>> One of two correctional officers assigned to guard the prison inmate who escaped from a Laurel hospital yesterday morning had taken a break and left his partner alone with the inmate. [WaPo] >> Del. Brian Moran (D-Alexandria) has announced he will run for governor of Virginia in 2009. [AP] >> Pest control downtown, revealed (and we’d have to agree about the band Ratt). [Penn Quarter Living] >> The N Street sidewalk by The…

THURSDAY: Happy New Year! Jerrold M. Post will be at Politics and Prose to read from his latest book, The Mind of the Terrorist. Is there a more depressing way to start the new year than discussing the psychology of terrorism? Only in Washington. 7 p.m. Cultural historian Jane Rhodes will be at the Olsson’s in Penn Quarter to read from Framing the Black Panthers: The Spectacular Rise of a Black Power Icon. 7 p.m….

>> Clinton Portis’ performance in last week’s game against the Vikings got him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award. [Washington Redskins Official Site] >> Pepto Bismal threw up inside the Carville-Matalin home. [DC Metrocentric] >> Hosiery Warehouse finally gets the Cease and Desist order handed down as developers prepare to make way for condos. [City Paper] >> The Hirshhorn Museum’s Chief Curator Kerry Brougher has been appointed acting Director until a permanent…

>> Jenna Bush has been named ‘Person of the Year’ by Reliable Source. [WaPo] >> The owner of Tunnel Fine Wines & Spirits, which recently opened at 3rd and H Streets NW, was robbed at gunpoint in the store and shot in the leg late last week. [Penn Quarter Living] >> An elderly couple died in a house fire on the 3100 block of Oliver Street NW this morning. [WTOP] >> Area charities are…

>> The Muppet Christmas Carol isn’t nearly as awesome as A Muppet Family Christmas, but for those of you looking for a little fluffy holiday cheer this evening, the AFI Silver Theater is offering a screening of the musical adaptation of the Dickens classic at 5:10 p.m. >> Hop in the way back machine and set the dial to 1992: The Lemonheads are at the Black Cat tonight. With Racoon and The New Rivals….

Though perhaps the inclination when it starts to dip past the point of freezing is to stay inside with a blanket and a cup of something steaming, there are so many things to do and see outside — whether it’s the White House or Capitol Christmas trees or one of the many holiday fairs — that it’s almost a shame to spend all of December on your couch. Flickr user sintixerr caught this scene…

Is everyone already leaving town for the holidays? Our calendar here at Reader, Meet Author is looking a little lonely right now. If you have any tips or complaints that we’re not posting all the awesome poetry readings, feel free to email us. MONDAY: Caroline Kennedy will be at Politics and Prose to share the Christmas prose most dear to her. It’s all in her latest book, A Family Christmas, which includes tributes to Irving…

Last year we were blown away by how many folks participated in our very first DCist Exposed Photography Show. What we hoped would be a fun event for our faithful photography contributors turned into a full-blown gallery event packed to the gills with supporters. Many of the selected 2007 photographers — most of whom had never even framed their work prior to the show — have continued to sell their prints and some even…

Straight women and gay men all across D.C. were presumably disappointed by the news that came out over the Thanksgiving holiday that Brad Pitt had dropped out of the production of State of Play, a big-budget political thriller set to begin filming here in Washington this winter. You may recall that Pitt had stopped by the Washington Post newsroom in September to do some research on the character he was slated to play in the…

>> It’s the first night of Hanukkah, so if you’re not celebrating with family and friends at home, consider catching the Sinai Mountain Boys, a Maryland combo that melds the speedy strumming and twanging of bluegrass with Orthodox Jewish melodies. They’ll be offering an hour of unique sounds for free beginning at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. >> The Washington Jewish Film Festival presents Diane Crespo and Stefan Schaefer’s Arranged, the…