduate Senate to have their own union, a debate that had…

Two years ago, I heard an interesting piece on public radio about a one-woman play that was in the middle of a critically successful run at Manhattan Ensemble Theater. I had missed the introduction of the segment but listened raptly as the author, whose voice sounded very familiar, described how she had come to write a show about the lives of Iraqi women during the American military occupations. My jaw hit the floor at the…

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…